Standing in front of the washroom mirror, Sammy stared at the red palm print on her delicate neck, which was growing more vivid with each passing minute. She winced as sharp pain radiated from her lower body, the memory of David pinning her down and taking what he wanted flashing through her mind.Her eyes hardened with malicious intent as she wished she could see Yvonne at that moment—she would have done far worse to her to vent her anger. Even after their marriage, Yvonne still haunted their lives. When would it end? She was done feeling guilty for using Yvonne in her schemes. If the situation affected her marriage, she was determined to ruin Yvonne beyond recognition.Meanwhile, David had finally calmed down and was grappling with the reality of what he had done in his anger. He couldn’t believe how far he’d gone. Seeing Yvonne’s indifferent reaction to his shocking revelation had cut him deeply. She was supposed to cry, to demand answers, and he wanted to savor that moment of powe
Micheal didn’t keep Yvonne waiting long. He soon arrived at the spot where she was waiting, noticing her lost in thought, a faint smile playing on her lips. It wasn’t the kind of smile that spoke of joy, but rather one that seemed to carry the weight of bittersweet realization.It was a smile that left Micheal both curious and concerned. He watched her for a moment, admiring the way the sunlight danced across her features, highlighting the gentle curve of her lips. But as much as he wanted to join her in that moment of contemplation, he also felt a strange hesitation. What could she be thinking about so deeply?Hadn’t she just confronted the man who made her miserable for the past few days? Clearing his throat to get her attention, he hoped to break the spell she seemed to be under. Yvonne looked up, startled slightly, and quickly composed herself, the smile fading from her face. For a split second, he wished he hadn’t interrupted her. There was something beautiful about seeing her l
“You know, I still can’t believe how much our relationship has changed. You’re all attentive and close now, that it is almost so natural.” Yvonne remarked as they walked side by side, her tone casual but with an undercurrent of curiosity.Micheal considered her words. It was true—he had become more attentive, more present in her life. But that wasn’t just a conscious decision; it was something that had naturally developed as he spent more time with her, learned more about her, and grew to care for her in ways he hadn’t anticipated. “Does it bother you?” he asked, his voice steady but with a hint of vulnerability.Yvonne was silent for a moment, her mind turning over his question. She was careful with her words, always conscious of the impact they might have, especially now. People who weren’t close to her might mistake her quietness for disinterest, but it was simply her way of protecting herself, of ensuring she didn’t say something she would later regret.Yvonne hadn’t realized how
They stepped into the restaurant, the warm ambiance a stark contrast to the chill that had settled between them. Micheal guided her to a table near the window, where they could see the hustle and bustle of the street outside. It was a small, cozy place, the kind that felt more like a hidden gem than a popular spot. The kind of place where you could talk for hours without being interrupted.The waiter handed them menus, and Micheal watched as Yvonne perused the options, her brow furrowed in concentration. He couldn’t help but smile at the way she took everything so seriously, even something as simple as choosing what to eat. It was one of the many little things he had come to admire about her.After a few minutes, Yvonne finally settled on something simple—a sandwich and a cup of tea. Micheal followed suit, ordering the same, not because he particularly wanted it, but because he wanted to share in her experience, to make this moment about them, together.He couldn't help but tease her
Their food arrived, and they ate in companionable silence, the tension from earlier slowly melting away. By the time they finished, Yvonne felt more at ease, more centered. The conversation had shifted to lighter topics—work, the weather, the latest news—and she found herself laughing at Micheal’s dry humor, something she hadn’t done in what felt like ages.Micheal also found himself talking more and very interested in answering all of her curiosity concerning Langston's many establishments. The food had been great and she just kept tasting everything with delightful eyes, glancing at Micheal to try something she found heavenly delicious and shared conversations as they had their dessert.Yvonne moaned in delight as she took bites from a cake bread. It was fluffy and had a sensational taste that made one close their eyes to savor it.She couldn't believe everything she was having was so cheap. She glanced up at Micheal, noticing he had stopped explaining the last questions she had a
As soon as Micheal returned to his office, an unexpected message popped up on his screen from Amy.*Hi, Mr. Langston. I was wondering if you guys have anything planned for Yvonne's birthday.*Micheal blinked, momentarily stunned. Yvonne’s birthday? He hadn’t known. No wonder she had eaten the dessert at lunch with such passion, savoring every bite like it was a secret celebration. He replayed the afternoon in his mind, recalling how she had been in unusually high spirits, saying she was in a good mood and nothing could upset her.Thoughts flooded his mind. He hadn’t anticipated Yvonne’s birthday would sneak up on him like this. She had been so adamant about keeping her distance from romantic entanglements, brushing off his subtle advances with grace and restraint. Micheal knew she wasn’t ready for anything more, not yet, but he couldn’t ignore his promise to his children: to make Yvonne their mother one day. He would find a way to make her see him not just as the father of her favorit
Yvonne’s mischievous smirk remained as she lunged at Micheal, determined to smear some frosting on him. But in her excitement, she misjudged her step, her foot landing on a stray dollop of frosting on the floor. She slipped with a startled yelp, her hands instinctively grabbing onto Micheal’s shirt as she lost her balance. Micheal, caught off guard, tried to steady her, but the momentum was too much. Before either of them knew it, they tumbled to the ground in a heap, Yvonne landing awkwardly on top of Micheal. The room seemed to freeze for a split second as their faces were mere inches apart, and then, in a moment of pure chance, their lips brushed together, soft and fleeting. It wasn’t planned, not even close, but the warmth of the accidental kiss lingered far longer than it lasted.Yvonne’s eyes widened, and Micheal’s breath hitched, the unexpected closeness sending an undeniable jolt through them both. Their hearts raced, and for a second, they were too stunned to move, the sensa
Yvonne’s hands trembled slightly as she opened the first box, revealing a delicate set of hairpins adorned with tiny, glittering flowers. Her heart melted at the sight, and she looked up to see Lily’s proud, beaming face. “Do you like them, Miss Yvonne?” Lily asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “They’re beautiful, sweetheart,” Yvonne cooed, gently tucking one of the hairpins into her hair as Lily watched with delight. Next, Yvonne reached for the box that Jack had chosen. Inside was a simple yet elegant wrist chain with tiny charms that jingled softly as she held it up. She immediately slipped it onto her wrist, admiring the sweet gift. “This is so lovely, Jack. Thank you,” Yvonne said, smiling warmly at him. The children’s innocent joy filled the room as Yvonne fawned over the thoughtful gifts, but it was the slightly larger box that caught her attention next. Yvonne carefully untied the ribbon, feeling the anticipation build as she lifted the lid. Inside was a framed pic
Micheal hadn’t moved from the same spot in hours. He had just tucked the kids into bed and slipped quietly onto the terrace outside their room.The night was still. The air held a gentle chill, the kind that slipped beneath the skin and settled deep in the bones. Birds chirped softly in the distance, and the wind rustled the trees, but even that felt far away—like he was underwater, drowning in everything he wished he’d done differently.She was gone.Yvonne had left him.She hadn’t said much—her words were soft but sharp, laced with pain. He could still hear her voice, low and trembling: “You should’ve told me. All this time, you knew something, didn’t you?”He had tried to explain, to reach for her hand, but she’d pulled away. Her eyes, once filled with cautious affection, now brimmed with something heavier—betrayal.And just like that, the air had left the room.An hour later, he was back in his study.Micheal paced the floor barefoot, his shirt rumpled, sleeves rolled to his elbow
The quiet hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound that filled the room for a long while. Yvonne sat propped up against her pillows, a warm blanket tucked around her legs, and her mother seated close beside her on the edge of the bed. The soup bowl sat in Anna’s lap, and she offered spoonfuls to her daughter between soft words and careful glances.“To say your father is trying would be an understatement,” Anna said gently, brushing a stray curl from Yvonne’s cheek. “He’s doing everything in his power to hold himself together… and to redeem himself the only way he knows how.”Yvonne gave a soft nod, accepting the next spoonful.“David was arrested. But… they had to release him,” Anna continued with a sigh, her voice growing brittle. “There just wasn’t enough evidence. Not yet. But your father—he’s not letting this go. He’s digging. Talking to people. Trying to make something stick. He wants to see that man locked away.”Yvonne let out a breath, slow and even, the soup lingering on her
To say Yvonne was surprised to be carrying a child would be an understatement. She and Micheal had been wild when it came to intimacy.It was impossible to deny—she had gotten addicted to his touch, to that other side of him that contrasted so sharply with the calm, patient father and composed CEO he presented during the day.Micheal was a passionate man in many ways, and Yvonne had grown to crave them all. He was attentive, tender, yet strong—always able to meet her desire with a fire of his own. There wasn’t a single memory with him that left her feeling regret or discomfort. And yet, they had been careful.She always took the morning-after pill, even when he held her afterward and stroked her hair with words that left her heart warm and content. It never crosses her mind that their relationship is deep enough to hope for a child together, especially when their deal was nothing but a dignified nanny until the children’s love and affection changed that notion in her heart.She remem
Micheal’s mind churned as he replayed the grainy footage, his jaw clenched tight. The recovered videos from five years ago had given him something—but not enough. Not enough to piece together the full picture. Not enough to explain the nightmare that had haunted both him and Yvonne.In the feed, he could see himself staggering down a hotel corridor, disoriented, clearly intoxicated—or worse. He barely recognized the version of himself swaying, confused, squinting at the doors as if trying to find the room number he couldn't make out.Then she appeared.A woman stepped into frame, speaking to him softly. Her hand pointed at a specific room. Without hesitation, his silhouette obeyed, walking toward the door she’d indicated. She turned and walked away like her part had been played.At first, Micheal had been baffled. The footage stopped there—nothing out of the ordinary. But something didn’t sit right.Then it hit him.He rewound. Slowly. Frame by frame.And there she was again.Sammy.T
The house felt like a tomb. Silent, suffocating, and filled with ghosts of emotions Yvonne couldn’t name.She had locked herself in for days, refusing contact with the outside world. The mere thought of facing reality made her sick to her stomach—literally. Every meal her mother forced upon her barely made it past her throat before nausea clawed its way up, rejecting the sustenance she knew she needed.She was wasting away.Her reflection in the mirror had become a stranger—sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, a shadow of herself. And yet, she couldn't find it in her to care.Because how could she?How could she pretend to be okay when the one person she had given her trust—her safe place—was the very reason her world had collapsed?Michael.She had once whispered his name with reverence in her heart, with an aching sort of longing she never dared admit to him yet.Now?Now it felt like a curse.She should be grateful, right? Fate had played a cruel joke on her, but in the end, she hadn’t los
A few hours after David’s arrest—outside the police station.Sammy stood stiffly by the station’s entrance, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she watched the doors swing open. David stepped out, his expression set in a tight scowl, flanked by his lawyer.She had done all she could. After failing to secure help from the company’s legal team, she had arranged a private lawyer for him and stayed with him through the exhausting process. But it hadn’t changed much.Yvonne’s father had opened a case against David, and while there wasn’t enough physical evidence to detain him, the investigation was ongoing. David had been warned—he could be summoned at any time.Just as David took his first breath of fresh air, a furious voice cut through the tense atmosphere."You used my daughter."David barely had time to react before Yvonne’s father stormed toward him, each step fueled by pure rage. His cane tapped harshly against the pavement, his other hand pointing a trembling finger straight at
A lot had happened that day.Micheal had barely left the twins’ room when he received an urgent call from his personal assistant, Sandra. The moment he answered, her voice carried a mix of urgency and disbelief.“There’s chaos at the company, sir. Something big happened early this morning.”Micheal frowned, gripping his phone tighter. “What kind of chaos?”Sandra took a deep breath before delivering the bombshell.“It’s about David… He was arrested.”For a moment, Micheal said nothing, his mind processing the unexpected turn of events.Apparently, Yvonne’s father hadn’t been able to stomach the full scope of what his daughter had suffered. And unlike before—when he had turned his back on her—this time, he had taken action. He had wasted no time in seeking legal justice, making sure David paid for what he had put Yvonne through.The arrest had sent shockwaves through the company. Employees had been left speechless, watching in stunned silence as one of their highest-ranking executives
The Twins' Innocent ConfrontationAs soon as Micheal left the twins' room, Rebecca took a deep breath, regaining her composure. Now that she knew the truth, her purpose had shifted—this wasn’t just about being a temporary nanny anymore. She was genuinely ready to care for the children in Yvonne’s absence.With renewed confidence, she approached the twins, a warm smile gracing her lips."Let’s get you two ready for school."But the moment her words left her mouth, she noticed a familiar exchange of glances between Jack and Lily—silent yet unmistakably purposeful, like they were communicating without speaking.Then Jack turned his gaze to her, his small brows furrowed. His voice, though soft, carried an unmistakable weight of accusation."Why did you lie to Mommy?"Rebecca's heart skipped a beat. The innocent yet mature expression on their faces made her falter, the sheer seriousness of their demeanor contrasting with their adorable features.She swallowed, suddenly feeling exposed unde
A Father's RedemptionThe embrace lingered for a few precious moments, a silent exchange of love and reassurance before Micheal kissed the twins' foreheads. He pulled back gently, his hands cupping their small faces as he gazed into their wide, trusting eyes. Before speaking, he subtly wiped away the remnants of his tears, determined to steady himself."What I want you two to know is that your mother loves you so much," Micheal said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of his emotions. "She was super sad and sick when she thought she lost you two. So, have it in mind that she would never, under any circumstances, leave you again."Jack and Lily nodded, their tiny faces etched with a seriousness that melted Micheal’s heart. He would have smiled at their cuteness if not for the crushing despair that lingered in his chest. What he was about to say next mattered more than anything.He took a deep breath. "So, what I want to say is… if you two want to go to her now, she won’t say no. But