BerniceA sharp, stabbing pain in my lower abdomen. Then I woke. For a moment, I lay there in the darkness of our hotel suite, trying to convince myself it was nothing. Maybe just some indigestion from the rich food at the wedding reception, or maybe a cramp from all the dancing. But as another wave of pain washed over me, I knew this was something more."Christian," I whispered, reaching out to shake his shoulder. He was instantly alert, years of business calls at odd hours having trained him well."What's wrong?" he asked, his voice husky with sleep.I clutched my stomach, feeling a cold sweat break out across my forehead. "I don't know. It hurts. The baby—"That was all I needed to say. Christian was out of bed in an instant, fumbling for the light switch. "We're going to the hospital," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "Can you walk?"I nodded, slowly swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Christian helped me to my feet, his arm around my waist supporting most of my weig
BerniceBefore we could say anything else, the door burst open, revealing a disheveled Bianca. Her designer dress was wrinkled, her perfectly coiffed hair a mess, and her mascara was smudged as if she'd been crying."Christian!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she saw him. Then her gaze fell on me, lying in the hospital bed, and her expression faltered. "Oh. I... I'm sorry. I didn't realize...""Bianca," Christian said, his voice carefully neutral. "What are you doing here?"She wrung her hands, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "It's Fed. He's been in an accident. They brought him here, but they won't tell me anything because I'm not family. I thought... I hoped you might be able to help."I felt a chill go through me at her words. Fed, in an accident? After his dramatic interruption at our wedding, I'd almost forgotten about him. Almost.Christian's jaw tightened. "What kind of accident?"Bianca shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know. He called me, said
BerniceThe rhythmic beeping of hospital monitors had become a soundtrack to my thoughts. I sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair of the waiting room, my hand resting protectively over my stomach. It had been hours since Christian had left with Bianca to deal with Fed's situation, and the uncertainty was gnawing at me.Cathy dozed in the chair next to me, her head lolling at an awkward angle that would surely result in a crick in her neck. I envied her ability to sleep anywhere, anytime. My own mind was far too active for rest."Mrs. Miller?" I looked up to see Dr. Chen approaching, a gentle smile on her face. "How are you feeling?" she asked, taking a seat across from me."Better," I replied, forcing a smile. "The cramping has subsided."Dr. Chen nodded, pulling out a small notepad. "That's good to hear. Can you describe the pain for me? On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate it now compared to when you first came in?"I thought for a moment. "It was probably an 8 when we arriv
BerniceThe soft morning light filtered through the hospital room's curtains, casting a pale glow over Fed's still form. The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound breaking the oppressive silence. I stood at the foot of the bed, my hand resting protectively over my stomach, as I took in the sight of my former tormentor, my ex husband, now reduced to a broken shell of a man.Christian stood beside me, his jaw clenched tight. The resemblance between them was striking, even with Fed's features marred by cuts and bruises. It was like looking at two sides of the same coin – one polished and gleaming, the other tarnished and bent."He looks so... small," I murmured, surprising myself with the words.Christian's arm tightened around my waist. "I know," he replied, his voice rough with emotion. "It's hard to believe this is the same Fed we used to knew."I leaned into Christian's embrace, drawing comfort from his solid presence. "How are you holding up?" I asked softly."I don't
BerniceChristian and I made our way back to Fed's room. The sterile hospital corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, each step bringing us closer to a choice that could change everything."Are you sure about this?" I asked softly, my hand finding Christian's. "Signing the consent form for the surgery, I mean."Christian's jaw tightened, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "No," he admitted after a moment. "I can't just let him die like this."I nodded, understanding his conflict all too well. Despite everything Fed had done, the thought of him dying, especially now, when we were finally happy. It felt wrong somehow.As we rounded the corner to Fed's room, we were met with an unexpected sight. Melissa was there, standing just outside the door, her face pale and drawn. When she saw us approaching, her eyes widened with a mix of guilt and determination."I'm sorry," she blurted out before we could say anything. "I know you told me to leave, but I couldn't. I... I need to tell you something. A
Bernice"I'll make some calls," Christian said, already pulling out his phone. "I know a few specialists who might be able to help."As Christian stepped out to make his calls, I turned back to Melissa. She looked exhausted, the weight of her revelation clearly taking its toll."Thank you for telling us," I said softly, reaching out to take her hand. "I know that couldn't have been easy."She squeezed my hand, giving me a watery smile. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to remember. Maybe if I had figured it out sooner, I could have stopped Fed before he hurt you."I shook my head. "You can't blame yourself for that, Missy. Fed manipulated all of us. The important thing is that we know now, and we can do something about it."Just then, Christian re-entered the room, his face set in grim lines. "I've got a hypnotherapist who can see Melissa tomorrow," he said. "But we've got a more immediate problem. The doctor just called. Fed's condition is deteriorating. They need a decision on the
BerniceThe soft beeping of the heart monitor had become a constant backdrop to my thoughts over the past two days. Christian and I had been taking shifts at Fed's bedside, waiting for any sign of change. The ICU was a place suspended in time, where minutes stretched into hours and the outside world faded away.I was alone when it happened. Christian had reluctantly left to shower and change, promising to be back within the hour. I sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair, my hand resting protectively over my barely-there bump, as I watched Fed's still form.The first sign was subtle - a slight twitch of his fingers. I might have missed it if I hadn't been staring so intently. Then his eyelids began to flutter.My heart raced as I pressed the call button for the nurse. "Fed?" I said softly, leaning forward. "Can you hear me?"His eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first. Then they locked onto mine, and I felt a chill run down my spine. There was something off about his gaze, a wildness I'
BerniceThe minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly as we waited for Christian. When he finally did, his face was a storm cloud of emotions - anger, confusion, and something that looked almost like fear."Christian?" I said softly, reaching for him. "What happened?"His eyes troubled. "It's worse than we thought, Bernie. Fed's not just confused. He's... he's saying things. Things he couldn't possibly know.""What kind of things?" Melissa asked, her voice small.Christian glanced around, then lowered his voice. "He mentioned specifics about EcoBuild's dealings that were never made public. He talked about conversations with Vincent that I know for a fact never happened in this timeline. And he..." Christian's voice broke slightly. "He described killing you, Bernie. In detail. With Melissa."Melissa looked at me and said, "Bernie, do you remember that I dreamed about same thing that night."I nodded. "Did you mention to others?""No. But I think maybe Fed dream the same dream." Melissa said
BerniceThe gentle sea breeze ruffled my hair as I stood on the balcony of our Hamptons beach house, watching the sun dip below the horizon. Ten years had passed since that first charity gala, a decade filled with more love, laughter, and fulfillment than I could have ever imagined."Penny for your thoughts?" Christian's voice came from behind me, as familiar and comforting as ever.I turned, smiling as he handed me a glass of wine. "Just reflecting. It's hard to believe it's been ten years."Christian nodded, leaning against the railing beside me. "Ten amazing years. And you know what? I have a feeling the best is still to come."As if on cue, the sound of children's laughter floated up from the beach below. I looked down to see Hope, now fourteen, chasing her younger siblings, seven-year-old Ethan and five-year-old Olivia, through the surf. Melissa and Alex's twins, eight-year-old Sophie and Lucas, were building an elaborate sandcastle nearby."Should we call them in for dinner?" I
BerniceThe grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel buzzed with excitement as New York's elite mingled, their designer gowns and tuxedos glittering under the chandeliers. I smoothed down the front of my own gown - a midnight blue creation that Cathy had insisted I wear - and scanned the room, making sure everything was in place for our charity gala."Relax, Bernie," Christian murmured in my ear, his hand warm on the small of my back. "Everything looks perfect."I turned to him, drinking in the sight of him in his tuxedo. Even after all these years, he still took my breath away. "I know, I know. I just want tonight to be perfect. We've worked so hard on this."Christian smiled, pressing a quick kiss to my temple. "It will be perfect. The Edward Hamilton Foundation's first major fundraiser - how could it be anything but?"I nodded, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. We had spent months planning this gala, bringing together all our friends and family to support the foundation's mission of
BerniceThe soft spring breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers through Central Park as I watched Melissa and Alex stroll hand in hand ahead of me. Christian walked beside me, pushing Hope's stroller as our daughter babbled happily, pointing at the colorful tulips lining the path."They look happy," I murmured to Christian, nodding towards Melissa and Alex.Christian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "They do. It's nice to see Melissa like this, isn't it? So carefree and content."I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. After everything Melissa had been through, seeing her find happiness with Alex felt like a small miracle.As we approached the Bethesda Fountain, I noticed Alex becoming increasingly fidgety. He kept reaching into his pocket, his face a mix of nervousness and excitement. I nudged Christian, raising an eyebrow in silent question. He nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips."You knew, didn't you?" I whispered accusingly.Christian shrugged,
BerniceThe shrill ring of my phone pierced through the peaceful silence of our bedroom at an ungodly hour. I fumbled for it, nearly knocking over the lamp in my sleep-addled state."Hello?" I mumbled, squinting at the too-bright screen."BERNICE!" Cathy's voice exploded through the speaker, causing me to jerk the phone away from my ear. "I need you! It's an emergency! "I sat up, instantly alert. "Cathy? What's wrong? Is Lily okay?""Lily? Oh, she's fine. Sleeping like an angel, the little traitor," Cathy huffed. "No, it's much worse. I'm filing for divorce!"I blinked, trying to process this information. "Divorce?! Cathy, what are you talking about?""I'm leaving Taylor!" she wailed dramatically. "I can't take it anymore, Bernie. He's driving me insane! Do you know what he did?""What did he do?" I asked cautiously, already suspecting this was going to be something ridiculous."He left his socks on the floor. AGAIN!" Cathy's voice rose to a pitch that I'm sure only dogs could hear.
BerniceThe familiar New York skyline greeted us as our car wound its way through the city streets. After the rugged beauty of Scotland, the urban landscape felt both jarring and comforting. Hope was fast asleep in her car seat, her new stuffed highland cow clutched tightly to her chest."Home sweet home," Christian murmured, his hand finding mine in the space between us.As we pulled up to our building, I saw the doorman, George, step forward to help with our luggage. His familiar face broke into a warm smile as he saw us."Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Miller," he said, opening the car door. "How was your trip?""Wonderful, George, thank you," Christian replied, carefully lifting the still-sleeping Hope from her car seat. "But it's good to be home."I followed them into the building, my mind already racing with all the things we needed to do. Unpack, sort through mail, check in with work... The list seemed endless.As we entered our apartment, the silence enveloped us. After the bustle
BerniceThe early morning sun streamed through the windows of our Paris apartment, casting a golden glow over the scattered suitcases and travel documents strewn across the bed. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my blouse and taking a deep breath. Today was the day we'd been planning for weeks - our family trip to Scotland, to Christian's ancestral home."Mama! Mama!" Hope's excited voice preceded her as she toddled into the room, her little arms outstretched. I scooped her up, pressing a kiss to her chubby cheek."Are you ready for our big adventure, sweetheart?" I asked, smoothing down her unruly curls.Hope nodded enthusiastically. "See sheep!" she declared, her face lighting up with joy.I laughed, remembering the picture books of Scotland we'd been reading to her. "That's right, we're going to see lots of sheep. And castles, and lochs, and maybe even a highland cow or two."Christian appeared in the doorway, looking handsome in a casual sweater and jeans. The pendant I'd
BerniceThe soft glow of my desk lamp cast shadows across the scattered sketches and gemstones before me. It was well past midnight, but sleep eluded me. I was searching for a way to help Christian through his mourning.I picked up a rough sapphire, turning it over in my palm. Its deep blue reminded me of Edward's eyes, always twinkling with mischief and kindness. An idea began to form in my mind, a way to capture a piece of Edward's spirit in something tangible that Christian could carry with him.With renewed energy, I began to sketch. The design took shape under my pencil - a simple yet elegant pendant. A teardrop-shaped sapphire, surrounded by a delicate filigree of white gold, designed to look like the intertwining branches of a family tree. At the base of the pendant, almost hidden within the metalwork, I planned to engrave Edward's initials and the coordinates of his favorite spot in Paris - a bench in the Jardin des Tuileries where he used to take Christian as a boy.As the fi
BerniceIt was a moment of pure magic, tinged with the bittersweet knowledge that it might be one of Edward's last.The night stretched on, marked by Edward's labored breathing and occasional coughs. His skin had taken on a grayish pallor, and his cheeks seemed more sunken than ever. Every so often, his eyes would flutter open, unfocused and glassy, before closing again.Dr. Fournier entered the room for what felt like the hundredth time that night. He checked Edward's vitals with practiced efficiency, his brow furrowing as he noted the dropping blood pressure and weakening pulse. "We've increased his morphine dosage," he murmured to Christian. "He shouldn't be in any pain now."Edward's fingers twitched sporadically against the bedsheet, and his breathing became more irregular - sometimes rapid and shallow, then pausing for long, terrifying moments before resuming. The oxygen mask fogged rhythmically with each exhale, a visual reminder of his continuing fight.As dawn approached, Edw
BerniceChristian rushed in, followed closely by Dr. Fournier. For the next few minutes, the room was a flurry of activity as the doctor checked Edward's vitals and responses.Slowly, miraculously, Edward's eyes fluttered open. They were unfocused at first, but then they found Christian's face."Chris... Christian," he rasped, his voice barely audible around the breathing tube.Christian's face broke into a smile, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I'm here, Grandfather. I'm right here."Dr. Fournier quickly removed the breathing tube, replacing it with an oxygen mask. "Mr. Hamilton," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "Try not to speak too much. You've been through quite an ordeal."Edward nodded weakly, his eyes never leaving Christian's face. He lifted a shaky hand, which Christian immediately grasped."I'm sorry," Edward whispered. "I'm so sorry."Christian frowned, confused. "Sorry? Grandfather, you have nothing to be sorry for. You're going to be okay. You're going to get better