Yvonne was busy marking her students' attendance when her phone beeped, indicating a new message had arrived. She paused, picked up her phone, and saw that the message was from Micheal.Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Yvonne had no idea why Micheal always tried to stay as far away from her as possible whenever his children were not present.He emphasized boundaries in their relationship, which Yvonne respected. Things would have been awkward if Micheal acted as close as his children tried to make them. She doubted she would have been as free to interact with the children as she had been. Still, his coldness was sometimes concerning.He often sounded frustrated during their conversations and always ended them quickly. However, now that he had sent her a message of his own accord, Yvonne was suddenly curious about its content.Opening the message, Yvonne’s mind froze for a few seconds. It read: *When was the last time you went to the theater? Would you like to watch a movie with me t
Sitting quietly in his office, Micheal’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He had just texted Yvonne, asking her out on a date—a gesture driven more by pity for how her life had unraveled than by genuine interest. However, when Yvonne responded by asking if he was hitting on her, Micheal felt an unexpected thrill. He had scoffed at her message but found it difficult to dismiss the idea. For some reason, the notion of keeping her in suspense intrigued him, so he replied, asking if it was a bad idea.Before he knew it, he had spent two hours scrolling through lists of movies showing in the cinemas, searching for something decent enough for their outing. They eventually settled on a romantic comedy that had garnered great reviews.Once the movie was decided, the reality of actually taking her out hit him. How should he treat her without causing a misunderstanding? Could he be kind without scaring her away? Micheal wanted to show Yvonne she was more than just David’s neglected fiancée, b
“Daddy, what does 'rosmantic' mean?” Lily suddenly asked, her face scrunched up in deep thought.“It’s ‘ro-man-tic,’” Jack corrected her with a slight emphasis on each syllable. “And you don’t need to know what it means, Lily. You’re still too young.”Micheal burst out laughing, a sound that was rare to outsiders. “And you’re old?” he teased, raising an eyebrow at his son.“Daddy, tell me!” Lily insisted, her voice taking on a playful, exaggerated whine. She was now more curious than ever after Jack’s refusal.“I said no,” Jack repeated, more firmly this time.Micheal shook his head with a smile. “Jack, you should know better. Where did you even learn that word?” he asked.“I Googled it,” Jack replied innocently.“Googled it? What are you, twelve years old?” Micheal asked, incredulous.“I’m four years old,” Jack corrected.“Almost four, Jack,” Micheal chuckled.“Daddyyy!” Lily pouted, her curiosity now at its peak.“No, Lily. You’re a girl, and you’re still too young,” Jack insisted,
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 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