** Collins ** The phone rang, piercing through the silence in my office. I glanced at the screen, Joyceline’s name flashing across it. Figures. It was only a matter of time before she came crawling back, furious about what I’d done. I picked up the call, leaning back in my chair, keeping my voice calm. “Joyceline.” Her response came sharp, cutting through the line. “Meet me. Now.” I smirked, already knowing what this was about. “Is this going to be another one of your tantrums, or should I actually be concerned?” “Cut the crap, Collins. I’m not playing games with you.” She hung up before I could reply. I let out a sigh, tossing my phone on the desk. Joyceline was pissed. And for good reason. But I wasn’t going to let her make demands. She was walking on thin ice, and she didn’t even realize it. I grabbed my jacket and headed out, driving to the meeting spot she’d chosen—a quiet, dimly lit bar on the outskirts of town. When I walked in, Joyceline was already seated at a table, he
** Sydney ** The cool autumn air wrapped around me as I made my way down the busy street toward the hospital. It had been one of those mornings where everything felt… off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but my gut had been churning with unease ever since I left the house. As I crossed the street, something caught my eye—a glimpse of a familiar figure stepping out of a sleek black car. I slowed down, my heart skipping a beat as I recognized him. Aiden. He was standing outside a restaurant, casually buttoning his jacket, and beside him… Miriam. I frowned, my steps faltering as I watched them exchange a few words before walking in different directions. There was nothing outwardly suspicious about it, but something about seeing them together unsettled me. Miriam was in love with Spencer, that much I knew, but what was she doing with Aiden? And why did Aiden never mention this to me? I shook my head, trying to brush off the uneasy feeling gnawing at me. It was probably nothing.
** Sydney ** I sat at the café, stirring the spoon in my coffee absentmindedly. The tension in my stomach hadn’t eased since Joyceline had called. I glanced at the door every few seconds, scanning each new arrival. My nerves were on high alert, and it didn’t help that Joyceline had always been good at getting under my skin. I tried to recall the last time we had spoken before everything exploded. She was the person I trusted with everything, my best friend—or at least, she had been before the betrayal. And now, here I was, waiting for her as if things hadn’t completely fallen apart. The door chimed, and in walked Joyceline. She wore her signature smirk, her eyes scanning the café until they landed on me. Her outfit was immaculate as always—a designer coat draped over her shoulders, her heels clicking as she walked confidently toward my table. Nothing about her seemed different on the surface, yet there was something in her eyes… something I couldn’t quite place. “Sydney,” she gree
**Spencer** The tension in the police van was palpable, the hum of the engine the only sound breaking the silence as we raced toward the location Collins had texted me. My hands were clenched tight, knuckles white from the grip I had on my phone. The moment the message had come through, I knew this was it—this was where Joyceline was holding Sydney. A sense of dread had been eating at me ever since I found out what Joyceline had planned. I should have seen it coming. After all, she was never one to back down, especially not when it came to getting what she wanted. But this… this was insane, even for her. I glanced at the police officers sitting beside me, their faces grim and focused. They had been briefed, and they knew how delicate this situation was. Sydney was pregnant, and any wrong move could not only endanger her but also the baby. The head of the task force, Officer Richards, looked over at me. “We’re almost there. Stay calm, Martin. We’ll handle this.” I nodded, swallowin
Spencer’s POV I lost track of time after they took Sydney in. The sterile hospital walls felt like they were closing in, and the ticking of the clock in the waiting room was deafening. I kept pacing, back and forth, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if the drug Joyceline gave her had lasting effects? What if the baby was harmed? Every minute felt like a lifetime. Max had come by earlier, sitting with me for a bit before he had to head out. His presence had been grounding, but now I was alone, back to circling the room. The nurses occasionally gave me sympathetic looks, but none of them had any answers. I ran my hands through my hair for what felt like the hundredth time. I couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not after everything. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the door to the waiting room swung open. I spun around, my heart pounding as the doctor walked in, clipboard in hand. I rushed up to him before he could even say a word. “How is she? Is Sydney okay? And the bab
** Spencer ** “Sydney, we need to talk about this now,” I said. She nodded, biting her lip as she tried to hold back more tears. “I just… I don’t know what to do or say now.” I gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You’ll figure it out, Sydney. You’re strong. And whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you. Always.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with gratitude, and for a moment, the tension in the room lifted. We sat there in silence, just the two of us, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay again. I stayed close to Sydney, watching as the emotions played across her face. Her eyes, once filled with hurt and confusion, softened slightly as the reality of everything settled in. I could see the exhaustion in her, both from the ordeal with Aiden and the emotional rollercoaster she’d been on ever since he came back into her life. For a moment, I didn’t know what else to say. I just held her hand, letting the sil
** Sydney ** The pen trembled slightly in my hand as I hovered over the final line of the divorce papers. It was surreal to think that after everything, it was finally coming to an end. My marriage to Aiden—the lies, the manipulation, the deceit—was all about to be over with one stroke of a pen. I let out a deep breath and pressed the ink down, signing my name for the last time as his wife. It was done. I was free. I sat back in my chair, feeling both a weight lift off my chest and a strange emptiness settle in its place. It wasn’t like I was sad to see Aiden go. In fact, I was relieved. But the reality of it all—how much I had endured, how much I had fought for, only to end up here—left me feeling raw, exposed. “You alright?” Spencer’s voice cut through my thoughts, gentle but concerned. He was sitting across from me, his eyes soft as he watched me. I nodded, giving him a small smile. “Yeah. It’s just… surreal.” He reached across the table and took my hand, giving it a comfortin
** Sydney ** I had thought about it for days before deciding to make the trip to see Joyceline. Part of me had wanted to avoid her altogether, to leave everything she had done in the past where it belonged—behind me. But there was another part, the part that needed closure, that needed to confront her, not out of anger or vengeance, but to finally put everything to rest. The drive to the jail was long, giving me too much time to think. As I parked the car and walked inside, my heart beat steadily in my chest, though I wasn’t sure if it was from nerves or resolve. It felt surreal, walking into this place, knowing that the woman who had once been my friend had turned against me in such a cruel way. They led me through the dimly lit hallways to a small room, separated by a pane of glass. Joyceline would be brought in soon, and I would finally face her. I sat down on the cold metal chair, my fingers tapping lightly on the surface of the table as I waited. When she entered, escorted by
** Sydney ** The day had finally arrived. The warm sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the bridal suite, casting a soft glow over everything it touched. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in awe. The white dress I wore was a dream, elegant and simple, yet breathtaking in its detail. The lace sleeves hugged my arms, and the fabric flowed down like a waterfall, pooling gently at my feet. I could hardly believe it was me. I couldn’t help but smile, my heart fluttering with excitement. Today was the day I would marry Spencer—the man who had walked into my life at a time when I needed him the most, and the man I had grown to love more than I ever thought possible. The past few months had been a whirlwind, but in that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just us. There was a knock at the door, and Lydia, my best friend and now my maid of honor, peeked her head in. “You ready?” she asked with a grin. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, my voice shaking sli
Elizabeth was sitting calmly in the living room, her legs were crossed and I could feel the elegance as it emanated from her calmness. My heartbeat was louder than the sound that came from the movie that she was watching in the television."Mom, you're here," Spencer said to get her attention.She turned around and smiled at him, when she looked at me, she maintained a mild expression before looking back at her son. "Yes, Spencer. I was bored at my place so I decided to come over and see you and Sydney," she replied to him.Spencer ordered a tray of fruits for his mom while we settled down to keep her company."You are looking healthy, Sydney," she complimented me."Thank you," I said with nervousness. I felt like my nervous system was going to break down any minute from now."Spencer, can you spare me twenty minutes of a private moment with Sydney?" Elizabeth asked her son.Spencer nodded and stood up, "Okay."As soon as he left, my heart sank further because I thought that Elizabeth
** Sydney**I felt his touch on my hair and earlobe and neck, his hands were all over my face but his touch was gentle, sweet and arousing. I stirred my eyes open slowly, I didn't want to wake up in the first place because the last few events have been exhausting for me.Learning the truth in the most painful manner was exhausting enough for me, I was glad that I was done with the Talker's family although it was not yet official. Aiden had really used my heart and broken it into a million pieces but in the darkest of hearts, I have found Spencer and he was willing to be my ride or die for life and nothing was going to change that forever."Good morning, sleepy head," Spencer murmured in my eyes and I giggled, that sweet feeling of being a loved woman has returned to me again."Spencer, why are you disturbing I and the baby so early in the morning?" I asked, pretending to be angry at him.He kissed my forehead and then my baby bump that was more visible now, we were almost at sixteen w
** Sydney ** I had thought about it for days before deciding to make the trip to see Joyceline. Part of me had wanted to avoid her altogether, to leave everything she had done in the past where it belonged—behind me. But there was another part, the part that needed closure, that needed to confront her, not out of anger or vengeance, but to finally put everything to rest. The drive to the jail was long, giving me too much time to think. As I parked the car and walked inside, my heart beat steadily in my chest, though I wasn’t sure if it was from nerves or resolve. It felt surreal, walking into this place, knowing that the woman who had once been my friend had turned against me in such a cruel way. They led me through the dimly lit hallways to a small room, separated by a pane of glass. Joyceline would be brought in soon, and I would finally face her. I sat down on the cold metal chair, my fingers tapping lightly on the surface of the table as I waited. When she entered, escorted by
** Sydney ** The pen trembled slightly in my hand as I hovered over the final line of the divorce papers. It was surreal to think that after everything, it was finally coming to an end. My marriage to Aiden—the lies, the manipulation, the deceit—was all about to be over with one stroke of a pen. I let out a deep breath and pressed the ink down, signing my name for the last time as his wife. It was done. I was free. I sat back in my chair, feeling both a weight lift off my chest and a strange emptiness settle in its place. It wasn’t like I was sad to see Aiden go. In fact, I was relieved. But the reality of it all—how much I had endured, how much I had fought for, only to end up here—left me feeling raw, exposed. “You alright?” Spencer’s voice cut through my thoughts, gentle but concerned. He was sitting across from me, his eyes soft as he watched me. I nodded, giving him a small smile. “Yeah. It’s just… surreal.” He reached across the table and took my hand, giving it a comfortin
** Spencer ** “Sydney, we need to talk about this now,” I said. She nodded, biting her lip as she tried to hold back more tears. “I just… I don’t know what to do or say now.” I gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You’ll figure it out, Sydney. You’re strong. And whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you. Always.” She looked up at me, her eyes filled with gratitude, and for a moment, the tension in the room lifted. We sat there in silence, just the two of us, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay again. I stayed close to Sydney, watching as the emotions played across her face. Her eyes, once filled with hurt and confusion, softened slightly as the reality of everything settled in. I could see the exhaustion in her, both from the ordeal with Aiden and the emotional rollercoaster she’d been on ever since he came back into her life. For a moment, I didn’t know what else to say. I just held her hand, letting the sil
Spencer’s POV I lost track of time after they took Sydney in. The sterile hospital walls felt like they were closing in, and the ticking of the clock in the waiting room was deafening. I kept pacing, back and forth, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if the drug Joyceline gave her had lasting effects? What if the baby was harmed? Every minute felt like a lifetime. Max had come by earlier, sitting with me for a bit before he had to head out. His presence had been grounding, but now I was alone, back to circling the room. The nurses occasionally gave me sympathetic looks, but none of them had any answers. I ran my hands through my hair for what felt like the hundredth time. I couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not after everything. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the door to the waiting room swung open. I spun around, my heart pounding as the doctor walked in, clipboard in hand. I rushed up to him before he could even say a word. “How is she? Is Sydney okay? And the bab
**Spencer** The tension in the police van was palpable, the hum of the engine the only sound breaking the silence as we raced toward the location Collins had texted me. My hands were clenched tight, knuckles white from the grip I had on my phone. The moment the message had come through, I knew this was it—this was where Joyceline was holding Sydney. A sense of dread had been eating at me ever since I found out what Joyceline had planned. I should have seen it coming. After all, she was never one to back down, especially not when it came to getting what she wanted. But this… this was insane, even for her. I glanced at the police officers sitting beside me, their faces grim and focused. They had been briefed, and they knew how delicate this situation was. Sydney was pregnant, and any wrong move could not only endanger her but also the baby. The head of the task force, Officer Richards, looked over at me. “We’re almost there. Stay calm, Martin. We’ll handle this.” I nodded, swallowin
** Sydney ** I sat at the café, stirring the spoon in my coffee absentmindedly. The tension in my stomach hadn’t eased since Joyceline had called. I glanced at the door every few seconds, scanning each new arrival. My nerves were on high alert, and it didn’t help that Joyceline had always been good at getting under my skin. I tried to recall the last time we had spoken before everything exploded. She was the person I trusted with everything, my best friend—or at least, she had been before the betrayal. And now, here I was, waiting for her as if things hadn’t completely fallen apart. The door chimed, and in walked Joyceline. She wore her signature smirk, her eyes scanning the café until they landed on me. Her outfit was immaculate as always—a designer coat draped over her shoulders, her heels clicking as she walked confidently toward my table. Nothing about her seemed different on the surface, yet there was something in her eyes… something I couldn’t quite place. “Sydney,” she gree