Chad’s POV“What has come over you!” I could feel my breath tightening in my throat as the words slipped out. My bank account was reading negative, and I was on the verge of drowning in debt, yet Becky didn’t seem to care about any of that. All she cared about was her lavish lifestyle, a lifestyle that was slowly driving me to the edge.“What do you mean?” Becky shot back, her expression one of defiance. “Do you really expect me to wear the same outfits I had on when I was pregnant with your child?” Her eyes widened, her words dripping with contempt. There wasn’t an ounce of remorse in her demeanor. She had no shame in flaunting the expensive designer clothes she was trying on, oblivious to the mess she was making of our lives.“Spending $200,000 to change your wardrobe is insane! You know I’m struggling with my business right now, and yet you're spending recklessly on things that don’t even matter! You're the reason I lost so much money on that deal!” My words came out harsh, filled
Chad's POVI stared at the phone in my hand, the screen glaring back at me as if mocking my disbelief. For several moments, I couldn’t find the words to speak. All I could focus on was the image of Becky, dressed in the same outfit she had worn the day she left the house—something so trivial, yet the weight of it felt like a hammer against my chest.I remembered that day clearly. She had told me she was going to visit her sick aunt, that she’d be gone for a few hours. I’d stayed home with our daughter, taking care of her the entire day, trying to make the most of the time we had. Becky’s departure had seemed harmless, routine even. But then she turned off her phone, and the hours stretched longer and longer, like the slow unraveling of something I couldn’t yet comprehend.She returned home just before midnight, and when I confronted her, she had looked me in the eye and calmly explained that her aunt had taken a turn for the worse, a critical situation. I wanted to believe her—needed
Chad's POV.Becky’s eyes were burning with fury, and I could see it in her expression—she was beyond shocked. The words I had just spoken hit her like a ton of bricks, leaving her gasping for air. She hadn’t expected it, and I could tell it was tearing her apart.“How dare you! How dare you do this, Chad?” she screamed, her voice shaking with anger.“Oh, really?” I shot back, my tone sharp and bitter. “You’re going to raise your voice at me and act like you’re the innocent one?”She took a step forward, her fists clenched at her sides, but I stood my ground. “Aside from spending your money, what else did I do?” Her voice grew louder, each word dripping with disdain. “So you took my baby—or should I say our baby—to get a DNA test, just because I spent your money? What’s wrong with you, Chad? What has come over you?”I could barely keep my composure. I was beyond frustrated, my heart pounding in my chest. “You’ve got to be delusional if you think I did that for the money,” I said coldly
Chad's Pov As i sat on the bathroom floor, with my head resting against the cold tile wall trying to ease my head. The shower has long turned lukewarm but I couldn't bring myself to move out of the spot. My mind was filled with a mixture of betrayal,doubt and regret.Becky was still outside the bathroom door,her sobs barely audible.But I was confused,was she crying because she was actually innocent or because she was scared of being caught?I was already catching a cold as I sat there in the bathtub, confused and not knowing what else to do, I gradually ran a shaky hand through my wet hair. The image on my phone has constantly remained on my mind —a man, standing too close to Becky, with his hand resting just an inch above her lower back. That definitely wasn’t some casual business meeting. The intimacy in their sitting position told me otherwise.Then, there was the DNA test. The question that kept me awake with my mind sailing into a deep ocean.And what if the baby wasn’t mine?
Lyla’s POV.It was Bailey’s wedding day, a day that should’ve been full of joy, excitement, and celebration. Yet here I was, struggling to keep myself together, my emotions tangled in a mix of excitement and confusion. I should’ve been over the moon for her, but all I could feel was a wave of sadness threatening to consume me. Bailey was leaving—leaving to start a new chapter in her life, one where she would be with her husband. And me? I would be alone in the mansion. The place that had once felt like home now felt cold and empty. The reality of it all weighed heavily on my heart. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I wanted to run away, to escape, to bury myself in some kind of distraction that would make this day go by faster. But I couldn’t. I was bound to Jace by a contract—one I couldn’t break. It was a prison of sorts, a constant reminder that I was stuck in a life I hadn’t chosen. The thought of it alone made me sick to my stomach. I was carrying his children, my pregnancy
Lyla's Pov The ride to the hospital was the toughest I had ever experienced,it was filled with pain and panic.Jace held unto me tightly in the backseat of the car,his grip firm yet gentle. His expression hardly readable…laced with worry, fear or guilt? . That wasn't something I intended to cloud my thoughts with at the moment because the pangs of pain I felt overshadowed everything.But I was scared,I wasn't due to have my babies yet, “please God nothing should happen to my unborn children, I prayed silently in my heart”.The contractions became unbearable each time stronger then the last,my breathing was shallow, my body trembling as i held unto Jace's shirt simply because i needed something or someone to hold unto.Jace sensing how impatient I was to get to the hospital already whispered softly “We’re almost there,” his voice clouded with something unfamiliar.I wanted to scream at him telling him all this was his fault only he was more kinder and present at the time I needed him
Lyla’s POVThe hotel hall was a grand sight, meticulously decorated for the wedding reception. It was vast enough to accommodate twenty thousand people, each seat carefully arranged, glowing with the soft shimmer of chandeliers. Yet, amidst the beauty and celebration, a storm raged inside me. My contractions were growing more intense, their sharp waves hitting with an unrelenting force. The weight of what was happening felt impossible to ignore. My breath came in shallow bursts, my whole body trembling as the pain coursed through me.I had been supposed to stand beside Bailey, my sister, as her Maid of Honor, a position of pride I’d been honored to take on. But now, I was anything but that. All I could focus on was the pain, and the growing fear in my chest. My first pregnancy was never meant to be this difficult. And to make matters worse, I was carrying twins. I had been warned, of course, but nothing could have prepared me for this.Jace was there, though, his presence a strange co
Chad’s POVI was glued to my screen, staring at Bailey’s wedding broadcast. The event was everywhere—on blogs, social media, and even on news outlets. I couldn’t help myself. I had to watch. When I first caught sight of her, I was shocked. She looked so different. She was bigger than I remembered, but in a beautiful way. It was clear she had blossomed over the years. And now, her sister was getting married to Collins—Jace’s right-hand man. I couldn’t fathom how she had ended up with him. But, still, I thought to myself, I wish her well.However, there was one thing I couldn’t stop thinking about. Lyla. I could see her from the corner of the screen. Lyla looked amazing—she was glowing, more radiant than I had ever seen her. But she also looked... different. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Was she pregnant? She looked a bit plump around the face and belly, but she was still breathtaking. Her smile was contagious, and when I saw her, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion rush over m
Lyla's POV“Who were you talking to?” Jace’s voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. His anger was palpable, reverberating across the space between us. His hand clamped down on my arm, and for a second, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The grip was tight, almost possessive, and it reminded me of all the times before, when I’d felt trapped in this exact kind of moment—his fury, my frustration, the tension building between us. I fought to keep my composure, my chest tightening as I tried to pull away.“What are you talking about?” I snapped, my voice laced with irritation as I yanked my arm out of his grasp. The last thing I wanted was to be controlled by him in front of all these people. I didn’t need to explain myself, not to him, not anymore.“You better not play dumb with me,” Jace demanded, his voice rising. The more agitated he became, the more his grip tightened on my nerves. “I saw you talking to someone. Who was it?”“Let go of me!” I shot back, trying to break free. “Wh
Lyla’s POVI folded my arms across my chest, a habit that had become second nature when I was trying to hide my emotions. My arms were positioned firmly at breast level as I stared at Abel. A scoff escaped my lips before I could stop it.“What did you just say?” I moved closer to him, my eyes narrowing, trying to read his expression.“You heard me correctly, Lyla,” Abel’s voice was cold, almost mocking. “I’m going to tell my father and my uncle about Bailey’s kidnapping, and I’ll make sure they know exactly what you’re doing—all of this to get your sister out. How do you think they’ll react when they find out you’ve played them both twice? Do you really think the contract you have with Jace is enough to shield you from their wrath?”His words were meant to strike fear into me, but I wasn’t intimidated. I held his gaze firmly, my arms still crossed. I wasn’t afraid of him or his threats. Abel was many things, but he wasn’t someone who could rattle me. Not now, not after everything.Abe
Lyla's POVEverything was finally in place. The warehouse was packed with crates of the new drink, and the press had already arrived to cover the production of the latest strawberry-flavored beverage. It was an important day for the Karev family, one that would bring them both publicity and, hopefully, profits.Mr. Karev was present, of course, though he was accompanied by his mistress. Mrs. Karev, on the other hand, looked absolutely miserable, her frown unwavering throughout the entire event. It wasn't just because we had ignored her wishes—it was because the woman standing beside Mr. Karev, who was laughing and leaning into him, was none other than her old friend. The woman who had, years ago, swooped in to steal Mr. Karev away from her."Can you believe this?!" Sasha hissed, her voice dripping with disgust. "The audacity! Who does she think she is? Look at them! They're practically holding hands in front of everyone. This is not good for your image as the leader of the Universal W
Lyla’s POV“Are you insane? I will never let that happen, not under my watch! Have you completely lost your mind? Your father and I worked so hard to build this company and the reputation you’re trying to destroy! What the hell has come over you?” Mrs. Karev’s voice was sharp, every word cutting through the room like a knife. The anger in her eyes was undeniable, a storm brewing behind them as she raked Jace with her gaze. She had just learned about the plans to open another factory for the production of the illegal drink, and she was having none of it.I stood frozen at the edge of the doorway, barely daring to breathe, as the argument unfolded before me. The tension in the room was suffocating, every word from Mrs. Karev fueled by disbelief and frustration.“This is the only way we can save Bailey, Mum,” Jace replied, his voice firm, but there was a hint of desperation beneath it. He was never one to back down, especially when it came to people he cared about. “The Mafia boss is a v
Lyla’s POV“I don’t know what to do… I’m so worried about my wife. I can’t even tell if they’re treating her well or if they’re hurting her! That Don… he’s a terrible, wicked man. I just hope he’s not doing horrible things to Bailey.” Collins’ voice cracked with emotion, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw a man cry. The tears flowed down his face, his body shaking with the weight of his anguish. I had never seen him like this—so raw, so vulnerable. Collins, usually the calm and collected one, had lost all semblance of control.The only person standing by his side in that moment, holding him together, was Jace. He stepped toward Collins, wrapping his arms around him in a comforting hug. The embrace was silent, but the emotion in the room was palpable. My own eyes stung with tears, but this was different. I had cried countless times in the privacy of my room, but seeing Collins break down like this… it shattered me in ways I couldn’t describe.I couldn’t deny it—Col
Lucas’s POV“I exchanged contacts with Sofia. She was the one who insisted, and it would’ve been rude to turn her down. She was all over me last night. She didn’t want to let me go; she was grinding and whining her waist on me. I won’t lie to you, bro! I felt really uncomfortable. What if Bella saw us together? It would’ve been disastrous. I couldn’t even hold hands with her. My eyes were busy scanning the whole environment, trying to make sure no one saw us,” I said into the phone, narrating the events of the previous night to James. He already knew who Sofia was—he’d been there with me back in high school. He knew how much trouble she used to cause.“Dude, you need to avoid Sofia like the plague!” James’s voice came through clearly, a mix of frustration and disbelief. “You know that girl is trouble! You always got into trouble because of her back then in school. You never did your assignments because you were always focusing on her, helping her with hers. You were always late to sch
Lyla’s POVI knocked lightly on the door, holding my arm across my chest. My heart was racing, and every instinct inside me screamed to turn around and leave. But something kept me rooted in place. When no answer came, I hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. It was unlocked, just slightly ajar.Stepping inside, I was met with an unsettling silence. I’d hoped Sasha wouldn’t be there—she wasn’t—but the tension I carried with me still lingered. It wasn’t that I was scared of Sasha, but more of the potential conflict that seemed to always swirl around her. I wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation. Not now, not when Bailey was still missing, and I had no idea where she was or what might be happening to her.As I entered the room, my eyes scanned the familiar space. I moved slowly, my body almost on autopilot, but my mind was racing. The memories came flooding back in waves, each one crashing into me with surprising force. I hadn’t been in this room in so long, and it felt li
Lyla’s POV“Now is not the time, Chad. How did you even get my number in the first place?” I asked, my voice sharp and tinged with frustration. My head was pounding, and we had been stuck on Bailey’s situation for days. There hadn’t been any substantial updates in what felt like forever, and the silence was starting to get to me. The anxiety, the not knowing—it was wearing me thin. I had no idea how Chad had gotten my contact information. I never used the complimentary card he gave me when we met, and the fact that he had my number felt… suspicious.“Look, Lyla, I just care about you. That’s all,” Chad’s voice came through the phone, softer than usual, almost gentle. “I heard about Bailey’s kidnapping, and I just want you to know that I’ll be here if you need me.”His words caught me off guard. Chad had never sounded so genuine in my life. There was something in the way he spoke, a sincerity I hadn’t heard before. It brought a strange sense of peace to my troubled mind, but it also ma
Lyla's POVI tried calling the number again, my fingers shaking as I dialed. But once more, it wasn’t connecting. My heart skipped a beat. The officer had been right all along—Bailey had been kidnapped, and I knew she was in grave danger. The message had been so brief, so cold. No details, no demands. Just a simple, chilling sentence: “We have your sister.”I stared at my phone, my mind racing. "Oh my God! They just messaged me! They just messaged me!" I shouted, almost in disbelief, as I clutched the phone tighter. My voice echoed in the empty room, and for a moment, I couldn’t even process the enormity of the situation. The message was unsettlingly simple, and now that I tried calling the number back, I realized it wasn’t connecting. Whoever sent it had used a burner phone, making it impossible to trace.My loud cry didn’t go unnoticed. From upstairs, Mrs. Maddy hurried down, followed closely by Sasha. Sasha came rushing down the stairs with a look of annoyance, clearly startled by