~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
~CharlotteI was sitting in the living room, my thoughts still heavy with the morning's events when the phone rang, pulling me out of my reverie."Charlotte?" the voice on the other end of the line said, urgency coloring their words. "It's your mother. She's in a critical condition. You need to come home right now."I felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs as panic began to creep up on me."W-what happened?" I stammered, my hands shaking as I tried to wrap my head around what was happening."I can't tell you over the phone," the voice continued, their words filled with fear and dread. "You need to come home right now. It's urgent."I leapt to my feet, my mind racing as I rushed to my closet and pulled out the first things I could find.Slipping into my clothes, I grabbed my car keys and rushed out the door, the words "critical condition" echoing in my mind as I climbed into my Lamborghini and sped off towards home, my heart beating wildly in my chest.The road stretched out
~Adam I strode into Charlotte's office, my mind focused on the day ahead, only to find it empty. She was supposed to be here already, but there was no sign of her. Frowning, I pulled out my phone to call her, but it just kept ringing, no answer. I felt a knot of unease tighten in my gut. I walked back to my office, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Charlotte's absence. As I settled behind my desk, I heard a knock on the door. I looked up, expecting to see one of my employees, but was met with the sight of Marco standing in the doorway. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" I asked, my voice sharp and demanding. I didn't trust Marco, not after the way he'd betrayed me in the past. Marco took a step forward, his face serious. "Adam, you need to be careful," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Gonzalez's son is out for your blood. He already killed my wife, and he's threatened to come after you and your family." I scoffed, crossing my arms over
~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
~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
~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