Isla’s POVI arrived home later than planned, feeling a fusion of exhaustion and adrenaline after the night’s events. As I approached the front door, fumbling with my keys, I flipped on the patio lights, ready to sink into the quiet comfort of my home.Suddenly, a hand clasped mine, firm yet gentle. I gasped, my heart pounding wildly, my pulse thundering in my ears. I twisted, ready to defend myself—until I heard his familiar voice.“Isla,” Ethan murmured, his tone warm, calming, a hint of a smile in his voice. “It’s just me.”Relief flooded through me, and my shoulders relaxed as he slipped his arms around my waist, pulling me close. His touch radiated warmth, melting away the tension I’d carried all night. “What are you doing here?” I whispered, feeling his breath against my ear. “And why are your hands so cold?”He tightened his arms around me from behind, pressing his cheek to mine. “I wanted to see you. I’m sorry I missed your calls earlier,” he said softly, his voice brushing ov
Isla’s POVHe raised an eyebrow, brushing it off with a casual shrug. “Just clothes,” he replied, clearly sidestepping any explanation. “I had an important meeting earlier.” I decided not to press him for now. “Well,” I said softly, changing the topic, “you’re taking it easy tonight. No need to ‘work’ while you’re not feeling well.”He chuckled, and I noticed his silhouette outlined in the dim kitchen light. His face was partially shadowed, but there was something oddly familiar about him, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Had I seen him somewhere before? My mind drifted to what Zoey had told me, and I couldn’t hold back. “Ethan… why did you decide to become a sperm donor?” I asked, puzzled. “In your profile, it said you wanted to help people start families. Why?”He glanced away, his expression softening, as if he were revisiting an old memory. When his gaze returned to me, it held a quiet sincerity. “I once knew someone—someone who wanted a family more than anything but
Isla’s POVI woke up just before dawn to the soft rustle of movement beside me. My eyes fluttered open to see Ethan, already dressed and lacing up his shoes. He noticed me watching and flashed a small smile, leaning down to press a warm kiss to my forehead.“Going somewhere?” I murmured sleepily, reaching out as if to pull him back into the bed.He chuckled, brushing a hand over my hair. “I’ve got a few things to take care of. But I’ll see you tonight, I promise.”I frowned, pushing up on my elbows, still half-asleep but concerned. “How are you feeling? You seem a lot better, but... you didn’t get much rest.”He paused, his expression softening as he met my eyes. “I am feeling better, thanks to you,” he said warmly, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “And don’t worry—I’ll make up for the sleep later.”I wanted to press him further, ask him to stay a bit longer, but my own day loomed ahead of me, and I knew I couldn’t keep him here forever. With a sigh, I nodded. “A
Isla’s POVWhen we reached an empty examination room, he helped me settle onto the bed, moving with a precision and gentleness that surprised me.“Thank you,” I said, still feeling flustered. “Really, you didn’t have to go out of your way…”He did not answer, but simply motioned to a nearby nurse. She willingly came and attended to me, assessing my ankle and setting me up for a quick examination. Mr. Shaw stood nearby, his presence solid, a quiet pillar of strength. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, feeling an odd sense of gratitude mixed with… something else. Curiosity, perhaps. Intrigue. There was a familiarity in his presence, one that I couldn’t quite understand, but it pulled at me all the same.After the nurse finished treating my ankle and wrapped it securely, I gathered my things, preparing to leave. But Mr. Shaw didn’t let me hobble off alone. Before I could protest, he led me to his car waiting outside. I settled into the backseat beside him, trying to maintain a s
Ethan’s POVIsla started murmuring in her sleep, her brow furrowed, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. I leaned closer, concern tightening in my chest as I heard the fear in her voice. She sounded so distressed, as if she were trapped in some nightmare she couldn’t escape from. Gently, I brushed a hand along her arm, hoping to ease her mind.But then, she whispered a name—a name I’d hoped I’d never hear from her again.“Logan,” she murmured, her voice filled with desperation.Jealousy twisted inside me, sharp and unexpected. I knew she had a history with him, but hearing her call out for her ex-husband… it stung. Still, I couldn’t blame her. Whatever she’d been through left scars that were hard to heal. And if Logan was a part of her subconscious, still lurking in her dreams, then maybe those wounds hadn’t closed as tightly as I’d thought.She finally settled, her breathing slowing as she drifted into a calmer sleep. I stayed by her side, letting her rest, my hand lingering o
Isla’s POVAfter a busy first hour, I settled into my office, sipping on my morning coffee and attempting to focus on my tasks. My mind kept wandering back to the car ride with Mr. Shaw. There was something about him that felt really familiar, and no matter how many times I brushed it off, the feeling persisted.After a few minutes of distraction, I decided I couldn’t let it go. I rummaged through my drawer, pulling out a newspaper I’d kept from a few months ago with an article about Mr. Shaw. There, in crisp black-and-white, was a photo of him, his profile half-obscured, his expression as serious and enigmatic as ever. Next, I dug out the side-profile photo of Ethan from the donor profile Zoey had given me—one of the few clear photos I had of him.Placing the two images side by side, I squinted, comparing the sharp jawlines, the shape of their brows, the angle of their noses. It’s uncanny, I thought, feeling my heartbeat quicken. But I didn’t trust my own eyes, not with my face blind
Isla’s POV“Perhaps it’s those assumptions that keep us at a distance when, in reality, we might have more in common than we think.”I met his gaze, feeling a strange familiarity as if this wasn’t Mr. Shaw, the untouchable billionaire, but someone else entirely. The thought tugged at me, the hovering suspicion I’d tried to ignore resurfacing. As we continued the drive, I noticed that Mr. Shaw seemed unusually attentive, going out of his way to make sure I was comfortable. When the car pulled up in front of a charming, upscale restaurant, my eyebrows shot up in surprise. I knew this place was nearly impossible to book on short notice, yet here we were.“Uh, why are we stopping here?” I asked, glancing up at the restaurant's soft, inviting lights. “Well, you must be hungry,” he said casually. “I certainly am.”“But…” My voice trailed off, and I felt like there was no point arguing with him. Besides, I was very curious about him. I need to know if it’s really possible that he’s… Befor
Isla’s POVAll I want is a baby.That single thought echoed in my mind like a mantra as I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, gripping the cold edge of the sink. I’ve just entered my thirties and time wasn’t exactly on my side. The divorce papers were not even finalized yet, but I’d been emotionally checked out long before that.I wanted more than anything to have a child of my own—something real, something mine. And I was done waiting for the "right time" or the "right person." That ship had sailed.Which was why I’d turned to Zoey for help. She knew I wasn't looking for another love story. I didn’t have the energy for that kind of heartbreak again. What I needed now was genetics—strong, healthy, no strings attached.It must be fate that I have a good friend who works at a fertility clinic, I thought ironically. Just perfect.I needed someone I could trust, someone who understood my desire for discretion and had the resources to help me navigate this delicate process.I
Isla’s POV“Perhaps it’s those assumptions that keep us at a distance when, in reality, we might have more in common than we think.”I met his gaze, feeling a strange familiarity as if this wasn’t Mr. Shaw, the untouchable billionaire, but someone else entirely. The thought tugged at me, the hovering suspicion I’d tried to ignore resurfacing. As we continued the drive, I noticed that Mr. Shaw seemed unusually attentive, going out of his way to make sure I was comfortable. When the car pulled up in front of a charming, upscale restaurant, my eyebrows shot up in surprise. I knew this place was nearly impossible to book on short notice, yet here we were.“Uh, why are we stopping here?” I asked, glancing up at the restaurant's soft, inviting lights. “Well, you must be hungry,” he said casually. “I certainly am.”“But…” My voice trailed off, and I felt like there was no point arguing with him. Besides, I was very curious about him. I need to know if it’s really possible that he’s… Befor
Isla’s POVAfter a busy first hour, I settled into my office, sipping on my morning coffee and attempting to focus on my tasks. My mind kept wandering back to the car ride with Mr. Shaw. There was something about him that felt really familiar, and no matter how many times I brushed it off, the feeling persisted.After a few minutes of distraction, I decided I couldn’t let it go. I rummaged through my drawer, pulling out a newspaper I’d kept from a few months ago with an article about Mr. Shaw. There, in crisp black-and-white, was a photo of him, his profile half-obscured, his expression as serious and enigmatic as ever. Next, I dug out the side-profile photo of Ethan from the donor profile Zoey had given me—one of the few clear photos I had of him.Placing the two images side by side, I squinted, comparing the sharp jawlines, the shape of their brows, the angle of their noses. It’s uncanny, I thought, feeling my heartbeat quicken. But I didn’t trust my own eyes, not with my face blind
Ethan’s POVIsla started murmuring in her sleep, her brow furrowed, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. I leaned closer, concern tightening in my chest as I heard the fear in her voice. She sounded so distressed, as if she were trapped in some nightmare she couldn’t escape from. Gently, I brushed a hand along her arm, hoping to ease her mind.But then, she whispered a name—a name I’d hoped I’d never hear from her again.“Logan,” she murmured, her voice filled with desperation.Jealousy twisted inside me, sharp and unexpected. I knew she had a history with him, but hearing her call out for her ex-husband… it stung. Still, I couldn’t blame her. Whatever she’d been through left scars that were hard to heal. And if Logan was a part of her subconscious, still lurking in her dreams, then maybe those wounds hadn’t closed as tightly as I’d thought.She finally settled, her breathing slowing as she drifted into a calmer sleep. I stayed by her side, letting her rest, my hand lingering o
Isla’s POVWhen we reached an empty examination room, he helped me settle onto the bed, moving with a precision and gentleness that surprised me.“Thank you,” I said, still feeling flustered. “Really, you didn’t have to go out of your way…”He did not answer, but simply motioned to a nearby nurse. She willingly came and attended to me, assessing my ankle and setting me up for a quick examination. Mr. Shaw stood nearby, his presence solid, a quiet pillar of strength. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, feeling an odd sense of gratitude mixed with… something else. Curiosity, perhaps. Intrigue. There was a familiarity in his presence, one that I couldn’t quite understand, but it pulled at me all the same.After the nurse finished treating my ankle and wrapped it securely, I gathered my things, preparing to leave. But Mr. Shaw didn’t let me hobble off alone. Before I could protest, he led me to his car waiting outside. I settled into the backseat beside him, trying to maintain a s
Isla’s POVI woke up just before dawn to the soft rustle of movement beside me. My eyes fluttered open to see Ethan, already dressed and lacing up his shoes. He noticed me watching and flashed a small smile, leaning down to press a warm kiss to my forehead.“Going somewhere?” I murmured sleepily, reaching out as if to pull him back into the bed.He chuckled, brushing a hand over my hair. “I’ve got a few things to take care of. But I’ll see you tonight, I promise.”I frowned, pushing up on my elbows, still half-asleep but concerned. “How are you feeling? You seem a lot better, but... you didn’t get much rest.”He paused, his expression softening as he met my eyes. “I am feeling better, thanks to you,” he said warmly, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “And don’t worry—I’ll make up for the sleep later.”I wanted to press him further, ask him to stay a bit longer, but my own day loomed ahead of me, and I knew I couldn’t keep him here forever. With a sigh, I nodded. “A
Isla’s POVHe raised an eyebrow, brushing it off with a casual shrug. “Just clothes,” he replied, clearly sidestepping any explanation. “I had an important meeting earlier.” I decided not to press him for now. “Well,” I said softly, changing the topic, “you’re taking it easy tonight. No need to ‘work’ while you’re not feeling well.”He chuckled, and I noticed his silhouette outlined in the dim kitchen light. His face was partially shadowed, but there was something oddly familiar about him, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Had I seen him somewhere before? My mind drifted to what Zoey had told me, and I couldn’t hold back. “Ethan… why did you decide to become a sperm donor?” I asked, puzzled. “In your profile, it said you wanted to help people start families. Why?”He glanced away, his expression softening, as if he were revisiting an old memory. When his gaze returned to me, it held a quiet sincerity. “I once knew someone—someone who wanted a family more than anything but
Isla’s POVI arrived home later than planned, feeling a fusion of exhaustion and adrenaline after the night’s events. As I approached the front door, fumbling with my keys, I flipped on the patio lights, ready to sink into the quiet comfort of my home.Suddenly, a hand clasped mine, firm yet gentle. I gasped, my heart pounding wildly, my pulse thundering in my ears. I twisted, ready to defend myself—until I heard his familiar voice.“Isla,” Ethan murmured, his tone warm, calming, a hint of a smile in his voice. “It’s just me.”Relief flooded through me, and my shoulders relaxed as he slipped his arms around my waist, pulling me close. His touch radiated warmth, melting away the tension I’d carried all night. “What are you doing here?” I whispered, feeling his breath against my ear. “And why are your hands so cold?”He tightened his arms around me from behind, pressing his cheek to mine. “I wanted to see you. I’m sorry I missed your calls earlier,” he said softly, his voice brushing ov
Isla’s POV“Because I’m your husband!” he snapped, the words slipping out before he seemed to realize what he was saying.There was a tense pause, and then I arched an eyebrow. “Oh, are you?” I said, my voice sharp. “Because if I remember right, you signed those divorce papers too. And even before that, you never really acted like my husband, so just stop this already.”Aaron, who had been standing awkwardly beside me, took a step back, clearly caught off guard by Logan’s sudden rage. But Logan turned his attention to him angrily.“You’d better stay away from her,” Logan said in a dangerously low voice. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”Aaron raised his hands defensively, glancing at me with wide eyes. “Hey, man, no need to get aggressive. We were just talking.”“Talking?” Logan scoffed, his eyes blazing. “You’re just some kid trying to play a game you don’t understand.”I stepped between them, feeling angry at Logan’s possessiveness and at how he was trying to intimidate A
Isla’s POV“Isla!” my best friend Kira squealed in delight as I stepped into their family estate, which was, as always, a sight to behold. “I’m so glad you made it to my welcome home party!” “And I’m so happy to see you again, Kira!” I exclaimed enthusiastically as we embraced each other. As we were catching up excitedly, my attention zeroed in on the one person I hoped to avoid. Logan. He was here, weaving through the crowd with his usual charming facade. I tried to keep my distance, hoping he wouldn’t notice me, but the room seemed to shrink every time I looked in his direction.“Kira, you didn’t tell me he’d be here,” I muttered, gripping my glass a little tighter.She sighed, glancing over at him. “Harrison must’ve invited him. Sorry, I didn’t think you’d need a heads-up. Does my brother even know you’re…?”“Divorced?” I finished, offering a wry smile. “I don’t know. Maybe.”Kira nodded knowingly, her expression darkening. She had been there for me through every stage of my rela