Ophelia's pov Instead of answering him or confirming what he said, I walked out of the cafe with Aaron. Hailing a cab, Aaron and I got inside, and the cab drove off. Only then did I breathe out in relief.I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the city blur past as the cab moved. My fingers tightened around Aaron’s little hand, his warmth grounding me even as my mind spiraled.He knows. I was suspecting he noticed my baby bump but when he didn't say anything, I assumed he didn't and that I was thinking it too far.I should have been more careful. I should have worn looser clothes and should have avoided being near him for too long. But it wasn't something I couldn't control. I just got out of the bathtub and put on my robe. It wasn't something I couldn't have prevented right?But it was too late now. Ryder had seen the truth. He knew I was pregnant.Aaron shifted beside me, his innocent voice cutting through my thoughts. “Eva, are you okay?”I forced a small smile, brushing
Ophelia's pov I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the living room. Nothing seemed out of place. No one was there. “Eva, it is not what you think,” she said, rushing to me after she closed the door behind me. I turned back to Nichole, narrowing my eyes “What exactly do you think I am thinking?” I crossed my arms. She looked around before She let out a nervous laugh, shifting on her feet.“It is not what you think because…” she paused, her eyes searching as if looking for what to say.“I was, uh, in the shower when you rang the bell.” She completed her sentence. “That was why I took so long.” “But you are in a shirt,” I caught sight of a missing button and noticed the shirt was bigger than her. “Why is one of your buttons missing and is that a man's shirt?”“My… cousin's shirt. I took it from his wardrobe during last year's Christmas. I am rushing to wear the shirt and popped a buttonI wasn't buying her explanations.I frowned. “Then why were you out of breath?” She opened he
Ophelia's pov I sat back on the couch, sitting opposite Nichole and Daniel, arms crossed, trying to process what I had just learned. Nichole and Daniel? Two months? Finland? I had to admit, it was a lot to take in.“So, Finland?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me that you have been keeping this from me for two whole months, and you think it is just going to slide by with a casual ‘Oh, I went to Finland, and now I am sneaking around with Daniel?”Nichole sighed, looking like she wanted to curl up and disappear. “Eva, I didn’t know how to tell you. I mean, I didn't know what you would think about me, about the whole situation I was in.Daniel, who was sitting beside her, wore an amusing smirk on his face. “You should have known better, Nic. You know Eva doesn’t miss anything. Besides,” he looked at me with a sly grin, “she is too smart for your distractions.”I shot him a look, narrowing my eyes. “Oh, don’t start with me. You are in on this, too. You didn't act like yo
Ophelia's Pov Tonight was the party Daniel asked me to be his plus one. Even though I think Nichole should go in my place, she still didn't want to make their relationship public.I stood in front of the mirror, trying to assess my appearance. My baby bump had become more noticeable lately, but I was determined to enjoy the night. I hadn't let myself have many moments for fun or relaxation lately, so this was going to be one of them.The door to the bedroom opened, and Nichole stepped in with a grin on her face. "Alright, let us make you look absolutely stunning for tonight."I smiled. "I am not sure I need that much effort. It is just a party, not like I was meeting his parents."Her eyes narrowed mischievously. "Trust me, Eva. When you have Daniel as your date, you will want to look unforgettable." She walked over to the wardrobe, pulling out a dress I hadn’t noticed before. "This one. It is going to be perfect for you. Daniel and I got it for you"I raised an eyebrow. "Isn't th
Ophelia's PovAs we arrived at the venue, the lights from the grand chandelier above dazzled in the lobby, casting a warm glow on the polished marble floors. The party was in full swing, with a crowd of elegantly dressed people mingling in small clusters. The soft murmur of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, giving the entire event an air of sophistication and exclusivity. I couldn't help but feel out of place, despite the beautiful dress I wore and the confidence I had in my appearance.Even though I was from a rich family and was married to one of the elite in New York, I still haven't gotten used to such parties.I was suddenly surrounded by people whose wealth and status far surpassed anything I had ever known. Still, I held my head high and reminded myself that tonight was for fun— not to prove anything to anyone."You are doing great," Daniel whispered beside me as he placed a reassuring hand on the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd."Thanks," I muttere
Ophelia's Pov Two hands helped me before I could fall on my face, preventing me from tripping.“I am sorry,” I heard a female voice before she came to my view.“Are you alright?” She asked, looking at me with concern. I immediately touched my baby bump.I nodded. “I am okay,” I replied.“I wasn’t looking. I should have been more careful,” she apologized again and I nodded.“I am Camilla,” she smiled at me.“I am Eva,” before I knew it she pulled me into a hug before pulling away.“Nice meeting you. I am just meeting you for the first time but I know you are not the same as the girls here because you look somewhat lost. No offense taken,” I found her cheerful attitude amusing. “I came with Daniel,”“Pierce?” she asked, surprise in her eyes and I nodded.She muttered to herself, “But he didn’t tell me…” but I heard it.She turned back to me, her expression shifting to excitement. “I am his sister-in-law! I am so happy to finally meet his girlfriend.” I burst into laughter at the as
Ophelia's Pov Camilla was still smiling, still pleased with her little discovery that Daniel indeed has a girlfriend, but I could hardly pay attention. My attention was on something else or rather someone else.That look. It hadn’t left me. It was an invisible weight pressing against my skin, the undeniable presence of a gaze I had grown too familiar with. I could feel it—heavy, searching, stripping away the layers I had carefully built to protect myself. Ryder wasn’t just looking at me. He was studying me. I forced a smile at Camilla as she spoke of something entirely different, though my mind wandered elsewhere. I needed to pull myself together. “You okay?” Daniel’s voice was low, but it cut through my thoughts like a blade. I looked up at him as he moved closer, his usual playful glint replaced by something sharper, more serious. “I’m fine,” I replied far too quickly. His brow arched. “You sure? You seem a little…” He looked for the word, finally settling o
Ophelia “I brought out the leftover spaghetti I made in the morning and took my phone. 15 missed calls from my sister. Instead of returning the call, I walked to the kitchen and grabbed out the leftover spaghetti. I must have put my phone on silent during work. The day has been a blur with me rushing out the door in the morning, getting caught in the rain and accepting a ride from a colleague. But now back in my apartment, the missed calls lingered in my mind.After a deep breath, I finally called her back and she picked on the first ring.“Olivia, you called me 15 times” I took out a fork, “I said I'm not coming home to the anniversary”“Ophelia it's me, Ryder” The fork with spaghetti hung in the air. The voice brought back some memories and I gulped hard. “Why are you with Olivia's phone?” I asked him. He was the very last person I wanted to talk with.“Olivia is dead and-” The phone fell from my hand and I quickly took it but it was off.My hands were shaking as I tried turning
Ophelia's Pov Camilla was still smiling, still pleased with her little discovery that Daniel indeed has a girlfriend, but I could hardly pay attention. My attention was on something else or rather someone else.That look. It hadn’t left me. It was an invisible weight pressing against my skin, the undeniable presence of a gaze I had grown too familiar with. I could feel it—heavy, searching, stripping away the layers I had carefully built to protect myself. Ryder wasn’t just looking at me. He was studying me. I forced a smile at Camilla as she spoke of something entirely different, though my mind wandered elsewhere. I needed to pull myself together. “You okay?” Daniel’s voice was low, but it cut through my thoughts like a blade. I looked up at him as he moved closer, his usual playful glint replaced by something sharper, more serious. “I’m fine,” I replied far too quickly. His brow arched. “You sure? You seem a little…” He looked for the word, finally settling o
Ophelia's Pov Two hands helped me before I could fall on my face, preventing me from tripping.“I am sorry,” I heard a female voice before she came to my view.“Are you alright?” She asked, looking at me with concern. I immediately touched my baby bump.I nodded. “I am okay,” I replied.“I wasn’t looking. I should have been more careful,” she apologized again and I nodded.“I am Camilla,” she smiled at me.“I am Eva,” before I knew it she pulled me into a hug before pulling away.“Nice meeting you. I am just meeting you for the first time but I know you are not the same as the girls here because you look somewhat lost. No offense taken,” I found her cheerful attitude amusing. “I came with Daniel,”“Pierce?” she asked, surprise in her eyes and I nodded.She muttered to herself, “But he didn’t tell me…” but I heard it.She turned back to me, her expression shifting to excitement. “I am his sister-in-law! I am so happy to finally meet his girlfriend.” I burst into laughter at the as
Ophelia's PovAs we arrived at the venue, the lights from the grand chandelier above dazzled in the lobby, casting a warm glow on the polished marble floors. The party was in full swing, with a crowd of elegantly dressed people mingling in small clusters. The soft murmur of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, giving the entire event an air of sophistication and exclusivity. I couldn't help but feel out of place, despite the beautiful dress I wore and the confidence I had in my appearance.Even though I was from a rich family and was married to one of the elite in New York, I still haven't gotten used to such parties.I was suddenly surrounded by people whose wealth and status far surpassed anything I had ever known. Still, I held my head high and reminded myself that tonight was for fun— not to prove anything to anyone."You are doing great," Daniel whispered beside me as he placed a reassuring hand on the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd."Thanks," I muttere
Ophelia's Pov Tonight was the party Daniel asked me to be his plus one. Even though I think Nichole should go in my place, she still didn't want to make their relationship public.I stood in front of the mirror, trying to assess my appearance. My baby bump had become more noticeable lately, but I was determined to enjoy the night. I hadn't let myself have many moments for fun or relaxation lately, so this was going to be one of them.The door to the bedroom opened, and Nichole stepped in with a grin on her face. "Alright, let us make you look absolutely stunning for tonight."I smiled. "I am not sure I need that much effort. It is just a party, not like I was meeting his parents."Her eyes narrowed mischievously. "Trust me, Eva. When you have Daniel as your date, you will want to look unforgettable." She walked over to the wardrobe, pulling out a dress I hadn’t noticed before. "This one. It is going to be perfect for you. Daniel and I got it for you"I raised an eyebrow. "Isn't th
Ophelia's pov I sat back on the couch, sitting opposite Nichole and Daniel, arms crossed, trying to process what I had just learned. Nichole and Daniel? Two months? Finland? I had to admit, it was a lot to take in.“So, Finland?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me that you have been keeping this from me for two whole months, and you think it is just going to slide by with a casual ‘Oh, I went to Finland, and now I am sneaking around with Daniel?”Nichole sighed, looking like she wanted to curl up and disappear. “Eva, I didn’t know how to tell you. I mean, I didn't know what you would think about me, about the whole situation I was in.Daniel, who was sitting beside her, wore an amusing smirk on his face. “You should have known better, Nic. You know Eva doesn’t miss anything. Besides,” he looked at me with a sly grin, “she is too smart for your distractions.”I shot him a look, narrowing my eyes. “Oh, don’t start with me. You are in on this, too. You didn't act like yo
Ophelia's pov I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the living room. Nothing seemed out of place. No one was there. “Eva, it is not what you think,” she said, rushing to me after she closed the door behind me. I turned back to Nichole, narrowing my eyes “What exactly do you think I am thinking?” I crossed my arms. She looked around before She let out a nervous laugh, shifting on her feet.“It is not what you think because…” she paused, her eyes searching as if looking for what to say.“I was, uh, in the shower when you rang the bell.” She completed her sentence. “That was why I took so long.” “But you are in a shirt,” I caught sight of a missing button and noticed the shirt was bigger than her. “Why is one of your buttons missing and is that a man's shirt?”“My… cousin's shirt. I took it from his wardrobe during last year's Christmas. I am rushing to wear the shirt and popped a buttonI wasn't buying her explanations.I frowned. “Then why were you out of breath?” She opened he
Ophelia's pov Instead of answering him or confirming what he said, I walked out of the cafe with Aaron. Hailing a cab, Aaron and I got inside, and the cab drove off. Only then did I breathe out in relief.I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the city blur past as the cab moved. My fingers tightened around Aaron’s little hand, his warmth grounding me even as my mind spiraled.He knows. I was suspecting he noticed my baby bump but when he didn't say anything, I assumed he didn't and that I was thinking it too far.I should have been more careful. I should have worn looser clothes and should have avoided being near him for too long. But it wasn't something I couldn't control. I just got out of the bathtub and put on my robe. It wasn't something I couldn't have prevented right?But it was too late now. Ryder had seen the truth. He knew I was pregnant.Aaron shifted beside me, his innocent voice cutting through my thoughts. “Eva, are you okay?”I forced a small smile, brushing
Ryder's povHer correction hit me harder than it should have. Eva. Not Ophelia. I clenched my jaw, staring at her as she glared back, her eyes filled with a fire I had only ever seen when she was determined to push me away, when she was leaving. She was angry—no, beyond that. She was done. And that realization did something unsettling to me. I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face. "Eva," I repeated, testing the name on my tongue, but it felt wrong between my lips. It felt foreign. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable. "What do you want, Ryder?" she asked, her voice clipped. I hate how we are right now. I hated this distance between us. Hated the way she looked at me like I was just some stranger she was forced to tolerate. There was no love or adoration in her eyes like she used to look at me and it caused my heart to tighten."I just…" My throat felt dry. I didn't know how to say what I wanted to say. Not when she was staring at me lik
Ophelia pov Ryder was deep in thought, but his presence felt like a pull, drawing me in. My heart raced with every step closer.He looked up just as I reached the table, his fingers pausing mid-tap. His sharp gaze flickered to Aaron first, then settled on me. His expression was not that of surprise; it was calm yet guarded. I inhaled quietly, steadying myself. “Hi,” I greeted him. I didn't wait for him to reply when I pulled out a chair for Aaron to sit on. “Aaron, sit here,” He climbed up the chair without question, his small legs swinging under the table. Ryder didn’t say anything. He just only watched, his presence heavy, making my skin prickle. I turned to Aaron with a smile, trying to keep my voice light. “What do you want to eat?” He scrunched his nose in thought. “Pancakes.” “Alright, pancakes it is.” I was about to go to the counter to order when Ryder's voice stopped me. “I will get it for him,” he said before standing from his seat and walking to the counter.