JamesThe warmth that had softened my features vanished, replaced by a coldness that mirrored the storm inside me. I lifted her chin, forcing her to look at me. Her eyes were still moist, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen… reminders of what had just happened.But the tenderness I felt, the lingering passion, was instantly extinguished. She was already pulling away, already planning her escape.It was like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over me. The chill seeped into my bones, fueling a white-hot rage.I tightened my grip on her jaw, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl."Back to the airport?" I sneered. "I told you, you're not going anywhere without my permission."Her eyes widened a flicker of confusion and hurt crossing her face. She frowned, wincing slightly at my grip."But… you promised," she stammered. "You said…"I raised an eyebrow, a cruel smile twisting my lips. "That's what you said," I corrected her, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "When did I agree?"****
JamesI carried Zelda back to the villa, her sleep undisturbed. A doctor was waiting in the living room. I nodded to her, a brief acknowledgement, and carried Zelda upstairs, the doctor following close behind. I laid her gently on the bed, then stepped back, whispering to the doctor,"Be gentle. Don't wake her."The doctor, an obstetrician, had been called out late at night. I knew she’d been prepared for some kind of emergency. I’d painted a vague picture of a potential pregnancy complication. But now… the situation was far different than what she’d expected.She nodded a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes and approached the bed to examine Zelda.I watched, my gaze fixed on her, an oppressive weight in my chest. When the doctor finished and came out of the room, I was waiting."How is she?" I asked, my voice tight."Don't worry, Mr. Ferguson," she reassured me."Mrs. Ferguson and the baby are both fine. She's exhausted, though. Very weak. She'll need to take better care of h
I brushed my teeth, James standing beside me, watching. I glanced at him, surprised."Aren't you going to brush your teeth?" I asked, then looked at the toiletries beside mine. And that’s when it hit me. This was the Mansion, our… my and James’s old home. When I left, I’d only packed clothes. Nothing else.And yet, here were all my things: my towel, toothbrush, mouthwash cup, comb, cosmetics… even the two hairbands I always used, hanging on the hook. It was as if I’d never left.No, that wasn’t right. Something had changed. Next to my things were his. His toiletries were placed neatly beside mine. Tall and short, big and small, all in pairs. My things were warm colours; his, cool. But many of them… they were couple’s items. The ones I’d picked out myself, full of my own secret hopes.He’d never slept in the same bed with me. When he came back, which was rare, he always slept in the guest room. His things were always in the guest bathroom. But now… after I’d left… they were here, in th
"What if I insist on leaving?" I demanded, pushing past the servants.They immediately formed a human wall, blocking my way."Madam," one of them pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I’m a single mother. My child’s father is a gambler and an alcoholic. I have no one to rely on. It’s hard to find a job. Please, have pity on me.""My wife is very kind," the other servant chimed in. "My mother is paralyzed, and I can’t afford to lose my job."I… I was speechless. I knew what it was like to have a gambler and an alcoholic for a parent. I knew what it was like to have a family member who needed constant care. I didn’t know if they were telling the truth, but… it tugged at my heartstrings. I’d always been too soft. Defeated, I turned and went back upstairs.I went to the study, hoping to use the computer, but the internet was down. Exasperated, I left the study, bumping into Aunt Jiang, who was carrying a plate of fruit."Madam," she said gently. "Please don’t go against Mr. Ferguson. Be
ChengChen Ting never thought a single day could be so exhausting.Assigned by James Ferguson to be the Women's Director for a day, he had spent the entire time surrounded by the relentless energy of the company's female employees. The experience had drained every ounce of his patience, leaving him on the verge of collapse.Now, he had only one mission: to make sure the CEO succeeds in pursuing his wife as soon as possible—so that his mental state remains stable.It was a matter of survival.So, Cheng didn’t hold back. He went all out, even biting the tip of his tongue to force out a few tears. The moment they fell, he saw Zelda Liamson freeze.For a brief second, her expression was unreadable—like her mind had completely shut down.Then, she sneered."Assistant Cheng," she said slowly, her voice laced with scepticism. "What is James Ferguson up to?"Her gaze sharpened, assessing him."He must have colluded with you."Cheng didn’t even have time to react before she scoffed and continu
The scent… it was him.It flooded my senses, a painful, sweet ache. I froze, though. Terrified. I couldn't move, couldn't bring myself to pull away the hand covering my eyes. What if it wasn't real? What if I opened my eyes and he was gone, just a phantom conjured by my own desperate longing? What if this embrace was just another cruel trick my mind was playing?Tears streamed down my face, silent and hot. Soon, his hand was wet. I felt the shift in him, a ripple of something… was it pain? My heart ached with a dull throb. Especially knowing… knowing about the baby. The thought made the fear twist into something sharper, more desperate.His hand moved, so gently, to my shoulders. He turned me, ever so slowly. Then, his fingers brushed my face, wiping away the tears."Zee," he whispered, his voice so soft, so familiar. "Be good, open your eyes. Brother is here. It's okay."I couldn't. My lashes fluttered, more tears escaping."I'm scared," I choked out. "It's… it's all fake. A hallucin
Zelda"Little one?" James's voice was a low rumble, a flicker of something – amusement? – in his eyes.Even after I practically shoved him away, I couldn't bring myself to tell him. The divorce… leaving… it was all still so tangled in my mind. But now, the word was out. Did it mean things were changing?I nodded, taking his hand and pressing it against my lower abdomen. My own hand trembled."James," I whispered, my voice thick with unshed tears, "Little one is… the nickname I gave the baby. I'm… I'm pregnant. Over three months."The words tumbled out, a dam breaking. I’d been so emotional, so terrified. But he deserved to know. Little one’s father. And what if… what if something happened to him? The thought was a shard of ice in my heart.The regret would be unbearable – for him, for the Little one, for me.But then the fear clamped down again. His past words echoed in my ears: Abort the baby if you're pregnant. His coldness… it was a weight on my soul. I watched his face, searching
Mortified and annoyed, I pulled away from James, glaring at him. I scrambled off the bed, determined to face the doctors to salvage what was left of my dignity."Wait a minute…" James said, his voice husky."Wait for what?" I snapped. "If I wait any longer, I'll die of embarrassment!" Having the doctors waiting outside was torture enough.But James grabbed my waist, pulling me back against him. "If you go open the door now," he murmured, "we'll be even more embarrassed."He tugged me closer, and I blushed furiously, unable to move, biting my lip."You're injured," I whispered, "why are you still…""The injury isn't there," he replied, a smirk in his voice.He’d just had me on top of him, crying and carrying on. If he hadn’t reacted, there would have been a problem.I was speechless. I tried to cover my tracks, pulling the quilt up and tucking it around him. "You…," I mumbled, turning away, unable to meet his eyes.James looked at my flustered, embarrassed face and cleared his throat.
ZeldaMy face flushed crimson, a wave of guilt washing over me. I couldn't even bring myself to look at Grandma, her expression a mix of surprise and delight."Grandma," I whispered, my voice barely audible, "I'm so sorry. I knew how much you wanted James and me to have a baby, but I… I still kept it a secret."I was so ashamed, I couldn't lift my head.But instead of scolding me, Grandma pulled me into a warm embrace, patting my back gently."My child," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "I’m so sorry… for misunderstanding you."As a woman, she understood. She knew the pain, the disappointment, the deep-seated reasons why I might have kept my pregnancy hidden, choosing to face it alone."Silly child," Grandma said, pulling back to look at me, her eyes brimming with tears. "I’m so happy, so relieved… I don't even have time to be angry! Oh, my goodness… you’re pregnant!"Jus
James frowned, thinking back, and a vague memory of the incident surfaced. He explained, a hint of helplessness in his voice,“ Mr and Mrs Wenger were supposed to meet me there that day for a business discussion. Susan bought the roses for her mother. She had a scratch on her hand, and I simply helped her carry them. Later, my flight was delayed, and I had other commitments, so we didn't end up having dinner. As for her holding my hand… I honestly don’t remember that."He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly."How do you know all this? It’s as if you were there, watching it all unfold."My stomach clenched. Thinking back to that day, all I could see was myself, wandering the streets of a foreign city, lost and heartbroken, crying like a fool. I felt like such a naive idiot, manipulated by Susan's carefully crafted narrative. I didn't want to tell him how devastated I’d been, how much it had hurt.But now wasn’t t
SusanHis eyes were like glaciers, and the weight of his gaze pressed down on me, making my face feel clammy and cold. I hadn't expected him to deny it so bluntly. I'd been so sure he'd keep up the pretence, at least until after the baby was born.Hellen spun around, her face a mask of anxious fury."Susan, say something!" she hissed. "Didn't you tell me the child is James's?" She was relying on this too.I swayed, suddenly finding myself unable to feign dizziness or any other convenient ailment under his cold, indifferent stare. I knew he wouldn't tolerate any more of my tricks.My lips were dry and trembling as I looked at Hellen, tears I could force no longer welling in my eyes."I… Auntie," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper, "I never explicitly said the child was Mr. Ferguson's. You… you misunderstood."Hellen's face contorted with rage, a flush rising in her cheeks. She looked at me, at my carefully crafted inn
Susan Wenger hurried to catch up, still clutching the bouquet."Sister, I mean well. It's fine if I don't go into the ward. Just help me take these in as a small token of my appreciation. And… have you asked James about it yet? Is he happy at the thought of our babies growing up together? Actually, I was thinking… wouldn’t it be lovely if my baby could recognize James as his godfather in the future…?"It was like a swarm of flies buzzing incessantly around my ears. That last bit pushed me over the edge. I stopped abruptly, whirled around, snatched the bouquet from her hands, and threw it to the ground.Then, I stomped on it, grinding the flowers into a pulp with a few swift kicks, my eyes blazing at Susan."The flowers are gone," I said, my voice tight with barely suppressed rage. "And you can go too! My husband and I have discussed it. We're planning on having a second, maybe even a third child. That way, our babies will have b
Susan Wenger had a real talent for getting under my skin. Even though I knew her tactics, even though I knew I shouldn't believe a word she said, I still felt a surge of anger.When I pushed open the door to James’s room, my face was set in a frown. He looked up, a faint smile touching his lips, and held out a hand."What took you so long?"I walked over, my expression darkening. Instead of taking his hand, I slapped it hard."James Ferguson," I said, my voice trembling, "you're going to explain to me right now what's going on with Susan Wenger's baby. Or I swear I'll take Little One and leave!" Tears welled up in my eyes.I stood there, hands on my hips, trying to look fierce, like a cornered kitten puffing itself up.James looked surprised. He pulled me into his arms, onto the bed."Who did you see out there?" he asked, his voice gentle. "What happened?""Don't change the subject!" I glared at him.He pursed his lips. "You'll find out about it later," he said.His evasiveness only f
ZeldaI clutched James's angiography film and headed towards the inpatient building. As the elevator doors opened, I bumped into someone.Instinctively, my hand went to my barely-there bump. "I'm sorry," I murmured."Sorry," the other person echoed.I looked up and saw another pregnant woman. She was also cradling her belly. Our synchronised movements created a moment of shared understanding, and we both smiled."You're pregnant too, right?" she asked, her voice warm and friendly.I nodded. "I'm only three months along. I'm not even showing yet. You look like you're five or six months?""Not quite five yet," she replied.I stared at her rounded belly, the size of a small watermelon, a flicker of worry crossing my mind. Why was my "fruit" still just a tiny bean sprout?She chuckled at my expression."You're young, and it's your first, isn't it? Don't let your slim figure fool you. After the first trimester, your belly will pop. It changes every day like a balloon being blown up."I nod
Mortified and annoyed, I pulled away from James, glaring at him. I scrambled off the bed, determined to face the doctors to salvage what was left of my dignity."Wait a minute…" James said, his voice husky."Wait for what?" I snapped. "If I wait any longer, I'll die of embarrassment!" Having the doctors waiting outside was torture enough.But James grabbed my waist, pulling me back against him. "If you go open the door now," he murmured, "we'll be even more embarrassed."He tugged me closer, and I blushed furiously, unable to move, biting my lip."You're injured," I whispered, "why are you still…""The injury isn't there," he replied, a smirk in his voice.He’d just had me on top of him, crying and carrying on. If he hadn’t reacted, there would have been a problem.I was speechless. I tried to cover my tracks, pulling the quilt up and tucking it around him. "You…," I mumbled, turning away, unable to meet his eyes.James looked at my flustered, embarrassed face and cleared his throat.
Zelda"Little one?" James's voice was a low rumble, a flicker of something – amusement? – in his eyes.Even after I practically shoved him away, I couldn't bring myself to tell him. The divorce… leaving… it was all still so tangled in my mind. But now, the word was out. Did it mean things were changing?I nodded, taking his hand and pressing it against my lower abdomen. My own hand trembled."James," I whispered, my voice thick with unshed tears, "Little one is… the nickname I gave the baby. I'm… I'm pregnant. Over three months."The words tumbled out, a dam breaking. I’d been so emotional, so terrified. But he deserved to know. Little one’s father. And what if… what if something happened to him? The thought was a shard of ice in my heart.The regret would be unbearable – for him, for the Little one, for me.But then the fear clamped down again. His past words echoed in my ears: Abort the baby if you're pregnant. His coldness… it was a weight on my soul. I watched his face, searching
The scent… it was him.It flooded my senses, a painful, sweet ache. I froze, though. Terrified. I couldn't move, couldn't bring myself to pull away the hand covering my eyes. What if it wasn't real? What if I opened my eyes and he was gone, just a phantom conjured by my own desperate longing? What if this embrace was just another cruel trick my mind was playing?Tears streamed down my face, silent and hot. Soon, his hand was wet. I felt the shift in him, a ripple of something… was it pain? My heart ached with a dull throb. Especially knowing… knowing about the baby. The thought made the fear twist into something sharper, more desperate.His hand moved, so gently, to my shoulders. He turned me, ever so slowly. Then, his fingers brushed my face, wiping away the tears."Zee," he whispered, his voice so soft, so familiar. "Be good, open your eyes. Brother is here. It's okay."I couldn't. My lashes fluttered, more tears escaping."I'm scared," I choked out. "It's… it's all fake. A hallucin