The night had gone smoothly, and soon enough, we found ourselves back at the house. We settled in the kitchen, chatting softly, the comfortable silence of the late hour wrapping around us. I watched as Adrian’s face softened, his usual guarded expression slipping just a little. He seemed more relaxed tonight, almost like the weight he usually carried had eased, even if only for a moment.I glanced at him with a grateful smile. “Thanks again for the dinner. I really had a wonderful time.”He smiled back, a faint glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He shifted slightly, looking down at his legs, and something about his expression changed, becoming more thoughtful, almost distant.I watched him in silence, noticing the way his gaze lingered on his legs, as if he were lost in thought. Then, almost as if he hadn’t planned to say it out loud, he murmured, “I’ve started to feel some sensation in my legs.”I blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Wait… serio
With a quiet determination, I helped Adrian back to his room, wheeling him carefully down the hall. Once there, I steadied him as he transferred to the bed, mindful of his still-tense expression. He leaned back, avoiding my gaze for a moment, then sighed.“Listen, I’m… sorry,” he murmured, a faint hint of frustration still lingering in his tone. “I lost my temper out there. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”I nodded, offering a small smile. “It’s okay, Adrian. I can’t imagine how tough this is for you.”He seemed relieved, the tension in his face softening a little. I pulled the bedsheet over him, making sure he was comfortable before stepping back. “Goodnight,” I whispered.He looked up, his eyes warm but weary. “Goodnight.”I returned to my room, already feeling the weight of the day pulling at me. I slipped into my pajamas and was just about to get into bed when my phone rang, the sudden sound piercing the quiet night. Glancing at the screen, I saw an unknown number flashing. Hesitati
Arriving at the cafe Mr. White had designated for our meeting, I took a deep breath, steadying myself before stepping inside. He was already seated near the window, his expression unreadable, though he looked slightly worn around the edges—perhaps a result of the years spent handling my family’s affairs and, most recently, the stresses brought on by my father’s deteriorating business.As I approached, he looked up, recognizing me with a familiar nod. I hadn’t seen him in some time, but he’d been around the family often during my father’s healthier days.“Hello, Mr. White,” I greeted him, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nervousness churning in my stomach.He stood and reached out to shake my hand, greeting me with my maiden name out of habit.“Good to see you again, Ms. Collins.”A small smile broke across my face, and I gently corrected him. “Actually, I’m a Knight now.”His face softened, his smile acknowledging the reminder. “Yes, of course. I suppose Vivian filled me in
I arrived at work, still shaken from the morning’s meeting with Mr. White. Just as I stepped inside, I spotted Harper leaning against my desk, her arms crossed, lips pursed, and that trademark scowl already in place."Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," she sneered. "The Queen of the office."I swallowed hard and forced myself to apologize. "I’m really sorry, Harper. Traffic was—""Save it," she cut me off, her tone icy. "I’ve heard that same excuse too many times."I barely had a chance to respond before she continued, clearly on a roll. "You need to straighten up if you want to keep your job around here."I nodded, biting back another apology. It was common knowledge that if I wasn’t the best editor she had, she’d have fired me ages ago. But still, she didn’t make things easy."I'm serious," she continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "You’re going to have to prove your worth if you want to stay."I braced myself and asked, "How?"She folded her arms t
Sophia’s eyes blazed as she rolled up her sleeves, stepping toward the clerk with a scathing look. “Excuse me?” she spat, her voice low but dangerous. “How dare you talk to us like that—with that cheap perfume wafting off you? You really think you’re something here?”I reached out, putting a hand on her arm to try and diffuse the tension. “Sophia, let’s not—she didn’t mean it like that.”The clerk crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, not backing down an inch. “Oh, I meant every word,” she said with a smirk. “You clearly don’t belong here. So, maybe you should take your little… daydream of ‘fancy’ elsewhere.”My patience snapped. I straightened up, matching her cold stare. “And what exactly makes you think we can’t afford anything in this store?”She gave a dismissive laugh, looking us up and down with a haughty smirk. “Please. You two look like you’d max out a credit card just trying to buy one accessory here.”Sophia scoffed, completely outraged, her fists clenched at her sides. “
After finally selecting three dresses, Sophia and I made our way to the changing rooms with arms full. The first one I tried on was a deep red satin gown that clung in all the right places and flowed gracefully as I moved. The moment I slipped into it, I knew it was something special. It hugged my curves and shimmered under the boutique lights, catching Sophia's eye immediately.She let out a low whistle. "Girl, that dress was made for you. I swear Adrian’s jaw will drop when he sees you in that."I glanced in the mirror, struck by how the fabric seemed to make my skin glow. “You really think so?” I asked, striking a little pose with a laugh.“Absolutely. Trust me, the man’s not going to know what hit him,” Sophia said, nudging me with a grin.Feeling encouraged, I tried on the second dress—this one an elegant emerald green with a subtle slit up the side and a flattering neckline. I stepped out of the dressing room, and Sophia’s jaw actually dropped this time.“Okay, that’s it,” she d
I couldn’t help but wonder what Adrian might be thinking as he gave me that mischievous look, his eyes glinting with amusement. He leaned back, arms crossed, and asked again, “So, what exactly are you planning to offer me?”I laughed nervously, feeling a mixture of playful excitement and curiosity in his gaze. “What do you want, Adrian?” I asked, trying to gauge what he was hinting at. “You’re already one of the wealthiest men in the city. What could I possibly give you that would actually please you?”He shrugged, his smirk widening as though he knew exactly how to keep me on edge. “That's for you to figure out,” he replied smoothly, his tone carrying that ever-present teasing quality. “But you’ve still got some time before the event. Surprise me.”I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes with a smirk of my own. “How about… a lap dance and a kiss?” I teased, raising an eyebrow as I watched his reaction carefully.He chuckled, a deep, rich laugh that was both amused and challenging. “Is t
Gregory chuckled, his eyes glinting with a hint of malice. “No need to rush,” he said smoothly. “Knight Enterprises is in… good hands.” His gaze slid over to Jordan, who was standing nearby, smugly adjusting his cufflinks, as if he were already in Adrian’s shoes.Gregory’s attention snapped back to Adrian. “By the way, Adrian, don’t you think the wheelchair might… attract attention? What would people say if, let’s say, a bolt came loose?” His smile widened, clearly enjoying his attempt to undermine Adrian’s confidence.I clenched my fists, anger simmering. Adrian’s grip on the armrest tightened, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed firmly on Gregory. I couldn’t let him stand there and take it.“You know, Gregory,” I said, stepping forward, my voice steady, “maybe you should be more concerned about your son’s actions than Adrian’s wheelchair.”Gregory’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. “And who exactly are you to speak to me like that?” he sneered.I met his g
Adrian’s refusal to marry Clara sparked a storm in the mansion. His words cut through the air like a sharp blade, leaving a stunned silence behind him. Vivian’s face was pale with disbelief at first, but that quickly turned to anger. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Adrian, her son, her carefully groomed heir, had just publicly rejected the one thing she had worked so hard for—the marriage to the Sebastians.Vivian’s voice broke the silence, her fury barely contained. “You’ve lost your mind, Adrian. This marriage is not just a suggestion, it’s a necessity. It’s what will secure your future, your position. It’s what will secure our future.”Adrian stood firm, his jaw clenched, every muscle in his body tense with defiance. “This isn’t about securing futures, Mother. It’s about me living my own life, not being controlled by you or anyone else. You’ve always put your plans for wealth and status before anything else, but I’m done with that. I’m not marrying Clara for your ambitio
After days of going back and forth in my mind, I finally made the decision—I was keeping the baby. It wasn’t an easy choice, but something inside me told me it was the right one. I couldn’t bring myself to think of any other option, even if it meant facing everything alone. If Adrian wasn’t going to be part of this, I had to find a way to move forward without him.The first thing I did was research. I spent hours on my phone, looking up information about pregnancy, prenatal care, and what I’d need to prepare for the months ahead. It was overwhelming at first, reading about all the changes I’d go through and everything I’d need to take care of. But I couldn’t let fear stop me. I had to be strong, not just for me but for the baby too.When I felt like I couldn’t make sense of it all, I decided to go back to the clinic. The nurse from my last visit, Maria, was there again. She greeted me with the same kind smile.“Lana, good to see you again. How are you feeling?”“I’ve made a decision,”
The Sebastian family arrived in Eldenburgh in grand style, their convoy of sleek cars drawing the attention of everyone they passed. The town buzzed with excitement as the prominent family made their entrance. At the gates of Vivian’s estate, a red carpet had been rolled out, and a group of photographers eagerly awaited their arrival. Vivian had spared no expense to make sure this occasion would leave an impression.Vivian stood at the entrance, her smile wide and welcoming, as the Sebastians stepped out of their cars. Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian, an imposing couple with a commanding presence, led the group. Clara was at Vivian’s side, dressed to perfection in a pale blue gown that complemented her soft features. Vivian introduced her warmly."Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian, this is Clara," Vivian said, gesturing toward the young woman. "She and Adrian make a perfect pair, don't you think?"Mrs. Sebastian gave Clara a once-over, her approving smile subtle but evident. "She’s lovely," she said, tur
Lana's POVThe news weighed on me like a storm cloud I couldn’t escape. Pregnant. No matter how many times I repeated it in my head, it still felt surreal. I couldn’t figure out what scared me more—the thought of becoming a mother or the uncertainty of Adrian’s reaction if he found out. Would he feel trapped? Angry? Or worse, indifferent?I wanted to talk to someone, anyone, but every time I thought about it, my chest tightened. Sophia was the obvious choice. She was my closest friend and had been there for me through so much. But this wasn’t something I could just drop on her. I could already imagine her look of shock, the questions she’d ask, the advice she’d try to give. I wasn’t ready for that—not yet.Sitting in my apartment wasn’t helping. The walls felt like they were closing in, and my thoughts were spiraling out of control. I grabbed my coat, deciding I needed air, something to clear my head. The park nearby was always my escape. It wasn’t much—a couple of benches, a small fo
Vivian was determined to move things along. She decided that a grand dinner to officially welcome the Sebastians to the city would be the perfect opportunity to push Adrian and Clara’s engagement forward. The invitations were sent out, the venue lavishly prepared, and the guest list meticulously crafted to include people who mattered. Everything was set to impress the Sebastians and pressure Adrian into compliance.Clara arrived early to help Vivian with the final arrangements. As they worked, Clara sighed, her frustration evident. "He barely talks to me anymore," she said, her voice low. "It's like he’s avoiding me on purpose."Vivian gave her a sympathetic look. "Men can be stubborn, especially Adrian. But don’t worry, my dear. We’ll figure this out."Clara hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I’ve tried everything—being patient, being kind, even giving him space—but nothing works. I’m starting to think he’ll never come around."Vivian’s expression hardened. "Adrian needs
I had been feeling off for a while, but it wasn’t until recently that the dizziness became impossible to ignore. It started out as a faint light-headedness, but today it hit me like a freight train, leaving me unsteady on my feet. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, so I finally decided to visit a clinic. The doctor seemed concerned but reassured me that it could be something minor. They would run a few tests just to be sure.Sitting in the sterile examination room, I tried to push the swirling thoughts in my head to the back of my mind. The sterile smell of the clinic only made the anxiety in my chest grow. I distracted myself with the buzzing of the fluorescent lights, but even that couldn’t calm my racing thoughts. The doctor had said it would take a few minutes, but each second felt like an eternity.Finally, the door opened, and the doctor stepped in with a clipboard in hand. He looked at me with a serious expression. “Lana, the tests have come back. I’m afraid
The news spread like wildfire through the Knights' household: the Sebastian family was arriving from Eldenburgh. The wealthy family from the prosperous city was well-known for their influence and power. Vivian Knight could hardly contain her excitement. For her, this was an opportunity too important to pass up. The Sebastians represented everything the Knights could aspire to—status, wealth, and an alliance that would cement their place at the top of the social ladder. And the best way to secure that alliance, in her mind, was a marriage between Adrian and Clara.Vivian paced around the living room, the soft tapping of her heels echoing as she made her plans. The Sebastians' arrival couldn’t have come at a better time. Adrian’s stubbornness was one obstacle, but if he could be persuaded to marry Clara, everything would fall into place. She was certain of it. Adrian was her son, after all, and she knew him better than anyone. His reluctance to accept what was best for the family was fr
At the Knights' mansion, the air was tense as Clara sat in her room, fuming over her latest encounter with Adrian. Despite her best efforts—her carefully chosen words, the way she presented herself—he had dismissed her again. His outright rejection stung, but it only strengthened her resolve. Clara had always been told that persistence was key, and she wasn’t about to let Adrian slip away. Not when everything was so close to falling into place.Meanwhile, Adrian sat in his study, trying to bury himself in work. The relentless interruptions from Clara were testing his patience. Every time he turned around, she was there, trying to force her way into his life. He knew why she was doing it—her family’s influence, his mother’s manipulations—but he couldn’t stand the thought of being trapped in a loveless marriage. His mind wandered to Lana, the only woman who had ever truly captured his heart.The door to his study creaked open, and without even looking up, Adrian sighed. “What is it now,
Lana's POV I woke up to the same dull ache in my head and an unsettling heaviness in my chest. Every part of my body felt sluggish, like I hadn’t rested at all. Sitting up was an effort; the moment I moved, the room spun slightly, and I had to close my eyes to steady myself. It had been three days since I broke things off with Adrian, but the pain still felt fresh. No matter how much I tried to push it away, it lingered like a shadow.“Lana, are you up?” Sophia’s voice carried from the kitchen.“Yeah,” I called back, trying to sound normal. My voice betrayed me, coming out weaker than I intended.Sophia stepped into the room moments later, holding a steaming cup of tea. She paused when she saw me. Her brows furrowed as she scanned me from head to toe. “You don’t look so good,” she said bluntly, placing the cup on the table.“I’m fine,” I lied, avoiding her gaze. “Probably just tired.”Sophia crossed her arms, unimpressed. “You’ve been ‘tired’ for days. What’s really going on? Are you