Cole’s frown deepened as he glanced at me, his eyes searching mine for an explanation. I could see the hurt and confusion swirling in his gaze, and it only made the knot in my stomach tighten. I knew this conversation was inevitable, but I had hoped we could avoid it, at least for today. We walked
Cole Harrington I entered the bedroom quietly, my footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpet. Nicola was sitting on the bed facing me but she didn’t notice me. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, typing something furiously on her laptop. The rhythmic clacking of the keys filled the room, an
God, I just wanted to kiss her. The thought came unbidden, a sudden, overwhelming urge to close the distance between us and capture those lips with mine. But I forced myself to stay still, to keep my composure. "What do you want to do?" I asked, my voice coming out more stoic than I intended. "I w
Nicola Taylor As the clock inched closer to 6 PM, I found myself feeling both excited and a little guilty about meeting Stephanie, one of my closest friends who still taught at Arabella’s school and my old workplace. It had been so long since we’d caught up, and I could already hear her playful sco
Nicola Taylor As I brushed my hair, following my familiar bedtime routine, I caught a glimpse of Cole watching me out of the corner of my eye. He seemed almost intrigued, his gaze fixed on my every move as I finished my skincare ritual. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed him doing this, he had a
Just as I was about to give up, there was a knock on the door. Cole stepped in, holding a sleek black Chanel bag, a small smile playing on his lips. “I got you something to wear,” he said, handing me the bag. My eyes widened in surprise. “Chanel? Is this a joke?” I gasped as I pulled out a stunnin
Nicola Taylor As Cole and I walked into the grand reception, my eyes widened at the sheer but unnecessary extravagance that surrounded us. The ballroom was a shimmering vision of gold and crystal, with chandeliers that looked like they could have been plucked straight out of a royal palace. The air
The dinner was an elaborate affair, with courses that seemed to stretch on forever. The table was a dazzling array of crystal glasses, pristine plates, and more silverware than I knew what to do with. I found myself glancing at Cole every now and then, trying to mimic his movements. He, of course, n
"Are you excited for Aaron's party?” I asked, brushing through her locks as she watched me through the mirror.She nodded, swinging her legs happily. “Yes! But I have to take care of everyone. Because Aaron’s just a baby, and I’m the big sister,” she said, very seriously.An hour later, we were fina
Nicola Taylor“No, no, Cole, let go of me now!” I groaned, half-heartedly trying to wriggle out from under him. His weight was pressed against me, his warm, muscled arms keeping me pinned to the bed. Despite my protests, I couldn't stop a smile from sneaking onto my face.“Baby, sleep. It’s fine,” h
He blinked, looking a bit taken aback. “Of course. What did you have in mind? Movie marathon or something?”I forced a small smile, working to keep the nerves out of my voice. “No…like a date.”His brow quirked with interest, but he nodded, loosening his tie and hanging it on the back of a chair. “A
Nicola TaylorThe past few months had been tough, but I’d finally turned a corner. The nausea was gone, and I was starting to glow. People said I looked radiant, my hair had this newfound shine, and my skin had that pregnancy flush everyone raved about. But beneath it all, I was struggling. The wors
When I returned to the room, she was still curled up, her eyes closed but her breathing uneven. I knew she was only half-asleep, fighting the nausea that had been plaguing her all evening.“Tea’s here,” I murmured softly, sitting beside her and holding the warm cup close to her face, letting her inh
Cole HarringtonAs I held Nicola's hair back, feeling the warmth of her trembling shoulders as she cried and heaved in turns, my heart ached for her. She leaned into my chest as if she couldn’t keep herself up anymore, her face flushed and exhausted. I’d never seen her look so vulnerable, and it only made me want to shield her more.“Nicola, just tell me when you’re done, okay?” I murmured, trying to soothe her as best as I could. "I'll carry you to bed, and you can rest a little or sleep for a few hours.”Her face twisted in a mix of frustration and exhaustion. "I’m covered in puke, Cole… this is so gross,” she choked out, tears spilling over as she buried her face in her hands.I smoothed her hair and smiled, trying to keep her calm. “Hey, hey… do you want to shower first? I can run a nice hot bath for you.” She looked up at me, a fragile, helpless nod, her eyes puffy and red. It was like looking at a child who'd been through too much.I kept a hand on her back as I stood and turned
He nodded, his gaze meeting mine. “Alright. Last time… with Arabella, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt too young, unprepared, like I was in over my head. But now, even though this wasn’t planned, I feel more grounded. It’s just… I don’t want to make the same mistakes again,
Nicola TaylorThe quiet hum of the doctor’s office felt oddly comforting as I sat beside Cole, my fingers tapping against my knee. He didn’t say much, just held my hand, calm and steady in that way he always was when he was holding back. Part of me had expected more—something like shock or excitement—but his silence left me feeling exposed, like I’d hoped too much.After what felt like hours, the doctor finally walked in, her warm smile dissolving the tension a bit. “Congratulations,” she said, her tone cheerful yet professional. “You’re officially pregnant, Mrs. Harrington.”The words sank in, spreading a comforting warmth through me. I looked at Cole, waiting for something to flash across his face, some signal that he was thrilled or, at the very least, surprised. But instead, his eyes softened, and he smiled—not wide, not exactly happy, but something between relief and satisfaction. He squeezed my hand, a reassuring gesture, and nodded at me.“This is great news, isn’t it?” I said,
Cole HarringtonAs Nicola’s words sank in, I just stared, unable to process everything. She was sitting there, looking fragile in a way that broke my heart, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I think I might be pregnant, Cole," she managed, her voice trembling. "I haven’t taken a test, but I’m ten days late." She was holding back tears, bracing herself for my reaction.My silence must have been deafening because I saw her shoulders tense even more. I swallowed, pushing down my own whirlwind of emotions to focus on her, only her. I didn’t know what to say at that moment, but seeing her so scared, so vulnerable, made me realize that this was far more difficult for her than it was for me. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to sound calm. “Hey,” I murmured, pulling her closer, rubbing her back gently as I held her. "Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. I’m here, okay? You’re not alone in this." She buried her face against my shoulder, and I felt her release a shaky breath. It made me w