Stevenson’s POV
When I turned around and saw Mia standing there, I froze, my mouth hanging open in shock.She looked beautiful, natural, yet classy. Like one of those supermodel mothers who seemed to be aging backward.One would never have guessed that she had once been my maid some years back. The transformation was astonishing.But how? I didn’t understand. How was she standing right in front of me, looking so beautiful and healthy? I thought she was at the hospital, and the last time I saw her, anyone would have thought she was on her deathbed.Mia met my gaze with an indifferent look, her confidence radiating as she spoke. “I’m here now, so when can I get my necklace back?”I quickly closed my mouth, struggling to regain my composure, my mind racing.“How? How were you able to beat cancer?” I asked, still bewildered.She smiled smugly. “God was very merciful to me and gave me another chance.”It was inSheila’s POVI slammed the door shut behind us, dropping my bag on the floor. I took a deep breath, trying to sound cool and composed, but deep down, I wasn’t.“Mom,” I started, my voice shaking despite my efforts to stay calm. “Why did you agree to meet him? After everything he put us through? After everything he put *you* through? Why did you accept to see him and listen to whatever nonsense he has to say?”She didn’t respond right away, her eyes soft but distant. She suddenly looked tired and sat down on the couch.Anna came in and silently went inside with some of the groceries we bought, while the maids used the kitchen door to fetch the rest after sensing the tense atmosphere between me and my mom.When Mom didn’t respond, I went and sat beside her. I took a deep breath and asked her calmly, “Do you still have feelings for him, Mom? Is that why you want to meet him again?”“I don’t have feelings for him, Sheila,” she finall
Stevenson’s POVI stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my collar as I hummed my favorite song. It had been years since I’d felt like this—excited, almost like a young man preparing for a date.As I smoothed my jacket, I reached for the small velvet box on my dresser. Inside was Mia’s necklace, a piece of jewelry I had kept hidden for years. I thumbed over the intricately crafted pendant, wondering why I had held onto it all this time. It was as if I couldn’t let go of her completely, no matter how much time had passed. The ringing of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. I picked it up, seeing Shepherd’s name flash on the screen.“Hey, man. Wanna hang out tonight?” Shepherd’s casual voice rang out.“Sorry, Shepherd. I’ve got plans,” I replied, glancing at the clock. “Can’t make it.”“Plans? You? Since when do you have plans that aren’t about work or whiskey? Well, more of whiskey now,” Shepherd laughed, but I coul
Fiona’s POVI had only come to Stevenson’s room to thank him, to maybe find some common ground again after all we had been through.I hadn’t expected much from him, but after the way he had shown up at the hospital for Phoebe, I thought… maybe there was still a part of him that cared. Maybe, after all this time, we could still salvage what was left of this broken marriage.But then, I overheard him.I had raised my hand to knock when I heard his voice from inside the room. He was on the phone, and his tone was… different. Excited. Eager.“Can’t make it tonight, Shepherd,” he had said. “I’m going out to meet someone… You’ll never guess who. Trust me, you’ll be shocked when I tell you.”His words stopped me in my tracks as different thoughts began to brew in my head.Who was he meeting? And why did he sound so… happy? I felt my heart sink as the realization dawned on me: he was definitely meeting a woman. There was no othe
Sheila's POVThe moment we left the restaurant and got into the car, I could feel the tension easing from my mom’s shoulders.Mom sat beside me, staring out the window, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. I wasn’t sure if she was replaying the confrontation or simply glad to be done with it. I wanted to say something, but I wasn't sure about her mood at the moment. I glanced at her once again and sighed, wondering what she was thinking about. After a few moments of silence, she finally turned to me.“What were you doing there, Sheila?” she asked calmly. “I didn’t expect to see you at the restaurant.”I smiled and shrugged. “I couldn’t let you meet him alone, Mom. I know you told me you could handle him, but... I couldn’t take any chances.”“You were there the whole time?”I nodded, leaning back in my seat. “I disguised myself and stayed a bit far from the table, just observing. I had to make sure things didn’t go south.
Stevenson’s POV“Tell me the truth, Fiona!” I roared, storming toward her as she casually threw her purse onto the table. “I want an explanation, and I want it now!”The second Fiona stepped through the front door, I slammed it shut behind her with a force that rattled the whole frame. My heart was pounding, my blood boiling. The rage I was feeling couldn’t be compared to anything I could think of right now.She spun around to face me, her eyes equally blazing with anger. “Stop yelling at me, Stevenson! That’s the same reason the restaurant manager practically threw us out! You caused enough of a scene back there.”I laughed bitterly. “Oh, I’m the one who caused a scene? You should be grateful I didn’t cause more! After everything Mia said—”“Mia? Really? You’re going to take her word over mine now?” Fiona snapped back. “Since when did Mia become the voice of truth in our marriage? You were out with HER, Stevenson! I should be the one fur
Sheila's POV "Sheila, go to table five and take their orders. It's been very busy today, and you've been standing around doing nothing. Sheila, are you even listening to me?" "Sheila!" I was startled when I heard someone shout my name. I didn't realize I was being called. I was just lost in my own world, drowning in sadness. "Are you alright?" Diana, my coworker, asked. I quickly wiped away the tears that had slipped from my eyes and forced a smile, "Yes, I'm fine. What did you say?" She glanced at me for a moment and shrugged, "Well, you need to fix your face and go take the order for Table five." "Okay, I'll do that right away. Thanks." I went to the restroom, and when I looked at myself in the mirror, I started crying again at the sight of my sad reflection. How could he do this to me? What did I do to deserve this kind of betrayal? I took out my engagement ring from my pocket and stared at it, mumbling, "Why is life so unfair to me?” and my mind wandered back to
Sheila's POV “Alan…” I whispered unbelievably. He froze and turned to meet my gaze. “Sheila! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?” He said and got up to quickly dress up. Phoebe scowled at me and used the bed sheet to cover her nudity, refusing to move an inch or show any atom of remorse. She even had the guts to try to drag Alan back to the bed but Alan refused and wore his shorts, looking at me with a surprised expression. “Why?” That was the only word I could say to Alan as I stared at the only man I had ever loved in my life. The pain of his betrayal was too much for me to bear as I collapsed to the floor looking at him with tears in my eyes. I had gone through a lot of phases in my life but this one right here was very hard for me to accept. “I..I…We…” “You don't need to explain anything to her, babe,” Phoebe suddenly interrupted Alan and glared at me. “What were you actually thinking, Sheila? That you would eventually marry Alan and play the Cinde
Sheila's POV "Are you still here, Sheila? What's wrong with you? If you weren't feeling well today, why did you come to work? You are making the other girls do your job!" Diana shouted angrily at me, snapping me back to reality. I didn't even realize how long I had spent in the resting room. "Sorry," I mumbled and quickly fixed my face. Even though I wanted to stay with my mother at the hospital today because I didn't feel like coming to work, I had no choice but to show up because my job was all I had at the moment. I stared at the engagement ring Alan had given me one last time before flushing it down the toilet. Good riddance to bad rubbish! I left the restroom and headed over to Table five to take their orders, but another waitress was already attending to them. Feeling relieved, I started to head back to the kitchen when I was asked to take Table Seven's order. Why couldn't I just get a break, and have a moment to myself? Switching into my professional work etiquettes, I pu