Alice woke up with a start, her heart racing. It took her a moment to remember where she was - in Max's guest room. She looked over at Charlie, still sleeping peacefully in his portable crib, and felt a wave of relief wash over her.As she got Charlie ready for the day, Alice couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. The photo Margaret had sent kept flashing in her mind, making her hold Charlie a little tighter than usual."We're going to be okay, sweetie," she whispered to Charlie as she strapped him into his car seat. "Mommy's going to keep you safe."At work, Alice found it hard to concentrate. She kept checking her phone, half expecting another threatening message from Margaret. Max noticed her distraction during their morning meeting."Alice," he said gently as the others filed out of the room, "are you sure you're okay? You seem really worried."Alice sighed, frowning her face. "I'm just scared, Max. What if Margaret tries something? What if she tries
she stood in her doorway, Margaret on one side and Max approaching from the other. Charlie's cries from inside the apartment grew louder, adding to the tension."Alice?" Max called again, concern clear in his voice. "What's going on?"Before Alice could respond, Margaret stepped forward, a cold smile on her face. "Oh, don't mind me. I'm just here to have a little chat with Alice about her son. Our son, I should say."Max reached them, his eyes darting between Alice and Margaret. "Who are you?" he asked Margaret, moving protectively closer to Alice."I'm Margaret," she said sweetly. "Carson's fiancée. Or I was, until Alice here stole him away."Alice felt her temper flare. "I didn't steal anyone, Margaret. You need to leave, now."Just then, Alice's phone buzzed. It was Carson. "Don't answer that," Margaret said sharply. "We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, would we?"Max looked confused and worried. "Alice, what's she talking about? What's going on?"Alice felt torn. She needed to
In the days following Margaret's confrontation, Alice felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The constant fear that had been her companion for weeks was finally gone. As she watched Charlie play on his baby mat, giggling at the colorful toys dangling above him, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't experienced in a long time.A knock at the door made her look up. It was Carson, right on time for his daily visit. Ever since the incident with Margaret, he had been coming by every day, sometimes just for a few minutes, other times staying for hours."Hey," he said softly as she let him in. His eyes immediately went to Charlie, a smile spreading across his face. "How's our little guy doing today?"Alice felt a warmth in her chest at his words. Our little guy. It felt right somehow. "He's great. Just had his afternoon nap, so he's full of energy."Carson knelt down next to Charlie, who immediately reached for him with chubby hands. "Hey buddy," Carson cooed, picking him up. "Did you miss yo
The morning sun streamed through the curtains as Carson packed his suitcase. He was preparing for his trip back to London, a journey he'd been putting off for too long. It was time to face his family, to explain his absence, and to resume his work at the company headquarters.As he folded a shirt, his mind wandered to Alice and Charlie. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of rekindled emotions and growing closeness. With Margaret's threats behind them, Carson had felt free to pursue the family life he'd always wanted.A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. It was Alice, Charlie balanced on her hip."Hey," she said, a soft smile on her face. "We thought we'd come say goodbye before you leave."Carson's heart swelled at the sight of them. "Come in," he said, reaching for Charlie. The baby gurgled happily, recognizing his father.As Carson held his son, he felt a pang of regret about leaving, even if it was just for a short while. "I'm going to miss you both," he said, looking
The ride home from the hospital was quiet, with Charlie sleeping peacefully in his car seat. Alice sat in the back with him, unable to take her eyes off her son. Carson had hailed a cab to take them home.Carson sat at the front with the cab man occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror at his little family, a mix of relief and love washing over him.As they pulled up to Alice's apartment building, Carson turned to her. "Why don't you both stay at my place tonight? I'd feel better if we were all together."Alice nodded, too exhausted to argue. "Okay, but we'll need to stop here first to pick up some things for Charlie."Once inside Alice's apartment, Carson insisted on packing while Alice tended to Charlie. As he moved around the small space, gathering clothes and toys, he was struck by how much he wanted this - not just visits and shared moments, but a real, everyday life with Alice and Charlie.With bags packed and Charlie settled, they made their way to Carson's larger apartment
"You're getting married?" Maxwell's voice was barely above a whisper, his face a mask of disbelief.Alice nodded, her eyes downcast. She had invited Maxwell to a quiet cafe and near her apartment, knowing this conversation wouldn't be easy. "Yes, Carson proposed last night. After everything that happened with Charlie's kidnapping, we realized life's too short to waste time."Maxwell sat back in his chair, his coffee untouched. The bustling café seemed to fade away as he processed Alice's words. "I see," he said finally, his voice tight. "And you're sure about this?"Alice looked up, meeting his gaze. "I am, Max. I know it might seem sudden, but Carson is Charlie's father. We have a chance to be a real family now."Maxwell's jaw clenched. He had known this was a possibility, had seen the way Alice and Carson had grown closer during the search for Charlie. But hearing it confirmed felt like a physical blow."What about us?" he asked, unable to keep the hurt from his voice. "Alice, I tho
So, how did Maxwell take the news?" Carson asked, his voice laced with concern as Alice walked through the door.Alice sighed, hanging up her coat and kicking off her shoes. "Not well," she admitted, moving to join Carson on the couch where he sat with Charlie. "He was hurt, angry even. I... I think we might have lost him as a friend."Carson wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "I'm sorry, love. I know he meant a lot to you."Alice leaned into Carson's embrace, reaching out to stroke Charlie's soft hair. The baby gurgled happily, oblivious to the adult concerns swirling around him. "It's for the best," she said softly. "We need to focus on our future now. Speaking of which, have you told your family yet?"Carson's face lit up with excitement. "Not yet. I wanted us to do it together. What do you say we give them a call now?"Alice nodded, a mix of nervousness and anticipation fluttering in her stomach. "Okay, let's do it."Carson had already explained everything concerning hi
"Three weeks to go," Carson said, wrapping his arms around Alice from behind as she stood in front of the calendar. "Are you ready for this?"Alice leaned back into his embrace, a mix of excitement and nervousness fluttering in her stomach. "As ready as I'll ever be. Though I'm not sure I'm prepared for the whirlwind that is your mother."Carson chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Don't worry, love. I'll protect you from Hurricane Elizabeth."As if on cue, Alice's phone rang. It was Carson's mother, Elizabeth MacPherson, calling for their daily wedding planning check-in."Alice, dear!" Elizabeth's voice bubbled through the speaker. "Have you decided on the flowers yet? I was thinking roses and lilies would look lovely together."Alice shot Carson a helpless look. "Um, not yet, Mrs. MacPherson. I'm still considering our options.""Oh, please call me mother" Carson's mother insisted. "We're going to be family soon! Now, about the seating arrangements..."After a lengthy conversati
Nine months seemed to fly by for Alice and Carson. They spent the time getting ready for their new baby, turning the guest room into a pretty nursery with soft yellow walls and cute animal pictures. Charlie was excited to be a big brother and would often talk to Alice's growing tummy.On a warm spring day, Alice felt the first signs that the baby was coming. Carson rushed her to the hospital, his heart beating fast with excitement and worry. After many hours of waiting and Alice being very brave, they finally heard the sound they had been waiting for - the cry of their new baby."It's a girl!" the doctor said, holding up the tiny, pink bundle.Alice and Carson looked at each other with tears in their eyes. Their baby girl was here, and she was perfect."What should we name her?" Carson asked softly, as he held his daughter for the first time.Alice smiled, remembering a name they had talked about. "How about Hope? Because she brings us so much hope and joy."Carson nodded, his eyes sh
After their wonderful honeymoon, Alice and Carson came back home feeling happy and relaxed. They were excited to start their new life together in their new house in London. It was a pretty house with white walls and a red door. The best part was the big garden in the back, perfect for their little son Charlie to play in.On their first day in the new house, Alice and Carson walked through each room, holding hands and smiling. Charlie toddled along behind them, his little eyes wide as he looked at his new home."What do you think, buddy?" Carson asked, picking Charlie up. "Do you like our new house?"Charlie giggled and pointed at the big windows. "Big!" he said, one of the few words he knew.Alice laughed. "That's right, sweetie. The windows are big. And look at the garden!" She carried Charlie to the back door to show him the green grass and colorful flowers.For the next few weeks, Alice and Carson were busy making the house feel like home. They painted the walls in pretty colors, h
After a long flight, Alice and Carson finally arrived at their honeymoon destination. It was a beautiful island with white sandy beaches and clear blue water. As they stepped out of the airport, they felt the warm sun on their faces and smelled the salty sea air."We're here!" Alice said excitedly, squeezing Carson's hand.Carson grinned at her. "Let the honeymoon begin, Mrs. MacPherson!"They took a taxi to their hotel, which was right on the beach. When they walked into their room, they gasped. It was gorgeous, with a big bed, a balcony overlooking the ocean, and even a little hot tub."Oh, Carson, it's perfect!" Alice said, rushing to the balcony to look at the view.Carson came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Not as perfect as you," he said, kissing her cheek.They spent the rest of that day relaxing by the hotel pool, sipping fruity drinks with little umbrellas in them. They were both tired from the long trip, but too excited to sleep.The next morning, they
After the beautiful ceremony in the garden, everyone went to a big party to celebrate Alice and Carson's marriage. The party was at a fancy hotel nearby. When Alice and Carson arrived, they were amazed at how pretty everything looked.The room was decorated with white and pink flowers, just like at the wedding. There were twinkling lights everywhere, making the room look magical. Big round tables were set up for all the guests, with white tablecloths and shiny silverware.As Alice and Carson walked in, everyone stood up and clapped. They felt so special, like a prince and princess in a fairy tale. They couldn't stop smiling as they made their way to the main table at the front of the room.Once everyone was seated, it was time for dinner. The food was delicious, just as Alice and Carson had hoped when they picked it out. There was the yummy chicken dish they both loved, and the tasty vegetable pasta. For the guests who didn't eat meat, there was a special vegetarian meal too.Alice an
The sun was just starting to come up when Alice opened her eyes. For a moment, she wondered why she felt so excited. Then she remembered - it was her wedding day! She sat up in bed, a big smile on her face.There was a soft knock on her door. "Alice? Are you awake?" It was her mom, Sarah."Yes, Mom! Come in!" Alice called out.Sarah came in, followed by Carson's sisters - Karen, Mia, Ava, and Alexis. They were all smiling and looking very happy."It's time to get ready!" Karen said, clapping her hands. "We have a bride to make beautiful!"Alice laughed. "Okay, okay! I'm ready!"They all went downstairs to have a quick breakfast. Alice was too excited to eat much, but her mom made her have some toast and fruit."You need energy for your big day," Sarah said, patting Alice's hand.After breakfast, it was time to start getting ready. They went to Alice's room, where her beautiful white dress was hanging up."Oh, Alice," Mia sighed. "Your dress is so pretty!"Alice smiled, running her han
Alice and Carson were very busy getting ready for their big day. They had picked a pretty garden for their wedding. It had lots of green grass, colorful flowers, and big trees. When they first saw it, they both knew it was perfect.Alice's mom, Sarah, was so happy to help with the plans. She and Alice's sisters, Emma and Lily, spent many days talking about all the little details. They looked at lots of magazines and websites to get ideas."What kind of flowers do you want, Alice?" Emma asked one day. They were sitting in Alice's living room, surrounded by pictures of different flowers.Alice thought for a moment. "I like roses," she said. "But I also like daisies. They're so happy and bright.""Why not have both?" Lily suggested. "We could have roses for the fancy parts and daisies for the fun parts."Alice smiled. "That's a great idea! Carson likes both of those flowers too."They decided on white roses for the serious parts of the wedding, like the ceremony. For the party after, the
A few weeks after the trial, Alice was feeling much better. The bad memories were starting to fade, and she was looking forward to good things again. One morning, Carson came to her with a big smile on his face."Alice, my love," he said, "I think it's time we started planning our wedding again. What do you think?"Alice's face lit up. "Really? You still want to marry me after everything that's happened?"Carson hugged her tight. "Of course I do. I love you more than ever. Nothing could change that."Alice felt so happy. She had been worried that all the bad stuff might have changed things between them. But Carson's love was as strong as ever."Okay," she said, smiling. "Let's do it. Let's plan our wedding."But first, the MacPhersons wanted to talk to Alice. They asked her to come to their big house for dinner. Alice was a little nervous, but Carson held her hand and told her it would be okay.When they got to the house, Mr. and Mrs. MacPherson were waiting for them. They looked very
A few days after Alice's rescue, the police were still working hard to understand everything that had happened. They talked to many people and looked at lots of clues. One day, a police officer came to see Alice and Carson at the hospital."Miss Smit," the officer said, "we need to talk to you about something important. We found out that someone else was involved in your kidnapping."Alice sat up in her bed, holding Carson's hand tight. "Who?" she asked.The officer looked serious. "It's Margaret, Mr. MacPherson's ex-fiancée. We have proof that she helped plan your kidnapping with Maxwell."Alice and Carson were shocked. They knew Margaret didn't like Alice, but they never thought she would do something so bad."Are you sure?" Carson asked, his voice shaky.The officer nodded. "Yes, we're sure. We found messages between her and Maxwell. She told him where to find Alice and helped him plan everything."Alice felt sick. She remembered seeing Margaret at the warehouse after her rescue. N
Maxwell paced back and forth in the old warehouse, looking at his watch every few minutes. Alice sat in the corner, tied up, her once-pretty wedding dress now dirty and torn. She watched Maxwell, feeling scared and sad for him, wondering how her friend had become this scary, desperate man.There was a knock at the door. Maxwell's head jerked up, his eyes wide. "Finally," he muttered, hurrying to open it.An old man in priest clothes stood there, looking nervous and confused. "Mr. Johnson? I'm Father Thomas. I got your... strange request."Maxwell pulled the priest inside, quickly closing the door. "Yes, thank you for coming, Father. Like I said, this is a special situation."Father Thomas's eyes got big when he saw the room - the dirty warehouse, the tied-up woman in a wedding dress, the jumpy man who had called him. "Young man, what's going on here?" he asked, his voice shaky."Father, please help me!" Alice cried out. "He took me. He's trying to make me marry him!"The priest steppe