Micheal’s words hung in the air between them, and Yvonne stared at him, her heart racing with disbelief.“You met my father?” she whispered, her voice tinged with surprise and suspicion.Micheal gave a slow, affirming nod. Before she could fully process his admission, her mind spiraled into conclusions, and the words left her mouth in a rush.“So that’s why he came—because you threatened him?” she snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. The thought that her father’s apology could have been coerced left her feeling raw. A part of her that was glad he felt sorry shattered.Micheal didn’t flinch at her accusation. Instead, he stepped closer and gently wrapped his arms around her. “Come here,” he murmured softly, holding her against his chest.His warmth, steady and grounding, fought against the storm of emotions swirling inside her. He guided her back into the building, where they sat together on the couch in the living room. Micheal tucked her against his side, rubbing soothing ci
It was a crisp, sunny afternoon as Yvonne stepped out of the car, smoothing the hem of her sleek, white dress. She adjusted the strap of her handbag over her shoulder and looked up at the towering Langston Enterprises building.This time, the place held a different meaning for her. Gone were the days of coming over with packed lunches for the ungrateful David, hoping to catch his attention between meetings. Now, she stood outside the same entrance as Mrs. Yvonne Langston—Micheal’s wife. There would be no guards turning her away, no whispers or sidelong glances mocking her presence.She inhaled deeply as the glass doors slid open, the click of her heels echoing on the polished marble floor.Yvonne was heading towards the reception desk when she saw a familiar figure glide into her path: Sammy, the woman David had left her for. Dressed in a tight red dress and a coat slung over one shoulder, Sammy’s gaze narrowed the instant she recognized Yvonne.Yvonne would have forgotten what Sammy
As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, the adrenaline drained from Yvonne’s body, leaving her shaky and overwhelmed. She pressed her back against the cold metal wall, her chest tightening with every breath. Her heart pounded relentlessly, and she clenched her fists to stop them from trembling.The encounter with Sammy had shaken her more than she cared to admit. The sudden violence, the sharp tug of her hair, the onlookers whose stares she could still feel—it was too much."Did I embarrass Micheal?" The thought gnawed at her, dragging her further into the spiral of worry. "What if word spreads? What if the employees saw everything and judged me? What if Sammy twists the story and make her a nuisance in front of the employees of the man she was supposed to lead beside?The familiar weight of overthinking settled heavily on her shoulders. She couldn’t bear the idea of being the cause of gossip in Micheal’s company lobby. He must have worked so hard to create a space of respect and pro
Yvonne sat on the plush leather chair near his desk, clutching her handbag tightly in her lap. The encounter with Sammy had unsettled her far more than she cared to admit, and now, with Micheal pacing the room, radiating fury, she felt a knot of guilt twist tighter in her stomach.She had insisted that nothing had happened and Micheal wasn't pleased at the guarded expression on Yvonne’s face.Micheal stopped in front of her once again, crouching to meet her gaze. His dark eyes softened for a moment, one large hand reaching up to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “Tell me everything please or I will launch an investigation and make sure whoever makes you work up will pay dearly. So last chance love, if you want them having it easier, tell me now. He urged gently, through a storm simmered beneath his calm exterior.Yvonne inhaled slowly, still hesitant to burden him with the confrontation. “It was nothing, Micheal. Just Sammy being… being an idiot, you know Sammy …. the g
The moment Sammy stepped out of Micheal’s office, her heart pounded with a storm of rage and humiliation. Her polished heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she strode toward the elevator. She couldn’t believe how quickly things had spiraled out of her control, nor could she forget the protective anger in Micheal’s eyes when he called Yvonne his woman. The word echoed in her mind, each repetition stoking her fury.By the time the elevator doors slid open on her department floor, Sammy was fuming, her anger threatening to boil over. As she stepped out, she nearly collided with David, who was anxiously pacing back and forth in front of the elevator."Sammy!" David’s face, usually so composed, was drawn with worry. He reached out, gripping her shoulders tightly. "What happened? Are you okay?"For a moment, Sammy basked in his concern. His fingers were warm, his tone soft and almost tender—the kind of attention she’d longed for. But the reminder of what had just happened soure
The moment Yvonne returned to Micheal’s office, the atmosphere was light and warm, filled with the gentle scent of the food she'd brought. They settled around a small round table in the corner of Micheal’s spacious and sophisticated office. The large window allowed sunlight to flood in, reflecting off the glass, highlighting the carefully chosen decor—dark mahogany shelves lined with sleek books and tasteful art pieces. The room's modern elegance exuded authority and a hint of intimacy, softened by the presence of Yvonne.As they settled down to eat, Micheal couldn’t contain his happiness. “You have no idea how much it means to me to have you here, in my space,” he said warmly, his voice almost vulnerable as he watched her unwrap the food she’d carefully prepared. Yvonne’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and she ducked her head.“I just… wanted it to be a surprise,” she admitted shyly, smiling as she served him a generous portion. Her fingers brushed against his hand, lingering a
David stormed into the house, slamming the door behind him with a force that made the walls tremble. The living room was dim, shadows stretching across the floor, and Sammy barely looked up from her place on the sofa. Her eyes followed him as he tossed his jacket onto a chair and loosened his tie, his face tight with frustration.“Rough day?” she asked casually, though she already knew the answer. It was a question she often posed, hoping he would share something—anything—but not her. Not Yvonne. David’s only response was a grunt as he headed to the kitchen to pour himself a drink. Sammy’s gaze returned to the magazine she’d been pretending to read, but the tension in her jaw betrayed her own frustration. She knew why he was upset; she’d seen the change in him over the past weeks, the way his mood darkened after every encounter or mention of Yvonne. It was always Yvonne—whether spoken or unspoken, she was the ghost that haunted their marriage.Although he speaks about her with resent
The weekend morning at the villa was quiet, the kind of calm that had settled over Yvonne, Micheal, and the twins as they finally embraced a semblance of family life. The children’s laughter echoed faintly from the garden, mingling with the sound of distant birdsong. Yvonne and Micheal had spent the previous evening reading stories to Jack and Lily, drifting off together in a contented haze.That peace shattered when a knock came at the door of the master bedroom, urgent enough to jolt them from sleep. Micheal's eyes flickered open, and Yvonne stirred beside him, rubbing her eyes in confusion.“Mr. Langston, sir,” a deep voice called from the hallway. Micheal sat up, already feeling a thread of unease unraveling the morning. He knew his staff rarely disturbed him without good reason.A guard, one of the villa’s longtime employees, stood just outside the door, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. “There’s... a woman at the gate,” he said carefully, hesitating. “She claims to be... the m
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