NORA'S POV
I woke up that morning with one thing in mind: I missed Gen and I was going to try and talk to her. Tonight, Jacob was going to declare he and Evelyn's son a Bennett and claim a right to inherit but I could care less about that. I still felt like Gen was only acting, she had to still be my Gen.
I walked to the office she had started using since we all started living here permanently for now. Genevieve’s office in the Bennett mansion was as stark and immaculate as its occupant. The windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering an enviable view of the sprawling gardens. But I wasn’t here to admire the scenery. I was here to find the person Genevieve used to be.
SAM'S POV The drive back from the hospital felt surreal. The sight of our daughter on the ultrasound screen replayed in my mind, bringing a mixture of awe and protectiveness. She wasn’t even born yet, but I already felt fiercely devoted to her. Nora sat beside me, her hand resting on her belly, a soft smile gracing her lips.“We won’t tell anyone yet,” I said, glancing at her. “Not until the time is right.”She nodded, her smile fading slightly. “I don’t want to give anyone—especially Genevieve or Thomas—another reason to stir up chaos.”
NORA'S POV The ambulance ride was a blur. The pain from the contractions came in sharp, unrelenting waves, each one stealing my breath and leaving me gasping. Sam sat beside me, his face pale, his hand gripping mine like a lifeline.“It’s going to be okay,” he said, his voice shaking but steady enough to keep me tethered. “Just breathe, Nora. I’m right here.”I nodded, but fear gripped me tightly. It was too soon. Our little girl wasn’t ready, and I couldn’t shake the thought that the stress of everything—the family, the scandals, the endless fights—had brought this on.The EMTs worked efficiently, monitoring my vitals and the baby’s heart rate as the ambulance sped toward the hospital.By the time we arrived, a team of doctors and nurses was waiting for us. They whisked me into the maternity ward, their voices calm but urgent as they assessed my condition. Sam was pulled aside, a nurse handing him a set of scrubs.“You’ll need to change if you want to be with her during the procedur
SAM'S POV The fluorescent lights of the NICU cast a sterile glow, highlighting the rows of incubators lined up like tiny fortresses. The faint hum of machines filled the air, each beep and whir a reminder of the fragility of life.I stood at the glass partition, my heart pounding as I caught sight of her. My daughter. She was so small, a tiny figure swaddled in soft fabric, with wires and monitors attached to her fragile body. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths, and her fists curled tightly as if she were ready to fight the world already.“She’s stable,” a nurse said softly, approaching me with a kind smile. “She’s a strong little girl.”I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Can I go in?”The nurse glanced at the clipboard in her hands and then gave a small nod. “Just for a few minutes. We’re limiting visitors, but you’re her dad. I’ll help you get prepped.”Moments later, I sat beside the incubator, dressed in a sterile gown, gloves, and a mask. The sight of he
NORA'S POV The steady beeping of the monitors in my hospital room was strangely comforting, a reminder that everything—at least for now—was stable. My body ached in ways I hadn’t thought possible, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the heaviness in my chest.As I stared out the window at the city skyline, my thoughts drifted to my daughter. Zoe. Her name felt like a beacon in the darkness, a promise of something pure and untainted. She was so small, so fragile, but she was already the strongest person I knew.
SAM'S POV The late afternoon breeze brushed against my face as I stepped onto the balcony. Genevieve was there, leaning against the wrought-iron railing, her sharp silhouette framed by the sprawling estate gardens below. She didn’t turn to acknowledge me, but the tension in her shoulders told me she knew I was there.“We need to talk,” I said, my voice hard as I closed the door behind me.She turned her head slightly, her red hair catching the sunlight. “About what? How the family is falling apart while you’re too busy loving
NORA'S POVThe rain was pouring hard, soaking me as I rushed into Sam’s company building. I had not taken my car because it was a trekkable distance, and I had not anticipated the rain.My heels clicked against the marble floor, and my clothes were sticking to my skin, but none of that mattered. I held the watch tight under my coat, protecting it from the rain.It was Sam's watch—a leather-strapped heirloom passed down from his father. He always wore it during important meetings, like a good luck charm. This morning, I saw it lying on the nightstand. He left in such a hurry, barely saying goodbye, that I knew he would need it today.Genevieve had encouraged me to go to him. To show him this act of kindness. She believed it would touch her brother's heart.He had been distant lately, colder, like the man I married was fading away. We used to be best friends, but now? Now, it felt like he barely knew me.I knew it was pathetic to get my husband’s attention like this, but that’s what it
NORA'S POVMy chest felt tight, as I walked down the brightly lit hallway, and I had to fight back the tears. The sight of Isabella sitting with Sam, laughing, had torn me apart. They looked like they shared something private, something I would never be a part of. I clutched my coat tighter, trying to pull myself together.When I got close to the elevator, I spotted Jacob leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking smug. The same look he always had when he saw me. We had grown up in the same neighbourhood, the same big sprawling mansions, the same schools. Sam, Jacob, Genevieve and I all used to be friends,but things had changed over the years. Jacob had always had a way of making me feel small.“Leaving already?” Jacob sneered, his eyes narrowing. “You’re not fooling anyone, Nora. You’re just holding Sam back, and everyone knows it.”I froze. His words stung harder than usual. Maybe it was because of what happened earlier—Jacob was Sam's best friend. Maybe he knew something I did
NORA'S POVSam walked out without looking back, leaving behind the thick silence of our bedroom. I sat frozen for a moment, the words I had just said ringing in my ears. I had expected some form of reaction from Sam. Anything but coldness. Why wouldn't he fight for us?In the middle of the night, I went downstairs to find him sleeping on the couch. I sighed and went back up with a broken heart.Divorce. The word still hung in the air, heavy and impossible to take back. I sat down at the computer and sent an email to my lawyer to get the papers ready. I had toyed with the idea for months but now, it was reality.I stood up and went to the window, staring out into the night. The cold air from the river about a mile away wafted into the room bringing with it the scent of water and the shouts of seamen. I looked at the garden below that extended to the dock that we never used. I let out a shaky breath, trying to collect myself. I’d done it. There was no undoing it now. The marriage was ov
SAM'S POV The late afternoon breeze brushed against my face as I stepped onto the balcony. Genevieve was there, leaning against the wrought-iron railing, her sharp silhouette framed by the sprawling estate gardens below. She didn’t turn to acknowledge me, but the tension in her shoulders told me she knew I was there.“We need to talk,” I said, my voice hard as I closed the door behind me.She turned her head slightly, her red hair catching the sunlight. “About what? How the family is falling apart while you’re too busy loving
NORA'S POV The steady beeping of the monitors in my hospital room was strangely comforting, a reminder that everything—at least for now—was stable. My body ached in ways I hadn’t thought possible, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the heaviness in my chest.As I stared out the window at the city skyline, my thoughts drifted to my daughter. Zoe. Her name felt like a beacon in the darkness, a promise of something pure and untainted. She was so small, so fragile, but she was already the strongest person I knew.
SAM'S POV The fluorescent lights of the NICU cast a sterile glow, highlighting the rows of incubators lined up like tiny fortresses. The faint hum of machines filled the air, each beep and whir a reminder of the fragility of life.I stood at the glass partition, my heart pounding as I caught sight of her. My daughter. She was so small, a tiny figure swaddled in soft fabric, with wires and monitors attached to her fragile body. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths, and her fists curled tightly as if she were ready to fight the world already.“She’s stable,” a nurse said softly, approaching me with a kind smile. “She’s a strong little girl.”I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Can I go in?”The nurse glanced at the clipboard in her hands and then gave a small nod. “Just for a few minutes. We’re limiting visitors, but you’re her dad. I’ll help you get prepped.”Moments later, I sat beside the incubator, dressed in a sterile gown, gloves, and a mask. The sight of he
NORA'S POV The ambulance ride was a blur. The pain from the contractions came in sharp, unrelenting waves, each one stealing my breath and leaving me gasping. Sam sat beside me, his face pale, his hand gripping mine like a lifeline.“It’s going to be okay,” he said, his voice shaking but steady enough to keep me tethered. “Just breathe, Nora. I’m right here.”I nodded, but fear gripped me tightly. It was too soon. Our little girl wasn’t ready, and I couldn’t shake the thought that the stress of everything—the family, the scandals, the endless fights—had brought this on.The EMTs worked efficiently, monitoring my vitals and the baby’s heart rate as the ambulance sped toward the hospital.By the time we arrived, a team of doctors and nurses was waiting for us. They whisked me into the maternity ward, their voices calm but urgent as they assessed my condition. Sam was pulled aside, a nurse handing him a set of scrubs.“You’ll need to change if you want to be with her during the procedur
SAM'S POV The drive back from the hospital felt surreal. The sight of our daughter on the ultrasound screen replayed in my mind, bringing a mixture of awe and protectiveness. She wasn’t even born yet, but I already felt fiercely devoted to her. Nora sat beside me, her hand resting on her belly, a soft smile gracing her lips.“We won’t tell anyone yet,” I said, glancing at her. “Not until the time is right.”She nodded, her smile fading slightly. “I don’t want to give anyone—especially Genevieve or Thomas—another reason to stir up chaos.”
NORA'S POV I woke up that morning with one thing in mind: I missed Gen and I was going to try and talk to her. Tonight, Jacob was going to declare he and Evelyn's son a Bennett and claim a right to inherit but I could care less about that. I still felt like Gen was only acting, she had to still be my Gen.I walked to the office she had started using since we all started living here permanently for now. Genevieve’s office in the Bennett mansion was as stark and immaculate as its occupant. The windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering an enviable view of the sprawling gardens. But I wasn’t here to admire the scenery. I was here to find the person Genevieve used to be.
SAM'S POV The tension in the Bennett mansion felt like a storm waiting to break. I stood at the head of the long dining table, the weight of the family’s expectations pressing down on me. Adrian was seated to my right, his usual calm demeanor masking the turmoil beneath. Genevieve sat at the other end, her sharp eyes scanning the room like a predator preparing to strike. Nora, radiant even in her exhaustion, was seated by my side, her hand resting protectively over her growing belly.The door opened, and my father stepped in, his face bearing a grave expression. But the person who followed him made my stomach churn. My father gave me a sad look and exited the
SAM'S POV I was sitting at my desk, trying to lose myself in a stack of papers. But I couldn’t concentrate. My mind kept circling back to everything that had happened, the mess we were trying to untangle. I looked up as they approached, and immediately, I could feel the tension in the air.“What is it now?” I asked, my voice tired, edged with irritation. I didn’t have the energy for more bad news.Nora hesitated. Her eyes flickered toward Adrian before settling back on me. “Sam,” she began softly, “it’s about the fake DNA tes
NORA'S POV The tension in the Bennett estate felt like a living, breathing thing, suffocating and relentless. Every corner of the house seemed to hum with whispers, each shadow heavy with suspicion. But I refused to let it break me.Sitting in Adrian’s office, I clenched my fists, staring at the photos of the fake DNA test results that had gone viral. The cold, sterile lab report had a single, damning conclusion: the child I carried wasn’t Sam’s. I knew it was a lie, but the damage it had done to my reputation was very real.“I need answers, Adrian,” I said, my voice steady but tinged with desperation.