Ryder pov Seeing Olivia sleeping peacefully I slipped out of the room quietly. I couldn't get the sad look on Ophelia's face when I had to leave her to go to the hospital when Olivia called.I wasn't going to leave her, but Olivia was crying over the phone, and I just had to go meet her. I didn't tell Ophelia because she has been blaming herself lately and punishing herself over little things.She has a big heart and that is why she always tries to fix things and people. But she has to know she can't fix everybody.She was able to fix me and change me because I wanted to be fixed and I am glad I gave her that chance to. I need to make her know she can't fix someone who doesn't want to be fixed.I went to the receptionist and told the nurse I was stepping out. In case the doctor wanted to see me, and Olivia woke up. I went to the parking lot where my car was.I slipped into the car and drove off to Victoria's Secret. I liked the lingerie Ophelia was putting on last night and it took
Ophelia I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my hands nervously smoothing over the simple black dress I chose. It hugged my body, bringing out my curves. My heart raced with excitement as I brushed my hair, leaving it behind my back. I hummed, my mood light the ruined night between Ryder and me.Ryder’s words from this morning replayed in my head, “Just the two of us. No interruptions, no distractions.” It had been so long since we had shared something so intimate, just us. The last time we were so intimate without any worry was our lovemaking in his office.I heard a knock on the bathroom door which I ran into after Ryder left the bathroom after me. Due to excitement, I dressed in the bathroom, not wanting Ryder to see any part of me till tonight. “Ophelia, are you ready?” Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. Ryder stood there, looking effortlessly handsome in a crisp white shirt rolled at the sleeves and dark trousers. His intense gaze swept over me, and for a moment,
Ophelia povI looked at Ryder when I didn't get a response from him.His eyes were fixed on me, but I knew he was far from his thoughts. Was he going to reject me? Is he going to tell him he was back with Olivia? Or is he going to tell me he loves me too? There were a lot of things going through my mind that I didn't know what to think anymore. “Ophelia, I—” Before he could say anything further, I placed my finger on his lips.“You don't have to give me your response now. I just wanted to let you know” I said, laying back in his arms. He tightened his hold around me and kissed my forehead as we both stared forward, our wine long gone.Should I tell him about the baby now? Will it make him accept me? What if he does not want the baby, what will I do? I thought long and hard over it and I decided to keep it from him until I was sure of how he felt about me.I can't let my child suffer for my sake. I have to do everything I can to make my child experience the right love he/she needs.
Ophelia pov I stared at her long and hard as she finished talking and laughed hard, taking her by surprise. Tears threatened to fall but I held it in even when the situation was enough to make me cry.“You are mistaken Olivia, if you think I was going to believe that. You couldn't sleep, and you called him to come to the hospital, and he left very early to get me a present. You can try to fool me but I won't fall for your tricks,” I shook my head.“Then you should have heard me crying to your husband that I needed him and he ran back here to take me in his hands. His firm strong arms round around me comforting Mr until he—” “Enough,” I shouted, unable to hear any more nonsense she was spilling. The image of Ryder doing everything he did to Mr last to Olivia caused my heart to ache so much that I was afraid it was going to start bleeding.“You should know this because you deserve to. Didn't you stop to reason why Ryder just came with the thought of taking you out, out of the blues? I
Ophelia's pov Waking up from my nightmare, I was drained of sweat. It was this same nightmare tormenting me. I have been hospitalized for two days and I still haven't heard anything from Ryder.Was that how little I meant to him? Even if he didn't love me back, I was still his wife.I sat up from the bed unable to sleep. My recovery was fast and I will be leaving the hospital bed this morning.I swung my leg to the other side, and immediately, I saw a flash of my memory.I was standing in front of the burning car as the person inside yelped for help. I only stood there, watching the person burn. After a while, I got into my car and drove off, leaving the person there to burn to death.How could I do that? How could I be so heartless? It wasn't me. Why would I do that?There was a knock on the door, breaking the me from my thoughts and the doctor came in with a basket of food.I composed myself and smiled at him. “How are you doing now?” He asked, setting the basket down beside me.“
Ophelia pov Days went by really fast and I saw little of Ryder day after day. Because of the time he took to take care of Olivia, he had tons of work to attend to.And when he comes back, he goes to see Olivia in her room and spends some time with Ryan before coming up to our room.I tried everything to avoid him. Not only because he didn't come to check up on me but because I was scared to meet him face to face after confessing my feelings to him.I was already doing fine and my cut had healed well. I decided to stop my former medication, and I started using the new one the doctor prescribed for me.Olivia was recovering quickly, and with every passing day, her presence in the house felt more permanent. She had begun to assert herself, taking over small routines and making sly comments whenever Ryder wasn’t around. It was as if she wanted to remind me of her hold on him, on this family.I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy when I saw Ryder with her, even though I told mysel
Ophelia povThe shower water poured over me as if it could cleanse the guilt clawing at my chest. My sobs echoed off the tiles, raw and uncontrollable as I let the tears fall. How hard did I bury this memory so deep? How had I convinced myself I was blameless and I didn't do anything when I had taken everything from Olivia, her family, her husband, her life? How did it happen? How could I travel back to London with remorse or guilt? How?I couldn’t stay here. Not like this. Not after I have learned the truth.If I could do that to Olivia, I was scared of what I could do to Ryan, to Ryder. The thought of hurting them caused me so much more pain than I knew.Quickly, I turned off the water, wrapped a towel around myself, and stumbled back into the bedroom. Ryder was still asleep, his chest rising and falling peacefully, oblivious to the storm raging within me. I stared at him, a lump forming in my throat. He deserved to know the truth, but how could I tell him? How could I admit th
Ryan's POV I stared at the divorce papers in my hands and they felt heavier than anything I had ever held. Ophelia’s words echoed in my head, louder and more crushing with each replay. “I was the cause of her accident.”How was I supposed to process that? The woman I had been falling for, the woman who stepped into my life when everything was crumbling, was the same person who tore it apart. I stared at the pictures, unable to reconcile the vibrant woman in my memories with the shadow of betrayal now hovering over everything. My chest tightened. My mind raced with questions. How did it happen? I didn't see Ophelia the last time she came when Olivia was still alive but I knew the day I received the call of Olivia's accident, Ophelia was on the plane back to London.So how?I need more answers. I need clarity. I stared at the door she left and bolted out of the room, my anger and confusion fueling each step. She wasn't in the house anymore. I ran out of the house, gaining a glan
Ophelia's Pov “It took you guys a long time to reach here,” Mom said when she opened the door.“Grandma,” the boys shouted and ran to hug her.“How are you all doing? You all look good,” she said, checking the three of them.“Granny, you want to know the secret? Richard asked.“Yes,” Mum answered.“Then you must give us cookies first,” Raymond said and they all grinned at her. She laughed at the boys’ tactics before following them inside.“My mum doesn't even care about me anymore,” I told Ryder as we walked inside the house and headed to the garden where everyone would be.“That makes the two of us,” he pulled me closer to him and I smiled.“Love birds, thank you for gracing us with your presence this late,” Lily said from where she was grilling meat. “Sometimes I wonder, it takes up all your time, but then I remember that you have 3 boys, and you could be trying for a girl,” Daniel said, walking towards us. Nichole slapped his shoulder as she came into view with her protruding st
Ophelia's Pov After applying makeup to cover up the hickeys and helping the boys finish up their dressing, we all entered the car and Ryder drove out of the compound with another car following us.Ryder increased security around us since we were having more kids. He didn't want a repetition of what happened with Ryan when he was little.The car pulled in front of the cemetery and I looked back at the boys.“Ready?” I asked and they all nodded.Ryder held Richard and Raymond as they walked in front of Ryan and me.“Mum, did you talk to dad?” Ryan whispered to me.“I tried my best, but you know he loves you and loves what you do,” I told him, and I watched him return his eyes to the floor.“I just want him to see how good I am at playing,” he said, his voice low and my heart reached for him.He just wanted Ryder to see how good he is but what he doesn't know is that Ryder knows. I always record him playing, and we both watch it at night before we sleep.“He knows you are good. You are
Ophelia's Pov “Ryan, Richard, Raymond, come down this minute,” I shouted at the top of my voice as I carried plates out from the kitchen to the dining table.I heard multiple steps running down the stairs. I sighed, tired of telling them to stop running around the house.“Mum, I need help with my hair,”“Mum, I can't find my blue shirt,”“Mum, where did you put my socks,”The three of them all said together immediately they stopped in front of me.I looked at them in awe.Ryan was dressed, but his hair was still damp from the shower, Richard was holding an orange shirt, and Raymond was barefoot.“I will help with your hair after breakfast, Your shirt is in the second drawer by the left, and your socks are in the basket beside your bed,” I answered them and turned, returning to the kitchen.“I didn't see it there,” I heard Raymond complain as his brother's footsteps faded up the stairs.“If you check properly, you will see it,” I shouted from the kitchen and heard him mumble under his
Ophelia's Pov I felt a little hand holding onto my hand. I felt weak and heavy in a kind of way.“She will be fine,” I heard Olivia's voice.I opened my eyes slowly but shut them when the light rays entered my eyes.“Too bright,” I muttered as I opened them again but this time more slowly.“Ophelia?” Olivia came to the other side of the bed. Her eyes were puffy as worry etched on her face.Did she cry? I thought to myself before I heard Ryan's voice beside me on the bed.“Mama,” he had a wide smile on his face as he held onto my hand and the other one on my face.I raised my body up to sit down when I felt like something was taken from my body.“Olivia, where is my baby?” I asked as I looked around the room for my baby.“Relax Ophelia, your baby is fine. He is in another room receiving care,” she smiled at me even though her eyes were saying another thing.“My baby is a boy?” I asked as joy slowly crept into my voice.“Yes,” Olivia replied with a gentle nod, her voice cracking just
Ryder's Pov The voices around me faded as I stared at the door long and hard, the image of her lifeless body boring my head.I slumped to the floor as tears flooded down my face. I didn't know for how long I sat on the floor until I heard a footstep behind me.“Ryder” I heard a familiar voice and raised up my head. Olivia was standing over me, her eyes worried as she looked down at me.“Why are you on the floor? Is the delivery successful?” She asked as her eyes moved to the door swiftly.“The delivery was successful,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper as I kept my gaze on the door. “We have a baby boy.” Her eyes lit up briefly, “That is good news, when will they be done with her in there?” She asked and I didn't reply to her. I didn't respond. Not because I didn't want to but because I didn't know what to tell her exactly. Her eyes dimmed when she noticed the way I was trembling. “Why are you out here like this?” she asked, crouching beside me. “Is Ophelia and t
Ryder's Pov I entered the room where Ophelia was and saw a nurse with her.“Babe, are you okay?” I asked immediately I got to her side, and the nurse excused us. “I started coming immediately the driver called me and told me what happened. Are you in any pain?” My drive to the hospital was a reckless one after I got a call from the driver. I honestly didn't know how I got to the hospital so quickly.She nodded. “I need to have more contractions before I can be fully dilated and go into labor,” she told me, and I rubbed my hand on hers as a sign of support.Her eyes moved behind me, and I followed her gaze to Olivia, who was standing by the door, just staring at us. Just then, her eyes flickered to Ryan, who was sleeping on my shoulder.“Did you talk to her?” she asked, her voice in a whisper only for me to hear. I shook my head.“You should talk to her. It won't be bad to have that talk with her now,” she said and I shook my head.“Not while you are yet to give birth. I am not leavi
Ophelia's Pov I checked myself in the mirror for the last time to make sure I was ready before taking my bag and heading to the living room.“Good morning, babe,” Ryder said from the kitchen as soon as he saw me coming from the stairs. I went into the kitchen where he was cooking wearing an apron. He looked very sexy and hot. I don't know if it was my hormones messing with me but I wanted to jump on him and have my way with him.I kissed his lips, lingering much longer than I anticipated.“Good morning,” I said and peeked at what he was cooking. “You are really good in the kitchen. It is very attractive and hot” I said, inhaling the sweet scent of the food.“You are becoming more daring,” he looked at me in awareness. “Anything for my wife,” he said before taking my lips in his.After a few seconds, I pulled away from him. “We better stop before we return to the bedroom to finish what we started,”“That is far. We could do it right here,” he winked at me, and I slapped his chest play
Ophelia's Pov I opened my eyes to the cold room. I checked beside me but didn't find Ryder with me. The duvet was on me which I didn't do myself.I swung my leg to the floor and stood up from the bed. I headed to the living room, and I saw Mum sleeping on the couch.What is she still doing here? I thought she went home.I walked past her to the kitchen to make myself something to eat. At the sound of moving about and making noise, she woke up and sat straight, rubbing her eyes.When her eyes settled on me, she stood up immediately.“You should go home, Mum. You will have body pain by sleeping on the couch,” I said without giving her a glance.“I am not leaving until you talk to me,” I continued doing what I was doing.“And I don't want to,” I said.“Please, even if it is the last thing you do if I join your father,” I froze before turning to look at her.“Are you threatening me with that now? I have lost Dad, not you, again. Is that how you want to play it? I am angry with you but I
Ophelia's Pov I moved my eyes from the bottles on the table to Mum.“What truth mum?” I asked, curiosity eating me up.“I would like you to listen to the story I am about to tell you,” I said slowly, trying to gain my acceptance and I nodded.“When your father died, it was the darkest time of my life. I couldn't handle a kid all by myself not to talk more of two girls.I tried to handle both of you together, bring you closer, and make sure you are alright, but you withdrew yourself totally. I should have put in more effort but I didn't. I only made sure you were safe because of your illness, but emotionally, I didn't try.Olivia was the only one who I was close to so when the two of you went to university, I didn't monitor her like I did to you. I knew nothing about her love life or health,” she paused before continuing.“Few days for you both to graduate, I stumbled across your book when you wrote about hating a guy Olivia was with. Then I started looking after her and that was when