. AUDREY POV. The room was colder than I expected. Not just because of the air conditioning, humming softly in the background, but because of everything. The walls, the equipment, the chair where I sat, my hands gripping the armrests just a little too tightly. I kept my arms crossed as I sat on the examination table, my fingers pressing into my skin, trying to hold myself together. The room smelled like antiseptic and faintly of lavender—probably something they used to mask the sterility of the place. It was quiet. Too quiet. The way the physician spoke like this was just another routine case. Like it wasn’t my life he was talking about. Like it wasn’t my body that had to be opened up and put back together. “You’ll need surgery.” I heard the words. Understood them. But they didn’t sink in right away. It was like hearing something underwater—muffled, distant, unreal. I should have expected it. The pain never really went away, no matter how much I ignored it. Some day
MICHELL POV. I stood outside the MRI room, arms crossed, watching through the glass as the machine whirred to life. Audrey lay on the table, perfectly still, but I caught the slight tension in her hands, the way her fingers curled just a little too tightly against the fabric of the hospital gown. The doctor had asked me to step outside before beginning the scan—not that I had argued. I wasn’t about to interfere. Still, I didn’t like standing here. Didn’t like watching without being able to do anything. I glanced at the physician, who was focused on the monitors, reading the images as they appeared on the screen. His expression remained neutral, unreadable. I had seen enough medical professionals to know that meant nothing. The rhythmic thunk-thunk-thunk of the MRI filled the silence, and I shifted slightly, resisting the urge to speak. To ask. To demand an answer now. The moment the call came through, I knew something was wrong. My assistant’s voice was tight, uneasy
Audrey pov The rhythmic clunking of the MRI machine had finally stopped, and Dr. Myers helped me out, guiding me back to sit on the examination bed. My legs felt stiff, but I managed to keep my expression neutral. I’d gotten too good at hiding discomfort over the years. The scan was done. That was the first step. Dr. Myers studied the images on his monitor, his face unreadable. My fingers curled around the edge of the bed, heart pounding slightly. I had been told before that there was no solution. What if that hadn’t changed? The doubt crept back into me. I had learned that he was the best. Why doubt then? He turned to me. “The results are clear. Surgery is the next step—and the sooner, the better.” A strange mix of relief and fear settled in my chest. Relief that something could be done. Fear because I had never allowed myself to hope for this. Before I could respond, the door opened, and Mr. Garcia walked in. The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong. His u
AUDREY POV Today was moving day. A wave of nerves washed over me. I wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t as if I was leaving the estate—just relocating to a different part of it. But something about this change felt… significant. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes just as the door opened slightly. A housekeeper peeked in. “Ms. Taylor,” she said politely. “Mr. Garcia has asked for you to have breakfast before we move your things.” Right. Of course he did. Because of course Mr. Michell Garcia would think of something like that. I nodded. “I’ll be down soon.” The housekeeper disappeared, and I took a deep breath before swinging my legs over the side of the bed. As soon as my foot touched the floor, a dull ache ran up my injured leg. I winced but ignored it. I was used to this. I got ready quickly, slipping into a comfortable dress and brushing my hair back into a simple ponytail. Then, I made my way downstairs. The dining room was quiet when I entered. Amelia had gone to
AUDREY POV. When I got home, I headed straight to the new room I’d been given. It was bigger than I expected. Spacious. Modern. Luxurious, but not in an overwhelming way. It was definitely closer to the surgery quarters, just like Mr. Garcia had said. A long hallway connected this side of the estate to the medical wing, making it clear that this space had been designed for convenience. I sat on the edge of the plush bed, letting my fingers sink into the silk duvet. The entire estate had been impressive from the start, but now that I was actually staying in a different part of it, I couldn't help but wonder—just how rich was Mr. Garcia? A personal hospital? A private swimming pool? A gym that was probably better equipped than most professional ones? A literal movie theater inside the house? I hadn’t even seen everything yet, and I was already convinced his wealth was on another level. And yet, despite all of this, there was something strange about the estate. Something… m
MICHELL POV I flipped through the contract in front of me, scanning the details with sharp precision. The numbers were solid. The projections were favorable. But there was something—one thing—that felt off. I tapped my fingers against my desk, my other hand holding the contract open. “Page seventeen,” I said flatly. Across from me, Ethan, my head of acquisitions, looked up from his own copy. “What about it?” I exhaled sharply, irritated. “The clause about equity distribution. It’s not aligned with our standard agreements.” Ethan blinked, flipping to the page. He skimmed it, then frowned. “Huh. I didn’t catch that.” Of course, he didn’t. I didn’t respond, just leaned back in my chair, tapping my pen against the desk. The moment stretched long and silent before Ethan finally sighed. “I’ll have them revise it,” he muttered. I nodded once. “Make it fast.” He stood, gathering his papers. “Anything else?” “Yes. The Merado shipment. Have we received confirmation on the
AUDREY POV Pain. It came in waves, sharp and pulsing, radiating from my leg like a cruel reminder of my own recklessness. I should have known better. Should have stopped when I first felt the strain. But I hadn’t. Now, standing with Mr. Garcia’s hand still gripping mine, the pain wasn’t the only thing I felt. There was something else. Something heavier. Something I didn’t want to name. His face had been cold, sharp as a blade when he stormed into the ballroom. His voice—deep, commanding—had cut through the space like a whip. But beneath the anger, beneath the frustration, I had caught something else. Something like… worry. Why? Why had he looked at me like that? Why had he sounded like that? I tried to brush it off as simple annoyance—of course, he’d be mad. I was Amelia’s nanny, not her dance instructor. I was supposed to be recovering, not pushing my limits. I had no right to be reckless, especially under his roof. And yet… His anger had felt too raw. Too
MICHELL POV I closed the door behind me, inhaling slowly as I guided Amelia down the hall. The tension in my chest hadn’t eased. Not even a little. I had expected to be angry. Furious, even. Ms. Taylor had been reckless—completely disregarding the fact that her leg was still healing. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, fully aware that she had surgery scheduled. And yet— The moment I saw her stumble, the moment I saw the pain flash across her face, all that anger had burned away. Replaced by something else. Something I didn’t want to name. Something I couldn’t name. “Dad?” Amelia’s small voice broke through my thoughts. I glanced down at her. “What?” She was staring up at me, her little fingers still wrapped tightly around mine, as if searching for reassurance. “Are you mad at Audrey?” I exhaled sharply. “She should’ve been more careful.” “That’s not what I asked,” she pointed out, her tone quiet but unwavering. I pressed my lips together. She was t
AUDREY POV.I couldn’t stop smiling as I touched my belly, feeling a sense of warmth and connection that seemed to grow with every passing day. It was strange, but in the best way possible. This baby—our baby—had already become such a huge part of my world, even before I had a chance to meet them. I couldn’t wait for the day when they’d be in my arms, but for now, I was content with the gentle movements, the little kicks, and the love that already filled me up inside.Michell was beside me every step of the way, and the love I saw in his eyes each time he looked at me was enough to make me feel like I could do anything. The planning for the wedding had been a whirlwind, but it was a beautiful chaos. Everyone was on board—Ethan, Lisa, Amelia—each of them supporting me, making me feel like I wasn’t alone in any of this. I chuckled softly to myself as I remembered the weird cravings. Sometimes they were so odd, even I couldn’t believe what I was asking for. The other day, I had sent
MICHELL POV.The days after Audrey told me about the pregnancy felt like they were moving at a dizzying speed, but with each passing moment, I found myself growing more and more excited. It was a strange combination of fear and joy—a blend of emotions I hadn’t expected. But one thing I knew for sure: this was happening. And I couldn’t be more ready.Ethan was the first person I wanted to tell. He had always been my sounding board, the one I went to for advice. And now, with everything changing, I knew I needed his support more than ever. So, I called him up one evening after dinner, my voice steady but a little too eager. I could hardly contain the news anymore.“Hey, Ethan,” I said, trying to sound casual, but the excitement was practically bubbling over. “I need to tell you something. Can you meet up?”There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by Ethan’s usual laid-back tone. “Of course, man. What’s up?”“I—uh—well, Audrey and I…” I let the words trail off, feeling a mix
AUDREY POV.I held onto Michell as if I could somehow wrap my arms around the whole world in that one moment. There was something so surreal about it, like time had stopped just for us. The air felt thicker, full of everything I had ever wanted, yet never truly believed I deserved.Michell and I had been through so much, had lived through the ups and downs that tested the very foundation of who we were. We’d fought our way back from uncertainty, built something that felt more real than anything I had ever known before. Yet here we were, standing in the middle of a dream—one that I wasn’t sure I could have even imagined until this moment.As I looked at him, his eyes were still shining with that quiet joy, and I saw something else in them, something deeper than I had ever seen before. He wasn’t just happy because of the proposal. No, this was a sense of peace, of certainty. A quiet understanding that he knew exactly what he wanted in this life—and that was me.And I knew, in that
MICHELL POV.The sound of laughter filled the room as Ethan and I clinked our glasses together, the amber liquid catching the light of the late afternoon sun. It had been a good day—nothing special, just two guys sitting in the living room, talking about life. It felt like the first time in ages that things had slowed down to a pace I could enjoy.“Man, I’m telling you, life is different when you’re not always running from something,” Ethan said, leaning back on the couch, his hand cradling his drink as he looked over at me with that familiar half-smile of his.I chuckled. “I hear you. I spent half my life running—sometimes, it feels like I’m just starting to figure out how to stand still.”Ethan nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Yeah, it’s strange, isn’t it? Everything’s changed so fast.”After a few moments, I cleared my throat, breaking the silence.“Hey, Ethan,” I started, my voice a little more serious than usual. “I’ve been thinking.”Ethan looked up from his beer, raising an eyebr
AUDREY POV.The court proceedings felt like a distant memory now, the courtroom and the judgment barely leaving a mark on me anymore. Evelyn had been sentenced to thirty years, but even that didn't bring the closure I thought it would. Somehow, what she'd done to me still hung in the air. But in the quiet moments that followed, I could feel something shifting inside me, as if the fog was slowly lifting, bit by bit.I’d spent the next few days with Ethan, moving through the motions, trying to piece myself together. There was a sense of calm, but also something delicate—like I could break at any moment if I wasn't careful.Ethan was always there, steady and patient. And somehow, in his presence, I started to feel like I wasn't alone anymore. The pieces of me that felt lost began to click into place.It wasn’t just him, though. Michell, Amelia and Lisa too. They had been so supportive. One morning, as we were all seated in the living area, Lisa spoke. Amelia had gone to school, but n
AUDREY POV.The days after Evelyn’s arrest felt like they belonged to someone else. A strange, dizzying blur of noise and silence, filled with questions I couldn't answer, and memories that still stung like fresh wounds. But somehow, I had to breathe through it all.Ethan had been there—steady and unwavering, like the one constant in the chaos. We had spent hours together, just the two of us. His words were like soft blankets wrapping around the rawness inside me. Ethan and I sat in the garden that morning, the sun barely rising but casting soft golden light over everything. It felt like it was just the two of us, the world far away, as he spoke.“You know,” he said, his voice soft but sure, “no wonder I liked you the moment we met.”I frowned, looking up at him. “What do you mean?”Ethan’s lips twisted into a small, self-deprecating smile. “I couldn't put it together back then. It was like I knew you… but from somewhere else. I should have realized.”I took a deep breath, trying to
AUDREY POV.Ethan’s voice was barely a whisper, but it sliced through the air like a blade. “You’re telling me… it was my uncle?”Evelyn’s body sagged as if the truth was physically tearing her apart. Her lips trembled. “Matt… Matt wanted both you and Sophia gone. He was afraid they’d ruin everything.”“What the hell are you talking about?” Ethan’s voice cracked, a mix of confusion and horror. “Why would he—?”“Because he wanted your father’s properties!” Evelyn cried. “So, he wanted to get rid of both of you.”The room was spinning. My breath came in shallow bursts. My knees nearly buckled under me, and I clung to the wall like it was the only thing holding me upright. “What are you saying?” I whispered. “Who was she?”Evelyn looked at me then—really looked at me. And what I saw there made my blood run cold. It wasn’t the cold stare of the woman I’d called Mother all my life. It was something different. Something broken. She stepped forward, trembling, her voice hoarse.“You were So
AUDREY POV.“Evelyn?” Ethan's voice sliced through the tense air. It wasn’t a question—it was an accusation.“Evelyn?” I echoed, my voice barely a whisper as I tried to process the flood of emotions rushing through me. My gaze darted between Ethan and my mother, whose body had frozen.She turned slowly, her eyes locking with Ethan’s for the briefest moment. In that fleeting instant, I saw it—a flash of something that wasn’t just anger, but something much darker. Fear. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, leaving behind only the mask of defiance she always wore.Before anyone could react, she made a desperate move—jerking violently against the grip of the security guards holding her. Her eyes widened in sheer panic, and for a split second, I saw the wild, primal look of someone on the edge of losing control.“Hold her!” one of the guards barked, his grip tightening around her arm as he fought to keep her still.She was cornered now, her frantic eyes scanning the surroundings
AUDREY POV.That night, after everything, as I finally lay down to sleep, my mind couldn't seem to settle.The day’s events replayed over and over, but it wasn't long before exhaustion took over, pulling me into a deep slumber.The dream came again. The one I’d had so many times before. It was always the same—gentle, comforting. A man’s voice, low and warm, calling me beautiful names, followed by a woman’s melodic tone, soft but so loving, calling me something sweet, something precious. Their words were a lullaby, one I never wanted to wake from.Then there was the boy, the same boy from every dream. A little, golden-haired boy, swinging me in the air. His laughter would echo, sweet and innocent, as the swing creaked with each push. The breeze would tangle my hair, and I’d feel weightless, carefree. For a moment, everything was calm, perfect even. But then something shifted. For the first time, I wasn’t just watching. I was part of the dream. I was the one dancing. My body moved i