Nicola Taylor "Miss Taylor," a small, timid voice broke through the quiet hum of conversation, prompting me to set my tea down. I smiled warmly as Arabella hurried over and enveloped me in a gentle hug. Her sweetness never failed to touch my heart, though I couldn't quite fathom why she held me i
"Is this a fucking joke?" I yell at Cole softly as soon as we step out of Arabella's room. "Language. She's sleeping," Cole replies just as softly, though a smile tugs at his lips. I punch him lightly in the arm, making him chuckle. “What are you up to?” I ask, exasperated, as he leads me through
Nicola Taylor “No, no, no,” I yell, covering my eyes as I step out of the bathroom, only to see Cole Harrington standing beside the bed, shirtless in just his joggers. “You cannot sleep shirtless around me. Are you trying to seduce me? Do you think this is how you get me to marry you?” I ask, movi
Nicola Taylor “Daddy!” I hear a loud scream, jolting me awake from my deep slumber. Cole and I sit up with a start, our eyes wide as we recognize the source of the scream. Oh god, no. Why didn’t we lock the door? There stands Arabella, her eyes as wide as saucers, clutching a stuffed bunny in her
Nicola Taylor I stared at the clock striking 2 pm as Cole and I sipped our coffee, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. Everything felt rushed, and I wasn’t sure how to navigate this conversation. “We should start our discussion. What are your demands?” he asked in a very professional
Nicola Taylor “Oh my god. I cannot believe this is happening.” Bella hadn’t stopped jumping since the moment I confirmed I was going to marry her father. Her joy was infectious, and it felt good to see her so happy. She deserves all the happiness in the world. “Bella, I’ll put on Peppa Pig. Go and
I was about to hit send when Cole took the phone from my hand, making me jump as I tried to grab it back from him, but in vain. “You’re being too nice,” he said grumpily. “I’m nice, unlike you,” I retorted, standing up on the bed to reach his height, but he was having fun at this point. “How are y
Nicola Taylor “Oh baby, I am so happy you are getting married.” My mom envelops me in a warm hug, and I blink back tears to avoid ruining my makeup. “I know it feels like everything is moving very fast, but when I met Cole, I knew he was the best guy for you to marry,” she tells me, reminiscing abo
Nicola Taylor I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel tightly, staring at the entrance of Cole’s office building. I felt utterly defeated. Six years ago, my life had crumbled in his absence. And now, here I was again, stuck in an endless loop, except this time, I wasn’t competing with the
Cole Harrington I watched Nicola walk off, her retreating figure stirring something uneasy in my chest. The weight of the day’s events pressed down on me like a storm cloud refusing to dissipate. I felt suffocated, torn between what was happening and what I was inadvertently doing to the woman I c
Nicola Taylor The weight of her words hit like a tidal wave. I felt my chest tighten as I realized what she’d sacrificed, and I could see the shift in Cole’s expression. The anger in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something closer to heartbreak. “And you just… agreed to that?” he asked, his voice b
“Because I knew you wouldn’t let me go,” she said simply. “You would’ve fought him, and he would’ve come after you too. After Arabella. I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t let him hurt you the way he wanted to hurt me.” The three of us stood in silence, the weight of Courtney’s confession hanging heavy
Nicola Taylor Arabella went back inside, her small figure disappearing into the house with a frustrated sigh. The heavy front door creaked as it closed, leaving just the three of us standing in the cool morning air. Silence settled over the driveway, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves i
Nicola Taylor The night was a restless blur. Aaron’s small, trembling body pressed against mine as he cried himself to sleep, his tears soaking through my shirt. I stayed with him, stroking his hair and whispering soft reassurances until his breathing evened out. Even then, I couldn’t bring myself
Nicola Taylor As I sat on Emma’s worn but cozy couch, “I think I should head home now,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “I miss my kids, and I can’t keep running away. If I stay away much longer, Cole might do something drastic to track me down.” The thought made my stomach ch
Cole Harrington “Where is she?” my mom screamed, her voice cutting through the thick tension in the room as her glare landed on Courtney. Courtney shrank back, but she didn’t respond, her face pale and drawn. My mother had never been a fan of Courtney—not openly hostile, but certainly not warm. S
Nicola Taylor Her apartment was modest but surprisingly clean. A small living room with a sagging couch and mismatched furniture opened into a kitchenette. A door to the left likely led to her bedroom, and there was a pile of laundry in one corner. The faint smell of lavender hung in the air, mixi