Ophelia's pov Pulling in front of my apartment, Daniel switched off the car engine and turned to me.“I enjoyed dinner with you tonight. We should do this more often,” he said with a smile.I returned his smile.“I am sorry I had to cut short our dinner.” I apologized.The baby kicked while we were having dinner, and after that, my back started to ache. I didn't want to let him know so as not to ruin the fun but he caught on real quick and noticed.He insisted that he take me home so I can rest. I told him not to bother but he insisted that I needed to stretch my back.“It is fine so far. The baby is alright,” his eyes shifted to my baby bump, and I unconsciously rubbed it. “Does that happen frequently?” “More frequently than before, but it is fine,” he looked worried at my reply. “Really. The baby is fine,” I laughed.“If you say so. Take care of yourself and you can call me if anything happens,”I smiled at him as I opened the door and slipped out of the car.I went to his side t
Ophelia's pov Ryder's piercing gaze locked with mine, his expression unreadable. He leaned slightly against the doorframe, his hand now gripping the edge of the door as if he wasn’t planning to move anytime soon. "Can we talk?" His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words.I tightened the robe around me, feeling vulnerable under his intense stare. "There is nothing to talk about, Ryder. It is late. Go back to wherever you came from."He didn't budge. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence looming. "I know I shouldn't have come here like this, but... I couldn't wait." His jaw tightened, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw something raw in his eyes—regret, maybe. Or was it something else?I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to shield myself from the emotions threatening to rise. "Couldn't wait for what? To ruin my night? To—" I stopped myself before I could go further. I wouldn’t let him rile me up.“How did you even find me? I thought I made it clear I wou
Ophelia's PovDaniel raised an eyebrow at me, clearly noticing my flustered expression. "You seem... tense. Are you okay?" I forced a smile, stepping aside to let him in. "I am fine. Just a little tired." He walked in, his gaze sweeping the living room before settling back on me. I closed the door behind me. "I missed your call, I was driving. I was almost home when I realized you left your bag in my car. I thought you might need it tonight so I brought it back for you." My eyes flickered to the small black handbag in his hand, and I sighed in relief. "Thank you. I didn’t even realize until I got inside and needed to take my drugs but you didn't have to bring it tonight. I needed my drugs when I called you, but I had another one in the house, so I took it." I reached out to take the purse from him, but Daniel hesitated, studying me carefully before handing it over. "Are you sure you are okay? You look a little shaken." I let out a small laugh, brushing a stray strand of hai
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.
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'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 “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 immediately said as 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 breath before
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
Ophelia's Pov As the car drove from the station to the house, Olivia's confession didn't leave my head.How? How did it happen? I have always blamed her for everything but I was the villain in her story. She was hurt because of me.As I rested my back on the passenger's seat, my thoughts went back to 20 minutes before I left the station.******“Since when and how long do you have more?”“Since I was in university. I had a breakdown and was rushed to the hospital, tests were conducted and I knew about it. I don't know how long I have but I know it isn't soon.”“Why did you tell Mum or me?” I asked as a tear escaped my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.“It was bad enough I was the black sheep. I didn't want to make Mum worried. It was hard seeing her breakdown during Dad's death and how she struggled. If you don't notice, she still dies and that is why she buried her head in work.”“You should have told someone, we could have helped. Is there any treatment for it or any way you can man
Ophelia's Pov “Why?” I paused trying to brace myself together, “I didn't take dad from you. I never did,”“Really? You didn't?” She moved her chair and fixed her gaze on me. “Who was his perfect princess? Why read day and night to make sure Dad is proud of her? Who goes to meet Dad any chance she gets so he can spend time with her? Who was Dad's favorite?”“Olivia—” I started, but she interrupted me.“You made him distant from me. Then you came sick and all the attention was shifted from both of us to only you. Only Ophelia deserves to rest while I go to school activities. Only Ophelia deserves 24/7 monitoring. I began to fade and I became your shadow. It was all about you,” she screamed with tears flowing down her eyes.She is getting it all wrong, or is she right with what she said?I was suffocated and choked. I blamed my sickness for that and envied Olivia whenever she could go anywhere she liked or do anything she wanted.“I didn't know you felt that way,”“You wouldn't because