Lauren's POV The airport was a whirlwind of movement, families reuniting, announcements echoing through the halls, and Abigail’s laughter cutting through the noise like a warm breeze. As soon as Liam stepped through the arrival gate, her tiny frame shot forward, a bundle of excitement and curls.
The soft strains of a live orchestra mingled with the hum of voices and the clink of champagne glasses. Servers in crisp black-and-white uniforms moved through the crowd, their trays gleaming with liquid jewels. It was all… excessive. I couldn’t help but feel how excessive this was, even for Alexa
Lauren's POV The room seemed to freeze, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Alexander’s jaw tightened, his gaze dropping to where Liam’s hand rested on my hip. What? Fiancée? The word echoed in my mind as I stared back at Liam. My gaze flicked to Sophia, whose smile seemed to stretch w
Before I could react, I was yanked forward, my back slamming into the cold wall. Panic surged as a hand clamped over my mouth, and I froze, unable to move. His presence was suffocating—his grip like steel, trapping me in place. "You’re planning to marry Liam?" His voice sliced through the tension—
Lauren's POV I didn’t want to hear another word from him. Not from Alexander. Not now. His voice, his lies—everything about him suffocated me. Without thinking, I shoved past him, my heart pounding like a trapped bird. The past had already taken too much from me, and I wasn’t about to let him dr
“Enough,” my voice hardened, slapping the papers onto his desk to his brooding smirk. “What exactly do you want from me?” I demanded, planting my hands to his massive desk. He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. The sharp line of his jaw clenched slightly, and for a brief moment,
Alexander The door clicked shut behind her, and my pulse thundered in my ears. Lauren. She was here. Standing in front of me, as defiant and maddening as ever. Rising from my desk, I met her gaze. “These matters don’t concern you,” she snapped, her voice sharp and dismissive. “The agreement is
I quickly sent a message to Owen. “Bad uncle made Mom mad again today! I don’t want a daddy who makes Mommy mad!” He messaged me back right away. “He’s moody today. It’s Sophia’s fault. She’s the bad mom,” Owen said. I could tell he was upset, too. But then he said something that made me stop. “
“Sophia,” he said, his voice shaking. “She… she’s awful. A horrible mom. She—she threatened me.” “What?” I leaned forward, my heart pounding. “She said if I didn’t do what she wanted, she’d…” His voice cracked, and he buried his face in his little hands. “Take your time,” I said softly, trying
Lauren's POV The news was on in the background, the chatter of the anchors blending with the occasional giggle from Abigail as she colored on the living room floor. I had half an ear on the TV, more focused on sorting through the mountain of laundry I’d been ignoring for days. But then a familiar
Her hand landed on my shoulder, and I stiffened. The room fell silent, and I could feel every single eye on me, their gazes like lasers boring into my skin. “He’s the light of our lives,” Sophia said, her voice full of practiced affection. I resisted the urge to laugh—or maybe cry. Light of thei
Owen's POV One gala, right into another. This one felt less like an event and more like a loud, glittering outdoor carnival masquerading as high society. The kind of place where you had to squint—not just from the blinding sunlight reflecting off sequins, but from the overwhelming brightness of
He leaned forward, finally looking me in the eyes, his expression unreadable. “Sophia, I’m not firing her. You need to let this go. It’s between you and our…son.” My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “You’re really not going to do anything?” I asked, my voice a dangerous whisper. “You’re just
Sophia's POV I was furious. No, that wasn’t even the right word. Fury was too simple, too tame. What I felt was something darker, more visceral. The kind of rage that settled deep in your chest and burned through your veins until all you could see was red. It wasn’t just anger anymore—it was a n
Owen's POV The ballroom was everything I imagined it would be: glittering chandeliers dripping with crystals, walls covered in gold trim, and tables set with so many forks it made me wonder if anyone actually knew how to use them all. Grown-ups in fancy clothes laughed too loudly and carried gla
The line went silent for a moment, and I could almost hear his trembling on the other end. Good. He should be nervous. But his silence only fueled my anger. “You’re useless,” I continued, my voice colder now. “But, I’m not done with you yet, Doctor. Keep close.” “Yes, ma’am.” his voice replied q
Sophia's POV The soft click of my heels against the linoleum was muffled as I stepped into the shadows of the adjacent hallway, positioning myself just out of sight of Alexander’s hospital office. The air was almost too clean, and it made me wrinkle my nose in disdain. Hospitals always had that