"How did you know I got over my illness? You backed out of the divorce because you knew, right?" Lavinia asked, her voice strained. Her hands were clenched together with tense energy, and her eyes darted nervously from Karl's face to the ground and back again.Karl reached out and gently encircled her stiff palms with his fingers, trying to get her to meet his gaze. "Yes, I retracted the divorce as soon as I knew you'd overcome your illness. Julia helped me understand," he admitted, holding her stare steadily."Julia! Do you know her?" Lavinia's eyebrows arched in disbelief as she searched his face for answers."Yes, I know her. Julia is my...friend." Karl paused, offering her an apologetic look. "I deliberately sent you to her so I could stay informed about your progress."Lavinia's surprise grew. "So you're the reason Dr. Peter was so nervous that day! Did you...threaten him or something?" Her voice rose with incredulity.Karl offered a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head
Robert's reply was cryptic yet urgent. "It's important. Come down quickly, and you'll know."Talia let out a heavy sigh as she reluctantly rolled out of bed. What could Robert possibly want now? She wandered through the house, eventually finding herself in the kitchen where her aunt was busy assisting Carmel with household chores."Auntie, have you seen your son?" Talia asked, trying to mask the impatience in her voice."You mean Robert?" Her aunt glanced up with an amused chuckle."Who else? Of course it's him!" Talia snapped, unable to hide her irritation.Her aunt remained unfazed by her tone. "He's outside in his car waiting for you."Talia rolled her eyes dramatically. "Why wouldn't he just come inside if he wanted to talk?" she muttered under her breath. Snatching a cookie from the jar, she bit into it contemplatively. "Well, I suppose I should see what this nonsense is about."The moment she stepped outside, Talia spotted Robert's car idling at the curb. He looked up at the
Flashback: Four Years AgoRobert, Talia, Lavinia, Suga, Martin, and Dave were all lounging on the roof of their house, lost in easy conversation under the starry night sky. "I'm feeling kind of happy but also really sad at the same time," Talia admitted, her lips pursing into a bittersweet pout. "Happy because I'll be joining you and Lavinia at the same university, but sad because I'm going to miss everyone here so damn much." She turned to Dave with watery eyes. "Especially you, bro."Dave pulled her into a reassuring hug. "Aw, come on sis, don't get all weepy on me now. You made your choice, and I get it. Just know I'll be missing the hell outta you too."Robert reached over to gently wipe away a stray tear trailing down Talia's cheek. "Hey now, none of that," he murmured. "You know I hate seeing you upset."Talia sniffled, giving him a watery smile before pulling away from Dave's hug. "You guys are the worst," she grumbled, though her tone was laced with affection. "I'm going to g
Lavinia woke up to the delicious aroma of breakfast being prepared this morning. She stretched lazily before making her way to the kitchen, where Karl was busily cooking over the stove. "Good morning, baby," he greeted her warmly when she entered. Lavinia felt a flutter in her chest at the casual endearment but managed to return his smile. "Good morning, Karl," she replied, her voice still husky with the last vestiges of sleep. "Can I help with anything?"Karl shook his head, gesturing towards the empty table with the spatula in his hand. "Just set the table, breakfast is almost ready."Lavinia moved to gather plates and utensils, arranging them neatly on the table in an easy, practiced routine. There was a comfortable harmony to their domestic scene, a sense of rightness that settled over her like a warm blanket.Lavinia got ready to visit her parents after they had eaten and cleaned up. She emerged from the bedroom dressed casually but put together. "I'm ready to head over," sh
The tension in the room ratcheted up several notches.Lavinia felt her arm tighten around her father’s. "I won't invite him, Suga," she assured him, keeping her tone even and placating. "Let's not upset anyone, okay? It'll just be family tonight."Suga's glare was hot enough to scorch. His anger and concern for his sister warring in his gaze. "I'm not mad at you, Lavi," he said. "It's Karl I can't stand right now. Not after what he did to you."The weighted silence that followed was broken only by the sound of footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, Robert appeared with his arm slung casually around Talia's waist as they moved toward the grand staircase. There was a look of such profound contentment on both of their faces that it made something in Lavinia's chest ache with a bittersweet pang.Robert murmured something in Talia's ear, too low for anyone else to hear, but she could see the way it made the girl’s cheeks flush becomingly. Talia bit her lip, casting a sidelong glance u
The soft glow of dawn crept through the sheer curtains, casting a warm, hazy light over the bedroom. Lavinia stirred beneath the covers as her eyes fluttered open slowly. She blinked a few times, allowing her vision to adjust to the gentle streams of sunlight now filtering in. She stretched languidly, relishing in the simple pleasure of waking up naturally without an alarm's insistent blaring.Rubbing the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes, Lavinia finally surrendered to the day's call and slipped out from under the cozy cocoon of blankets. Her bare feet made no sound as she padded towards the en-suite bathroom. She turned the taps to run some cold water, letting it pool in her cupped palms before splashing it over her face. The icy shock was invigorating, helping to chase away any lingering drowsiness.She reached for her toothbrush, ready to begin her morning routine. However, a movement in the mirror's reflection made her freeze. Her breath caught in her throat when she re
The therapy session passed in the blink of an eye. Lavinia spoke candidly about the progress she and Karl had made over the past few weeks, opening up about the steps - both big and small - that they had taken to rebuild their relationship and the process of re-establishing that intimacy. She didn't shy away from the difficult parts either, acknowledging the lingering hurts and insecurities that still needed to be worked through.Throughout it all, Dr. Julia listened with her usual attentive presence, her warm eyes and occasional nods or murmurs of encouragement helping to settle Lavinia's nerves. When she finally fell silent, spent from the emotional outpouring, the other woman regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment."Lavinia," she said at last. "The progress you've made...it's remarkable, truly. To be able to open yourself up to Karl again, to that level of vulnerability and considering intimacy after everything you've been through…" She shook her head slowly. "It speaks vol
A week had passed, with Martin and Lisa's wedding just around the corner. It was late and Lavinia's throat felt parched. She slipped quietly out of the bedroom, careful not to make any sound. She padded into the dimly lit living room and noticed Karl shifting uncomfortably on the couch with a pained expression on his face as he pressed a hand to his lower back."Karl!" Lavinia hurried over, concern lacing her voice. "Are you okay? What's wrong with your back?"Karl looked up, trying to plaster on a reassuring smile despite the grimace. "Ah, it's nothing too serious, love. Just an old back ache flaring up, that's all." He waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about me, go on back to bed and get some rest."Lavinia couldn't shake the guilty feeling gnawing at her. She sank down on the couch beside him, worrying her lip between her teeth. "This is my fault though, isn't it?" she said quietly. "If I hadn't insisted on you sleeping out here..."A soft chuckle left Karl's lips. He reache
When they finally broke apart, he maintained a feigned frown. “Is that all we’re going to do?” he asked gruffly.Lavinia giggled at his attitude. "You're being ridiculous."Before he could retort, she carefully lifted Jan from his arms and settled onto the couch, preparing to nurse the hungry infant. She pulled out her breast from under her light shirt and guided the baby's mouth to her nipple so he could contentedly suckle.Karl watched them for a moment with a complicated mix of tenderness and jealousy. "I think we need to start weaning him off breastfeeding soon so he can drink regular milk," he commented.Lavinia just rolled her eyes at him. She was long used to hearing this complaint from her husband. "Are you seriously jealous of your own child? He's still so young, I can't just stop breastfeeding him like that," she sighed.Karl turned his gaze away, feeling unreasonably envious of the peaceful intimacy between mother and child. He tried to push the feeling aside.“Finally, he's
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a piercing scream tore from her throat. “Aaaaaggghhhh! It hurts so bad! Karl, help me, please!” She clutched at him wildly.Karl was at a complete loss, watching his wife suffer so terribly.All he could do was hold her and try in vain to comfort her. "I'm here, I'm here...you're doing amazing, just keep breathing..."The medical team burst into the room in a flurry of chaos at the sound of Lavinia's screams. They swiftly but gently transferred her to the bed with the doctor taking charge."Okay Lavinia, you're fully dilated. It's time to start pushing on the next contraction," she instructed."No no no, I can't...I can't do it!" Lavinia shook her head even when the next contraction seized her body.Karl stroked her damp hair back. "Yes you can, baby. You're the strongest person I know. Just focus on me and push, I'm right here..."With a guttural, almost primal scream, Lavinia bore down hard. Her face turned beet red from the exertion."I
~Time flew by in a blur~"I am very nervous," Lavinia confessed while fidgeting with the hem of her maternity dress.The swell of her belly was now undeniable. It was a constant reminder of the life growing within her.Karl reached out, taking her hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, everything will be fine. No need to stress," he reassured her before turning his attention towards the doctor in anticipation.The doctor was getting ready to deliver the news that everyone had been waiting for."Here we go. Are you both ready to find out the gender of your little one?" the doctor asked.Lavinia and Karl nodded eagerly. They had discussed this moment countless times while imagining the different scenarios that could unfold.The doctor smiled. “Congratulations, you will have a son."Karl's face lit up with joy, "Did you hear that, my love? We're going to have a little boy, a little Sulivan who will look just like you," he exclaimed.Lavinia's smile mirrored his happiness.
Now that he was fully awake and alert, Karl pushed himself up on one elbow to study her expression. “Are you in pain?” he asked urgently, his mind instantly leaping to worst-case scenarios about her and their unborn child’s wellbeing.But Lavinia was quick to ease his fears, offering him a small, almost embarrassed smile. "No, no, it's not that at all," she reassured him before pausing momentarily. "I...well, I have a craving. For oranges."The tension seeped out of Karl's shoulders after registering her words. He let out a quiet chuckle of relief.He reached out and gently caressed her cheek. "Oranges? At this hour?" he teased. "You do realize it's well past midnight, and we're not exactly in peak orange season right now."Lavinia's expression fell into a mild pout. The desire for those oranges seemed so strong, so urgent in that moment, even if she understood the unlikelihood of finding any at this late hour.Sensing her letdown, Karl quickly backtracked. "But don't worry, my love. I
It was truly a night to remember.Andre and Rosie found themselves in the quiet of their hotel room, where they were able to spend some quality time together.While Andre's hands were softly put next to Rosie's head against the door as he gazed into her eyes intensely."What are you doing?" Rosie's voice trembled."Why are you so tense? Are you afraid?" Andre asked before caressing her cheeks tenderly.Rosie offered him a smile and shook her head. "I'm not... I just...""Don’t be nervous, just let yourself go. I'll never hurt you, my love. Everything will be fine, trust me," Andre reassured her.Rosie battled to restrain her reactions as he moved in and pressed soft kisses along her neck. She bit her lip in an attempt to suppress her moans."I love you, Rosie, you know that," Andre murmured.Rosie nodded. "I know, my love, and I love you too," she managed to say before their lips met in a tender kiss.Andre carefully lifted Rosie in his arms before carrying her to the bed. He gently s
Karl’s grin broadened at her words and he drew the quilt over them both before they welcomed dreamland together.The next day, Lavinia was standing in the middle of the dressing room, clad in just her underwear, angling her body towards the full-length mirror. With a small smile, she ran her hands over the gentle swell of her baby bump, admiring the changes pregnancy was bringing to her figure.She grabbed her phone and started snapping a series of photos from various angles in an attempt to document this special journey.The bathroom door opened and Karl stepped in, fresh from the shower with a towel slung low around his hips.He raised an eyebrow at his wife's actions. "Uh, what're you doing there, babe?"Lavinia glanced over her shoulder with a smile. "I'm taking belly pics! Wanna get in on this?" She motioned for him to join her. "I want to have photos documenting my whole pregnancy so we can look back on it."Without hesitation, Karl crossed the room and wrapped his arms snugly ar
“Is my husband still angry with me?” she murmured.She could feel the scorching heat of his body through the thin silk of her negligee and smell the warm, musky scent of his skin. It made her head spin with a dizzying rush of want.Before Karl could respond, Lavinia closed the scant distance between them and captured his lips in a deep, hungry kiss.For a long, heated moment he seemed to melt against her. His mouth moved in tandem with hers as one of his hands slid up to fist in her hair.A low rumbling groan of pure masculine appreciation vibrated against her lips and it made her shiver with delight.Then, all at once, Karl seemed to come to his senses. He tore his mouth away from hers with a harsh curse. His hands quickly dropped away from her as if she had scorched him."Dammit, Lavinia," he growled.There was an unmistakable bulge tenting the front of his pajama pants. "Don't do this, not tonight. I'm serious."Lavinia felt her heart plummet at the rejection. "But Karl--""No buts.
Lavinia felt her stomach twist itself into an anxious knot when the realization struck her. Karl must have retreated upstairs to their bedroom, no doubt seeking the solitude and space his anger and hurt seemed to demand.She wavered in the doorway for a long moment, chewing nervously on her lower lip while weighing her options.Part of her wanted nothing more than to leave him be, to give him the time and distance he so clearly needed to process whatever emotions were raging inside him over the disastrous misunderstanding.Another, deeper part of her, however, knew that putting off a reconciliation would only breed more resentment and pain between them.No, better to bite the bullet and face the awkwardness head-on no matter how painful it might be.Drawing a fortifying breath, Lavinia finally turned on her heel and slowly headed for the stairs.By the time she reached the bedroom door, her heart was pounding a staccato rhythm against her ribcage. She could hear the muffled sounds of
Martin gestured grandly at the table laden with boxes of crispy fried chicken, mounds of buttery mashed potatoes, biscuits, and other picnic fare. “We were talking about food, you nutters! This glorious chicken, to be exact.”The revelation hit the women like a ton of bricks.Rosie’s face flushed a brilliant crimson, slowly lowering the rolling pin, suddenly feeling very foolish.“We…we thought…” She stammered, unable to meet anyone’s eyes when the weight of their overreaction crashed down on her shoulders. “Oh god, I’m so sorry.”Talia scoffed loudly. “Wow? After our whole dramatic scene?” She shook her head in disbelief, but carefully set the skillet down.Andre stepped forward. “It’s okay, really. I can totally see how it sounded out of context.” He shrugged. “But we were just a bunch of guys enjoying some food and…well, guy talk. That’s all.”Lavinia forced an awkward laugh while pressing a hand to her reddened face as the absurdity of the situation fully registered.“Chicken…we re