Jason leaned back in his leather chair, eyes unfocused as he scrolled through emails on his laptop. Meetings, investor updates, business proposals—it was the usual mix of corporate life that normally grounded him. Today, though, the routine couldn’t settle his restless mind. The dull glow of his office lights felt too harsh, the ticking of the clock too loud. His mind wasn’t in the room; it was elsewhere—on her.Then his phone vibrated on the desk, the soft buzz cutting through the quiet tension. Jason’s heart skipped a beat as he hesitated. He already knew who the message was from. With a quick exhale, he reached for the phone. Sure enough, the notification flashed on the screen from an unknown number. Isabella.With a quick swipe of his finger across the screen, the message opened. Another image, explicit and degrading, with a caption that made him shudder: "This is just the beginning.” Imagine what your business partners would think if they saw this.”Jason's eyes narrowed in shock
Jason strode into the glass doors of his company's headquarters, but he didn't feel at home in this familiar environment. Today, it seemed like everything was louder—the distant hum of phones, the murmur of people, the clicking of laptops. Every glance from his employees felt loaded, every nod of acknowledgment felt like suspicion. Did he look at him differently, or was it just him? He forced himself to swallow, attempting to ignore his paranoia, but Isabella's words, "I know everything," kept repeating in his head. I see everything.”Was it true? Could she really be watching him, knowing his every move? The idea tormented him. Had he not taken all the necessary safety measures? Or was someone here feeding her information?He reached the elevator and waited as it rose, his mind racing. His assistant, Jane, greeted him the moment he stepped out, but Jason barely registered her presence. Her usual cheerful demeanor grated on him today, like sandpaper on his nerves.“Sir, I’ve compiled
The parking garage was virtually empty, but for the faint hum of fluorescent lights flickering above. As Jason made his way to the dimly lit nook where Isabella had instructed him to meet her, his footfall resounded against the hard surface. With every stride, he tightened his hold on the envelope, feeling the weight of the cash within being quite substantial. He stopped and looked around. The quiet was eerie, causing the hairs on his neck to stand up. After that, Isabella came out from the darkness and entered the faint light, her high heels making a clicking sound on the floor.. She was already grinning, mockingly triumphant, as though she had defeated a battle he was unaware he was engaged in.“Right on time,” she purred, her voice cutting through the stillness. She stopped a few feet away, eyeing the envelope in his hand. “I see you brought what I asked for.”Jason clinched his jaw. His eyes were fixed on hers as he waited for her to react, attempting to predict her next move. He
The conversation between Isabella and Thane had a deceptive ease to it, the kind that comes with familiarity. Yet, beneath her calm demeanor, she was setting her plan in motion. Thane had always been her support, the one to ground her, but there were larger ambitions swirling in Isabella’s mind. And for that, she needed time.Isabella glanced up from her glass of wine, her expression poised and thoughtful as she watched Thane settle onto the couch beside her. The soft lighting in the room created a warm atmosphere, but it failed to prevent the slow encroachment of the chilly sensation she was starting to feel. The tightness in his shoulders and the evident fatigue on his face made it clear to her that he had endured a tiring day. Normally, seeing him like this would stir some feeling of affection, maybe even guilt. But tonight, the pressing nature of the tasks at hand overwhelmed her. With a tiny smile teasing the corner of his mouth, Thane cast a quick glance in her direction. His h
With a mixture of uncertainty and wrath buzzing through his consciousness, Thane paced the length of the room, his grasp tightening around his phone. Everything had fallen apart when Kendall's pregnancy was discovered, but he wasn't going to give Jason the upper hand. Never, ever, not right now.He could feel Isabella’s eyes on him, watching intently. Her calm demeanor unsettled him, but he pushed it aside for now. He needed to focus on one thing—unraveling the mystery of Jason’s marriage and this pregnancy.“Thane?” Isabella’s voice was smooth, but there was an edge of curiosity, maybe even intrigue. She didn’t like being kept out of the loop, and Thane knew it. He stopped pacing and turned to her, his expression hard. “Kendall being pregnant—it doesn’t make sense. Something’s off.”“Off how?” Isabella leaned forward, her lips pursed in thought. She always enjoyed being part of the game, always ready to strike when it suited her. Thane narrowed his eyes, running a hand through his
The edge of Thane's desk was constantly being pounded by his fingers. In his study, his laptop screen shone in the low light, giving his face a strange blue tint. He had hardly left this room in the last three days, his mind fixed on Kendall's flawless exterior. There had to be something hidden beneath the surface—no one could rise from obscurity and fall into Jason’s life so perfectly.He scrolled through endless pages of information, his eyes narrowing as each search turned up nothing of significance. Her school records, job history, even her social media—all clean. It didn’t make sense. It was incomprehensible. "Oh my god!" He slammed the laptop shut, whispering to himself. Isabella was curled up on the sofa, her legs tastefully crossed, as seen from across the room. She appeared to be focussing elsewhere as she didn't take her eyes from the magazine. But Thane could feel her presence, calm and unbothered, and it only agitated him more."You would think a woman such as Kendall wo
Thane dashed into the living room, his face flushed with anger. The past three days were a whirlwind of insomnia, tiring investigations, and fruitless results. Each path he followed, each clue he chased, all ended up being dead ends. Kendall was an enigma, a ghost with a flawless history. And Jason? He was showing off his quick marriage and imminent fatherhood as though they were all part of some grand scheme, smugly reveling in his role as the golden boy. Isabella, lounging on the comfortable couch, glanced up from her device as Thane's heavy footsteps echoed through the room. Her indifferent demeanor and the slight tilt of her head further fueled his anger. She wasn’t helping—she never had. Not really.Thane threw his hands up in exasperation. “It’s pointless! I’ve searched everywhere. Everywhere! There’s nothing—no mistakes, no hidden scandals, nothing I can use against her.”Isabella raised a brow, setting her tablet down on the glass coffee table. “You sound surprised.”"I'm def
With her hands clasped around her stomach, Kendall sat at the edge of her bed, her mind whirling like the clouds in a storm outside. The preceding several weeks had seen a terrible gap build between her and Jason as a result of miscommunication, secrets, and the ongoing drama that had taken over their life. She had moved back into her room, a physical representation of the emotional distance that had gradually grown between them. She looked around the room, feeling uneasy inside. The cold, distant connection she was currently trapped in was not the future she had pictured.Kendall placed her hand on her stomach, the baby inside serving as a constant reminder of past and future anxieties. The gentle light from the bedside lamp created moving shadows on the walls, resembling the spirits of her past, her remorse, her deceit.The pregnancy was real. The life growing inside her was real. But the marriage? It was based on lies, and it seemed like the walls were closing in on us every day. T
"Unloved?"“Dismissed?”Thane's expression showed intense anger and feeling of being let down, his gaze focused on Isabella. Every word she spoke felt like a blade piercing his chest, and the burden of her falsehoods appeared to bear down on him, suffocating him with the harsh truth that he had simply been a pawn in her scheme. "Thinking about it now, all along you've been giving me reasons why we couldn't schedule a date, why you required more time for your 'career.'" His voice was thick with anger, a brittle edge that bordered on disbelief. “Were you ever planning on marrying me, Isabella? Or was I just some convenient distraction?”Isabella's expression contorted in annoyance, her usual sweet demeanor completely disappearing. "Oh, stop being so morally superior, Thane. You think I delayed the wedding for fun?” Defiance sparkled in her eyes as she raised her chin. I was ensuring my future. It's not my responsibility that you were unable to perceive what was directly in front of
Thane remained immobile, his thoughts battling to comprehend the unfolding situation in front of him. His gaze filled with betrayal and disbelief as it focused on Isabella. This was not the woman he thought he knew.“Isabella?” he finally managed, his voice low, laced with the sting of betrayal. “You… you’re pregnant? With Jason’s child?”Isabella’s jaw clenched, her gaze flickering briefly as she weighed her response. But her silence spoke volumes.Jason seized the moment, his expression resolute as he stepped forward. “Thane, you deserve to know the whole story. This has gone on long enough.” He pulled out his phone, his fingers tapping a few buttons before holding it out to Thane. “See for yourself.”Thane looked at Jason, a trace of wariness in his gaze, before reluctantly accepting the phone. The video started, and as it played, Thane’s face grew pale. Isabella was on the screen, putting something into Jason's drink and throwing herself on him with a cunning expression, looking a
Jason was focused on his report, combing through the details with his usual meticulous precision, when the office door swung open without warning. The abrupt intrusion jolted him, his concentration snapping as he looked up to see Isabella standing in the doorway, her expression stormy and unrestrained."Hi Jason," she said in a harsh voice, filling the room with hatred. He didn't try to hide his annoyance. Isabella. Why are you here? Ignoring his query, she walked fully into his office, and Jane, his assistant, was close after her, evidently flustered.“Ms. Isabella, Mr. Carter is busy with meetings today. You really need to—”“I’m not here for you, Jane,” Isabella said curtly, not even sparing the assistant a glance. Her focus was locked on Jason, her gaze steely, unyielding. “Jason and I need to talk. Alone.”Jason let out a resigned sigh, gesturing to Jane to leave. “It’s fine, Jane. I’ll handle this.”Isabella's tension was noticeable as soon as the door closed behind her, her e
Jason sat in the conference room, watching the projector screen attentively while one of his managers went over the quarterly reports in a monotonous tone. The numbers became hazy in front of him, constantly shifting in clarity. He had examined the information numerous times, yet on this day, his thoughts refused to calm down. Every few minutes, he caught himself thinking about Kendall. That morning, she was quiet and slightly more timid as she stood in the doorway, observing him as he picked up his coat. He still recalled how her face softened, a silent message in her eyes as she bid him farewell for the day. The memory stuck with him, unwilling to disappear. As the presentation droned on, he checked his phone out of habit, noticing a few missed messages from Isabella. He dismissed them with a swipe, his attention drifting back to the last glimpse he’d had of Kendall. He found himself wondering if she was alright, hoping she was feeling better after their recent challenges. It wasn
"Thane," Kendall greeted, her voice a forced calm, though a tight smile barely softened the edge of her unease. "Jason isn’t here."“That’s fine.” He spoke quickly and showed little interest. His eyes quickly scanned over her, sharp and evaluating, pausing to scrutinize the room's details as if looking for a hidden object. "I am here to have a conversation with you." A strange dread settled in her stomach. She dismissed the maid with a quick nod, hoping to mask her discomfort. As the maid retreated, Kendall gestured reluctantly for Thane to enter. His presence was unsettling, a dark cloud clouding the safety of her home, and every step he took seemed to carry a weight that filled the room.“Would you like something to drink?” she offered, hoping to fill the heavy silence with something—anything—to distract from his cold intensity.“No need.” He settled onto the couch without waiting for her invitation, his air of entitlement unmistakable. His gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering. "
Jason woke up to the soft light coming in through the curtains, creating gentle shadows in the room. Looking at Kendall next to him, he glanced over and saw her resting peacefully with a relaxed expression on her face. Her being there soothed him unexpectedly, providing a peaceful reassurance that was both fresh and recognizable. He briefly observed her, feeling warmth in his chest, surprised by the sudden appearance of this feeling. Kendall awoke, her eyes opening slowly, and when she looked at him, a faint smile formed on her lips, showing how tired she still was. She whispered "Good morning," in a gentle and sleepy voice. "Jason responded, his smile soft, mirroring the warmth in his eyes, saying, 'Morning!'" “How are you feeling? Still tired?”Kendall paused to breathe, moving a piece of hair from her face. "She actually admitted she was doing better, stretching out her arms." “I think I just needed a good rest… and maybe some company,” she added with a light laugh, though her e
Jason’s laughter filled the cozy living room as he poured two glasses of champagne, his smile easy and unguarded. Kendall observed him, feeling a warmth envelop her as she noticed the uncommon, easygoing side of him. Their festive dinner was a modest yet sincere event, filled with soft dialogue, exchanged looks, and a tacit comprehension lingering in the atmosphere. "To fresh starts," Jason remarked, raising his glass in her direction. Kendall raised hers in reply, locking eyes with him, and they tapped their glasses together. "To new beginnings," she repeated, a gentle smile dancing on her lips. While they drank, Kendall started to sense a slight wave of tiredness washing over her, more intense than normal. She dismissed it, not wishing to spoil the moment. Jason inclined his body forward, his eyes fixed as he observed her expression. “Are you okay?” he inquired, his tone reflecting a hint of worry. “You seem… tired.”Kendall shook her head, smiling reassuringly. “I’m fine, just…
Jason’s office hummed with subdued anticipation, his team moving restlessly in the background, gazes glued to the phone as they waited for the official announcement. Jason was at his desk, attempting to look composed, yet his fingers drummed a constant beat on the edge, revealing his eagerness. Kendall faced him, her gaze supportive and kind as she observed him. A sharp ring cut through the room. Jason’s assistant, Jane picked up, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes as she turned to him. “Mr. Carter, it’s the call.”He nodded, inhaling deeply to calm himself. Kendall offered him a supportive smile, silently saying, "You can do it." Jason felt a surge of comfort from her being there. He lifted the receiver, his voice calm, yet there was a hint of something else—a subtle assurance. “Hello, yes, speaking.”The conversation began with formalities, and Jason’s responses remained professional, yet Kendall noticed how his shoulders gradually relaxed, a subtle shift in his expression
When the long-awaited day finally came, the big hall was filled with happy chatter and the sound of youngsters laughing blended with soft background music. Bright balloons, animated streamers, and tables brimming with toys adorned the location. Kendall strolled next to Jason, her eyes absorbing the vibrant scene with a gentle, caring look.A little girl tugged on her dress, drawing her attention. She bent down, meeting the child’s curious eyes. “Hi there! What’s your name?”The girl blinked shyly, hiding her face for a moment. “Lily.”Kendall’s smile brightened as she offered her hand. “Well, Lily, I’m Kendall. “Could you please show me which toys are your favorites?” The girl's expression brightened as she agreed, grasping Kendall's hand and guiding her to a table filled with stuffed animals and vivid blocks. Jason observed the situation from a short distance, his face relaxing as he noticed Kendall laughing and conversing effortlessly with Lily. “You’re really good with kids,” Jas