Nolan"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."The courthouse loomed before me, a symbol of the justice I’d been seeking ever since that fateful day. The memories of what Brad had done—of what he’d put my family through—played on a loop in my mind. There was no forgetting the fear in Alanna’s eyes, the sound of the gunshot, the moment when everything nearly ended for us. Today was about more than just a verdict; it was about setting things right, about reclaiming the peace that Brad had stolen from us.As I sat in the courtroom, the weight of the moment settled heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just about me. It was about Alanna, about our children, about the future we’d almost lost. I glanced over at Alanna, who was seated beside me. Her hand rested in mine, her grip tight and unyielding. We had come this far together, and we were going to see it through to the end.Mr. Collins, my lawyer, stood and approached the stand where I was seated. He was calm, composed, the
ALANNA"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."Shopping with Angela was just the distraction I needed. The weight of everything—Nolan’s court case, the uncertainty of our future—had been pressing down on me like a storm cloud. But here, in the brightly lit aisles, surrounded by the scent of fresh clothes and the chatter of happy customers, I felt lighter. Angela had a way of making even the most mundane tasks feel like an adventure.We wandered through racks of dresses, holding up options and debating the merits of each one. Angela was in the middle of showing me a deep red dress when she suddenly paused, a small smile playing on her lips.“Jake asked me to move in with him.”The words hung in the air between us, and I felt a surge of happiness for her. “He did? That’s amazing, Angela! How do you feel about it?”Angela looked thoughtful, her fingers brushing the fabric of the dress she was holding. “I don’t know. I mean, I love him, and I can see a future with him.
ALANNAWhen Lucas stepped out of the shadows, gun in hand, my heart clenched with a fear I hadn’t felt in years. The happiness of moments before—Nolan’s proposal, the promises of a future together—seemed to shatter like glass around us. All I could see was Lucas, his face twisted with rage and pain, his eyes filled with a darkness that sent chills down my spine.It was as if everything we’d gone through, every battle we’d fought, was leading up to this moment. But instead of feeling strong, I felt vulnerable, exposed. Lucas was no longer the boy I once knew. He was a man consumed by hatred, and that hatred was directed at me.“You came into my life and took everything,” Lucas snarled, his voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. “You took my family, you took the only love I had ever known, and now you’ve ruined everything!”I tried to find the right words, something that could reach him, something that could make him see reason. But nothing came. All I could do was stand there, f
NOLAN"Closure doesn't come from forgetting the past but from facing it head-on."The wind blew softly as we stood at Chloe's grave, the air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth and the distant hum of the city. It had taken us a long time to get here, to stand at this place with a sense of peace instead of anger or regret. I looked down at the headstone, its cold surface a stark reminder of all that had happened, all that we had lost and gained.In my arms, little Chloe stirred, her tiny hands grasping at the air. She was so innocent, unaware of the twisted history that brought her into this world. But that was how it would stay. Alanna and I had promised each other that this child, this beautiful little girl, would never know the darkness that shadowed her birth. She would be loved, cherished, and protected from the truth that could shatter her world.Alanna knelt beside the grave, placing a single white rose on the headstone. Her voice was soft, but there was strength in it
ALANNAStanding at the back of the church, the soft melody of the wedding march echoing through the air. Who would have thought that after everything—after all the pain, the heartbreak, and the betrayal—I would find myself here, about to marry Nolan Westbrook, the man I once believed was the source of all my suffering? Life has a strange way of leading you exactly where you need to be, even when you fight it every step of the way.Pedro, my rock, my father in every way that mattered, stood beside me. He looked at me with pride, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "You ready, Dear?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the emotion behind it.I nodded, feeling my heart swell with gratitude. This was the man who had taken me in, loved me unconditionally, and gave me the family I had always longed for. And now, he was about to walk me down the aisle to start a new chapter of my life.As we began to move forward, the sight before me took my breath away. The church was filled with the peop
ALANNA. “I want a divorce, Nolan,” I finally uttered the words in my mind and his expression shifted from dark to perplexity in a few seconds. There was silence for a few seconds as he stared at me, trying to figure out if I was lying or playing around. I am not the girl who gets picked up in the club and ends up having a one-night stand with a random stranger. I don't find it appalling, I think of it as romantic, falling in love with a stranger with just a glance. I love the idea of love at first sight but I guess the jokes were on me since I'd never gotten to experience that. Well, I fell in love with my husband at first glance but he didn't with me. That is why when I glanced at Nolan, the man I call my husband, his dark gaze piercing through mine, I didn't see love in his eyes, instead, it was disgust and irritation. And I didn't want that anymore. I didn't want any of that again. Gathering all the courage I could muster, I sucked in a breath as I peered at him. “Are you cra
NOLAN. The car pulled to a stop in front of the luxurious hotel and suites where my fiancee was hosting her birthday party. Chloe, my fiance, loved to go all out for events and I was all for it. Although, I had disappointed her and told her that I wouldn't make it back in time for her birthday since I'd been out of town for a few days. “Welcome, sir.” The receptionist behind the counter got on her feet to bow to me and I rolled my eyes. Taking a glance at my phone, I exhaled. Time passed quickly and I was in a terrible mood. “I’m sure my assistant already made my reservation so skip the formalities and get to the point. I want the best room in this place with a magnificent view.” I told her and she started to type something into her laptop. She looked up and glanced at me, a frightened look on her face. “I’m sorry, sir but the best room with the beautiful view is booked already. Do you…” she tried to say before I interrupted her. “Are you denying my request?” I narrowed my eyes a
ALANNA.I stared at the two pink lines on the pregnancy test strip I had and purchased from the store myself. This was the fifth one I was trying on myself and the results were the same thing.I was pregnant.As in, I was going to be a mother.My back hit the wall as I struggled to hold back my sob. I couldn't be pregnant. I couldn't have a child in this condition. I was practically living like a slave in this house, married to this man I was secretly in love with and hoping that he would at least love me back. Even if it was for a day.Yes, I was that desperate to make him love me. To love me the way I loved him because all I'd ever gotten from him back in return for my love toward him was nothing but attitude and hatred. My husband hates me.I stared at the pink lines again and started crying even more. Abortion shouldn't even cross my mind. I could lose my life in the process and I wasn't about to put myself through that. But at the same time, having a baby in a house where no one