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Facing fears
Last Updated:
2025-01-25 19:06:53
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Pretend to be mine A path forward
Lucia’s body shook with sobs as she confronted the pain of her past. She wiped her tears with the hem of her tank top, her eyes fixed on Olivia."I'm so sorry, Carolyn ," Lucia whispered, her voice cracking. "I've regretted my actions for years, but I've been too ashamed to apologize."Carolyn’s expression softened, her eyes brimming with compassion. "Lulu, you've been there for me during my toughest moments," she said gently. "Like when I needed help moving out of that awful apartment in New York after the breakup."Lucia’s guilt resurfaced, but Carolyn’s words offered a glimmer of hope. "I know I wasn't perfect, Carolyn ," Lucia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hurt you, and I'm deeply sorry. This program was my attempt to make amends, but I realize now that I needed to apologize in person, regardless of the outcome."Carolyn’s face reflected a mix of sadness and understanding. "I appreciate your honesty, Lulu," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "Your apology me
Last Updated : 2025-01-26Pretend to be mine A moment of truth
Avon wanted to surprise Lucia. Avon slipped through the doorway of the city council chambers right at six. He’d wanted to get there early, but he didn’t want Lucia to see him before the meeting started. She hadn’t acknowledged the doughnuts, but he knew she’d gotten them; he’d followed the delivery guy to her office to make sure.He found one of the only empty seats in the back of the council chamber, next to a woman with lots of curly hair who looked vaguely familiar. She looked up and smiled at him for a second before looking back down her phone, her thumbs flying across the screen.He saw Lucia up at the front of the room, sitting next to Nolan and behind a woman he assumed was the mayor. Damn, it felt so good to see her again, even from across the room. She was sitting there, intent on the proceedings, in one of those suits he loved, looking like she was in her element. She was in her element.Maybe she was relieved to not have him taking up her time anymore. Maybe Nolan had a
Last Updated : 2025-01-27Pretend to be mine A change of heart
Avon.Her mind went blank. What was he doing here? She hadn't told him about the meeting, and she certainly hadn't invited him. A flutter of surprise mixed with a dash of anxiety stirred in her chest.How did he even know about this meeting? Lucia's thoughts whirled as she struggled to maintain her composure. She couldn't let her emotions get the better of her, not now, not when she was so close to achieving her goal.But Avon’s presence threw her off balance. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Why had he come? Was he here to support her, or to sabotage her efforts?Lucia's eyes locked onto Avon’s , and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The room around her melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a sea of uncertainty.There was something in his eyes, something that looked almost like... longing. Lucia's heart skipped a beat. No, she must be imagining things. Avon had made it clear he wasn't interested in her, not in that way.But as she looked into
Last Updated : 2025-01-27Pretend to be mine Seeking blessings and advice
“Miss Hills?” The voice came from the doorway. Lucia put her head on his shoulder, laughing into his mascara-stained shirt before she turned toward the security guy. “I was going to lock up. Should I, um . . .” Lucia cleared her throat. “Sorry about this, you can lock up. Let me just get my stuff.” She picked her purse back up from where she’d dropped it on the ground and took Avon’s hand. “Let’s go home.” He squeezed her hand and walked with her out the door. “Aren’t you forgetting that we have to meet up with everyone from your office?” She stopped and laughed as she wiped her face with the sleeve of her suit jacket. “I can’t believe it, but I had forgotten that. I’ll text Nolan; he’ll understand. Carolyn can come over . . . a little bit later.” Avon shook his head. He wanted nothing more than to take her straight home and make up for all of their lost time, but he knew she’d regret missing out on this night with her crew. “No, no, you can’t not go. This is your night of
Last Updated : 2025-01-28Pretend to be mine The proposal
“Why can’t James meet us at the restaurant?” Lucia said walked into the Lacoste , almost a year and three months after they’d met there. James and Lucas were in town and were staying there for some reason, instead of one of the more convenient hotels downtown. Avon had insisted on meeting them in their room, instead of at the restaurant where they were having dinner. Lucia was trying not to complain about it, but it was a Thursday night at eight , she’d had a long day, and she was ready for a cocktail and an enormous plate of French fries.“He needs your opinion on his outfit. I don’t know.” Avon had been distracted their whole drive there and kept checking his phone. She knew he had a few patients he was worried about, but this was unusual for him.She pressed the button for the elevator and looked up at him and smiled, ready to reminisce about their elevator, but he wasn’t looking at her; he was looking off in the distance. Okay. She tried not to take it personally.In the past ye
Last Updated : 2025-01-29Pretend to be mine Forever entwined
The air vibrated with a nervous energy, a happy hum that buzzed through the meticulously decorated gardens. Sunlight dappled through the leaves, painting shifting patterns on the white linen tablecloths and the faces of the assembled guests. Today was the day. Today, Avon would marry Lucia. Avon, usually a whirlwind of nervous energy, stood surprisingly calm beneath the gazebo. His dark hair, usually unruly, was slicked back, and the tailored suit felt both familiar and foreign all at once. He adjusted his tie for the tenth time, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He glanced around at the crowd - familiar faces filled with love and anticipation. His parents, beaming with pride, his mother, playfully winking, and his boisterous group of friends, all trying to mask their own emotions with jokes and backslaps. He was ready. Or at least, he told himself he was. He had imagined this day countless times in his mind, each time a little different, each time culminating in
Last Updated : 2025-01-29Pretend to be mine A Change of plans
Seeing Lucia in pain like that was killing Avon. His heart ached for her with every scream she let out and every tear that fell from her eyes. He called his mom, dad, and Carolyn to let them know that Lucia had gone into labor. They stopped in the room for a few minutes to talk to her and then took seats out in the waiting room. Avon and Lucia had discussed that they didn’t want anyone else in the room during the delivery. The nurse asked him to step out into the hall. “I don’t want you to worry, but Lucia isn’t dilating like she should be. I’m getting concerned because her water broke, and I don’t want to risk an infection setting in. I think we need to let her get up and do some walking around to try and get her dilated.” “You tell me not to worry, but you’re worried about an infection,” Avon said. “I’ll call Dr. lee and ask him what he advises,” he said as he put his hand on my shoulder. “I’m watching her and the baby very carefully.” “Thanks for keeping me posted,.” He sighe
Last Updated : 2025-01-29Pretend to be mine Asher Carson
“I love that name.” She smiled. “ Asher is a beautiful name, and I think it fits him perfectly.” Avon leaned over and kissed her lips. Seeing him sitting there and holding Asher was one of the happiest moments of her life. Anyone who looked at him could see and feel the love he had for that child. “All stitched up, Lucia ,” Dr.Lee said said. “If you want, you can hold your baby now.” Avon looked at her and smiled as he put Asher in her arms. “Are you feeling okay?” Avon asked. “I’m feeling great.” She smiled as she kissed her baby’s forehead. Diana and Lucas walked over to them. “Congratulations, you two,” they said as Diana kissed her head and Avon shook Lucas’s hand. The nurse wheeled her out of the operating room and back into her room. She couldn’t believe that their son was here. It seemed like only yesterday that she found out she was pregnant. Once she was back in the room and settled in bed, Avon left to go tell our family and friends that Asher had arrived. As Ashe
Last Updated : 2025-01-31
Latest chapter
Pretend to be mine The proposal
“I’m so sorry. Please tell me you forgive me,” he begged as he buried his face deep into Lucia's neck. “I forgive you, but we need to talk,” she said. “I know, and I’ll do anything to make things right. I love you, and I missed you so much.” Lucia broke their embrace and placed her hands on his face. “I missed you too,” age said as she kissed him. “Come sit down and have some coffee and the hangover cocktail I just made.” “You know I hate that stuff.” “I know you do, but it works and you have to be feeling pretty lousy right now.” “I am,” he said as he rubbed his head. Lucia picked up the glass with the cocktail in it and sat down on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and as she brought the glass to his lips. “Drink.” she smiled. He looked at her, made a face, and took a sip as she tilted the glass. He took it from her hand and chugged it down as fast as he could, then placed the glass on the counter. “Where’s our baby?” he asked. “He’s at my mom's with Dian
Pretend to be mine After the fall
It was a Saturday morning. Lucia say down in front of the balcony letting her hands run through her hair. “He misses you, and he’s not doing good,” she heard a voice say behind her.She turned around and saw Diana standing a few feet away from her. She smiled and held out her hand for Diana to sit next to her.“What are you doing here? Should you even be here?” she asked as she kissed Diana on the cheek.“I’m fine. Martins drove. He's in the car , talking to his boss. I don’t want to talk about me. How are you doing?”“I’m okay,” she said as I looked into her phone.“No, you’re not. I know you, Lucia, and you miss him just as much as he misses you.”“I’m so mad at him, Diana. How could he do that to me? How many times do I have to tell him not to keep things from me before it sinks into that thick head of his?”Diana smiled at her and then looked at her. “Sometimes, we don’t always make the right decisions under pressure and stress. Need I remind you of a few times you didn’t make
Pretend to be mine Reflections and reconnections
The house felt empty without Avon. She heard Asher cry, so she walked upstairs to get him from his crib. It had been days since she’d seen or talked to Avon. Every second and every minute of each day was killing her slowly. Days had passed since she had left Avon, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that settled in her heart. She missed him. She missed their talks, their laughs, and their quiet moments together. As she sat in her Mum’s living room, watching Asher play with his toys, she couldn’t help but think about Avon. She’d been so angry with him, so hurt by what she thought he'd done. But now, as the days went by, she was starting to feel like she’d overreacted. She thought about all the times Avon had been there for her, all the times he'd supported her and loved her. She thought about the way he looked at her, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the world. Just then, her mom came into the room and told her that Avon was on his way over
Pretend to be mine Shattered lives
Avon could hardly sleep that night. He kept trying Lucia’s number but it kept going to voicemail. He knew she needed time but he only wanted to make sure she was safe. A part of him was relaxed when Lucas called and told him she was at her mom's with their baby.Dr Kim on the other hand watched Avon run out of the mansion chasing after Lucia. Her plan had not worked. Avon had not fallen into her trap and instead, he had gone after his wife. Kim's face twisted in anger and frustration. She had been so sure that her plan would work. She had been so sure that Avon would fall for her charms. But now she watched Avon disappear into the night. She realized that she had underestimated him. She had underestimated the strength of his marriage and the depth of his love for Lucia.Kim's anger turned to furt as she taught of Lucia. That woman had ruined everything. She had foiled with her plans.She had been with other married men and she was always the one to leave the situationship. The men n
Pretend to be mine The seductress
Dr. Kim was a force to be reckoned with. She was a brilliant doctor, a talented researcher, and a stunningly beautiful woman. She knew how to use her charms to get what she wanted, and she always got what she wanted. Kim grew up in a wealthy family, where she was always given everything she desired. She was spoiled, but she was also intelligent and driven. She worked hard to become a doctor, and she was determined to be the best. As she navigated her way through medical school and her residency, Rachael developed a reputation for being flirtatious and seductive. She would bat her eyelashes, flash her bright smile, and use her charm to get what she wanted from her colleagues and professors. Her love life was a series of conquests, each one more thrilling than the last. She would pick up men at bars, at parties, and even at work. She loved the thrill of the chase, the excitement of seducing someone new. But despite her many conquests, Kim had never been in a serious relationship.
Pretend to be mine Teething pains
Lucia paced back and forth, trying to comfort Asher as he screamed her head off in the morning. She bounced him, walked him around the house, sat down, rocked him in the rocking chair, and nothing soothed him. Avon came up behind her in the living room and took him from her. “What’s wrong, ash? Daddy’s here.” Lucia rolled her eyes because sometimes Avon thought he was the cure-all where he was concerned. When he didn’t stop screaming, he looked at her. “He may be teething. Run your finger along his gums and see if you feel anything,” Avon said. She took her finger and put it in Asher's mouth. “Yep, I feel a lump right here,” she said. ‘Aw, my poor baby,” he pouted as he kissed his head. “I’ll go and get the baby Tylenol. That should help her him better.” Lucia followed Avon into the kitchen, and she took the Tylenol from the cupboard. She gave Avon his dosage and they sat with him on the couch. “I can take him, sweetheart. You have to get up for work in a couple of hours.”
Pretend to be mine A night out and a love that endures
The next morning, Lucia awoke before Avon. As her was still at his parents’ house and after the party last night, they had sex all over the penthouse, taking advantage of the fact that Asher wasn’t here to interrupt them. While she stood in front of the mirror, she put her blonde hair up in a high ponytail. As she brushed her teeth, Avon stood in the doorway of the bathroom in nothing but his pajama bottoms, with his muscular arms against the doorframe. “What?” she smiled. “Nothing. I’m just admiring your beauty before we part ways in a couple of hours.” She spit in the sink and rinsed her mouth before walking over to him and placing her hands on his bare and sculpted chest. “I hate the fact that we aren’t going to see each other until tomorrow.” “I know. Me too,” he said as he held her face and kissed her lips. “I'll be home before you know it” Avon said. After Avon left for work, Lucia pulled out her phone and dialed Diana's number, excitement building up inside her. Hey, g
Pretend to be mine A new face
Lucia was sitting in the hospital cafeteria, sipping on a cup of coffee and scrolling through her phone, when she noticed a commotion at the entrance. A group of nurses were gathered around a new doctor, chatting and laughing with her. As she watched, the doctor caught her eye and smiled. She was tall, with long, curly brown hair and piercing green eyes. Lucia felt a pang of unease as she realized that she was staring at Avon, her gaze lingering on his face. Just then, Avon walked into the cafeteria, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Lucia’s. He smiled and made his way over, but not before noticing the new doctor. "Hey, who's that?" Avon asked, nodding towards the doctor. Lucia shrugged. "No idea. Must be new around here." Avon's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the doctor, who was now chatting with a group of nurses. "I'll go introduce myself," he said, standing up. As Avon walked over to the doctor, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was some
Pretend to be mine A night out
Avon sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen as he tried to focus on the task at hand. But his mind kept wandering to Lucia and their baby boy. It had been weeks since she gave birth, and he knew she was still adjusting to motherhood.As he thought about it, an idea struck him. He picked up his phone and dialed Lucia's number, a smile spreading across his face as he waited for her to answer."Hey, beautiful," he said, trying to sound suave. "How's my favorite mom doing today?"Lucia laughed on the other end of the line. "I'm doing okay, I guess. Just trying to get some rest while the baby sleeps."He chuckled. "Well, I have a proposition for you. How would you like to be my date for dinner tonight?"There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, he worried that Lucia might say no. But then she spoke up, her voice filled with excitement."I'd love to! It's been ages since we've had a night out just the two of us."He grinned, feeling a sense of relief
