The next morning, I got ready for work, putting on a business-casual outfit and preparing myself for the day ahead. The moment I stepped into the office, however, a strange silence fell over the room—colleagues quickly diverted their gazes, and the typical buzz of chatter ceased. Before I could process what was going on, I heard the sharp click of heels approaching at breakneck speed.“How dare you?” My boss, Ms Harper, shrieked, her face twisted with fury, practically vibrating with anger.“Uh… good morning?” I managed, taken aback by her intensity.“Don’t ‘good morning’ me!” she snapped, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “You think you can just take days off whenever you feel like it?”“Wait, I don’t?” I replied, genuinely confused. “I mean, I did put in a request—”“Absolutely not!” she interrupted. “You have responsibilities here. You don’t just disappear and leave us to cover for you! Do you understand the pressure you’ve put on this team?”“I... I apologize,” I started,
Adrian’s voice broke the silence again, and I blinked, still processing the sudden shift in conversation. “I read some of your work,” he said casually, his gaze flicking over me with a hint of curiosity.I was shocked. “What?” I asked, my mind struggling to make sense of what he just said.He nodded, eyes narrowing slightly. “I had to know what my temporary wife was doing, what kind of person she is.”I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “That’s very uncultured of you,” I said, shaking my head. “If you’re going to criticize me, you should save it.”Adrian raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. “No, I wasn’t criticizing. I think your work is good.” He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. “And you’re also good at being a masseuse.”I blinked at him, confused. “What? A masseuse? How do you even know that?”He leaned back in his wheelchair, the corner of his mouth lifting into a teasing grin. “I can hear. I can feel, too. I could never forget how you used me as a leg
I tried to argue, but Naomi interrupted me, her voice sharp and final. "There's nothing more the doctors can do. They've tried their best," she said coldly, the finality in her words ringing through the sterile hospital room.Anger surged through me, but before I could say anything, Vivian’s gaze dropped to the ground. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and without another word, she hissed under her breath and turned, walking out of the room. Her footsteps echoed down the hallway as she disappeared.The room was eerily quiet once they left, and suddenly, it was just me and my father. I could hear the faint beep of the heart monitor, the only sound left in the room. His eyes were open, but his once vibrant gaze now seemed distant, clouded."Father... don't leave me," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I reached out and held his hand, squeezing it tightly. "You're all I've got left. You promised you’d always be here."He gave a weak groan, and my heart sank. His grip, once so strong,
One week later, it was my father's funeral.The rain poured steadily as I stood there, barely registering the preacher's words. Friends and distant relatives milled around, offering their condolences, but their words blurred, muffled by the ache numbing me to everything around.Just then, I caught sight of Jordan whispering something to Naomi. She leaned into him, letting out an exaggerated sob as she clung to his arm. The display was sickeningly transparent, she was obviously doing that to make me feel jealous, and I clenched my fists, I had to admit, I did feel jealous. But it wasn’t about them. It was about what Naomi had—someone standing by her, even if it was twisted and superficial. Meanwhile, I had...no one. My father was gone, Adrian wanted nothing to do with me, and Vivian had been distant from the start.As if on cue, a family friend approached, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Are you holding up, dear?" she asked kindly, her face full of pity.“Not really,” I admitted
Jordan’s face went pale the moment he saw Adrian. His smug grin vanished, and his arm instinctively loosened around Naomi.Adrian’s voice broke through the murmurs, calm yet commanding. “Is there a problem here?”I couldn’t hold back the excitement in my voice. “Adrian! I… I didn’t know you’d actually make it!”He looked at me with that familiar intensity. “You’re my wife. Of course I’d be here.”I caught the look of utter disbelief on Jordan and Naomi’s faces, and I had to fight the urge to smirk. Adrian’s gaze shifted to them, his expression hardening.“No one bullies my wife,” he said, his tone dripping with warning. He glanced at Jordan and gave a slight, knowing smile. “Or have you already forgotten what happened last time you tried to disrespect me?”Jordan visibly stiffened, his face losing any last hint of bravado. He gave a quick, fearful nod, then grabbed Naomi’s arm, yanking her away without another word.Once they were gone, I turned to Adrian. “Thanks… but I had it under c
As we pulled up to the Knight estate, the entrance glowed warmly in the evening light. Adrian’s driver helped him back into his wheelchair, and I followed closely as we headed inside. Once we entered, a maid greeted us and led us to the dining room, where an impressive spread awaited us—dishes beautifully arranged on delicate plates. My stomach grumbled at the sight.We took our seats, and my eyes immediately landed on a bowl of risotto. “Oh my gosh, risotto! That’s my favorite!”Adrian gave me a soft smile. “I know.”I looked at him, stunned. “Wait—how did you know that?”He glanced away, as if it were no big deal. “I might have done a little digging. You’ve had a rough day, and I thought something familiar might cheer you up a bit.”The gesture was unexpected, and a warmth crept up my cheeks. “Thank you,” I murmured, genuinely touched.As we ate, Adrian mentioned, “Oh, by the way, I’ll be resuming work tomorrow.”“That’s great!” I said, smiling.“Yeah, finally getting back into the
Before I could even reach for it, Harper snatched up the black card from the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief as she examined it. "How on earth did you get this?" she demanded, her tone dripping with suspicion. "Only five people in the city have access to a card like this."I frowned, irritation flaring up at her audacity. She really thought she had the right to judge me? I snatched the card back, slipping it securely into my bag. "I'm holding it for a friend," I replied coolly, not bothering to explain further. "And now, if you don’t mind, I have work to attend to."I didn’t wait for her response. Wrapping an arm around Sophia, I steered us both away from Harper, who was still gaping in shock. Once we were out of earshot, Sophia let out a stifled giggle, and I couldn’t help but join in, the absurdity of Harper’s reaction giving us both a good laugh."Can you believe her face?" Sophia whispered, still snickering. "But hey, since you’re married to the Adrian Knight, you should total
Adrian looked taken aback, then let out a low chuckle. “Me? Really?” He smirked, clearly amused. “Well, that’s an ego booster.”I laughed, feeling the tension ease a little. “Yeah, don’t let it go to your head. She’s just… let’s say, a bit over the top.”“Well, if it’s that unbearable, why not just quit?” he asked, giving me a thoughtful look.I shook my head, smiling. “It’s not my job—I hate Harper, not my Job. Plus, Sophia works there too. She makes things bearable, so quitting isn’t really on my radar.”He leaned back, crossing his arms, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “Still, it’s not like you need to work. The Knights are… well, let’s just say we’re pretty comfortable financially. And when this marriage ends, you’ll get a hefty severance package.”I paused, surprised by his honesty. “That’s… really thoughtful of you,” I replied softly.His words about the divorce stung a little more than I’d expected, though I tried to shake it off. I forced a small smile, saying, “Thanks, but
I arrived in the new city just as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the skyline with shades of orange and purple. Everything about this place felt unfamiliar, which was exactly what I needed—a fresh start. I had nothing but a suitcase, a dwindling bank account, and a fierce determination to protect the life growing inside me. The chaos I’d left behind was like a dark shadow, but here, I was resolved to step into the light.The first few weeks were tough. I took on odd jobs—waitressing during the day and helping out at a small bookstore in the evenings. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest work, and it gave me a sense of stability, however fragile. I found a small studio apartment on the edge of the city, barely big enough to turn around in, but it was mine. At night, I’d sit by the window, staring out at the city lights, trying to imagine the kind of life I wanted to build for my child and me.One evening, as I walked home from the bookstore, a strange sensation crept over
I sat on the hard bench at the nearly deserted train station, clutching my ticket like it was my lifeline. The soft hum of the city faded into the background as the occasional train announcement echoed through the terminal. I could hear the distant rumble of an approaching train, but the sound did nothing to ease my nerves. My heart raced with anticipation, fear, and an overwhelming sense of finality. This was it—the moment I was finally breaking free.Sophia had wanted to come with me, but I’d insisted on doing this alone. I needed to prove to myself that I could. My suitcase sat at my feet, a silent witness to the chaos of the past few days. I tried to focus on the end goal—a new city, a new life, a clean slate—but the knot in my stomach refused to loosen.I glanced at my phone. No new messages. I had turned off location sharing and left no clues about where I was going. I thought I’d done everything right to ensure a clean break, but the feeling of being watched lingered, a persist
I stood in the middle of Sophia’s living room, staring at the suitcase that held what little I was taking with me. It didn’t feel real yet. Everything I owned—everything that tied me to this city, to my past—was reduced to a single piece of luggage. Sophia was in the kitchen, finishing a phone call, likely confirming arrangements for my flight. My heart pounded as I tried to ignore the growing sense of unease.This was the right decision. I had to remind myself of that. Staying here meant constant battles with Adrian and James. Neither of them could accept my boundaries, and the tension between them had become unbearable. I needed to leave—not just for my own sanity, but for the sake of my unborn child.Sophia re-entered the room, her expression calm but serious. "Everything’s set. Your flight leaves at 8 a.m. tomorrow. We’ll head to the airport early, just in case."I nodded, sitting down on the couch. "Thank you, Sophia. For everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.
The apartment felt eerily quiet after Adrian and James left. For the first time in days, I allowed myself to sit still, letting the tension ease from my shoulders. Sophia handed me a cup of tea, her expression calm but concerned."You know they’ll be back," she said after a long moment, breaking the silence.I nodded, staring down at the steam rising from the cup. "I know. And that’s why I need to leave."Sophia’s brow furrowed. "Are you sure about this, Lana? Running away might not solve everything. You’ve built something here—your career, your independence. Do you really want to give that up?"I set the cup down and leaned back against the couch, closing my eyes. "I don’t want to, but what choice do I have? Adrian won’t stop until he gets answers about the baby, and James... he’s just complicating things even more. I need space—real space—to figure out what’s best for me and the baby."Sophia sighed, her hands resting on her lap. "If you’re sure, I’ll help you. But this isn’t going
The knock at the door came just minutes after Adrian had left. I was still trying to catch my breath, leaning against the couch as Sophia sat beside me, shaking her head in disbelief."Did he seriously just say he’s not giving up on you?" Sophia muttered. "The man doesn’t understand boundaries."I sighed. "I don’t have the energy for this, Soph. I just want to leave and never deal with him again."Before she could reply, the knock came again, more insistent this time. Sophia stood, her brow furrowed in irritation. "If that’s Adrian again, I’m calling the police."She swung the door open, ready to unleash her frustration, but her words caught in her throat. Instead of Adrian, James stood there, his face a mix of anger and concern."Where is he?" James demanded, stepping past Sophia without an invitation."Excuse me?" Sophia snapped, trying to block his way. "What makes you think you can just barge in here?""Adrian," James said curtly, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me
The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on me like a suffocating fog. My mind was still racing from Adrian’s sudden appearance at Sophia’s apartment door the night before. I hadn’t slept; every time I closed my eyes, I imagined him barging into my life again, refusing to let me go.As I sat on the couch with a warm mug of tea that Sophia had made for me, I tried to push the memories of Adrian’s voice out of my head. Yet, deep down, I knew Adrian wouldn’t give up so easily. He wasn’t the type to walk away, especially now that he thought he had something to fight for. The thought made me shiver.Sophia plopped down next to me, her own cup in hand. “You look exhausted. Did you even get any sleep?”I shook my head, staring into the amber liquid. “How could I? Every time I start to think I’m getting my life together, Adrian shows up and turns everything upside down. And now he knows... about the baby.”Sophia gave me a sympathetic look. “He’s not going to stop, you know. Yo
I left the hospital against medical advice, my mind spinning with the weight of what had just happened. I couldn’t face Adrian or James again, not now, not with everything so raw and chaotic. Wrapping my coat tighter around me, I hailed a cab, giving Sophia’s address to the driver. She was the only person I trusted to help me think clearly.By the time I arrived at her apartment, my hands were trembling. I knocked frantically, praying she was home. Moments later, Sophia opened the door, her expression shifting from surprise to concern the moment she saw me.“Lana? What are you doing here? You should be resting—weren’t you in the hospital?” she asked, stepping aside to let me in.I walked past her into the living room, dropping onto her couch. “I couldn’t stay there. Adrian was hovering, and James... they both know, Sophia. They know I’m pregnant.”Her eyes widened as she slowly closed the door. “Wait, what? How did they find out?”“The doctor came in while they were arguing. He just..
The sound of the door clicking shut was the last thing I remembered before the world faded into darkness. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital room. The sterile white walls, the faint hum of medical machines, and the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor made it clear where I was. I blinked a few times, trying to process what had happened.Then I saw Adrian. He sat by my bedside, his hands buried in his hair, looking more disheveled than I’d ever seen him. The sight of him stirred a mix of emotions I wasn’t ready to confront—anger, sadness, and, annoyingly, a flicker of concern."Adrian?" My voice came out raspy, barely audible.His head shot up, relief flooding his features. "Lana. You’re awake."I tried to sit up, but a sharp ache in my head stopped me. Adrian was by my side in an instant, gently pressing a hand to my shoulder to keep me still."Don’t move too much," he said softly. "You fainted at the gala. You’ve been out for hours."I stared at him, trying to gather m
As my eyes fluttered open, the stark white ceiling came into view, and the steady beep of monitors filled my ears. My body felt heavy, as though I’d been dragged through a storm. I blinked slowly, my gaze shifting to the figure slumped in a chair beside my bed. Adrian.His disheveled appearance told me he hadn’t left my side, and the guilt etched across his face was impossible to miss. When he realized I was awake, he sat upright, his eyes searching mine."Lana," he breathed, relief evident in his tone. "You’re awake. Thank God."I shifted slightly, wincing at the dull ache in my body. "What happened?""You collapsed," he said softly. "At the gala. I... I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t just leave you there."The memory of the evening came rushing back, and with it, a flood of emotions. The stress, his persistence, the way my body had finally given in.Before I could respond, the door burst open, and James stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury. He didn’t waste a second."What the