I stared at the divorce papers on the table, the words blurring as tears pooled in my eyes. My hand trembled as I held the pen, my mind screaming for me to stop, to question Adrian one last time. But I knew it wouldnât matter. His cold, detached expression was all the answer Iâd ever get.âSign it,â Adrian said, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.I searched his face for somethingâanythingâthat would tell me this was a cruel joke. But he avoided my gaze, his eyes fixed on the floor. That small, cowardly act only broke me further. I clutched the pen tighter, my nails digging into my palm as I forced myself to write my name. Each stroke felt like a dagger slicing through my soul.Clara laughed, the sound grating on my already raw nerves. âFinally,â she sneered. âNow you can stop pretending youâre something youâre not, Lana. The pity act was getting old.âI wanted to scream at her, to claw at that smug smile on her face, but the words wouldnât come. My throat burne
When Sophia opened the door, her face was a mixture of shock and confusion. I could barely hold myself upright as I stepped inside, dragging my suitcase behind me. The warm, familiar scent of her homeâlavender and fresh laundryâwashed over me, but it brought no comfort. My chest felt like it had been hollowed out, leaving only the sharp edges of pain and despair.âLana!â Sophia exclaimed, quickly closing the door behind me. âWhatâs going on? You lookâoh my God, youâre crying. What happened? Iâve been trying to call you all day after you left the office. Are you okay?âI tried to speak, but no words came. My throat was tight, and my heart felt too heavy to carry. Instead, I shook my head and sank onto her couch, burying my face in my hands. The tears that Iâd been holding back burst free, and I sobbed uncontrollably, my shoulders shaking with the force of it.âLanaâŚâ Sophia sat beside me, placing a comforting hand on my back. Her voice was soft, filled with concern. âYouâre scaring me.
Adrian paced the living room, his face a storm of fury. Every step echoed through the spacious house, his frustration palpable. His mother, Evelyn, sat on the couch, her expression calm but tinged with concern. She watched him, her hands clasped neatly in her lap."Adrian, please, try to understand," Evelyn began, her voice soft, almost pleading."Understand what, Mother?" Adrian snapped, turning to face her. His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a whip. "That you donât care about me? That my happiness means nothing to you as long as you get what you want?"Evelyn flinched slightly at his tone but maintained her composure. "Youâre overreacting," she said gently. "This arrangement is for your benefit tooâ""For my benefit?" Adrian interrupted, his anger boiling over. "Don't insult me by pretending this is about me! It's about you and the benefits youâll gain from Claraâs family. Thatâs all you care about!"Evelyn sighed, her patience visibly thinning. "Adrian, youâre my so
Adrian wandered the dimly lit streets, his mind churning with thoughts of Lana. Her absence gnawed at him, leaving a hollow ache in his chest. Every unanswered call only deepened his worry. The phone rang again, but once more, it went straight to voicemail. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as he glanced at the time. It was late, and the cityâs usual hum had quieted to a faint murmur.âWhere could she be?â he muttered to himself. The last time he had tracked her, sheâd been at a bar. The memory sent a jolt of urgency through him. Without a second thought, he hailed a cab and directed the driver to the same bar, his heart pounding in anticipation.When he arrived, the bar was buzzing with late-night patrons, laughter and music spilling into the street. Adrian pushed through the crowd, scanning every face. His eyes searched for Lanaâs familiar features, but she was nowhere to be found.âExcuse me,â he called to the bartender. âHave you seen a woman? Sheâs about this tall, with dark hai
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 hadnât 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.âLana, are you up?â Sophiaâs voice carried from the kitchen.âYeah,â 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. âYou donât look so good,â she said bluntly, placing the cup on the table.âIâm fine,â I lied, avoiding her gaze. âProbably just tired.âSophia crossed her arms, unimpressed. âYouâve been âtiredâ for days. Whatâs really going on? Are you
At the Knights' mansion, the air was tense as Clara sat in her room, fuming over her latest encounter with Adrian. Despite her best effortsâher carefully chosen words, the way she presented herselfâhe 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 wasnât 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 itâher familyâs influence, his motherâs manipulationsâbut he couldnât 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. âWhat is it now,
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 toâstatus, 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 couldnât have come at a better time. Adrianâs 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
I had been feeling off for a while, but it wasnât 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 couldnât 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 couldnât 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. âLana, the tests have come back. Iâm afraid
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 neededâa 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 Iâd 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 jobsâwaitressing during the day and helping out at a small bookstore in the evenings. It wasnât 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, Iâd 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 itâthe moment I was finally breaking free.Sophia had wanted to come with me, but Iâd 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 goalâa new city, a new life, a clean slateâbut 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 Iâd done everything right to ensure a clean break, but the feeling of being watched lingered, a persist
I stood in the middle of Sophiaâs living room, staring at the suitcase that held what little I was taking with me. It didnât feel real yet. Everything I ownedâeverything that tied me to this city, to my pastâwas 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 leaveânot just for my own sanity, but for the sake of my unborn child.Sophia re-entered the room, her expression calm but serious. "Everythingâs set. Your flight leaves at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Weâll head to the airport early, just in case."I nodded, sitting down on the couch. "Thank you, Sophia. For everything. I donât know what I wouldâve 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 theyâll 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 thatâs why I need to leave."Sophiaâs brow furrowed. "Are you sure about this, Lana? Running away might not solve everything. Youâve built something hereâyour 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 donât want to, but what choice do I have? Adrian wonât stop until he gets answers about the baby, and James... heâs just complicating things even more. I need spaceâreal spaceâto figure out whatâs best for me and the baby."Sophia sighed, her hands resting on her lap. "If youâre sure, Iâll help you. But this isnât 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 heâs not giving up on you?" Sophia muttered. "The man doesnât understand boundaries."I sighed. "I donât 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 thatâs Adrian again, Iâm 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 Adrianâs sudden appearance at Sophiaâs apartment door the night before. I hadnât 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 Adrianâs voice out of my head. Yet, deep down, I knew Adrian wouldnât give up so easily. He wasnât 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. âYou look exhausted. Did you even get any sleep?âI shook my head, staring into the amber liquid. âHow could I? Every time I start to think Iâm getting my life together, Adrian shows up and turns everything upside down. And now he knows... about the baby.âSophia gave me a sympathetic look. âHeâs 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 couldnât 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 Sophiaâs 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.âLana? What are you doing here? You should be restingâwerenât you in the hospital?â she asked, stepping aside to let me in.I walked past her into the living room, dropping onto her couch. âI couldnât stay there. Adrian was hovering, and James... they both know, Sophia. They know Iâm pregnant.âHer eyes widened as she slowly closed the door. âWait, what? How did they find out?ââThe 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 Iâd ever seen him. The sight of him stirred a mix of emotions I wasnât ready to confrontâanger, sadness, and, annoyingly, a flicker of concern."Adrian?" My voice came out raspy, barely audible.His head shot up, relief flooding his features. "Lana. Youâre 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."Donât move too much," he said softly. "You fainted at the gala. Youâve 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 Iâd 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 hadnât 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. "Youâre 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 didnât know what to do. I couldnât 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 didnât waste a second."What the