~EthanI clenched my jaw as I stood in front of the large, rusted gates of the Blackridge Correctional Facility. This was the last place I ever thought I’d find myself. The sky was grey, the air thick with the metallic scent of rain that hadn’t fallen yet. I exhaled slowly, trying to push down the rising anger inside me. The past few days had been a blur—coming back from my vacation only to hear that my own mother was locked away like some common criminal. I still didn’t know what to believe. Yes, Mom could be… difficult. She could be manipulative and controlling, but she was still my mother. Whatever happened, she didn’t deserve this. Right? Taking a deep breath, I approached the front desk where a heavyset guard sat behind a scratched-up counter, flipping through some files. "I’m here to see Isabella Hayes," I said, keeping my voice even. The guard lifted his head, his bored expression shifting into something amused. His lips twisted into a smirk as he looked me up a
~EthanThe whiskey burned as it slid down my throat, but I barely felt it. My mind was too tangled, too heavy with thoughts that refused to settle. I sat slumped in my chair at the bar, one hand wrapped around my glass, the other drumming against the counter. The dim lighting, the low hum of conversation, and the distant clatter of billiard balls barely registered. My mom’s voice echoed in my head. Call the number. He’ll tell you how to get me out of here. What the hell was I supposed to do? I exhaled sharply and took another sip, barely noticing the three idiots sitting around me. "Yo, Ethan!" I blinked and looked up to see Darren waving a hand in front of my face. His cocky smirk made me want to throw my glass at him. "You good, man?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You’ve been staring into that drink like it’s about to tell you your future." Beside him, Jordan snickered. "Nah, he’s still crying over Sarah. Poor guy got played like a sack of trash, and
~SophiaI had been glancing at my phone every five minutes, counting down the hours, waiting for him to arrive. The moment I heard the sound of a car pulling up outside, I knew it was him. "Lily!" I gasped, practically throwing down the napkin I had been holding. Lily’s head shot up, eyes wide. "He's here?" I didn’t even answer. We both rushed outside, nearly knocking over one of the caterers who yelped as she carried a tray of wine glasses. And there he was. Nathaniel stepped out of his sleek black Bugatti, looking every bit the man I had missed. Tall, effortlessly handsome, and carrying that signature air of confidence that made everyone else look like they were trying too hard. The second his eyes met mine, a smile curved his lips. I didn't even think—I ran straight at him and smacked his arm. "You jerk!" I scolded, though my grin betrayed me. "I really thought you weren’t going to make it!" Nathaniel chuckled, catching my wrist before I could hit him again. "I to
~EthanI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the crumpled piece of paper in my hand. My fingers hovered over my phone’s keypad, ready to dial the number my mom had slipped to me at the prison. I took a deep breath. I was about to do something insane. Was I really going to break my mother out of prison? I rubbed a hand over my face. I had already talked to my friends about it, and they were in. My mother was desperate. And I… I couldn’t just leave her in there to rot. But still… this was risky as hell. I shook my head. No more thinking. Just do it. I exhaled and pressed the first digit of the number— RING! RING! I flinched as my phone rang in my hand, making me nearly drop it. I glanced at the screen. Dad. I groaned, rolling my eyes. "What does he want now?" I muttered under my breath. It couldn’t be a coincidence. Now, when I’m about to call the guy who’s going to break Mom out, Dad suddenly decides to call? I scoffed. "What, is he trying to distract me now
~EthanI arrived at the prison earlier than I had planned, my heart pounding with anticipation. I sat in the visitor’s area, drumming my fingers on the metal table as I waited. Other visitors were scattered around the room, some talking in hushed tones, others looking exhausted, and a few staring blankly at the walls like they had already given up on the person they came to see. But not me. I wasn’t giving up. My mom was finally getting out, and I was going to be the one to tell her. A warden walked over, his face expressionless. "She’ll be with you right away," he said. I nodded. "Thanks, man." He didn’t respond—just turned and walked away. A few minutes later, the door opened. I sat up straight as my mother walked in, escorted by two guards. She wasn’t wearing the usual prison jumpsuit today; instead, she had on a plain, oversized gray sweater and matching pants, her dark hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. Her face was calm, but I knew her well enough to see
~NathanielThe church was bathed in soft golden light, the high ceilings echoing with the faint murmurs of guests as they waited. The air smelled of fresh flowers—roses, lilies, and peonies arranged beautifully at every corner. The scent blended with the faint aroma of burning candles, adding a solemn yet romantic touch to the atmosphere. I stood near the altar, dressed in a crisp black suit, watching the guests whisper among themselves. Everyone looked radiant, their faces alight with joy and anticipation. The groomsmen stood tall in their dark blue tuxedos, while the bridesmaids, dressed in soft pink, giggled amongst themselves. Then, the music changed. The doors at the far end of the church swung open, and the entire room turned to look. There she was—Martha. She stepped inside, her white gown flowing like a dream, the delicate lace shimmering under the light. A soft veil cascaded down her back, framing her glowing face. She held a bouquet of white roses, her fingers trem
~SophiaThe morning air was crisp, the sun barely peeking over the horizon as we loaded our bags into the trunk of the car. Nathaniel lifted the heavier suitcases with ease, while I busied myself with Lily’s smaller bags, making sure everything was neatly packed. Lily stood beside me, rubbing her sleepy eyes and yawning. “Do we really have to leave this early?” I chuckled, ruffling her curls. “Yes, sweetheart. We have a long drive ahead of us.” She sighed dramatically. “But I wanted to stay longer.” I smiled, bending to her level. “I know, but your birthday is around the corner, and we need to start preparing. Plus, don’t forget—you’re starting at your new school soon.” Her eyes widened slightly, excitement flickering through them before she pouted again. “Fine.” I stood and dusted off my hands. “Now, go inside and tell Aunt Martha that we’re about to leave.” Lily nodded and ran off toward the house. As soon as she was gone, I leaned against the car and smirked at Nath
~Nathaniel Ethan carried the last of our bags inside and set them down near the staircase. Just as I was about to thank him, he suddenly scooped Lily up in his arms, lifting her high into the air. “Little sis!” he said with a grin. “I really missed you.” Lily blinked at him, her mouth slightly open, clearly stunned. “You… missed me?” she asked, as if the idea was completely foreign. Ethan laughed. “Yeah, I did. Don’t sound so surprised.” Lily narrowed her eyes. “You never even acknowledge my presence! All you and your mom ever did was fight my mom!” The room went silent. Ethan tensed. Sophia and I exchanged a quick glance. “Lily,” Sophia said gently, stepping forward, “that’s enough. Go upstairs and unpack your things. I’ll come check in a few minutes.” Lily huffed but obeyed, wiggling out of Ethan’s arms and dashing up the stairs. Ethan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well… she doesn’t hold back, huh?” Sophia chuckled, shaking her head. “No, she doesn’t. Bu
~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