Yvonne’s pulse quickened as her eyes locked onto the elegantly dressed woman who had just been escorted into the room. The clacking of heels against the polished floor seemed to echo with every step. The woman stood tall, poised, with an air of confidence that immediately commanded attention. Yvonne's heart sank when she realized who she was staring at. She shared a resemblance to Micheal and Jack. Aurora Langston. She could almost hear Micheal's voice in her mind, warning her about the manipulative tendencies of the woman now standing just a few feet away. Despite the carefully constructed facade of elegance and grace, there was something off about her presence. The sharp glint in Aurora's eyes betrayed the softness in her smile—a predator assessing her prey. For a moment, the room was silent. Even the air felt stifling, as if the presence of Aurora had stolen all the oxygen. Yvonne’s gaze flicked briefly toward her parents. Her father’s posture was still rigid, his eyes fixed on t
No one had expected the sudden violence from Aurora Langston. To the onlookers, it seemed irrational, but they had no idea of the storm raging in her mind at that moment. They didn’t know the truth—the carefully concealed truth—that had now been pulled to the surface.Aurora had been struck with a haunting familiarity when she first saw Yvonne at the beach, standing beside Micheal and the children. Something about her face, her presence, had tickled a distant, forgotten memory. It was only after overhearing Yvonne’s confrontation with her father, Andrew, that the fog in Aurora’s mind lifted. The pieces finally clicked together.This woman. Yvonne. She knew her.Yvonne was not just some random woman Micheal had taken a liking to. No. She was the woman at the center of the conspiracy that had rocked their lives years ago. The woman whose pregnancy had changed everything.The woman who unknowingly had given them the opportunity to bring Micheal back and take over his role as family head.
Yvonne’s footsteps echoed against the quiet street as she stepped out of the estate gates, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. Her heart still pounded from the confrontation with her mother, the lingering pain in her scalp a reminder of the violent outburst. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, but one thing was clear—she had to get out of there, away from the suffocating atmosphere of the Lawrence estate.Spotting a taxi, she waved it down, her hand trembling slightly. The driver pulled up, and she climbed inside with a quick breath."Where to, miss?" the driver asked, his voice gruff yet uninterested.Yvonne hesitated, patting her sides, searching for her bag. Her heart dropped when she realized it wasn’t with her. I left it in the dining room.She leaned forward slightly, trying to keep her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside her. "I need to get back to my place… but I left my wallet inside the estate. I can run up and get money for you once we arrive."The dr
The night air was still, thick with the weight of all that had been left unsaid. Yvonne sat at the bus stop, her knees hugged to her chest as she stared vacantly into the distance, the coolness of the evening seeping into her bones. The streetlights bathed her in a pale glow, casting shadows across her hollowed eyes and rigid posture.Micheal’s car screeched to a halt a few feet away from her, his heart pounding as he spotted her fragile figure. Without thinking, he threw open the door and rushed toward her. His legs carried him to her in a sprint, his breath heavy with both relief and dread."Yvonne," he called softly, crouching in front of her. His voice cracked, his hands trembling as he gently lifted her chin, tilting her face towards him. Her skin was icy under his touch, her cheeks pale except for the redness that marred her right side.Her eyes, dull and lifeless, barely registered his presence."Baby," he whispered, slipping his jacket off and wrapping it around her shoulders.
At the door to Micheal’s room, Yvonne paused, her back to him. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice strained. "Are the children asleep?"Micheal nodded, even though she wasn’t looking at him. "They are," he replied softly.Yvonne started toward her own room, but Micheal followed closely behind, unwilling to let her go so easily. When she reached the door, she turned to face him, her eyes filled with exhaustion and pain. "Go, Micheal," she said quietly, her voice firm but brittle. "I need to be alone."But Micheal shook his head, his chest tightening as he spoke. "No, I can’t leave you like this." His voice was thick with emotion, and for the first time, he refused to grant her the space she so often demanded. "I’m not letting you cry yourself to sleep tonight, Yvonne. Not alone. I want to be here for you, whether you want me here or not. Let me be with you through these moments of confusion.”“Guess who had contributed to that confusion, you!” She said with a cold ton
Yvonne lay curled on her bed, wrapped tightly in her thoughts, her head racing through possibilities. She couldn’t escape the whirlpool of emotions and betrayals that left her drained. The weight of Micheal's deceit, though now understood in parts, clung to her like a heavy fog. Her chest tightened with fear and sadness, but in the midst of it all, she remembered her breathing training with Lily.The last thing she wanted was to cause Lily another panic attack. The image of her precious children crying for her flashed in her mind, stirring her resolve. Yvonne had promised herself that she wouldn’t be the source of their worry again. She took in deep, steady breaths, slowly releasing them, the way she had taught Lily. It didn't erase the pain, but it grounded her, just enough to keep her from spiraling further.Tears streamed down her cheeks despite her efforts, but Yvonne kept her breathing even. She was hurt, so deeply hurt by Micheal’s lies. Yet, there was a part of her that underst
There was so much to eat as the things she saw on the table were just tips of the iceberg. Micheal asked in addition, setting in before her eyes the dining table could barely fit everything. She knew they wouldn't be able to finish everything in two days. There are so many varieties of things and according to the kids, Micheal had single handedly made everything. Yvonne love good food and perhaps because the trio knew how much of a big deal it was for her when Micheal assisted in making anything. She just loves seeing him in an apron and the attentiveness he puts into preparing food for them. She usually eats till her stomach screams at her to stop.Micheal was saying something about how she had woken at the perfect timing and other engaging topics, but she will cautiously ignore him and address an answer to his question into a sentence for the children and just like that, he brushes him off and avoids talking to him or meeting his eyes.Soon, Yvonne sat at the table, her gaze fixed
Yvonne froze for a moment, startled by the simple observation. She forced a smile, turning to Lily. “Oh, I just—” She faltered, feeling the weight of her daughter’s gaze, so innocent yet so piercing. “I forgot, sweetie. I’m sorry.”But even as she spoke, her hand moved to push more food from her plate onto Lily’s, as if by reflex. She couldn’t seem to bring herself to eat, her appetite drained by the tension she was trying so hard to ignore.Jack, always the more observant of the two, set down his fork, his small face serious. “Mommy,” he said quietly, “you didn’t eat Daddy’s food. You’re giving it to us.”Yvonne’s hand stilled again, caught mid-motion as she transferred a piece of chicken to Jack’s plate. Her heart skipped a beat at the quiet accusation in his tone, the innocent truth that cut through her like a knife.“You told us to always say thank you when someone is kind to us,” Jack continued, his voice steady and calm, “but you didn’t say it to Daddy this time. You’re not happ
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
Yvonne’s hand froze on the ignition. Her heart pounded as the weight of her decision pressed down on her chest.Her children. Her children.Tears welled up again, spilling freely down her cheeks as she whispered the words aloud. "Jack… Lily…" They were hers. Her babies.Her chest tightened as the flood of memories crashed over her—Lily’s shy hugs, Jack’s mischievous grin. Every laugh, every tender moment—it had all been with her children, her flesh and blood.But instead of joy, a torrent of anguish poured over her. She couldn’t feel happy. Not now. Not when the truth was tangled in betrayal and cruelty. Not when Micheal, the man she had trusted, had stolen everything from her.Her hand gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. What if she was wrong? What if leaving was a mistake?But staying felt impossible too. She was suffocating, torn between her love for the children and the hatred she felt for the man who had kept them from her. The man she believed to have bui
The world outside blurred into streaks of light and shadow as Yvonne drove aimlessly. Her grip on the steering wheel was shaky, her breaths shallow and erratic. The tears didn’t stop, flowing freely down her face as her mind replayed David’s words in agonizing detail."Micheal forced himself on you."She shook her head violently, as though the motion could dislodge the thought. But it clung to her, suffocating her like a shroud.No, it can’t be true. It can’t.Yet the pieces fit too perfectly. The sudden changes in David’s behavior five years ago—the distance, the helplessness he tried to mask with anger. The way he avoided certain conversations, especially when it came to the night she had woken up disoriented, with fragmented memories and an overwhelming sense of loss.Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel as a fresh wave of grief crashed over her. The ache in her chest grew unbearable, her sobs choking her until she could barely see the road ahead.She barely noticed the red
One of the receptionists cast a quick glance over her shoulder as Yvonne stood firm at the desk, her gaze unwavering despite the exhaustion she tried to hide. The woman then slipped quietly away, her steps soft on the polished floor, and made her way to a secluded corridor.In hushed tones, she called Sandra, Micheal’s assistant. “Miss Sandra, I thought you should know— the CEO’s wife is here. She’s at the reception, waiting.”Sandra, perched at her desk with a neatly organized tablet, raised an eyebrow. “Mrs Yvonne? Here?” she asked, her surprise evident. “That doesn’t make sense. The CEO left earlier. Are you sure?”“Yes, ma’am. She’s here, and she looks... determined.”Sandra ended the call abruptly, already rising from her seat. As she grabbed her phone, she dialed Micheal’s number, her heels clicking sharply against the tiles as she headed toward the reception.---Meanwhile, on another floor...David’s office phone rang, the shrill tone interrupting his thoughts. He frowned, pic
Yvonne’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as she drove, her thoughts tumbling over one another in a chaotic spiral. Rebecca’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind, each revelation a fresh jab at her sanity. Her mother-in-law’s scheming mentality, the involvement of Sammy, and Rebecca’s initial role in the plot — it was too much to bear.Her stomach churned violently, nausea clawing at her insides. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she struggled to maintain her composure. She took a shaky breath, but the bile rising in her throat was impossible to suppress.Spotting an empty stretch of road, Yvonne veered her car to the side and flung the door open. She leaned out just in time as her stomach revolted, expelling everything inside. Her body trembled as the wave of nausea subsided, leaving her weak and disoriented. She sat there for a moment, head resting against the steering wheel, trying to steady her ragged breathing."You fool! You idiot!" she muttered through gritted teeth,
The soft chime of his phone disrupted Micheal’s focus. He glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing as he read the message from one of the guards stationed at home:Something happened between Rebecca and Yvonne. She doesn’t look well.Micheal’s grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching. A wave of unease washed over him, and he leaned back in his chair, staring at the text. Had he made a mistake? She could still recall Yvonne’s fear from the previous night.He had allowed Yvonne to have her way, insisting Rebecca should be given a chance to integrate into their lives for the children’s sake. Micheal had been reluctant, sensing the complexities of Rebecca’s intentions, but Yvonne’s kindhearted nature had won out.Now, he wondered if his trust had been misplaced.Without wasting another moment, he dialed the guard’s number. The line clicked, and the guard answered immediately.“What happened?” Micheal’s tone was sharp, leaving no room for ambiguity.The guard hesitated briefly. “Sir