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
Michael Langston was back in the city, his mind preoccupied with the monumental task ahead. The weeks of packing and preparing to take over his family's sprawling corporation had passed in a blur. Now, there was another equally pressing matter on his mind. His children needed a mother, and he needed a contracted wife who would love them unconditionally. His solution? A pragmatic one: enlist his personal assistant, Sandra, to find a suitable candidate. Michael had given Sandra explicit instructions. The ideal wife should be kind-hearted, compassionate, and, above all, genuinely affectionate towards his children without being swayed by his wealth and status. Another important part of the deal was the fact the woman will be his wife in name only. No marital affairs will be necessary between them, but all motherly affairs will be needed for his children. When he found that most of the candidates were interested in his wealth more than his children, Michael decided to hide his real iden
Michael Langston walked into his office to start with the day's activities, but his mind was still preoccupied with the earlier encounter with Yvonne. He found Sandra, his efficient personal assistant, engrossed in her work at her desk. When Sandra noticed her boss, she was taken aback that Micheal had arrived at the office instead of being with the woman she had arranged to meet with him. Without having to say a word, Sandra knew her boss needed some answers and quickly got up and followed him to his office. Once they were in, Micheal removed his suit jacket and took a seat at his desk, before his deep blue eyes glanced up at Sandra. "Where is the woman you arranged for me to meet?" he asked, his voice tinged with impatience and slight annoyance. Sandra looked up, a puzzled expression crossing her face. "Didn't you meet her?" "No, I didn't," Michael replied. "I even mistook someone else for her." Sandra frowned, quickly flipping through her phone to once again confirm th
Later that evening, Yvonne waited outside the small apartment building she shared with David. Her intentions were simple; she needed explanations for the way he treated her that morning.Soon enough, he arrived in a surprisingly luxurious car. Someone had driven him over, but Yvonne couldn't see through the tinted window. The sleek vehicle, a sharp contrast to their modest lifestyle, hinted at secrets David had been keeping from her.She watched as David's sweet smile towards the person in the car turned into a scowl as he caught sight of her. The transformation was jarring, a painful reminder of the emotional distance that had grown between them.David sighed in exasperation. “Women should greet their men in sexy clothing,” he muttered under his breath, clearly irritated. Yvonne, however, preferred simplicity. She wore a simple knee-length floral-pattern pyjama set, comfortable and familiar.David mentally scoffed, comparing Yvonne to his soon-to-be wife, who went to any length to lo
Yvonne Lawrence stared out the classroom window, her eyes following the gentle sway of the playground swings. The kindergarten was quiet now, the laughter and chatter of children replaced by the soft hum of the air conditioning. The children she had been watching over had all been picked up, except for two. Lily and Jack sat at a small table, coloring patiently.Despite her resolve the previous night, here she was again reminiscing. Yvonne sighed, her thoughts drifting back to the past. Life had not been kind to her. She had worked tirelessly to support her fiancé, David, juggling three part-time jobs alongside her modest salary as a kindergarten teacher. She had always believed in their future, but since David had started working at the big company, things had changed.There was a time when David loved everything she cooked, savoring every meal she prepared. But those days seemed like a distant memory now. He had become distant and critical, his once affectionate demeanor replaced by
Yvonne felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment as she recalled the scene of her frantically packing up spilt food from the floor in front of one of the most extravagant companies in town. She vividly remembered the man who had helped her, witnessing her most shameful moment.“Is he their father?” she wondered, glancing at the two sleeping children nearby. Their nanny usually picked them up ever since she started teaching at the school, so she was surprised to see him here.Michael struggled to break from his trance. Thoughts roamed his mind, including an understanding of how Yvonne could carry such a pleasant aura around her. She deals with children. He recalled his kids adoring a certain teacher in their kindergarten, and he didn't need confirmation to know this was the woman they liked so much.Suddenly, Yvonne frowned at him, causing Michael's heart to skip a beat, wondering what she found unpleasant about him.“You're their father, correct?” she inquired.Michael walked further in a