AUDREY POV Morning crept in slowly, spilling soft light through the curtains and casting long shadows on the walls. The world outside was waking up, but I felt stuck in place—trapped between recovery and restlessness, between pain and the gnawing sense of isolation that had settled in my chest. I adjusted the pillows behind me, wincing as a sharp ache flared in my leg. It wasn’t as bad as before, but it was still there, a dull reminder that I wasn’t back to normal. Normal. I scoffed to myself. What even was normal anymore? I reached for the water glass on my bedside table, taking a slow sip before glancing toward the door. The nurses would be in soon. Then the doctor. Then another round of careful movements and quiet reminders that healing took time. I hated that phrase. But as I sat there, shifting uncomfortably, I realized something else was missing. Or rather, someone. Mr. Garcia hadn’t come last night. I swallowed, setting the glass down more forcefully than ne
AUDREY POV The room was quiet again. The nurses had left, and for the first time in a while, I wasn’t entirely helpless. Before now, I would have pressed the emergency bell, waiting for them to help me with something as as a bath. But today… today, I felt like I could manage. It was just a bath. I reached for the hem of my nightgown, peeling it off slowly. My fingers trailed down my sides as I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. I still had my curves, the hourglass shape I had always taken care of, but something about me looked… smaller. Had I really lost so much weight in just a few weeks? I ran a hand down my stomach, feeling the slight hollowness there. My ribs weren’t visible, but I could see the difference. My collarbones were a little more pronounced, my arms not as full as they used to be. Maybe it was just the surgery. Maybe it was the stress. I sighed, shaking the thoughts away. I wasn’t weak. I wouldn’t let myself be weak. I turned, reaching fo
MICHELL POV I shut the door behind me with more force than necessary, the sound echoing through the hall as I walked stiffly back to my room. My pulse hammered against my skull, my jaw clenched so tightly it ached. What the fuck was that? I ran a hand down my face, exhaling sharply. I should never have opened that goddamn door. I had just wanted to check on her. That was all. Yesterday had been too damn busy—I hadn’t had time to stop by. I told myself it didn’t matter, that she was Amelia’s nanny, not someone who required my personal attention, but when I saw the nurses outside earlier, I’d asked about her anyway. “She just finished eating,” one of them had said. So I figured I’d stop in for a moment, make sure she was comfortable, and then get back to work. That was all. But then I walked into the room and saw the empty bed. I hadn’t expected the unease that settled in my chest. I looked around, scanning the room, and that’s when I heard it—faint sounds coming from t
AUDREY POV. The door clicked shut behind Michell, and I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. I picked up my spoon again, but my appetite had vanished. It wasn’t just because of what happened this morning—though, God, that was still burning in my head like a humiliating brand I couldn’t shake. It was everything. The way he had barely looked at me. The way he’d been so… stiff, so distant. I stirred the soup absently, my mind replaying the conversation. He had hired a dance teacher for Amelia. I knew, logically, it made sense. My body was still weak. I couldn’t push myself too fast, no matter how much I wanted to. But hearing it from him—hearing it decided for me—had stung in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I wasn’t just Amelia’s nanny. I had decided to be her dance teacher and also improve my dancing skills. And now, it was being handed off to someone else. I knew he thought he was doing the right thing. And maybe he was. But it still hurt. I exhaled, pushi
AUDREY POV. Her eyes were wild. She pulled my hand off and whispered harshly, “You mean to tell me… that Michell Garcia, the brooding, untouchable businessman, walked in on you while you were—” I glared at her. She gasped again, smacking my arm like she physically couldn’t contain herself. “No, no, no.” She shook her head. “This is not real. You’re telling me he caught you—” I buried my face in a pillow. Lisa lost her mind. She laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bed. “Oh my God. I am so mad you didn’t tell me this sooner!” I groaned. “Because I knew you’d react like this!” Lisa wiped fake tears from her eyes, grinning. “Audrey. Babe. Sweetheart. How did he react? What did he say?” I groaned again, muffled by the pillow. “He—he was just… standing there.” Lisa choked. “Standing there?” I turned my head just enough to glare at her. “Yes.” Her jaw dropped. “For how long?” “Not quite long!” She screamed again. I whacked her with the pillow. Lisa was shaki
MICHELL POV I had barely stepped out of Audrey’s room when her friend’s voice rang out behind me, loud and brimming with energy. “Oh my God.” I paused, just for a second. “Audrey,” her friend said, practically bouncing. “He’s so freaking handsome and cool in person. How do you survive seeing him every day?” I stopped walking. Not intentionally. It just happened. How did she survive seeing me every day? It was a ridiculous question, but suddenly, I wanted to hear Audrey’s answer. What did she think of me? There was a brief pause before Audrey groaned. “Please—” “No, listen!” her friend cut her off, “Any lady would have gotten an orgasm with just a handshake.” I raised an eyebrow. Alright. That was… excessive. “I don’t blame you for masturbating with his image,” She continued, as if she hadn’t just obliterated the last ounce of my peace. “Honestly, I would've done the same thing.” I froze. My thoughts blanked for a solid second before kicking back into gear, col
AUDREY POV There was something different about him. I didn’t know what exactly, but I felt it the moment Mr. Garcia walked into my room that evening. His steps were measured, his gaze sharper than usual—too sharp. Like he was watching me, studying me in a way he never had before. I straightened slightly from my reclining position, my fingers tightening around the edge of my blanket. “Mr. Garcia.” I kept my voice even, but a frown tugged at my brow. “Is something wrong?” He paused near the door before continuing toward the chair beside my bed. “No,” he said, lowering himself into the seat with practiced ease. “I was merely checking in on you, Ms. Taylor.” I stared at him. That wasn’t unusual—he checked in on me frequently. But something about this moment, this visit, felt… off. Usually, Mr. Garcia was either direct and efficient—staying just long enough to ensure I was recovering—or patient. But today? Today, his gaze was different. It held something I couldn’t
MICHELL POV. I closed the door behind me, exhaling slowly. The tension in the room had been thick—deliciously thick. Ms. Taylor had been squirming. Not visibly, not enough for an untrained eye to catch, but I wasn’t untrained. I had spent years perfecting the art of reading people, unraveling their defenses with nothing but observation. And tonight? She had barely held it together. I hadn’t meant to push her—at least, not at first. But the moment I stepped into that room, the moment I saw her reaction to me, I knew. She was thinking about it. About me. And the more I leaned in, the more I prodded—the clearer it became. She wasn’t just aware of me tonight. She was hyper-aware. I smirked, making my way toward my study. How… interesting. Ms. Audrey Taylor had been nothing but composed, nothing but stubborn since the day she stepped foot in this estate. She resisted help. Resisted attention. But tonight? Tonight, she had crumbled—just a little. Just enough for me to see i
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