The day he was told he couldn’t have kids was both the happiest, and saddest day of his life. Noah had been through an emotional rollercoaster. Just when he and Savannah had arrived in Florida, they were told Sophia and Ava had been kicked out of their house. Those insensitive neighbors had suddenly become so caring after realizing who was standing before them. It seemed like anytime Noah had a lead about Sophia’s whereabouts, it buried almost immediately. He was a mess. Everywhere he went, he say Sophia. Her silhouette, her red hair, freckles, beautiful blue eyes, it was like everything reminded him about her. If his morning coffee wasn’t made to perfection like Sophia did it, he would starve the whole day. Wondering where she would be, or who she was with made him almost go insane. He did what he knew best, channeled all that energy into work. In five years Noah had turned the whole system around, winning best businessman of the year for five years consecutively. All thes
“Savannah,” Noah whispered, “Am I seeing things?” “No, I can see her too.” “Sophia?” Noah stared at the woman in front of him. Her hair wasn’t red, and it was straighter than he remembered. She looked beautiful, in a way he couldn’t describe. His heart was filled with disbelief. He had searched for her, non-stop for five years, and here she was. His mouth stood agape as her watched her gracefully walk through the ethereal ball room where the venue was held. She looked like a princess as her blue eyes glistered in the warm lighting of the room. Noah stood in awe. She finally stopped walking after getting a glass. When he was about to get closer to her, she was ambushed by a group of overachievers. Noah’s chest tightened. All the guilt and angst that had built up for five years came in all at once. He felt stiff, he couldn’t move. Sophia was here now, he could tell her how much he missed he, and that he was sorry for all he did. He could say he was scared of falling for h
Noah observed how the nerves in Sophia's face had tightened up. She seemed uneasy. At least he knew he was one of the reasons why she was. She sat silently glancing at the small clock on her table. Maybe she had an appointment? “This place is coming together quite well,” he said to break the silence. She whipped her head around taking in her surroundings. “Yes, thank you. Do you by any chance need something?” She asked with a look that spoke millions. He casually strolled into her office after five years of divorce, all of a sudden he can't seem to remember anything he did to her. Noah's expression changed immediately. Before attempting to address anything else, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Tammy. The text was literally a plea. It was simple, “Get Addison home. A member of the staff is on the way here to drop her off. Intercept her, and take Addison home.”She began to panic when there was no response from Tammy. Tammy usually would answer within seconds. Was she b
“Mummy can I come to work with you?” Addison asked.Ever since Addison saw Noah at her office she had been insisting on going to work with Sophia. “No baby, you need to have perfect scores.”“Addy, why do you want to go to work with mummy?” Aiden asked, causing Sophia to sigh. He was a very intuitive child. “There was this handsome Uncle I saw, I wonder if he likes mummy. Maybe we can finally have a dad.” Addison's remark got Sophia's heart plunging to the ground. Her children never really talked about the absence of a father figure before, even when they were bullied in school for not having a dad. But in recent times, that has been the one thing in their lips, having a daddy. Her twins were growing more curious and suddenly craving a father’s love, the one thing she couldn't give them. She had tried her as a single mother but there was so much one person could do. “Aiden wear your socks please,” she pleaded. “Addison, you too. Grandma Ava's waiting for you.”The twins grumbled
Noah stood there with not much to say. He turned his attention to Addison who was stuffing her face with Alfredo pasta. She was having a serious discussion with Aiden about what played out and how her mother completely put out the mean lady in her place. She turned her attention to Noah, “Thank you for saving my mummy,” Addison said in the most adorable voice. “Our mummy you mean.” Aiden added, staring at Noah with his grey eyes. Something swirled in Noah's stomach as he got a closer look at Sophia's son. They were completely identical. Aiden looked like a smaller version of Noah. “We've said our Thank you, can you please leave now? Me and my babies are trying to have a peaceful dinner.” Noah's mouth hung open, completely entranced by a miniature version of himself. “Mummy, why are you being so mean to this nice uncle. You told us being mean is a bad thing mummy.” Addison scolded Sophia. “It's true mummy, let the nice uncle join us.” Aiden suggested with the biggest smile on his
Sophia struggled to get her eyes open. The first image that caught her eye was Aiden. The boy sat down on her bed, staring with great concern. “She is awake. Mummy's awake!” Aiden shouted with an unusual enthusiasm. Sophia couldn't tell who he was talking to. “Really?” she heard Addison's voice from beside her pillow. She crawled on the bed till she could get to Sophia's eyes level. Addison stared down, cupping her mother's face in her hand, “She's alive!”Sophia was confused and the splitting headache didn't quite help her case. She stretched her hand to Addison's cheek. Addison held onto Sophia's hand, feeling this warm energy surge through her. How could she deprive such beautiful children of paternal love? “How are you feeling?” Sophia heard a voice ask close to the floor to ceiling windows. “Jeffery?” she asked with an evident look of surprise. “Yes, Soph.” Jeffery answered flatly, ignoring the surprise in her tone. He handed her a glass of water and two tablets. “I'll help
Sophia pulled up in the parking lot of the massive hospital. She remembered clearly who the owner was because she had met him several times. Mr. Walton was like an answer to her prayers when George Milton was alive. His hospital sustained Henry's life and she was very grateful for him. His son, Randall was a breath of fresh air. Anytime he can go around for a party or an event, he would always make Sophia laugh and take her mind off what was going on. She hadn't seen him in a while, and she wouldn't mind running into him. Immediately they got in, there was a lady with orange hair and freckles at the front desk. She greeted them with a beautiful smile that would melt anyone's anxiety. “I'm looking for Addison Whyte.” Sophia asked with a shaky voice. The lady looked down at the screen in front of her, “Are you family?” “Yes, I'm her mother.” She answered hesitantly. “Just a moment,” she said clanking keys on the keyboard. The lobby was almost deserted. Sophia needed someone to at
**Flashback**Noah took a spin in his revolving chair. He hadn't gotten a word back from the private investigator. He was filled with angst and a different form of excitement. He was enthralled by the possibility that both of those beautiful children were his. Noah's joy was cut short by a chim on his phone. The message that popped on his screen got him off his chair in an instant. “Chantelle?” he asked surprised. After Sophia left, Chantelle had disappeared into thin air. She would send him texts often. Sometimes after six months, she'd show up at his office pretending nothing ever happened. Noah questioned her about Sophia's whereabouts, she didn't divulge any information. Chantelle claimed she had no idea where Sophia had gone and who she was with. He knew she was lying because Sophia was her best friend, and wouldn't go anywhere without informing Chantelle. To confirm his suspicion, Noah did his research. With help from Savannah, he found out how Sophia was thrown out of her
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