Selene:With bated breath, I anxiously tapped my feet against the cold, sterile floor, waiting for the results of the test I had just taken. My eyes slowly watched the doctor as she pulled out an envelope and stretched it out to me. “Congratulations, Mrs. Hemsworth, you’re five weeks pregnant!” My hands shook as I snatched the report off the doctor’s hand, glancing through it as quickly as I could. After three good years of trying, I was finally pregnant!My heart swelled with an overwhelming urge to shout, scream and yell excitedly right there and then, but Instead I tucked the report carefully in my bag. Turning to the doctor, I managed a shaky smile.“Thank you,”Today was my third wedding anniversary with my beloved husband, Maximus. So, I pulled over at a small gift shop and got him gifts I was sure he’d definitely like.These gifts were just the perfect prelude to the real surprise. My hand brushed my stomach, a smile spreading across my face. I suddenly felt a shiver run dow
I felt my hands tremble uncontrollably as I stared at the text on my phone. My vision blurred as tears spilled over, dripping onto the screen. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the images of Jess and Maximus. How she was all over Max, kissing him, and caressing his bare chest was like a punch to my guts. It explained exactly why Maximus hadn’t been sleeping home. He had always been with Jess, as opposed to the trips and meetings I always thought he was on. “Maximus is mine now. You were never really part of his life. Move on.” Were the words Jess had attached to the picture, and my heart shattered even more when I read it. I stared at my reflection in the rearview mirror, my eyes puffy and red from crying. All those late nights waiting up for him, all the times I smiled through his excuses and empty promises - it had all been for nothing? My throat tightened, and I choked back a sob, my chest heaving with each shaky breath. Anger and despair bubbled within me as I tossed the ph
My face must have shown utter surprise when I saw Maya, my stepmother. I wondered if she was genuinely concerned about me. Or had she been waiting for me? The last time I had seen Maya and my father was two years ago. They had stopped me from visiting, and I really never understood why. I had always believed it was Maya who had turned Dad against me. Now, seeing her with a hint of concern made me feel hopeful that maybe I could finally share everything that had happened. "Mother, I—" my voice trembled,but i was cut short by Maya’s sudden outburst of laughter. I looked at her, bewildered, trying to understand what was so funny. Maya’s eyes flashed with something I couldn’t quite place—was it anger or just cold disdain? She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Don’t pretend, Selene. I’m actually glad to see you so pathetic and miserable,” she said with a smirk. “Now Jess can recover all that she lost while you were with him.” Her words left me blinking in disbelief,
Five years laterAs I drained the last of my coffee and set the cup down, I pulled my phone from my pocket. The moment I saw the time, my heart skipped a beat. It was already an hour past eleven!"Mummy, we're ready! Let's go!" A tiny, excited voice broke through my panic. I looked up to see Asher, my adorable little boy, beaming at me. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile back at him."Come here, baby Ash," I said, holding out my arms. He dashed over, and I ruffled his hair affectionately. "Where's Anna?""I'm right here!" Anna's sweet voice called out as she ran over, her bag slung tightly over her shoulder. Her long brunette hair and round hazel eyes were a striking contrast to her brother's short hair and forest-green eyes.Five years had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye, and even though I was expecting just a “baby”, I ended up giving birth to two.I patted their backs and knelt down to their level, planting a kiss on each of their right cheeks
Selene’s POVI never knew that in my life I would see Maximus Hemsworth standing before me. I dreaded this moment. The man who made my life a living hell. The man who broke my heart and left me broken and abandoned.He was too stunned to see me but I had already hardened my heart. I was a fool once and I was not going to be a fool the second time.I promised myself that whenever fate would allow Maximus and I to meet again, I would not let my heart waiver. I will not be like the naive little girl who was easily deceived into an arranged marriage, falling in love with him but never getting a bit of love from him in return.I was stronger and I was determined in what I wanted and that was no longer Maximus Hemsworth.When I found out that it was his mother who was hospitalized, I was so tempted not to treat her. This woman made my life a living hell. She never liked me for her son and always saw me as a gold digger.She rubbed it in my face constantly that the only reason that I was wit
Maximus POVShe looks so different. She wasn't the woman who I was married to years ago.Selena was timid and shy. She rarely spoke out and when she did, it was always in a low tone. But the woman who was standing before me, checking up on my mother was sophisticated, confident, and had a very strong aura surrounding her.I felt as if I was looking at a complete stranger. If I wasn't awake, I would think that I was dreaming and I was in another dimension. A world where Selena was different.She didn't even pay any attention to me. She rarely glanced in my direction.I saw the look of hate in her eyes when she glanced at my mother. She spoke to her so emotionlessly. She couldn't fool me. There was no way Dr. Andrea was not Selena.I have missed her all these years. I made a terrible mistake. I was blinded by anger and jealousy. I pushed away the best thing that had ever happened to me in my life.Every day I woke up, it was a constant reminder that Selena was no longer with me. I no lo
Maximus POVI watched him as he toppled over in laughter, clutching his stomach. He adjusted his tie when he saw that I wasn't laughing with him, then cleared his throat and sat up straight.I rolled my eyes at his obvious mockery."Are you done? I don't know what is amusing but I am not finding this situation funny. I told you that my ex-wife is back and instead of you sympathizing with me, you are here, laughing at my demise. Seriously, I am starting to rethink our friendship, Raymond."With how red his face was, I knew he was trying to keep in his laughter but was fairly miserably.I don't understand why he was laughing. This situation wasn't funny. I was in crisis here."I am sorry. You know that you are my best friend, it's just that it is extremely funny that the woman you kicked away five years ago has now returned and she is no longer a nobody.""Who would have thought that she owns that big hospital? It is one of the largest in this city with highly qualified doctors too. Don
Jess POV"What are you doing here? I thought I said that I didn't need any visitors. Didn't my domestic staff tell you that I have just been discharged from the hospital? The last thing I need is visitors. I didn't have a cardiac arrest, I just passed out from exhaustion," Maximus' mother grumbled under her breath.I almost rolled my eyes, glancing at my mother. If it wasn't for her forcing me to come and visit the old woman, I wouldn't have even made an appearance.I couldn't care less if she passed out and died. She was the least of my problems. Her death would make her stop breathing down my neck.She was really annoying for an old woman. I don't know what happened over the years but she was finding me unbearable.I thought she would finally treat me as a daughter but I guess I was wrong.The only reason she could tolerate me was because of my child. Whenever I came over with Maximus, she would always throw snide remarks at me.At least I convinced Maximus so we could move out of h
Maximus POVIt has been over a day since I found out that I had children with Selene but it still felt like a movie for me. I felt as if I was watching a stage drama and I was the main character. How could it be possible that Selene was pregnant and I didn't know? Could it have been just before I divorced her or weeks before I started treating her so badly?I felt so bad. I felt like a complete jerk. My children were grown up and the same age as Kylie and yet they didn't have the presence of a father in their life.I knew Serene was lying when she told them that so that they would stop worrying so much about me being their father. I missed five years of my children's life. I wasn't there when Selene went to her first ultrasound. I wasn't there with her when she gave birth. I saw how agonizing birth pangs can be. I was there when Jess gave birth to Kylie. I knew how agonizing it was and I let Selene go through that all alone.I now understand where all her hate was coming from. It was
Selene's POVI have been feeling quite overwhelmed ever since Maximus discovered that he had children with me. I know I have been acting differently. I was constantly on edge, wondering when he would barge into my house, demanding me to hand over his children to him, or one day when he would take it to court for child custody. I didn't want to put my children through that trauma. I was certain that Maximus was the one threatening to take my children away from me. The same number that called me when I was looking for Anna and Asher at the mall called Nelly as well.I was convinced that Maximus was doing all this to spook me. There was no other person that knew about my children right now besides Maximus. I was worried that he would tell his family and they would harass my children and me. I didn't want Cecilia Hemsworth anywhere near her grandchildren. She was the one who tormented me every day, calling me barren and that she was a disgrace to the Hemsworth family and couldn't give b
Mr Ben's POVI picked up the golden ring with a dragon and gold-blue design, and an onyx stone embedded in it. I knew it belonged to the boss so what was it doing here? Could it be that one of the Hemsworth family members was the man I was working for? It couldn't be Maximus, he was too uptight for that. And why the hell will he ever want to sabotage his own company? Mason was too much of a coward to even come up with such a brilliant plan. He wasn't really the brightest in the bunch which was why I was surprised he actually graduated from law school and owned a firm. I knew that the ring wasn't sold in jewelry stores, it was customized. My boss has a thing for making his belongings outstanding. He always had a symbol that indicated what was his. He said that's always made him iconic but to me, I thought it was stupid.It was easy to find him with such a symbol. I just needed to know who the ring belonged to, then I could finally know the psychopath who was under the mask and whom I
Selene's POV"Just look at how happy they are. I can't believe they didn't want a party, that is so unlike them. Do you remember their last birthday?"Nelly chuckled beside me and I glanced at her. She was smiling widely while staring at Anna and Asher. I was glad she loved my kids as much as I did."How could I forget? They almost gave Mom a heart attack. When they were bouncing off the trampoline, I thought Mom would have passed out in fear," Nelly and I chuckled as we reminisced.She smiled, walking away with my children towards the toy section. The ringing of my phone made me stop in my tracks. I furrowed my brows at the unknown number.I swiped to answer but the person kept quiet, only their loud breathing was what I could hear."Selene Norman, leaving your kids unattended was a mistake. Now watch me take them away from you. They are mine to keep. I can do whatever I want with them. Time is ticking. Can you save them or would you forever not see them again? You choose. Your count
Jess POVWhat was taking her so long? Doesn't she have any idea how cold the weather is? I can't believe I have to leave the comfort of my bed to come out in this stormy weather. The rain was just too much. I should be back at home, watching Netflix. Instead, I'm out here, brainstorming ideas on how to bring down Selene and I know the only person who could help me do that. I couldn't hurt her directly myself anymore, not with Mason breathing down my neck and watching me like a hawk. I was making sure to keep my end of the bargain. I couldn't hurt Selene even though I was itching to do so. I wanted to inflict so much pain on her.When I saw her a few days ago, she was looking nice and healthy, no longer limping. I am tempted to hire heavy artillery or even a sniper just to put a bullet through her head, but that will be an easy death. I want Selene to look at me as she takes her last breath. That would be the most satisfying. So that she will know that even in her miserable life, even
Selene's POVFor the fifth time, I rejected the call, deciding to switch off my phone. Mason has been blowing up my phone with calls and text messages. I don't even know what to tell him. This is so awkward. He is my best friend, he cannot be my lover. I did not see him that way. I never even pictured in my mind that I would date Mason and he would take care of me.Mason was handsome, don't get me wrong and any woman will be lucky to have him. I know that he would love and care for me if I gave him a chance but I just didn't view him that way. I only saw him as a brother and a best friend. I don't understand why he is pushing it so much with me to date him. I don't have any romantic feelings towards him.What was he hoping for? He couldn't give me a good reason why he wanted to date me. He didn't tell me what he saw in me either. The only reason he told me was that he was in love with me. I don't know why I found that very hard to believe. And he wasn't even thinking about how awkward
Maximus POVMason kept on staring at me, looking confused. Things had been weird between us for the past few weeks, especially since I found out about the little stunt he pulled with Selene. I knew he was avoiding me as if I had a deadly disease on me. I have no idea what kind of game Mason was playing but I was not interested in finding out. I specifically told him that Selene was off-limits. I didn't know when Mason became so daring. I know he didn't propose to her but with the sly gestures he made in those videos and pictures, a lot of people have been misunderstanding the whole situation and it annoyed me every single time to see everyone talking about that.I wonder how Selene was taking all this. Was she happy? She has never been someone who loved public attention."Both of you have been staring at each other for a while now and there is too much male testosterone right now in this room. Maximus, if you have anything to say to Mason, now is a time to do so.” Raymond uttered, ma
Selene's POV"I can't believe that this is the beginning of summer. We are going to have so much fun. Avery, you don't look too excited. You always say this is your favorite holiday, so why the gloomy face? Don't tell me you are missing me too much. It is just a one week conference and besides, you are the one who volunteered to go instead. Who knows, maybe you will make new friends there. Just try to make the best out of it and don't be so stuck up b****, okay?"Avery opened her mouth in disbelief then she covered the camera with her palm.I stifled my laughter when I heard her screaming into her pillow in the background."I am not a b****! People just don't know when someone is polite and jovial. Those are two different things, Selene, come on. I wish you were here with me. Dr. Riley is no fun. She has had her head buried in books ever since we arrived at this conference. Why did this have to be for a week? When I get back, I'm going to spend my three days at the beach, sunbathing a
Maximus POV"Is there a reason why my daughter is staying with your parents for more than a week? It's been a while and I haven't seen Kylie. Why did you take her out? Are you trying to separate my daughter from me, Maximus? What is next? Are you going to give her to Selene, your ex-wife or are you going to also make me look like the bad guy again? What is it going to be this time? Come on, tell me! She should be with us right now, having breakfast like a normal family should but instead, you shipped her off to her grandparents. Do you expect me to be okay with that?"Jess complained, fussed, and questioned all at once.It was too early for her to start her whining. I had enough problems on my mind and I don't need her adding to it."I don't need to make you look like a bad guy. You are already evil. And besides, your daughter is the one who suggested that she wants to take a little holiday at her grandparent's house. Since when do you treat Kylie like your own child? She is constantly