Mr. and Mrs. Langston retreated to their private study, a richly furnished room lined with dark mahogany shelves and filled with the scent of old leather and expensive cigars. It was their sanctuary, a place where business was conducted, and schemes were hatched. As Mrs. Langston paced the room, her sharp heels clicking against the polished floor, her husband sat silently, nursing a glass of whiskey. He watched her with a weary gaze, accustomed to the intensity of her ambitions yet growing increasingly tired of their effects.“This is all Susan’s fault,” Mrs. Langston muttered, her voice laced with frustration. “I thought she was strong enough to seduce Micheal, to make him see reason, but she’s just as useless as the one I sent before, who ended up doing more harm than good. Two women, and neither of them could handle my son.”Mr. Langston sighed, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Maybe that’s because Micheal doesn’t need handling,” he said quietly, his tone calm but firm. “He
The sun bathed the lush garden in a warm, golden light, casting a dreamy glow over the picturesque setting of Amy’s wedding. Flowers of every colour lined the aisle, a fragrant path leading to the elegantly decorated arch where Amy and Mark would soon exchange their vows. Guests filled the rows of white chairs, murmuring softly as the excitement of the day bubbled in the air. For Amy, this was the day she had always dreamed of, and she couldn’t have asked for a more perfect backdrop.Yvonne stood beside Amy, a radiant smile gracing her lips as she adjusted the delicate lace on Amy’s veil. She wore a stunning emerald-green satin dress that clung to her figure in all the right places, the soft fabric cascading down to her feet with an elegant, subtle shimmer that caught the sunlight. The dress was sleeveless, with a plunging neckline that was both tasteful and alluring, highlighting her graceful neck and the soft glow of her skin. Her hair was styled in loose waves, pinned on one side w
The wedding reception was in full swing, with laughter and music filling the air as couples twirled around the dance floor. Yvonne and Micheal had been inseparable, dancing through the night, their shared moments filled with an unspoken connection. But as the evening wore on, the tables began to turn.Micheal’s striking presence hadn’t gone unnoticed, and it wasn’t long before a group of women started to gravitate toward him, eager to steal a dance with the handsome man who had been glued to Yvonne’s side all night. They hovered at the edges, their eyes fixed on Micheal with coy smiles and fluttering lashes, each waiting for a chance to approach.Yvonne, who had been enjoying the rhythm of their dance, suddenly felt a wave of unease as the first woman made her way over. She was tall, with flowing auburn hair and a confident smile. “Micheal, isn’t it?” she asked, her tone sweet and inviting. “Would you care to dance?”Yvonne’s grip on Micheal’s arm tightened instinctively. She tried to
The evening was drawing to a close, and guests gathered to bid farewell to Amy and Mark as they prepared to leave for their honeymoon. Yvonne stood close to Micheal, feeling content but tired after the long day of festivities. Just as the bride and groom made their way toward the waiting car, Amy turned with a mischievous grin and, without warning, tossed her bouquet of flowers directly toward Yvonne.The bouquet sailed through the air, heading straight for Yvonne’s head. Micheal’s reflexes were quick, his arm shooting out to catch the flowers just before they could smack into her. He held them out to Yvonne, who blinked in astonishment, caught off guard by the sudden attention. Laughter and claps erupted from the crowd, but none were as loud as the excited slap of Lily and Jack’s hands as they clapped and cheered.“Way to go, Dad! Good catch!” Jack shouted, his face lighting up with excitement.“Miss Yvonne, you’re next! You will marry daddy.” Lily giggled, clapping her hands togethe
Micheal sat on the edge of the couch, his eyes locked on Yvonne as she took a deep breath, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. He had imagined many scenarios, many ways she might respond to his proposal, but none compared to the surreal moment unfolding before him.“I’m ready, Micheal,” Yvonne began softly, her voice steady but tinged with vulnerability. “I’m ready to be the mother of your children.”Micheal’s heart surged with a sensational feeling, an overwhelming mix of joy and relief that he hadn’t dared to imagine. His mind raced, caught between disbelief and the sweet reality of Yvonne’s acceptance. It was as if every ounce of hope he had buried was suddenly blossoming with her words, filling him with a lightness that was almost unbearable. His eyes shimmered with gratitude, the corners of his lips twitching into a smile as he fought the urge to reach out and embrace her.But before he could speak, Yvonne continued, her gaze shifting to the floor as if gathering the coura
Micheal stared at the laptop screen, his eyes carefully scanning the changes Yvonne had made to the contract. Every adjustment she made revolved around Jack and Lily—provisions ensuring their education, health, and overall happiness. It was clear that Yvonne had only taken this step with his children in mind. But the sections about him, about their potential relationship, were left untouched. Micheal frowned, feeling a mix of gratitude and disappointment."Yvonne," he said, his voice edged with determination, "we need to talk about this. These changes are great, but I also have some revisions to make."Yvonne blinked, taken aback, fighting the urge to burst into laughter as she pretended not to catch his drift. “Micheal, I thought this was about the children. I’m ready to be their mother, but—”“It’s not just about them,” Micheal interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. “I wrote this contract at a time when I still... I disliked women. I had my reasons.”Yvonne chuckled, her eyes twinkl
Micheal paused for a few moments, enjoying the feel of her body against his own. He loved how open minded she was to the progress of their relationship and how warm being with her made him feel in his heart. Micheal couldn't explained the situation properly without giving away his identity, so he decided to summarize his experience in a way that wouldn't raise her suspicion. Micheal explained to her how he had grown up in a family that believed in cementing relationships through betrothal. It is a world where his value was assessed by his looks and family name, paraded like a work of art at every social events. The comments on his appearance, the constant matchmaking—everything felt like a trap he couldn’t escape. His mind flashed back to the faces of girls he’d been pushed toward—some barely able to walk, others older, with expectations thrust upon them that neither of them understood. “Ever since I was a kid, I was showcased like some prized trophy,” Micheal continued, his voice
Yvonne agreed to Micheal’s decision for them to get married the following day. Their contracted relationship would officially begin, and the thought of living under the same roof as a family made their hearts race with excitement. Yvonne’s mind wandered to the everyday moments she’d share with Jack and Lily. She imagined bathing the children, a task that would likely be a daily adventure—especially with Jack, who always insisted he was a “big boy” and could do everything himself. She smiled, picturing their playful banter about how he was still just a baby in her eyes, much to his dismay, while Lily giggled at her brother’s mock frustration.She also imagined cooking for them every day, finally able to pour her heart into meals for people who truly appreciated her. The thought of Jack and Lily sitting at the table, enjoying every bite with happy smiles, filled her with warmth. They were her little family now, and she knew her cooking would be one way she could show them love.Micheal
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