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71| Hungover
Isabella returned home later that day with a million questions for her son. What was that tiny gadget that he wanted to be planted on Dominic Knight? Why did Matthew whisper “SOS” to her as soon as she got to the party? Why did Emile gather the family and close friends to watch Stephanie and Dominic sign one paper together about contacts in Asia?
“Isaac?” she hollered as she entered the quiet, dark house. “I’m home.”
“Up here, mom,” she heard faintly from upstairs as she took off and hung up the coat she was wearing.
She walked up the steps and knocked lightly on the door to her son’s room that was left cracked open for her. She peeked in and saw Isaac at his computer with his headphones around his neck. He looked up and greeted her with a smile as he turned in his swivel chair to face her.
“How was the baby shower?”
“It was fine,” she answered vaguely. Her
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Claudette Reed 72| Issues in Italy
I got a surprising call from Gwen the same week as the baby shower asking me to hang out for some “bonding” time with her. I’m still unsure whether or not I trust Gwen, so I came up with simple excuses every time she would ask. I’ve told her that I had morning sickness, was too tired, or had work to catch up on to get me out of having to spend any alone time with her. Something about that woman just gives me the creeps.Most of those were lies. But my showcase is coming up in just a couple of months and I have a lot to do to prepare for it, so it was more of a little white lie. Still, I didn’t feel good about it.Dominic had stopped asking me to check out the cabin with him, which I found odd, but brushed it aside and counted my blessings. I sure as hell wasn’t planning on asking him about it. He seemed rather distant. I wanted to know what was going on in that head of his but didn’t want to take a c
Claudette Reed 73| Reflection
I was able to get Dominic out of the country for the next month after telling him he was welcome to network with my contacts in Asia for Knightingale Suits, which gave me time to get more work done than I have through my entire pregnancy. The house was quiet and glorious, and I found it calming with his presence missing. He got back just the other night, and it was so late that I was already in bed when he got home, so I didn’t get to see him or talk to him. Fine by me; the less time with him the better. My showcase for Claudette Reed is tonight and I’m excited about it. I’m excited to finally have an event that’s all mine; not mine and Dominic's. My company, my designs, my work are all on display for fashion’s most elite crowd. I can rub it in the faces of those damn investors and show them what a mistake they made by backing down and no longer funding me. A twisted part of me is thankful for Dominic. Without him,
Claudette Reed 74| Steph's Showcase
The event space looked fabulous and I swelled with pride as I took in my surroundings. Everything looked so elegant and, well, with no better word to describe it, expensive. It was high-end glitz and glam with crystals inside flower vases, custom-made chandeliers, and butlers in black and white serving each person as they walked through the doors.I still can't believe that I pulled this off. Sure, without Dominic it wouldn’t have happened, but with the little time I had in the office to complete everything, I was proud of the work I had accomplished.There were few people here before me - mostly my employees working on finishing touches. I had been so nervous that I left the house early. That, along with the fact that I didn’t have to pick up anyone to walk the red carpet with, my driver Noah and I arrived sooner than expected.The car ride was dreadfully silent, and Noah noticed it to
Claudette Reed 75| Water Break
“What?” I asked with the same line between my brows and a tone of disbelief. I handed the phone back to Louisa with some annoyance. “There’s no way that was Dominic's car.” He has been gone all day on a joy ride after getting his license back and I haven’t heard from him, but I certainly wasn’t going to get my hopes up. “How can you be so sure?” “Because I’m not that lucky,” I answered sharply but in a hushed tone so no one would overhear. I saw the corner of Louisa's lips twitch, threatening a smile. The amusement was shown on her face, but she glanced down at the phone again and her face became serious once more. “Look at the comments on it.” She pushed the phone in front of me, but I waved a hand in dismissal and didn’t look back at it. I heard her sigh and she brought the phone back to herself, reading the comments for me. They said, “Isn’t th
Claudette Reed 76| Labor
“Push! Keep pushing!”My body was exhausted and I wanted to claw everyone’s face as they hollered at me what to do. The stress of going into labor early had made my head spin and the pain of contractions was the only thing keeping a hold on reality for me.My parents were on either side of me holding my hands. My dad’s wrist was wrapped in a splint after I gripped it so hard at the event when he came to help me. I felt really bad about it.I was panting between pushes, and crying through the entire process. My emotions were in utter turmoil. I went from crying to screaming to yelling with annoyance at everyone. The TV in the corner was set on the news currently and it was pissing me off. Everyone should be focused on me right now, not the damn TV!“Will someone shut that off?! I will not have my son born with a high-speed car chase on in the background!
Claudette Reed 77| Revelations
Everyone gathered around the bed where Isaac and I lay together, baby Micah cradled between us. The doctors came in to take him to the NICU and make sure that everything was alright, and with parting words and kisses, I let them take him.Once gone, I nuzzle closer to Isaac, and he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head.“You named him after your brother,” my mom said with tears in her eyes and her chin quivering, her hand trying to hide her reaction. Dad held both her shoulders before hugging her from behind with a gentle smile on his lips.“Yes,” I responded. “Do you like it?”She threw her hand down and made a hmph sound as she answered, “Like it? I’m the one who picked it,” she and my dad both laughed. “We love the name. Thank you, baby.”It was past midnight now, and in the room
Claudette Reed 78| What Happens Now?
What did I want to happen to Gwen? I guess to answer that, I would need to know exactly what she had done before I tell them to lock her up. Maybe Ben and Isaac had learned that she wasn’t really Dylan's mom and we could start the search for his real mom? But what if his real mom was the woman in those dreams? The dead one, who was Dominic's high school sweetheart that he supposedly killed. “I don’t… I don’t know….” “It’s okay,” Isaac said as he pet my hair. “It’s been a long day, and you need to rest. We can talk about the rest later.” Too tired to argue, I merely nodded my head, and everyone slowly left the room. Except for Isaac, as I asked him to stay on the bed with me. We faced each other and looked at each other silently for a while. “I can’t believe you came,” I said as I stared into his hazel eyes. “It took me a while, but once I re
Claudette Reed 79| The Death Cabin
The following day, it was confirmed at Dominic was the fatality in the crash, and it was reported to be an issue with the manufacturer of the car, so all rumors or claims against Stephanie were voided and her name was entirely cleared. The fact that she had her event and went into labor the same time as the wreck had also cleared her from any possible accusations of having something to do with his fatal crash as well. She learned of every person’s own original plan to destroy Dominic and felt so much love hearing that everyone was planning something different. Her parents shared that they were going to buy him out, and Stephanie felt relief that they no longer had to do that. She would have felt awful if her parents gave up everything, including her childhood home, to take him down. Besides, there was still the chance of backlash with that plan. Ben had heavily considered Matthew’s idea of wi
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Claudette Reed 85| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Wedding
Claudette Reed 84| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): The Call
Claudette Reed 83| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Isabella's
Claudette Reed 82| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Doubt
Claudette Reed 81| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Christmas
Claudette Reed 80| Epilogue
Claudette Reed 79| The Death Cabin
Claudette Reed 78| What Happens Now?
Claudette Reed 77| Revelations
