Life didn’t just pause after Vanessa’s downfall. There were still wounds to heal, relationships to mend, and a future to rebuild. And for Tasha, that meant family. If there was one thing Tasha was sure of, it was Ethan. He was her heart, her purpose, the one thing that had kept her going through everything. And after all the chaos, after all the battles she had fought, she refused to let any of it touch him. She wanted Ethan to grow up safe. Happy. Whole. So she made a choice. She put him first. She started taking time off work, something she had rarely done before. Instead of long nights drowning in stress and exhaustion, she spent evenings reading Ethan bedtime stories. Instead of constant worry, she took him on weekend trips, just the two of them, exploring places he had always wanted to see. Instead of being lost in the past, she focused on his future. One night, as she tucked him into bed, he looked up at her with those big, curious eyes and asked, “Are we going to
Tasha sighed as she pulled into the driveway, rubbing her temples. Work had been brutal today back-to-back meetings, endless reports, and a malfunctioning coffee machine that had nearly driven her over the edge. All she wanted was to kick off her heels, change into sweatpants, and curl up on the couch with Ethan. But the moment she opened the door, she froze. The entire house was bathed in warm, golden candlelight. The air was thick with the scent of fresh roses, and red, pink, and white petals created a soft, delicate path across the floor. Tiny fairy lights twinkled around the living room, casting a magical glow. Tasha’s heart pounded. What was going on? She stepped inside cautiously, her eyes scanning the room. The familiar space now looked like something out of a fairy tale. Then— “Mommy, Mommy!” Ethan came running full speed toward her, his face glowing with excitement. Tasha barely had time to brace herself before her little boy wrapped his arms around her le
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
Tasha sighed as she pulled into the driveway, rubbing her temples. Work had been brutal today back-to-back meetings, endless reports, and a malfunctioning coffee machine that had nearly driven her over the edge. All she wanted was to kick off her heels, change into sweatpants, and curl up on the couch with Ethan. But the moment she opened the door, she froze. The entire house was bathed in warm, golden candlelight. The air was thick with the scent of fresh roses, and red, pink, and white petals created a soft, delicate path across the floor. Tiny fairy lights twinkled around the living room, casting a magical glow. Tasha’s heart pounded. What was going on? She stepped inside cautiously, her eyes scanning the room. The familiar space now looked like something out of a fairy tale. Then— “Mommy, Mommy!” Ethan came running full speed toward her, his face glowing with excitement. Tasha barely had time to brace herself before her little boy wrapped his arms around her le
Life didn’t just pause after Vanessa’s downfall. There were still wounds to heal, relationships to mend, and a future to rebuild. And for Tasha, that meant family. If there was one thing Tasha was sure of, it was Ethan. He was her heart, her purpose, the one thing that had kept her going through everything. And after all the chaos, after all the battles she had fought, she refused to let any of it touch him. She wanted Ethan to grow up safe. Happy. Whole. So she made a choice. She put him first. She started taking time off work, something she had rarely done before. Instead of long nights drowning in stress and exhaustion, she spent evenings reading Ethan bedtime stories. Instead of constant worry, she took him on weekend trips, just the two of them, exploring places he had always wanted to see. Instead of being lost in the past, she focused on his future. One night, as she tucked him into bed, he looked up at her with those big, curious eyes and asked, “Are we going to
The psychiatric wing of the prison was cold, clinical. The walls were painted a dull gray, the air thick with the sterile scent of disinfectant. Every step down the hallway felt heavier than the last, as if some invisible force was pushing her back, telling her to turn around. But she didn’t. A guard led her into a separate observation room, where a thick pane of bulletproof glass separated her from Vanessa Steele. The woman sitting in the padded cell was a ghost of who she had been. Gone was the polished, confident Vanessa who once walked into a room owning it. This Vanessa was frail. Her once flawless hair hung in uneven strands, her nails bitten down to nothing. She sat on the floor, rocking back and forth, her knees pulled to her chest. And her lips… They never stopped moving. Tasha knew what she was saying before she even heard it. “Tasha… Tasha… Tasha…” A chill ran through her spine. Vanessa hadn’t even noticed her yet. She was lost in her own world, whispe
The court psychiatrist leaned in and whispered something to the judge. The judge nodded grimly before banging his gavel. “Enough,” he said. His voice was final. “The defendant will undergo a full psychological evaluation.” As the guards dragged Vanessa from the courtroom, her screams echoed off the walls. “This isn’t over, Tasha!” she shrieked. “You hear me?! IT’S NOT OVER!” But it was. Two weeks later, the courtroom was silent as the judge read the final decision. “Vanessa Steele, this court finds you guilty on all counts,” he declared. Murmurs spread through the room. Vanessa sat, expression blank, her fingers twitching. “For the crimes of attempted murder, conspiracy, and the murder of Mike Anderson, you are sentenced to forty years in a high security psychiatric prison.” Vanessa didn’t move. The bailiffs approached, preparing to escort her away. That was when she began to laugh. Soft at first. Then louder. She threw her head back, cackling. It was the laugh
A sharp cry. Both Tasha and Daniel moved closer just in time to see Vanessa thrashing against the officers restraining her. But something was different now. Gone was the cold, calculating woman who had threatened Tasha moments ago. In her place was someone frantic, unhinged someone unraveling before their eyes. “No! No, Tasha is the real culprit!” Vanessa shrieked, her voice rising in hysteria. “You should arrest her! She took everything from me!” Tasha’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Vanessa’s wild eyes dart between her and Daniel. It was as if something inside Vanessa had finally cracked, something that had been holding her together just long enough to get to this point. Daniel tensed beside her, his jaw locking as Vanessa’s attention snapped to him. “Daniel—” she pleaded, her voice turning desperate. “Daniel, tell them! Don’t let Tasha take everything from me! You know you still love me! I know you do! She came between us! She ruined everything! She—” Her w
Vanessa’s breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as she glared at Tasha, her eyes burning with pure hatred. Her fingers twitched as if itching to grab the gun again, but Daniel stood between them now, his stance rigid, protective. “You should have stayed away from me and my family,” Tasha said, stepping closer, her voice like ice. “You should have accepted Daniel’s offer and left to start over.” Vanessa let out a bitter laugh, her face twisting in anger. “Start over?” she spat. “While you get to have everything? While I’m left with nothing?” Tasha’s jaw clenched. Enough. Without warning, she struck her palm cracking against Vanessa’s cheek in a sharp, resounding slap. Vanessa’s head snapped to the side, but before she could react, another slap landed, harder, making her stumble slightly. “Don’t ever mess with my family,” Tasha warned, her voice low and deadly. “Or next time, there will be no next cause you won’t even get the opportunity to do that.” Vanessa’s lips curled into
Vanessa’s eyes blazed with long buried resentment, her voice dripping with venom. “Do you know why I’ve always hated you?” she asked, her tone low but vibrating with raw emotion. Tasha didn’t flinch, her gaze steady. “Of course,” she replied coldly. “You said it yourself, it’s always about Daniel.” Vanessa’s lips curled into a bitter snarl. “Not just that,” she spat, her voice trembling with anger. “You took everything away from me. You stole my future. You and that bitch, Vivienne.” Tasha’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Vivienne. A cold wave of realization passed through her, but she stayed silent, letting Vanessa unravel. Vanessa continued, her voice rising with each word. “Do you remember the full ride scholarship to the fashion school Mr. Sterling offered you back then? That scholarship was supposed to be mine!” Her fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. “I worked for it, I earned it. But then you showed up, some nobody from the gutter and took it from me!”
Tasha’s footsteps crunched softly against the damp earth as she neared the back of the Edge Café. The old, weathered building loomed silently in the early morning mist, the neon sign above flickering faintly as if struggling to wake up with the rest of the world. Beyond the café, the narrow path led down toward the stream, the gentle sound of flowing water growing louder with each step. Her heart pounded, every beat echoing in her ears as she slowed her pace. The air smelled of earth and dew, a crispness that clung to her skin. She scanned the area, her eyes sharp beneath the shadow of her hoodie. The place was eerily still. No movement. No sign of Vanessa. Yet. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, her stomach twisting. It was a message from Daniel: I’m on my way. Stay where I can find you. Tasha’s thumb hovered over the reply button, but she
He hesitated, clearly torn between his duty and her command. “Ma’am, please—” “I’ll be fine,” she interrupted gently but firmly. “No one follows me.” The guard clenched his jaw, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, but reluctantly nodded. “Be careful,” he muttered, watching as she slipped through the gate and disappeared into the early morning haze. The air outside was crisp, almost biting, but Tasha barely felt it. She pulled the hoodie over her head, tucking her hair inside as she walked briskly down the street. Every step echoed in her ears, mingling with the rapid beat of her heart. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she quickly pulled it out. A message flashed across the screen. I knew you’d come around. Meet me behind the café, down to the stream. Tasha scoffed softly, shaking her head. She glanced at the time 5:20 AM. Time was slipping fast. Without thinking too much, she opened her messages and typed quickly to Daniel. Meet me behind the café, down to the str