~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
~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
~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
~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
~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
~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
~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
~EleanorMy head pounded as I jolted awake, the sound of my baby's cries piercing through the fog of sleep. "Oh God," I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I sat up. "Where's the nanny?"I struggled to my feet, wincing at the pounding in my head as I stumbled towards my baby's crib. "It's okay, sweetheart, Mommy's here," I cooed, scooping him up and cradling him against my chest. "Damn it, Martha, where are you?"As my baby's cries grew louder, my frustration mounted. "Martha, where the hell are you?" I muttered under my breath, pacing the room with my baby in my arms.I reached for my phone, dialing Martha's number. It rang once, twice, three times, and then went to voicemail. "Martha, this is Eleanor. Where are you? I need you here. Now," I snapped, my voice low and dangerous.My head pounded like a jackhammer as the baby's cries seemed to grow louder with each passing minute. Thirty minutes had passed since I'd woken up, and still no sign of Martha. "Where the hell is she?"
~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