~DylanThe scene at the birthday celebration was a bustle of activity, the sounds of laughter and conversation filling the air. Everyone was dressed in their finest attire, eager to celebrate Albert's big day.Charlotte and Adam stood arm-in-arm, their smiles radiant, I couldn't help myself getting jealous .And then, just as I was about to make my way across the room, I saw her. Eleanor, her pregnancy belly swollen and round, walked towards me with a tentative smile."Dylan," she said, her voice gentle and sweet.Eleanor's expression crumpled, her lower lip quivering as she struggled to hold back tears. "Dylan, Adam has refused to accept me and the baby into his life," she whispered, her voice quavering with emotion. "I was so wrong to deceive you, to make you think the baby was yours. I'm so sorry, Dylan, please forgive me."I shook my head, my expression hardening into a sneer. "Sorry, Eleanor," I said, my voice dripping with contempt. "You reap what you sow, and you deserve every
~CharlotteSeeing the commotion, Adam and Albert rushed to Eleanor's side, concern etched on their faces."Eleanor, are you okay?" Adam asked, his voice tinged with worry."She needs to be taken to the hospital," Albert interjected, his brow furrowed with concern. "We need to make sure the baby is okay."The servants nodded in agreement, gently helping Eleanor to her feet and guiding her towards the exit."Don't worry, Eleanor," Adam called after her, his expression softening with concern.As I watched Adam sweep Eleanor into his arms, a wave of jealousy washed over me. I knew that he was only doing what was right, but seeing him hold her so gently, so protectively, made my heart twist with pain."We'll be at the hospital," Adam called over his shoulder as he carried Eleanor towards the door. "Call me if there are any updates."I nodded numbly, my mind a haze of conflicting emotions. I was relieved that Adam was taking care of Eleanor, but I couldn't help but feel like I was being lef
~CharlotteI quickly pulled my dress back on, my hands shaking as I buttoned it up. Dylan was dressing just as quickly, his hands fumbling with his belt as he tugged his pants up."We have to find out who that was," he said, his voice low and urgent.I nodded, pulling my hair back into a loose ponytail as I rushed towards the edge of the gazebo. But when I peered out, there was no one there."They're gone," I whispered, turning back to Dylan. "What do we do?"I collapsed onto the floor, my knees giving out as I buried my face in my hands. Tears streamed down my cheeks, my heart pounding in my chest as I realized the enormity of what had just happened."What if it was the press?" I sobbed, my voice trembling with fear. "They'll expose us, they'll ruin us. Oh, God, what have I done?"Dylan knelt down beside me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "It'll be okay, Charlotte," he whispered, his voice soft and reassuring. "We'll figure this out.I turned on Dylan, my face contorted with
~Charlotte"Noah," I said, my voice tight with urgency. "I'm in a hurry, I need to go."Noah didn't budge, his expression serious. "I understand, Charlotte, but please, just give me a minute. I need to talk to you."I sighed, my patience wearing thin. "Fine, but make it quick."I got out of the car, Noah stepping forward to stand in front of me, his eyes searching mine.Noah reached for my hands, but I flinched away, my nerves on edge. "Hurry up and say what you need to say," I snapped, glancing at my watch. "I have to go."He paused, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Charlotte, "Ever since our night together," Noah began, his voice low and earnest, "I haven't been able to get you off my mind."I scoffed, my hands tightening into fists. "You're kidding, right?" I snapped, my words bitter and sharp. "You think I'm going to believe that after you left that note for me? After you made it clear that I was nothing more than a one night stand?"He flinched, his face falling. "Charlotte
~AdamI ended the call with Charlotte, my mind a jumble of confusion and worry. What could be wrong? Why couldn't she talk to me?I sank down into the chair next to Eleanor's bed, my head in my hands as I tried to make sense of it all."Adam," Eleanor's voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, her voice weak and tired. "Adam, are you okay?"I looked up, forcing a smile as I reached for her hand. "I'm fine, Elle," I said, my voice strained. "How are you feeling?""Where is my baby?", Eleanor asked worriedly."Calm down, Elle," I said, my voice gentle and soothing. "The baby is still with the nurses, but they'll bring him in to see you as soon as possible. Just relax and take a deep breath."Eleanor nodded, but I could see the worry still etched on her face. "I want to see him," she repeated, her voice shaking with emotion. "I want to hold him, Adam.""You will," I reassured her, squeezing her hand and smiling. "I promise, you'll get to hold your little bundle of joy soon enough.Elean
~Adam"It's nothing," Noah said, his voice smooth and calm. "Forget I said anything. Welcome home, Adam."He extended a hand, his smile warm and disarming. "We should talk tomorrow about the app I'm designing for the company.I nodded, shaking his hand with a forced smile. "Yeah," I said, my voice tired and flat. "We'll talk tomorrow.Noah nodded, his smile still fixed on his face as he walked away, disappearing into the darkness.I entered the house, my footsteps heavy on the hardwood floor as I made my way to the living room.And there, sitting on the couch, was Dylan, a smirk on his face as he saw me."Well, well, if it isn't the man of the hour," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How's Eleanor doing? And congratulations on becoming a father."My jaw tightened, my anger rising as I glared at him. "The baby isn't mine," I snapped, my voice seething with rage."Hey, I just helped Eleanor for old time's sake," I said, my voice light and joking. "The baby isn't mine.Dylan lau
~CharlotteI woke up from Ephraim's room, my heart heavy with guilt and shame."Mummy, why are you angry?" Ephraim's sweet voice asked. "Is my daddy stressing you?"I smiled at him, trying to hide my pain. "No, sweetheart," I said, ruffling his hair. "I'm just tired, that's all."But Ephraim knew me too well, just a few months of playing mother to him was enough for him to have learnt more about me. "Are you sure, mummy?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.I closed my eyes, tears threatening to fall."I'm sure, sweetheart," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I'm just...I'm just struggling with something."Ephraim wrapped his arms around me, his small body warm against mine. "I'm sorry, mummy," he said, his voice full of concern. "Can I help you?"I smiled, my heart breaking as I held him close. "No, baby," I said, my voice thick with tears. "You just keep being your beautiful, perfect self."My heart was full of love for Ephraim, but it was also filled with guilt and shame. I knew
~CharlotteThe tension between Eleanor and I was palpable, but I kept my head held high as we made our way back to the house.Once we arrived, Eleanor was all smiles, acting as if she was Adam's wife. Everyone welcomed us, Albert, Dylan, Noah, even the maids.Eleanor walked around like she owned the place, her laughter and jokes making me feel small and invisible."I can't wait to spend more time with my husband and my son," she trilled, shooting me a mocking look as she twirled around the room.I tried to ignore her, focusing instead on the baby in her arms.He was beautiful, his tiny fingers curled around Eleanor's thumb as he slept peacefully.But no matter how hard I tried to focus on the baby, Eleanor's voice cut through the air like a knife, her laughter and teasing making me feel more and more invisible."Adam, darling," she cooed, batting her eyelashes as she looked at him. "I'm so glad we finally have a family together. You and me and our beautiful baby boy."Adam took my ha
~EleanorI paced back and forth, the sound of my heels clicking angrily on the polished floor. How dare he treat me like that? I will make sure he regrets it.My nanny was attending to my son's diaper change, unaware of the hurricane brewing inside of me. "Get out," I barked, my voice sharper than a whip. "You're done for the day."She looked up, her eyes wide with confusion. "But, ma'am, it's still early," she stammered, her fear evident in her voice.I clenched my teeth, rage boiling inside me like a raging inferno. "Did I stutter? I said get out!" I hissed, my voice low and threatening.The nanny flinched at my outburst, quickly moving to finish changing the diaper and wrapping my son in a fresh blanket. "Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll be on my way," she muttered, gathering her things and scurrying towards the door.The moment the door shut behind her, I snatched my phone, dialing with furious fingers, calling Dr. Smith's assistant.The phone rang once, twice, and then, "Edward
~Adam"Dr. Smith, are you sure about the test?" I asked, my voice quivering with uncertainty. "I'm not trying to question your expertise, but there must be some mistake. I know I'm not the father of Eleanor's baby.""I understand your doubts, Mr. Morgan," Dr. Smith replied patiently. "However, I can assure you that the test was conducted accurately. DNA doesn't lie. I believe there's a chance you might have forgotten an intimate encounter with Eleanor. It might not have been recent, but it did happen."I shook my head, my mind racing."No, no, there's no way. I'm certain I never slept with her after we broke up. I've always been faithful to Charlotte. It just doesn't make sense."Dr. Smith's voice remained calm and professional as he responded. "Sometimes these things are not as clear-cut as we'd like them to be. You might have had a lapse in judgment, or perhaps there could've been a mistake somewhere. Either way, I will have the rest redone as quickly as possible."A sudden knock on
~CharlotteFinally, my eyes landed on the word that changed everything. It was like a punch to the gut, the air leaving my lungs in a painful rush.My fingers loosened as I dropped the document onto the bed, my eyes glued to the words on the page. The results showed a 99% match - the baby was Adam's.I turned to face him, my expression a mix of shock and betrayal."Adam," I whispered, my voice trembling as I searched his face for answers. "What is this?"Adam's face fell, his jaw clenched as he struggled to find the right words. "I'm sorry, Charlotte."I was sure the baby couldn't be mine," Adam insisted, his voice rising in panic as he stepped forward. "Charlotte, please, I haven't been with Eleanor since we broke up. How could I be the father?"My eyes blazed with fury as I remembered that fateful day. "What about the pictures, Adam? The pictures of you and Eleanor in bed? Were those fake, too?"Adam's shoulders sagged, his expression one of defeat and regret. "I didn't want to worr
~CharlotteAs I took a sip of my wine, I turned to face Adam, my heart aching with sympathy for what he had gone through."I'm just glad you're okay," I said, my hand resting on his arm as I spoke. "That was terrifying."Albert chuckled from across the table, his blue eyes twinkling as he shook his head. "I don't know about you, Adam, but I think my heart skipped a few beats last night! When did you make enemies like that?"Adam's face hardened, his jaw clenched as he spoke. I'll have this taken care of, Dad. I won't let this happen again."Albert's smile faded, his eyes filled with concern as he placed his hand on Adam's shoulder. "You take care of it, son. Whatever this is, you fix it. I don't want to lose any of my sons.""Oh wow," Dylan exclaimed as he walked into the dinning room, his voice filled with dramatic flair as he rushed to the table, pulling out a chair and collapsing into it with a theatrical sigh. "I'm starving. That criminal must have injected me with some sort of hu
~AdamThe next morning, my family and I stood outside, our belongings piled into the cars as the sun rose over the ruined house. I turned to take one last look at the damage, my jaw clenched in frustration."This is going to cost a fortune to fix," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.With a final glance at the charred remains of our home, I turned and climbed into my car, Charlotte sliding in beside me as we pulled away, the convoy of vehicles slowly disappearing down the road.The convoy of cars pulled away, the sounds of our lives packed into the trunks, as we made our way to the safety of our mansion in the neighboring town."Are you okay?" Charlotte asked, her hand reaching out to rest on mine as she sensed the turmoil inside me.I sighed, turning to look at Charlotte, the worry in her eyes a reflection of my own fears. "I'm not sure," I admitted, my voice heavy with emotion as I squeezed her hand. "But I promise you, I'm going to find out who did this."She nodded, her eyes
~AdamMy eyes fluttered open, my head throbbing as I blinked against the sudden darkness. Confusion and panic gripped me as I realized Charlotte was still unconscious beside me, her body motionless on the floor."Charlotte!" I cried out, my voice raw with fear as I scrambled over to her, shaking her shoulders in a desperate attempt to wake her.She remained still, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths as I pressed my ear against her chest, relief flooding through me as I heard the steady beat of her heart.The house shook once more, and I winced, turning to look back at Charlotte, her body still limp on the floor."You bastard son of Gonzalez," I spat, rage boiling in my veins as I realized that this must be his doing. "I won't let you get away with this, you monster."I raced back to Charlotte's side, lifting her in my arms as another explosion rocked the house, the floorboards splintering and cracking beneath our feet as I carried her towards the window.I felt the house
~ChatlotteI opened my eyes, the soft morning light already streaming through the curtains as I turned to face Charlotte, her sleeping form so peaceful and serene that it made my heart swell with love.I slipped out of bed, eager to start the day and treat Charlotte to a delicious breakfast that would hopefully bring some light to our otherwise darkened lives. As I closed the bedroom door behind me, I thought about the menu for the day, my mind racing with ideas.I made my way downstairs, my feet carrying me towards the kitchen as my mind focused on the ingredients that I would need. It was going to be a surprise for Charlotte, and I wanted it to be perfect.I opened the fridge, my eyes quickly scanning the contents as I pulled out the eggs, bacon, and fresh herbs that I would need. The air was still and quiet, the only sound my own breathing and the soft click of the refrigerator door closing as I laid the ingredients out on the counter.My hands moved quickly and deftly, cracking th
~Charlotte The days since my mother's burial had been a blur, the pain and emptiness that filled my heart so overwhelming that it was all I could do to breathe, to get out of bed each day. I stood at the balcony of our home, my eyes scanning the landscape as the wind rustled through my hair, the chill of the evening air a stark reminder of the numbness that had consumed me. Then, I felt a warmth at my back, a familiar presence that wrapped around me like a protective shield. Adam. He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, his voice soft and concerned. "What are you doing out here, Charlotte?" he asked, his tone filled with worry as he turned me to face him. But I couldn't speak, couldn't find the words to express the grief that weighed down on my heart. Instead, I simply let the tears fall, my body shaking with silent sobs as I let the sorrow consume me. Adam's arms tightened around me, his lips pressing against my forehead as he held me close, offering me the strength that I ne
~AdamWe arrived home from the hospital, the house looming in front of us like a dark and foreboding presence, the pain of Charlotte's mother's passing still fresh in her heart.As we stepped through the front door, Charlotte's gaze swept over the house, taking in the sight of several security guards stationed around the property, their eyes fixed and alert."What's going on?" she asked, her voice a whisper as she turned to face me, her eyes searching my face for answers.I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, my voice low and reassuring as I spoke."I'll explain everything later, Charlotte," I said, my voice calm and even as I guided her towards the living room. "For now, I just want to make sure you're okay. You've been through enough today."She nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line as she sank down onto the couch, her body shaking as she tried to hold back her tears.As Charlotte sat on the couch, her body shaking with sobs, the door to the living room opened and Dylan steppe