~NathanielI never thought a bottle of whiskey could feel this damn useless. The amber liquid sloshed inside my glass as I swirled it, staring blankly at the half-empty bottle on the nightstand. It had done nothing—nothing to dull the ache in my chest or silence the storm inside my head. The room around me was dimly lit, but I didn’t need much light to see the mess I had made. Crumpled papers, an ashtray filled with untouched cigarettes, and most importantly—the pictures. They lay scattered across the bed like broken pieces of my past, taunting me with what I had destroyed. Pictures of me and the lady from last night, scattered on the bed. Pictures of Sophia. Pictures of Lily. Pictures of what could have been a perfect damn life if I hadn’t been a complete idiot. I ran a hand through my hair, gripping the strands tightly as I let out a shaky exhale. If I could turn back time—God, if I could just go back to that night—I’d never have stepped foot into that fucking club.
~SophiaI sat on the bed, my eyes scanning every inch of the room, looking for anything—anything—that could help us escape. But there was nothing. No windows, no vents, no loose floorboards. Just dull, gray walls, a small nightstand, and the heavy metal door that stood like a final barrier between us and freedom. Lily sniffled beside me, curled up with her knees to her chest. Her little fingers were gripping the hem of her dress, twisting the fabric as she rocked slightly. “Mommy…” she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m pressed.” I swallowed hard, trying to keep my own emotions in check. The last thing Lily needed was to see me panic. I smoothed my hand over her hair, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Just hold on a little longer, baby,” I murmured. “Someone will come soon. I promise.” Tears welled up in her big, innocent eyes. “But I really have to go.” I clenched my jaw, turning toward the door. If they weren’t going to come on their own, I’d make them.
~IsabellaI stormed out of the room, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, the echo bouncing off the high ceilings of the hallway. My blood was boiling, my fingers curled into tight fists at my sides. Damn that woman. Sophia was just as stubborn as ever, refusing to break, refusing to give in to the truth I had so carefully constructed for her. If she had just believed the picture, she would have walked away by now, broken-hearted, taking her daughter with her, leaving Nathaniel all to me. I wouldn't have to stress about this plan B of getting 100 million euros from Nathaniel. But no. She had to fight. She had to question. She had to resist. The nerve. The mask i wore felt suffocating. With a sharp yank, I pulled it off, letting my true expression settle in—fury, frustration, and a cold determination that had carried me this far. A voice cut through my thoughts. "Isabella!" I turned sharply to see Lydia, one of my most trusted girls, hurrying toward me.
~NathanielI stood outside the dingy apartment door, my jaw tight as I knocked my boot against the bottom edge. The hallway smelled of old cigarettes and mildew, and the flickering light overhead did little to ease my irritation. No answer. I knocked again, harder this time. Still nothing. I exhaled sharply, tapping my fingers against my thigh before raising my hand to bang on the door. Just as my knuckles were about to make contact, the door creaked open an inch, revealing a pair of wary eyes peeking through the gap. The man behind it looked disheveled—grimy stubble, dark bags under his eyes, a nervous twitch to his lips. Then, recognition flickered across his face. His eyes widened in pure panic. He knew exactly who I was. "Shit," he whispered. And in the next second, he tried to slam the door shut. Too late. I shoved my shoulder against it, forcing it open as I pushed him backward into the small, dimly lit apartment. He stumbled, nearly tripping over the mess on t
~SophiaThe piece of paper fluttered to the ground as the masked woman hurried out of the room, locking the door behind her. I stared at it, my heart pounding. Something told me this was important. Slowly, I bent down and picked it up. My fingers trembled as I unfolded it. A receipt. My eyes scanned the details—some hotel expenses, a transaction… and then, my breath caught. Name: Isabella James. Address: 18 Rue de Lys, Paris. My entire body stiffened. My fingers clenched around the paper so hard it crumpled. Isabella. That vile, conniving woman. I knew it. I had a hunch from the very beginning. Something about the masked woman felt too familiar. Even though she tried to disguise her voice, even though she hid behind a mask—I still knew. Her eyes. That cologne she always drowned herself in. I threw the paper onto the bed and slammed my fist down. "Shit!" I hissed. My jaw clenched so tight it ached. Rage burned through my veins. She did this. She locked me
~NathanielThe night breeze was cool against my skin as I leaned on the balcony railing, phone pressed to my ear. The city lights stretched before me, but my mind was far from the peaceful view. "This woman is truly despicable," my lawyer, Anthony, said, his voice laced with disgust. "Kidnapping your wife and your daughter just to force her out of your life? That’s not just evil, Nathaniel—it’s insane." I let out a slow breath, gripping the railing. "I know. But at least she’s finally paying for it. Sophia and Lily are safe now. That’s all that matters." Anthony sighed on the other end. "I hope you’ve signed the divorce papers. Someone like that shouldn’t have any ties to you." I smirked slightly. "I had her sign them when I visited her in prison three days ago." There was a pause before Anthony chuckled. "Good. That must’ve burned her pride." "Oh, she was furious," I said, remembering the way Isabella had clenched her fists, her face twisted in rage as she scrawled her si
~SophiaMartha’s sitting room was as lavish as ever—plush cream-colored sofas, an elegant glass coffee table, and a scent that reminded me of vanilla and fresh lilies. She had always had a knack for making any space feel both luxurious and welcoming. I sat across from her, flipping through a wedding planner's portfolio while Martha sipped her herbal tea, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. Across from us, her event planner, Vivian—a sharp-looking woman with sleek black hair tied in a bun—adjusted her glasses and prepared to discuss the details. "So, Mrs. Lancaster," Vivian said in a smooth, professional tone, tapping her pen against her notepad, "you want your wedding to be elegant, timeless, and unforgettable. But we need to narrow down the theme. Have you given any more thought to the styles I suggested?" Martha hummed, glancing at me before answering. "I want something different. Not just another grand wedding where people come, eat cake, and leave. I want it to feel magical
~NathanielThe sun hung lazily in the sky as I lined up my shot, gripping my club with precision. The green stretched before me, pristine and perfect, like a canvas waiting for my masterpiece of a swing. My friends stood around, laughing, sipping on their drinks, and talking about everything under the sun—business, relationships, scandals—typical weekend golf banter. "Alright, Nathaniel, let's see if you still got it," James smirked, leaning against his club. I gave him a side glance. "I’ve always had it." "Yeah, yeah, we’ll see." Just as I was about to swing, Lucas chuckled. "Speaking of 'having it,' I never thought Isabella could go from sweet to full-on demon mode. Damn, Nate, you really dodged a bullet. Or should I say, got shot first before dodging it?" The other guys laughed. I just rolled my eyes. "Man, 25 years later, and she came back just to blow up your life," Daniel added, shaking his head. "Who would’ve thought? You two used to be inseparable. The perfect coup
~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