Coincidences or FateAdrian stood motionless for a while after Mark relayed the final piece of information.“She went for a prenatal checkup, sir. She’s three months along.”“Three?” Adrian echoed, his voice low.“Yes, sir. It seems she’s been consistent with her visits. Goodcure Hospital. Quiet. Discreet.”Adrian turned to the tall glass window of his study, his reflection barely visible against the night sky. His thoughts spun fast.Three months pregnant. That meant… she had only just started to show.That night at the restaurant, her glow hadn’t just been charm—it was the light of life within her.“A child…” he murmured.For a man who had carefully mapped every part of his life—his studies, his career, his social avoidance—nothing could have prepared him for how this knowledge landed.He had finally met a woman who intrigued him. A woman whose spirit he admired, whose silence carried resilience, and whose smile hinted at stories deeper than words could carry. And now, finding out s
When the Walls Came Crashing DownBack in the city James once paraded like a king, the luxurious mansion that used to host lavish parties, expensive guests, and ego-driven extravagance was no longer the envy of the neighborhood. The once-manicured lawns were overgrown, the driveway empty of its luxury cars—sold off, piece by piece, to appease the vultures that circled closer each day.It had been quiet—too quiet—for a while now. James had been laying low, hiding from reality, from his creditors, from the failure that he never thought would come. He had built his life on borrowed glory, funded by loans he took without blinking, believing that marrying Rita would automatically launch him into a world of unimaginable wealth. But now, she was gone—and so was the fantasy.And reality had finally knocked.Hard.The loud, aggressive bang on the metallic gate early that morning didn’t just jolt James out of bed—it yanked him straight into the nightmare he’d tried so hard to escape.BANG! BANG
The Flashback—Dressed for BetrayalRita twirled once in front of the mirror, her reflection smiling back at her for the first time in what felt like forever. Her soft wine-red dress hugged her figure just right, and the light touch of makeup made her brown eyes shimmer. Her heart fluttered with anticipation—James had invited her out, willingly. No fights, no scowls, no guilt-tripping.Just… fun.He had said, “Let’s go out, just you and me. Like old times.”Rita had stared at him in disbelief before breaking into a radiant smile. That Friday evening, she hummed a forgotten love song while getting ready, the house momentarily glowing with hope.When James stepped out of the bedroom and saw her, even he paused.“Wow… You look good,” he mumbled.“Thanks,” she blushed softly, clutching her purse. “You ready?”He nodded, checking his phone quickly before they stepped out.The club was already buzzing when they arrived. Lights flickered, music throbbed, and people danced like they had nothin
The scene unfolded with an eerie sense of fate. The club had been buzzing with life, its vibrant lights casting a haze over the night. Adrian, not realizing the trap set for him, had been drugged by his rivals. His drink, a well-placed concoction of sedatives, had slowly worked its magic. As he leaned against the bar, feeling the world spin, a woman approached him—one he had seen at the club before, a familiar face in the crowd. She was beautiful, too beautiful to ignore, with dark eyes filled with something more than admiration.She had always fantasized about Adrian, watching him from afar, and tonight, she saw an opening. She’d been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and she was determined to make the most of it. Adrian, his thoughts clouded, didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late. He was led away by her, stumbling slightly, too out of it to question where he was going.Meanwhile, Rita was in another part of the club, blissfully unaware of the storm that
The sun had barely risen when James’s nightmare returned to his doorstep — darker and more merciless than ever.The once-vibrant compound was now a shell of its former glory. Overgrown grass crept around cracked pavements, and the rusting gate creaked ominously in the breeze. Inside, James sat with his head bowed low, his hands buried deep in his hair. His skin was clammy with sweat, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. Days had passed since the loan sharks' last visit, but their threat echoed louder with each tick of the clock.Rita was gone. No trail, no phone number, no friends who could betray her new location. He had scoured social media, contacted her former acquaintances—even tried hacking into her old emails—but there was absolutely nothing. It was as though she had vanished into thin air. Worse still, the money he had borrowed—millions—was now overdue.And the devils had returned.The gate crashed open with a thunderous bang, followed by the echoing stomp of heavy boots. Ja
Later That Night…James sat at the edge of the hospital bench, the dim corridor lights casting shadows on his hollow face. He stared blankly ahead, his mother’s words haunting his thoughts like whispers in the wind."One day, your lies will catch up to you, James..."They had. And with fury.His mother was now in the ICU, barely hanging on to life.The baby—Rita’s baby—was never his. But he had clung to that lie with desperate hands, hoping to use it as a lifeline, a chain to keep her bound to him. He thought if he could tie her down, maybe he wouldn’t lose everything. But now, standing in the wreckage of his own deceit, he realized he’d lost it all anyway.When he stepped out of the hospital, the night air hit him like a wave of ice. The city bustled on, uncaring and indifferent. He had nowhere to go, no one to call, and nothing left that gave his life direction.So, he did the only thing he knew.He wandered into the nearest bar, ordered the strongest bottle they had, and began drin
Adrian sat quietly in his home office, the soft hum of classical music echoing in the background. The city lights shimmered through the large glass windows, casting reflections on his thoughtful face. He held a photo of Rita printed from the club footage—her image now etched in his memory far deeper than a mere coincidence.She was the woman from that night.He had tried to deny it, brush it off as a surreal mistake. But the moment their eyes locked at the restaurant, he knew. Her presence stirred something in him—an emotion he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years. Interest. Respect. Longing.She was beautiful, yes, but there was something deeper. Strength. Quiet resilience. And now, knowing the life she had escaped from, he respected her even more.But she was also pregnant… with his child.Adrian could’ve confronted her, declared the truth right away. But the look in her eyes at the hospital—that radiant glow when she talked to the nurses, the gentle way she caressed her small bu
The atmosphere in the grand living room was thick with tension as Antony sat at the polished oak table, his fingers curling into tight fists as he tried to mask the simmering frustration inside him. Lydia, sitting across from him, was noticeably quieter than usual, her usually sharp eyes softened with concern. Their parents, both imposing figures of authority, stood before them, having just returned from their travels.Their mother, elegant in a classic, well-tailored suit, looked at both of them, her eyes dark with an unreadable expression. Their father, the patriarch of the family, stood behind her, his arms folded with a look of cold expectation in his eyes.“This is not the time to be at odds with each other,” their father began, his voice smooth but firm, cutting through the thick silence. “We are family. You will never have anyone else like each other in this world. You must stop fighting over petty matters.”Antony’s jaw clenched, and his chest tightened. He didn’t like being t
Mary had always been quiet — observant, but never idle. She had a talent for reading between the lines, and lately, those lines had become increasingly blurry where Linet was concerned. The announcement of her pregnancy had come out of nowhere. No build-up, no symptoms, just a declaration that stunned the household and left Mary unconvinced.She had noticed the subtle things first. The way Linet continued to wear tight-fitting clothes well into her second supposed month. How she dodged family invitations to visit the clinic for a scan. How she never showed any signs of fatigue or nausea, always claiming to be “feeling great” with a wide, almost rehearsed smile.Something was off.Mary wasn’t confrontational by nature, but this time, she couldn’t ignore her instincts. She started to quietly follow Linet’s movements, watching, waiting. It took time — over a week of subtle surveillance, late-night parking outside the estate, and whispered questions to the household help.Then, on a breez
Linet sat in the corner of the bedroom, her knees tucked to her chest, listening to the murmurs outside the door. Francis’ mother, aunt, and older sister were seated in the living room, voices raised just enough to be heard.“If she can’t conceive, then it’s time we consider another wife.”“Exactly. This isn’t personal—it’s about legacy. Our name must live on.”“And Francis won’t wait forever.”Linet’s heart sank with every word. The same people who had praised her grace and elegance on her wedding day were now plotting her quiet replacement. To them, she was no longer a bride—just a barren vessel.Francis hadn’t said a word. As always, he let them speak for him.Later that night, Linet confronted him again.“They want you to marry another woman.”Francis, who had just returned from what he called a "business trip," poured himself a drink and shrugged.“Maybe I should.”The bluntness struck her hard, but she didn’t flinch. “So that’s it? That’s your solution?”He gave a hollow laugh.
The house that once echoed with Antony’s laughter now stood silent and heavy with sorrow. Every corner seemed to breathe his absence, every wall haunted by memories—his childhood drawings still pinned on the fridge, his books left untouched on the shelf, and the worn sneakers by the door that no one had the heart to move.Charles, Antony’s elder brother, was the first to drown in guilt. He hadn’t told anyone, but he blamed himself for not checking in more often, for thinking Antony would be fine after the accident. He spent most of his time in the garage now, pretending to fix broken tools when really, he was just trying to fix himself.Lydia had become a shadow of herself. She rarely left her room and barely touched her food. Every night, she sat by the window whispering apologies into the wind, hoping somehow Antony could hear her. She carried the unbearable weight of knowing her own actions may have pushed him into despair.Their mother, pale and weakened, had aged ten years in a w
The tycoon backing him—a powerful, faceless figure—had been pressing him harder with each passing day. The messages came through encrypted lines, always cold, always clear:“It’s time to finish what you started.” “Her family must fall.” “You’ve been paid. Deliver.”James didn’t even know who this man truly was. They had never met face to face. Everything was conducted through intermediaries, encrypted emails, and burner phones. The only thing James did know was that the money was too good to ignore. Especially now. With his mother’s medical bills piling up, his own reputation sinking, and his business crumbling after Antony’s death, he was hanging by a thread. And this tycoon, whoever he was, had offered him a lifeline—a dangerous, bloodstained lifeline.The burden of that secret grew heavier with each passing hour. He’d stare into his mother’s face and wonder, Would she approve of what I’m doing? Of course not. But she wasn’t here to stop him. No one was.He tried to convince himself
After everything that had happened, Rita couldn’t bring herself to go back abroad immediately. The weight of the tragedy and the unanswered questions about Antony's accident kept her grounded, unable to leave just yet. There were things she needed to understand—things that didn’t sit right with her. Rita knew she needed more time, not just to grieve but to observe the complex web of relationships and power dynamics around her. She couldn’t ignore the possibility that there were forces at play that she hadn’t yet uncovered.Meanwhile, Anita, always a step ahead in the game of manipulation, had managed to hook up with James. It wasn’t out of love or attraction—Anita’s intentions were far more calculating. After James had been devastated by the loss of Antony, she saw an opportunity to rise to the top. She knew he was vulnerable, looking for someone to pick him up after the crash, and she had found a powerful figure willing to back him up. In her mind, this was the perfect way to secure
The world seemed to blur around Rita as she stood in the middle of the hospital corridor, surrounded by wails and murmurs, but none of it reached her ears. Her entire being felt numb. Everything she saw and heard was filtered through the fog of disbelief, heartbreak, and sheer devastation.Antony was gone. The only person who had truly seen her—believed in her when the rest of the world questioned her worth. He had picked her up when she was at her lowest, reminded her of her strength, and stood by her with unwavering faith. And now… he had vanished. Just like that.She sank slowly to the floor beside his stretcher, pressing her forehead against the cool metal edge. “You weren’t just my friend,” she whispered through trembling lips. “You were… everything I never thought I deserved.”Charles came to kneel beside her, his face creased in sorrow. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “He talked about you all the time, Rita. You… meant the world to him.”Rita let out a choked sob, her
The morning sun spilled gently through the windows of Charles’ penthouse apartment. Birds chirped outside, and the city was slowly coming to life. Charles was sipping coffee and going through work emails when his phone rang.He didn’t recognize the number at first, but he picked it up casually.“Hello, Charles speaking.”There was a pause, then a rushed voice came through, almost too fast to comprehend.“This is City General Hospital. We’re calling in regard to Mr. Antony… we’re very sorry, but there was a complication early this morning… he—he didn’t make it.”Charles froze.“What?” he whispered.“Sir, I’m deeply sorry. The doctors tried everything. He suffered a cardiac arrest at dawn…”“No, no—wait—what are you saying? That’s not possible!” Charles stood up, knocking over his mug. Hot coffee splashed across the table and floor, but he didn’t even notice.“He was recovering. I was there yesterday—he laughed at my jokes! You must be mistaken!”“I wish we were, sir… but I’m afraid we
The room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor and the gentle hiss of oxygen flowing through the tubes connected to Antony. The dim lights cast a soft glow on his pale face, still as stone, save for the slight flutter of his eyelids every now and then—a signal that he was somewhere in between this world and the next.Rita sat by his side, her fingers laced with his, whispering softly to him as though her voice could guide him back. Lydia sat quietly across the room, still nursing her guilt but silently praying—pleading—for Antony’s return.Then suddenly, a faint twitch.Rita’s eyes snapped open, staring at his hand. There it was again—a faint, almost imperceptible squeeze. She sat up straight, her heart thudding wildly. “Antony?” she whispered urgently, “Can you hear me?”His eyelids fluttered again, this time more deliberately. His brow furrowed, as though struggling to escape some invisible weight pressing down on him.“Antony, it’s me—Rita. I’m here,” she s
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air as Rita stepped into the brightly lit hallway of the hospital's ICU wing. Her heart thundered in her chest like a war drum, echoing the fear gnawing at her insides. She gripped Adrian’s hand tightly, her knuckles white, as they approached the nurse’s station.“Antony Kirui,” she said softly, almost unsure her voice had come out at all. “He was brought in this morning after an accident.”The nurse glanced at the chart in front of her and gave a small, solemn nod. “Room 6. But he’s still unconscious. Only one visitor at a time, please.”Rita swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. Adrian squeezed her hand reassuringly, then let it go. “I’ll wait right here,” he whispered. “Take your time.”Her feet moved, but her mind was numb. As she walked through the corridor, memories flashed before her eyes—Antony helping her carry boxes when she moved into her new apartment, defending her from cruel tongues, calling her strong when she felt weake