Derek's eyes scanned the sterile hospital hallway, the faint scent of antiseptic lingering in the air as he made his way towards Autumn's room. The permit in his pocket was still warm, and the memory of his recent work call buzzed faintly in the back of his mind. He clutched a small bouquet of flowers—a vibrant hibiscus—its petals soft under his fingers, intending to offer it to her as a small gesture. His mind wandered to the last time he visited. He had managed to get Autumn her phone, the only thing that kept them connected when his work pulled him away. But he could still hear Charlie's playful jab, teasing him about always showing up empty-handed. The words hadn’t stung, but then, he felt a twinge of guilt. He could not forget Autumn's almond-shaped eyes, wide and bright despite her condition, catching his gaze like a beacon. In that instant, he wished he could fill the room with flowers, a sea of color that might make her smile just a little brighter. Derek hadn't known what fl
Hello everyone, I apologize for the little updates recently. The week has been hectic but a chapter will be out soon. Thank you for checking out my book.Note chapter 31 has been edited and yet to be modified please be patient till my editor approves it. I'll be dropping updates back to back though.Please leave a review, it brings a smile to my face knowing your thoughts about the book.Thank you 🤗
It was a miserable sight. Ivan rushed to Iris’s side, dismissing Derek's perspective entirely. His nephew’s eyes burned with contempt, a silent challenge simmering in the air as if Ivan needed to reassert his dominance. Derek remained unfazed, his expression cold and detached. Without a word, he turned to leave, his intention clear—he would head to Autumn’s ward.But Ivan moved swiftly, stepping into Derek’s path, blocking his way. The tension between them crackled like a live wire."You've been spending way too much time with my wife, don't you think?" Ivan’s voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge. Derek’s gaze flickered to Iris, who lay feigning sleep, her breathing uneven and unconvincing."Isn't that better?" Derek’s voice, deep and smooth, carried a hint of mockery. He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "You can have your mistress, and your wife doesn’t have to worry about your affair. Everyone’s happy, aren’t they?" Ivan's grip on Iris tightened involuntarily, his kn
The mortified look on Iris's face was unmistakable. She froze in her spot, her expression blank and stiff, but her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions. Her face contorted into a trembling mask of disbelief, her lips quivered as if struggling to form words, and her tongue felt heavy, locked within her mouth, unable to utter a single syllable. In that moment, if it wasn't already known, one could have mistaken Iris for the mute one, not Autumn.A nervous, almost humorless scoff escaped Iris's lips, a hollow sound that carried no mirth. Her gaze, sharp and frantic, was fixed on Ivan. "T-That's not the entire thing. S-She's lying to your face, Ivan," she stammered, her voice wavering as her lips quivered, curling into a desperate pout.Autumn, with a calmness that only fueled Iris's growing panic, played the audio once more. The room filled with the damning evidence. Iris's rage erupted. In a frantic, unthinking motion, she lunged at Autumn, desperate to seize the phone and silence the dam
The feeling was new, or it felt new. Sitting in silence in the car as Ivan drove the both of them. Her face glued to the window screen of the car, her phone buzzing from receiving texts from Charlie.Autumn managed to look at her phone as Charlie showed her multiple pictures of her birthday dress, food and venue for her party.She had her maid pick up Charlie's gift. The little money she owned she hired a jewler to make the Red scarlet necklace. Although it's very expensive but it wasn't what Charlie fawned about during her visits.Charlie had been talking about having the blue heritage necklace in her possession, it was almost worth 200 million dollars.Well she couldn't blame Charlie for having that kind of necklace in her possession she was a Fraser. Although she couldn't afford it she couldn't just show up without a gift, hence she settled for the red scarlet."Who are you texting?" Ivan asked, Jolting Autumn back into reality.She immediately opened Ivan's chat and texted him. "T
A wide smile plastered itself on Elliot's lips, a blend of amusement and something more primal flickering in his eyes. His amusement was mirrored by a stirring excitement that settled in the third member between his legs. His gaze lingered, tracing every delicate movement of the maid as she approached, her graceful steps almost mesmerizing. As she poured a glass of rich, dark wine into his goblet, Elliot's eyes followed her every gesture—every tilt of the wrist, every shift of her hips. The deep red liquid swirled in the glass, but his attention was far from the drink. When she moved to fill Ivan’s glass, Elliot’s gaze remained locked on her, captivated by the gentle sway of her form, the soft rustle of her uniform. He shook his head slightly, a wry smile tugging at his lips. If only the women in his manor possessed the same allure as those who served Ivan. A thought struck him—he was genuinely surprised Ivan hadn’t boasted about bedding a maid or two by now. All Ivan ever seemed to
Cool, warm breath morphed into a faint mist each time she gasped, the frigid air biting at her skin. Iris felt the numbness creeping into her limbs, the cold seeping deep into her bones. Her head snapped around, eyes wide with fear as she scanned the area, desperate to make sure no one had witnessed what she had just done. Panic clawed at her chest, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts, her neck stinging as though unseen hands were choking her.Her gaze darted back to the pool, where tiny bubbles surfaced—Autumn’s final breaths. A hiss of disdain escaped Iris's lips as she glared at the water. Maybe Autumn had been right; maybe she was drunk. She hadn't meant to assault Autumn, not at first. Her plan had been simple: shatter the bottle on the floor, grab a jagged piece, and stab herself. Then, in front of everyone, she’d blame Autumn for the attack. But anger had taken control, and instead, she smashed the bottle against Autumn's head."No matter," Iris muttered, gripping the sha
Feeling groggy, Iris blinked her eyes open. A sharp pain in her abdomen jolted her senses awake. She winced as the tight bandage constricted her swollen stomach, each breath pulling at the wound beneath. The throbbing pain was a cruel reminder of what she had sacrificed—and for what? In the end, she had nothing to show for it. Ivan hadn't even spared her a glance, leaving her feeling like a ghost in a crowded room. It was as if she were invisible, an afterthought in everyone’s mind. No one cared for her, and it was all Autumn's fault.As her vision cleared, the cool sterility of the hospital ward came into focus. The antiseptic smell invaded her nostrils, and she wondered briefly if they had brought her to Derek’s hospital. The effort to keep her eyes open left her feeling drained, as if the mere act of seeing sapped what little strength she had left. Her gaze flitted around the room until it landed on Ivan, sitting slumped in the chair beside her bed. Tears welled up and spilled down
Autumn froze at Derek's question. Her mind raced for an answer, but nothing coherent came to her. "We should take this inside, Autumn," Ethan suggested gently, watching the tension in her posture. Autumn shook her head, her resolve hardening. "No. Derek needs to hear this," she muttered with quiet determination, glancing at Derek, whose concerned gaze lingered on her. His expression wavered, confused and uneasy. "If I tell you the truth, Derek," Autumn began hesitantly, her voice low but steady, "you might hate me. Or worse, you'll think I'm crazy." Derek stepped closer, his brow furrowed deeply. "Will the truth make me hate you?" Autumn hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes before her expression turned cold. "That depends on you," she replied flatly. Derek took a steadying breath, the weight of her words settling uncomfortably in his chest. "So... who’s back?" "Charlie Fraser," she answered bluntly. Derek blinked, his brows knitting together. "The Charlie Fras
Derek took the manual from Autumn, carefully examining the safety latch instructions. Without hesitation, he began rolling up his sleeves. Then, in one smooth motion, he folded his shirt and placed it neatly on a nearby chair. Autumn coughed awkwardly, her gaze darting to the far end of the room. Heat crept up her neck as she felt her face flush. She quickly backed away, giving him space. “I’m going to make lunch,” she mumbled, fleeing before Derek could reply. As she entered the kitchen, her heart pounded in her chest. She leaned on the counter, trying to calm herself. “He’s just here to help with the crib. Get a hold of yourself, Autumn,” she muttered under her breath. Determined to distract herself, she busied herself preparing lunch. Soon, the kitchen filled with the warm aroma of broth. Humming softly, Autumn ladled the soup into two bowls, placing them on a tray. A small frown crossed her face as she glanced at the portions. Will this be enough? she wondered, recalli
D.O.N Corps felt as if Derek had never left. Although his memories were gone, Derek returned as the ruthless CEO everyone knew and feared. The moment his presence graced the scene, indistinct chatter echoed through the halls like ripples in water. On his first day back, he wasted no time, calling back-to-back board meetings. Yet, to his surprise, the company wasn’t in disarray. Every issue he planned to address had already been resolved—Autumn had taken care of it all. For once, there was little for him to do. This unusual reprieve left the employees of D.O.N Corps grateful to Autumn, despite the grueling meetings she had subjected them to in his absence. As they filed out of the latest board meeting, whispers of appreciation filled the air. Evette, however, hurried to her office, keen to avoid Derek’s scrutiny. “Miss Evette,” Derek’s voice cut through the chatter. His stride, usually commanding, carried a hint of hesitation. Evette froze, her bag half-slung over her shoulder.
Cameras flashed from every corner as Iris dropped to her knees, the sound of the clicking shutters filling the air like a swarm of locusts. She wore a sleek black gown that clung to her curves. A black fascinator perched on her head, its delicate veil casting a shadow across her tear-streaked face, partly obscuring her features but not her pain.The moment she arrived at the police station, the paparazzi had swarmed her, hurling questions like stones about Elliot's arrest. Iris forced her chest to rise and fall dramatically, her breathing labored as her mascara streaked down her cheeks in inky trails. Her trembling hands clutched at the folds of her dress, the fabric twisting under her grip as she knelt on the cold pavement. To any passerby, she looked like a woman shattered by grief, you could as well liken her to a victim.But inside, Iris felt none of that. She felt alive.For once, the people of Havenport were paying attention—not to her, exactly, but to Charlie. And that was cl
Instead, he turned to Autumn, his features softening slightly. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, concern evident in his voice. Autumn barely acknowledged him, giving a small nod before turning to walk away. But Derek wasn’t done. He grabbed her hand, halting her in her tracks. Behind them, Ben was still ranting, his voice shrill like a barking dog. Derek turned, his glare silencing the man instantly. With a sharp order, he instructed the security to remove Ben. "I’ll handle her," Derek said calmly. The guards nodded, dragging a still-sputtering Ben away. With the commotion gone, Derek turned his attention back to Autumn. His hand still gripped hers as he leered closer, his other hand landing firmly on her shoulder. "Is that the father of the child?" Derek asked, his voice low but laced with an accusatory edge. "Why would you let that old prick knock you up? Were you driven by his wealth and decided to sleep with him?" Autumn’s head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowin
"It's just stress. Your baby is still kicking and healthy," the doctor informed Autumn, and the pent-up stress she had been feeling slightly eased. It had been three days since she discovered Iris was still alive and had gotten plastic surgery to look exactly like Charlie. Because of this, Autumn had a growing fear—more of a crisis—that any single person she encountered could be Iris. Even though Iris hadn't caught on that she was aware, Autumn was clearly still in danger, given Iris's alliance with Elliot. "Is it possible for me to travel a month from now?" Autumn asked as the doctor glared at her, judgment in her eyes. "No, you're in your third trimester. Any moment now, you could go into labor," the doctor said, concern written all over her face. "It's urgent. Can't you just write me a doctor's note and pardon me?" Autumn's tone was desperate. "So I can have my license revoked? I think not. You can't even travel until a month or two after giving birth," the doctor said, st
"You've been busy." Elliot's frame leaned against the white tile of the hospital's restroom. Iris was busy fixing her make up, dabbing a pint of gloss across her lips as she pouts her lips. She shrugged satisfied with the glossiness of her plump lips, she had to give it to Charlie for at least being so pretty. She didn't understand why Charlie didn't just seduce Derek from the beginning she was beautiful and now Iris had her face.She turned to Elliot who she finally noticed taking a space in the room."This is the lady's restroom." Iris smudge her index finger across her lips as she tried to set down the rest of her gloss."What are you doing?" Elliot asked, leaned back even more relaxed even though he was more stressed than ever."I'm fixing my make up? What does it look like I'm doing?" Iris said as Elliot groaned, his palm retreats to his face in frustration."You know what I'm talking about Iris. What business do you have with Derek Ashton? Are you reconsidering our alliance?" El
"It's best you don't tell Derek the baby belongs to him." Iris said as Autumn rose from her seat. It's been two weeks since she came disguised as Charlie and Autumn was sick of it. She was now eight months pregnant and was nearing delivery while her supposed babydaddy was coddling up to the two faced bitch that stood before her.Iris uttered the suggestion in the cafeteria and Autumn stood up with her protruding tummy sticking out like a sore thumb. Everyone in the cafeteria, mostly nurses feared she might give birth right at that moment. Autumn sucked in her breath wary of the eyes that summerged her. "And what should I do with his child? Hide it's existence from the father?" Autumn gloated reaching for her paper cup."Abort it." Autumn paused gripping tightly to her cup at the utter mention of abortion. "Excuse me?" Autumn questioned looking avertly at Iris smug face.She was due to delivery and Charlie had the guts to recommend an abortion?"You did it with your first child with
"He has amnesia," the doctor said to Autumn, her voice calm but heavy with implication. Autumn bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears until they spilled over, streaming down her cheeks. Evette, who stood beside her, immediately pulled a napkin from her bag and handed it to her friend. Evette couldn't hide her surprise. This was the first time she had ever seen Autumn break down. At work, Autumn was known for her ruthlessness and unyielding demeanor. The sight of her crying now made Evette's chest ache. She must really love Derek, she thought. "How long will this last?" Autumn asked, her voice now firm as she quickly wiped her face. The moment of vulnerability was gone, replaced by her usual composed, no-nonsense expression. The doctor sighed softly. "It could last weeks, months, maybe even years. It depends on his recovery process, Autumn," she explained in a measured, comforting tone. But to Autumn, the words were anything but comforting. Autumn’s brow furrowed in frustration.