Lana's POV The following evening, I sat on the couch with Sophia, sipping tea and trying to forget about Adrian. The television played quietly in the background, but neither of us was paying attention. Sophia was scrolling through her phone, occasionally chuckling at some post, while I was lost in thought. The past few days had been emotionally draining, and I craved some sense of normalcy.Then my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen to see an unfamiliar number flash across it. My stomach flippedâthis wasnât entirely unexpected. I answered cautiously, "Hello?"âLana,â the smooth and confident voice of James Connelly greeted me, instantly recognizable despite the time that had passed since our last conversation. âI hope Iâm not interrupting.ââOh, not at all,â I replied, sitting up straighter. âWhat can I do for you?ââI wanted to invite you to another meeting,â he said, his tone friendly but professional. âI have some ideas about additional business opportunities that might interes
Adrian sat stiffly at the Knights' long dining table, the air around him thick with forced cheerfulness. His mother, Vivian, had orchestrated this gathering with meticulous precision, determined to ensure that Adrian attended. Around the table, the Sebastian family mingled with Vivian and other influential figures, their conversations laced with undertones of business and alliances. Adrian, however, barely touched his food, his mind elsewhere.âAdrian, dear,â Vivianâs voice broke through his thoughts. She placed her glass of wine down, her tone pointed but measured, a clear warning beneath her polished demeanor. âWe need to discuss your future. Iâve spoken with Claraâs parents, and we all agree this partnership is idealâfor both families.âAdrian sighed audibly, setting his fork down with deliberate slowness. âMother, weâve been through this already. Iâm not interested in Clara, and I never will be.âThe room quieted, the murmurs of nearby conversations pausing as a few heads turned t
The envelope sat on my desk like a challenge I wasnât ready to face. Inside was an invitationâformal, pristine, and heavy with expectation. James Connelly had invited me to a prestigious business event as his guest. For most people, this would have been exciting, even flattering. For me, it was a reminder of all the ways I didnât belong in that world anymore.I sat down and carefully opened the envelope again, as though looking at the elegant font one more time would make it less intimidating. It didnât. The details were all thereâlocation, time, dress code. A black-tie event, of course. The kind of event where people whispered behind your back if you wore last seasonâs gown or didnât carry yourself like you belonged. My stomach twisted at the thought of walking into that room, all eyes turning toward me. Would they recognize me as the daughter of a failed businessman? Would they see me as the woman whose marriage ended in a public mess? Or worseâwould they not see me at all, dismissi
Sophia perched on the edge of my bed, scrolling through her phone as if her life depended on it. Every now and then, sheâd glance at me, shake her head, and mutter something about how clueless I was about dressing up for a high-profile event.âLana, I love you, but this?â She gestured toward the plain navy-blue dress Iâd picked out earlier, her face scrunched in disapproval. âThis wonât do. Youâre not going to a corporate meeting. Youâre stepping into a room filled with power players. You need to own it.âI sighed, standing in front of the mirror and looking at the dress again. It wasnât terrible. It was simple, modest, and professionalâexactly what I felt comfortable in. But that wasnât enough for Sophia. She wanted bold. Glamorous. Unforgettable.âSoph, I donât need to make a grand entrance. I just need to look... presentable,â I said, trying to defend my choice.She put her phone down and stood up, crossing her arms as she stared me down. âPresentable? Lana, youâre going to this ev
The car ride to the event felt like an eternity. As James expertly navigated through the city streets, I sat in the passenger seat, fidgeting with the clasp of my clutch. My palms were clammy, and my heart hadnât stopped racing since the moment I agreed to come. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew one thing: this wasnât my usual scene.âYouâre going to be fine,â James said, glancing at me with a reassuring smile. âJust be yourself. Everyone will love you.ââEasy for you to say,â I muttered, forcing a smile. âYou do this kind of thing all the time.âHe chuckled, his confidence as effortless as always. âTrue, but that doesnât mean I donât get nervous sometimes. The trick is to fake it until you make it.âFake it until you make it. I could do thatâhopefully.When we finally pulled up to the grand estate where the event was being held, I couldnât help but gape at the sheer extravagance of it all. The sprawling mansion was lit up like a Christmas tree, its towering columns and intrica
The event was a spectacle of wealth and power, a celebration for people who thrived in a world of business deals and alliances. Adrian had attended dozens of such gatherings, but tonight felt different. He hadnât wanted to come, but Vivian, his mother, had insisted. As always, her reasoning was practicalânetworking, forging connections, strengthening the Knight family name.Adrian, however, wasnât in the mood for any of it. His thoughts were elsewhere. His encounter with Lana days ago lingered in his mind like a thorn he couldnât shake. Her words, sharp and resolute, echoed in his ears: You divorced me willingly. And then Sophiaâs interference had added another layer of frustration. He had left her apartment that day, but the need to fix things had only grown stronger since.Now here he was, standing amidst a sea of familiar faces, his body present but his mind distant. The laughter and chatter around him were muffled as if he were underwater. Vivian flitted through the room like a qu
The room was alive with the hum of conversation, laughter, and the soft clinking of glasses. As I stepped into the grand ballroom on Jamesâs arm, I felt every pair of eyes turn toward us. My nerves screamed at me to run, but Jamesâs steady presence grounded me. His confidence was infectious, and his praise earlier about how well I carried myself gave me a sliver of courage.The chandeliers above sparkled like stars, and the soft murmur of chatter around us felt almost dreamlike. I caught glimpses of curious glances and whispers, but I held my head high, determined not to let the weight of this moment crush me.Then I saw him.Adrian stood across the room, tall and striking, but the look on his face made my stomach drop. His eyes locked on me, and for a moment, I felt exposed, as though all the progress Iâd made crumbled under the intensity of his gaze. I froze, unsure whether to approach or hide.But he didnât give me a choice.Before I could even think, Adrian was walking toward us,
The clinking of glasses and soft murmur of conversations filled the room, but I barely noticed. My thoughts were elsewhere, replaying the earlier commotion. I could still feel the weight of Adrianâs gaze before he left. The whispers around me were hard to ignore, but I refused to let them bother me. I kept my posture straight and my expression neutral, determined not to let anyone see the unease bubbling inside me.James had been a calming presence all evening, steering conversations away from anything too personal and keeping me grounded. I appreciated his efforts more than I could say, especially since it felt like every pair of eyes in the room was on me.But as he stepped away to greet someone, I felt a chill crawl up my spine. I didnât have to look to know Clara was closing in. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, sharp and deliberate, announcing her arrival like a warning bell.âWell, well,â Clara said as she stopped beside me, her voice sugary and fake. âEnjoying yoursel
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