~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
~AdamThe next day, I woke up to the sound of silence. Charlotte and I were acting like mere housemates, our love buried beneath the weight of our problem.I cleared my throat, desperate to break the silence, but Charlotte shot me a warning glance."Please," she said, her voice low and pained. "If I stay here, I'll go mad."She shook her head, her eyes filled with sadness."Can I leave?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "It's only a month before our contract expires. I can't stay here anymore."I pleaded with her, desperate to keep her by my side."Please, Charlotte," I begged. "Stay. I'll sort out the Eleanor problem, I promise. I can't live without you. And Ephraim? He's already gotten used to calling you mom. He'd miss you so much."Charlotte didn't say anything, but I knew her silence meant yes.I took her hands in mine, kissing them gently as I whispered, "I promise I'll fix everything. And if you still want me after this, maybe we can get married for real."Charlotte's eye
~DylanThe drive home was uneventful, but my thoughts were anything but calm. The night had gone surprisingly well until Noah showed up like a bad rash. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, the weight of the evening pressing down on me. The headlights of the car illuminated the long driveway as I pulled up to the mansion. The place was quiet, the kind of silence that came with late hours and everyone being asleep—or so I thought. As I stepped out of the car, stretching to shake off the stiffness of sitting too long, my eyes caught a faint glow in the distance. The guest house. I frowned. The light was still on. That bastard. I exhaled sharply through my nose, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Did he think I was joking when I told him to leave? I squared my shoulders and headed toward the guest house, the cool night air doing little to soothe my irritation. “Noah,” I muttered under my breath, my strides long and purposeful. “Of all the people Adam keeps around, it
~AdamThe sun was barely up, but my day was already in full swing. My phone was practically glued to my hand, its screen lighting up every other second with messages, calls, and reminders. A week to go until the wedding, and everything had to be perfect. No exceptions.“Morning, Mr. Groom-to-be,” teased Tom, my best man and oldest friend, when I answered his call.“Tom, don’t start. It’s too early for your nonsense,” I muttered, scrolling through my schedule.“Too early? Dude, it’s practically noon,” he quipped. “But seriously, do you need anything? Last-minute freak-outs? Dress code issues? Cold feet?”I groaned. “No, Tom. Everything’s under control.”“We’ll see about that,” he said, laughter in his voice. “Anyway, don’t forget tonight. The bachelor’s eve is sacred. No excuses.”“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there,” I replied, already tuning him out as I started another round of calls.The rest of the morning flew by in a blur of logistics. First, I confirmed the catering. Then the florist. T
~Charlotte The hum of the car engine was almost soothing as I steered through the morning traffic. The city was just waking up, and the streets were already bustling with life—coffee carts on corners, joggers navigating sidewalks, and cars weaving in and out of lanes like an intricate dance. I should have been thinking about the tasks waiting for me at the office, but my mind was miles away, trapped in a storm of unease. Then it hit me like a slap. Noah and Dylan. Their stares. They hadn’t said anything outright, but the way they watched Adam and me recently—especially now that we were on cloud nine—felt like a storm brewing. Their eyes held something sinister, like they knew something that could shatter the fragile peace I had built with Adam. My hands tightened on the wheel. The thought planted a seed of panic in my chest, and I couldn’t shake it. What if they were going to reveal my secret? The one thing I’d buried deep, swearing never to let it see the light of
CharlotteThe engine hummed softly beneath me as I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles white against the leather. The sun was low in the sky, casting golden streaks across the horizon, but I couldn’t appreciate its beauty. My mind was far too cluttered with thoughts of Dylan and his incessant calls. “What does he even expect me to do?” I muttered, my voice sharp in the enclosed space of the car. “Choose him over Adam?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. The idea was absurd. Adam, with his unwavering kindness, his protective nature, and the way he made me feel like I was the center of his world, was everything Dylan never was. “He chose Eleanor over me,” I spat, the memory burning like acid in my chest. “He didn’t know then, but now he wants to come back and ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to me?” The words hung in the air, filling the car with tension as if I could argue with my own thoughts. I pressed harder on the gas pedal, the car speeding down the empty road.
~DylanI paced back and forth in my apartment, the phone pressed tightly against my ear. Each ring felt like a hammer pounding against my chest, the sound mocking me as it echoed through the silence. “Pick up, Charlotte,” I muttered under my breath. My thumb hovered over the call button again, ready to redial her number for what must have been the tenth time this morning. Ever since I heard the news of Charlotte and Adam’s engagement, I hadn’t known a moment of peace. The thought of losing her—truly losing her—was suffocating. When I first found out their marriage was just a business arrangement, it was like a lifeline. I told myself I still had a chance, that I could fix things between us, that she would see reason. But now? Now they were planning to get married for real. That was it. That would be the end of us. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. The image of Charlotte wearing Adam’s ring, standing by his side, looking at him with the same s
~CharlotteAdam’s arm was draped across my waist, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept beside me. The soft morning light streamed through the curtains, bathing the room in a golden glow. I turned my head to look at him, his face serene, lips slightly parted as he breathed deeply. For the past week, our lives had been blissfully quiet. Ever since he proposed, it felt like nothing in the world could touch us. The entire family had been stunned when we revealed the truth about our previous wedding being a mere facade, orchestrated for business purposes. Naturally, there were plenty of whispers and judgments when we shared it with the public. Some called us frauds, while others admired our honesty and the love that had blossomed despite the circumstances. But none of it mattered. Not when Adam looked at me the way he did. Not when he held me like I was the most precious thing in his life. I reached out, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead, smiling as I pressed
~Charlotte The warm Mediterranean breeze brushed against my face as I stood on the balcony of our suite, gazing out at the stunning Amalfi Coast. The sapphire-blue waters sparkled under the golden sunlight, and the faint hum of laughter and clinking glasses drifted up from the piazza below. It had been a week since Adam and I reconciled, and true to his word, he’d been doing everything to show me how much he cared. This trip to Positano was his way of making up for lost time, and though I was hesitant at first, I couldn’t deny how magical it felt to be here with him. “Charlotte,” Adam called from inside, his voice warm and light. “Are you going to stare at the view all day, or will you come have breakfast with me?” I turned to find him leaning against the doorframe, his eyes crinkled with that boyish smile of his. He looked relaxed, wearing a white linen shirt and beige shorts, the coastal sun highlighting the golden tones in his hair. “I was just enjoying the view,” I said,
~CharlotteJasmine and I sat on her worn yet cozy couch, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faint lavender scent of her candles. The TV played Adam’s press conference on loop, his voice echoing in the room. “And finally,” Adam said, his tone heavy with emotion, “to Charlotte. I owe you the biggest apology of all. I was blind to the truth, and in doing so, I hurt the one person who has always been my light.” My heart fluttered, and my chest tightened as I watched him look directly at the camera, his gaze filled with sincerity. “I’m sorry for all the pain I caused. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you that I can be the man you thought I was. I love you, Charlotte.” I felt a lump form in my throat, tears threatening to spill as his words replayed in my mind. Jasmine nudged me, her grin wide. “Well, well, well, looks like someone is a lovebird again.” “Stop it, Jasmine,” I said, wiping the corner of my eye quickl
~AdamBy the time I arrived at the press conference venue, the weight on my shoulders felt unbearable. The room was already filling with reporters, their chatter loud and insistent, like vultures circling a fresh carcass. My security detail cleared a path through the sea of flashing cameras and eager eyes, and I forced myself to maintain a steady gait despite the turmoil churning inside me. The event staff had set up a podium at the front of the room. Its presence seemed both unassuming and daunting, as though it were waiting to swallow me whole. I climbed the small steps leading to the stage, adjusted my tie, and stepped behind the podium. My hands rested on the edges, gripping them tightly to stop the slight tremor in my fingers. The room was stifling, the air heavy with tension. My throat felt dry, and I reached for the glass of water placed on the stand beside me. I took a quick sip, the coolness a momentary relief. Then, I adjusted the microphone, scanning the room filled wit