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
Nicola Taylor I was kind of mad when I realized Sierra had dragged Cole in so fast that Arabella and I were left behind, as if we were just afterthoughts. I looked around the room, trying to spot Cole, and there he was, waving his hand around, probably trying to get my attention. I felt a little pa
I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head slightly as I considered her words. “What are you talking about, Jessica?” I asked, genuinely perplexed. I changed schools because my father got a better job. I have no idea what she was referring to. Jessica’s smirk deepened, clearly relishing the moment. “Oh
Nicola Taylor Jessica, who had clearly aimed to humiliate me, now stood there looking foolish. Her arms crossed, and her lips pressed into a thin line. “Well, isn’t that just sweet,” she sneered, though her voice lacked its usual venom. “But does she know the full story? Does she know you were the
Cole Harrington The car ride home felt like an eternity, the silence between us suffocating. Nicola sat beside me, her gaze fixed out the window, while I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. Arabella, drowsy in the backseat, broke the tension only once or twice with her
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