DavinaThe sunlight streaked in from the window directly into my face. I winced and tried to turn over but something was holding me down. I bobbed my head up and as I guessed. Daniel and Danielle.Both of them lay sprawled on me and the bed at the same time. I gave a small smile before dropping my head back to the pillow. I turned right and as expected, my alarm clock was missing. No wonder I didn't wake up until there was sunlight. I sighed and shook my head. I could bet my two legs that mother put the kids up to this. I decided to sleep back since they had disorganized my schedule already; I might as well make the most of it by resting.I don't know how long had passed when I felt two tiny hands tugging at my cheeks. I opened my eyes slowly but Danielle's voice floated into my ears before I could even open my eyes completely. “Mommy, wake up” “I'm awake,” I said groggily. “Good morning, princess. Happy yesterday's birthday,” I added with a laugh. Elle's reaction was different f
Davina pov Sitting in the restaurant with my family and my husband's family, I couldn't help but notice one person who had made it her life's mission to make my existence miserable—Courtney, my sister.Courtney had finished her education and had now returned.My husband, Sebastian, and my sister were eating and laughing, discussing things as if it were their first date, while I sat there, feeling like a third wheel—even though it was supposed to be a family dinner. I sat across the table, watching the scene unfold as I gently rubbed my small belly, which held the unborn child I had recently discovered I was carrying. This was supposed to be a family gathering, but as usual, I felt like an outsider. None of them even noticed that I wasn't eating, as they were all too busy listening to whatever it was Courtney was saying to my husband. I watched Sebastian gaze at Courtney with so much longing as she passed him the salad bowl. His first love had returned, and I was left
Davina Courtney stood up to make her announcement, and the room fell silent as everyone waited for her to speak. "So, I just want to share with you all... I'm two weeks pregnant," she said, a smile spreading across her face. Everyone’s mouths dropped open, and confused glances were exchanged as they tried to process her words. "Then who is the father of the child?" I asked, breaking the silence in a mix of curiosity and disbelief. Courtney smiled before answering. "Sebastian is the father." My eyes widened in shock at her statement. "What?!" I exclaimed, standing up in disbelief as I tried to process what I had just heard. Everyone turned to look at me—Sebastian remained silent, and Courtney wore a smug smirk. “Davina, sit down. You’re embarrassing us,” my mother hissed, glancing nervously around the restaurant. All eyes were on our table now. I turned to her, fuming. “I’m embarrassing you? Not your whore of a daughter, who slept with my hu
Davina’s povI sat in the cold, dimly lit cell, replaying the events at the restaurant in my mind. How had it come to this? Ending up in jail was the last thing I ever expected. Why did the woman I once called "Mother" hate me so much? The question burned in my mind as I leaned back against the wall, letting the memories drag me to a time when I was just a child. ---I was in a grand living room, the kind of place you’d see in magazines. My eyes wandered over the ornate furniture and glimmering chandelier, but none of it felt familiar. In truth, nothing did—not the house, not the people, not even myself. All I remembered was waking up in a hospital bed with a man and a woman watching me nervously. Now, here I was in their home, sipping on a juice box the woman had handed me. “Hey, sweetheart,” she said gently, her voice warm but cautious. She watched me as if I might break at any moment. “Hi,” I mumbled, taking another sip. “Do you remember anything? What happened to you?”
Davina's POVI blinked in confusion, staring up at the guard. A lawyer? My pulse quickened. I wasn’t expecting anyone—certainly not so soon. Slowly, I stood, my boots echoing against the concrete floor as I followed him out of the murky cell block. As we stepped into the hallway, my gaze landed on a young man in a sharp navy suit. He stood tall, exuding quiet confidence. His dark eyes locked on mine, and he offered a faint but reassuring smile. “Mrs. Campbell?” he asked, his voice calm and steady. I nodded, too stunned to speak. “I’m Cole Daniels,” he said, extending a hand. “Your lawyer.” I hesitated before shaking it. His grip was firm, his hand warm against my freezing skin. “Who… who called you?” I managed, my voice unsteady. He gestured for me to follow him down the corridor. “Your assistant, Jane. She’s worried about you and thought I could help.” Jane. A wave of emotion surged through me, tightening my throat. Despite everything, she still believed in me. I no
I stood there, my wrist still tingling from Sebastian’s grip, my pulse hammering in my ears. The station buzzed around me, officers moving back and forth, their voices blending into a meaningless hum. I had taken my phone and called Cole's number immediately to come take me away from here. For Jane to trust him, he was the only person I could trust at this moment. I should have felt relief. I was free. But instead, my stomach churned with fury. Sebastian wanted me to sit through that meeting like nothing had happened? Like he hadn’t just thrown our marriage away and humiliated me? Like his family hadn’t tried to bury me? Who the fuck does that? And he even had the effrontery to threaten me? I clenched my fists, "No. He doesn’t get to decide how I walk away from this." I turned toward the exit, and made my way out. The moment I stepped outside, the evening air hit my soul and it felt like I'd been in that cell for decades. A black car was parked a
I drove into Sebastian's estate that evening, my fingers gripping the steering wheel with more force than necessary. I was fuming and I believe I could pluck his eyes out of the socket if he were near me at this moment. My mind raced with questions, my heart beating erratically in my chest. What else did he want from me? I just got out of jail, I should be resting. The wrought-iron gates opened slowly, groaning as if protesting my presence. I hated how familiar it all was, how the sight of it still evoked a mixture of nostalgia and resentment. This is where I had lived for three years and now, I feel like a stranger. As I pulled into the circular driveway and parked my car, exhaustion settled over me like a heavy cloak. I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples before stepping out of the vehicle. I looked around. No one was in sight. That was rather odd. The air was still, eerily so. A prickle of unease crept up my spine. I prayed that neither Courtney nor my
I woke up to the creaking of the wooden floor, the file Sebastian had dropped on the table last night, I didn't even bother to open it. My body ached, not from exhaustion but from Sebastian’s response to my question last night and to be very honest, I regretted asking. "No, not once." The cruelty in his voice had been sharper than a knife, the way be said it with a straight face and walked out, did I really mean nothing to him? I had spent the entire night staring at the dim ceiling, questioning every moment I had shared with him, every memory I once held dear. How could he have never loved me? Not once? I was there for him when Courtney toyed with his heart, gave him a shoulder to lean on and all that was for nothing? The thought only made my chest tighten with a dull, throbbing ache. I looked up and saw there was already a suit and a platter of food on the table. A quick shower washed away the grime of the night, but not the exhaustion weighing me down. I dr
DavinaThe sunlight streaked in from the window directly into my face. I winced and tried to turn over but something was holding me down. I bobbed my head up and as I guessed. Daniel and Danielle.Both of them lay sprawled on me and the bed at the same time. I gave a small smile before dropping my head back to the pillow. I turned right and as expected, my alarm clock was missing. No wonder I didn't wake up until there was sunlight. I sighed and shook my head. I could bet my two legs that mother put the kids up to this. I decided to sleep back since they had disorganized my schedule already; I might as well make the most of it by resting.I don't know how long had passed when I felt two tiny hands tugging at my cheeks. I opened my eyes slowly but Danielle's voice floated into my ears before I could even open my eyes completely. “Mommy, wake up” “I'm awake,” I said groggily. “Good morning, princess. Happy yesterday's birthday,” I added with a laugh. Elle's reaction was different f
DavinaDaniel soon fell asleep with his head on my chest. I laid him down slowly and tiptoe quietly out of the room. I gently closed the door and headed back to the backyard. The maids were now around and they were packing up slowly. Mother, Father, and Aunt Ce were sitting in one corner, sipping wine while laughing over something I am sure was an old recollected memory. Mom's eyes met mine and I gave her a smile. I looked around for Elijah and Alexander and I didn't have to for long as I saw them standing over the grill, turning meat over with one hand and a wine glass in the other.I was shocked by what I saw as they've always had a silent disagreement all this while. I don't know what beef they have, and they have refused to share, but I am sure they have some underlying misunderstanding they both kept aside to be with me at the same time.“Hey boy,” I greeted cheerfully, and I walked towards him. A maid passed me a glass before going about her packing. “Thanks,” I said to her w
DavinaThe car slowly drove into the Charez Estate, a place that has now properly become my home. I got out of the car when it parked.With Tim behind me with the cake in hand, I made my way into the living area of the house.“Mommy.”A cute little child embraced my legs the moment I stepped in.Danielle.“Elle. Happy birthday, my baby,” I greeted, picking her up with a smile.“Thank you, Mommy.”Daniel peeked at me from behind the couch, his usual quiet curiosity in his eyes. I crouched to his level and kissed his forehead. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”He gave me a tiny smile and nodded, his fingers still clutching his bunny.The living room smelled like grilled chicken and vanilla. Light laughter floated in from the back of the house.“They’ve been asking for you since morning,” my mom said, walking in with a tray of drinks. She looked relaxed today, dressed in a simple pastel dress with her hair tied back.“Did I keep them waiting too long?” I asked, brushing Elle’s curls from her
DavinaI stared out the window of my office, the bustling city was full of activities below. It felt like yesterday when I awkwardly called out for my mom that my water broke. The intercom rang at my desk. I turned around and picked it up.”Hello” “Reminder ma'am.” Tim's voice rang out. “You're picking up the cake for the twins’ birthday.”“Yeah right. I almost forgot. Thank you, Tim” I replied back before hanging up. Daniel and Danielle will be three today. It still felt difficult to believe three years had passed. Three years since I have been divorced, three years since I found my family, and three years since I had my children, that had now become my everything.I glanced at the wall clock above and picked up my bag. It was time for my meeting. I walked out of the office in short, measured strides to maintain gracefulness. Tim joined me and trailed behind as I walked out of the office. The team stood up to greet me, and I have been able to build a good rapport with them over t
DavinaThe discharge papers came faster than I expected. One minute, the nurse was saying, “Maybe tomorrow,” and the next, she was handing me a file with my name on it and a list of instructions I’d already forgotten.I nodded through all of it, even though I felt like I hadn’t learned anything. Formula guidelines. Bath temperature. How to tell if something’s wrong. It was all a blur.The only thing I really heard was, “You’re cleared to go home.”Home.With Daniel and Danielle.A nurse helped me dress them. I’d packed their clothes but forgot which was for who. She figured it out and just did it for me, then helped me buckle them into the car seats. I checked each strap twice. Then a third time.Mom and Dad were already waiting outside. Dad had installed the car seats that morning—thank God—because I couldn’t have done it.“You okay?” Mom asked as I stepped out.I didn’t answer right away. I was standing there with two babies and a hospital bag and had no real idea what came next.“I
DavinaI didn’t really sleep. I might’ve closed my eyes a few times, maybe drifted off for a few minutes here and there, but nothing stuck. Every sound made me jolt upright. Every grunt, hiccup, whimper. I kept checking to make sure they were still breathing, still warm, still real.They were right there beside me. Two bassinets. Two tiny humans wrapped like miniature burritos. Mine.It still didn’t make sense in my head.A soft knock came. A nurse walked in, clipboard in hand, giving me a practiced, polite smile.“Good morning, Davina. Just doing rounds.”I nodded. “Morning.”She moved over to the twins. Quiet, efficient. She said something under her breath while reading their tags—“Baby A” and “Baby B.” I hated that. They weren’t just letters.She looked at me as she checked their vitals. “Have you decided on names yet?”I hesitated, even though I already had. I just hadn’t said it out loud to anyone but my parents.“Yeah. Daniel and Danielle.”Her smile softened. “Sweet. Matching n
DavinaThey didn’t come in right away. My parents waited until the nurses finished their checks and left the room. Aunt Ce had stepped out too. Probably to give us space. Or maybe she just needed a break. Honestly, she deserved one more than I did.The door opened again a few minutes later. My mom came in first, then my dad. They didn’t rush to speak. Just stood near the door, taking it all in. Like they didn’t know where to start or if they were even allowed to.I didn’t say anything either. I was holding both babies—one on each side—and I still hadn’t fully wrapped my head around the fact that they were mine. That they were real. That they were here.“You okay?” Dad asked quietly.“Yeah,” I said, then added, “Tired.”“You did good,” he said. “Really good.”My mom stepped closer. She looked down at the twins like she couldn’t believe they existed. I wasn’t sure I believed it either.“They look like you,” she said.I didn’t see it. Maybe the nose. Or the mouth. But I didn’t argue.She
DavinaNo one tells you what “time to push” really means. They say it like it's a line in a play. But there’s no script for this.I looked at Aunt Ce, and she gave a small nod. “It’s going time.”I nodded too, because what else do you do? But I didn’t feel brave. I felt like I was about to do something I couldn’t undo, and everyone was just... letting me.The nurses adjusted things around me, speaking in soft, practiced voices. They told me how to position my legs, how to breathe, and what to expect.One of them said, “We’ll guide you. You won’t be alone.”I didn’t even know her name. But I believed her.“Take a deep breath,” Aunt Ce said from the side. “When the next contraction hits, we’re going to start.”I nodded again, even though the air felt thin. I didn’t say anything. Just waited.When the pressure built again, they told me to bear down. I did. I followed instructions like a student trying to pass a test. I counted in my head the way they said. Three pushes per contraction. T
DavinaI felt it before I saw it.A slow, warm gush down my legs. At first, I thought I’d just peed myself. Embarrassing, but not the end of the world. Then it hit me.I stood there, frozen. “Mom?”My voice cracked a little.She walked in, glanced down, and didn’t even blink. “Your water broke?”“I think so.”“Okay,” she said calmly, already moving toward the closet. “Let’s get changed. You’ll be more comfortable for the ride.”“I thought I still had time,” I muttered, heart pounding.“We’ve had thirty-eight weeks. This is time,” she said, pulling out clothes like this was any other morning.I was still standing in place. “Should I be freaking out?”Mom gave me a look. “Are you?”“Yeah. Quietly.”She smiled a little. “Then you’re doing it right.”I changed into the clothes she gave me. Comfortable stuff—loose shirt, soft pants. Nothing hospital-chic, but better than a soaked nightgown. I grabbed my phone out of habit, not even sure why.“You call the hospital?” I asked.“Driver’s on t