“Yeah, tomorrow the return window closes, so I really needed your opinion. It’s kind of expensive,” I mutter nervously, feeling ridiculously exposed under his intense gaze. I can feel the tension between us, thick and electric, as if the air itself is charged. His strong hands pull me closer, and my
Nicola TaylorHis hand moved lower, slowly, and I could barely hold back the tremor as his fingers slid teasingly against my wetness, brushing my slick folds, stoking the fire already burning deep inside me. My body reacted immediately, instinctively arching into his touch, desperate for more contac
Nicola TaylorI wake up alone, the bed feeling unusually cold and empty beside me. Cole isn’t there, and it’s strange how I miss his presence already. With a sigh, I roll out of bed, still groggy from staying up so late the night before. After stretching, I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth, my
Nicola TaylorMy heart pounded against my chest as I stepped into the elegant restaurant I never thought I’d set foot in—let alone work at. The place was stunning, an exclusive Michelin-starred gem, with towering ceilings, shimmering chandeliers, and walls adorned with art so expensive it felt like
Nicola TaylorAs I walked into the kitchen in my new chef’s uniform, I felt a rush of excitement and nerves. The name on my chest spelled “Nicole,” which I didn’t bother correcting. The head pastry chef didn’t seem like the type to care about small mistakes. He glanced at me with an indifferent expr
Nicola Taylor I came home from work after a short walk, pleasantly surprised to see Cole and Arabella waiting for me. Why was Arabella here on a weekday? My mind quickly flipped through the possibilities—was she sick, or had something happened? Before I could ask, Cole wrapped his arm around my
Nicola TaylorI couldn’t help myself. I typed it into the search bar: Signs of memory coming back after memory loss. The results flooded the screen. My heart pounded in my chest as I skimmed through the articles, looking for answers. But just as I started reading, I heard footsteps coming toward th
Nicola TaylorAfter the long, winding four-hour drive, I finally pulled up to our house, the sight of it instantly washing away a layer of my exhaustion. It was quiet, settled into the calm darkness of midnight. I gathered my bags, stepping out of the car and stretching, glancing at the familiar por
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