Suddenly, the tranquility of the room was shattered by the thunderous sound of footsteps echoing from above. My eyes instinctively darted upwards, only to witness the sight of my son Marco hurtling down the staircase, his face beaming with delight."Mommy!" he exclaimed, rushing towards me and leaping onto my lap. "I've missed you! Can we have some fun?"His infectious enthusiasm brought a smile to my face, but I couldn't help but notice the tinge of disappointment in his expression when he noticed Elijah sitting beside me on the couch."What's the matter, sweetheart?" I inquired, gently running my fingers through his curly brown locks. "Would you like to play with Daddy Elijah?" I suggested, my smile unwavering.Marco's frown deepened as he cast another glance at Elijah. "I don't want to play with him," he responded, his voice filled with a rare seriousness.His words caught me off guard. Marco had always been warm and accepting of Elijah, even displaying a genuine fondness for him.
As I entered the living room, a wave of panic washed over me when I witnessed Elijah towering over Marco, his voice booming with fury.My poor son sat on the couch, trembling with fear and uncertainty, his innocent eyes reflecting a mix of terror and bewilderment.My blood boiled as I approached them, ready to defend my son."What is happening here?" I demanded, trying to maintain a calm tone despite the rage bubbling inside me. Elijah turned to me, his expression softening as he noticed the anger in my eyes."I apologize, Sweetheart," he said, his voice lowering."I just got frustrated with Marco. He left his toys scattered all over the kitchen, and I nearly tripped on them."His explanation was meant to justify his actions, but it only fueled my anger."So, just because he left some toys on the floor, you think it's acceptable to yell at him like that?" I shot back, my voice escalating.Looking into Marco's tear-filled eyes, I realized that this wasn't the first time Elijah had lost
Days went by and Elijah assured me that he would make it up to Marco. However, Marcus and I still hadn't addressed the incident that occurred last time. I had accused him of brainwashing Marco, but before anything else, I had asked Betty to take care of Marco while I was at work.As the clock struck 1pm, I found myself sitting in my office, staring at my computer screen, attempting to concentrate on the never-ending stream of emails flooding my inbox. But my mind kept wandering back to Elijah, my fiancé and business partner, who had dropped a bombshell on me earlier in the day."Hey, Sweetheart," Elijah said, entering my office with a serious expression on his face. "Can we talk for a minute?"I turned towards him, giving a nod and motioning for him to take a seat. "What's on your mind?"Elijah took a deep breath before speaking. "I have to go on a business trip next week. It's a sudden development, but it's incredibly important. I need to finalize a deal with our company's biggest in
"Hey there, this is Hannah. May I ask who I'm speaking with?""Hannah? Who are you?"I asked.I couldn't believe what I had just heard. My heart was racing and my mind was filled with so many questions. Who was Hannah? Why has Elijah’s phone? And most importantly, was Elijah cheating on me?I tried to push the thoughts away, reminding myself that I had made a mistake with Marcus. I had no right to accuse Elijah of anything. I knew him better than that. But still, the doubts lingered in my mind.As she immediately ended the call, I looked over at Marcus who was sitting across from me. He raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about who had called. I simply said it was Elijah and that I needed to talk to a client. I quickly said goodbye and hung up, my mind still reeling from the woman’s voice.I immediately called my secretary and asked her to explain to our client that I would be a little late for our meeting. I needed some time to clear my head and figure out what was going on.I decided
The following day, I woke up bright and early and asked Betty to look after Marco while I headed to the office. I have a busy day ahead, especially with the new campaign launch.As I settled into my office, Elijah walked in and we greeted each other with a kiss."How's your day going, my love?" he inquired, with a smile."Not too exhausting," I responded."Good for you. Anyway, we need to talk about our wedding plan, sweetheart" Elijah said."It's too early, sweet heart. you know there's a lot of things we need to work out in the company,"I replied. "But we need to start planning, my love. We need to continue to plan before. Time is flying by," Elijah insisted, his excitement evident in his voice.I paused for a moment, considering his words. "I believe we should focus more on the company right now, especially with the high competition we're facing," I suggested.To my surprise, Elijah's forehead furrowed and he spoke words that I never expected to hear from him."Maybe you don't wa
As I groggily woke up, still clad in my pajamas with my hair in disarray, I never expected to have any company. Yet, there they were, chatting and laughing like long-lost friends."Hey, Elijah, what brings you here?" I asked, attempting to conceal my surprise.He turned towards me, a smile gracing his face. "I came to apologize, my dear.""I'm sorry for what I said last night. It was uncalled for, and I deeply regret it," he continued, his eyes filled with sincerity.His words melted my heart. I could see the truth in his eyes, and I couldn't help but soften towards him."Don't worry, Elijah. I forgive you," I replied, offering him a small smile.Relief washed over him, and then he introduced the man sitting beside him. "Sweetheart, I'd like you to meet our new wedding planner, Mr. Benitez."I glanced at the man and greeted him with a polite smile. He seemed pleasant enough, but I couldn't shake off the uneasiness that arose from this sudden wedding planning. It felt as if he was over
Marco glanced up at me, his deep, soulful eyes meeting mine. He simply nodded and returned his attention to his painting. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at his lack of excitement. I had expected him to leap for joy or at least show some enthusiasm. But it seemed I had misjudged the situation."Is something bothering you, sweetheart?" I gently inquired, hoping to coax him into opening up.Marco hesitated for a moment before finally finding his voice. "Mommy, I don't want another daddy."His words caught me off guard. I never anticipated him expressing such sentiments. "What do you mean, darling? Elijah won't be your father, he'll just be your stepfather."Marco shook his head, his expression resolute. "But I don't want any stepfather. Daddy Marcus is my only father."Tears welled up in my eyes as I grappled with the impact of our divorce on Marco. I never wanted him to be affected in this way. "Marco, you know how much I love you and your father. Getting married to
As I sat in the passenger seat of Elijah's car, the exhaustion from the long day at work weighed heavily on me. We had just attended a company event together, and what was supposed to be a fun evening turned out to be quite stressful. All I wanted now was to kick off my heels and unwind.Breaking the silence in the car, Elijah turned to me and asked, "How was your day, love?"Letting out a sigh, I replied, "You know how these events can be. Long and draining."Elijah chuckled, his eyes filled with admiration. "But you looked absolutely stunning tonight. I'm sure everyone was captivated by you."His compliment made me blush, and I couldn't help but smile. "Stop it, you're making me blush."Reaching over, Elijah gently squeezed my hand. "I can't help but be in awe of my beautiful fiancée."Feeling grateful for his love and support, I smiled at him. However, a pang of guilt washed over me as I thought about the mistake I had made with Marcus. Every time I looked at Elijah, the guilt weig
After days had gone by, Marcus had fully recovered from the car accident. Samantha's promise to stand by him had filled him with a sense of warmth and comfort. She had vowed to never believe Elijah's lies again, after he had cunningly framed Marcus and made him believe he was the father of Sofia's child. This revelation had caused Samantha and Marcus to break up, but now they both realized that Sofia and Elijah had manipulated their lives out of an unhealthy obsession.One evening, as Marcus and Samantha sat together in their old house, the doorbell rang. Samantha got up to answer it, and when she opened the door, she was met with the sight of Elijah standing on the doorstep.“What do you want?” Samantha asked, frowning.“I need to talk to you,” Elijah said, his voice filled with desperation.“There's nothing to talk about,” Samantha replied.“You've already caused enough damage.”“Please, just give me a chance to explain,” Elijah pleaded.Samantha hesitated, her eyes fixed on Elijah
AUTHOR’S POVSamantha's face twisted in a mix of confusion and anger as she stormed out of bed towards the door, her heart pounding with emotion. When she laid eyes on Sofia, a sharp word escaped her lips."What brings you here, Sofia?"she demanded, her tone dripping with frustration.Sofia met her gaze, her eyes betraying a sense of remorse."I came to talk to Marcus," she murmured softly."I know what went down."Samantha's anger flared even more."Why are you even here?" she pressed, her voice rising."You know exactly why. You and Elijah orchestrated that whole mess, making Marcus think he cheated on me and got you pregnant. How could you do something like that?"Sofia's gaze dropped, tears welling up."I'm truly sorry, Samantha," she whispered, her voice trembling."None of this was supposed to happen. Elijah and I just wanted to split you and Marcus up. We never imagined it would spiral out of control like this. I never wanted to cause you or Marcus any pain."As Samantha absorb
As I diced onions for dinner, my thoughts drifted to the day's events. The presentation went smoothly, and I couldn't wait to celebrate with Elijah over a delicious meal. The scent of garlic cooking promised a tasty dinner.Just as I grabbed the salt, my phone rang, interrupting my focus. The unknown number made me pause, expecting a sales call. But a gut feeling urged me to answer.“Hello?”I answered cautiously.“Is this Mr. Johnson’s wife ?” a woman's voice inquired urgently.“Marcus Johnson?” I clarified, feeling a sudden unease.“Yes. I'm calling from Mercy Hospital. Your husband, Marcus Johnson, was in a car accident and is in critical condition.”The news hit me like a ton of bricks. 'What?' I gasped, barely able to speak. “Marcus?”“Yes, Ms. Johnson. He's in the ER with serious injuries. We stabilized him, but he needs surgery.”Tears welled up as panic set in. 'I'll be there,' I managed to say, my hands trembling.“Third floor operating room. Come to the front desk,” the nurse
As the sun's rays gently filtered through the curtains, the room was bathed in a comforting warmth. Slowly awakening from my slumber, I couldn't shake off the heaviness in my chest. The absence of my son, Marco, was a constant ache that lingered within me. However, today was a new day, and I was determined to mend things with Sofia.Quietly slipping out of bed, I made my way to the kitchen, where the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Sofia was already there, her lustrous dark hair flowing over her shoulders as she poured herself a cup."Good morning," I greeted her softly, stepping closer.She turned towards me, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and warmth."Good morning, Marcus.""I've prepared breakfast," I announced, motioning towards the table."I hope you have an appetite."A smile graced Sofia's lips. "That's incredibly considerate of you."We took our seats at the table, and I observed her as she savored her meal, her eyes gleaming with pure satisfactio
1 month laterAs we arrived at our new home nestled in a charming countryside town, a mix of emotions flooded my heart. I had taken a leap of faith, leaving behind my painful past to embrace a fresh start in this unfamiliar land, accompanied by Elijah and my son.I couldn't help but notice a change in Marco's demeanor - a distant gaze and a loss of appetite. As he stepped out of the car, his small hand reaching for Elijah's, a wave of concern washed over me, gnawing at my thoughts."Are you alright, my love?" I asked, gently running my fingers through his hair.He looked up at me, his eyes holding a glimmer of sadness."I miss Daddy Marcus," he whispered.My heart sank at his words."I understand, sweetheart," I replied, trying to offer reassurance."But remember, Daddy will come to visit us soon, alright?" I fibbed, hoping to ease his longing.Marco's slow nod indicated that my attempt to console him had fallen short. Unloading the car, the contrast between our new home and the one
SAMANTHA POVFrom my veranda, I observed Marcus's car starting up outside the gate. A pang of envy hit me when I remembered he was staying at Sofia's place.Feeling bitter, I walked to my son Marco's room. He was sitting at his desk, deep in thought."Marco, honey," I started, "Did your daddy leave already? Are you finished playing?"Looking at me with his innocent eyes, Marco replied, "Yes, Mom. Mommy Sofia is sick in the hospital. That's why Daddy had to go."I was taken aback by a sudden wave of astonishment. "In the hospital? Why? What happened?"Marco nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea," he replied."Daddy didn't give me any details. But he assured me he'll be back soon."The gravity of the news hit me like a ton of bricks. Sofia, in the hospital? What could have transpired? Could it be a grave matter? Countless thoughts raced through my mind. Is the baby safe and sound?With a hint of uncertainty, Marco added, "He promised to call me later."The days stretched
As I hunched down, fingertips brushing against the edge of Marco's bed, the muted chuckles of my son resonated in the room, a melody of happiness in our modest abode."Marco!" I shouted, excitement coursing through me as I awaited his reply.The game of Marco Polo commenced, each call and response a ballet between father and son, a fleeting moment of joy amidst life's chaos.Suddenly, My phone buzzed persistently in my pocket.“Hello, who’s this?”I inquired."Mr.Johnson?" The voice on the other end was composed, yet tinged with urgency."This is Doctor Thompson from St. Michael’s Hospital. I’m calling about your wife, Sofia."Dread twisted in my stomach, a frigid wave of fear washing over me as I prepared for the worst."She’s not my wife but what happened? Is she okay?" I demanded, my voice betraying the turmoil within."She’s in the hospital. Your baby is unstable now," Doctor Nurse Thompson explained."Sofia was brought in a short while ago. We’re still evaluating her condition, bu
And now, as I watched Marco cry in anguish, I questioned whether it was right to uproot his life just to keep him away from his father. I’m so very confused at those times, torn between my anger and resentment towards Marcus and love for my son.Marcus had no right to be Marco's father after he impregnated Sofia. The words echoed in my mind, a bitter reminder of the pain and betrayal that had torn our family apart.I trusted him so much that he won’t going to cheat but he betrayed that trust, destroying everything we had built together.But even as I grappled with my anger and resentment, a part of me couldn't help but wonder if forgiveness was possible. Could I ever find it in my heart to forgive Marcus for his indiscretions? Could I let go of the pain and anger that had consumed me for so long, and move forward with my life?"It's okay, baby," I murmured, my voice trembling with emotion. "We'll figure this out together, I promise."Marco looked up at me with tear-filled eyes, his sm
Elijah's concern lingered in the air, weighing heavily on my mind as I sat at the migration office, diligently completing the necessary paperwork for myself, Marco, and Elijah. The pen felt like a burden in my hand, each stroke of ink a testament to the life-altering decision I was making.Leaning against the counter, Elijah observed me with a mixture of worry and curiosity. His voice pierced through the silence, cutting through my thoughts like a sharp knife."Are you absolutely certain about this, Sam?"His question hung in the air, laden with implications. Was I truly sure? It was a question that had plagued me for the past week, ever since I discovered that Marcus had impregnated Sofia. I couldn't bear the thought of him being near Marco while harboring a child with another woman."Yes, Elijah. I am sure," I responded, my voice unwavering despite the uncertainty that swirled within me."This is something I need. It's something we all need."I could see the worry etched on Elijah's