Nicola Taylor As I woke up to the gentle morning light filtering through the curtains, I found myself in a room that still felt somewhat unfamiliar, yet comforting. Cole lay beside me, his features softened by sleep, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. I never thought Iâd wake up nex
Nicola Taylor The bell rang incessantly as I hurried downstairs to answer it. Being alone in the massive house for the first time without Bella or Cole felt strange. They had gone to the doctor for a check-up, and I had decided to stay back, thinking Bella needed some alone time with her father. I
Harvey turned to me with a smile. âWell, youâve got yourself a great wife, Cole. Nicola here was very welcoming.â Cole's eyes met mine, a mix of emotions swirling in his gaze. âYes, she is,â he said, his voice tinged with an edge as he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me a little closer. âL
Nicola Taylor âYou are mad at me. I can tell,â Cole said for the umpteenth time as I fluffed my pillow aggressively before getting into bed. Harvey and Cole might not be âbestiesâ again, but they were on better terms now because I intervened. They even hugged each other goodbye. After putting Bella
Nicola Taylor âWait, donât. Stop.â I groaned, hating how much I loved the sensation I was feeling but knowing I had to tell him to stop. âWhat happened?â His hot breath on my inner thigh made goosebumps rise all over my body. âDonât do this.â I felt my face heating up. âWhy not?â he asked as he
âMrs. Kinsley, can you take Arabella out to the park or something?â Cole asked, looking annoyed and angry. âBut I want to play with Gammy and Grandpa!â Bella pouted, stomping her feet unhappily. âTheyâll be here when you come back, donât worry. Come on,â Mrs. Kinsley said as she picked Bella up an
Nicola Taylor I dressed quickly for work as soon as Cole kicked his in-laws out of the house. Too many things were said and revealed, but I didnât have time to think about it. I had to leave for school with Bella. Thankfully, when I came out of my room dressed and ready with my bag, Mrs. Kinsley ha
Nicola Taylor I put Bella to sleep, realizing that the conversation between Cole and Mrs. Kinsley was going to take quite some time. I wondered if I had made a mistake marrying Cole so easily and if my life would have been better if I had stayed alone. I thought back to the time when I had dreamsâ
Nicola Taylor I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel tightly, staring at the entrance of Coleâs 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 wasnât competing with the
Cole Harrington I watched Nicola walk off, her retreating figure stirring something uneasy in my chest. The weight of the dayâs 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 sheâd sacrificed, and I could see the shift in Coleâs expression. The anger in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something closer to heartbreak. âAnd you just⊠agreed to that?â he asked, his voice b
âBecause I knew you wouldnât let me go,â she said simply. âYou wouldâve fought him, and he wouldâve come after you too. After Arabella. I couldnât risk it. I couldnât let him hurt you the way he wanted to hurt me.â The three of us stood in silence, the weight of Courtneyâs 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. Aaronâs 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 couldnât bring myself
Nicola Taylor As I sat on Emmaâs worn but cozy couch, âI think I should head home now,â I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. âI miss my kids, and I canât keep running away. If I stay away much longer, Cole might do something drastic to track me down.â The thought made my stomach ch
Cole Harrington âWhere is she?â my mom screamed, her voice cutting through the thick tension in the room as her glare landed on Courtney. Courtney shrank back, but she didnât respond, her face pale and drawn. My mother had never been a fan of Courtneyânot 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