Aubrey's pov ;The incessant beeping of medical machines pierced through the darkness, slowly pulling me back to consciousness. My mind felt foggy and disoriented, and my body was heavy with exhaustion. With great effort, I pried open my heavy eyelids, only to be met with harsh fluorescent lights casting stark shadows on the walls. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and every sound seemed amplified in the stillness.When I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen, immobilising me. Confused, I looked down and saw tubes and wires snaking out from under the thin hospital gown covering my body. The IV drip in my arm and the heart monitor on my finger confirmed my fears—I was in a hospital.Just then, the door creaked open, and a doctor in a crisp white coat entered. His expression was grave as he walked towards my bed and stood over me with gentle eyes."How are you feeling?" his voice was soft but serious.I struggled to speak because my throat was dry and raw. Fi
Aubrey's pov ;The doctor entered the room once more, his expression solemn and his demeanor cautious. He took a measured step towards my bedside, his eyes reflecting deep concern. Beside me, Sophia stood with a worried face."Aubrey," the doctor began gently, "you need to stay here for a while. Your body needs time to recover."Tears still stained my cheeks as I shook my head vehemently. "No. I don't want to stay here. I want to go home."Sophia interjected, trying to reason with me. "Aubrey, please. You need to listen. The doctor knows what's best."But I was firm in my decision. "I don't want to stay. Just let me go."The doctor's expression hardened slightly as he looked at me. "There's something important I need to tell you, something you need to understand."Panic gripped me as I asked, barely able to form the words, "What is it?"Taking a deep breath, the doctor spoke gravely. "The miscarriage has caused severe complications. The trauma to your body was significant, and there w
******************Aubrey's POV*****************A chill shot down my spine, the harshness of his tone and the malevolence in his eyes sending a jolt of fear through me. My heart raced as anger and distress surged through my body, and I couldn't help but shoot back with a curse."You should have done it already," I spat, my voice laced with bitterness. "None of this would have happened if you had just been brave enough to do it. I shouldn't have lost my child because of your cowardice."His expression darkened even further, his face inches from mine. Without warning, he grabbed my jaw with a firm grip, his fingers digging into my cheeks. The cold and menancing look in his eyes bore into me, his face so close that our breaths mingled.His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, filled with an intense rage. "Our child," he seethed. "It was our child."I stared at him in shock. "How dare you hide the truth of my own blood from me?" Ryder demanded, his voice barely more than a hiss. His grip
*********************Aubrey's POV*******************Entering Sophia's apartment, I was both emotionally and physically drained, I could feel the exhaustion seeping into my bones. Sophia's face was etched with concern as she waited for me."Where have you been?" she asked, running towards me.I trudged inside, my steps heavy and slow. "I went to see Ryder," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I told him everything. The confrontation...it didn't go well." My words came out in a rush as I tried to ignore the pain and frustration simmering inside me. "He blamed me for the miscarriage, for everything that went wrong."Her expression softened with sympathy as she moved to sit beside me. Alex, who had been watching silently, stepped forward with a determined look on his face. "What happened?" he asked calmly but with concern evident in his voice.I recounted the entire ordeal, my words tumbling out in anger and hurt. "He was furious. He demanded to know why I didn't tell him about t
******************Aubrey's pov*****************A week had passed, and once again I found myself standing in front of Ryder's towering office building. The mere thought of facing him again churned my stomach, but I knew I couldn't avoid it any longer. As I stepped into the pristine lobby, all marble floors and polished wood, I approached the receptionist. She barely looked up from her computer screen."Mr. Wolfe is currently in a meeting," she stated simply, with no hint of warmth or hospitality. Her dismissive tone matched her indifferent expression as she informed me.I forced a tight smile and took a seat in the sleek waiting area. An hour went by, then two, then three. Each time I went back to the receptionist to ask for an update, I received the same dismissive answer. By the fourth hour, my patience had worn thin."I don't care if he's in a meeting," I snapped in frustration. "Just call him and tell him I'm here."The receptionist gave me a cold look but reluctantly picked up th
—---------------------------------Aubray's pov—-----------------------I thought about the impossible task ahead of me - finding $50 million. My company was already hanging by a thread, and I had no idea where to turn for such an exorbitant amount of money. I thought about asking Alex's friend but I feel too ashamed to do so. Also, why would he lend me such a big amount without any gain?But I couldn't let myself give up. I needed to exhaust every option, even if it meant facing humiliation. With a heavy heart, I made my way to my childhood home - the place where I was sure to receive a less-than-warm welcome.When I arrived, my parents sat at the dinner table, their faces scrunched in displeasure as soon as they saw me. My mother's icy glare could have frozen Hell over while my father barely spared me a glance."What are you doing here?" my mother spat enormously each word like a dagger.My father grunted in response, pushing his untouched plate away with a clatter. "I'm not hungry a
*****************Aubrey's pov********************As I strode into the boardroom, my heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, a sound that rumbled throughout the room and announced my presence with authority.Every step I took oozed with confidence, my tailored black suit perfectly highlighting my strong and commanding figure. My hair was flawlessly pulled back into a sleek ponytail.The assembled executives fell into uneasy silence as I made my way to the head of the table. With a quick scan of their faces, it was clear that they were all on edge under my piercing gaze. I didn't need to say a word for them to understand who was in charge here."Good morning," I said in a firm voice, cutting through the tension like a knife. "I trust everyone has thoroughly reviewed the latest performance metrics I sent out."One of the senior managers, Jim, cleared his throat nervously. "Yes, Ms. Brown, but—"I raised a hand to silence him. "I don't want to hear excuses. I want to know why our
****************Aubrey's pov******************As the plane lowered onto the runway, a tumultuous wave of emotions surged within me—sadness, strength, determination. The wheels touched down with a gentle thump, but my mind was anything but calm.Returning to this place felt like walking into the eye of a storm that had nearly destroyed me, yet I was no longer the vulnerable person who had left three years ago. I was now a tempered and resilient force.Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself of my purpose for coming here: to reclaim everything that was taken from me and to exact the vengeance I had meticulously plotted.The moment I stepped off the plane, the familiar scent of the city enveloped me. It was a bittersweet sensation, reminding me of all the memories associated with this place. But those memories were now tainted with bitterness, serving as fuel for my burning desire for justice."Sophia!" I called out, spotting her waiting for me at the arrivals gate. She looked just as I
Aubrey's pov ;I stormed through the office doors, my heart thundering in my chest. The sun had barely risen, but I couldn't wait another second. My designs, the ones I had poured my heart and soul into, were gone.And the wedding—the wedding of the year—was just days away."Sophia!" I called out the moment I entered. She was waiting for me by the reception desk, her face pale and anxious."Aubrey, I'm so sorry—""How could this happen?" I cut her off, my voice sharp and frantic. "How could the designs just go missing?""I don't know," she said, wringing her hands together, "but I've checked everywhere—""Clearly not everywhere!" My tone was harsher than I intended, but I couldn't help it. The panic had wrapped itself around me like a vice, tightening with every second that ticked by.She flinched but held her ground. "I did check. We've searched all the offices, the archives, the backup files—everything's been wiped clean. I even tried restoring old files from last week, but they're
Aubrey's pov ;I was stirring the sauce, the aroma of garlic and herbs filling my kitchen when the doorbell rang. I frowned, glancing at the clock. It was late, and I wasn't expecting anyone.My first thought was Ryder, but he knew the passcode to my house. Why would he be playing games by ringing the bell?The doorbell rang again, this time more urgently.I groaned, wiping my hands on a dish towel. "What the hell, Ryder?" I muttered under my breath. He really knew how to get on my nerves. I cursed him as I made my way to the door, ready to give him a piece of my mind for being annoying.But when I pulled the door open, it wasn't Ryder.I blinked, surprised. Standing on my doorstep, looking as regal and furious as ever, was my mother.Her eyes immediately narrowed at the sight of me. "Why did you do it?" she demanded, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.I closed the door behind her and turned to face her with a raised brow. "Do what, exactly?" I asked, leaning casually
Aubrey's pov ;Ryder's voice rang out just as I turned to leave. "Now that you've got what you wanted, don't forget—when the time comes, you'll need to help me too."I paused and glanced back at him, a smile curling on my lips. "Of course. I always keep my promises."He grinned and gestured toward the chair in front of him. "Why don't we discuss the plan again? Since you're so happy today, I want to make sure you do exactly what I need at that dinner party."I raised an eyebrow but walked back to the chair, sitting down and crossing my legs. He leaned forward, his eyes locking with mine, a confident smirk playing on his lips. It was clear he'd already thought this through."We need to make it believable," he began, leaning his elbows on the desk as he continued to study my expression. "At the dinner, you'll stay close to me. No wandering off, no aloof behavior. Davidson needs to believe we're a perfect couple, head over heels for each other. Hand in hand the entire time, like we can't
Aubrey's pov ;The week had flown by like a gust of wind. I barely had time to blink, let alone breathe, with the workload that had been thrown at me.Between handling my own company, overseeing the progress of my father's soon-to-be-former company, and preparing for the clients' wedding pieces, I was moving at full speed—nonstop.The wedding necklaces were one of the most significant projects I had ever undertaken.Every single design was intricately unique, each piece handcrafted with rare gems and delicate metals, with the kind of precision that demanded hours of concentration. The stakes were sky-high, both financially and reputation-wise.I was paying an enormous amount upfront to secure the finest materials—diamonds that glittered like stars, emeralds with deep, mesmerising green hues, and sapphires so blue they could rival the ocean. And not just the gems, but the skilled artisans I had hired were the best in the world, working in secret to protect the designs from being leaked
Aubrey's pov ;I leaned back in my chair, taking a sip of water while watching Alana work. The steady hum of productivity in the office was almost calming—until Sophia knocked softly on the door and poked her head inside."How's the work on the designs going?" I asked, my eyes scanning the reports on my desk.Sophia stepped in, closing the door behind her. "It's coming along well," she said. "The clients will be here in a few days to finalise everything, and once we get their approval, we'll start working on the production. We're on track."I nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction settle in my chest. "Good. Everything must be perfect."Sophia smiled. "Of course. We've got it covered."Just then, the door creaked open again, and my mood soured instantly as Hampton strolled in, a grin plastered across his face. The air in the room shifted, and I could already feel the weight of his greed before he even said a word."I heard you guys scored a really big order," Hampton said, his voice o
—------Ryder's pov—-----I'm lying here, trying to get comfortable on this damn couch, but it's impossible. She can afford a huge house with countless rooms, yet she can't seem to buy a decent-sized couch.I shifted for the hundredth time, my legs hanging off the edge, and groaned. How the hell is she able to sleep so peacefully upstairs while I'm down here struggling?I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up, the stiffness in my back making me wince. Stomping up the stairs, I knocked on her bedroom door.No response.Maybe she's asleep. Of course, she is—probably sprawled out on that giant, comfortable bed, while I'm down here practically folded in half. The thought made me groan in frustration.I knocked again, harder this time. Still no response. Screw it.I unlocked the door, stepping inside and feeling the warmth of her room hit me immediately. The faint smell of her perfume lingered in the air—soft and floral, like her. I barely had a second to take in the room when the bathroom d
—-------Aubrey's pov—-----When I walked through the front door after a long day, I was greeted by the unsettling sight of Ryder lounging on the couch like he had been waiting for me all day. Great. Just what I needed.Ignoring him, I made a beeline for the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, hoping that maybe he'd take the hint and leave me alone. But, of course, that was too much to ask.He followed me into the kitchen like a lost puppy, grabbing his own glass of water, mimicking my every move. I could feel his presence behind me, and the sound of him drinking water somehow irritated me even more. It was like I was being shadowed by an obnoxious echo.I walked back to the living room and flopped down on the couch, turning on the TV to drown out his existence. But before I could even get comfortable, he came and plopped down right next to me, his gaze focused on me instead of the screen.I frowned, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping. Seriously?I sighed, deciding t
—------Aubrey's pov—------As I sat across from Sophia, cutting the nth call from Ryder, I let out an exasperated sigh. "Doesn't he have work to do? Why does he keep calling me?"Sophia chuckled, shaking her head. "Maybe he just misses you."I rolled my eyes, biting into my lunch. "Miss me? Yeah, right."His sudden clinginess is starting to get on my nerves. We were supposed to be estranged, yet here he was acting like a dog. I didn't have time for this.We finished lunch and started making our way out of the restaurant when I accidentally bumped into someone. Instinctively, I began to apologise, but the moment I heard the familiar, nasal voice complaining, my words froze in my throat."Oh, great! Look at this, you ruined my expensive dress!" the woman hissed, her voice dripping with irritation.I looked up, and there they were—my mother and sister, Sage, both standing in front of me with matching expressions of shock. The same faces that had haunted me for years, faces that were as c
*******Ryder's pov*******The moment I woke up, I knew something was wrong. The house was empty—Aubrey was already gone.The thought pissed me off, but I pushed it aside and got myself ready for the day, trying to shove down the annoyance that had been building up since last night.By the time I made it to the office, my head was still full of questions. Where the hell did she go this early? Who was this mysterious friend she kept mentioning? Not that I was jealous or anything—don't be ridiculous.She's my wife, and she belongs to me, that's all. She has no right to be running around doing whatever the hell she wants. If anyone gets to screw up this marriage, it's going to be me, not her.I was greeted by Victoria as soon as I walked in. "Mr. Stone, the client for the billion-dollar deal is here. He's in your office waiting for you."Great. The last thing I needed was to pretend to care about some billionaire's obsession with family values and charity work. But a deal's a deal, and th