Laura's POV The store manager was shocked for a moment. After regaining his composure, he hurried toward Nicholas. "Good evening, boss... we... we... weren't informed you were coming," he stuttered. Did he just call Nicholas "boss"? I thought. Does that mean they know each other from before? Wait, Nicholas is a very influential and powerful man. There's actually no way he knows this store manager on a personal level. I continued to observe to see how things would unfold. "I don't think I need to inform anyone about my movements," Nicholas said coldly as he glanced at the name tag on the store manager's suit. "Employees? This boutique belongs to Nicholas?" Holy crap! I was shocked. I knew he was wealthy and owned a lot of things, but I never thought this boutique belonged to him. Nicholas picked up his phone and made a call. A few seconds later, he said coldly, "What kind of store managers do you assign to my branches?" Then, he added, "Find a replacement immediately and vet them
Laura's POV She smiled seductively at him and traced her fingers on his suit. "Of course, I am here to see you, darling," she chuckled. "It has been a while, Nicholas. I know I left you when I shouldn't have, but I am back now. Let's pick up from where we left off." I gave him one extra chance, one chance to prove that whatever they had was in the past. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. He couldn't possibly have been deceiving me all this time, could he? All he needed to do was shush her up and tell her there was nothing between them anymore, and that he now had a girlfriend whom he loved more than anything in the world. That was all I needed for everything to be forgiven, but Nicholas didn't utter a word. Instead, he glanced towards me. His silence was golden, and it spoke volumes. It shattered me. The way he looked at her showed that there was still something there. It was obvious he still had feelings for her. I almost lost my balance as I tried to step back. "Laura!"
Nicholas POVThe day had finally arrived, the day when I would meet up with Rose at the hotel she mentioned. I hadn't told Laura about it because I thought she might not understand and could end up feeling insecure, thinking I still had something going on with Rose. I wanted to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings and maintain the perfect harmony we had in our relationship.It was 3 pm, and my excitement was palpable. I had to leave early because I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. I had returned home by 2 pm to get ready properly before heading out. As I descended the stairs, I heard voices in the living room. A smile crept onto my face; Laura was already back. Although she wasn't supposed to return until 5 pm, I had thought I would have already left by the time she got back.As I got closer, her eyes darted towards me, and a smile immediately spread across her face. She had been having a chat with Abraham."She just came back, Abraham. She needs rest. Don't you have t
Nicholas' POVThere was a problem, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her what it was. How could I explain that I had been sexually assaulted by the same woman she had doubts about? The same woman who is the mother of my child? I just couldn't do that."There's no problem, my love," I replied, forcing a smile. "I've just had a very hectic day, that's all." I put my arm around her and planted a kiss on her forehead."Sorry about that, babe," she said before placing her hand around my waist and leaning in closer. "Have you had something to eat? I reckon you must be famished." I actually was very hungry, given that I had expended a good amount of energy having sex with Rose, and I needed to replenish.I looked at her, avoiding her gaze, and replied, "I am actually very hungry." She smiled at me, the kind of smile that's supposed to make one's heart flutter, that smile that conveys genuine love. But this time around, it tore at my heart because it reminded me of all my sins and made me f
Laura's POV"Good day, madam," he greeted with a smile. His voice was so rich and deep that it made my heart flutter. I swallowed hard."It is Laura, just Laura," I replied. I wasn't about to let him use a title that would make me look old. "What is wrong with you, Laura?" I thought to myself. "You haven't had any problem with others calling you madam, but suddenly you don't want this man to address you by the same title.""Okay, Laura, I will take note of that," he responded. I was so distracted; the muscles on his body were bulging through the singlet he wore. I imagined what it would be like to rip them off his body with my hands."No, Laura! You can't be thinking about such things. Just remember Nicholas and behave! You've already been taken by a man who would move heaven and earth for you. You cannot be lusting over a man you just met. That just isn't right.""Who are you?" I asked curiously."I am Fernando, a newly employed gardener," he said calmly, his eyes fixated on mine."Y
Laura's POV I stared at the doctor in astonishment, my mouth slightly ajar. He'd better not be jesting, as this was certainly no laughing matter. "Are you being serious, Doctor?" I inquired. He met my gaze and offered a smile. "I've never been more serious about anything in my entire life; you're already two months pregnant," he affirmed. His jovial demeanor was evident in both his speech and actions. Sensing my bewilderment, he added, "If you'd like, I can perform an ultrasound to confirm it for yourself. I'd be more than happy to do so." "That's precisely what I needed," I thought. An ultrasound would undoubtedly dispel all my doubts. "Please, let's proceed with the ultrasound, Doctor. I just need to be absolutely certain," I expressed, and he responded with a smile as he rose from his seat. "Very well, then. Let's do just that," he beckoned for me to lie down on the bed, with my shirt lifted slightly. I followed his instructions and patiently awaited the start of the ultrasoun
Laura's POVI awoke, squinting my eyes as I surveyed my unfamiliar surroundings. Panic washed over me as questions raced through my mind: Why was I here? Who had brought me here? I found myself lying on the cold floor, my hands and legs tightly bound.Then, the memories of the harrowing events flooded back into my consciousness. I had been abducted from the hospital, just as I was about to make a call to Nicholas.Two men had perpetrated the kidnapping, though I was too dazed and weak to discern their faces clearly. From what little I managed to see, they were entirely unfamiliar to me; I had never encountered them before.The thought crossed my mind – who could have ordered my abduction? Could it possibly be my father? I pondered this, though the likelihood seemed slim, especially considering his recent attempt to reconcile with me a few weeks ago.He should desire to be in my good graces at this moment and refrain from taking any impulsive actions that could further strain our relat
Laura's POVI found it quite surprising; I didn't think she would want to go this far, and for what gain? For a man who doesn't love her anymore? I glared at her with fury. She bent down and removed the gag from my mouth."You! So, you're the one who had me kidnapped?" I spat. She laughed scornfully and threw her hands in the air."Oh, darling, don't take it too personally," she paced around the room. "Did you really think I would stay on the sidelines and watch you possess what is rightfully mine?" She asked, looking at me with contempt."What is rightfully yours?" I queried. "Do you mean a man whom you left years ago without any valid reason?" I laughed bitterly, aiming to spite her. I wanted to say anything, absolutely anything, to make her furious."You had better wake up from your useless dreams, Nicholas is not the kind of man to be pushed around, and you know it. He would never take you back again.""Hahahaha," she laughed heartily as she looked down at me and shook her head in
Laura's POVHe beamed at the crowd, enthusiastically waving to them. For some inexplicable reason, our eyes locked from a considerable distance. At first, I assumed he hadn't noticed me.However, as I sensed his gaze lingering on my location for an extended moment, I decided to depart. My heart raced as I rose from my spot and maneuvered through the crowd, steering myself toward the exit.How could he possibly be here? Was this merely an eerie coincidence? I pondered intensely about how this situation had unfolded. I had just reached the exterior where the car I arrived in was parked when his haunting voice reverberated behind me."Laura, we need to talk."I found myself frozen, incapable of movement."There's nothing to talk about, Fernando," I snapped irritably. I wasn't pleased with how everything had unraveled. It wasn't entirely his fault; I shared the blame. If I hadn't succumbed to his advances, that heated moment at the club might never have occurred.Who knows, maybe Nicholas
Nicholas' POVThis just can't be happening again. Why has Laura decided to treat me this way? Why has she decided to betray me again? I had a security detail watching her every move. I just couldn't trust her again after what she did. I found out she had gone to a club with Sonia, where she met up with Fernando and engaged in sexual activities with him in a lounge.I was so irritated and furious. I picked up my phone and dialed her number, it rang and she didn't answer. "Damn it! Pick up your call, for God's sake!" I muttered underneath my breath.She didn't pick up. That infuriated me even more. I stood from my chair and rammed my fist into the wall in anger. Laura, how could you do this?I called Carlos, and he picked up almost immediately."We are leaving first thing tomorrow morning.""But boss, the meeting is in two days, we...""I said we are leaving tomorrow morning!""Okay, boss." He knew better than to keep bothering me when I was angry. I left my study and went to my room, k
Laura's POVI rose abruptly from my chair, determined to put an end to this ordeal once and for all. His persistence was becoming infuriating, even after I had left him. Considering how closely he seemed to be monitoring my life, he likely knew by now that I was married to Nicholas. I made my way towards the hallway, where the private lounges were located. These spaces were reserved for the wealthy and influential patrons who preferred seclusion, away from the ordinary crowd in the bar, seeking their comfort in the company of women.I continued past the first lounge and then the second. The door to the second lounge was slightly ajar, revealing a group of men and women inside. Each lounge had its own set of bodyguards stationed outside, presumably for the protection of those within. One of the men from the second lounge noticed me and began to approach."What's a beautiful woman like you doing out here all alone?" he inquired, attempting to grab my arm. Swiftly, I evaded his grasp."
I've been incredibly angered since the events in Paris transpired. How could she? How could she terminate our unborn child? Did she ever truly love me? If she did, she wouldn't have made that choice, considering what we shared.It was deeply disheartening and agonizing to realize that I married someone capable of such an act. Some may argue it's not murder, as the baby wasn't fully formed, but I view it differently. Taking the life of your own child, even in the early stages, feels like a form of murder to me.Every aspect of her actions disgusts me, yet I acknowledge that deep down, I still have feelings for her. Right now, I need time to release my anger fully and eventually find a place in my heart to forgive her.It's a fact that people sometimes make regrettable choices. I had forgiven her for running away with Fernando, and I believe I'll eventually forgive her for terminating my pregnancy, but it will require time—oh, quite a bit of time.Suddenly, there was a knock on my door.
Laura's POVI was dumbfounded, rendered speechless by the abrupt turn of events. He took his briefcase and stormed out, leaving me behind in disbelief. This morning had taken an unexpected and hurtful turn. Instead of the passionate moments I had hoped for, we were now drifting further apart.As tears trickled down my face, I fell to my knees. I listened to the fading sound of cars as they left the house until it was replaced by an eerie silence. Nicholas had left for London, and I felt utterly shattered. My heart was broken into tiny pieces.Crying wouldn't solve the problem. I stood up, wiped my tears, and left his room, closing the door behind me. On my way downstairs, I met Sonia, who was just leaving her room.Upon seeing me, she called out, "Laura!" I walked sluggishly towards her, and she immediately sensed that something was amiss from my gloomy demeanor."What's wrong, Laura?" she asked, her tone filled with concern.I sighed heavily. "He just left for London on a business tr
Laura's POVI paid rapt attention, eager to hear the advice Sonia had to offer. I was desperate for guidance, something that could help mend my fractured relationship with Nicholas.Our current situation was unbearable. We were a married couple, yet we were sleeping in separate bedrooms. This couldn't continue, and I hoped Sonia had a solution to offer.She cleared her throat and began, "Laura, you bruised his ego by your actions. If you had truly loved him at that time, you wouldn't have gone through with the abortion."Her words hit me hard, as they weren't the advice I had hoped for, and her assumption was entirely wrong. I did love Nicholas then; I just believed our relationship was irreparably damaged."What you need to do now is offer a heartfelt apology," she continued, gripping my hand firmly.I pulled my hand away and got up from the chair. "You think I haven't already tried that?" I responded. "I've apologized to him, Sonia. He brushed it off with a simple 'It's fine' and th
Laura's POVThe message left me completely baffled. I had blocked Fernando's number, determined to sever all ties with him after uncovering his hidden secrets. Now, he was texting me from an unfamiliar number? At a time when I was still grappling with the consequences of my actions because of him? I swiftly deleted the message from my phone and tossed it aside.When we arrived at the house, I remained in the car, expecting Nicholas to come around and open the door for me, as he always did. However, this time, he didn't. Instead, he instructed the butler to bring our luggage up and proceeded straight ahead, leaving me to exit the car on my own.Observing the situation, the butler quickly opened the door for me. "Thank you," I muttered as I got out of the car, feeling the ache in my legs from wearing heels. I made my way into the house, and there I saw Nicholas heading upstairs. Abraham stood by the door, wearing a curious expression."What's going on?" Abraham asked, gesturing towards
Laura's POVHis expression appeared bleak, and I could sense his simmering anger. This couldn't be happening to me now. I didn't regret sharing what had happened, but I did regret waiting so long to tell him.What if I had just been honest when I returned? Would things be different? Would he be more receptive to it now than he is?I observed him, sitting on the couch, lost in his thoughts. He tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling.The desire to go to him, console him, and express my apologies consumed me. I stood up and walked over, taking a seat beside him on the couch.He remained unmoved, staying where he was. I considered it a positive sign; if he were angrier, he would have distanced himself further on the chair to convey his anger.I placed my hand on his, and he ran his fingers through his hair. "Oh, okay.""I am so sorry, Nicholas, for what happened. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would definitely do things differently," I sobbed.He looked at me for the firs
Nicholas' POV I had anticipated tears and declarations of her love for her son, expressing her desire not to be separated from him. Had she done that, I would have released her, as I had no intention of separating a mother from her child.Her response was quite the opposite. She readily agreed, solely to save herself, and declared that she wanted nothing to do with the child. She went on to describe him as a burden she had been dealing with for over two years. In fact, I later learned that she had only seen him once or twice a month. She had rented an apartment and left him there under the care of a nanny who took excellent care of him.It was disheartening that my son had to endure such an arrangement at the hands of his mother. I provided her with financial support, and she departed after taking an oath never to appear before me again.Laura and I were determined to raise him with all the love and care he truly deserved.After a memorable wedding day and with everyone settling into