(JARED'S POV) I scribbled my signature on the last document, relieved that I had finally tended to the last of the paperwork stacked on my table for weeks. Just as I was about to put the papers away, a knock sounded on the door. "Who is it?" I called out. "It's Cristina, sir," my secretary replie
I exhaled tiredly. "Alright, why are you here?" Her eyes lit up as she began to speak. "There's a charity event coming up, and I'd love to attend and donate too. Also, I need new outfits and accessories to attend." I was stunned, angry, and amused at the same time. "So you left the house to come h
(ARIELLE’S POV) I was getting vegetables and other cooking utensils ready when I felt a jolt in my stomach. I winced and grabbed the kitchen island, waiting for the wave to die down. I knew it would because it was a feeling I was familiar with. The feeling had started three days back, and at first
(ARIELLE’S POV) “So, what are you gonna do with the packages?” Ashley asked when we were seated side by side on the couch watching Steve Harvey hours later. I whipped my head to face her, realizing the packages were still outside, on the porch. “I don't know,” I shrugged. “Probably send them back
(ARIELLE'S POV) The words hung in the air, and I paused, momentarily forgetting how to breathe. My eyes widened, and my mouth hung open as I struggled to process the words while fighting to suck air back into my lungs. PREGNANT? How could that be? I turned to Ashley, expecting her to share my d
(ARIELLE'S POV) I walked numbly beside Ashley, my body present, but my mind wandering. We were leaving the hospital, and I was still dazed. The doctor had asked me to return in a few days to start my antenatal, but up until this moment, despite seeing my child through the scan, hearing its heartbea
(ARIELLE'S POV) "Leaving? What do you mean?" Ashley asked, looking stunned. "I...I can't stay here anymore. I need to get away from everything. From Jared, from Sofia, from all of this," I responded. I watched Ashley's face fall, and my heart broke even more. I knew she was not going to take the
(ARIELLE'S POV) It's been days, and my mood has improved greatly. I was finally adapting to the reality that I was indeed pregnant, and it was the best feeling I have had in a while. I visited the hospital for more tests and pregnancy supplements and resumed my antenatal sessions. Although my deci
“Sorry about that. I just wanted to go through everything we have to do first,” Julian explained, earning a little roll of the eyes from his ex-wife. I was glad that I didn’t need to be sedated for the tests they were about to conduct. Something about lying still and unconscious again with no defin
(ARIELLE'S POV) The procedure began with a couple of preliminary tests—blood tests, x-rays and the rest. I could see the outline of Jared’s figure on the other side of the glass barrier on one side of the room. He paced about anxiously and I felt a twinge of guilt for the way I’d spoken to him earl
I let out a tired sigh and figured since it was still a while before dawn, I could try and go back to sleep. I tossed and turned on the bed for what felt like an eternity before the bedside alarm clock began to ring. By the time I shut it off, I realized I’d been rolling about aimlessly in bed for t
(ARIELLE’S POV) I stirred from sleep. I felt the heat of Jared’s naked body pressed against mine and knew without any doubts that everything that had happened was in fact real and not some figment of my imagination. Somewhere in the heat of our escapades the previous night, Jared and I had stepped
I rolled my eyes and tried to rise to my feet. But he pulled me back. “Can I get one more drink? Please,” he said softly. His voice was silky and enchanting, like that of an experienced spell caster and it took all the self-control I could muster to break away from him. “I’ll go check the kitche
(ARIELLE'S POV) A couple of shots later, the air was more loose around us and we were both laughing at a silly joke he’d made. I couldn’t remember what it was but I laughed so hard my insides began to hurt. “I think my intestines just exploded inside,” I joked, and we broke into another round of l
(ARIELLE’S POV.) The room remained silent, all eyes trained on the couple whose eyes were misty in solemn gratitude. I remained lost for words, my tears already rolling down my cheeks, burning hot with gratitude and hope—hope that their procedure would give me the cure I so desperately wanted. Ma
He must have noticed my facial expression because he turned to me, his bespectacled eyes holding surprise. “Don't tell me you don't know them,” he whispered incredulously. I shrugged, they were probably medical personnel just like everyone else in this room beside me and Jared. Like he could read
(ARIELLE'S POV) The rest of the day flew by in a blur. Jared returned from the call, and we spent some time talking, catching up on everything except the looming summit. I called my Mom and Maverick when I retired to my room, and the sound of my son's cheerful voice filled me with so much warmth an