After breakfast, the school bus arrived to pick up Jackson. Amelia watched from the front door as he ran down the driveway, waving enthusiastically before hopping on the bus. She waved back, her heart swelling with love for the little boy. She stood there for a moment after the bus drove away, enjoying the peaceful morning air before returning inside. With Jackson at school and Alexander at the office, Amelia was left alone in the house, save for the maid who was there to help with the household chores. It was quiet, almost too quiet, but Amelia didn’t mind. She liked the calmness that came with having the house to herself, giving her time to relax and reflect. She made her way upstairs, intending to spend the morning catching up on some reading or perhaps doing some light organizing around the house. But as she reached the top of the stairs, a sound caught her attention—a car pulling into the driveway. Amelia froze for a moment, listening intently. Who could it be? She wasn’t exp
It was clear that Evelyn had been following the news closely, but she didn’t press Amelia for details or gossip. Instead, she listened with genuine concern, offering words of support and reassurance. “I know the media can be relentless,” Evelyn said after a while, her voice was steady and calm. “But don’t let them get to you. What matters most is your family, and we’re all here for you, no matter what.” Amelia nodded, feeling a sense of relief settle over her. Evelyn had a way of making everything seem more manageable, even in the midst of chaos. They continued talking for a while, the conversation flowing easily between them, and for the first time in days, Amelia felt a sense of peace. As the afternoon light shifted, casting a golden hue over the house, Amelia felt a sense of calm settle in, even though the recent days had been anything but peaceful. She knew that Jackson, her son, would soon be back from school, and the thought of having the family together again after such a
The familiar clatter of dishes and Jackson’s animated chatter filled the room, creating an atmosphere that felt almost serene. Amelia couldn’t help but smile as her son recounted the details of his school day with the kind of boundless energy only a child could have. Jackson, always full of stories, waved his arms in excitement as he talked about his art class. “Mom! Dad! I drew the biggest dragon today! Mrs. Carson said it was the best one she’s seen all year!” His eyes sparkled with pride, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. “That’s amazing, sweetheart,” Amelia said, her smile widening as she listened to him. The joy in his voice, the innocence in his excitement—it was the kind of moment that reminded her of what truly mattered, despite the turbulence they had been facing lately. Evelyn, seated at the head of the table, watched Jackson with her usual warmth and patience. “I can’t wait to see it,” she said, her voice soft yet full of genuine interest. “I bet it’s the most ma
It had already been four months since Chloe’s arrest, and Alexander’s family had finally settled into a sense of peace—one that felt long overdue. The chaos that Chloe had caused, the tension that had rippled through their household, was gone, leaving an air of calm that both Alexander and Amelia had craved for so long. Life, however, wasn’t as simple as closing the door on the past and moving forward, especially not for Jackson. Jackson, Chloe’s son, was only six years old, too young to understand why his mother wasn’t around anymore. Too young to comprehend the complexities of the situation or why everyone seemed so hesitant to talk about her. His world had suddenly shifted, and the person he had relied on the most—his mother—was no longer there to comfort him. And it showed. He asked about her every day, sometimes multiple times a day, his innocent eyes wide with hope, waiting for an answer that never seemed to come. "Where's Mom?" Jackson would ask Alexander with a frown as he
"She’s just really busy right now," Amelia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But she’s thinking about you every day. She loves you so much, Jackson." Jackson didn’t respond. He just turned over in bed, facing the wall, and clutched his stuffed bear even tighter. Amelia sat there for a moment longer, unsure of what to say or do. She wished she could fix this for him, take away the pain he was feeling. But all she could do was be there for him, even if her presence wasn’t enough to fill the void Chloe had left behind. Later that night, after Jackson had finally fallen asleep, Amelia made her way downstairs to the living room, where Alexander was sitting on the couch, his laptop open in front of him as he went over some documents for work. He looked up as she entered the room, immediately noticing the weariness in her expression. "How is he?" Alexander asked, concern lacing his voice. "He cried himself to sleep again," Amelia replied, sinking onto the couch beside him. "He
Amelia walked slowly up the stairs, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Jackson and his struggles lately. As she reached the top, she paused outside Alexander's study room, her hand hovering over the doorknob. She knew she needed to talk to him about Jackson, but part of her dreaded the conversation. They had both been through so much recently, and the last thing she wanted to do was add more stress to an already complicated situation. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly before pushing the door open. Alexander was sitting at his desk, his attention focused on a set of documents spread out in front of him. He looked up as she entered, his expression softening when he saw her standing there. "Hey, Amelia," he greeted, setting his pen down and leaning back in his chair. "Everything alright?" Amelia gave him a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I need to talk to you about Jackson," she began, her voice a little hesitant. She crossed the room, coming to stand near
Amelia sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she mulled over his words. "It’s just... hard," she said after a moment. "After everything she put us through... I don’t want her back in our lives. But at the same time, I can’t stand to see Jackson hurting like this." Alexander stepped closer to her, his hand gently brushing her arm. "I know it’s hard," he said softly. "But we’ll deal with it together, just like we always do. Whatever happens, we’ll face it as a team." Amelia looked up at him, her heart swelling with love for the man standing in front of her. He was always so strong, so steady, even in the face of difficult decisions. She knew he was right—releasing Chloe might be the only way to help Jackson. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept. "Okay," she said finally, her voice quiet but resolute. "If you think it’s the right thing to do, then... I’ll support you." Alexander smiled softly, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "Thank you," he murmured against her h
And that was what gnawed at Amelia’s conscience. No matter how toxic Chloe had been, she was still Jackson’s mother. Could they really keep her away from him forever? Was it fair to let Jackson suffer because of the mistakes his mother had made? The next morning, Amelia woke up before dawn, her thoughts still swirling. She slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Alexander, and made her way downstairs. The house was still, the air cool and quiet. She walked into the kitchen, where the faint scent of coffee lingered from the night before. She filled a glass with water and sat at the kitchen table, staring into the darkness outside. She thought about Jackson, about how she would explain Chloe’s return to him. Would he be excited to see her? Would he be confused about why she had been gone for so long? The questions felt endless, and she didn’t have all the answers. All she knew was that she had to put his well-being first. A few hours later, Amelia heard footsteps behind
One of them was Chloe’s—angry, sharp. The other, male, unfamiliar.Alexander’s stomach tightened. Who was with her? He quickened his steps but hesitated before reaching the door, his instincts urging caution. Instead of barging in, he moved quietly, staying hidden just out of sight. Peeking through the gap, he saw them—Chloe and a man he didn’t recognize, standing uncomfortably close to each other.The man’s voice was low but intense, carrying a weight that sent a shiver down Alexander’s spine. “You know why I’m here, Chloe,” George said, his eyes dark and full of intent. “I want my son. I want Jackson back.”Chloe’s reaction was immediate. Her laughter was harsh, sharp, and laced with disbelief. It was the kind of laugh that came not from humor, but from pure anger.“Your son?” she spat, stepping toward him with a fierceness Alexander had never seen in her before. “You mean the son I raised all by myself? The son you left behind the moment I told you I was pregnant?” Her voice rose w
Chloe was just about to step out of her house when she heard a knock at the door. Confused, she called out, "Who is it?"Silence. No response.Frowning, she cautiously approached the door, her heart beginning to race. When she opened it, her eyes widened in shock."George?" she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.George stood there, a smirk playing on his lips. He looked the same but different—rougher around the edges, more intense. There was something dangerous in his gaze."Surprised to see me?" he asked with a cocky tilt to his head."What are you doing here?" Chloe’s voice was sharp, trying to mask the flutter of nerves building in her chest."Can't I come in?" he asked, his tone teasing.She hesitated, scanning his face for a sign of what he wanted. "Fine," she said stiffly, stepping aside. "Come in."George strolled into the living room, looking around as though he owned the place. Chloe closed the door and turned to face him, folding her arms defensively."What do you wan
Amelia barely heard her. All she could think about was the baby, the life growing inside her. She prayed silently that everything would be okay, that this wasn’t the end of her pregnancy, that her baby would be safe. As the hospital came into view, the driver honked the horn urgently, signaling the medical staff. By the time they pulled up to the emergency entrance, nurses and doctors were already rushing out with a stretcher. The maid quickly helped them lift Amelia out of the car and onto the stretcher. “Please… the baby…” Amelia murmured as the medical team hurried. “We’ve got you, one of the nurses said, her voice calm but firm. “We’re going to take care of you and your baby. The hospital doors swung shut behind them, leaving the maid and driver outside, watching with worried expressions as Amelia was whisked away. Alexander stormed into the hospital with a look of intense worry etched across his face. His usual calm, collected demeanor was replaced by a frantic urgency a
Amelia’s vision blurred with tears as she struggled to push herself up, but the pain in her stomach was too much. She shouted for help, her voice desperate as she lay on the floor, terrified for her unborn child. But Chloe didn’t care. She stood there, watching Amelia suffer with cold indifference. After a few moments, she turned on her heel and walked out of the house, her heels clicking against the floor as if nothing had happened. The front door slammed shut behind her, and the sound echoed in the now-empty hallway. Amelia’s cries for help echoed through the hallways. Her voice, weak but filled with desperation, finally reached the maid, who rushed into the living room. The sight of Amelia on the floor sent a chill down the maid’s spine. She dropped to her knees, her hands trembling as she gently shook Amelia. "Mrs. Amelia! Oh my God, what happened? Are you okay?" The maid’s voice was frantic as she tried to help Amelia sit up. Amelia winced as she held onto her belly, her brea
The house was quiet, a peaceful stillness that Amelia had grown to appreciate in the last few months. She sat in her bedroom, sorting through baby clothes, organizing the nursery for the little one growing inside her. Her hand rested on her round belly as she smiled softly, feeling the slight kicks of the baby. Things had been calm, and despite the tensions with Chloe still looming in the background, Amelia had felt a sense of peace in recent weeks. Suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway snapped Amelia out of her reverie. She furrowed her brow, wondering who could be arriving at this time. Alexander was at work, and there were no deliveries scheduled for today. Curious, she pushed herself up from the bed, her movements slow and careful as her pregnancy had advanced significantly. Amelia made her way to the window and peered outside. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw an unfamiliar car parked in the driveway. The sleek, black vehicle gleamed in the sunlight, and
“Ms. Chloe,” Donovan said smoothly, his voice deep and authoritative as he gestured toward the chair in front of him. His dark eyes were locked onto hers, unwavering, assessing her from the moment she walked in. “Maya has told me about your situation. Please, have a seat.” Chloe sat down, her movements deliberate, her spine straight as if a rod was keeping her upright. “I’m glad Maya could make this happen on such short notice,” Chloe began, her voice steady. She wasn’t sure if Donovan was someone she could fully trust yet, but she knew Maya wouldn’t have connected her to anyone less than the best. Donovan waved a hand dismissively, leaning back slightly in his leather chair, exuding a calm confidence that seemed to fill the room. As if short notice and high-pressure situations were something he handled daily. “She’s a good friend,” he said, his tone even, “and she knows how to get things moving. Now, tell me exactly what you want.” Chloe took a deep breath, her mind laser-focus
Her friend had been equally shocked to learn that Amelia was pregnant. Chloe had tried to play it off like she already knew, but the truth was, she hadn’t. It stung, even if she didn’t want to admit it. The idea of Alexander starting a new family, having another child with Amelia, made her feel irrelevant, like a forgotten chapter in his life. But that was about to change. As Chloe continued to browse her phone, she wondered what Alexander would think when he found out about her plan. Would he fight back, or would he let her take Jackson without a struggle? No, she knew Alexander better than that. He would fight, but that didn’t scare her. She was ready for whatever was coming. Her hand hovered over a contact name—an old acquaintance who worked in law. She hesitated for a moment, then pressed the call button. The phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered. “Hello?” the voice said, sounding surprised to hear from her. “Hey, it’s Chloe,” she said, her voice calm and col
When they finally finished their meal, Sarah gave Chloe a quick hug before they parted ways. “Take care of yourself, Chloe,” she said before disappearing down the street. Chloe stood there for a moment, watching her friend walk away, before slowly heading back to her car. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts, plans, and questions. All this time, she had been thinking about how to get back into her son’s life, how to restore her place in Alexander’s world. And now she found out that Amelia was pregnant? It changed everything. Back at home, Chloe threw her shopping bags onto the couch and sank into a chair, her mind still reeling. She hadn’t expected this. The idea of Amelia carrying Alexander’s child gnawed at her, twisting something deep inside her chest. She could feel old feelings resurfacing—resentment, jealousy, anger. All the emotions she had tried to suppress were bubbling to the surface. She paced back and forth across the living room, trying to think of her next move. Alex
The next day, Chloe felt an unusual sense of freedom as she stepped out of her house and into the world that had continued without her for over four months. It was strange being out after so long, seeing the everyday bustle of people going about their lives, unaware of the turmoil that had been happening behind the scenes in hers. She took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze brush against her skin, and smiled faintly. Today, she decided, she would reclaim a small piece of her old life. She went shopping first, driving through the city with a newfound purpose. Chloe had always had a taste for luxury, and although her current situation wasn’t ideal, she wasn’t about to give up on the things that had once made her feel powerful. Stopping by her favorite boutique, she spent hours perusing the racks of designer clothes, trying on outfit after outfit. It felt like a quiet rebellion against the world she had been trapped in for so long. As she walked down the busy streets with several s