--------------------------Aubrey's pov----------------------I stared at my packed bags sitting on the floor. The sight of them made my stomach twist with dread, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to leave. My heart was heavy, weighed down by too many emotions—grief, guilt, love—and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of any of it. I thought leaving would make it easier, but standing here now, it felt like I was suffocating.Two days ago, Ryder and I had come back home, bruised and messed up. The cops had called today and they told me Sage's body had been found. My sister was—dead.I should have felt something more. Shock. Pain. Something. But all I felt was a strange numbness creeping through me.Sage had been meandering for so long, I always feared something like this would happen, but hearing it was real now…it was like I was caught between relief and guilt. And somewhere deep inside me, I knew it was better this way. The kind of things Sage did, the path
-----------------Aubrey's pov-----------------I kissed him once more, softer this time, letting the taste of his lips erase any lingering doubts. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a way back from all of this. That we could find our way back to each other, no matter how broken we were.That love really was stronger than any pain.Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me up into his arms, carrying me to the bedroom, our lips never parting.I ran my fingers over his chest, his shoulders, his arms, trying to re-memorize every little detail.My back hit the mattress, and a rush of nerves and adrenaline made my skin feel hot and prickly, as if it was too small for me. As if the tiniest thing could make me burst into a thousand pieces.And then he was there. Above me.The only one who could hold me together.His hands trailed over my hips and thighs, slowly, so slowly. Like he was trying to memorize every little part of m
Aubrey's pov ;One year later, life felt different—full of possibility and hope. The dark days were behind us, and in their place was a steady rhythm of love and success. I'd found my footing not just as a wife, but as a businesswoman.Balancing work and life had been a challenge at first, but now, as I stood in front of the crowd, delivering another speech at this business event, I felt confident and proud.I glanced at the audience, scanning the room as I spoke about leadership and resilience, and then my eyes found him—Ryder. He stood near the back, looking as handsome and supportive as ever, his smile wide, his eyes full of pride.Even from across the room, I could feel the warmth of his presence, the way he always made me feel like I was the centre of his world.It had been a year since we got back together, and everything was perfect. I couldn't believe how far we'd come, how much love had grown between us. I was so glad I'd given our marriage another chance, and Ryder—he had pr
Dr. Li gave me a warm smile and confirmed the news: I was pregnant.I was stunned. My husband Ryder and I had been using contraception. He had emphasized multiple times that he didn't want a child.My mind was in a whirl, but happiness took the dominant position. I had always dreamed of becoming a mother. I believed this was fate's arrangement.I had to protect my child, whether my husband Ryder allowed it or not."Is something wrong? You don't seem very excited..." the doctor asked in puzzlement. I shook my head and told her I was just too shocked. I looked forward to being a mother more than anyone."That's wonderful, Mrs. At your next checkup, I suggest allowing your husband to accompany you. You know, with the father's involvement, the fetus will behave very obediently," the doctor suggested with a smile.I nodded and smiled as I said goodbye to the doctor.In the car, I wasn't sure about Ryder's attitude. In fact, our marriage was not like that of a traditionally happy couple.My
Aubrey's pov :"Should I let you know about the settlement amount?"The lawyer explained the settlement amount, droning on about assets and finances."I don't want anything from him," I refused emotionlessly.The lawyer raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You're entitled to half of his assets, including the house and investments."I shook my head. I have my own company, one that I run with my best friend, Sophia. As the heir, I received it as my share. I have enough money to take care of myself and my child.The lawyer nodded. "Very well, then. Let's finalise the papers."The next day, Sophia arrived at my doorstep, looking every bit the classy lady she was. Her long, curly brown hair cascaded down her back, and her bright green eyes shined. She wore a tailored white pantsuit, her heels clicking on the floor as she rushed to my side."Aubrey, darling!" she exclaimed, enveloping me in a tight hug.I burst into tears, allowing myself to release the emotions I'd been holding back. She comf
Aubrey's pov ;I was having fun, laughing and joking with Alex and Sophia, but I was cautious. My pregnancy was still a secret, and I didn't want to risk anything. They dragged me to dance, and I obliged, but only for a little while. I didn't want to overexert myself.When they offered me a drink, I declined, citing a headache. They teased me for it but I just smiled and changed the subject. I wanted to share my happy news with them, but not yet. The last seven days had been deeply stressful for me and I wasn't ready to open up yet.Sophia playfully nudged me while whispering, "Hey, Rey, I think that guy is checking you out."I snapped back to reality and followed her gaze. The man staring at me was handsome, with a charming smile, but he wasn't Ryder. I hated myself for even thinking of him.The man caught my eye and smiled, but I quickly looked away, signalling him that I wasn't interested. I didn't want to encourage him or lead him on. I just wanted to enjoy my night with my friend
Aubrey's pov ;I didn't expect much for the next few days. I didn't go back to that scumbag, and I didn't feel afraid of his warnings either. Every time I thought about him, I felt angry and confused. Why was he so desperate to make me go back to him when he was the one who cheated on me? It didn't make any sense.His betrayal still hurts very much, like a fresh wound that refused to heal. I had given him everything—my trust, my love, my time. And he threw it all away for some cheap fling. Now he had the audacity to act like I was the one who needed to come crawling back? It was infuriating.I replayed our last conversation over and over in my mind, trying to find some hidden meaning or clue that might explain his behaviour. But there was nothing.The more I thought about it, the more I realised that he was just trying to threaten me. He didn't want me back because he loved me. He wanted me back because he couldn't stand the idea of me moving on and being happy without him. It was all
Aubrey's POV :I didn't bother knocking. The door slammed behind me as I barged into Ryder's house—our house, though it felt anything but mine now. My heart pounded, fueled by fury, exhaustion, and a deep, bone-crushing frustration that had built up over weeks. I stormed through the hallway until I found him in the bedroom, casually pulling a shirt over his head.He glanced at me, a smirk instantly curling his lips. That arrogant, infuriating smirk that always made me want to slap it right off his face."Something on your mind, Aubrey?" His tone was mocking, like he knew exactly what I was about to say.I clenched my fists, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "Why did you do it, Ryder?"His smirk widened. "You'll have to be more specific, darling."I took a step closer, my anger pushing me forward. "Don't play dumb with me, Ryder. You know exactly what I'm talking about."He didn't even blink. Instead, he stepped closer, closing the gap between us. His hand shot out, fing
Aubrey's pov ;One year later, life felt different—full of possibility and hope. The dark days were behind us, and in their place was a steady rhythm of love and success. I'd found my footing not just as a wife, but as a businesswoman.Balancing work and life had been a challenge at first, but now, as I stood in front of the crowd, delivering another speech at this business event, I felt confident and proud.I glanced at the audience, scanning the room as I spoke about leadership and resilience, and then my eyes found him—Ryder. He stood near the back, looking as handsome and supportive as ever, his smile wide, his eyes full of pride.Even from across the room, I could feel the warmth of his presence, the way he always made me feel like I was the centre of his world.It had been a year since we got back together, and everything was perfect. I couldn't believe how far we'd come, how much love had grown between us. I was so glad I'd given our marriage another chance, and Ryder—he had pr
-----------------Aubrey's pov-----------------I kissed him once more, softer this time, letting the taste of his lips erase any lingering doubts. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a way back from all of this. That we could find our way back to each other, no matter how broken we were.That love really was stronger than any pain.Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me up into his arms, carrying me to the bedroom, our lips never parting.I ran my fingers over his chest, his shoulders, his arms, trying to re-memorize every little detail.My back hit the mattress, and a rush of nerves and adrenaline made my skin feel hot and prickly, as if it was too small for me. As if the tiniest thing could make me burst into a thousand pieces.And then he was there. Above me.The only one who could hold me together.His hands trailed over my hips and thighs, slowly, so slowly. Like he was trying to memorize every little part of m
--------------------------Aubrey's pov----------------------I stared at my packed bags sitting on the floor. The sight of them made my stomach twist with dread, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to leave. My heart was heavy, weighed down by too many emotions—grief, guilt, love—and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of any of it. I thought leaving would make it easier, but standing here now, it felt like I was suffocating.Two days ago, Ryder and I had come back home, bruised and messed up. The cops had called today and they told me Sage's body had been found. My sister was—dead.I should have felt something more. Shock. Pain. Something. But all I felt was a strange numbness creeping through me.Sage had been meandering for so long, I always feared something like this would happen, but hearing it was real now…it was like I was caught between relief and guilt. And somewhere deep inside me, I knew it was better this way. The kind of things Sage did, the path
Sage's pov ;The van's interior reeked of sweat and metal, and I could feel every bump and turn as we sped through the streets. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts, but all of them boiled down to one thing—how the hell had everything gone so wrong?My wrists were tied behind my back, the ropes cutting into my skin, but I didn't dare show weakness. Not in front of these thugs. They were pissed off, and I could feel their eyes burning into me from the front seat. I could hear them muttering under their breaths, cursing me, blaming me for the whole mess.The biggest one, the one with the scar running down his cheek, twisted in his seat to glare at me. "You said the cops wouldn't be involved," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "Now look at us! We're on the fucking *wanted list*.""I—" I started, but another thug cut me off, his voice filled with barely controlled fury."Those guys who got caught? If they open their mouths, we're done for. And it'
Ryder's pov ;The moment I saw Aubrey, my heart nearly stopped. She was on the cold floor, her body trembling, clothes torn away, weak and exposed. Her eyes were wide with fear, and they locked onto mine and for a brief second, I saw relief in them the moment she saw me.But she was still in shock, and appeared too paralyzed to even move, too broken to understand that I was here for her now.Without thinking, I tore off my jacket and rushed to her side, wrapping it around her trembling body. "Aubrey…" My voice snapped, seeing her like this ravaged something inside me. I pulled her close to me to shield her from the nightmare that surrounded her right now.She clutched the jacket tight, but her hands were shaking. "R-Ryder…" Her voice was a mere whisper, barely audible over the pounding in my ears.I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. "Are you alright?" I already know the answer. She was anything but fine but still I want her to stay something.She just nodded but I knew how h
Sage's pov ;"Do whatever you guys want with her before we kill her!"The scarred man held her wrists firmly, forcing her to stay still. The others in the room chuckled, their dark amusement matching my own. This was my moment, a long time coming."Stop! Don't touch me!" She cried out and looked extremely scared.I rolled my eyes, walking toward her, my heels clicking ominously on the floor. "Oh, stop pretending. Where's that filthy slut you used to be?" I sneered, grabbing her chin roughly and forcing her to look at me. "Now you're playing innocent?"I slapped her again, the sharp crack of my hand against her cheek making the others in the room snicker. "Dirty bitch, don't act like you're worth more than this."She whimpered as one of the men ripped her shirt, exposing her to all of us. I loved seeing her like this, powerless and afraid. I had waited too long for this moment, and I was going to savor every second of it. She had always thought she was better than me. She thought Ryder
Ryder's pov ;I sat in my office, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. The bottle of whiskey on my desk was nearly empty, the amber liquid swirling in the glass as I took another slow sip. The burn did little to dull the pain, to drown out the constant noise in my head.Aubrey's face kept flashing before my eyes—her pain, her anger. The way she looked at me when I tried to explain…like I was nothing. Like I wasn't worth her time anymore.I deserved it. All of it.The truth had come out, but it was too late. I should've listened to her three years ago. I should've believed her when she told me something was wrong. Instead, I let my arrogance, my doubt, destroy everything we had. Everything we could have been. And now, I've lost her.I exhaled sharply, the sound bitter in the silence of the office. The door creaked open behind me, and I didn't bother to turn around. I already knew who it was. Her perfume filled the air&mda
---------Ryder's pov--------"...fake," he said with calm certainty. "They've been heavily manipulated and photoshopped. Whoever did this knew what they were doing, but it's clear they're not real."Aubrey blinked, her face frozen in shock, as if the words hadn't fully registered."They're…fake?"she repeated.I turned to her, my chest tightening as I took in her reaction. "Aubrey," I said softly, stepping closer, "I told you. I never cheated. Sage did this to drive us apart, to make you believe something that wasn't true."She stood there, silent, her mind clearly reeling from the revelation. Her disbelief was evident, but so was the confusion that clouded her eyes. Slowly, she turned to face me, her expression unreadable.I took a deep breath, trying to reach her. "I'm sorry it took so long, Aubrey. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before. But now you know the truth. Please…let me fix this. Let me make it right."
Ryder's pov ;I stormed into Aubrey's company, my heart pounding in my chest, barely able to keep my thoughts straight. The receptionist called after me, but I didn't care.I barged into the meeting room without knocking, ignoring the surprised looks of her colleagues as I interrupted whatever discussion they were having. Aubrey, seated at the head of the table, looked shocked, her eyes wide as they landed on me."Ryder?" Her voice was tight, confused. "What the hell are you doing here?"I was breathing heavily, my heart racing, but I didn't have time for formalities. "I need to talk to you. It's important, Aubrey. Those photos…they're fake."The room was dead silent, all eyes on us, and Aubrey's expression shifted to something between annoyance and exhaustion. She sighed, glancing around the table at the others. "Ryder, I'm in a meeting. We'll talk later.""No." My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn't stop myself. I was desperate. "I can't wait. Come with me right n