The room buzzed with laughter and chatter, but my focus was on maintaining my composure. I hadn’t expected to see Adrian here, and yet, the moment our eyes met, it was as if the world narrowed to just the two of us. My chest tightened, my steps faltering as he made his way toward me with determined strides."Lana, we need to talk," Adrian said, his voice low but firm.I stiffened, refusing to let him see the chaos brewing inside me. "There's nothing to talk about, Adrian," I replied, turning to walk away.But he grabbed my wrist gently, his grip firm yet hesitant, like he was afraid I’d slip away. "Please. Just hear me out," he pleaded.I yanked my arm free and glared at him. "You had your chance, Adrian. You made your choice when you divorced me. Whatever you have to say, it’s too late."His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he’d let me go. But then, he stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "I was wrong, Lana. I was a fool to let you go, and I regret it every single day.
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
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
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 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
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 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
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, gripping the edge of the vanity until my knuckles turn white. Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But all I feel is a dull ache settling in my chest. I’m marrying a man I’ve never met, a complete stranger who may never even wake up. What kind of future is that?Vivian’s voice crashes through my thoughts, sharp as glass.“Lana!” she yells from the other side of the door. “What are you still doing? You should be dressed by now!”Vivian—my stepmother—has always treated me like a burden. She married my father when I was sixteen and made it clear from day one that I was in her way. Her daughter, Naomi, could do no wrong, while I was always the problem. And now, she’s the one forcing me into this marriage.I clench my jaw, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Of course, she’d be impatient. She’s been waiting for this moment—to see me helpless, backed into a corner with no way out.“I don’t want this,” I mutter under my breath. “I’
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
The room buzzed with laughter and chatter, but my focus was on maintaining my composure. I hadn’t expected to see Adrian here, and yet, the moment our eyes met, it was as if the world narrowed to just the two of us. My chest tightened, my steps faltering as he made his way toward me with determined strides."Lana, we need to talk," Adrian said, his voice low but firm.I stiffened, refusing to let him see the chaos brewing inside me. "There's nothing to talk about, Adrian," I replied, turning to walk away.But he grabbed my wrist gently, his grip firm yet hesitant, like he was afraid I’d slip away. "Please. Just hear me out," he pleaded.I yanked my arm free and glared at him. "You had your chance, Adrian. You made your choice when you divorced me. Whatever you have to say, it’s too late."His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he’d let me go. But then, he stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "I was wrong, Lana. I was a fool to let you go, and I regret it every single day.
The morning the rumors exploded, I felt the sting before I even left the house. My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing—notifications, calls, and messages piling up with a chaotic urgency. Sophia had already texted me a dozen times before I finally mustered the courage to check the latest news.There it was, plastered across every business and gossip platform: “Lana Holland and James Connelly’s Cozy Partnership Raises Eyebrows.” The article was worse than I had expected, spinning a tale of romantic entanglements and dubious dealings, insinuating that my success wasn’t due to my own merit but because of James’ supposed influence.My stomach twisted. It wasn’t just the personal attack—it was the way it undermined everything I’d worked so hard for. The article made me seem like nothing more than a pawn, as if my achievements were handed to me on a silver platter.Sophia stormed into my office shortly after I arrived at work, her face flushed with anger. She tossed her bag onto the couch and glare
The weeks following my company’s first major deal passed in a blur of meetings, negotiations, and relentless hard work. Every moment was a step forward, but the pressure never eased. Success came with its own set of challenges, and while I was prepared for most of them, I wasn’t prepared for the storm Clara was brewing behind the scenes.I hadn’t thought much about Clara since the party. Her attempts to provoke me with her taunts about Adrian felt insignificant now that I had more pressing concerns. I didn’t need her validation, nor did I care about her opinion. Still, Clara had never been one to let go of a grudge easily.---At the Sebastian estate, Clara paced the length of the sitting room, her frustration evident in every sharp click of her heels against the marble floor. Her parents, Charles and Miranda, sat nearby, observing her with a mix of concern and irritation.“This isn’t working,” Clara snapped, tossing a magazine onto the coffee table. The headline on the cover featured