Silence dominated the days following Nicholas's discovery of the pregnancy test. He hadn't brought it up again as though the memory of the test had vanished. However, I was aware. Nicholas Scott remembered, and I could tell by his cool-headedness that he was waiting for me to bring up the big issue.I wasn't prepared for that discussion.Rather, I made a choice—one that was fueled by uncertainty and anxiety. However, I would not tell anyone about this for the time being.However, secrets consumed you and eroded you until the weight of what you chose not to disclose was all left.Like other mornings, it began with the bedroom curtains letting in the dim light of dawn. Another wave of nausea swept over me, and I sat at the edge of the bed, gripping my stomach. The subtle scent of Nicholas' coffee coming from the kitchen made it worse.I stumbled into the bathroom and retched before I could even close the door. I pressed myself against the counter and wished the feeling would go away as
Between Nicholas and I, the quiet had thickened, strained like a thread about to break. Every second felt like a deliberate dance, in which I shifted to sidestep his inquiries, and he got closer to the truth.However, Nicholas Scott was not a man who remained in the dark for very long.I saw it in his eyes first. I could feel his gaze on me during breakfast as I pushed scrambled eggs around my plate in an attempt to divert my attention.His tone was surprisingly composed as he remarked, "You haven't even touched your food."I forced a grin as I looked up. "I simply don't feel particularly hungry this morning."His forehead creased, and I briefly believed he might relax. As he sat back in his seat and looked at me with such unflinching focus, I felt nauseous. He responded, "You've been saying this a lot lately. “I’m not hungry.”Weary. Agitated. “Cassie, is there anything you're not telling me?”"No," I hurriedly answered, my words coming out too rapidly.It was too quick for him to a
For days, the storm had been building. Every look Nicholas gave me was more pointed than the last, and every word we spoke felt like a prelude to a conflict I wasn't prepared to face. However, I ought to have known. Nicholas Scott did not wait for things to get out of hand.It was sooner than I thought it would be.The penthouse walls had long, swaying shadows from the city lights in the late evening. In an attempt to calm the nausea that hadn't subsided throughout the day, I was in the kitchen clutching a glass of water like it was my lifeline.Before I saw him, I heard the heavy footfall. Nicholas entered the room with an expression of icy resolve etched on his face."We're conversing," he declared, his tone unaffected by disagreement.With my back to him, I froze. "How about?" My voice trembled as I asked."Whatever it is that you have been keeping from me."His comments were like lightning bolts; I had no time to evade or deflect them.I grabbed the counter for balance as I turned
The penthouse was oppressively quiet. The uncomfortable silence that followed our confrontation seemed to magnify every creak of the floors and every muted sound of the city beyond. Now that we were strangers, Nicholas and I were cautious not to cross paths with one another.However, his remarks continued to weigh heavily on me."You broke my trust."When he said it, I couldn't help but notice the expression in his eyes—a mixture of betrayal and an unidentified emotion. Trust wasn't given lightly to someone like Nicholas Scott. And I had broken it.The days that followed were a blur of tense civility. We didn't talk unless we had to, and even then, the words were cold and cut. With his office door closing behind him and his brief, silent dinners as the only reminders of his presence in the penthouse, Nicholas lost himself in his work.Even though I pushed myself to prepare for the art center's next display, the guilt returned. I could feel the pain of my decisions every time I saw him
The tension in the penthouse was evident the following morning. Since our altercation the night before, Nicholas had hardly spoken to me. I tried to keep myself occupied, but the quiet was like a burden on my chest.His face was unreadable when he eventually left his office; it was stoic, but there was a storm building beneath it.His voice was forceful and quiet as he stated, "We need to talk."I nodded and swallowed hard. "All right."We sat opposite each other as he pointed to the living room; the distance between us felt like an invisible wall.He started by leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, saying, "I've had time to think." "Almost everything."I prepared myself because I had no idea what would come next. He stared at the floor and said nothing for a minute. Then his gaze rose, and I saw in his eyes a vulnerability I had never seen before.The words "I'm annoyed Cassie," he said. "I'm angry that you failed to inform me earlier because you underestimated me com
Nicholas proposed a journey to the Scott family estate in the morning following Sophia's unexpected arrival. Although he didn't elaborate much, it was obvious from the clipped tone of his voice that he didn't have much of an option.As we entered the expansive property's gates, Nicholas remarked, "They should hear the news from us." "If I'm there to... control the narrative, they'll react better."Even for someone like me who had spent enough time in Nicholas's world to feel its pain, the mansion's majesty was intimidating as it loomed ahead. There was a group of well-dressed people inside, including his mother, Lillian, who was ruling the room like a queen, and his siblings, who appeared to be the shadows of her disdain.As Nicholas introduced me, Lillian's sharp eyes went over me. "This is Cassie," she whispered, her voice as icy as the marble floors below.She did not await a response. Let's move forward, Nicholas. Why have you brought us all here at such short notice? What's so ur
In the nursery, Cassie sat with her fingers grazing the edge of a small crib that Nicholas had ordered a few days prior. Once brimming with potential, the creamy cream walls now appeared to enclose her. Her rising uneasiness blended with the smell of fresh paint.Nicholas had been more aloof than normal for the past week. He had either vanished inside his office or immersed himself in work since his mother's unexpected visit. Tension permeated every exchange between them as though they were precariously balanced.Cassie felt a flutter of movement that was both comforting and frightening as she looked down at her expanding belly. How could she introduce a child to this world of calculating, chilly power struggles?She didn't want to be a pawn in anyone's game, especially not Nicholas.Later that night, her mind was racing like a storm as she paced the apartment. She couldn't stop concerns from whispering in the back of her mind: What if Nicholas wasn't truly interested in this? What if
Cassie's phone was buzzing nonstop in her pocket as she was instructing one of her employees in the main gallery of the art center. A quick look revealed a barrage of texts and multiple missed calls, all from unidentified numbers.She looked at one of the texts, bewildered. It was a link to an article on the internet. The headline, which read in huge letters, "Billionaire Nicholas Scott's Secret Marriage and a Baby on the Way?" made her heart drop as she clicked on it.She gasped. A picture of her exiting Nicholas' apartment with her baby bulge barely visible under a flowing coat was featured in the article.Cassie felt wobbly on her legs. As the surroundings became hazy, she staggered over to a neighboring chair and sank into it. The text that went with the picture made assumptions about their marriage, wondering if it was a sincere union or a shrewd business deal.Her phone rang once more before she had time to register the shock. It was Nicholas this time.He asked right away, "Cas
Nicholas Scott looked out at the skyline from his glass-walled office, high above New York City. Below, everything went according to its normal rhythm: buildings shining in the afternoon sun, cars honking, and people hurrying.However, anarchy was developing inside Scott Enterprises.His company was under siege. It had begun quietly, with a few unfavorable headlines and rumors of scandal. Then, it blew up into a major crisis.Breaking: Is Nicholas Scott's Eco-Initiative a Scam? Terra Vision is under fire.”Examiners looking into "unethical” business practices—TERRA VISION STOCK PLUMMETS.Nicholas's jaw tightened. Every one of the charges was false.And he was fully aware of its perpetrator. Langley, Victor.An old ghost. He once had a crush on a businessman. He had returned with a vengeance.Nicholas moved away from the window and spoke to his head of security, Daniel Reeves, and his public relations strategist, Cynthia Lawson, his eyes glimmering with icy resolve."Explain the comple
Emma and Ethan Scott, twins, have lived their whole lives in the shadow of grandeur. Expectations were always high because their mother was Cassie Scott, and their father was Nicholas Scott. Being "the billionaire's children" was never enough for them, they had spent countless hours creating their legacies.At this point, they were about to prove themselves.Emma had recently finished her first solo painting show in Paris, continuing her mother's artistic legacy. Critics hailed her art as "the fresh new voice of modern impressionism."The tech-savvy twin, Ethan, was preparing for something even more significant.Ethan spent the previous two years creating a ground-breaking artificial intelligence program to make cities more effective, sustainable, and climate change-adaptable. His biggest test came today, even though his business, Scott Tech Innovations, has been making headway in the tech sector.If he is successful, he will introduce investors, engineers, and world leaders to his AI
With the floor-to-ceiling windows of Scott Enterprises' headquarters framing his shadow, Nicholas Scott stood at the front of the spacious conference room. Behind him, the skyline of New York reminded him of his progress and future goals.Anticipation permeated the atmosphere. His senior executives, board members, and investors, who had faith in his leadership, were seated before him. Today, however, was different. He was starting a revolution today, not merely announcing another business milestone.Behind him, the enormous LED screen flashed to life, revealing the audacious new moniker of his most recent endeavor:The room echoed with gasps.Before he spoke, Nicholas inhaled steadily. "The future is this. This is what we left behind.”He looked around, reading the faces of those present, some interested, some doubtful, and others opposed. That was anticipated. Upending an industry had a price."As we enter a new era, accountability will become as crucial to business as profitability.
Cassie has always thought that people may change people's lives. Hers, for sure, had been altered. From an early child drawing on napkins in her mother's café to a world-renowned artist, she has led a colorful, passionate, and inventive life. However, something has changed recently.She continued to enjoy painting because she could express stories with her brushstrokes that words could not. However, a voice inside her had been urging her to do more for months.As soon as Emma entered her studio with a big envelope in her hand, the whisper became a loud shout.Emma, barely controlling her joy, added, "Mom." "This arrived just now. The Global Art Initiative is its source.”As Cassie brushed paint off her hands, she arched an eyebrow. "The International Art Project?"Emma virtually bounced on her feet as she nodded. "They want you to coach Ghanaian new talents! This six-month program in Kumasi works with exceptionally brilliant students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are providing
Nicholas Scott has outmaneuvered vicious adversaries, negotiated billion-dollar agreements, and established empires. However, when he sat in his home office and gazed at the business plan, he experienced a strange feeling: uncertainty.Neither a competition, an investor, nor even an old buddy made the idea.His son gave it to him.Ethan made a daring, audacious, and ambitious pitch. A sustainable energy technology firm aims to eliminate intermediaries and make renewable energy available to everyone by delivering off-grid solar solutions to underprivileged regions.It was an innovative concept with the potential to change the industry.It was risky, though.Nicholas was aware of the harshness of the energy industry. Ethan might lose power if he chose the wrong investors. His reputation would suffer if the technology failed.However...Never before had Nicholas been so pleased with his kid.Holding a cup of tea, Cassie came into the office. She could tell exactly what her spouse was thi
There was a buzz around the Scott estate that had nothing to do with charity galas or business meetings. The stirring of transformation was something more intimate, more personal.Once intertwined as kids, Ethan and Emma were now on opposite sides of their pathways, ready to make their way in life.While enjoying her morning tea on the balcony, Cassie observed her children, who are now young adults, as they navigated their aspirations.With her fiery inventiveness, Emma had decided to follow in her mother's creative footsteps. At the same time, Ethan, who was always meticulous and exact, had immersed himself in the realm of science and innovation.Despite their shared heritage and blood, they were very different twins.Cassie smiled at herself.After putting down his coffee cup, Nicholas joined her and planted a kiss on her temple. He whispered, "They're growing too quickly."Cassie let out a sigh. "I understand. They were racing around the home, covered in dirt and paint, and it seem
A thousand golden lights glistened in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's grand ballroom. The tastefully attired guests were bathed in a gentle glow from the chandeliers, and the gentle sounds of a classical orchestra blended with their chatter and laughter. In keeping with the milestone being commemorated—the tenth anniversary of the Scott-Hart Initiative—the air was filled with the aroma of vintage champagne and fresh roses.With her fingers delicately brushing the rim of her champagne flute, Cassie stood close to the tall glass windows. She observed how the program changed the lives of many who had previously just dreamed—young artists, struggling business owners, and ambitious philanthropists—and how they now confidently strode through the room.Her eyes strayed over the ballroom before settling on Ethan and Emma, who brought her incredible pride.Emma's eyes glimmered with joy as she discussed her most recent exhibition in Florence during a heated conversation with a well-known art
Long shadows were cast over the countless rows of grapevines as the expansive wine estate was bathed in the golden brightness of the Tuscan sunset. The crisp aroma of home, fresh earth, and ripe fruit filled the air.As Cassie got off the private flight, she clasped Nicholas's fingers together. She was excited because this was the longest time they had been separated from their kids since moving to Italy."I'm still in shock that they're residing here now," she said, holding Nicholas' hand tightly.With a smile, Nicholas looked around the villa on the hill. “It works for them. Emma is succeeding in the art industry, and Ethan is learning responsibility.”Cassie let out a sigh. "I simply miss them."The villa's magnificent wooden doors sprung open before Nicholas could reply, and a flurry of activity surged in their direction."Mom! Dad!"With her laughter resonating around the courtyard, Emma flung herself into Cassie's arms. Ethan followed more slowly, his warm smile effortless.He e
The warm, golden light of the morning sun filled the estate through the verdant trees that bordered the driveway. With a heart whole of feelings she couldn't describe, Cassie stood on their penthouse's balcony and watched the city awaken.It was a significant day.Ethan and Emma, their twins, were about to graduate from high school.She had held them as infants only a day before, their tiny fingers around hers, their naive eyes gazing up at her with love and confidence. They were now entering adulthood and prepared to forge their careers.She was shocked out of her thoughts by a soft knock on the door. Nicholas rested against the doorway in a crisp black suit that perfectly fit him."Are you going to remain there for an entire day, or are you coming with me?" he asked in a deep, funny voice.Cassie grinned as she turned. "Just taking it all in."Nicholas moved forward and encircled her waist with his arms. His lips touched her temple as he said, "I know what you're thinking.""You do