Alex . . In my office, I sat with my eyes fixed on my phone screen. Two days had passed, and the tick hadn’t doubled—let alone turned blue. I had attempted to call, but the call wasn’t going through. “Do you think she has a new number?” I questioned, my gaze shifting back to Benjamin. “If she did, I can get it,” Benjamin reassured, casually toying with the strands of his beard. "Now, can we concentrate?” He quickly added. I dropped my phone on the table between me and Benjamin. Benjamin had been occupied with work, so we hadn’t had a chance to meet, and some conversations are just better had in person. I recounted my confrontation with Mia to him. Benjamin nodded his head attentively. “So she reacted but denied it,” he reiterated. “Now the question is, why?” I spread on the sofa. “I can’t just seem to wrap my head around it.” With a quick motion, I swirled my fingers in the air. Confronting her would do no good; she would also deny it. I pinched my nasal bridge as
Sophie . . The meeting had been going on for probably two hours. My concentration faltered as a nauseous feeling brewed in my stomach—the dizziness that constantly struck me. Romi leaned in. “Are you okay?” She whispered. “You look sick,” she stated. “I am alright; I just didn’t get enough sleep,” I responded. Although I had had more than ten hours of sleep, I still couldn’t help but feel tired. “What did you do that kept you up all night on a Monday night?” Romi whispered her question. “Were you being naughty with Alex?” She teased. My heart skipped. I hadn’t told her about the divorce or anything. While Romi was away, she was dealing with her own issues, and I didn’t want to bother her. Mr. Beckham cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to the projection screen. We adjusted and leaned back. Mia’s strong cologne entered the office, intensifying my nausea. Mr. Beckham narrowed his eyes. “You are late.” With a gentle voice, she responded, “I’m so sorry
ALEX . . As I settled in next to her, a frown walked up onto her face. “What are you doing here?” Romi shot me a nasty stare, but that didn’t bother me. I was more focused on why I hadn't been able to reach Sophie. “I think I’ll give you guys some space,” Romi stated, rising to her feet and moving to another table. “I thought I told you to leave me alone.” Sophie narrowed her eyes and folded her arms. “And I never agreed to that,” I shot back, raising my brows. “And I’m only here because you changed your line,” I added, my gaze locked onto hers. “How many lines are you going to change because of me?” “I didn’t change it. I just blocked you,” Sophie remarked. She picked up her buffalo wing and took a bite out of it. I froze at her words. But I became distracted; my gaze lingered on her as she ate. I loved the way her eyes lightened up when she savored anything delicious. It was one of her favorite dishes. There was a nice spot in Brooklyn that made the best one, and I always
Sophie..Romi shot a burning stare from the other side of the wide desk at our temporary office at the hotel. Well, she had been doing it for probably an hour.“I’m sorry for smudging your lipstick.” I apologized for what felt like the hundredth time.Romi had fixed her lipstick, but her eyes still burned with fury. “If you are angry about something, I wouldn’t know if you don’t tell me,” I stated, dropping the pen and leaning back. “I’m not a mind reader, you know.” Romi leaned in. “You’re not giving me the full gist here,” she commented, biting the cover of her pen. “Something feels amiss.” She added.Instantly, I knew what she was referring to. I searched for the right way to say it. “Alex isn’t aware of the pregnancy,” I finally said, deciding there was no best way of putting it out there.Romi's eyes widened, her lips falling open as she tried to process the news. “What the hell. Why.. Wait." Confusion tied her tongue, and the right words just couldn’t come out. I told her e
CHAPTER 22Sophie ..A loud bang on the table startled me awake. My eyes fell on Mr. Beckham, his hand planted on the table as he glared at me, his eyes burning with rage.“My office now,” Mr. Beckham commanded, his voice sending a scorching heat down my spine. My heart pounding in my throat, I rose to my feet unsteadily, and I trailed behind him down the corridor. Every step felt like a hard labor job as fatigue stiffened my limbs.For the past week, it felt like I had been waking up on the wrong side of the bed every morning as I battled with morning sickness. But today, it was like I woke up on the worst side, as the symptoms were merciless. My hand subconsciously wrapped my stomach as it churned brutally.Even after finding myself in a deep mess, I still struggled to keep my eyes open. Entering the office, I closed the door behind me with trembling hands.Mr. Beckham settled in his swivel seat, his critical gaze still burning with the same intensity. “I’ve noticed you’ve not be
Sophie . . Today, unlike every other morning, seemed beautiful. I sat on the office table, a wide smile plastered on my face as I continued my work. Aside from the little fatigue lingering in my body, I was perfectly fine. Then, the nausea struck me. I sighed, knowing this feeling wasn’t going away anytime soon. But I wasn’t going to let it affect my happy state. “Someone looks excited,” Romi stated, sitting across from me. “Is that pineapple juice?” She questioned. I shrugged. Pineapple juice wasn’t a drink I would drink even with a gun to my head. Its acidic taste always stung my tongue, but here I was—savoring every drop of it as it romanced my taste buds. I still didn’t fully understand why. Romi giggled as she opened her laptop; the clicks of her fingers against the keyboards felt soothing for no reason at all. Everything seemed joyful today, for no reason. Romi suddenly looked up, drawing my attention. “We are supposed to go to Hampton to get those paintings tod
Sophie..Alex’s eyes kept dancing between mine and the road. It had been thirty minutes since we left the bustling city, now replaced by a serene environment dominated by small buildings and trees. The silence lingered, occasionally breaking Romi’s laughter whenever she saw a funny video on her phone. I turned my head away from Alex, facing the window, counting the trees and buildings, attempting to suppress the nausea brewing in my stomach. Also to distract myself from his dominative presence that slowly soaked into me. His cologne, unlike others, didn’t assault my nose.A subtle warmth jerked me back to reality as Alex cupped my hand, his eyes still fixed on the road. His big hand completely swallowed my hand, making it feel small. Masking the soothing warmth with a frown, I attempted to pull my hand away, but he responded by tightening his grip. “Resist again; I’ll be cuffing you to me. Then we’ll be stuck for the whole day.” Alex turned and winked at me before gazing back at
Alex . . I trudged inside my room, my legs too heavy to take me to my bed, so I collapsed on the sofa. Its softness eased the tension in my joints caused by my office swivel chair—maybe I do need to get a better-cushioned one. I shut my eyes, enjoying the comfort the silence offered, and began to unbutton my shirt. “Alex!” My mother charged through the door, her voice sharp, cutting through the calmness, grating my ears. Can’t a man have peace in his home? Another sigh escaped me. I opened my eyes, and they landed on her. Her eyes gleamed with fury, her brows furrowed, and I could only wonder what I had done wrong this time. “What did I do again?” I questioned, wiggling my brows. Tiredness drained the life out of my voice. “How would you embarrass Mia like that?” My mother questioned, tapping her feet against the floor. “Oh God,” I groaned as another headache shot through my head. I’ve had a stressful day, and all I needed was rest, not some old woman nagging at me—especia
Sophie..The sun hung in the sky as the trees and canopy filtered its sun rays. The chatter of the guests finally ceased as the orchestra began to play, and I walked down the aisle. My pristine white gown glowed as much as the smile on my face. My eyes were fixed on Alex, who stood beneath the arbour decorated with white and yellow lilies.My steps were in harmony with the music, and a flower was caught between my hands. It was a small wedding, as I didn’t want anything big. Since we never divorced, I didn’t really need anything big. Previously Alex and I had only done a secret court wedding, but now he said he wanted the world to know I was his and he was mine. The warmth in my chest intensified as I drew closer to the arbor. The eyes of the guest were staring at me in awe. Getting to the Arbour, Alex turned, and we both faced the officiant. Our gazes were locked on each other, and a smile teased our lips as those beautiful vows rolled off our tongues. Each beautiful word stir
Sophie ..Alex and I sauntered through the hallways of the museum, checking out the artwork. From the little time I had spent with him, he wasn’t really into paintings, but he was into craftwork. “Do you want to see something more beautiful?” Alex turned to me. Curiosity arched my brows. A beautiful smile burnt on his lips as he stretched out his hand. “Trust me.” Without hesitating, I slid my fingers into his, and he led me out of the museum into a beautiful garden. The scent of flowers traced the air. The cool breeze wrapped us as we moved deeper into the garden.“I never expected a garden to be here,” I said, my hand still caught in his. His teasing warmth sank through my palm. Without turning back, he said, “I found out the third time we came here.”I swung my gaze to him, and it fell on his broad back that looked alluring beneath the suit. “We’ve been here before?” I questioned. “Yes.” I resisted the urge to smack my head. All those beautiful memories are lost in the ab
Sophie..Two weeks had slipped by after Liam’s surgery, but he was still at the hospital for monitoring. I had returned to my hotel room.Locking the door, I sank to the floor. My muscles were weak from all the nights I had pulled. My heart was heavy as the doctor said Liam was healing slowly—much slower than usual.I couldn’t wait for my boy to be well, so he ran around and asked for ice cream. To return to school and play with his friends. An ache shot through me anytime I remembered his voice and how lively they were. After a while of consoling myself, I rose to my feet and headed towards the shower. Turning the shower on, the hot water poured down. The heat enveloped my skin, offering a sense of relief as it loosened my muscles. The vanilla scent of my shampoo filled the bathroom and steam fogged the glass partitions of the bathroom.After the shower, I wrapped my towel around my body and strode out of the bathroom. Alex’s words echoed in my head, haunting my mind. My lips pre
Alex ..My eyes fluttered open, and a sharp throb coursed through my head, inciting a wince from my throat. A deep ache swathed my lower back and pelvis region. “Alex.” My mother leaned in and cradled my face. “How are you feeling? Can you tell your legs?” Her hands hovered around me as she checked me.“I’m fine. How’s Liam? My voice came out coarse. I attempted to lift my body up, but it was unresponsive, like my nerves had been disconnected from my brain.My mother sprang up and placed her hands on my shoulders; she pushed me back into the bed. “You need to rest. I doubt your legs are working.”“What?” My eyes bulged at our as I craned my neck, her hands still pinning me down by my shoulders. My mother’s lips curled upward. “Because of the anaesthesia and soreness. It might be hard for you to walk for some time.” letting me go, she dropped back into her seat. “Liam and Sophie?” I pressed “Liam is fine. The surgery was successful, and Sophie is by her son’s side.”A soft smile
Sophie . . The drive from his office to his hospital was heavy with silence, and awkward glances. It was very obvious Alex was having a hard time digesting the news. Shock was boldly written on his face like a billboard. I still remember how his eyes widened and his mouth gaped. My cheeks turned red as embarrassment crept in. Alex parked the car in the car park of the hospital. We both stepped out and scurried towards the Doctor’s office. After He explained everything to Alex, Alex was led to the laboratory to run the compatibility test. I sank onto the long seat in the hallways outside the laboratory room. I buried my head into my bed palms and another wave of tears began to well up again. I was so confused and I had no idea what to do. Should I return to Liam or should I wait here till the result comes out? Sitting here wouldn’t change the outcome of the result. I rose to my feet and trudged down the hallway. With three turns to the left and a turn to the right, I a
Sophie ..My eyes widened, and I inched back, like I was trying to create space between me and the news. “What do you mean you’re not his father?” My voice quivered before darkening. “It’s Liam, we are talking about. Our son, not some random kid.” My heart thundered against my chest, shooting panic into me and filling my veins with dread. What the hell was he saying?”“This is not the time for pranks, Luca,” I said, my brain refusing to accept those words he just spat out. “Our son’s life is at stake here.” My voice rose.Luca sagged deeper into the wall, and his hands tightened by his side. But no word left his lips; not even a breath left his lips.My eyes fell to the floor as his words started to sink in. This wasn't a game. This was real. Luca wasn’t the father of Liam. My gaze swung to him. “If you are not the father, then who is?” The words burnt my tongue, and a raw shot through my chest.Luca’s lips tightened and his eyes rounded. But he stood still. Silence stretched betwe
Sophie..I drew a little breath as I placed the thermometer on his forehead. It beeped as it read forty degrees Celsius. “His temperature hasn’t dropped." Luca questioned, leaning on the doorframe of Liam’s room. I shook my head. “I have given him his medications, and I have done everything the doctor said. He doesn’t seem to get anything better.” I turned back on the wooden chair to face Luca. My brows lowered and my lips curled downward. “Or is it because of the big bowl of ice cream?” Luca chuckled lightly and he moved closer. He placed his left hand on the backrest of the chair, while his right hand tucked my hair behind my ears. “It’s been over a month. There’s no way an ice cream can make someone sick for that long.” I returned my gaze to Liam. “The doctor said if his fever doesn’t get better by tomorrow, We would have to take him for more checkups.” I exhaled. Luca’s eyes hovered over my features—my puffy eyes and droopy eyelids, the black circles. “Try and get some rest
Alex . . The darkness wrapped its blanket across the sky, and the lights of the city were glowing. The breeze whispered its cool tune into the atmosphere. Stepping into the five-star restaurant, one of the waiters led me to the private dining room. Soon I stood before the door. I arranged the collars of my black dress shirt. I adjusted the bouquet of red roses. My chest tightened as it had been a long while since I went on a date with a lady. Heaving in a puff, I stepped into the private dining room. My gaze settled on the dining setup positioned beneath the geometric chandelier. The yellow light bouncing off the white walls adorned with some art pictures, I didn't appreciate. “Should I get you a bottle of red wine as you await your date?” The waiter asked. “Yes, thank you,” I responded. The waiter turned around and closed the door behind him while I strode and settled in the beige upholstered seat close to the expansive windows that gave a view of the city from a h
Alex . . It’s been a week, and I was back in Manhattan. Back in the house that crumpled my happiness and made my future so bleak. Despite the quietness that filled every corner of the house except the kitchen, the aroma of my favourite dish that lined the air, and the nagging of Uncle Niall from the other end of the phone, the only thing I could think of was not getting a chance to hang out with Sophie again. Myles had returned to Manhattan three days earlier, and there went my perfect excuse for hanging out thrown into the mud. “You need to spend more time with your mother. She isn’t getting any younger.” Uncle Niall’s chide continued as I ascended the stairs. I didn’t know what all the yapping was about, but his nagging about spending time with my mother had started getting on my nerves. Running the company wasn’t a child’s play. Mr. Watson’s nephew was a puppet, only good for shows. I was still running the operations in Manhattan and Amsterdam. The building in San Fra