š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¼š After dinner, I lay on my bed, scrolling through countless websites about pregnancy. Each article and forum seemed to offer endless adviceāwhat to eat, what to avoid, exercises, mental health tips how to care for myself, and ultimately, how to ensure my babyās well-beingābut the sheer amount of information was overwhelming. Still, I couldnāt stop reading.This journey was unexpected, but I wanted to embrace it wholeheartedly. I owed it to my child to be the best version of myself, despite everything.Page after page of advice filled my screen, but the deeper I dove, the more overwhelming it became. I tried to focus, but the flood of information left me mentally drained.This was too much to take in at once.I closed the laptop with a sigh, resting my hand on my stomach.It was clear that I needed a doctor to guide me through this. No amount of internet searching could replace professional advice.The next morning came quickly.I got ready quickly, wanting to be done wi
As Sally and I stepped out of the car and approached the front porch, we saw Arine waiting, leaning casually against his car with his arms crossed. His sharp gaze immediately softened as we walked toward him, though his expression remained serious.āYouāre finally here,ā he began,pushing off the car. āWe need to start planning how to expose Lily. Her baby shower is next week, and itās the perfect opportunity to settle the score for what they did to youāslapping you in public and posting it online for humiliation. Let them have a taste of their own medicine.āHis words struck a chord. The idea of exposing Lily in front of everyone at her grand celebration felt like poetic justice. I nodded thoughtfully, the wheels in my mind already turning.Inside, the three of us sat around the living room table,Sally grabbed a notepad and began jotting down ideas.As Ideas were thrown around, but nothing concrete emerged. Finally, Arine leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.āWe need so
I was completely absorbed in my phone, reviewing the designs I had worked on tirelessly yesterday in the office. Hours of tweaking and perfecting had gone into these samples, but I still felt like they werenāt quite right. The lines blurred together as I analyzed every detail, trying to fix the drawbacks that kept nagging at me.The car jerked to a stop at a red light, and Arineās voice pulled me out of my thoughts.āAre those designs for the project we discussed?ā he asked, glancing at my screen.I nodded, holding up the phone so he could get a better look. āYeah. Just some samples. What do you think?āLeaning closer, he studied the designs with a focus that surprised me. After a moment, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.āAs expectedāyouāve always been one of the best at this.āI frowned, his words catching me off guard. āWhat do you mean, āalwaysā?āHis smile faltered for a second before he casually replied,āI meant your designs. Iāve seen some of your previous work on
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¼š As I forced myself to tear my gaze away from Arineās intense gaze.I straightened my shoulders and walked into the building. His cryptic words still buzzed in my head, but I shoved them aside, focusing on the work awaiting me. But today, something felt off.The moment I stepped inside, the energy around me shifted. Colleagues who usually greeted me warmly were whispering amongst themselves, their eyes flickering in my direction before quickly looking away. The tension was palpable, and I could feel their stares burning into my back as I walked past.Unease prickled at me. What was going on? Why did it feel like Iād suddenly become the center of everyoneās attention? Why was everyone acting so strange?I walked briskly, my heels clicking against the tiled floor as I ignored the murmurs and headed straight for my office. If there was something to be said, they could say it to my face.When I opened my office door,I froze. The reason for the gossip became clear.Sittin
š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© I sat at my desk, meticulously reviewing the project details before attaching the finalized drafts to an email. Arineās PA had requested these, and I wanted everything to be perfect. The sooner the contract-signing process was complete, the sooner I could focus on the actual concept. After hitting send, I leaned back, letting out a small sigh of relief. One task down. I shifted my attention to my inbox, scrolling through the new emails. Most were routine updates, but one caught my attention, making me pause. Before I could open it, the door to my office flew open with a loud bang, startling me. I looked up, and there he wasāAlex.His broad frame filled the doorway, his face contorted with fury. His stormy eyes locked onto mine. āHow dare you, Mila?ā he shouted, his voice echoing through the room. āHow dare you try to harm my child?ā I blinked, utterly baffled. āWhat the hell are you talking about?ā I asked, annoyed at his sudden intrusion. āAnd lower your voic
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©I curled up on the couch, aimlessly flicking through channels,hoping to find somethingāanythingāthat could distract me. A random show played on the screen, but I wasnāt really watching. The laughter track, the vibrant colors on the screenānone of it could lighten the heaviness in my chest.My mind refused to cooperate, dragging me back to memories Iād rather not revisit. Memories of him. Of Alex.I never thought weād end up like thisābroken and distant. There was a time when Alex loved me like I was his whole world. He had been my rock, my shield, my everything. It felt impossible to reconcile that version of him with the man who barged into my office today, spewing accusations without a shred of doubt.My thoughts wandered to a moment etched deeply in my heart. It had been at one of those high-profile social events he insisted I accompany him to, despite my protests. I never liked being in the spotlight, but Alex was always by my side, making sure I felt safe.That
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©When my eyes fluttered open, I was greeted by the blinding white of the hospital ceiling. A dull ache pulsed in my head as I struggled to recall how I ended up here. The last thing I remembered was the sharp pain and dizziness that had overwhelmed me back at home. Everything after that was a blur.Turning my head slightly, I spotted Sally slumped over the edge of my bed, her head resting on her folded arms. Her soft breathing was the only sound in the quiet room. A faint smile tugged at my lips. She looked so serene, almost like a child.I didnāt want to wake her. Knowing Sally, sheād worked herself to the bone worrying about me and ensuring I was safe.She mustāve been exhausted from her work and looking after me.I placed a gentle hand over my belly, holding my breath as I focused. Relief washed over me when I felt a faint flutter, a reassurance that my baby was okay. āThank goodness,ā I whispered, closing my eyes briefly in gratitude.The sound of the door opening
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as I lay resting on the hospital bed. Sally sat nearby, busy typing away on her laptop, her focus unwavering. Arine had left a while ago, needing to attend a meeting. He had promised to be back in an hour or two despite my protests. āDonāt stress yourself out for me,ā Iād said.Heād refused, his tone firm. āIāll be back soon. Rest.ā Then he was gone, leaving me with Sally, who, as usual, balanced everything effortlessly. It had been nearly half an hour when the calm was shattered by a commotion outside. A womanās shrill voice pierced through the silence, shouting at someoneālikely a staff member. The tone struck a strange chord within me, so familiar that it made my stomach churn. But I brushed the thought aside, chalking it up to exhaustion.Moments later, a deep, booming man's voice echoed through the hallway, scolding someone viciously.His words were cruel, demanding explanations for what he called their āinco
Mila's POVArineās grip on my hand was firm, his fingers wrapped around mine with a determination that left no room for argument.I had triedāmore than onceāto pull free, insisting that I didnāt need his help, but his quiet, stubborn resolve always won. After a few futile attempts, I sighed in resignation.Eventually, I stopped resisting.We walked in silence, but my thoughts were anything but quiet. Tomorrow loomed over me like a storm cloud. Every day brought a new challenge, another hurdle I had to overcome for my baby. Would it ever get easier? Or was this constant fight my new reality?I was so lost in my thoughts that I didnāt see it coming until I bumped into something solid. Startled, I stumbled slightly,My head jerked up, and I found myself staring at Arineās chest.I blinked, startled, and slowly raised my eyes to meet his. His expression caught me off guard. He was looking at me with an intensity I couldnāt quite nameāsomething sharp and layered, like he was holding back a ti
Mila's POVA voice called my name, soft at first, almost blending with my dreams. I tried to ignore it, turning over to sink back into the comforting void of sleep. But the voice came again, clearer this time, and unmistakably familiar. Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking against the soft light.Arine stood before me, his gaze steady and focused .Behind him stood a man whose presence made me pause, unfamiliar at first glance. Yet, as I looked at him more closely , there was a strange pull in the back of my mind as if I had seen him before but I couldnāt place where or when.āMila,ā Arine said gently, breaking through my thoughts. āYou should eat something. The nurse said itās important for your recovery. Maybe take a short walk afterward to stretch your legs.āI blinked at him and nodded, still distracted, as the man stepped forward. He carried a small foldable table and carefully placed it over my lap. His movements were deliberate, almost too familiar, as if heād done this for me bef
ššæš¶š»š²'š š½š¼šI pushed the door open cautiously, careful not to make a sound. The room was bathed in the dim light of the bedside lamp, its glow softening the edges of everything it touched. My gaze instantly fell on Mila, lying peacefully on the bed, her face relaxed, lost in sleep.For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, almost afraid to take another step. She looked so serene, so vulnerable. The woman who had unwittingly turned my world upside down, who didnāt even know who she truly wasāor who I wasāwas right there, within reach.My eyes swept across the room, searching for any sign of Sally. When I was certain she wasnāt here, a strange relief settled over me. It wasnāt that I disliked her presence, but right now, I wanted this moment to myself, this quiet, stolen moment with Mila.I moved closer, my steps careful and measured, until I was standing by her bedside. Her face was partially hidden by a strands of hair, and without thinking, I reached out and gently tucked it
ššæš¶š»š² 'š š£š¢š©Stepping out of the room, my hand still tingled where it had touched Mila to lead her in. Shaking off the warmth, now hanging in my chest, I closed the door, took a couple of steps down the hallway, and then looked around to make sure no one was around.Satisfied that I was alone, I pulled out my phone and swiped to answer the call. Placing it against my ear, I straightened my posture, letting my usual calm, authoritative tone seep into my voice.āYou better have a good reason for calling me at this hour,ā I said, my tone sharp and commanding.On the other end, a manās voice stammered slightly, clearly aware he had interrupted me at a delicate time. āI apologize for disturbing you, sir,the test results are out.I thought youād want to know immediately.āI froze, my grip on the phone tightening involuntarily. My heart thudded against my ribs as I braced myself for what was coming. āGo on,ā I said, my voice deceptively calm.āThe test is positive,ā he revealed. āAl
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š© Before either of us could say more, The silence was abruptly broken by a faint throat-clearing sound, startling both of us.Both of us froze,we turned simultaneously, confusion etched on our faces.There, sitting on the couch, was Sally.She was leaning back, one leg crossed over the other, a faint, amused smile playing on her lips. My cheeks burned as I realized what this must look like.Arine and I exchanged a quick look, and it was clear we both remembered how close we had been just seconds ago. His hands pinning me against the door, his intense gaze locking onto mineāit all seemed so... awkward now.Arine stepped back quickly, running a hand through his messy hair as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, a look of relief washing over his face. āI need to take this,ā he said, the clipped tone of his voice leaving no room for questions. Without another word, he slipped out of the room, leaving me to face Sally alone.The moment the door clicked
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š© I glanced at Arine, who was still staring in the direction where Alex and Lily had disappeared his features set in a hardened expression. He seemed lost in his thoughts, his jaw tightening with every passing second, his posture stiff. It wasnāt like him to look so unsettled, and it made me uneasy.Clearing my throat, I tried to bring him back to the present hoping to snap him out of whatever storm was brewing in his mind.His head snapped toward me, his dark eyes meeting mine. But this time, they werenāt calm or reassuringāthey were burning with frustration. It wasnāt anger meant to hurt, but the kind born out of worry and unspoken fears. His usual calm demeanor had shifted into something sharper, angrier.Before I could say anything, he gently took my hand despite the storm brewing in his expression. Without a word, he turned and began walking, leading me back to the hospital room where I was supposed to be resting.The moment we stepped inside, Arine shut the door
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š© Alex glared at Arine, his eyes blazing with fury as he yanked his hand free from Arineās iron grip. āThis is a personal matter,āhe growled, his voice sharp and accusatory. āYou have no right to interfere.ā I instinctively drew back, my fingers brushing against the fabric over my stomach, seeking some sense of calm. But Arine didnāt budge an inch. His gaze was cold and unyielding, as if Alexās rage didnāt even register. āAnything involving Mila is my concern,ā Arine said coolly, his words measured but laced with a quiet authority that made even me pause. Alexās eyes narrowed, darting from me to Arine and back again. āConcern?ā he sneered, his voice tinged with suspicion. āAnd who exactly are you?ā he demanded, his tone dripping with disdain. āWhat gives you the right to involve yourself in this?ā I could feel the tension spike in the air, thick and suffocating. I glanced at Arine, unsure of what he would say, but there was no hesitation in him. āWho am I?ā
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as I lay resting on the hospital bed. Sally sat nearby, busy typing away on her laptop, her focus unwavering. Arine had left a while ago, needing to attend a meeting. He had promised to be back in an hour or two despite my protests. āDonāt stress yourself out for me,ā Iād said.Heād refused, his tone firm. āIāll be back soon. Rest.ā Then he was gone, leaving me with Sally, who, as usual, balanced everything effortlessly. It had been nearly half an hour when the calm was shattered by a commotion outside. A womanās shrill voice pierced through the silence, shouting at someoneālikely a staff member. The tone struck a strange chord within me, so familiar that it made my stomach churn. But I brushed the thought aside, chalking it up to exhaustion.Moments later, a deep, booming man's voice echoed through the hallway, scolding someone viciously.His words were cruel, demanding explanations for what he called their āinco
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©When my eyes fluttered open, I was greeted by the blinding white of the hospital ceiling. A dull ache pulsed in my head as I struggled to recall how I ended up here. The last thing I remembered was the sharp pain and dizziness that had overwhelmed me back at home. Everything after that was a blur.Turning my head slightly, I spotted Sally slumped over the edge of my bed, her head resting on her folded arms. Her soft breathing was the only sound in the quiet room. A faint smile tugged at my lips. She looked so serene, almost like a child.I didnāt want to wake her. Knowing Sally, sheād worked herself to the bone worrying about me and ensuring I was safe.She mustāve been exhausted from her work and looking after me.I placed a gentle hand over my belly, holding my breath as I focused. Relief washed over me when I felt a faint flutter, a reassurance that my baby was okay. āThank goodness,ā I whispered, closing my eyes briefly in gratitude.The sound of the door opening