Alex..“Are you sure this is the right place?” I questioned Benjamin for what felt like the fiftieth time. Benjamin had been taking turns for the past hour, and I swear, some of the streets did look familiar like we were here some minutes ago. A smirk descended on his lip as he took another turn. “We should be close.”I rolled my eyes and leaned back on the chair. My eyes fixed on the pale streets. This wasn’t the best part of Brooklyn. The atmosphere was gritty and lively but worn out. The narrow streets were lined with aging brick buildings. Hardship shrouded its hostile light over this part of the city.“Still not going to tell me, what put you in such a grumpy mood?” Benjamin glanced at me. “Just drive,” I said with a gruff tone. A lot of thoughts flooded my mind. I hadn’t even processed what happened with Sophie—her request, what she actually wanted to tell me—when Benjamin called and said we needed to meet the man Mia had been paying. Hours had passed by. Images of Sophie—
Sophie ..Before my doctor’s appointment in the hospital, I leaned on the walls of the hallways—a part where I could smell the quietness. My phone was glued to my ears, and my other hand was wrapped around my body.“I’m so sorry. I promise to follow you the next time. Work has been so hectic.” Romi kept apologizing; guilt chipped more and more at her voice. I tapped my foot against the floor; the soft, rhythmic thud echoed in the hallways. “We are both adults entangled in our own lives, I understand,” I remarked with a low, weak tone.“You sound happy. Did you tell Alex about your pregnancy?” Flutters of papers came from the other end, and I could tell she was still busy. Two days had passed since that day in Alex’s office. It's like I have been carrying a heavy weight on my chest. I don’t know if it was hope or disappointment. My chest tightened for a moment as I remembered that day. “No. Something came up. Cathy happened.” I scratched my forehead before wrapping my hand around
Alex..Benjamin and I strutted into my company. The air was filled with murmurs and footsteps of workers. “Good morning, sir. Good morning, sir.” A blend of female and male workers echoed as they passed by.I nodded acknowledging their greeting and returned to the conversation Benjamin and I were having. “I checked the file yesterday, and something was off.”“I thought you checked it two days ago.” Benjamin chipped in.I raked a glance at him. “Maybe if we had caught that man and I was able to get answers from Mia. I would have been okay enough to go through the file.” My voice tightened. Benjamin smiled. “You are still not out of your grumpy mood.”I rolled my eyes. “I have two weeks and five days to call off my engagement; I don’t know how to go on with that.” My throat tightened as I remembered the scan pictures of my son, and it felt so real like the pregnancy wasn’t some kind of joke. “The mother of my child drugged me, and the only way I could get answers without minding the
Alex..All the good mornings fell on deaf ears, and the smiles fell on a broken face. The only thing I could hear were my desperate footsteps that echoed in the bright hallway. The bitter taste of my medication lingered on my tongue and back of my throat—it had finally become bitter.Approaching the door of Sophie’s workspace, Sophie’s voice broke through my deaf ears, and while an ounce of warmth seeped into my chest, a ton of pain tightened my chest. “Good morning, Alex.” An annoying smile crept into Mrs. Moore's lips. Ignoring her, I faced Sophie, whose eyes were fixed on the blank laptop before her—was she ignoring me?I ran my tongue along my lower teeth. “Can I see you in my office?” I gritted. Every second, my heart felt like a ticking time bomb about to explode.“I’m quite busy,” Sophie responded, her eyes still fixed on the blank screen.The least she could do was turn on the screen and pretend to be working, but she wanted me to know she was purposely ignoring me. She kn
Sophie..Romi pounded her chest as she choked on the food that hung in her throat. I handed her the bottle of water, and she snapped it down. A tear drifted down as she gulped down the water. Sighing, she dropped the bottle of water back on the table. "Wait, he burned the divorce papers.” She snickered.Normally, I would shoot her a sharp look. But the familiar warmth that filled her face and made me smile back. Since we’ve been sitting here for the past ten minutes, she has been looking down. Her eyes were heavy, and her lips were chapped. Being a designer like her, I understood how hectic this work could get. “I’m speechless. I’m dumbfounded. I’m lost for words. I’m tongue-tied…” “I get it.” I leaned back on the chair and crossed my arms. “They need to check him into the mental hospital.” It annoyed me that he could do whatever pleased him—getting married and having a family—while I couldn’t even move on. Alex wanted to keep me like I was one of his plane models. I have made
Sophie..Why did he look like someone who just returned from a battlefield? I had never seen him like this, and I could only wonder what had happened.The light that bounced off the white walls of the passage fell on Luca’s flushed face. His heavy and ragged breath disrupted the calm semblance of the passage. His hair was disheveled like he had pulled at it numerous times. His white shirt was rumpled, and his posture was tense. Digging his fingers into his hair and pulling at it. He closed his eyes, took a quick breath, and exhaled through his lips, letting out a puff. “I’m sorry.” He opened his eyes, and the anger in there struggled to fade. “You shouldn’t see me like this.” His voice softened, but there was still this hint of coarseness in it.My voice quivered, and my eyes refused to return to their normal size. I didn’t even know what to say or how to ask, so I opened my mouth and asked the most stupid question, “Are you alright?” Of course, he wasn’t; the room, his state—did t
Alex ..Two more days until Sophie’s deadline, and the knot in my lungs kept getting bigger, suffocating me. For the last four days, it’s like I have been walking around with a coffin in my chest, the accumulated dead feelings pressing against my heart. I had burned the divorce paper; I should feel safe, but this tension had gripped every layer of my skin. No amount of cold or hot water could ease. Tightening my face and tilting my head back, I tossed the pills into my mouth and gulped them down with the water. The bitter taste assaulted my tongue, making me smack my lips.A knock on the door filled my ears, preceded by a voice that only added to the tension beneath my skin. Yanking the drawer of my desk, I pitched the bottle of pills into the drawer and snapped it shut. “Mr. Watson.” Mr. Watson opened the door, his lips curled into his usual cunning smile. His steps were secretive, barely making a sound as they touched the dark brown marble tiles of my office floor. “Good day, M
Sophie ..Four days had passed, and Luca was still distant. It was worse—he had been locking himself in his room. He didn’t come down for dinner; he mostly ate in his room. I felt like he had been avoiding me. Despite telling him that night I wanted to be there for him, he was still shutting me out. The aroma of toasted bread and freshly brewed coffee romanced my nose as I stepped into the kitchen. The natural light filtered through the window casting its hue on the tray of the breakfast on the dining table.“Good morning, Ms. Sophie,” Paula greeted, picking up the tray.I flashed a smile. “Lemme give this to him.” My hand furled at both edges of the tray, my finger grazing hers. Palma stared at me, her hands refusing to let go. “Are you sure Mr. Luca would be okay with it?” “He would be,” I responded even though I wasn’t sure. I was more fixed on seeing him.Palma finally released the tray of food to me. I turned around and headed towards the stairs. With each step that drew me
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