Alice observed their intertwined hands, but James's gaze seemed distant as if he feared the possibility of rejection and was avoiding direct eye contact with her.Alice smiled nervously and tightened their hold. As she felt James's shoulders relax, her smile grew wider. She knew this was selfishness, more than friendship she couldn't offer him but for now, she wanted to be selfish.James had been scared that she might pull away or become angry, but seeing her relaxed, James felt he was moving in the right direction. He knew he couldn't rush things, so he decided to take small steps toward building a connection with her.Their dynamic had always been easygoing, and today was no exception.His friendly and understanding demeanor provided Alice with the comfort she needed. He carefully avoided any discussions that might bring back the stress of her personal life.As they continued their day at the amusement park, the atmosphere gradually shifted. What started as a friendly outing evolved
Alice could sense what he was contemplating, their faces drawing closer. However, just before James's lips could meet hers, Alice took a step back. James froze momentarily."I'm... I'm sorry," Alice apologized. Everything felt so right until that moment, but she found herself hesitating. What was she thinking?Alice was puzzled by her own emotions, and James chuckled awkwardly, a hint of misery on his face. Seeing his expression, Alice felt a twinge of guilt. James closed his eyes briefly, and an awkward silence lingered between them."I'm sorry," Alice repeated, her voice tinged with regret.James took a deep breath, suppressing his disappointment. He opened his eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips."Don't apologize, Alice. It's okay," James reassured her, attempting to ease the tension. He stepped back and gestured towards the car."Let's go," he said, trying to shift the focus away from the awkward moment. Alice nodded, grateful for his understanding.During the drive, an un
"Where have you been? You took a long time to return," Siya inquired, stopping near Alice, who felt a cold sweat forming in her fear. The weight of her lie pressed heavily on her.With a trembling voice, Alice asked, "What are you doing here?""Oh! I was here to drop food. My mother has sent it for you," Siya explained."I'm taking my leave for now. I'm getting late." Siya glanced at her wristwatch, signaling the urgency. Alice nodded, expressing gratitude."Say thanks to your mother," Alice added, and Siya acknowledged before smiling at Lucas and exiting.As the door closed behind Siya, Alice cautiously lifted her eyes to meet Lucas's unwavering gaze. His burning eyes seemed to penetrate into her soul. His jaw tightened visibly, but he remained ominously silent as if biding his time for her explanation.Fearing the impending storm, Alice sighed and, without uttering a single word, began to step past him. However, her attempt to move freely was halted abruptly when Lucas firmly grasped
His gaze remained piercing, and he retorted, "I may have made mistakes, but I won't abandon my child."A heavy silence settled between them, and Alice couldn't deny the complexity of their situation. Her emotions were a tangled mess, torn between protecting herself and safeguarding her unborn child.Lucas, however, seemed resolute.She sighed, realizing the inevitable clash ahead. "Just don't expect everything to magically go back to the way it was, Lucas. This changes nothing between us."Lucas's expression tightened, hinting at the unresolved tension lingering in the air."We'll see about that," he said firmly, leaving the room with a storm of conflicting emotions.Alice stood there, grappling with the newfound complexity of her life and the uncertain path that lay ahead.Alice spent the whole night wide awake, with Lucas's absence adding to her uncertainty.His cryptic words left her perplexed, and as hours passed, the reality sank in.Three days went by without any sign of Lucas, a
It was the middle of the night, and Alice felt wetness on her face in her sleep. She changed her side, but she still could feel something wet moving her face. Then suddenly, she felt it on her lips, and her eyes snapped open in panic.The room was bathed in a faint glow, just enough for Alice to discern the figure responsible for disturbing her slumber – Lucas.Alice immediately pushed him away and she seated herself upright on the bed, she established a boundary, the tension palpable. Lucas, scattered amidst the sheets, looked at her with a mixture of surprise and confusion. The room's ambiance changed with the flick of a switch, as Alice illuminated the space."What are you doing? How did you get in?" she interrogated, the undertone of anger evident in her voice."I walked in, of course," Lucas retorted sarcastically, further fueling Alice's frustration."you..... "Her eyes narrowed in a piercing stare."You can't just waltz in whenever you please. Since you refuse to take responsib
Breaking the tense moment, he whispered against her skin, "Let's not fight. I'm truly exhausted after a long flight."His words were muffled as he buried his face even further into her neck.Alice, slowly opening her eyes, fixed her gaze on the ceiling, a moment of quiet tension lingering in the air."Where did you go? New York?" Alice couldn't resist asking, knowing Lucas had hotels there.Lucas nodded, "Yes, I have to leave for New York again in the morning. So we only have four hours, let me hold you," he replied. Alice was taken aback by his statement, slightly shifting her body to look at him."If you have to leave again, why did you come in the first place?" Frustration tinged her voice, a hidden desire for him to stay tucked in a corner of her heart.Lucas, sensing her disappointment, brought his face closer with a smirk.Gently pushing a strand of hair away from her face, he fixed his eyes on hers."I was missing yo..." He paused, not wanting to admit he came just because he l
Why should she wear a ring? They weren't married anymore, and during their time together, he had never bothered with such gestures. Now, he seemed to be feigning care, but Alice saw through it – a ploy to manipulate her into being close to him. The sudden display of affection only intensified her resentment towards his controlling actions.As Alice emerged from the bathroom, towel drying her hair, the sound of her mobile vibrating caught her attention. Glancing down at the screen, her calm expression turned into a frown upon seeing Lucas's name-calling.Uninterested in speaking with him, she ignored the call and sat down to dry her hair with a dryer.However, her mobile persisted in its insistent ringing, fueling her frustration. Letting out a sigh of annoyance, she stood up abruptly, only to be overcome by dizziness, causing her to collapse back into the chair. A sudden pain in her belly made her cry out, and her vision blurred. Clutching her belly with one hand and supporting her hea
A flicker of pain crossed James's face, his expression revealing a mix of disappointment and understanding."Is everything okay?" he asked with genuine concern."Yeah, it's just some personal commitments and work," Alice responded.She could sense the lingering disappointment in James's eyes, making her feel a twinge of guilt for not being completely honest."I was really looking forward to having you there," James admitted, his disappointment evident in his voice."I know, and I'm sorry," Alice apologized, wishing she could share the real reason behind her decision.As the conversation continued, she found herself navigating through a web of lies, concealing the complexities of her personal life.James listened attentively, sensing the underlying tension in her words."Alice, you can talk to me. What's going on?" he asked with genuine concern, his eyes searching hers for an explanation.Alice hesitated for a moment, torn between the desire to confide in James and the need to protect