“So you're just going from work, then you're to see a friend, then you'll be back here?” “That sounds about right. I'll be back before 5pm so I can help you supervise, my mum.”“Alright, I'll take your word for it.”Noah left a very important detail out. He wasn't going to work, he had other plans. Since the kids loved attempting to drive so much, he had decided to get them cars. Not just any kind, custom made from a car company itself. They were children of a conglomerate, they deserved the best. Noah kept it from Sophia because he wanted it to be a surprise, both to her and the kids. Sophia was bad at surprises and keeping secrets. The other reason he was out was to meet up with his college friend. She had said she had something important to discuss with him. He tried to push the meeting but she insisted that it was important, she even called it an emergency. Since she was so persistent, he squeezed her into his schedule. It was supposed to be in and out, or so he thought. The
Noah's eyes fluttered open, groggily taking in his surroundings. He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him back onto the bed. Emily's face came into focus. "Emily, why am I being kept here? What's going on? What's the meaning of all this?" His voice was less than a whisper. He battled for breath. "You just need to rest, Noah. You'll be fine soon.""Who's paying you to do this? Tell me, Emily. I have a right to know."She was hesitant, "I... I can't reveal that, Noah. Please try to understand. I know that you're a curious one. I can't believe you were about to let me, a damsel in distress, sort out her own problems.""Listen, Emily. I'll triple whatever they're paying you. Just let me go, and we'll forget this ever happened.""Noah, I can't. I'm sorry. You just need to trust me."Noah's eyes narrowed at her. Was she insane? She had him drugged and handcuffed to the bed, now she was asking for trust? His mind racing with possibilities. He knew very well
Sophia stuck around just for while. She stayed in Noah's house because he still wasn't able to shake off the happenings of the last few days. Staying with his mother in the same house didn't quite her the case. How could Jeffery have so much control over the company. He sent out a huge payment using the company account. How was that even possible?Everyday, he was getting more and resourceful. Recruiting his old classmate was a whole different level. It was still morning. The warm sunshine danced across her face. She was sipping on a mock tail with an contented smile spread across her face.She watched the twins play in the kiddy pool splashing and playing, their giggles and squeals filled the air. The sound of water splashing gave her serenity. It was much-needed given the chaos and uncertainty of recent events. For a moment, all seemed right with the world.A gentle breeze rustled her hair, Sophia felt a sense of peace settle over her. She closed her eyes, letting the tranquilit
Noah's knees were stuck, he couldn't move. “Why?” his lips quivered uncontrollably. “Noah, can we talk about this later, we have guests to attend to. And please, get off the floor someone might mis-read the situation.”“What is there to mis-read Sophia. I'm asking, no begging you, to marry me.”Noah's breathe was shaky, he felt like the whole world was falling upon his shoulders. All of a sudden the entire estate felt too small. Noah's eyes pleaded for an explanation, his voice cracking with emotion. "Why, Sophia? What did I do wrong? Was it something I said or did?"Sophia's expression changed from sadness to anger, she couldn't hold back her words. "You really don't know, do you? Are you blind Noah? Or did you forget how you threw divorce papers in my face barely a week after your father died, while we were all in mourning, at least some of us were, the ones who actually loved Mr. Milton. You manipulated me at any chance you go. Let's not talk about how you got me into this hoax
As Sophia stood up to leave the table, Brad followed behind her. Noah could definitely tell that something was off. Before he could stand up, Bryce had already taken initiative. “Where are you going?” Harriet ask, as scowl on her face. “I'm going to check up on her.”“What relationship do you have with my daughter-in-law?”“You mean ex-daughter-in-law.”“I didn't mince my words you bastard. I mean and meant daughter-in-law. They'll be getting remarried, and I'll be sure to send you an invite.”Bryce scoffed and stood up regardless. "Bryce, or whatever the fuck your name is, if your legs cross those pocket doors, I'm calling the police. I sure as hell don't bluff! Sit down, now! This doesn't concern you."Bryce's eyes flashed with annoyance. He reluctantly sat back down sending a cold glare to Noah. Savannah's gaze swept the table, her eyes lingered on each face. "Let's just calm down and enjoy our breakfast, shall we?" Bryce's eyes narrowed, "What's your problem, Harriet? Are you
“If he leaves I'm going too.”“Okay. But don't come into the main house. I need you far away from my line of sight.”Sophia rubbed his arm. He looked down at her, disappointed clearly visible in his eye.“Let's go upstairs,” she said still rubbing his arm gently. Noah said nothing and just followed. “Why did you do that? In front of all those people?”“I--I. You won't understand for now but just trust me. I know you hate his guts--”“I do, I really do. My mum's still rilled up from breakfast and I don't know how to tell her that the bastard will be staying another night.” He pouted. Sophia narrowed her eyes at him. “You said to trust you, so I will. Blindly in fact, lead me where you want. I won't complain Sophia, but I can't stand the thought of that guy being around you.”Sophia smiled, “Do it make you, Jealous?”“Yes,” Noah said, lips quivering as anger started to surge through him. “What should I do about it?” Sophia's eyes locked onto Noah's. Her gaze was intense. She could s
“Bryce?” was the last thing Sophia heard before he and Noah began their race. ‘Why on earth is he running?’ Sophia asked herself. She stood there, utterly confused. After a moment of shock, she took one of the cars and decided to find out where the two men were racing to. When she had finally caught up to them, Noah was hot on Bryce's tail. A car came in speeding, but seemed to slow down before reaching Bryce, like he was there on purpose. As if on cue, Bryce fell down right before Noah got to him. Sophia swallowed hard. Sophia came down from the car, throwing her calm demeanor away. Her eyes were wide with shock and horror as she took in the scene before her. She saw Bryce lying motionless on the ground, and Noah standing over him, his face contorted in anguish.She rushed towards them, her heart racing with fear. "Noah, what have you done?" she cried, her voice trembling with anger and worry.Noah's eyes met hers, "Sophia, I...I didn't mean to," he stammered.Sophia's gaze was s
A somber atmosphere filled the room as friends and family gathered to pay their respects to Kira. In the absence of her own family, who for obvious reasons couldn't show up for thier own daughters wake. Many messages had been sent across to them but they didn't reply any. The Milton family had taken it upon themselves to organize the wake. Sophia couldn't refuse, she pushed the agenda herself. Everyone shared stories of Kira's life. Even people who hated her. Her workers and housekeeper, no one could speak I'll of her. Everyone just wanted the event to be over and done with so they could have their own private celebration at a bar or something. Their eyes were filled with compassion as they approached Jack. Jack's eyes were red-rimmed, his face was pale. He struggled to come to terms with the loss of his mother. Addison and Aiden didn't leave his side for a second. Even if he used to bully them before, he was in pain. They couldn't bare to see him that wat. The twins enveloped him
Noah and Sophia stood before their stunning new home. Her company had brought their vision to life."Welcome home," Noah said, his eyes shining with pride.Sophia's face glowed. "It's even more beautiful than I imagined."Her eyes danced with excitement. "I love how the open-concept living area flows into the kitchen."Noah smiled. "Your design genius at work."Their personal touches were spread throughout – family photos, artwork, and treasured mementos. The space exuded warmth and sophistication.Sophia led Noah on a tour, pointing out the clever design elements she added. She always liked to flex when it came to her work. "And this is my favorite part – the rooftop garden."Noah wrapped his arms around Sophia. "You've outdone yourself. This is our sanctuary."Sophia's eyes sparkled. "Our forever home.""Thank you," Noah whispered, his lips brushing Sophia's ear.Sophia smiled. "For what?"Noah's gaze locked onto hers. "For creating our dream home, and for being my dream partner."S
They arrived at sesamo, an intimate Italian restaurant.Candlelit tables, soft music, and aromatic scents of freshly baked bread.Their table overlooked the serene lake. But it didn't matter where their table was, they had the whole place to themselves. Sophia's eyes widened as she took in the breathtaking setup before her. "Noah, this is... too much," Sophia whispered, her voice trembling with emotion."Not nearly enough, my love."Sophia's hands covered her mouth. "It's breathtaking. But really, Noah, you didn't have to."Noah stepped closer, his was voice low and husky. "Our relationship has never been conventional, Sophia. We've been through so much, so fast. We never got to experience those intimate, romantic dates. I'm making up for lost time.""You're making me feel like a princess."Noah chuckled. "You are my queen. And I want to treat you like one."Her eyes roamed the setup, taking in the delicate flower arrangements, the champagne chilling in ice, and the exquisite dinner
Noah and Sophia walked hand in hand into the spa. Their therapists, introduced themselves and began the session. Rachel, working on Sophia, started with gentle strokes, warming up her muscles.The spa day began with a deep tissue massage, side by side with candlelight. They worked out knots and tension, melting away stress and fatigue.The air was filled with the calming scent of lavender, and gentle music drifted through the speakers."Take a deep breath in, and out." Noah's eyes closed. "Noah, breathe into the pressure," Mike guided, targeting a stubborn spot on his lower back.Noah sighed contentedly as the masseuse's hands eased the tightness in his shoulders. Sophia's eyes drifted closed, her face relaxed, as her therapist worked out the kinks in her neck and back.Noah exhaled slowly, feeling the tension release.Rachel transitioned to deeper strokes, targeting Sophia's lower back. Sophia's body tensed slightly. "Trust me, Sophia. Let go."Sophia's muscles released, allowing
THE NEXT DAYThe post-wedding brunch took place at the mansion's sun-kissed courtyard.Soft sunlight filtered through lush greenery, candlelit tables sparkled, fresh flowers adorned the setting. It was ethereal. And then the guests started to arrive. It was shocking that they still chose to show up. Every event thrown by the Miltons either had drama or something life threatening. Laughter echoed, conversations flowed, hugs and well-wishes filled the air. Maybe that was what enticed the guests. They never knew what to expect. Tammy decided to give a welcome speech. "Today, we gather to celebrate Sophia and Noah's love. A love that shines brighter with each passing day. Sophia and Noah, two amazing souls who deserve every ounce of happiness."Tammy paused, collecting herself. "I've known Sophia for years, and I've seen her grow into the incredible woman she is today. And I've had the pleasure of watching Noah bring out the best in her."She glanced at Sophia and Noah, "These two we
The ceremony had officially begun.Noah and Sophia had been through so much they thought this day would never happen.Anticipation filled the air as the officiant walked down the aisle, setting the tone for.Next, the groomsmen and bridesmaids made their way down the aisle in pairs. Gerald looked dashing in his tailored suit. The flower girls and ring bearers followed. Addison skipped down the aisle, scattering petals from her tiny basket, while Aiden proudly carried the wedding rings on a small pillow.Sophia's proud Maid of Honor, Tammy, walked alone. Her bouquet was stunning. She took her place beside the bridesmaids. She looked happier than Sophia. Noah's Best Man was none other Randall. He strode confidently down the aisle, eyes fixed on the groom. He took his place beside Noah. Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. Sophia emerged from the doorway with Ava by her side. Her stunning lace gown shimmered in the light, and her veil framed her smile. As they
“What do you mean the dress is going to be late?” she asked, “No, you listen to me. You're not listening to me. I can have your whole store closed before the end of the day.”Sophia placed her fingers on the bridge of her nose as Harriet kept screaming into the phone.She was fed up. Sophia took the phone from Harriet's hand. "I need to confirm that my dress will be delivered on time. Today, as promised."The voice on the other end was chipper and very dismissive, replied, "Oh, absolutely! We're just putting the finishing touches on it. We'll deliver it personally."Sophia's grip on the phone tightened. "Personally? No, that's not what we agreed upon. I want it delivered to the venue, not hand-delivered by your team.""Ma'am, I assure you, it's our policy—"“Put it on speaker phone,” Harriet whispered. “We're sorry for the inconvenience--”Harriet cut them off. "Policy? Inconvenience? You'll do what I say, or I'll make sure to share my experience with every bride, every wedding plann
Sophia and Tanya sat in the luxurious living room, surrounded by stacks of wedding catalogs and champagne glasses. They were in the midst of planning Sophia's dream wedding to Noah."Okay, so we have the venue, the date, and the guest list," Sophia said, sipping her champagne. "Now it's time to pick the dresses."Tanya nodded, flipping through a catalog. "I think we should go with a classic, elegant look. You know, something that will never go out of style, but still reflects your personal taste, Sophia.""Was that a compliment I just heard?" Sophia blushed. “You have good taste. Plus you're my future sister-in-law. We've been through a lot. I'm really happy that you forgave me for everything I did to you. It takes a big person to do that.”Sophia brought her handkerchief to the corner of her eye, "I'm in tears." She sniffled. “We're besties Tanya, we're good now.”"I like this one. The lace details are stunning." Sophia changed the subject quickly as she pointed to a picture in the
The sun shone brightly as the Milton family arrived at the beach. The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air, and the smell of saltwater and coconut sunscreen wafted through the breeze.Sophia laughed, chasing after her twins and Jack as they ran around the beach while she tried to apply sunscreen on them."Addison, Aiden, Jack! Stop for a second, I need to put sunscreen on you!" Sophia called out. Her hands were full of sunscreen bottles and colorful towels because nobody wanted white.The kids giggled and screamed, running away from her. "No, Mommy! We don't want sunscreen!" Addison exclaimed.Aiden and Jack joined in, making silly faces still trying to avoid Sophia's reach. "We're already superheroes, we don't need sunscreen!" Aiden said, striking a pose.Sophia chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, really? Well, superheroes need sunscreen too, you know!""Yeah, Aunt Sophia, we'll get sunburned and then we'll have superpowers!" Jack screamed. Sophia playfully rolled
*One month later*Noah woke to the morning light, 6:00 AM. He stretched, yawned, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Sophia stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open."Morning," Noah whispered, smiling.Sophia smiled back, her eyes still sleepy.Noah grabbed his phone and dialed Detective James's number. That was the detective assigned to he and Sophia's case. "Good morning, Detective. Any updates on Jeffery?" Noah asked.Detective James's voice was firm. "Nothing new, Noah. We're monitoring all leads."Noah's grip on the phone tightened. He wouldn't rest until Jeffery was caught. "Thanks, Detective. Keep me posted."At this point Sophia was over it. She wasn't even willing to get out of bed. The images of that day kept flashing through her mind. She couldn't even concentrate during the day. She couldn't recall the last time she volunteered to buy groceries. “Are you good?” Noah asked pulling her into a hug. She smiled, “Now I am.” She heard the sound of giggles and wh