I went on, wilder than before. Perhaps it was because I liked that enjoying it or because I felt like I was marking my territory and letting Adrian know that he couldn't get think kind of treatment anywhere else.When I finally stepped out of the room, the day has surprisingly wrapped and I was somewhat feeling all sweet about how long we were inside and what were doing.I waltz downstairs with a smile tugging on my lips. Deciding to cook dinner tonight. Since I came here, I hadn't done anything like that. I choose pasta and pulled up several vegetables and seasonings the sauce. Halfway through, the aroma was already enveloping the entire kitchen.When the entire house had sat for dinner, everyone was surprised that I would be serving it as chef. Adrian was eager to taste it while the others started at me like I was dishing out body parts.Adrian commented immediately he took a bit.“What other secrets have you got, woman.”I poured him a glass of wine. “If I tell you, I will spoil t
I stormed out of the hospital. My Face flush red in anger and tears threatening to fall out. Adrian and I had neve had that sort of argument before. He looked pretty upset. I was mad at myself for losing it the way I did. Well, I guess Clara can thank her heavens because I just ruined things myself. I puffed, pacing all the way to the car park. It was then I remembered that I hadn't come with my car and Evelyn was with the car. Exhaustion washed over me, my body resting on a car behind me. ‘Great. Just great.’ I thought of about going upstairs but then, the atmosphere must have gone all warm and homely when I left. I would be a fool to go in and ruin it. I sucked in a breath and exhaled. This was so not my week. Ever since that girl showed up, all the tides had turned against me and Evelyn went from nice to hostile in just days. I puffed, shutting my eyes for a moment.Suddenly, a car horn blared at me. I jumped, grabbing my chest In shock.“Get off my car.” Some one yelled.I tur
He offered to stay with me while I felt the need to hang around outside but I politely turned him down. He gave me a police bow and strode off. I let out a deep exhaled. Adrian use to be that much of a gentleman.I looked at the hospital entrance. A surge of energy suddenly coursed through me. A desire to return inside and show them I wasn't backing down. I hurried back in, and straight for Clara's ward. Halfway through, I stumbled on Evelyn. Adrian was right behind her, Clara in his arms. She snuggled in nicely, her face buried in his chest.I stepped aside for Evelyn and followed Adrian behind. It was like a spell of silence was cast on everyone because of me. I chose to hold the peace until Clara was lain in her room and Adrian and I were finally alone.“Ad-”“I am tired. Whatever you have to say, I will hear it in the morning.”He slipped out of his shirt.“I'm sorry.”He paused. There was this uneasy quiet that followed, Just out breathing could be heard.Adrian turned to me, th
“Hey love Bird, I know you are busy playing Body-shop games with your man, but remember he is not the only job you have.” she used her teacher tone on me.“I know.” I replied, dabbing away the sweat on my forehead.“You can suck there but not in this job.”“Sophia.” I bumped her shoulder. She chuckled mischievously.“Now, manager Hilton will address you all.” Harper voice echoed through the speakers. We both looked her way. Sophia whispered. “Body-hug on a hag. I wonder who gave her fashion advice.” We both shuddered in disgust and busied ourselves with complementing and downgrading choice of outfits. When we were done, we realized that many had come a little too well dressed for survey today. Something was going on. Something we didn't know.“Hey Sophia.” I tugged on her sleeve.“Yes.” She pulled her attention from the bodyguard the Manager came with.“I gotta pee. I will back soon.” I said, sitting up.Sophia’s eyes looked me form head to toe.“Did you go for Botox surgery?” She
I couldn’t believe what was happening. My fists were clenched as I faced my mother. “Why are you doing this, Mother? Why are you trying to destroy my marriage?” My voice was steady, but the anger bubbling beneath was hard to contain.Evelyn sat calmly, her gaze icy. “Destroy your marriage?” she repeated mockingly. “Adrian, this isn’t a marriage. It’s a business arrangement. You’re the one forgetting that.”I felt my jaw tighten. “I haven’t forgotten anything. You were the one who insisted I marry Lana. And now you want me to throw her away like she’s nothing?”“Yes!” Evelyn snapped, standing. “Because I never intended for her to stay! She served her purpose, and now you can move on. Clara is who you belong with.”Clara was sitting off to the side, her arms crossed, watching with a satisfied smirk. That only made my blood boil more. “Clara? Clara has no place here. I want her out of this house!” I pointed toward the door. “And for the last time, I’m not divorcing Lana!”Evelyn’s face h
I sat across from Sophia in the small break room, my hands gripping a cup of lukewarm coffee. My thoughts were all over the place, the events of the morning replaying in my mind on an endless loop. Evelyn’s words, Clara’s smug smile, Adrian’s silence—everything felt like a knife twisting in my chest.“So, what happened?” Sophia asked, leaning forward, her face full of concern.I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Evelyn wants Adrian to divorce me,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “She even said Clara should stay in the house with us.”Sophia’s jaw dropped. “What?” Her voice rose, and I flinched. “That woman has some nerve! And Clara? Don’t even get me started on her.” She crossed her arms, fuming. “If I were there, I’d have dragged her out of that house by her hair.”Despite everything, I managed a small smile. “Thanks, Sophia. But it’s not that simple.”“Why not?” she demanded. “Lana, you’re his wife. You have every right to fight for your place in that ho
Adrian’s words hit me like a truck. I stared at him, disbelief written all over my face. “Divorce?” I managed to choke out. “Why?”He crossed his arms, his expression cold and unreadable. “Because this marriage was a mistake,” he said flatly. “We should never have been together.”I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. “What are you talking about? We’ve been through so much. Why are you saying this now?”“I don’t love you, Lana,” he said, his tone sharp and emotionless. “I never did. I only went along with this because my mother arranged it while I was in a coma. And let’s not forget, we needed an heir.”I staggered back, my heart pounding. “You’re saying you used me?”Adrian’s gaze didn’t falter. “It’s not about that. Now that I’m awake and healthy, there’s no need for this charade. I can have a child with someone I actually care about.”“Is it because of Clara?” I whispered, tears streaming down my face.He didn’t answer.“Adrian,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “I
Adrian stormed out of the guest room where Clara had been lurking, his chest heaving as his thoughts spiraled. The moment Lana’s tear-streaked face flashed in his mind, his fist slammed into the nearest wall with enough force to send a jarring pain up his arm. He barely noticed it. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache gnawing at his heart.“What have I done?” he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with regret. Every word he had hurled at Lana replayed in his head like a cruel echo. Her hurt, her tears—it was all his doing.Clara approached him cautiously, her expression soft and calculated. She placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to soothe him. “Adrian, don’t do this to yourself,” she said sweetly.Her touch ignited a fire in him, but not the kind she wanted. Adrian shrugged her hand off with a venomous glare. “Don’t you dare,” he snapped. “Don’t you even think for a second that I’m doing this for you. I’ll never be with you, Clara.”Clara blinked, startled by h
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