Nicola TaylorConvincing Cole to go to bed took longer than I had hoped. After an hour of coaxing, I managed to persuade him by reminding him of how important tomorrow was for me. To my relief, he finally relented and crawled under the sheets, exhausted.At 2 a.m., I was still awake, finishing the d
Cole HarringtonI watched Nicola as she sat on the adjacent couch, her eyes glued to the television but clearly not absorbing a single moment of whatever was on. She seemed lost in her thoughts, her expression distant and troubled. It was hard to tell what exactly was on her mind, but something was
Nicola TaylorI was more excited than usual today, the kind of excitement you could feel buzzing just beneath your skin. It was the 70th anniversary of the Harrington Empire, a grand party that even I felt a certain pride in. But then again, I also knew I’d have to see Sierra. Hopefully, she’d behav
Lucas’s face darkened as he leaned forward, anger simmering beneath his normally laid-back demeanor. "But he crossed the line when he sent his daughter—‘his own daughter’—to sabotage my business, to ruin me. That was it for me. They tried to destroy the Harrington name, and now I’m going to make sur
Nicola TaylorI stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the thin straps of my dress. The satin fabric clung to me in all the right places, the high slit teasing the smooth skin of my leg whenever I moved. It was sexy, no doubt, but there was still a touch of class to it—a balance I was going for. Th
Nicola TaylorI quickly masked my frustration, trying to regain my composure. “Okay, we should leave—” I started, my eyes following his as he turned to the nearby drawer. Panic shot through me, and I shut it immediately as my face flushed hot with embarrassment.“Is that a—” he asked, his voice teas
Nicola TaylorWe were at the Harrington estate, a sprawling property where no one really lived, but it was used primarily for grand events and social gatherings. The place was steeped in history, the first major acquisition Sean Harrington, Cole’s father, made when he became the youngest millionaire
Sierra’s smile faltered, and for a moment, she seemed to shrink under his words. But then, with a quiet breath, she composed herself, her eyes darting to the floor before briefly landing on Cole. It was a fleeting glance, one filled with something unspoken—almost as if she was searching for some com
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