"Looking back," Karl began. His gaze was distant as he recounted his story, "Your insult was difficult for me to accept because I loved you so much. It's challenging, trust me. You could have turned me down in a more sympathetic manner, or at least not in public. It really stung that you made fun of me."I listened intently without knowing what to say. I felt at a loss for words. "Was it to further ridicule and degrade me when you posted the video of my confession to that group?" Karl's voice carried a tone of anger and clenched his fists. I shook my head again in denial. "That wasn’t me. I had no idea they had taken the footage, believe me. It was only by chance that I learned about it, and at that point, I demanded they remove it."I stretched out and gripped his chin, bringing our eyes which were filled with anguish into closer to one another."I can't tell you how many messages I got at the time, all of them making fun of me."Karl placed my hand in his palm as though look
I ran around like a madwoman, trying to get my earrings in while simultaneously checking myself out in the mirror. "Ugh, I look like an absolute disaster," I muttered, struggling to smooth down my wild hair and straighten my rumpled blouse. My reflection stared back at me, looking more frazzled than I felt."Well, you're a hot mess if you ask me," Karl's voice came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my skin. I spun around to see him leaning casually against the doorframe with an infuriatingly cocky grin of his. His arms were folded across his broad chest. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes, one that I knew all too well."Damn it, Karl, we're already running so ridiculously late because of your shenanigans this morning," I scolded, trying my best to look stern despite the heat rising in my cheeks. My mind flashed back to the way he had me pinned beneath him just an hour earlier.Karl sauntered over with his devilish smirk still playing on his lips. He snaked
I found Robert nursing a cup of coffee at a secluded corner booth, looking utterly distraught and miserable. My heart clenched at the sight of my normally vibrant younger brother in such a state. "Oh Rob, what's the matter?" I asked softly, sliding into the seat across from him.He blew out a frustrated breath and stared dejectedly down into his mug. "You know how much I want to do music, Lav. How I've never had any desire to work for Dad's precious company like he's always wanted..." Robert's voice was thick with barely contained emotion. "Well, I finally worked up the courage to tell him that once and for all. And he just...he absolutely lost his freaking mind when I said I'm not going to join the family business."My heart sank, knowing all too well how viciously our hot-tempered father could lash out when angered. I reached across the table to give Robert's hand a comforting squeeze. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Rob. You know Dad can be a real asshole sometime
We all sat down for dinner together. Karl plopped his ass down at the head of the table. Robert was on his left. I took my usual spot to Karl's right, trying to keep the peace between my husband and little brother. Dinner was awkward, with barely any talking besides a few quick "Pass the salt?" type things. We were merely pushing our food around on our plates. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The strained silence was broken only by the occasional loud clank of someone's fork or knife hitting their plate a little too hard. I kept shooting Robert encouraging smiles, but he avoided my gaze."How about we play some games after this?" Robert finally spoke up. He looked up at us hopefully, his eyes darting between Karl and me. "You know, liven things up a bit? Could be fun..."Karl gave one of his trademark nods. A slow smirk spread across his face as he leaned back in his chair. "Well, well, little brother finally wants to play with the big boys, huh? Let's d
"I'm not pregnant...!" I gasped out loud, still unable to fully process what I was seeing. I blinked hard, double-checking the pregnancy test, but nope - there was no mistaking that negative result now. I couldn't believe it. After all the stress and anxiety, all the what-ifs and worst-case scenarios playing on a loop in my head...lady luck was actually smiling down on me for once. A wide, giddy grin spread across my face as relief washed over me in waves."I'm not expecting a baby. I can't believe how freaking fantastic this is!" I did a little happy dance around the bathroom, the worry melting off my shoulders. "I'm not pregnant, thank god!"This simplified things immensely - I wouldn't have to deal with bearing Karl's child and all the complications that would bring.No morning sickness, no weird cravings, no massively swollen ankles to look forward to. I was off the hook, scotch free!But then a new worry started creeping in. If I really wasn't pregnant...were all these
~Evening finally came~The doorbell rang, and we all knew exactly who it was. Karl shot me a look and wiggled his eyebrows mischievously. I rolled my eyes and went to answer the door."Lavinia! Girl, you've been so busy lately, we barely get any quality time together anymore," Rosie mock-whined as soon as I opened it, pulling me into a big hug before I could even get a word out. "Good evening, my dear." The unexpected sound of Andre's voice made Rosie freeze mid-embrace. She pulled back slowly, her eyes going wide to spot her boyfriend casually leaning against the stair railing with that signature lopsided grin."Andre!" she gasped, clearly stunned. "What are you...how did you...?""Surprise, my love," he purred, holding his arms out dramatically. "Did you miss me?"Rosie seemed to recover from her initial shock.She placed her hands on her hips in an exaggerated look of disapproval - though her bright smile gave her away. "Of course I missed you, you goof! But why didn't yo
Karl was sitting on the sofa in his home office, concentrating hard as he worked on one of his files. The gentle hum of his computer and the soft glow of the desk lamp were the only sounds disturbing the quiet of the evening. I crept into his office, my bare feet silent against the marble floor. I settled on his lap, wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my cheek against his back. Karl put down his file as soon as he felt my weight, with a soft chuckle escaping his lips. He leaned back into me, his strong arms encircling me in a warm embrace."Aren't you finished yet, Karl?" I asked, resting my head on his shoulder. My fingers toyed with the buttons of his shirt. "Not quite yet, sweetheart," he replied. "There are still some files I need to check.""Do you want me to help you?" I looked up at him, my gaze meeting his with a playful glint.Karl shook his head while a smile played on his lips. He leaned down and captured my lips in a tender kiss. "No, honey, there's no nee
My eyes slowly fluttered open, still a bit bleary from sleep. I reached out automatically for Karl's warm body only to discover that the covers were cold and his side of the bed was empty. I blinked the residual grogginess away and reached for my phone on the nightstand to see what time it was. Noon already? Damn, I really had slept in late. A few text notifications from Suga caught my eye: "Lavi, Uncle Nate and his fam just got in a little while ago. We're all waiting for you to join us! Talia especially keeps asking where you're at." I let out a soft groan, reluctantly kicking off the covers. Leave it to my loving yet overbearing relatives to make me feel guilty for sleeping past 10 am. "On my way soon, overslept a bit. Be there in a jiff!" I quickly typed back with one hand as I shuffled towards the bathroom. After going through my usual morning routine of showering and grabbing a quick bite, I headed downstairs to find Karl still clad in his pajamas - chatting
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