"It's fine, it's healing," he said as he tried to pull his hand away from me.But I wasn’t letting this go.“It’s not healing. And if it is, it’s healing really, really slowly. You should have already been healed by now. Did the results come out? What did they say?”“Listen, it’s healing, okay? And it was healing. I just got hurt today at the club. That’s all.”My face fell. He must have gotten hurt when he was trying to save me on the dance floor. The realization hit me, and guilt tightened around my chest.“Okay, just take good care of yourself. And why were you even drinking if you knew that you had this kind of wound? This is not something to take lightly. Did you take your medicine?”“Yes, I did,” he answered slowly.“How did you even take your medicine? With all that alcohol you just drank?” My voice grew sharper with each word. “Why were you drinking for Susan if you knew that you were going to take medicines to heal?”“You knew that I had a wound,” he answered. “And you still
Susan sat on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling as she stared at her phone. Her chest heaved with anger and disbelief after hearing the faint sounds over the phone—Zelda and James. She couldn’t believe it. How could they?Her mind raced. After everything, after all I've done, how could this happen? The thought tore through her, bringing with it a wave of fury. She couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed her phone and began calling James, over and over, her anger boiling with each unanswered call."Answer me!" she hissed, gripping the device tightly. The ringing echoed in her ear like a taunt, mocking her desperation. Call after call went ignored. Her imagination spiralled, conjuring images of what they could be doing.With a furious scream, she slammed her phone onto the table. "Ah!" she shouted, the sound reverberating in the room. "How could this happen? How could this happen?" Her voice cracked with rage as tears threatened to fall.Her mind flitted back to the club. After she’
James looked at me, and then he smiled, but it wasn’t the kind of smile that brought warmth or reassurance."Just take the pills, Hilda," he said casually, as though we were discussing nothing more consequential than a grocery list.I stared at him, my chest tightening. "Come on, James. I'm serious. What if I’m already pregnant?"The words hung in the air between us, heavy and loaded. I met his gaze, searching for something—anything—that would give me a reason to trust him with this truth. But then his face changed. The warmth drained from his expression, replaced by a cold, unyielding mask.He looked me straight in the eyes. "Then get an abortion or something. But right now, you’re going to drink this pill, okay? I don’t want to have this discussion any longer."My heart sank, a sharp pain cutting through my chest like a blade. I stared at him, unable to believe what I had just heard.I had hoped—desperately hoped—that he would say something else. Something that would make me believe
When I arrived at the apartment, I noticed it was quiet—Jian wasn’t there. That was a relief. The last thing I wanted was to explain why I had spent the entire night with James, especially after lying to her about being at the hospital.I tossed my bag onto the couch and sat down, finally pulling out my phone. Jian had sent me that scandalous web article, and I hadn’t had the chance to go through it yet. Now seemed like as good a time as any.Opening the link, I was immediately greeted by Susan’s response to the rumours. She had posted a picture of herself and James at the club from last night, looking cosy and overly familiar. The photo was staged to perfection, making it seem as though they were the ones being “couples” on the dance floor.The comments were nauseating.People gushed about how lucky Susan was, wishing they had a man like James. Others speculated about their rekindled romance and Susan’s pregnancy.If I hadn’t been at the club last night, if I hadn’t been the one Jame
The sterile, cool air of the doctor's office felt oddly calming as Jianne walked in, joining me without a second thought despite her busy schedule. Her presence was a warm comfort I hadn't realized I needed until this moment. Having her beside me made me feel less alone, less afraid of what lay ahead.The ultrasound machine beeped softly, and the screen displayed a tiny flickering light—the heartbeat of my baby. My baby. I felt an indescribable wave of emotions surge through me. Joy. Relief. Love.Jianne gripped my hand tightly, her excitement mirroring my own. The doctor smiled, pointing to the screen.“As you can see, the heartbeat is strong. The fluid levels are healthy, and everything looks perfectly normal.”“Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much,” I said, my voice cracking slightly.“Is this your first appointment?” the doctor asked.“Yes,” I answered softly.She glanced at Jianne. “And you’re here with your friend?”“Yes.”“And the husband?”The question caught me off guard. I f
When we stepped out of the hospital, Jianne turned to me with a concerned look. "Are you sure you want to go back to the house by yourself? I can stay with you if you need me."I gave her a weak smile, shaking my head. “No, you’ve already done more than enough. Honestly, Jianne, I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there today. If James had found out the truth...” My voice trailed off, the weight of the moment settling heavily between us.She nodded, her hand gently squeezing my arm. “It was a close call, but we handled it. It helps that you made things clear with the doctor earlier. Your secret is safe, Zelda.”I sighed, feeling both grateful and overwhelmed. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”Jianne gave me a reassuring hug. “We’re in this together. You’re going to have that little one, and I’ll be right here with you every step of the way. We’ll take care of each other.”Her words brought a wave of emotions rushing over me, and I could feel the sting of t
The next day, I had just come from a meeting when my grandmother called. I picked it up with a smile on my face, trying to sound light-hearted."Grandmother, I was just thinking about you," I said, hoping to ease into the conversation."Oh, please, would you stop with that? What are you trying to do? You're trying to soften me up? That's not going to happen," she shot back, her voice sharp and unwavering.I frowned, taken aback. "What are you talking about, grandma?""These photos I see of you and Susan all over the tabloids. Apparently, you were kissing her on the dance floor in some kind of nightclub. And you got your pictures taken. You got her with you, walking everywhere, doing everything with you, the two of you. Do you realize that you're a married man? What kind of married man acts like this? Don't you think of your wife's feelings? Do you think, Zelda, of all of these things that you are doing? She is going to leave you if you continue like this."I had to put the phone away
My performance had stretched on for what felt like hours, though in reality, it had only been forty minutes. I had lost count of how many times I had dived into the water and kicked back up, my tail swishing with precision, my lungs burning as I held my breath for as long as I could. Each time I surfaced, it was like breaking through a wall of exhaustion, but I kept going. I had to.I waved my tail one last time and started to rise for air when something unexpected happened. A hand—large, strong, and unyielding—plunged into the water and clamped around my arm like a vice.I barely had time to register what was happening before I was yanked out of the water, the suddenness of it leaving me gasping. Water streamed down my face, stinging my eyes, and I could hardly see. My vision blurred, but even through the haze, I knew who it was.That strength, that towering presence—it could only belong to one man.“James!” I gasped, my voice cracking with surprise and fury.I twisted in his grip, m
Zelda"What paternity test?" I asked, my brow furrowed. I took the phone from James, staring at the report on the screen.It wasn't a paternity test at all. It was a kinship test. And the result…grandfather-granddaughter? My confusion deepened."Whose grandchild is this?"I scrolled back, finally taking in the names of the individuals involved in the assessment. My eyes widened in surprise."It's…Bai Luoqi's child?"Luoqi! It all clicked into place. He’d passed away, which explained why James was so invested in this child. Luoqi had been busy with the Bai family’s overseas business these past few years, just like Susan.They’d both been out of the Country. And then, the timing…Susan had returned with James and the Bai's. The media had assumed they were Susan’s parents, making all sorts of incorrect assumptions. No wonder they’d all come back together."So," I said slowly, piecing it together, "the Bai family's IPO is at a critical stage. Luoqi's death is a huge blow, and you’re trying
ZeldaMy mind was a whirlwind. Tissues, where were the tissues? Liamson, Zelda Liamson, that's me, and right now I was trying desperately to stop James's nosebleed. It was all so embarrassing!And then there was James, throwing that cup of water. At Xavier! His brother. I felt a surge of mortification."I told you to stop messing around!" I scolded, my cheeks burning. "This whole ward is a mess!"James, bless his heart, just looked gloomy."It's inconvenient," he mumbled, "Let's just get discharged tomorrow.""Discharged?" I exclaimed, aghast. "How can we? Your injuries aren't nearly healed! And…and I need to see Xavier. James, why did you hit him?"I turned to go out, but James grabbed my wrist, his grip surprisingly tight. It startled me."What's wrong?" I asked, looking at him.He seemed to realize he'd been too rough and loosened his hold a little."I think…I think my wound might have opened again. It hurts," he said, his brow furrowed.My worry instantly eclipsed everything else.
I was stunned. My head snapped back, and a jolt of disbelief running through me.“How could you even think that?!” I exclaimed, my voice rising in disbelief. “There’s nothing between me and my Hammer. I don’t… I don’t like him! How could you even imagine such a thing?”James’s expression was a mixture of anger and something else… hurt? He sneered a harsh, bitter sound.“He coveted you back then. He even dared to come to the Ferguson family to propose! And in the past two years, he abandoned his life as the heir to the Yassir family to work at the Ferguson hospital… just to be near you. You kissed in the car. You hid your pregnancy. You talked about divorce. You were going to go abroad with him! And just now… you were snuggled in his arms! What am I supposed to think, Zelda? What?”His words hit me like a physical blow. He loosened his grip on my chin, but the damage was done. My neck felt strained, stretched to its limit. I stared at him, his eyes burning with a cold fury, and a wave
ZeldaHis hand, James’s hand, was a vice around my waist. His fingers pressed right on the bruise, a throbbing reminder of his unfounded anger. The scene in the ward replayed in my mind, fueling my own simmering frustration. He’d stormed out, furious, without even knowing what had happened.Then, his accusation about Hammer. I glanced at Hammer’s cheek, the fading bruise a testament to James’s… overreaction. Something snapped. I shoved him away, my brow furrowed.“James, have you said enough?!” I retorted, my voice trembling slightly. “I just fell asleep. Brother was worried I’d catch a cold and put his coat on me. Is that so terrible? I asked him for help at the airport. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Why involve him?”A wave of hurt washed over me. If James hadn’t forgotten I was waiting outside, would I have fallen asleep on that bench? And he had hugged Susan in front of me, without a word of explanation, but my innocent interaction with Hammer was enough to ignite his ra
We arrived at Mrs. Bai’s room, but the doctor had already finished and left. She was lying there, so pale and thin, her eyes cloudy and unfocused, but tears were silently streaming down her face. It was heartbreaking.James went to her and gently took her hand.“Godmother,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I’ll take care of everything online. I won’t let anyone tarnish Luoqi’s name. Godfather and I… we’ll stabilize the company. If Bai’s survives this, if the stock price recovers, the internet will quiet down. They’ll let Luoqi rest in peace.”A flicker of something – hope? – touched Mrs. Bai’s face. Mr Bai stepped forward too, stroking his wife’s hair.“Listen to James,” he said softly. “As long as I’m alive, our son won’t have died in vain. Even if you don’t trust me, you have to trust James, right?”I watched them, my heart aching. Mrs. Bai, and Mr Bai… they’re known for their love and devotion to each other. Even with Mrs. Bai’s blindness and failing health, he’s always been by
When I pushed open the hospital room door, I saw him. James. Sitting on the bed, looking at some papers. A surge of… something… went through me. Annoyance? Worry? I marched over and snatched the documents from his hand.He looked up, surprised, probably thinking I was one of his bodyguards. His expression shifted from annoyance to… something else. I stood there, frowning, the papers clutched in my hand."The doctor said you need rest. You lost a lot of blood, and sleep helps your body heal. Don't you understand that? The Ferguson company can handle things for a day or two; it’s not like he can’t be transferred!" I know I was probably lecturing, but I couldn’t help it. He was being so reckless.He just looked at me. At me. And for a moment, the coldness that usually clung to his face seemed to melt away. Something flickered in his eyes… nostalgia? It was strange. Then I saw it. The ghost of a smile playing on his lips. And suddenly, I was remembering too.“Brother, you can’t go to bed
I caught Susan’s wrist before her hand could connect with my face."Are you angry because I exposed your lies?" I sneered.Her chest heaved, and she yanked her hand back, a flicker of something – fear? – in her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure."You saw your mother and your aunt and uncle just now, didn't you? They're badly hurt, no money for treatment. And you, their own flesh and blood, just walked right past them. Don't you think that's…inappropriate?""Don't we have you for that?" I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Miss Susan is so kind and generous. Surely you can show them some of that generosity."Susan’s face twisted with frustration."Zelda Liamson, why are you so cold-hearted? You're a Ferguson now, carrying their grandchild, and you're just going to let your relatives suffer? Think about your reputation! What will people say?"She was seething. James’s very public slap, the withdrawal of the Wenger family’s investment…and now she was be
ZeldaI snorted, a small, involuntary sound of amusement. Turning on my heel, I left the coffee shop.Jian had perfect timing, arriving just in time to witness Susan Wenger's spectacular face-plant. Honestly, the schadenfreude was delicious.The moment I stepped out, the whispers, no, the shouts erupted."Susan Wenger, you've been lying to us all along! We even defended you! You're disgusting!""I've seen people pretend to be rich, but pretending to be someone's ex-girlfriend? That's a new low!""Mr Ferguson doesn't even look at you! You're so vain, it's embarrassing to be seen with you! Let's go!"It was a feeding frenzy. One by one, the sycophantic little group that had been fawning over Susan just moments ago deserted her. Her face, which had been so smug, crumpled. It was almost…pitiable. Almost.Even Hilder Ferguson, her supposed "friend," was disgusted."Susan, you lied to me too! That's too much!"She grabbed her bag and stormed out, leaving Susan scrambling after her, desperat
ZeldaI opened my eyes, realizing James had been quiet for a while. The recording had finished, but he was lying there motionless, his face eerily calm. I wondered if he'd fallen asleep. I nudged him, a little irritated."James?"He opened his eyes."Was he running a train in your stomach?" he asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.I rolled my eyes. I’d been so emotional, hearing the heartbeat for the first time, and that was his reaction."Don't you have anything else to say?" I huffed.He smirked, leaning closer."You called me 'hubby,' darling," he murmured. "Say it again. I want to hear it."My cheeks flushed. Why was he always so focused on the weirdest things? I glared at him."Did I? You must have misheard."Just moments ago, we’d been snuggled together, listening to the baby’s heartbeat, holding my belly, feeling so happy, so connected, like a real family. And in that moment, the word just slipped out. Now, under his teasing gaze, I was too embarrassed to repeat it.He wasn’t let