Theo raked his fingers through his hair, his thoughts running wild. Everything his family said was true, but he could not bring himself to think of a life without Varya. For him, there was only one life and it was hers“You need to make a choice, Theo,” Mrs. Marlow said, her voice firm.“Either you let go of Varya and focus on your future with Tia, or you risk losing everything. Our family’s reputation, our lifestyle, everything we’ve built will be destroyed.”Leah leaned forward, her eyes blazing. “And if you don’t let go of Varya, we will deal with her ourselves. We will not let her ruin our lives.”He turned to look at his mother and sister and could easily notice the fire in their eyes and how willing they were to fight. He also knew that they were not joking. For them, the interest of the family was the most important, and they would go to any length to safeguard it, including throwing Varya’s life to the dogs.“I... I understand,” Theo said finally, his voice hollow. “I’ll try t
I resumed work early to avoid those judgmental eyes. Locking my car, I looked up and saw Leah standing there, her expression a mix of disdain and amusement."Your obsession is the worst, Varya," she said, a smirk on her lips.I took a deep breath, not ready for the drama at all. "What do you want, Leah?""I just wanted to remind you of your place. Those photos don't lie, Varya. Everyone can see what you really are—a desperate woman clinging to a past relationship."Anger flared within me, but I forced myself to remain calm. "I know you and your mother are behind this, Leah. You think you can destroy me, but you're wrong."Leah's smirk widened. "Oh, Varya. You're so naive. This is just the beginning. My mother and I have plans, and you won't survive them."I stepped closer, my hands trembling with anger. "I'm not afraid of you, Leah. I've faced worse than you. And I will fight back."She laughed with a cold, mocking sound. "Good luck with that. You're all alone here, Varya. No one will
The drive back home was quite tiring and took a very long time. Today I had been at the office attempting to avoid thinking about the scandal that had occurred earlier in the day.From what I discovered, no matter where I looked, my colleagues’ eyes were fixed on me; mutters could be heard, and glances of disapproval were thrown at me.”Varya Luther, Wife of Kylo Cassian, Spotted with Ex-Fiancee Theo Anderson!”The headline went round my head again and I clenched the wheel, tighter.The day was unexpectedly nice, so I wanted to go home urgently and rest, but as soon as I arrived there, I felt queasy. I braced myself before unlocking the door and entering, wondering about the things that might await me inside. I opened the front door and entered the living room and saw Dora and Cassandra leaning against the wall, their arms crossed over their chest and totally looking down at me.“Well, the scandal queen is back,” Dora said sarcastically."Did you enjoy your little rendezvous with Th
We walked into the house and felt that there was tension. In the middle of the living room stood Grampa Cassian with a face showing anger which he tried to hold back. I fiddled with my hands, trying to gather the courage to explain.“Grampa, it’s not what it seems,” I began, my voice trembling. “The scandal, it’s not—”“Oh please,” Cassandra interrupted, her voice dripping with disdain. “Stop lying to my grandpa because he loves you. You should be ashamed. And now you’re taking the eldest of the Cassian family for a joke.”“Cassandra,” Grampa Cassian snapped, cutting her off. “Let me listen to her. And find somewhere to hide that attitude of yours.”Cassandra’s face turned red with anger. “Grampa, why do you always defend her? You can see she’s lying, and now no one will listen to me. Seriously?”Grampa didn’t pay her any attention. Instead, he turned to Kylo, his gaze sharp and accusing. “Did you know such an idiot was after my daughter-in-law?”Kylo nodded indifferently.Grampa’s ex
The invitation to the family business event organized by Grandpa Cassian had arrived in a thick, cream-colored envelope, carrying an air of importance that was hard to ignore. With folks like Dora and Cassandra around, I knew this would be a night to tread cautiously. The excitement for the evening had been growing, and even though I was nervous, there was a tiny bit of thrill in me.I felt a rare sensation of confidence as I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the fabric of the gorgeous dress Kylo had surprisingly chosen for me. The dress had beautiful embroidery that caught the light in an intriguing way, and it was a deep emerald green color. It fit me like a glove and flared out at the hips, making me look nearly royal. I smiled at the reflection, pleased with how it transformed me.Jasmin, my ever-loyal friend, stood by my side, admiring my outfit. "You look stunning, Varya. You’re going to knock them dead tonight," she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement."Thanks, Jas."
Warm light streamed into the large hall, reflecting sparklingly off the polished marble floors created by the chandeliers. The sound of drinks clinking and talking hummed through the air. The event started to take on a life of its own as the evening went on. People moved between groups, striking up lively conversations and establishing relationships. I noticed that I was circling around the group, attempting to strike a balance between being there and avoiding unwelcome interactions.It wasn’t long before Grandpa Cassian found me. He approached with a group of distinguished-looking gentlemen, his presence commanding respect as always. "Gentlemen, may I introduce you to my daughter-in-law, Varya. She’s part of the marketing department at the Cassian Group."The men looked at me, their attitudes varying from inquisitiveness to sincere interest. A tall man with silver hair and a gentle grin reached out to touch one of them."Mrs. Cassian, it's a pleasure to meet you, My Lady. I've heard
KYLO’S POVThe symphony of light and sound was the great hall. The room was filled with the sound of discussion mingling with the clinking of drinks, the chandeliers sparkling, and the laughing of longtime friends resonating. I made my way through the crowd, striking up conversations and establishing rapport with a practiced ease. Grandpa was right as usual; he had insisted on this gathering to strengthen our business ties. Everyone appeared to be having fun, and the energy was overwhelming.However, tonight was different in some way. I experienced an unexplained feeling of thrill and eagerness that I couldn't quite pinpoint. I glanced at my watch more often than normal as I stood close to the entrance, greeting guests and monitoring the activities.Then she walked in.Varya entered the hall with Jasmin at her side, and the effect was immediate. The noise level in the room appeared to drop as everyone turned to stare at her. She moved with such grace that it took my breath away. She w
VARYA’S POVI was standing in front of the mirror, taking a one-hundredth look at the way my dress was falling. The gorgeous midnight-blue gown fit my body flawlessly, its understated yet exquisite style radiating the confidence I wished to have this evening.It was a historic night—my first public acknowledgment since I joined the Cassian Group. Finally, my efforts in the marketing department had paid off, and I was going to be recognized with an award. My pulse raced from the excitement that rose up inside of me; it felt unreal."Are you ready?" I snapped out of my reverie as I heard Jasmin's voice resound from the doorway. As she entered the room, her gaze followed every inch of me."You look stunning, Varya."I smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude for her constant support. "Thank you, Jasmin. I just hope everything goes smoothly.""It will," she assured me, her smile radiating warmth. "You deserve this recognition."Don't let it be taken from you." I felt a bit uneasy in my stomach
On getting there people moved faster than usual; nurses ushered me into one room after another helping me put on a hospital gown a long way.Kylo stood still near where people were turned upside down due to the speed of what was happening around them offering some comfort unlike any other distraction I might find outside pain was too much but still stuck onto this thought that everything would soon pay off.Soon, we would meet our baby.Hours passed in a haze of contractions and medical jargon, the world narrowing down to just me, Kylo, and the baby.The pain was intense, like nothing I had ever experienced before, but I refused to give in to fear. This was what I had been preparing for, what we had been waiting for.The baby was coming, and I was going to bring them into the world.Kylo never left my side, his voice a constant source of encouragement, his hand a lifeline as I struggled through each contraction.He wiped my forehead with a cool cloth and whispered words of love and re
This confidence he had in us, in our capacity to manage a new phase boosted my morale erasing my fear places.I remember it very vividly, we were watching a movie one afternoon while lying on the couch in the living room and suddenly I felt a vigorous kick. I choked on my words, putting the palm of my hand on my swollen belly.“What happened?” Kylo asked, sitting up at once.“Everything is okay,” I replied cheerfully. "The baby just kicked really hard. Here, feel."I guided his hand to the spot, and we both waited. A moment later, another kick came, this time even stronger.Kylo's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow... they're strong.""I know," I laughed. "I think we're going to have a little soccer player on our hands."He grinned, leaning down to press a kiss to my belly. "I can't wait to meet you, little one. But take it easy on your mom, okay?"I watched him, my heart swelling with love. Seeing Kylo so involved, and so excited about becoming a father, made everything feel even more s
It was rather reassuring to be back home after the whirlwind which is our honeymoon, yet at the same time it was also rather daunting.The Island was once a beautiful place where all I cared for was our presence, Kylo and I had no other distractions.But it was time for us to step back and face our day-to-day lives, my pregnancy, and everything that came with it.By then I was several months pregnant and some of the symptoms were clearly visible to the naked eye. My tummy protruded out significantly and with that some effect of carrying a child.While the honeymoon had provided respite from pregnancy, the moment we were home, pregnancy was as real as reality could get.When about the house I felt both at ease with being home though nervous about the changes happening to me and around me.It pleased me that Kylo stayed close at my side; his fingers lightly brushing over my lower back.He got more caring and thoughtful than ever; I could easily see how much he cared for me and how much
I trusted him with everything that I had: heart, future, and life. Two days later we were in a private jet, by the influence I guess Kylo had, I had no idea where we were going. Kylo was not on specifics up to that time, but I did not give it much thought. There is nothing like suspense or perhaps relying on the unknown on the person. With that, I reclined in the chair and then looked at the shrinking landscape outside the plane’s small window. Kylo leaned forward, picked up my hand in his, and I looked at him and smiled. “You’re really not going to give me any hints?” I said as calmly as I could, though my voice was visibly laden with curiosity. Kylo chuckled, shaking his head. “Nope. You’ll find out soon enough.” I pouted playfully, but I knew better than to press him. Kylo loved his surprises and I must say, I enjoyed them as well. There’s something good about not knowing what’s next, about just going with the flow and chilling. The flight went by in no time, with Ky
Those days after the wedding were as if I was on honeymoon, loved being in that state, and did not want to wake up. I might as well describe it like this; the tranquility that came over me was one I never felt before. It was as though a weight I had no idea was lifted off my back, allowing me to breathe freely once more. There was a warmth that filled my whole body in place of the constricted knots in my stomach. It is worth noting that in the beginning of the story our marriage can be described as a purely business-like arrangement, a very practical marriage of convenience. But instead with time, it had become something concrete, something lovely. The relationship that Kylo and I had was a product of the most unlikely circumstances and the complacency that I felt as I stared at the house we had constructed together could only be described as profound. It was morning, the sun was shining and the rays of sunlight started entering the room through the windows. I was now pl
Kylo went first, his voice steady as he began to speak.“So Varya,” he began glancing at my eyes all the time,“when we got married for the first time, it was a business deal between us; something that was advantageous to both of us but lacked emotional warmth typical of true marriage. I was unapproachable and even icy; I never gave you the love or respect that you deserved. But as time passed everything changed. I changed.”His grip on my hand tightened more and I could see how sincere he was from his facial expression which told me that he meant every word in every line on his face.“I fell in love with you Varya; it started off slowly before all these sudden feelings hit me. You taught me what it means to be there for someone else genuinely because one wants to change oneself for them.”“And I have caused you pain earlier but today I am making a promise as follows: To be the man whom you deserve; to love you wholly and to build a happy joyful life together based on faithfulness and
The morning of the wedding was as well fine with no clouds in the sky to disturb the blue of the day. Now I found myself back in front of the mirror in my childhood room strapped and ready for this like a kid on Christmas Eve.The dress I bought for my wedding was an off-white, beautiful lace and silk gown that fitted me to perfection. It was plain and elegant and made me feel like flowers were blooming on my dress and the garden we would be getting married in was nearby.My mother was frequently touching my face, fixing my veil in position enrollment arrangement She caught my eye in the mirror and smiled, her expression soft with love and pride.“You look stunning, Varya,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Kylo is a lucky man.”“Thank you, Mom,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly. “I just… I want today to be perfect.”“It will be,” she assured me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Today is about you and Kylo, about the love you share. That’s all that matters.
VARYA’S POVThe day after Kylo's proposal felt like waking up in a dream. When dawn parted the curtains and let in the golden rays, it was hard to imagine that only a few hours ago Kylo had proposed to me for real.My hand went to the ring I now wore on my finger and the diamond again shone brightly against the sun, creating rainbows around the room.The moments were somewhat dreamlike and yet whenever I touched the ring on my finger I did not need anyone to tell me that this was all real. Kylo loved me.I stood up from the bed and walked towards the window and I looked outside at the city that was an unspoken character in our story, the one filled with both sorrow and happiness. This led my mind to the wedding which was now even in front of us.They were not an extension of a prior commitment, or repetition of a promise; it was the start of something fresh, of reality. And so the preparations could only be special as well.I could feel the buzz once I made my way downstairs in the ho
He had planned this event to be an entertainment for families, as well as business counterparts. The atmosphere in the room was filled with laughter, echoes of glasses touching, and music.This was ideally the environment that I wanted when I had planned the entire thing, but the feeling that swelled in my chest was almost tangible.I thought I was standing by one of the tall windows of the building looking down on the city below. The twinkling bulbs were of a high intensity and I observed it was dark like the sky at night and this made me take my eyes off it for a while.Yet, there I was thinking about Varya most of the time. It was her that made me develop nerves today and became the reason for this nervous energy in the night.She stood across the room dressed in burgundy dress which enhanced the curves of her body.She was gorgeous and although I was quite far I could notice the look of despair she was masking so well.It was a sadness that I realized that I had provoked and this