The doors opened to reveal a stunning room filled with twinkling lights and the hum of sophisticated conversation. A live band played soft jazz in the background, adding to the ambiance. I dragged Cole’s hand up to the small of my back, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousne
I felt a surge of anger but forced myself to maintain composure. “I see,” I replied, forcing a smile. Before I could say anything else, Cole returned, his expression shifting from curious to concern as he looked between Sydney and me. “Everything alright here?” he asked, his voice laced with a hint
Nicola Taylor I was grateful that Cole didn't make much of the kiss and didn’t try to push things further after last night. We both respected each other’s boundaries, and that was important to me. Despite the moments of intense sexual tension, our relationship had found a good balance, a delicate
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “No, I just feel like she might end up kissing you or someday while working together, you two will end up in a room alone. I don’t know; I am all over the place.” Cole laughed, reaching over to pull my hands away from my face. "Nicola, you have nothing to
Nicola Taylor As I mixed the batter for my chunky chewy chocolate cookies, the intoxicating aroma of chocolate wafted through the kitchen, making my stomach grumble in anticipation. I could already picture Cole's reaction, his eyes lighting up as he took his first bite. Baking had become a therape
Nicola Taylor As I hurried into the classroom, hating that I was late. Cole was in London for this week on a business trip so I had to take Arabella to school every day this week. I guess I suck at time management because I’ve been late two days in a row this week. Mr. Paterson’s eyes lit up wit
I shot him a withering look. “Expand my horizons, you say? Look, I’d rather eat burnt toast for the rest of my life than join you at one of your extravagant parties. Hell would freeze over before you’d actually get what you are trying to get from me.” His face flushed slightly, but he tried to keep
Nicola Taylor Sitting in my car, I stared blankly at the steering wheel, my hands gripping it tightly as I tried to steady myself. My breath was shaky, and my chest felt like it was constricting, each inhale a little harder to manage than the last. Tears brimmed in my eyes, threatening to spill ov
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