~SophiaThe massive glass doors of the James Corporation opened with a soft whoosh, and I stepped inside, my hand resting lightly on Nathaniel’s arm. The lobby was a blend of elegance and modernity, with marble floors gleaming under the natural light that poured in from the skylights above. Employees in sharp suits and pristine dresses moved about with an air of purpose. Nathaniel, as usual, radiated authority. His calm demeanor and confident strides drew attention as soon as we entered. “Good morning, Mr. James ,” several employees greeted him, nodding respectfully. Nathaniel acknowledged them with a smile or a polite nod, his charm never wavering. But as we walked deeper into the building, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of attention directed toward me. I wasn’t expecting a red carpet, but the fact that no one even spared me a second glance stung. Did I look so out of place? Was I just a shadow trailing behind him? I tried to shake off the unease and focus on Nathanie
~SophiaOne week. One week until I became Mrs. Nathaniel James. The thought sent a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through me. As I sat across from him at breakfast, watching him sip his coffee, I couldn’t help but smile. This man—this incredible, unexpected man—was about to change my life forever. Nathaniel glanced up from his tablet, catching my gaze. His lips curved into a knowing smirk. “You’re staring again, Mrs. Soon-to-be James.” I laughed softly, playing with the edge of my toast. “Maybe I’m just memorizing my last few days of being Sophia… whoever I am now.” “You’re impossible,” he said with a chuckle. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his black credit card and slid it across the table. “What’s this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “It’s a blank check,” he replied, leaning back casually. “Go shopping. Buy whatever you need to make yourself sparkle on our wedding day.” I blinked, momentarily stunned. “Nathaniel, this is—” He held up a hand,
~SophiaThe engine of Nathaniel's black Ferrari purred smoothly as I sat in the plush leather seat, my fingers lightly tracing the contours of the interior. It was a gift from Nathaniel, something temporary, he had said, until he surprised me with a car of my own. His idea of spoiling me was excessive, but I wasn’t complaining. The sleek, powerful car was impossible to ignore as it turned heads with its glossy black finish. I didn’t even have to pay for gas, much less parking. It was his world, and I was just living in it. But it was never just about the material things with Nathaniel. It was the way he looked at me, like I was something worth having—something he wanted to keep. That possessive nature of his both thrilled and unsettled me. I still didn’t know if I was ready for everything he was offering, but I was starting to understand the world I had stepped into. Charles, the ever-efficient driver Nathaniel assigned to me, exited the car and opened the door. “Ma’am,” he said p
~NathanielThe sleek black car hummed steadily as it glided through the streets, and I leaned back in the leather seat, letting my thoughts wander for a moment. My driver, Mark, had been with me for years. He knew when to speak and when to stay quiet, and today, he seemed to understand I wasn’t in the mood for idle conversation. “Is everything okay, Mr. James?” Mark asked after a brief silence, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. I offered a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Yeah, everything’s fine.” I wasn’t lying—at least, not entirely. There were just a few things swirling around in my head that I couldn’t shake. Reaching for my phone, I unlocked it and opened Sophia’s number, my thumb hovering over the screen before I tapped it. The phone rang a few times before she answered, her voice soft and warm as always. “Hey, babe,” she said, and I smiled, hearing the familiar sweetness in her tone. “Hey, how’s your day been?” I asked, trying to push the weight of my own
~SophiaThe sound of water dripping from the faucet echoed in the bathroom as I stepped out of the shower, my skin still warm and dewy from the steam. I wiped the fogged-up mirror and caught my reflection—my hair still damp, my face flushed with the freshness of the bath. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of calm that only a quiet evening at home could bring. After the madness of the day, I needed this moment. I ran a towel through my hair and wrapped it around myself, leaning against the bathroom counter as I let my mind wander. Ethan. The thought of him made me chuckle. What a clown. I muttered under my breath with a smirk. I quickly dressed into my soft, silk nightgown, the fabric cool and smooth against my skin. As I reached for the bottle of perfume on the counter, I sprayed a light mist into the air, letting the floral notes fill the space around me. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. “I need to smell nice for Nathaniel,” I whispered to myself, half-amused by the though
~SophiaThe sound of water dripping from the faucet echoed in the bathroom as I stepped out of the shower, my skin still warm and dewy from the steam. I wiped the fogged-up mirror and caught my reflection—my hair still damp, my face flushed with the freshness of the bath. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of calm that only a quiet evening at home could bring. After the madness of the day, I needed this moment. I ran a towel through my hair and wrapped it around myself, leaning against the bathroom counter as I let my mind wander. Ethan. The thought of him made me chuckle. What a clown. I muttered under my breath with a smirk. I quickly dressed into my soft, silk nightgown, the fabric cool and smooth against my skin. As I reached for the bottle of perfume on the counter, I sprayed a light mist into the air, letting the floral notes fill the space around me. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. “I need to smell nice for Nathaniel,” I whispered to myself, half-amused by the though
~SophiaBut before he could answer, the sound of his phone buzzing broke the moment, pulling his attention away. He looked down at the screen and let out a deep breath. “I’ll tell you later,” he muttered, his voice strained as he picked up the phone and glanced at the message. And just like that, the moment was gone. Nathaniel’s phone buzzed again, and this time he pushed back his chair, stood up, and walked toward the living room. “I’ll be back in a jiffy,” he said with a faint smile, his voice light as if he were trying to reassure me. I nodded but watched him go with a sinking feeling. Something was off, but I decided not to push it further tonight. I’d give him his space—for now. ---The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, warming the room as I zipped up my last suitcase. My things were neatly packed and ready by the door. I hadn’t told Nathaniel about my plans to head back to my place today, not wanting to disrupt his already-tense mood last night.
~SophiaThe gentle hum of the air conditioning mixed with the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall as I dozed in Nathaniel’s massive, luxurious bed. The soft sheets cocooned me, lulling me deeper into the rare calm I’d felt in recent days. Nathaniel’s scent lingered on the pillows, soothing and comforting. Then the sharp buzz of my phone on the nightstand pierced the silence, jolting me awake. I groaned and reached for it, the light from the screen momentarily blinding me. It was Martha. "Martha?" I croaked, my voice heavy with sleep. "Sophia, it’s Lily," she said, her voice trembling. "She’s not feeling well." I sat up immediately, the drowsiness evaporating. "What do you mean she’s not feeling well? What happened?" "She’s been crying all day," Martha explained, her words rushed. "She says her stomach hurts. I tried to take her to the hospital, but she refuses to go. She keeps saying she needs her mommy." My heart clenched. "I’m coming," I said without hesitation. "I
~Sophia“Eight Months Later”Eight months had flown by in a beautiful blur, and now, here I was, sitting on our bed, cradling our bouncing baby boy in my arms. Nathaniel sat beside me, leaning in, staring at the tiny miracle we had created. His fingers gently traced our son’s little hands, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “He’s perfect,” Nathaniel murmured. I smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the baby’s forehead. “He really is.” But now came the hard part—choosing a name. Nathaniel sighed, stretching his legs out on the bed. “Alright, we need to settle this before he grows up and starts naming himself.” I chuckled. “I mean, he might as well, because we’ve been arguing for days.” Nathaniel smirked. “Well, that’s because your name choices are… questionable.” I gasped, pretending to be offended. “Excuse me? Ezra is a strong, beautiful name!” Nathaniel shook his head. “I’m sorry, but he doesn’t look like an Ezra.” I narrowed my eyes. “Okay, Mr. Perfect, what do you sugg
~EthanShe gave me a knowing smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” “Please do,” I said smoothly. “So, where are you from?” “Nigeria.” I blinked in surprise, genuinely impressed. “Wait—Nigeria?” I let out a low whistle. “Damn. I had no idea Nigerian women were this breathtaking.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “You should visit sometime. We have plenty more where I came from.” I smirked. “I doubt any could compare to you. You look like an African goddess.” A light blush dusted her cheeks, and she looked away for a second before meeting my eyes again. “And you don’t look bad yourself. You’ve got that… classic, handsome white-boy charm.” I wasn’t expecting that, and for the first time in a while, I actually felt shy. I cleared my throat, quickly changing the subject. “So… what do you do for a living?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’m a UI/UX designer for a tech company in the U.S.” I raised my eyebrows. “Damn. Smart and beautiful?” She laughed. “It’s
~EthanThe coconut juice was ice cold, the perfect companion for a warm, salty breeze rolling in from the ocean. I leaned back against my chair, stretching my legs out in the soft golden sand, my sunglasses resting low on my nose as I took a slow sip. Beside me, Lily was doing the same, except she had managed to get half the coconut juice on her shirt rather than in her mouth. “You’re a mess,” I muttered, smirking. Lily rolled her eyes, licking a stray drop from her lips. “Whatever, Ethan.” I glanced at her sideways, raising an eyebrow. “You wanna tell me why you’ve been following me around since we got here? Shouldn’t you be with your parents in their room or something?” Lily groaned dramatically, sinking deeper into her chair. “Ugh. First of all, ew. Why would I want to be trapped in a room with them?” She sat up, turning to face me. “And second, we both know we’d end up around each other eventually, so why fight it?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable.”
~SophiaAs soon as we stepped into our villa, I was in awe. It was stunning, a perfect blend of luxury and nature. The room was massive, with tall wooden beams stretching across the ceiling, large open windows covered by soft white mosquito nets, and a private pool just a few steps from our bed. From where I stood, I could see the island’s coastline, the waves gently rolling onto the golden sand. The air smelled of salt and fresh flowers, a mix so intoxicating it made my head light. Birds soared in the sky, their songs blending with the sound of the waves, and in the distance, I could see wooden boats floating lazily on the water. “This…” I whispered, placing a hand on my stomach, “is paradise.” Nathaniel walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. His lips brushed against my temple. “Do you like it?” he asked, his voice deep and smooth. I turned to face him with a bright smile. “I love it.” He smirked. “Good. Now, let me do all the work while you sit back
~EthanThe hum of the private jet's engines was a steady background noise as I leaned back in my seat, stretching my legs in front of me. Through the large windows, the sky was a vast expanse of blue, painted with streaks of white clouds. Below us, the ocean stretched endlessly, shimmering under the afternoon sun. Beside me, my mother, Isabella, was practically glowing with happiness. “I still can’t believe I was considered for this trip,” she said, her voice soft with emotion. “A family vacation… I never imagined this would happen.” Before I could say anything, Sophia—sitting on the other side of her—reached over and took her hands, squeezing them gently. “Isabella,” Sophia said with a warm smile, “you’re family. And nothing can ever change that.” My mom blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. “Oh, Sophia…” Nathaniel, who was sitting across from us, smirked. “If she starts crying, we’ll have to turn the jet around.” Isabella laughed, wiping the corner of her eye.
~EthanI stabbed my fork into a juicy steak, cutting into the tender meat as the aroma of garlic butter filled the dining room. Beside it, creamy mashed potatoes glistened with melted cheese, and a side of steamed vegetables added a pop of color to the plate. Dinner at home had always been this way—luxurious, delicious, and filled with conversation. Across from me, Lily swung her little legs under the table, stuffing a piece of bread into her mouth with excitement. Sophia, sitting beside Nathaniel, was picking at her grilled salmon, her expression relaxed and happy. Nathaniel, however, had that look—the one that meant he had something big to say. I knew my father too well. I took another bite of my steak, waiting for him to drop the bombshell. And then, he did. Nathaniel cleared his throat and set down his fork. His voice was calm but firm when he spoke. “Ethan, Lily… You two are going to have a sibling.” I froze mid-bite, my fork stopping inches from my mouth. Lil
~SophiaThe night was quiet, the kind of silence that should be peaceful, but I felt anything but peace. Lying on the bed, I turned to my side, feeling a strange discomfort in my stomach. A wave of nausea crept up my throat, making me feel dizzy. I groaned softly, shifting slightly, my hand reaching out toward the other side of the bed. My fingers brushed against Nathaniel’s bare chest—warm and steady. He was lying there, his breathing slow and even, completely unaware of my current state of misery. I swallowed thickly, trying to push back the sickness, but it wasn’t working. "Baby," I whispered, my voice weak. Nathaniel didn’t stir. He was still fast asleep, his face relaxed in the dim light of the room. I tried again. "Nathaniel… baby." This time, he shifted slightly before his eyes fluttered open. His gaze was heavy with sleep, but at the sound of my voice, his expression immediately changed. He turned to me, instantly alert. "My love," he murmured, his deep voi
~SophiaFor the first time in what felt like forever, I could finally breathe. No more looking over my shoulder. No more fear of waking up to another nightmare caused by Isabella’s schemes. She had finally turned a new leaf. It felt surreal, almost too good to be true, but for now, I chose to believe it. To believe that she was truly done with her tricks. And, as if life had decided to reward us for enduring so much, Lily was being discharged today. I smiled to myself as I walked toward Nathaniel, who was reading something on his phone near the window. His sharp suit hugged his frame perfectly, and despite all the stress of the past weeks, he still looked as handsome as ever. "You're smiling," Nathaniel said, not looking up. "That’s rare these days." I rolled my eyes, stopping beside him. "I have a reason to." He finally glanced at me, his lips tugging upward slightly. "And what would that be?" I leaned against the table, crossing my arms. "Well, for one, your ex-wif
~IsabellaI sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall. My hands trembled in my lap, my body still numb from the events that had just taken place. I had done it. I had broken down in tears. I had begged Nathaniel. Begged Sophia. Begged Ethan. Me. Isabella. The woman who once held her head high with pride, who never admitted to being wrong, who never shed a tear in front of anyone. And yet, tonight, I had collapsed in front of them, stripped bare of all my arrogance, all my anger, all my greed. I couldn’t believe myself. I clenched my fists, shaking my head. What the hell got into me? Was it the fear? The fear of going back to that hellhole of a prison? I had suffered too much to get out of there. I had fought, manipulated, bargained my way out. And now, I couldn’t risk going back. Maybe… maybe I had changed. Overnight. It was ridiculous to even think about it, but something inside me felt different. The money, the properties—the very things