Micheal leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Yvonne’s temple. "That was beautiful," he murmured, his voice low and full of pride.Yvonne smiled through the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes. She hadn’t expected this conversation to bring her peace, but somehow it had. Talking about her son—not as a painful loss but as a memory wrapped in love—made it feel like he was still with her, in a way she had never imagined before.Jack tugged on Micheal’s sleeve. "Can we get balloons for him too? Like the ones that fly up to the sky?""That’s a great idea," Micheal said warmly. "We can do that. On a special day, just for him.""And mine can have sparkles!" Lily declared, already planning her contribution.Yvonne laughed, feeling lighter than she had in years. "Of course, sweetheart. Sparkles are perfect."The twins went back to excitedly chattering about balloons, their innocent excitement filling the room with warmth.Yvonne leaned back in her chair, exhaling a breath she hadn’t
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft golden beams across the apartment. Yvonne stood at the kitchen counter, carefully arranging small treats on a colorful platter. Micheal leaned beside her, a soft smile on his face as he watched her. Today was the twins’ fourth birthday, and the excitement hung in the air, palpable and bright.“Do you think they’ll like the surprise?” Micheal asked, handing her a few strawberries to add to the platter.“They’ll love it,” Yvonne whispered with a smile. She straightened the party hat on her head, the sight of which made Micheal chuckle. “I can’t wait to see their faces when they realize how many people came just for them.”Yvonne peeked into the living room, where the decorations glimmered—bright balloons floated above a table laden with gifts, streamers twisted playfully across the walls, and a banner reading "Happy 4th Birthday, Jack & Lily!" spanned the room. They had stayed up late adding these last touches after the child
The apartment buzzed with laughter and joy as Micheal took center stage, holding a deck of cards. Jack and Lily sat cross-legged on the floor with their friends, wide-eyed and eager to see what their father had in store.“Alright, who’s ready for some magic?” Micheal asked, grinning as he shuffled the cards with a showy flair.Yvonne fought so hard to keep her laughter in at the ridiculous costume Micheal was putting on.The children shouted, “We are!”With an exaggerated flick of his wrist, Micheal made the top card disappear, only to pull it out from behind Lily’s ear. She gasped, clapping her hands in amazement, while the rest of the children erupted in laughter.“Daddy! Do it again!” Jack demanded, bouncing on his knees.Micheal winked and launched into more tricks—turning handkerchiefs into flowers, making coins vanish and reappear, and even conjuring a stuffed animal that he presented to a delighted Lily.Meanwhile, Yvonne had enlisted Amy, Sandra, and the two bodyguards to perf
The birthday festivities carried on well into the night, the villa buzzing with laughter, games, and music. The sprawling garden was lit by paper lanterns swaying in the breeze, casting a soft glow over the grounds. Jack and Lily raced across the lawn with their friends, playing tag under the watchful gaze of Yvonne and Micheal. The villa was a wonderland of delights—flower-lined pathways, a small fountain, and a children’s playground nestled at the edge of the estate.Micheal had promised Yvonne a tour of their new home the next day, but the sheer beauty of the villa was already overwhelming for her. Every corner seemed to hold something special, and as she watched the children run through the gardens, her heart swelled with a mixture of joy and disbelief.The villa’s guests seemed reluctant to leave, especially the children, who had grown attached to the twins over the course of the evening. As parents arrived to began gathering their little ones, cries of protest filled the air.“I
The villa was quiet now, save for the soft murmur of conversation between Yvonne, Micheal, and Amy as they gathered near the front door. The night air was cool and crisp, and the sky was dotted with twinkling stars.“Thank you for today,” Amy said, wrapping Yvonne in a tight hug. “This was exactly what I needed—and I think your twins needed it, too.”Yvonne smiled, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for her friend. “You’re always welcome here, Amy. Anytime.”Micheal shook Mark’s hand and gave Amy a nod of appreciation. “We’ll have to do this again soon. The twins are already planning their next adventure with Aunt Amy.” Micheal said, finding himself easing more to people than usual. Amy laughed softly, glancing at the twins, who were now half-asleep on the couch, their heads resting on each other’s shoulders. “I think I’ve been adopted,” she said with a grin.Yvonne and Micheal chuckled, their hearts full as they stood together on the porch, watching their friends drive off into the n
The early morning light streamed through the gauzy curtains, casting a warm, golden hue across the room. Yvonne stirred slowly, the softness of the mattress cradling her body. For a moment, she lay still, the events of the previous day floating dreamily in her mind. She wasn’t in her old apartment, and she wasn’t alone. Her eyes fluttered open, and the first thing she saw was Micheal’s face mere inches from hers. His dark brown eyes glimmered with a quiet warmth, and his lips curved into a soft, contented smile. He was awake, lying on his side with one arm tucked under his head, watching her as if nothing else in the world existed. “Good morning,” he whispered, his voice low and tender. Yvonne’s lips twitched into a lazy smile. “Were you watching me sleep?” she teased, her voice husky from sleep. Micheal chuckled, brushing a stray curl from her cheek. “Guilty. But in my defense, you look beautiful when you sleep. I couldn’t resist.” Yvonne rolled her eyes playfully, but her heart
The morning sunlight bathed the villa in a soft glow as Micheal led Yvonne down the winding staircase. Their hands were clasped, fingers interwoven as they descended the grand steps. Yvonne’s eyes roamed over every inch of the house that would now become their permanent residence—a place where memories would be made, challenges faced, and love nurtured.Micheal glanced down at her, his lips quirking into a fond smile. "Ready for the grand tour?"Yvonne smiled back, excitement fluttering in her chest. “Lead the way.”Micheal guided Yvonne through the first floor, which opened into a spacious living room with high ceilings. The walls were painted in soft cream hues, adorned with framed artwork, and plush armchairs were arranged around a stone fireplace. A grand piano stood near a bay window, hinting at the possibility of cozy evenings filled with music.“This will be the main gathering room,” Micheal said as they paused by the window. “The kids can practice their piano lessons here. I k
“I will never make you regret taking this step with me, baby.” Micheal said, his happiness overflowing. Yvonne smiled at him. “I know.” She said and shut her eyes as he pressed his lips to her forehead. “I love you so much it's driving me insane.” He said against her skin before hugging her tightly.‘And I love you too, very much, I couldn't believe I am still capable of feeling this way’ Yvonne said in her mind but only hugged Micheal back.“Now let's take a look at the outside. You will love it.’Outside, Micheal guided her through the villa’s grounds, which stretched far beyond what Yvonne had imagined. They strolled through well-manicured gardens bursting with vibrant flowers, winding stone paths, and a small koi pond with colourful fish swimming lazily beneath the surface.“There’s a greenhouse too,” Micheal pointed out as they passed a glass structure filled with herbs and exotic plants. “The gardener told me he’d love your input if you have any favourite flowers or plants.”T
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
The Weight of Truth The morning light filtering through the curtains should have felt warm, comforting even, but it did nothing to ease the cold tension hanging in the room. Rebecca’s finger hovered over the call button, her pulse quickening as she struggled to think of another way to handle the children’s sudden withdrawal. The silence from the twins was suffocating, their usual bright energy drained into something distant and unreadable. Just as she was about to press the dial, a deep, weary voice stopped her. "Don’t call her." Rebecca jolted, her grip on the phone tightening. She turned swiftly, her gaze landing on Micheal, who stood at the doorway, his face shadowed with exhaustion. His usually sharp eyes were dim, weighed down by sleeplessness and something much deeper—regret. Without another word, Rebecca ended the call, slipping the phone into her pocket as she stepped aside. She recognized the authority in Micheal’s voice; this was a conversation meant only for him and his
The night stretched on, thick with unease, shadows pressing against the walls of Micheal’s home. He sat in his dimly lit study, the amber glow of his whiskey swirling in the glass he hadn’t taken a sip from. His hands clenched the armrests of his chair, knuckles white from the pressure.He was drowning in emotions too intense, too suffocating.Anger, at the sheer audacity of David and Sammy—the realization that Yvonne’s misery had been orchestrated for a business deal.Confusion, at how he had been placed at the centre of it all without his knowledge.And above all else—fear.Fear of what this truth meant. Fear of the possibility that he had unknowingly been the reason Yvonne’s life had unravelled. The woman he loved. The woman he had vowed to protect.Was he her nightmare?He wanted to reject it, to push the thoughts away, but they wrapped around his mind like chains, dragging him deeper into torment.He needed answers.If his mother had orchestrated this, then she was not above lyin
The room was thick with silence—so heavy it felt suffocating. The air itself seemed to pause, unwilling to carry the weight of Yvonne’s confession any further.Yvonne had just summarised everything she had been through, leaving out the fact that Micheal happened to be the man who had been the catalyst of her horror. The man had unknowingly become a tool to ruin her life.Across from her, her parents sat frozen, their expressions carved from pure shock. Her mother’s lips trembled, her eyes wide and unblinking, while her father’s face had lost all its color, drained of warmth, of disbelief, of every ounce of composure he once held.Two minutes passed. Not a single word was spoken.Then, like a fragile thread snapping under unbearable tension, her mother let out a heart-wrenching sob. She clutched her chest, shaking her head as if she could somehow will away the truth. Tears streamed down her face, and with a broken cry, she lurched toward Yvonne, wrapping her in the fiercest, most despe
The moment Yvonne stepped through the grand gates of her family’s estate, a heavy weight settled onto her chest, pressing down like an invisible force threatening to suffocate her. The sight of the familiar stone pathways, the towering oak trees lining the driveway, and the grand house standing against the twilight sky—all of it should have been comforting. But instead, it shattered her. This was home. The place where she had once felt safe, loved, untouchable. And yet, it had also been the place where she had been cast aside, left to fend for herself in a world that had swallowed her whole. Her legs barely carried her as she stepped into the house, the familiar scent of lavender and aged wood filling her lungs. The warmth of the golden lights did nothing to chase away the chill in her bones. She was trembling, her hands clutching her coat as if it could shield her from the memories clawing at the edges of her mind. Her mother was the first to see her. “Yvonne?” The voice was s
A lot had happened in one day.Micheal paced his study, his hands trembling as he replayed the events of the evening in his mind. The image of David’s smug face, the sound of his own fist connecting with David’s jaw, and the suffocating fury that had consumed him—it all played on a loop. He paused, his fists clenching at his sides as his chest heaved.What had come over him? Why had he let his anger drive him to such an impulsive act when he had the resources to destroy David in a hundred calculated ways?He sank onto the edge of the couch, his head in his hands, disbelief washing over him. He was Micheal Langston, a man who prided himself on control and strategy. Yet tonight, he had thrown that all away."Yvonne..." he whispered her name, his voice breaking as his mind wandered to her. She had suffered enough, and now, David’s cruel revelations had reopened old wounds. Micheal felt his blood boil.The past had haunted him long enough. If Yvonne truly was the woman he had slept with f
The silence after Micheal’s departure was suffocating. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed in the grand foyer of David’s villa, leaving Sammy and David alone in a thick tension that hung in the air like a storm cloud.Sammy’s chest heaved as she stood frozen, staring at David, who leaned against the wall, clutching his bruised side and dabbing at the blood on his split lip. The sight of him—disheveled, angry, and utterly unbothered by the disaster he had just ignited—sent a surge of fury coursing through her veins.“What the hell is wrong with you?” she shrieked, her voice trembling with fear and rage as she stormed toward him. Her fists came down hard on his chest, again and again, with a strength born of desperation. “Are you trying to ruin us? Is that it? Do you want us to lose everything we’ve worked for?”David winced but made no move to stop her, his eyes blazing with defiance. “I’m not the one ruining anything! That bastard Micheal—”“Don’t you dare blame him for your id
The silence in the car was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the tires against the asphalt. Yvonne gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white from the pressure. She didn’t know where she was heading initially, but as the skyline of the city blurred past, one destination solidified in her mind: her parents' house. She hadn’t willingly stepped foot there in years, but something about tonight—about everything—pulled her back. She just wants warmth and her mind couldn’t help but drift back to when she was still little and doted on by her parents.They had expressed regret for what they had done and although Yvonne still couldn't bring herself to forgive them, she needed that warmth.Amy is miles away and not in the condition to shoulder her burden with her. She has no one else to reach out to. Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat, jolting her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen. It was Micheal. Her first instinct was to ignore it, but then she thought ab
Yvonne ended the call with Amy, her heart pounding as the words replayed in her mind. She glanced at the dashboard clock—barely an hour had passed since her confrontation with David, but it felt like an eternity. The silence in the car was oppressive, the faint hum of the engine doing little to soothe her nerves.Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she pulled onto the main road, the familiar route to “Micheal’s” house filling her with dread. It wasn’t home anymore—or was it? Her thoughts spiraled as her breathing grew shallow.The children. Jack and Lily.She could picture them now, curled up in their beds, innocent and blissfully unaware of the chaos that had consumed her life. They were hers. The realization still felt unreal, like an out-of-body experience. Her chest ached at the thought of them waking up to find her gone.“I can’t leave them,” she whispered, her voice trembling. However she didn't want her children to see the pathetic side of her either.Additionally the t