Nicola TaylorThe chill of December air nipped at my cheeks as I carried Arabella on my lap, the two of us wrapped snugly in cozy scarves and woolen hats. Her excitement was contagious as we rode along the street, admiring the Christmas lights that twinkled all around us. She wiggled happily, pointi
Nicola TaylorI leaned back in the chair, sipping my hot chocolate as I watched Cole typing away on his laptop. Arabella’s laughter echoed from outside his office as she played with his secretary, handing out the Christmas candy we had picked up earlier.“And then he asked me to get you to make a do
He paused mid-type, glancing up at me, still looking skeptical. “I just don’t get why you wouldn’t want to use it. I’m earning it for us, for you and Arabella. You should be reaping the benefits of it.”I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Cole, I’m not exactly living like a pauper here. I just don’
Nicola Taylor“What about that tree?” I asked, pointing at a medium-sized one that looked just about perfect for the house. We were Christmas shopping for Arabella, and I was a little too excited to make this perfect for her.Cole, however, was as grumpy as a grinch. “Nope, she likes a very big tree
Nicola TaylorIt was the 24th of December, and the house was filled with glee and noise as we gathered for a small Christmas party with just close friends and their kids. The holiday lights twinkled softly, and the smell of gingerbread cookies drifted through the air. Lucas and I were in the bedroom
"How’s..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. "How’s the wedding planning going?"Isabella sighed, her expression conflicted. "It’s... alright, I guess. My family is really upset, and I don’t know how to handle it. But Lucas—" she paused, as if surprised by her own thoughts, "he’s actually
Cole HarringtonI woke up groggily, my head pounding from the night before. I winced, trying to shake off the pain, but it was hard to focus when the world felt like it was spinning. Then I looked down, and there they were—Nicola and Arabella, cuddled up next to me. Nicola’s arm wrapped protectively
Cole Harrington"So, that’s good news, right? The doctor said you’ve never been better," Lucas says, taking a sip of the hot chocolate Nicola made us, both of us still wearing the silly Santa hats Arabella had insisted on."Yeah, I guess so," I sigh, clicking randomly on my desktop keyboard, pretend
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