The evening air was crisp as Yvonne stood outside her apartment, waiting for Micheal. She had spent more time than she’d like to admit preparing for this date, despite telling herself it wasn’t anything serious. Her nerves had been on edge all day, and even now, as she stood in the cool twilight, she could feel her heartbeat quickening.She couldn’t help but ponder how the night would unfold. Why had she agreed to this? Her heart raced with nervousness and uncertainty. Was she doing something she shouldn’t?Waiting for another man who wasn’t David—was that wrong? Thoughts tumbled through Yvonne’s mind, but it was too late to turn back now. Curiosity about what Micheal had planned had trapped her in this evening, leaving her no choice but to go along with it.When Micheal pulled up, Yvonne let herself relax, pushing her wandering thoughts to the back of her mind. He stepped out of the car, dressed casually in a navy-blue shirt and dark jeans, yet managing to look effortlessly put toget
Micheal appeared relaxed, as if enjoying his own movie playing out in the form of Yvonne's expressions. Her laughter was electric, sending a jolt of energy straight to his soul.But appearances can be deceiving. Micheal was anything but relaxed. His thoughts raced—about Yvonne, about David, about the delicate balance he needed to maintain tonight. He had promised himself to keep things light, to enjoy the evening without overthinking it. But now that they were here, he couldn’t ignore the weight of the situation.It was spiraling out of his control. Yvonne’s presence was affecting him more than he had anticipated. He had been right to keep his distance all along; spending too much time with her was clearly not a good idea.About halfway through the movie, a particularly sad scene caused Yvonne’s expression to drop. It was the first time Micheal tore his eyes away from her, forcing himself to focus on the screen instead.From then on, he willed himself not to look back at her. He didn’
Yvonne’s chest heaved, her lips slightly parted as if to speak, but the words refused to come. Micheal’s intense gaze locked her in place. “If you’re not ready to be my woman, don’t make me fall in love with you,” he said, his voice low and firm. “There will be no escape if that happens. Absolutely none.”Yvonne blinked rapidly, her lashes trembling as she processed his words. “I’ll… keep that in mind. But we’re too close. Could you step back, please?” she stammered, unable to control the pounding of her heart.Like a true gentleman, Micheal took a few steps back, his expression returning to its usual calm. But Yvonne was far from composed; she looked flustered, almost as if she had just run a marathon.“We could have talked without… all that closeness,” she managed to say, her voice a bit shaky.Micheal’s response was cool and straightforward. “That’s the consequence of all your teasing. I’ve controlled my urges to avoid making things uncomfortable between you and my children.”“Ur
The ride to Yvonne's home was steeped in an eerie silence. Yvonne, lost in her thoughts, stared out the window, refusing to process the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.Micheal, on the other hand, mentally chastised himself. Why had he let things go so far?He had planned to make her feel special, to help her see how much more she was beyond the shackles of her emotions with David. Yet, in a moment of vulnerability, he’d spilled his own bottled-up feelings.He hadn’t intended to warn her about teasing him along with his children, but his words had spiraled out of control. Now, he feared she might distance herself from him and his children—a thought that filled him with dread.If she pulled away, his children would regress, transforming from the mature, smart kids they were into emotional wrecks. They would throw tantrums, banding together to worry him to death, especially with Lily's fragile heart. The stress could easily land her in the hospital.What had he been thinking?
A few days later, Yvonne happily trotted alongside Lily and Jack as they sorted their toys in their new home. The twins, accustomed to sharing a room due to Lilian's health, were delighted to arrange their belongings in their new, smaller room. Although it was cozier compared to the spacious master bedroom they had in their main home, their eyes sparkled with appreciation as Yvonne assisted with the placement of everything, eagerly offering suggestions that the children immediately accepted.Micheal had given up his room for the children, opting instead for a luxurious inflatable bed in a corner of the large living room. The rest of the space was thoughtfully arranged to accommodate the children’s studies, with a comfortable sofa at the center, facing a large plasma screen for their cartoon time with their father. Despite everything looking good, Micheal felt a pang of embarrassment at the thought of inflating and deflating his bed every day.As the men helping with the furniture bega
A few days passed peacefully, with Yvonne growing increasingly attached to Lily and Jack as their house now stood beside hers. Micheal had relaxed many of his restrictions and even allowed the kids to sleep in Yvonne's room when they begged him for it.However, Yvonne's relationship with Micheal remained at a standstill, though she found herself unable to ignore his presence as easily as she once did. Ever since that night, she had become acutely aware of him as a man—not just a random person she could pretend didn't exist. She noticed how elegant he looked, even in casual clothing, and how his commanding demeanor was softened by the attentive way he observed his surroundings. When their eyes met, he would quickly look away, but the impact of those moments lingered.Yvonne couldn't stop the thoughts of how close he had come to kissing her from surfacing in her memory. She recalled his words, the feel of his touch on her skin when he tilted her chin to make her look at him. His every w
Curious and anxious about what Amy had to tell her, Yvonne stood outside her apartment building, waiting. A dreadful feeling gnawed at her, sensing it was something serious, though she couldn't pinpoint what it might be.Less than 35 minutes later, Mark's car pulled into the visitor parking space in front of the building. Yvonne quickly walked over, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders for warmth. As she approached, the grim expression on Mark's face and the conflicted look on Amy's made Yvonne’s worry intensify.“Come on, let’s go inside,” Yvonne urged. They made their way up to her apartment, where toys were scattered in every corner of the room. The sight warmed Amy’s heart, strengthening her hope that Yvonne would quickly move on from David—or so she thought.The truth Amy had kept from Yvonne was not only about David's betrayal but also about the lies Micheal had told. She vividly remembered the night she and Mark had returned home after unexpectedly running into Yvonne and Miche
Yvonne stared at David's face in the picture. It was filled with love and affection for Sammy, a look she couldn’t recall being directed at her in a long time.Despite this, she held the phone firmly, her demeanor composed, unlike Amy, who had broken down for her sake. Yvonne was in shock, trapped in a state she couldn't escape. The rest of her actions were on autopilot.She seemed unaffected, not ready to shed a single tear over the news she had just heard, and she thanked Amy for letting her know. Amy’s worried inquiries were met with Yvonne’s calm assurance that she was fine. She even managed to see Amy and Mark off with a composed expression, escorting them to their car and wishing them goodnight.When she returned to her room, Yvonne locked the door behind her and lay down on her bed, her face blank. She remained that way until the following morning, unable to think or process any information. It was like being in a comatose state.Though aware of her surroundings, she couldn’t r
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
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