A Lesson in Bicycles and RegretsJosh had never learned how to ride a bicycle, and I knew exactly why. His father had been too absent, too wrapped up in his own world to ever teach him. It was a small thing, really—just riding a bike. But to me, it was more than that. It was a reminder of all the things Aaron had failed to do as a father.So today, I had decided I would teach Josh myself.We were at the park, and Josh stood next to his new bicycle, eyeing it with uncertainty.“Are you sure about this, Mom?” he asked, raising a brow. “You don’t even know how to ride a bike.”I scoffed. “That’s not the point, Josh. I can learn while teaching you.”He sighed dramatically. “This is going to be a disaster.”“Hey!” I nudged his shoulder. “Have a little faith in me, will you?”He shook his head with a small laugh. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”With determination, I climbed onto the bike, gripping the handles tightly. Josh stood beside me, his arms crossed as he watched.“Alright,”
A Conversation We Shouldn’t Be HavingI was still sitting on the floor, my back against the door, when I heard a knock. My heart jumped.I held my breath, hoping—praying—it wasn’t who I thought it was. But then his voice came through the door, calm and steady.“I’m going to pretend like you never said that. Now, can we talk?”I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly. Of course, it was Alex.Why was he coming to my room now?For a brief second, I debated ignoring him, but I knew that wouldn’t work. He wasn’t the type to walk away just because I didn’t answer. So, with a deep breath, I stood up, straightened my clothes, and unlocked the door.When I opened it, Alex stood there, his arms crossed, looking at me with that unreadable expression he always had when he was thinking too much.I shamelessly stepped out, tucking my hair behind my ear, trying to act like I wasn’t embarrassed.Alex chuckled softly.I frowned. “What?”“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head with an amused look.I narrowed m
A Protective Man The next morning, I stood in front of the hotel staff, my arms crossed as I listened to Alex lay out the renovation plans. The large conference room was filled with managers, cleaners, chefs, and other employees, all gathered to discuss the hotel’s future.“This is a fresh start,” Alex said confidently. “Mira and I want this place to not only be restored but to become even better than before. Every detail matters. The interior, the services, even the smallest changes—we’re aiming for perfection.”I nodded. “And I want all of you to be part of this. This hotel is like a home, not just for me, but for all of us. We need to work together to make it a success.”The employees nodded in agreement, and some even clapped. I could tell they were excited about the changes.After going over the budget, timeline, and responsibilities, the meeting finally ended. One by one, the employees left, leaving just me and Alex behind.“That went well,” I said, stretching my arms.“Yeah,”
Lena stormed into her home, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she tossed her purse onto the couch. The humiliation from her encounter with Mira and Alex still burned in her chest. She wasn’t the type to take an insult and walk away quietly. No, she would make them pay.She poured herself a glass of wine and sat down, already forming a plan in her mind. That was when her husband, Richard, walked into the living room, his tie loosened, exhaustion clear on his face.“You’re home early,” he noted, pouring himself a drink.“I had an interesting dinner,” Lena said with a smirk.Richard raised a brow. “And?”Lena leaned back. “I ran into Mira and Alex. And guess what? They admitted to sleeping together.”Richard scoffed, taking a sip of his whiskey. “What ! Wasn’t she married to his brother?”Lena’s lips curled into a devious smile. “That would make a good story, don’t you think? ‘CEO Alex has been sleeping with his step brother‘a wife even before their divorce and they have gon
The Scandal(Mira’s POV)I was lying on my bed, scrolling through my phone when my heart nearly stopped. A headline flashed across my screen, bold and clear, dragging my name through the mud.“Mira Exposed: Sleeping with Ex-Husband’s Stepbrother Even While Married!”My fingers trembled as I clicked on the article. The words felt like a slap to my face.“Sources claim that Mira ,the former wife of Aaron , had an affair with his stepbrother, , even while she was still legally married. The rumors come after a public confrontation. Witnesses claim that Mira openly admitted to having a sexual relationship with Alex.”What the hell?I scrolled down, and the comments were even worse.@AmyLuv: Wow, she really went from husband to stepbrother? That’s disgusting!@JakeTheGreat: Aaron dodged a bullet. This woman has no shame.@BellaQueen: I always knew there was something shady about her. Poor Josh, he must be so confused.@MiraFan89: Y’all are just jealous. She’s a businesswoman, let her live!
(Mira’s POV)The moment I stepped outside, I was blinded by flashing lights.Paparazzi.Dozens of them.They swarmed around me like vultures, shoving microphones in my face, shouting questions I couldn’t even process.“Mira, are you really having an affair with Alex?”“Did you cheat on Aaron during your marriage?”“Is it true Alex has been supporting you financially?”The crowd pressed closer, cameras flashing, voices overlapping. My breath hitched. My head pounded.I wanted to scream, but I just stood there, frozen.Then, from nowhere, I felt a firm grip on my wrist.“Move.”Alex.He pushed through the crowd, pulling me along with him. His grip was strong but not rough, guiding me toward his car. The paparazzi kept shouting, pressing forward, cameras inches from my face.I felt my body tremble. I tried to keep my head down, but I couldn’t stop the sting in my eyes.Then it happened—before I could stop it, a single tear rolled down my cheek.The flashes intensified. The voices grew lo
(Mira’s POV)I woke up with one goal today—crush Lena before she crushed me.No more playing nice. No more taking hits in silence.I had a press conference later, but before that, I needed to deal with Lena face-to-face. And I needed evidence. If she was bold enough to spread lies about me, then she should be bold enough to admit it.I dressed up in my sharpest outfit, something that screamed power and confidence. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I didn’t see the scared woman from yesterday.I saw a woman ready for war.By the time I arrived at Lena’s favorite upscale restaurant, she was already there, sipping on some expensive wine like she didn’t just try to ruin my life.Her lips curled into a smirk the moment she saw me. “Oh? Look who finally crawled out of her hiding place.”I pulled out the chair across from her and sat down, crossing my legs. “I see you’re celebrating early, Lena. I hope it’s not for something stupid.”She laughed, setting her glass down. “Oh, sweetheart,
Chapter: The Aftermath Lena sat in the dimly lit living room of her mansion, her fingers gripping the edge of her wine glass so tightly that she nearly cracked it. The air was thick with tension, and the only sound was the soft hum of the television in the background, broadcasting the biggest scandal of the week—her downfall.Mira clears her name!Mira proves Lena Thompson spread false rumors!Lena’s husband’s network loses subscribers after being linked to scandal!The headlines flashed across the screen, each one a slap to her face. The press conference had gone completely wrong for her. Mira had played her perfectly, baiting her into revealing the truth and then exposing it to the entire world. And now? Her life was crumbling.Before she could take another sip of her wine, the front door slammed open.“LENA!” A deep, furious voice boomed through the house.Her heart clenched. She knew that tone all too well.Her husband, Richard Thompson, stormed inside, his face red with rage. H
(Mira’s POV)It was time for Alex to leave, and as much as I wanted to avoid the awkwardness, I wasn’t sure how to act around him now. But before I could overthink it, he gave me a small smile and said, “Don’t make this weird, Mira.”I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.“I just want to make things right for you,” he continued. “And I don’t want to rush things. Let’s just… keep it cool.”I nodded. That was probably the best thing to do. Everything felt so overwhelming already, and I didn’t need to complicate it even more.As he reached for the door, he turned back to me. “You don’t have to worry about Aaron,” he said, his voice firm. “I’ll keep you safe.”I believed him.We stood there for a while, talking about random things—jokes, childhood memories, and silly arguments about whether pineapple belonged on pizza. It felt natural, effortless, like we hadn’t just gone through a night filled with chaos.When it was finally time for him to leave, he walked to his car, and I
The Confession(Mira’s POV)Cynthia drove me home in silence, the only sound in the car was the hum of the engine. My head was still spinning from everything that had happened. Tonight was supposed to be fun, but instead, it had turned into another night of chaos.When we pulled into the driveway, I let out a tired sigh. “Thanks for the ride,” I mumbled, unbuckling my seatbelt.But the moment I stepped out of the car, my stomach twisted painfully.Alex was standing there.Under the dim glow of the streetlight, I could see his knuckles—bloody and bruised. His jaw was clenched, his face unreadable, but I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. The way he held his injured hand told me he was in pain, but he wasn’t even acknowledging it.Before I even thought about what I was doing, my feet moved on their own.I ran to him.The ache in my chest grew stronger with each step, and the moment I reached him, my emotions exploded.I hit his chest—softly at first, then harder.“Why?” I shouted, my
A Night Gone Wrong(Mira’s POV)Sitting in the VIP lounge with Cynthia, I sipped on my drink while we watched the dance floor. The music was loud, the bass vibrating through my body, but I was having a good time. It felt nice to unwind, to just sit back and not think about work, responsibilities, or the mess Aaron had made of my life.But, of course, peace never lasted long for me.“Come on!” Cynthia suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me up. “You didn’t come all the way here just to sit and watch. Let’s dance!”I laughed, trying to resist. “Cynthia, I’m not really—”“No excuses, Mira. Let’s go.”Before I could argue further, I was already being dragged onto the dance floor. The lights flashed, people moved in sync with the beat, and for a brief moment, I let myself enjoy it.Then, I felt someone behind me.I turned around, expecting a stranger, but my heart dropped when I saw who it was.Aaron.Drunk, stumbling, and looking at me with the same arrogance he always had.“Mira,” he slurre
An Unexpected Reunion(Mira’s POV)I tried my best not to make it obvious, but I was definitely waiting for Alex to say something.His words from earlier kept replaying in my mind. When the time is right, I need to tell you something.What was it?Did it have to do with our almost kiss? Did he feel the same way I did? Or was I reading too much into it?I stole a glance at him as we stepped into the club, but his expression was unreadable. The music was loud, the flashing lights making everything feel more alive. People were already dancing, the atmosphere filled with energy.Just as I was about to say something, I heard someone call Alex’s name.A guy approached us, grinning. it was daniel’s friend . Alex recognized him instantly and gave him a handshake.“Daniel,” Alex greeted. “Didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”“Man, you know me. Always around,” Daniel said, then turned to me. “Mira so good to see you here , you look hot”Alex threw him a look.I nodded politely, offering a small
(Mira’s POV)I had been staring at the clock endlessly, tapping my fingers against my dresser, waiting for time to pass. Every minute felt like an hour. I was already dressed, and I looked hot.The deep black dress hugged my curves perfectly, stopping just above my knees, classy yet daring. My makeup was light but flawless, highlighting my best features. My hair? Perfect waves that framed my face just right.I picked up my phone and took a few pictures for Instagram. It had been a while since I posted something for myself and not business-related. I smiled at the photos, satisfied.“Mom, you actually look hot,” Josh teased from my doorway, arms crossed with a smug grin.I rolled my eyes, laughing. “Oh, so I never look hot?”He shook his head dramatically. “Not this hot. Are you sure you’re going to the club and not a red-carpet event?”I threw a pillow at him, and he dodged it easily, laughing. But deep down, his words made me wonder.Would Alex bail on me tonight after what happened
“Let’s Pretend That Didn’t Happen” i said to myself. The second I stepped into my house, I rushed straight to my room and shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it. Josh was sitting on my bed, playing a game on his tablet, but as soon as he saw me, he smirked. “What was that about?” he asked, his voice filled with amusement. I groaned and covered my face. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” Josh chuckled. “You and Uncle Alex were about to kiss.” I gasped. “Excuse me?” I dropped my hands and looked at him. “We were not.” He rolled his eyes. “Mom, I’m not a kid. I saw it.” I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, but he dodged it, laughing. “Go to sleep, Josh.” He snickered. “Whatever you say, Mom.” Before I could throw another pillow at him, I heard a knock on my door. I froze. Josh raised an eyebrow. “You gonna get that, or should I?” I slowly walked to the door and peeped through the peephole. My stomach did a little flip when I saw Alex standing there, wavi
Stepping out of her comfort zone I stared at my closet, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line.All I had were work clothes.Blazers. Pencil skirts. Crisp white shirts. A few modest dresses that screamed corporate boss rather than night out.I sighed. “Well, this is a disaster.”Josh, sitting on my bed with his legs crossed, let out a loud laugh. “Mom, you’re so funny right now.”I turned to him with a playful glare. “Oh? And what exactly is funny about this?”He grinned, eyes twinkling. “You, freaking out over what to wear to a club.”I scoffed. “I am not freaking out.”Josh raised a brow, clearly not convinced.I groaned and grabbed my phone, dialing Alex. He picked up immediately.“Yo,” he answered. “You ready for tonight?”“No,” I huffed, flipping through the clothes in my wardrobe again. “I have nothing to wear.”There was silence for half a second before he burst into laughter.“Oh no,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “The great Mira doesn’t have the perfect o
Taking Back ControlThe office was finally peaceful. No more chaos, no more betrayals—just me, my work, and the steady hum of productivity. I focused on my new project, checking every little detail carefully. Things were falling into place, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was back in control.Just as I was about to take a sip of my coffee, my manager walked in with a smirk on his face, holding a document in his hand.“You wouldn’t believe this,” he said.I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”“A direct mail from Aaron’s company,” he said, waving the paper slightly. “Do you want to read it?”Aaron? The name alone made my mood sour. There was no way he would have the guts to contact me himself. If anything, he’d use someone else to do his dirty work.“Let me see,” I said, taking the document from him.I skimmed through the contents, and before I could stop myself, I let out a loud laugh.Co-CEO?They really thought I would agree to that? After everything I had
Aaron’s Office ShowdownAaron sat at his desk, flipping through a stack of files while trying to ignore the growing headache pressing against his temples. The past few weeks had been stressful. His company was struggling, facing unexpected financial hits and internal instability. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, his assistant walked in.“Sir, the Chief Director is here to see you,” she announced cautiously.Aaron frowned. The Chief Director rarely showed up unannounced. Something was off.“Let him in,” he said, closing the file in front of him and leaning back in his chair.A few moments later, the Chief Director, an older man with silver-streaked hair and a sharp gaze, walked in. His expression was unreadable, but Aaron could sense the weight of his presence. He gestured toward the chair in front of him.“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Aaron asked, trying to sound casual.The Chief Director sat down, placing a folder on the desk. He adjusted his suit jacket and ex