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
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