The test results were clear that Jamie’s son, Charlie, had no biological connection to Ben. He studied the report over and over, feeling his resentment grow. This was precisely what he had anticipated, and it only steeled his resolve that he had no reason to hold back with her now.Finishing his morning work with time to spare, Ben decided to head to the hospital. He thought a little humiliation might serve Jamie well.……At the hospital, Jamie’s attempts to explain were falling on deaf ears. The woman was convinced Jamie was lying, especially after catching Ryan’s lingering glances at her. The woman’s anger boiled over. “In the old days, women like you would have been run out of town for this kind of shameless behavior!”“You’re the one with the problem here!” Jamie’s sister, Winnie, shot back. “My sister has told you a thousand times they’re just friends. He keeps that old photo of her, not the other way around. What does that have to do with her?”Winnie couldn’t stand it a
But deep down, she couldn’t let it go. Her gaze smoldered with resentment as she looked at Jamie. She and Ryan had been together for five years. She had brought up marriage more than once, craving the stability of a home together, but every time, he had brushed it off, saying he wasn’t ready to be tied down. She had believed him. It wasn’t until she saw Jamie that she understood that “not ready” was just an excuse. He simply hadn’t found the person he truly wanted to marry. If Jamie had been the one to suggest marriage, Ryan would have jumped at the chance, probably grinning like a fool.“Let’s go. Do you really want the hospital to call security on you?” Ryan tugged her arm again. “This is a hospital, not your personal drama stage. Enough is enough.”Her? Overreacting? Was she the cause of all this? If Ryan hadn’t taken the day off to come here, if he hadn’t been in touch with Jamie, none of this would have happened. She was the one hurt in all this, wasn’t she? Her stomac
“If he had just been more like the other rich guys, just treating women like a pastime, then he wouldn't care if she left,” Ben thought, bitterness creeping into his mind. If Winnie didn't see Jamie as her sister, she wouldn't have gotten dragged into this mess today.Jamie remained silent, sensing Ben’s intentional jabs. As a lawyer and as someone who had once loved her deeply, he knew exactly what words would sting the most. She kept telling herself not to let his words get to her, to block them out, but they drilled into her like a spell.“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Ben grabbed her face, forcing her to look directly at him. “Don't play dumb now. You’re plenty chatty when it comes to other men. Why is it that with me, you’re suddenly speechless?”The door behind them creaked open. Winnie stepped out, noticing how close the two were. She stopped in her tracks, hesitation in her voice, “Jack, Jamie…what are you two doing?”They were standing so close. It seemed almost too i
Winnie didn't mind much, considering Jack's personality. He was attentive in so many other ways, and she wasn't about to nitpick over this.“Have the test results come back? How’s the baby?” Ben asked, steering the conversation.Winnie smiled. “The baby’s fine. The doctor asked about my symptoms and, thankfully, there’s no bleeding. They think it was just stress that caused the pain. The doctor advised rest and some prenatal medication, and no strenuous activity for a while.”“Then stay home and rest for the next few days. Don’t follow your sister around everywhere.” Ben walked alongside her, casting a meaningful look at Jamie as they passed. Winnie was like a rope, one end held tightly in Ben’s grasp, the other end tied to Jamie. The more Winnie clung to him, the more he tightened his hold, binding Jamie inextricably through her.“Jamie, are you coming home with us, or heading back to see Charlie?” Winnie asked.Jamie quickly chose the latter. She wanted to avoid Ben as much as
The going rate for housekeepers in the area was usually around $10 an hour, but this family was offering $16. It was definitely a high pay. A quick shift would bring Jamie close to $60, and she couldn’t pass up such a good opportunity.Mrs. Lawrence chuckled, “I’ll send you the exact address. They’ve got a smart lock, so you can just head over; they’ll unlock it remotely. This family’s loaded, and they appreciate help that’s thorough and meticulous. If you do well, this could even turn into a long-term gig.”Jamie put down the phone and hugged her son, “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I wanted to spend more time with you today, but Mrs. Lawrence just called, and I have to go to work now.”Of course, she wanted to be there for him, but if she stayed, she wouldn’t be able to earn money, and without money, there wouldn’t be funds for his treatment. And what good would it do for him to have her around but no access to the medical care he needed?“Mom, you don’t have to apologize. I should be
“I remember when my sister was pregnant. She was near her due date and in such a rough state, emotionally shattered. I didn’t want to ask about the father and reopen her wounds. But I assume the child’s father is her ex-boyfriend.”Ben’s exasperation grew. Her ex-boyfriend? That was him. He kept his tone neutral and probed further, “So why did your sister break up with him? They had a child. They should’ve married, like we’re planning to.”“Maybe he didn’t want to settle down? I really don’t know. She never talked to me about it,” Winnie replied, oblivious to the depth of his reaction.A wry smile played on Ben’s lips. Jamie had really spun things in her favor. She had ended their relationship in a way that tore him apart, yet somehow managed to paint herself as the wronged party to her sister. Now, he was cast as the heartless one, the one who had abandoned her.“It’s been four years now,” Winnie continued, oblivious to Ben’s brooding. “Charlie’s grown up so much. I keep telling
Jamie replied calmly, “But being a cleaner pays better.” She had heard similar comments before. Even Mrs. Lawrence, the agency manager, had mentioned how rare it was to see someone her age in this line of work. Given the choice, Jamie wouldn’t have picked this path either. But with no one to lean on, and Charlie needing costly medical treatments, she had no other option. Even though Winnie had lent her some money, it still needed to be repaid. Jamie preferred earning her own way, even if it meant harder work. At least she could spend that money with a clear conscience.“Got a younger brother at home or something?” Mr. Adams asked, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.Jamie was focused on cleaning the TV stand, her back to him. “I don’t have a brother. But I do have a son. I’m working to save up for his medical expenses.”At first, Mr. Adams thought Jamie was joking. “Come on, you’re kidding, right? Look at you! You’re so slim and fit! You can’t pos
Mrs. Adams transferred the payment quickly. “Let’s add each other as contacts,” she suggested. “Our place needs cleaning three times a week, and if we're ever away, you could stop by daily. I’ll reach out directly.”“Sounds good. I’ll be on my way, then.” Jamie returned the cleaning supplies to the service room and headed out. High-end apartments were convenient. With all the cleaning supplies provided, she didn’t need to bring a thing. She only had to show up.Behind her, she could hear Mr. Adams complimenting his wife, “Is that the new dress you bought? It looks amazing on you, really brings out your glow. You’re looking better every day.” He had a comfortable life in a city-center luxury apartment and a high-paying job, not because of his talent, but thanks to his wife’s connections and background. Though he resented her, privately thinking of her as frumpy and unattractive, he was always quick to lavish her with praise.As for Jamie? He hadn’t succeeded today, but he figured
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti