Alexia's POV The day continues like nothing happened. I got here this morning not knowing how I would confront Ethan without calling for an outright war but he managed to use his charms to put me back on his side. I don't regret it though being married to your enemy sounds like a lot of unnecessary work. I already have his parents frustrating me. At least he should be on the fence or occasionally on my side rather than against me.I use my phone to read my latest addiction while blasting my ears with music. These two things give me hope, give me life, and most importantly keep me sane in every situation. These two things are music and books. They just take me to worlds I can only imagine. My life could be a total mess but I get the chance to forget that with the help of my books.I learned how to sing from my mother. She loved music and had different ways to explain it to me. She met my father at a music club one night then they became inseparable after. I reminisced until a knock jo
Alexia's POV I've resumed work fully and I have to admit I am probably the first person to ever prefer spending the whole day at work than staying in that wretched house. At least at work, I can pretend everything is okay and I don't have to worry about Ethan's parents. Most especially his mother. That woman is after my sanity and I just don't know how long it'll take before I finally break.Luckily for me, her insults are only for when Ethan isn't around when Ethan is with us she sticks to simple backhanded compliments or rude questions she tags as just being curious. “You need a break from that house,” Bridget says after I narrate how terrible staying at the Blackwood's mansion has been.“I'm already sick of it,” I tell her. Ethan's mother just keeps finding new ways to make me hate staying there. I still don't know why she dislikes me so much because she can't be so bitter for no reason.“At least you get to live in a nice mansion,” she says, trying to console me. “You know I do
Alexia’s POV“Please drive faster” I tell the driver, hoping he'd just speed the fuck up.“I can't go any faster ma'am so you need to calm down and let me do my job” he says in a clipped tone. I might have sounded rude but I don't know what the problem is. What if Austin had another panic attack? He started having them after our parents died but he got better or at least I thought he did. My brother needs me and I don't know what to do. My phone buzzes and I check it quickly hoping it would be from my brother but it was from Ethan. Ethan: are you okay? Call me when you get thisI look at the message and just leave it on read, I don't think I can talk right now until I see them.After what felt like an eternity and more, the car pulls up to my apartment or what used to be my apartment, now I live in that mansion of doom. I open the door and what I see makes me feel dizzyThe whole place was decorated with balloons and flowers and decorations with cake in the middle, then my brothers j
Alexia’s POV It's lunchtime and I’m with Bridget at our favorite coffee spot close to the office. Ethan didn’t sleep at home last night so I’m guessing, my not going out with him pissed him off. I don’t know why he would be upset, it's not like we are a real couple. He might have been trying to be nice but I am trying to keep my peace heart safe. If I fall for Ethan it would end catastrophically and I am trying to avoid something like that from happening. “where is your mind at Alexia?” Bridget asks. She had been talking for at least two minutes but I just zoned out. “I’m so sorry I just got a little distracted,” I tell her “what's up?” she asks looking concerned “I don’t know, let's just say married life is very tricky,” I say avoiding giving details. Talking about what is going on with Ethan and me feels like a betrayal. She just wouldn’t get it either way “well if you ever feel like talking just know I am one call away. It's almost the end of lunch so I think we should start
Alexia’s POVIt’s been a month now and I can confidently say getting married was my biggest mistake. One would think if you had to choose between marriage and prison that going for marriage would be the best option but it’s starting to feel almost as bad as being trapped.Ethan hasn’t brought up the whole date thing since the last time I turned him down, he has still been nice to me but he barely speaks to me or even offers me a fleeting glance most of the time. If it isn’t work related or important, he just won’t speak to me. this became the norm with us but then he is never at home. If he isn’t busy at the office, he is out doing God knows what. He has only slept in our room once since our whole fallout.I don’t know why I thought I could still be friends with Ethan without it getting complicated. Sure, he doesn’t treat me badly but it’s like he is only tolerating me because he has to. His mother hasn’t stopped torturing me though. Every chance she gets to insult me she uses it with
Alexia’s POV “Why are you allowed to be with whoever you want to but I can’t?” I ask because my mood is already worsening because of this argument. Is he also tired of arguing or is it just me? “Well, that is what we agreed to and I don’t believe you are someone to go back on your word” is all he says. His reply is weak at most “Are you jealous?” I ask trying to rile him up “Go to bed Alexia, I am not doing this with you” is all he says before he enters the bathroom and puts on the shower. Today is the most he has spoken to me in a while and it was a bloody argument. He can’t keep doing this to me. “You are being selfish and I will do what I want” I shout then angrily climb my bed then sleep off. I wake up and of course Ethan isn’t on the bed. The joys of being married are endless. I get ready and go to work hoping getting busy would distract me from the chaos that is my life. Dealing with all of the drama in that house isn’t good for my health. My phone buzzes and I see it is
Ethan’s POV It’s almost time for the family dinner and I still haven’t heard anything from Alexia. How long does it take for someone to get ready? I really don’t have the patience for this. The dinner is this usual family event we do every year and it’s a whole thing. It has been a family tradition for years and since Alexia is part of the family now, she has to come. My mother didn’t feel the same way about it though, she was so against alexia coming which was crazy because whether she likes her or not Alexia is still my wife. I don’t know why she despises her so much; it is honestly starting to get old. I am tired of the clash between my mum and her. Sometimes I wish I could just leave that house but I can’t. To make matters worse Lisa is going to be there, she has always attended and I don’t know how I feel with that girl being around me. she is crazy. I wait until my phone starts buzzing, I check the caller id and see its Alexia. “Are you done?” I ask not really caring for
Alexia’s POVSomeone calls Ethan’s name from behind which makes both of us turn. I see a beautiful brunette woman standing. Her outfit screams rich but she looks awfully familiar, I can’t shake the feeling that we have met before and it wasn’t a good meeting.“Melinda, we were just talking about you” Ethan’s mother speaks with a genuine smile plastered on her face. This is the first time I am seeing her look so happy it’s scary.They all keep talking and making excited gesticulations, my legs already start feeling tired and Ethan looks very uncomfortable. “let’s go sit in our section” Ethan's mother speaks again which makes me relieved. I thought I would pass out from all the standing.We walk to the section allotted to us and take our seats. The conversations carry on while Ethan and I both stay mute until Ethan’s mother says something which catches our attention.“You need to visit and stay over for a few days Melinda, it's been a long time since we last had some quality time toget
Alexia’s POV “I don't want the pink dress. I want to put on the blue dress.” Amy pouted, shifting away from the pink dress like she found it offensive. My little girl looks beautiful with her red hair, Ethan's blue eyes, and a face so perfect “The pink dress is better and it brings out your eyes.” I tried reasoning with my 2-year-old daughter.Today is Allen and Amy's 2 years birthday and Ethan and I are throwing a party for them.The others will soon be here and Amy is still delaying us further.“No mummy. Blue is better because it's the color of my daddy's eyes. I rolled my eyes at her, not surprised by her response. Everything is always about Ethan, to say that my little girl and Ethan are close would be putting it mildly. I have been having this dress argument with her for the past 10 minutes and I'm about to insist she puts on the dress when Ethan walks into Amy's room.“Daddy!” Amy squealed excitedly as she ran at Ethan. I smiled ruefully as I watched Ethan pick up Amy and th
Ethan's POV “Look at my handsome grandson. Isn't he the cutest baby ever?” Mom cooed as she bent over our baby boy sleeping peacefully in his crib. A small smile played on my lips. I haven't seen her this excited in a very long time.“Yeah, he certainly is.” Dad, who is also standing behind her, agreed. “If only that dumb skull over there would allow us to see our granddaughter!” He added drily, shooting a furious glare at me. “I am not letting anyone near my princess, just yet. She needs to spend quality time with her daddy.” I repeated for the hundredth time today, scowling at my Dad and Mom. Just before they could retort, the door to our hospital room was pushed open and Nathan, Ryan, Stacey, and Grace walked into the room.“Great, the entire crew is here!” I grumbled surly. Amelia shoots me a dark look.“Ethan, be nice! They are here to celebrate with us and see the newest members of the family.” I shrugged. I know I was being an ass but can anyone blame me for wanting some alon
Alexia POV. “Come on Alexia, just one more push.” my doctor said for what must be the 20th time. “That’s what you said the last twenty times.” I groaned, glaring at the doctor. I know she is just doing her job but I can't help but feel frustrated. I have been in labor for the past thirty minutes and I still haven't pushed out a baby. I can feel my body tiring and the pain is like nothing I have ever felt before. “Darling just one more! I know you can do it.” Ethan who has been beside me this whole time said, still holding my hand. He looks just as frazzled as I look. I had the irrational urge to laugh as I stared at his rumpled look, imagining the reaction of his staff if they could see their prim and proper CEO looking anything but prim. As I imagined their faces, a fit of hysterical laughter burst out of me as both the doctor and Ethan exchanged twin looks of confusion, probably wondering if I had finally lost it, which just made me laugh harder. A high-pitched cry suddenly c
Alexia’s POV “You are the reason we are late for this dinner! So be ready to handle your mom's complaint.” I said, shooting an accusing look at Ethan as he helped me out of the car.“Don't worry! You can blame me, you can blame me.” He was laughing. I struggled to hold on to my anger as the laughter I had been holding on tried to bubble up at his playfulness. I love Ethan's playful side. It's a side very few people are privileged to see.He took my hand in his ass and ushered me into the mansion.The dining room was as grand as I remembered but it still looked cold and sterile. Our dining room isn't as big and grand as this but I will pick it over this one anytime, any day because of the warmth it exudes.The long table was elegantly set with silverware, crystal glasses, and ivory candles that cast a warm glow across the room. At one end, Ethan’s mom was already fussing over the placements, rearranging flowers and adjusting napkins, her excitement barely contained.As we entered the
Ethan's POV “Gentlemen, I think what you guys have come up with is good but if we want to truly broaden our space in France we could do better than this.” I said viewed the projections on the screen.I leaned back on my chair. One of the benefits of being the CEO is that you are privileged to sit at the head of the table and take in the reaction of your team. I noticed that at more comment some of my team members nodded their agreement while some were still frowning like they don't totally agree with me, which is actually okay by me. I am comfortable enough in my space to allow dissenting opinions so long as the reasons are good. In my view it helps in business.Liam lifted his eyes to meet mine like he was about to say something and just as I was about to tell him to go ahead, my phone buzzed quietly on the table. I glanced down, and a small smile tugged at my lips when I saw it was Alexia's name flash on the screen. This one she is calling me in the middle of work, she must be m
Alexia’s POV I thought about all I had learned this morning as I approached Nathan’s office. What she had found was more complicated than she’d anticipated, and she knew she needed Nathan’s support to get to the bottom of it.I tapped lightly on the frosted glass door, hearing the muffled “Come in” from inside. Taking a deep breath, I stepped in, finding Nathan behind his desk, absorbed in his computer screen, closing the door behind me, as I walked up to his desk. The sound of the door closing, jolted him as he looked up in surprise, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.“You are back so soon?” He asked, sounding surprised.I smiled at him. “Yes, at least for now. I have spoken to a few of your staff, and I think I will speak to the others later. I don't want to rush things so whoever is responsible wouldn't suspect we are unto him or her.Nathan raised an eyebrow, interest immediately piqued. “Did you find anything from the few of them you spoke with?”I nodded, settling into th
Alexia’s POV I munch on the apple Elsie placed in my front earlier. I feel restless as I sit here just eating food and watching TV. I wonder how those stay-at-home moms do it. I envy them because these past couple of weeks off work have me feeling antsy and restless.Our sitting room which was bathed in a soft, afternoon light, with the faint scent of her favorite lavender candle lingering in the air, would usually cheer me up a bit, but today the reverse was the case.I was just reaching for the fashion magazine Stacey brought when she came to visit last week when my phone buzzed.Seeing Nathan’s name flash on the screen, I answered with a calm voice, trying to hide the surprise I felt. This should be the first time I am getting a call from him. "Hey, Nathan! What’s up?""Alexia, sorry to call out of the blue like this," he began, his tone unusually serious. “I know you are on bed rest and shouldn't be doing any work, which is why I feel like shit calling you, but I have exhausted
Ethan's POV I leaned back in my chair, my sharp gaze fixed on the report in front of me. For the umpteenth time, I wish Alexia was here to help me with this. Fielding reports was her area of expertise, not mine.I glared at the series of financial graphs glowing from my tablet screen, if only I could magically wish them away, thought, sighing deeply.Despite the report's importance, my mind was elsewhere. I rubbed a hand across my jaw, lost in thought, wondering if I should take a rare moment off and spend some time with his wife.I have been on these reports for the past two hours and I haven't made much of a progress.Just when I was about to push the report aside and take some much-needed break, my phone rang, jolting me from his reverie. Dad's name flashed like a beacon on the screen and a flicker of surprise coursed through me. I certainly wasn't expecting a call from him. He seldom called unless it was about business.“Dad,” I answered, my voice sounding professional, though w
Ethan's POV I picked up my suit jacket from the back of the chair I had hung it earlier, ready to call it in. It's been one hell of a day filled with a series of meetings. I had barely catch my breath since I got back from my visit with Ken.As I strode out of my office, locking the door behind me, I noticed the lobby was nearly empty, which isn't strange seeing as I am almost always the last to leave the office. Chloe had gone home about an hour ago.I walked through the main hall keeping my stride calm but purposeful.I know looked more relaxed than heI had in the series of meetings as if I was shedding the CEO mantle with each step toward the exit.I took the elevators to the down floor today. I want to conserve the little energy I have left because I intend to play some fun games with Alexia when I get home. I already anticipated the thrill of playing with her would be elicited inside.Stepping out from the elevator I strolled to where my car was parked outside and opened the p