Daniel stood at the back of the room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He didn’t say a word. Tasha frowned, her brows knitting together as she tried to piece together the fragments of her memory. “I remember meeting Mr. Belvoir… Dad,” she corrected, looking up at him. “I was in his house. With Ethan.” She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the blanket. “Then I went back home.” Claire shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the others before asking cautiously, “You mean… in London?” Tasha nodded slowly. “Yes.” The room went still. Robbin’s gaze flickered toward Daniel, but Daniel didn’t react. His jaw was set, his eyes locked onto Tasha, but he remained silent. Mr. Belvoir, standing near the door, exhaled softly. “That was nearly two years ago.” Tasha’s eyes widened. “What?” Claire sat beside her, gently taking her hand. “Tasha… you’ve been here for a while. You left London.” Tasha shook her head, confusion flashing across her face. “No. I— I would remember
Tasha's POV I sat in the quiet, sterile room of the hospital, the faint smell of antiseptic filling the air as I clutched the envelope in my hands. My heart pounded against my chest as I stared at the results. The test I had taken only a few days ago had confirmed it, but seeing the official confirmation from the hospital made it all real. I was pregnant. One month pregnant. A mixture of emotions swirled inside me, excitement, fear, and relief. I ran my hand over my flat stomach, imagining the life growing inside me. I was carrying Daniel’s baby. The thought made my heart swell with joy. This was the news that could change everything. After all the distance between us, after all the arguments and tension, maybe this would be what finally brought us back together. I imagined his reaction, the way his eyes might light up when I told him he was going to be a father. Daniel, the strong, confident billionaire, heir to the Sterling family empire, with all his power and wealth, would
I felt a sharp pain of dread settle in my stomach as I grabbed my coat and keys. I had hoped tonight would be different, that I’d finally be able to tell him about the baby. But instead, I was heading to the hospital again for her. The woman who had turned my life upside down since the moment she came back from London. The woman who had taken Daniel's attention, affection, and now, once again, his loyalty. As I arrived at the hospital, the fluorescent lights flickered above me, a sterile reminder of the countless times I had been here before. The moment I walked into the waiting room, I saw Daniel pacing back and forth. His face lit up when he saw me, but it wasn’t the kind of relief that came from seeing his wife. No, it was the relief that came from knowing I would help Vanessa again. “You need to donate your blood now,” Daniel said quickly, pulling me toward the nurses’ station. “Daniel, wait,” I said, trying to slow him down, but he barely glanced at me. “She needs you,
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I stood my ground, refusing to let him see just how much it hurt. I didn’t say a word. I simply turned on my heel and walked out of the hospital, the weight of my decision pressing down on me, but for the first time in a long while... I felt free. I walked towards the parking lot, the world around me spinning slightly. My hand instinctively went to my stomach as a wave of dizziness hit me, my heart racing from the confrontation. I pulled out my phone, my fingers shaking as I scrolled through my contacts. Stanley, Daniel’s friend and best man. He’d always been kind to me, a rare source of comfort when Daniel was distant. He never judged, just listened. Right now, I needed that more than ever. The phone rang twice before he picked up. “Tasha? Everything okay?” “Hi, Stanley,” I said, my voice weak. “Are you free? Sorry to bother you, but I’m at Central Hospital. I’m not feeling too well, and I don’t think I can go back home myself.” T
Tasha's POV The world around me was dark, heavy, as if I were submerged deep underwater. A sharp, distant beeping cut through the fog, pulling me up from the depths of unconsciousness. I groaned softly, my chest aching with every shallow breath I took. Where am I? The sterile scent of disinfectant hit me first, followed by the soft hum of machines. Slowly, I forced my eyes open, the harsh fluorescent lights above me blurring into focus. The white walls, the medical equipment, the stiff sheets under my fingers—it all came rushing back. I was in a hospital. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my chest made me wince. A woman in a white coat stood at the foot of the bed, checking my chart. Her blonde hair was pulled back neatly, and her sharp gaze softened when she noticed I was awake. “you’re awake,” she said in a calm, professional voice. “I’m Dr. Walsh. How are you feeling Ms..?” I swallowed, my throat dry. “Tasha, tired… what happened?” “You collapsed on the street,”
I couldn’t answer. The pain was too intense, radiating through my abdomen like a wave crashing over me. My vision blurred as panic surged through me. I doubled over, clutching my stomach, gasping for air. Robbin was at my side in an instant, his hands hovering as if unsure whether to touch me or call for help. “Tasha, talk to me! What’s happening?” His voice was filled with urgency, but I couldn’t form the words. I tried to breathe through it, but all I could think about was the baby. Something was wrong.Terribly wrong. Robbin’s face was pale, his hands finally reaching out to steady me as I struggled to stay upright. “I’m getting the doctor,” he muttered, and before I could stop him, he rushed toward the door, shouting for help. Everything seemed to happen in a blur after that. Nurses rushed in, followed closely by Dr. Walsh. They lifted me onto the bed as the pain continued to tear through me. The doctor’s face was a mask of concentration, her hands moving swiftly as she b
Daniel's POV As I left the house with my signature on the divorce papers, I felt a strange weight lift off my shoulders. This was it the clean break I'd been waiting for. The chance to be with Venessa, the woman I’d always wanted. Thoughts of her filled my mind as I drove toward the hospital, the memory of our time together before she left for London replaying in my head. I couldn’t deny that I’d always loved her. Tasha, well, she was introduced into my life by my father. Our marriage had been more about business and less about love, the love was there but just less. I parked the car and headed straight to Venessa’s hospital room. This was my chance to rebuild what we had lost. But as I approached her door, I noticed it was slightly ajar. I paused, and that’s when I heard voices. “Don’t be so greedy,” Venessa replied, her tone sharp and not at all like someone who had been bedridden. “Now that your plan has worked.” a voice said. I recognize it as the doctor's." Before I could
Daniel's POV Next morning, I arrived at the hospital to pick up Venessa. She was finally being discharged, and as she walked toward me, I could see the relief in her eyes. She had always been so strong, so resilient. We drove back to my place in silence, and though I tried to focus on the road, my mind kept wandering to the divorce papers, Tasha’s signature, and the strange emptiness I felt. Venessa was here with me now, the woman I had always loved, but something felt off. Maybe it was just the transition, the sudden change from one life to another. When we got home, Venessa immediately made herself comfortable, sinking into the couch with a sigh. I watched her, trying to suppress the unease gnawing at the back of my mind. After a few moments of silence, Venessa stood up, her eyes catching on something on the table. The divorce papers. She picked them up, a small frown forming on her lips. "Oh, Daniel," she said softly, glancing down at the papers, her voice filled with sympath
Daniel stood at the back of the room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He didn’t say a word. Tasha frowned, her brows knitting together as she tried to piece together the fragments of her memory. “I remember meeting Mr. Belvoir… Dad,” she corrected, looking up at him. “I was in his house. With Ethan.” She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the blanket. “Then I went back home.” Claire shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the others before asking cautiously, “You mean… in London?” Tasha nodded slowly. “Yes.” The room went still. Robbin’s gaze flickered toward Daniel, but Daniel didn’t react. His jaw was set, his eyes locked onto Tasha, but he remained silent. Mr. Belvoir, standing near the door, exhaled softly. “That was nearly two years ago.” Tasha’s eyes widened. “What?” Claire sat beside her, gently taking her hand. “Tasha… you’ve been here for a while. You left London.” Tasha shook her head, confusion flashing across her face. “No. I— I would remember
Daniel felt his stomach tighten at the way she looked at him, like he was a stranger. Tasha’s breathing grew uneven as her gaze flickered around the room, taking in the medical equipment, the soft beeping of the monitors, the IV in her arm. Her fingers curled into the bedsheets as if grounding herself. "Why are you here, Daniel?" she asked again, sharper this time, her voice laced with confusion and something else, something distant. "Where I'm I?" Claire and Robbin exchanged uneasy glances, but neither spoke. Ethan, sensing the shift in his mother’s demeanor, clung to her arm. “Mom?” he whispered. “You’re home now.” Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide, panic creeping into her expression. "Home?" she echoed. Ethan nodded eagerly, trying to reassure her. "Right, Dad?" Tasha froze. Her gaze snapped back to Daniel, and for the first time since waking up, there was something else in her eyes, uncertainty. “Dad?” she repeated slowly, as if the word itself didn’t make s
Claire, who had gone back to check on Tasha, suddenly let out a startled gasp. “Tasha? Tasha… Oh my God!” Her voice rang through the quiet estate, filled with shock and relief. Daniel and Robbin barely had time to process her words before she came running out of the room, her expression frantic but hopeful. “She’s awake! Tasha’s awake!” Robbin reacted first. “Call the doctor,” he ordered, already moving toward the room. Daniel didn’t wait, he rushed past them, pushing open the door to Tasha’s room. His heart pounded as he stepped inside. Tasha was lying in bed, her eyes fluttering open, blinking as if trying to adjust to the light. Her breathing was uneven, her body weak from days of being unconscious. But she was awake. She was awake. Daniel exhaled a shaky breath, stepping closer, almost afraid that if he blinked, she would disappear. “Tasha…” Her eyes moved slowly, searching, until they landed on him. Confusion flickered across her face, followed by exhaustion. He
Claire was already there, sitting beside Tasha’s bed, adjusting the blanket carefully. The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of medical equipment filling the space. When she looked up and saw Daniel standing in the doorway, she let out a quiet sigh. “Daniel, I’m sorry…” she said, standing up. Daniel’s gaze moved from Claire to Tasha, who lay still, her breathing steady but weak. His chest tightened at the sight of her like this. He swallowed hard before looking back at Claire. “You should’ve called me,” he said, his voice rough with frustration. Claire nodded, guilt written all over her face. “I wanted to, but I had to settle Ethan in first. He was already upset, and Mr. Belvoir made it clear that he didn’t want any more chaos.” Daniel let out a slow, controlled breath, running a hand through his hair. “And you just went along with it?” Claire frowned. “I didn’t have a choice, Daniel. Mr. Belvoir arranged everything before anyone could tell what was going on. She’s being mo
The next morning, Daniel gripped his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white. His pulse pounded in his ears as he stalked through the hospital hallway, barely keeping his composure. He had only been gone for a few hours. How the hell had they moved her without his knowledge? He reached the nurses’ station, his voice dangerously low. “Where is Tasha?” The nurse hesitated, glancing nervously at his tense posture. “She was discharged early this morning under private medical care. Arrangements were made by her family.” Daniel clenched his jaw, his mind spinning. He barely heard the rest of what she said before he stormed outside, dialing Claire. She picked up after a few rings, her voice cautious. “Daniel—” “Where the hell is Tasha?” he demanded. Claire sighed. “Daniel, calm down.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed in his pocket, the caller ID displaying Stanley’s name. He answered quickly, his voice tight with exhaustion. “Stanley,” Daniel began, his tone calm but heavy, “I'm glad you called back.” “I’m sorry about the accident,” Stanley’s voice came through, filled with concern. “Is everyone okay?” Daniel leaned back against the wall, his eyes closing for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. “We lost Mike,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “He didn’t make it. Tasha’s in a coma, but the doctors are hopeful. Ethan… he’s okay. Just shaken up.” There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Stanley’s voice spoke again, softer. “I’m sorry, Daniel. Mike was a good man. His wife and kid… they’ll be well taken care of, won’t they?” Daniel’s expression hardened as he replied, his words
The doctor raised a hand to calm them. "If Mr. Sterling agrees, we can temporarily assign guardianship to Mr. Robbin while Ms. Tasha is recovering. But this has to be a joint decision." Daniel looked away, clenching his jaw. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Fine. But I’m not stepping back. I’m still his father." Robbin nodded. "I never said you weren’t." The doctor scribbled something on the file. "Alright. We’ll get the paperwork started." Daniel ran a hand down his face, exhausted but resigned. "Can we see her now?" The doctor nodded. "I’ll have a nurse take you in." Robbin exhaled, glancing toward the door. As they stepped out of the doctor’s office, the tension between Daniel and Robbin was thick. The
The car skidded to a halt, smoke rising from the hood. For a moment, there was only silence, the world eerily still. Tasha’s head spun. She tried to focus, but everything was blurred around her. Ethan’s small, trembling hand was still in hers, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Darkness threatened to take over her senses as her body felt weightless, and her mind began to slip away. “Mom? Mom?” Ethan’s voice, faint but full of panic, echoed in the distance. But it was fading, the edges of his voice muffled as everything slipped into blackness. The sterile white lights were too bright, the machines too loud. The sound of beeping filled Tasha’s ears, the rhythm a constant reminder that she was still here, still alive. But she wasn’t truly awake. Not yet.
Tasha’s grip on her phone tightened as Vanessa’s words echoed in her ears. “I’m outside. Don’t keep me waiting.” Her breath came in short gasps, but she forced herself to stay calm. She turned back, scanning the aisles for Mike, but he was nowhere to be seen. “Mike?” she called out sharply, but there was no response. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she knew she didn’t have time to lose. Her fingers trembled as she quickly dialed Daniel’s number. Daniel answered almost immediately, his voice laced with concern. “Tasha? What’s wrong?” “It’s Vanessa,” she whispered, stepping out of the toy store and onto the busy mall walkway. “She has Ethan.” “What?” Daniel’s voice rose in alarm. “Where are you? Where’s Mike?” “I don’t know,