Rachel readjusted the strap of her handbag, kneeling before her children as her voice turned firm but soothing. "Listen, sweethearts. Today, no talking to strangers, all right? And remember, I'll be the one picking you up after school." Her voice softened, and her eyes shone bright as she looked into the innocent eyes of her children. "Promise me you'll be good?The three of them nodded, their small faces serious. Rachel forced a smile, leaning in to kiss each of them on the forehead. Her youngest clung to her for a moment longer, and she squeezed her tightly before standing. Turning to the nanny, she lowered her voice. "If anything happens, call me directly. No one else."The nanny nodded, taking in the urgency in Rachel's voice. With one last wave at her kids, she walked toward her car. The starting of the engine felt heavier than usual inside her chest. Something didn't feel right today, but she decided to brush the feeling aside and drive towards Ethan's company.---As she arri
Rachel held the steering wheel tight, the knuckles pale against the leather as she pulled up to the school gates. She wasn't supposed to be here this early-school hours weren't over yet-but her nerves had driven her here without thought. The nanny approached her in surprise, "Ma'am, is everything okay? School isn't over yet"I didn't ask for your opinion," Rachel snapped, cutting her off. Her voice came out sharp, and her eyes blazed with an irritation she couldn't explain. "Mind your own business. I don't owe you an explanation. Remember, I pay your salary, not the other way around.”The nanny recoiled but didn't say anything, her gaze going down to the floor. The heart of Rachel somersaulted with guilt, but she brushed it aside as she ushered the children with her. As they hiked up into the car, Dante, her oldest, swung toward her, furrowing his brows. "Mom, that wasn't nice. Why did you speak with her like that?Rachel breathed in deeply and clutched the wheel. "I don't know, Da
Ethan leaned back, watching Rachel as her sobs began to subside. She was pale and fragile-looking, clinging to the edge of the table for dear life. The tension in her shoulders cut through his chest like a knife. "Rachel," he said softly, leaning forward. "You can't keep doing this to yourself. Please, talk to me."Rachel shook her head, quivering lips. "There's nothing to talk about, Ethan," she stammered, not looking up at him. "There is something to talk about, Rachel. Your behavior today isn't normal. You aren't like this, and I want the strong, determined Rachel back" Ethan spilled out.Rachel glared at him, her heart pounding from the fears of the message and a thought of somebody already sending the same message to him. How is he going to react? Is he going to be happy or sad? Different thoughts and narrations run through her head. Her thoughts were interrupted by Ethan growl.Like I said before, this is not your family or your life and I don't think there is something to tal
The plush red velvet booth of the high-class restaurant cradled Sophia's back as her fingers absently traced the rim of her wine glass. The low hum of chatter and the clinking of cutlery filled the room, blending with the faint melody of a pianist playing in the corner. Dim, ambient lighting drenched the room with a golden glow, but Sophia's face was cold, and her hard eyes were glued to Michael across from her. “As you can see in the news, I am now being referred to as the clingy, rude, spoiled princess that can't handle her prince charming breaking up with her" Micheal let out a smug smile trying to press the laughter budding from him. “I don't get the fact on how your father couldn't control the media narrative until it was too late" Sophia looked at him, her eyes burning from anger remembering the disgrace she had to pass through and the fact she couldn't go anywhere till the new died. “I want them to pay with their life and their blood. You can't imagine the disgrace I went th
Morning sun poured in through the windshield through the driver's side at times from the windshield when Rachel steered the car onto the street. They were in the back of the car and their discussions filled the car. Rachel smiled softly, glancing at them through the rearview mirror. Her chest filled with love, while listening to the song, as Daniella hummed, while Damian and Dante shared a secret in hushed tones.“Mummy, our class teacher told us that we are going to have parents day in school soon" Dante tells her after gossiping with his brother.“Really!" Rachel smiled as she stared at them through the mirror.“Yes" the voice of Damian filled the car with his joyful tone. “So you want me to come?" She asked them “Yes mama" Damian shouted.“Alright, don't strain yourself Damian" she said softly as he settled down quietly.When they got close to the school, Rachel observed a black SUV in close shadow behind her. She frowned, checking her rearview mirror again. Soon, another car joi
Rachel adjusted her blazer, the fingers trembling, as she stepped out of the cab. The soft click of her heels against the pavement was drowned by the chaos ahead: the normal entry building of her company now was a battleground. Protesters crowded the front entrance, their faces twisted in anger. Chants echoed through the street, accompanied by the sound of eggs splattering against the glass doors. Rachel froze for one second, her heart sinking as it finally registered. Her shoulders stiffened, but she forced herself to take a steady breath. “ You built this company from nothing,she reminded herself”. “You’re not going to let it crumble now.” Keeping her head low, she circled to the back entrance, her steps quick and purposeful. Her chest tightened with each step, the echoes of the protesters’ angry cries trailing behind her. As she slid into the building, the usual warmth of her office felt eerily cold. Donna, her secretary, was waiting at her door. Her face was white and her
Above, fluorescent lights hummed softly above the police station-a very soft hum that did nothing to drown out the tension in the room. Ethan sat forward on the chair, his jaw clenched, his fingers tapping impatiently on the cold metal armrest. Across the table, a knot of protesters slumped, bravado drained from earlier posturing. They shifted under the officers' sharp gazes, their guilt across slouched postures and darting eyes.Ethan leaned forward, his dark eyes boring into them. "Who put you up to this?" he demanded, his voice low and steady, laced with steel.The protesters shifted uneasily, eyes darting about, their feet scuffling the tiled floor. Finally, one of them spoke-a young man with a scraggly beard-his voice quavering. "We don't know who it was. Somebody sent us money. Told us to, uh. show up and, you know, cause a scene."Ethan's brow furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. "And you didn't think to question it?" he snapped, frustration bubbling over. “You didn't
Ethan sat opposite the lead investigator at the police station. His fingers tapped impatiently on the edge of the desk, while his face screwed tightly, his jaw clenched down, and a thin furrow set between his eyebrows. A fact that Ethan had hardly slept well for days was aptly reflected in the dark circles hanging like bruises beneath his eyes."Mr. Carter," the officer started, his voice even but threaded with frustration, "we questioned every single protester. None of them met anyone directly. All they got were private messages-anonymous, untraceable."Ethan's eyebrows shot upwards while his lips pursed into a thin line. "Anonymous?" he repeated, his voice sharp. "You are telling me that somebody out there is running this whole mayhem from behind the scenes and you can't tell who?" The officer leaned back in his chair with steepled fingers. "Whoever is behind this knows what they are doing, and they covered their tracks well.Ethan blew heavily and massaged his temples. His face r
Back in the house had never been louder—not with three teenagers filling the halls with their banter, late-night music, and endless debates over whose turn it was to use the car. But amidst the usual chaos, Rachel found herself sitting in the quiet of the living room, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the small curve of her stomach.Ethan walked in, loosening his tie, his gaze immediately landing on her. “You look suspiciously peaceful,” he teased. “What’s going on?”Rachel bit her lip, her heart racing in anticipation. “Come sit,” she said, patting the space beside her.Ethan raised an eyebrow but obeyed, settling next to her. She took his hand and guided it to her stomach, watching as realization dawned in his eyes. His fingers tensed slightly before he exhaled, a slow smile forming.“Rachel…?”She nodded, her voice soft but filled with joy. “We’re having another baby.”For a moment, Ethan just stared at her, emotions flickering across his face—shock, awe, then unmistakable love. T
The ballroom of the Gray estate was alive with activity. Decorators rushed to arrange floral arches, caterers set up endless rows of champagne glasses, and the wedding planner barked last-minute instructions into her headset.Rachel sat at the head of a long table, flipping through final details, trying not to lose her mind. Across from her, Ethan sat back in his chair, arms crossed, watching her with an amused smirk."Tell me again why we need five different cake flavours?" Ethan asked.Rachel sighed, massaging her temples. "Because your mother wants something ‘refined,’ my mother refuses to have vanilla, and the triplets will start a rebellion if we don’t include chocolate."Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Remind me again who’s actually getting married? Because it feels like we’re just extras in their grand event."Rachel shot him a look. "We’re getting married, Ethan. In front of at least five hundred people, in a wedding so perfect they’ll talk about it for years."Ethan leaned
Sophia's world was shattering In front of her.She found herself in a hospital room, the machines beeping in her ears. The smell of antiseptic mixed with the hint of fresh lily perfume from a vase sitting on the edge of the window. The lights pained her eyes, and as she tried to move, she felt pain all over her body from her neck to her shoulders.Her fingers twitched. Bandage wrapped tightly across her wound. A reminder of Michael's deception, her stupidity, and the fact that she had lost.No.She couldn't lose. She was Sophia Greenwood. The heiress. The queen.She Kept telling herself Her breathing was erratic, her chest rising and falling in rapid spasms of air. "No… No, this isn't happening," she whispered, her voice cracked from crying. Her fingers tightened on the sheets wildly, as if she could tear a gap in her nightmare and flee.A nurse rushed in, distressed. "Miss Greenwood, you must calm down."But Sophia wasn’t listening. She thrashed, her movements wild, her mind spinni
Three Months Later The steady beep of the heart monitor resonated through the silent hospital room. Sunlight streamed through the sheer drapes, bathing Rachel's pale face with a warm, golden glow. Her fingers twitched, her breathing slowed, and then—her eyelids fluttered open. Vague images into focus, her head struggling to get it together. The acrid scent of antiseptic, the touch of a warm palm cupping hers, and the soft hum of voices beyond. And then she saw him. Ethan. His head rested next to her hand, weariness in the dark circles under his eyes. His neatly styled hair was mussed, his shirt slightly wrinkled—signs that he had not departed from her bedside. Rachel's mouth opened, her throat dry. "E-Ethan…" His head snapped up instantly, his deep blue eyes widening in disbelief. For a second, he just stared, as if questioning whether he was imagining things. Then, in a breathless whisper, he said, “Rachel?” Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “I… I’m here.” Etha
The gentle hum of machinery dominated the hospital room, interrupted only by the constant beeping of Rachel's heart monitor. The room was thick with unspoken words, emotions suffocating all who were there.Ethan sat next to Rachel's bed, his fists together, his jaw set. His usually piercing blue eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, his disheveled hair a testament to sleepless nights spent in the chair. He hadn't left Rachel's bedside since she'd been wheeled into surgery.She still hadn't woken.The triplets sat beside him, little hands grasping Rachel's like her touch would bring her to life. Mia sniffled, nose buried on her sleeve."Why won't Mommy wake up?" Daniella quivered.Ethan's heart tightened. He breathed in slowly before succeeding in producing a weak reassuring smile. "She will, baby. She's just healing.".Mia swallowed hard, her big brown eyes welling up with tears. "But what if she doesn't?"Ethan ground his teeth together, fighting down the lump in his throat. "She w
Michael fired a shot into the air, the sound echoing in the ears as it bounced off the warehouse walls. The crowd outside screamed, the media surging forward to capture every second of the unfolding chaos."Put down your gun!" one of the officers commanded, his own gun trained on Michael.But Michael barely heard him. His face twisted in anger, his knuckles white as he gripped the gun in his fist.Sophia, feeling herself losing control of the situation, slowly took a step back. "Michael, listen—" she tried, but her voice shook.Michael's head snapped around, his lip curling in disgust. "Where do you think you're going, Sophia?""I-I need to get out of here," she stammered. "We—this wasn't the plan!"Michael laughed, his head shaking. "You were ready to sacrifice me a moment ago, and now you want to run? No, darling, you're not going anywhere." Sophia's breath caught. "Michael, don't—" The sound of the gunshot rang out before she could finish.Sophia screamed, stumbling backward as b
Screeching tires echoed through the night as Ethan's vehicle skidded to a stop in front of the warehouse. The flashing red and blue lights of the police vehicles illuminated the scene in an eerie glow. The officers moved into position, guns drawn, but Ethan had one focus—Rachel.His heart clenched at the sight of her. She was statue-still, her body weak and unsteady, her eyes drugged from whatever Michael had thrown into her system. A gun was pressed to her temple, Michael's hand steady as he sneered at the approaching group. The three children trembled in the corner, silently crying as Sophia stood near them, her expression unreadable.Ethan stepped forward, his hands raised in a soothing gesture. His voice was rough, entreating. "Michael, don't do this. Let Rachel go. This doesn't have to go bad."Michael let out a cold, humorless laugh. "End badly?" His jaw clenched, and his fist around the gun tightened. "She deserves worse! After everything I did for her, she threw me away like g
Rachel's fingers trembled as she stepped into the dim warehouse, the air thick with the odor of decayed wood and gasoline. Her heart pounded in her chest, a fear beat that intensified even more when she caught sight of her children. Daniella, Damian, and Dante were sitting together in a corner, their small hands bound up with rough ropes. Sobs streamed down their faces, muffled cries that pierced straight through Rachel's heart.A slow clap echoed across the warehouse, and Rachel whirled to see Sophia slouching against an old metal beam, a cruel smile twisting on her lips. Michael stood beside her, his cold eyes flashing with cruelty.Rachel gulped hard, trying to remain calm. "Please, let them go," she pleaded, her voice shattering. "They're only children."Sophia walked over to her, high heels clicking against the concrete floor. She reached out and slapped Rachel sharply on the face. The burning slap crossed Rachel's cheek, and she gasped, stepping back. Sophia was laughing, blue e
The Maverick headquarters buzzed with activity, the air electric with anticipation. The live TV show was on, showing the company's latest creations to the world. Models glided along the runway, their movements smooth and confident, as the audience sat in complete attention.Rachel's heels clicked on the marble floor of the Maverick headquarters as she glanced at her phone. The live celebration was in progress, and she should have been at the center of it all, raising a glass to the company's latest success. But a sense of disquiet churned at her chest. Something was wrong.Her assistant, Donna, rushed toward her, breathless. "Rachel, there's a problem. The triplets. they're missing."Rachel's universe came to a standstill. "What?"Ethan and I were with our nanny at the event, but she turned around for a moment, and now they're missing."A sense of panic choked Rachel's throat. "Find them! Go through the security cameras. Now!"Donna couldn't respond in time before Rachel's phone buzze