Hello, Dad," she said, trying to sound calm despite the turmoil she felt. "Amelia!" her father’s voice was a mix of concern and disappointment. "Why didn’t you tell me about the pregnancy? I had to find out from the news!" "I’m sorry, Dad," Amelia said, feeling a pang of guilt. "We wanted to wait until we were ready to share the news ourselves." Her father’s frustration was evident. "You should have called me directly, not left me to hear it from the gossip columns. This is big news, Amelia. I should have been the first to know." "I understand," Amelia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We were planning to tell you soon, but everything happened so fast. I didn’t mean to upset you." Her father’s tone softened slightly. "I’m not upset about the news itself. I’m happy for you and Alexander. I’m just hurt that you didn’t confide in me personally. I’ve always been there for you, and I feel left out of such an important moment." Amelia took a deep breath, trying to gather
There was a soft chuckle on the other end of the line, though it sounded a little strained. “Kinda,” Mark admitted, though there was an undertone of something more—something deeper. “But, you know, it’s not just about the news. I’ve been meaning to call you anyway.” Amelia let out a small laugh, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She knew Mark well enough to see through that. He had always been good at deflecting, at pretending things didn’t bother him when they clearly did. “Come on, Mark,” she teased gently, her voice soft. “We both know why you’re calling. You don’t really have to say it.” There was another pause, this one longer than the last. She could almost picture him on the other end, running a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words. “Okay, fine,” he finally said, his voice quieter now. “Yes, the news kind of surprised me. But I called because… well, I just wanted to tell you I’m really happy for you, Amelia.” Those words, simple as they were, touched so
After a while, Mark said he had to go, and they both said their goodbyes. Amelia hung up the phone, her heart heavy with the weight of everything that had been left unsaid. She sat in silence for a while, staring out the window at the fading light of the afternoon.Alexander entered the room a few minutes later, his eyes immediately finding her as she sat on the edge of the bed. He walked over and sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.“Everything okay?” he asked softly.Amelia nodded, leaning into his embrace. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just… catching up with an old friend.”Alexander kissed the top of her head, his touch gentle and reassuring. “You don’t have to worry about anything, Amelia. I’m here, and we’re going to get through this together.”Amelia smiled, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. She knew that there would be challenges ahead, but in that moment, with Alexander's comforting presence beside her, she felt a sense of calm that had been missing for
“I want us to raise our child in a home filled with love and support. I want to give you everything you deserve, Amelia.” She squeezed his hand, touched by his sincerity. “That sounds perfect,” she said softly. “And I know we’ll get there, Alex. We’ve been through so much already, but we’re stronger for it.” He stopped walking and turned to face her, his eyes filled with emotion. “I love you, Amelia. More than anything.” Amelia’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. “I love you too,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around them fading into the background. In that moment, nothing else mattered—not the gossip, not the challenges they would face, not the lingering doubts that sometimes crept into their minds. All that mattered was the love they had for each other, and the life they were building together. As they made their way back to the hotel, Amelia couldn’
Soft, rhythmic beeping medical equipment filled the room, contrasting with the sterile white walls that surrounded it. Sunlight filtered through the partially drawn curtains casting a gentle glow over the frail figure lying in the hospital bed. Amelia sat beside her grandmother, clutching her hand, feeling the coolness of her skin against her own. Margaret, Amelia's grandmother, had always been a source of strength for her. While she fought the illness that had ravaged her body, she still had a determined gleam in her eyes. She gently squeezed Amelia's hand and motioned for her to come closer. Amelia,' Margaret whispered, her voice a mere shadow of its former vibrant self. There's something important I need to tell you. Amelia's heart was heavy with dread and sorrow as she leaned in. I'm here, Grandma. What is it? Margaret took a quick breath, never letting her eyes leave her granddaughter's. “I need you to do something for me It’s my last wish and I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t so
Are you sure about this? Alexander asked, his eyes searching hers for any signs of hesitation. Amelia nodded, her resolve steady. “I am. The terms have been made clear and I think this is the appropriate move forward. Let’s do it.” Together they walked to the courthouse, surrounded by a feeling of solemnity, Upon their arrival they were greeted by a clerk who guided them through the required paperwork Amelia signed her name on the contract followed by Alexander. Officially placing the agreement was done with their signatures. Subsequently, they stood in front of a judge who scrutinized their papers and listened to their agreement Alexander Sterling and Amelia Thompson are you in favor of free and willingly entering into this marriage contract? “Yes, Your Honor,” they both replied in unison. The judge nodded, satisfied. “Very well. By the power vested in me by the state I hereby recognize this marriage contract. Congratulations to both of you.” As they exited the courthou
Amelia’s eyes widened at the news, her face a mix of surprise and confusion. “Alexander is coming back?” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.Mark’s heart sank. This was the worst possible timing. He watched as Amelia processed the information, her mind clearly racing with thoughts of her husband’s imminent return. Any chance he had of confessing his feelings seemed to evaporate in that moment.“I... I didn’t know,” Amelia said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “He didn’t tell me anything about this.”Mark felt a sense of sympathy for her. It was clear that Alexander’s return was unexpected and had thrown her off balance. 'Amelia, are you okay? ' He gently asked, pushing aside his own feelings for the moment.She looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. I'm not sure. It's been so long since I last saw him. I don’t know what to expect.”Mark nodded, understanding her predicament. “If you need someone to talk to or just need a friend, I’m here for you,
As Alexander entered Sterling Enterprises, he was greeted by an unexpected surprise. His employees had gathered in the lobby, a banner reading "Welcome Back, Alexander!" hanging overhead. Applause and cheers filled the air as he walked in, and he couldn’t help but smile at the heartfelt reception."Welcome back, Mr. Sterling!" someone called out, and soon the chorus of greetings became overwhelming.He raised his hand to quiet the crowd, his eyes shining with appreciation. "Thank you all so much. It’s great to be back and see all of your familiar faces."One of his senior managers stepped forward, holding a bouquet of flowers. "We wanted to show you how much we’ve missed you and how happy we are to have you back."Alexander accepted the flowers, feeling genuinely touched. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."He took a moment to look around, taking in the smiles and enthusiasm of his team. It was then that he decided to show his gratitude in a tangible way. "I’ve seen the hard work you