MICHAEL'S POVI kept my hands on the steering wheel as my car glided through the paved roads. Each turn brought me closer to Le Petit Amour restaurant, and it also brought me closer to the moment I have been rehearsing in my mind since yesterday.A part of me was wondering if I could still back out, find an excuse, or even convince myself that this dinner wasn’t going to end the way I’d planned.I eased on the brakes to navigate a few ruts ahead.The plan was simple, but executing it felt like it was going to be so much more difficult than expected.I couldn’t help but replay the conversation I was about to have, each version with different words but the same ending. I wanted to be as clear as possible but also kind. But how do you tell someone something so direct and blunt without causing them pain?In a few minutes, the restaurant district came into view, a round glittery building with a signpost in front.As I pulled into the lot, something I saw through the windscreen caught m
ISABELLA'S POVI ended the call, my fingers feeling stiff as I stared at the screen. I could feel Michael’s eyes on me, still watching, still waiting.I glanced up at him, forcing a smile that felt as fragile as glass. “Never mind," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The excuse tasted bitter on my tongue. Michael didn’t say a word. His gaze was steady, unblinking, as if he could see through the mask I was desperately trying to hold in place. I looked away, feeling the burn of his concern. The silence between us was heavy as I shifted uncomfortably, trying to act like everything was fine.But it wasn’t. The constant attempts by James to force himself back into my life was becoming tiring, and pushing him away was a little bit harder than it should be, knowing that his seed was growing inside of me. “Lets go,” Michael finally said, taking me by the hand again and opening the car door for me to enter.We left for the club, and the drive to the address was a quiet one. Th
ISABELLA'S POVI climbed down from the car and slammed my car door with a force, cursing under my breath as I stormed towards my apartment gate.The anger boiling inside me was barely contained, each step a testament to the frustration I have been trying to manage since we left the restaurant up to the incessant calls at the club.The last thing I needed now was James showing up at my new place unannounced. “What the hell are you doing here? Who gave you the address to my apartment?” I snarled, advancing slowly like someone addressing a snake.James shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze fixed on me. “Does it really matter how I found you? The important thing is that I did. We share a bond, Isabella, and we need to address it as soon as possible. We need to talk of my child inside you.”At that point, Michael, who had followed me out of the car, had stepped a little closer, standing just a few spaces away from us, keeping a wary distance. My face flushed at once in embarrassment. I cou
GENERAL POVThe day that had been marked on calendars and whispered about in conversations since the last few weeks had finally arrived.It was the 80th birthday celebration of Priest Mack, the patriarch of the Mack family, and the event was nothing short of grand.The newly built family mansion, a gift from his first daughter, Sophie Harrington, stood tall and resplendent, a masterpiece of modern architecture. The walls of the large house were adorned with shimmering drapes and elegant floral arrangements. Very large, smiling portraits of Priest Mack, clad in his parish gown, were strategically placed throughout the venue, each one radiating the warmth, wisdom, and faith of the man being celebrated. The decorations were luxurious yet tasteful, with every detail carefully planned to reflect the stature and reverence of the occasion. Outside the house and all around both yards, the manicured lawns were dotted with gazebos, each hosting a different segment of the celebration.The ai
ISABELLA'S POV I stepped on the brakes gently, bringing my Mercedes to an abrupt halt at the hospital’s parking lot. It was morning, and I had just arrived at work. I sat on the driver’s seat for a little longer, taking a deep breath, to steady myself for the day ahead. After that, I stepped out. As I began to make my way into the building, The first sight I caught was that of a nurse in a teal; her eyes brightened when she saw me. "Good morning, Dr. Harrington," she said, greeted with a slight bow. "Good morning," I replied, nodding warmly as I continued forward. A few more steps inside, an orderly in navy scrubs, was pushing a cart of supplies. "Dr. Harrington, always a pleasure to see you!" He waved happily. "Likewise," I waved back, offering a quick smile before moving on. The pattern of greetings continued with each step, nurses, patients, and members of staff, all of them offering smiles and nods. They were all constant reminders of the impact of my presence in
NATHAN'S POV I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair before straightening my tie and half-hoping something that might suddenly demand my attention. “Maybe I should go over the quarterly report one more time,” I muttered to myself, knowing full well that I had combed through that twice today already. With a sigh, I flipped my laptop closed and leaned stared up at the ceiling. The silence became unbearable after a few minutes. I picked up my phone, scrolling through my contacts before settling on Owen’s name. He always had some chaos brewing in his world, perharps some of that chaos was what I needed now. I dialed his number, listening to the ring echo in my ear. It rang more than twice before Owen finally picked up. I could barely hear him over the background noise. “Nate, can I call you back? I’m in the middle of something a meeting. Can we talk later?” Owen’s voice was strained, struggling to rise above the chattering around him. I could te
General POVIt was an intense afternoon at the old Howard mansion, as all of the family members were present and sat around the long, oak table in the large dining room space.It was the first meeting since Michael had been discharged from the hospital, and the tension in the room was so thick it rubbed on every one of them.Grandfather had called the meeting, and inwardly, Michael was certain that it was definitely prompted by his last outing with Lilian.She must have told her parents, who in turn must have informed Grandpa about their shared interest in remaining just friends.The atmosphere in the room and the look on everyone’s face since Michael entered made it clear that all hell was about to break loose. But Michael was prepared; his mind had been made up.They all sat in silence, each wrapped in their own thoughts.Richard and Florence, Michael’s parents, sat to his right, their faces tense, eyes darting between him and the head of the table.Grandmother was next to Grandpa;
ISABELLA'S POVThe sound of the cab driver’s engine quieted as he brought the Hyundai to a halt in front of the store.At the backseat where we sat, Scarlett sighed beside me, still weary from the exhausting battle with traffic we endured before we got here."I swear, one more red light, and I would've lost it," she leaned towards me to mutter.I let out a short laugh, draping my handbag over my shoulder before I playfully whispered,“I might have paid to see that.” She slapped me on the shoulder, laughing as well.After that, we stepped out of the car almost simultaneously. Scarlett closed the door with a soft click, and I could see her scanning the surroundings briefly before her gaze finally settled on the driver.“How much do we owe you?” She asked, her tone casual but commanding.The driver named his price, and then Scarlett handed over the cash without hesitation. “You don’t have to wait. We won’t need you anymore.” She added with a dismissive wave, her voice firm but polite