JANET'S POV
“Janet, are you alright? What happened?” Jasper’s voice cut through the line, sharp with concern. His tone was so intense it made my chest tighten. Before I could answer, he added, “I’m coming.” I told him my address and hung up. For someone I once refused to acknowledge as family, Jasper’s concern only made me feel more guilty than comforted — especially when I compared it to how Rowan had treated me… I let out a shaky breath, limping to a quiet corner of the hospital. My ankle burned with pain, but my chest felt worse—like something heavy was pressing down on it. My heart still raced from everything that happened. Rowan was right about one thing: I was a mess. And I needed rest — with my family. For the first twenty five years of my life, I thought I was an orphan. Until three months ago. That was when my birth family found me. Jasper — the one who claimed to be my eldest brother — reached out. He showed me the DNA test, told me he’d been searching for me for years, and asked me to come home. But I pushed him away. How do you trust someone who says they love you when they never showed up before? I rejected him, politely. I wanted peace. But Rowan had broken the last piece of me. The headlights of a sleek black Toyota GR86 flashed across the hospital parking lot. I didn’t have to guess. I know it's Jasper’s, I was trying to stand from where I was sitting before the car door opened. His dark hair perfectly styled, his chiseled features accentuated by the dim light. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, filled with concern. “Janet,” he called, rushing toward me. “What the hell happened? Why are you limping?” His body tensed, and the sharp edge in his voice made it clear that if I told him the truth, it wouldn’t go well. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly. “ Just an accident. I slipped while taking my bath.” Jasper stopped in front of me, his sharp blue eyes narrowing.“You’re lying,” he said flatly. I forced a smile to make it more convincing to him.“I’m fine, Jasper.” His jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he wrapped his arm around my waist, carefully helping me toward the car. His grip was firm, as if I’d break if he let go. In the car, he opened the passenger door. “I can get in by myself,” I said. “It’s not that serious.” Jasper didn’t say anything. He helped me into the seat anyway before closing the door and sliding into the driver’s side. “Where are we going?” he asked. Rowan never asked me that. Every time we went out, Rowan decided where we were going without even asking me. “I… need to go to Park Avenue,” I said quietly. He raised an eyebrow, but he said nothing. I wondered if he recognized Rowan’s address — but if he did, he didn’t press. Instead, he reached to the side and pulled out a folder. “You asked for this,” he said, handing it to me. “Standard divorce papers. The names are blank.” I stared at the file in my lap, unsure how to respond. Jasper’s focus remained on the road, his expression unreadable. “Thank you,” I murmured. How was I supposed to explain this? That the man I fell in love with had chosen someone else — not just someone else, but his first love — over me, his wife. That Flora had ruined our trip, and Rowan had let her. That I had been foolish enough to believe he would ever be mine… “If only we’d found you earlier,” Jasper suddenly said under his breath. “We could have protected you.” I heard the anger in his voice. He blamed himself for something he couldn’t have known. “This is your car?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory. Jasper hesitated. “No. It’s a friend’s,” he said, shifting in his seat. “He’s out of town, so he let me use it”. “Must be a good friend.” Jasper let out a short laugh. “Yeah. He is.” He said as he turned to the other side and ran his hand through his hair as if something was bothering him. I didn’t ask anymore. I had never seen Jasper, my brother, in years, and now here we were, driving together as if we hadn’t lost time. It was strange. Strange… but warm. After passing an intersection, we pulled up to Rowan’s building. “Just drop me off here,” I said. Jasper cut the engine but didn’t move. “Janet.” His voice was low, steady. “If something’s wrong… if he hurt you… you can tell me.” I glanced at him, surprised by the quiet strength in his tone. “I’m fine, Jasper,” I said. “I just need to pick up a few things.” Jasper’s gaze lingered on me for a long moment. Then he smiled faintly. “No one ever told you you’re a terrible liar?” I blinked — then smiled back. I got down from the car as I walked to the street. I got to Rowan’s penthouse as fast as I thought , though the pains in my ankle seem to be reduced. I don't feel hurt like I was in the hospital , maybe it wasn't my ankle , maybe it was just my heart that I feel it's pierced already that is causing pain for me . The penthouse was quiet when I stepped inside. Everything looked the same. The sleek marble floors, the glass shelves, the faint scent of Rowan’s cologne lingering in the air. But it felt different. I walked upstairs, heading straight to the bedroom. I grabbed my suitcase and started shoving my clothes inside, not bothering to fold them. Just needing to get out. My hand brushed against something cold. The necklace Rowan gave me on our first anniversary. My heart skipped. The memory hit before I could stop it — the soft glow of candlelight, the scent of his favorite dishes filling the room. The way his lips curved into a rare smile when he kissed me that night. It was the first time he had smiled at me since our wedding. I set the necklace down carefully, as if touching it too long might reopen an old wound. My gaze drifted toward the framed photograph beside it. His grandmother had insisted we take that picture after the wedding. In the photo, I smiled sweetly. Rowan’s arm was wrapped around my waist, his hand resting at my hip. His smile was faint, restrained — but it was there. How nice it would have been if that moment could have lasted forever. I laughed under my breath. Forget it. He was probably thinking about her even then. About Flora. I placed the photo back where it belonged, closed my suitcase, put the divorce paper on the table, and turned toward the door. The sound of the front door opening made me freeze. My heart seized. Rowan? I stepped out onto the landing — but it wasn’t Rowan. It was the last person I wanted to see. Mrs. Caroline. Rowan’s mother. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, her sharp eyes cutting through me like a blade. Her gaze swept from my tousled hair to the suitcase at my side, and disgust twisted her perfectly painted mouth. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. “I’m heading out,” I said, my voice steady. She took a step closer. “And where exactly do you think you’re heading to? Don’t make me repeat myself.” The old me—the Janet from three years ago—would have flinched at that voice. But today, I felt nothing. Maybe because Jasper was waiting for me outside. Maybe because I was finally done being scared. I lifted my chin, meeting her gaze without fear. “You can repeat yourself all you want, but where I’m going is none of your business.”Janet’s POVMy grip tightening on my bag as I stared at the woman in front of me. Mrs. Caroline. Her blonde hair was styled in an impeccable bob , with her subtle layers that framed her heart shaped face. I had no patience left, nor energy for her cruel words.Mrs. Caroline’s nostrils flared. “How dare you, Janet?” she snarled. “How dare you talk back to me like that?” Her eyes searched mine, like she was trying to figure out where I found the audacity to stand up to her.“Maybe you should mind your own business,” I said, turning to leave.The slap landed before I even saw it coming.A sharp sting burned across my cheek. My head snapped to the side.“I can’t wait for Rowan to throw you out,” she spat, her voice dripping with hatred. “I wonder what Grandma saw in you that made her force my son into this marriage. You are nothing, Janet. Just a poor girl from the streets. You never belonged here.” She spat again . " Always know your place , just because you are married into our famil
Janet’s Pov“What the hell is happening here?”Rowan’s voice cut through the air like a blade. It was sharp, cold, and filled with something unreadable. My heart clenched, but I refused to look weak.“So, you’re back, huh? Finally taking a break from playing knight in shining armor for your best friend’s wife?” My words dripped with sarcasm, sharper than I intended. But he said nothing, only frowned slightly.He stood at the doorway, his piercing gaze sweeping over the room—over the mess his mother had made of my things. Then his eyes landed on me.“Rowan! Thank God you’re home!” Mrs. Caroline’s voice was sharp, triumphant. She snatched the divorce papers from the table and shoved them toward him. “Read this! Look at what this… this woman is demanding in the divorce agreement! She thinks she can walk away with everything! I will make sure she leaves with nothing.”Rowan took the papers, his jaw tightening as his eyes scanned the pages. His fingers clenched tighter with every word. A f
Janet’s POV When I excitedly packed my travel bags and rushed downstairs to my husband’s car, there was already another woman sitting in the passenger seat. Rowan was gently wiping Flora’s tears, and I slid into the back seat and watched them in utter shock and disbelief, yet I knew I couldn’t say anything. Because Flora had lost her husband, Jared, three months ago. And Rowan, as their best friend, had taken it upon himself to care for her. I understand that Rowan and Jared were close. They had known each other since High school. And I never minded him helping her out before. After all, I knew the pain of losing someone close. It was like living under constant rain. However, it had been 3 months! Rowan dropped everything whenever Flora called, even in the middle of the night. Wouldn’t that be too much for anyone? Just last night, he had gone to the hospital to comfort her after another round of terrible nightmares. And now, here she was, in our car. “Don’t you think you
Janet’s POV The restaurant was alive with bright lights and louder laughter. Conversations spilled over each other, filling the air with cheer. But for me, it felt suffocating. Each step I took felt heavier as I walked through the door, searching. And then, I saw Rowan. Rowan, naturally, stood out among them, effortlessly handsome and composed; his thick black hair, slightly drowsy eyes, straight nose and thin irresistible red lips surrounded by well-groomed beards. He sat at a table near the back, surrounded by a group of people. Flora was right next to him, smiling. Laughing. Her hand rested lightly on the table beside his. My chest tightened, and heat crawled up my neck. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. I stood there, frozen, while one of the men sitting across from Rowan leaned over and clapped him on the shoulder. His voice carried across the room. "I can’t believe we’re all here again!" he said. "Honestly, we thought you and Flora would end up together." I
Janet’s POV Henry and Paul exchanged glances in bewilderment. They had obviously never seen anything like this before. I smiled bitterly. It was the first time I’d seen it too. How could anyone cling to another woman's husband like this? “Uh… You okay, Flora?” Henry asked hesitantly, his voice tentative, like he was walking on thin ice. Flora blinked, then smiled, but it was the kind of smile you wear when you want people to stop asking questions. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, Henry.” Her voice was soft, almost fragile. For a moment, I wondered if she believed her own words. Because clearly, she wasn’t ready to let go of Rowan. Paul looked more uneasy now, a nervous laugh escaping his lips as he spoke, “I know you and Rowan are close friends, but… maybe you should consider his wife’s presence?” Flora’s eyes widened slightly, as though she’d just realized the situation wasn’t entirely appropriate. She looked at me, blinking her big eyes as if apologizing, before reluctantly pulli
Janet’s POV I walked into the hostel Rowan had booked for us already, my chest heavy with exhaustion. My head pounded, and my legs felt weak. I dropped my travel bag on the floor, the sound echoing in the quiet room. It was past midnight. The anniversary. The trip. All of it. Ruined. And the baby. Without thinking, I reached into my bag and pulled out the pregnancy test paper. Yes, I had planned to tell Rowan the good news on our wedding anniversary. But now, as I thought about how he always defended Flora, how he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—see her manipulations, I felt my certainty slip away. For the first time, I questioned everything. Is this child coming at the right time? My hands tightened around the test. “This has to end,” I whispered to myself. I stood, pacing the small room. Every step felt heavier. My body told me to sit, to rest, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing. I needed to tell Rowan. I needed to lay it all out. Walking into the bathroom, I splashed cold water o
Janet’s POV Leaning against the wall for support, I managed to call room service. “Executive floor, room 219. I think I have a sprained ankle, it’s really painful.” Before I could hear a response, I hung up, the pain radiating through my body, intensified by the image of Rowan and Flora. I had seen how women flocked to Rowan, eager for his attention, only to be met with his usual indifference. I thought he was ruthless with all of them—but seeing him rush off with Flora changed everything. Minutes later, I was wheeled into the nearest hospital. The hospital smelled of antiseptic, sharp and cold, and the sound of muffled voices filled the air. I limped to the receptionist’s desk, every step sending pain shooting up my leg. But my ankle wasn’t the worst of it. My chest felt like it was being squeezed, like the weight of everything was crushing me. I saw him. Rowan. He was standing outside Flora’s room, his hand resting on the doorframe. His head was down, but when he looked
Janet’s Pov“What the hell is happening here?”Rowan’s voice cut through the air like a blade. It was sharp, cold, and filled with something unreadable. My heart clenched, but I refused to look weak.“So, you’re back, huh? Finally taking a break from playing knight in shining armor for your best friend’s wife?” My words dripped with sarcasm, sharper than I intended. But he said nothing, only frowned slightly.He stood at the doorway, his piercing gaze sweeping over the room—over the mess his mother had made of my things. Then his eyes landed on me.“Rowan! Thank God you’re home!” Mrs. Caroline’s voice was sharp, triumphant. She snatched the divorce papers from the table and shoved them toward him. “Read this! Look at what this… this woman is demanding in the divorce agreement! She thinks she can walk away with everything! I will make sure she leaves with nothing.”Rowan took the papers, his jaw tightening as his eyes scanned the pages. His fingers clenched tighter with every word. A f
Janet’s POVMy grip tightening on my bag as I stared at the woman in front of me. Mrs. Caroline. Her blonde hair was styled in an impeccable bob , with her subtle layers that framed her heart shaped face. I had no patience left, nor energy for her cruel words.Mrs. Caroline’s nostrils flared. “How dare you, Janet?” she snarled. “How dare you talk back to me like that?” Her eyes searched mine, like she was trying to figure out where I found the audacity to stand up to her.“Maybe you should mind your own business,” I said, turning to leave.The slap landed before I even saw it coming.A sharp sting burned across my cheek. My head snapped to the side.“I can’t wait for Rowan to throw you out,” she spat, her voice dripping with hatred. “I wonder what Grandma saw in you that made her force my son into this marriage. You are nothing, Janet. Just a poor girl from the streets. You never belonged here.” She spat again . " Always know your place , just because you are married into our famil
JANET'S POV “Janet, are you alright? What happened?” Jasper’s voice cut through the line, sharp with concern. His tone was so intense it made my chest tighten. Before I could answer, he added, “I’m coming.”I told him my address and hung up.For someone I once refused to acknowledge as family, Jasper’s concern only made me feel more guilty than comforted — especially when I compared it to how Rowan had treated me…I let out a shaky breath, limping to a quiet corner of the hospital. My ankle burned with pain, but my chest felt worse—like something heavy was pressing down on it. My heart still raced from everything that happened.Rowan was right about one thing: I was a mess. And I needed rest — with my family.For the first twenty five years of my life, I thought I was an orphan. Until three months ago.That was when my birth family found me. Jasper — the one who claimed to be my eldest brother — reached out. He showed me the DNA test, told me he’d been searching for me for years, and
Janet’s POV Leaning against the wall for support, I managed to call room service. “Executive floor, room 219. I think I have a sprained ankle, it’s really painful.” Before I could hear a response, I hung up, the pain radiating through my body, intensified by the image of Rowan and Flora. I had seen how women flocked to Rowan, eager for his attention, only to be met with his usual indifference. I thought he was ruthless with all of them—but seeing him rush off with Flora changed everything. Minutes later, I was wheeled into the nearest hospital. The hospital smelled of antiseptic, sharp and cold, and the sound of muffled voices filled the air. I limped to the receptionist’s desk, every step sending pain shooting up my leg. But my ankle wasn’t the worst of it. My chest felt like it was being squeezed, like the weight of everything was crushing me. I saw him. Rowan. He was standing outside Flora’s room, his hand resting on the doorframe. His head was down, but when he looked
Janet’s POV I walked into the hostel Rowan had booked for us already, my chest heavy with exhaustion. My head pounded, and my legs felt weak. I dropped my travel bag on the floor, the sound echoing in the quiet room. It was past midnight. The anniversary. The trip. All of it. Ruined. And the baby. Without thinking, I reached into my bag and pulled out the pregnancy test paper. Yes, I had planned to tell Rowan the good news on our wedding anniversary. But now, as I thought about how he always defended Flora, how he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—see her manipulations, I felt my certainty slip away. For the first time, I questioned everything. Is this child coming at the right time? My hands tightened around the test. “This has to end,” I whispered to myself. I stood, pacing the small room. Every step felt heavier. My body told me to sit, to rest, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing. I needed to tell Rowan. I needed to lay it all out. Walking into the bathroom, I splashed cold water o
Janet’s POV Henry and Paul exchanged glances in bewilderment. They had obviously never seen anything like this before. I smiled bitterly. It was the first time I’d seen it too. How could anyone cling to another woman's husband like this? “Uh… You okay, Flora?” Henry asked hesitantly, his voice tentative, like he was walking on thin ice. Flora blinked, then smiled, but it was the kind of smile you wear when you want people to stop asking questions. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, Henry.” Her voice was soft, almost fragile. For a moment, I wondered if she believed her own words. Because clearly, she wasn’t ready to let go of Rowan. Paul looked more uneasy now, a nervous laugh escaping his lips as he spoke, “I know you and Rowan are close friends, but… maybe you should consider his wife’s presence?” Flora’s eyes widened slightly, as though she’d just realized the situation wasn’t entirely appropriate. She looked at me, blinking her big eyes as if apologizing, before reluctantly pulli
Janet’s POV The restaurant was alive with bright lights and louder laughter. Conversations spilled over each other, filling the air with cheer. But for me, it felt suffocating. Each step I took felt heavier as I walked through the door, searching. And then, I saw Rowan. Rowan, naturally, stood out among them, effortlessly handsome and composed; his thick black hair, slightly drowsy eyes, straight nose and thin irresistible red lips surrounded by well-groomed beards. He sat at a table near the back, surrounded by a group of people. Flora was right next to him, smiling. Laughing. Her hand rested lightly on the table beside his. My chest tightened, and heat crawled up my neck. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. I stood there, frozen, while one of the men sitting across from Rowan leaned over and clapped him on the shoulder. His voice carried across the room. "I can’t believe we’re all here again!" he said. "Honestly, we thought you and Flora would end up together." I
Janet’s POV When I excitedly packed my travel bags and rushed downstairs to my husband’s car, there was already another woman sitting in the passenger seat. Rowan was gently wiping Flora’s tears, and I slid into the back seat and watched them in utter shock and disbelief, yet I knew I couldn’t say anything. Because Flora had lost her husband, Jared, three months ago. And Rowan, as their best friend, had taken it upon himself to care for her. I understand that Rowan and Jared were close. They had known each other since High school. And I never minded him helping her out before. After all, I knew the pain of losing someone close. It was like living under constant rain. However, it had been 3 months! Rowan dropped everything whenever Flora called, even in the middle of the night. Wouldn’t that be too much for anyone? Just last night, he had gone to the hospital to comfort her after another round of terrible nightmares. And now, here she was, in our car. “Don’t you think you