"I asked you to leave my room." Lucas said while trying to stay calm. Even though he tried, he did a terrible job at hiding how angry he was. "Why do we always have to do this, Lucas!?" Mia commanded. "You only want me in this room when it's convenient for you!" She yelled almost out of breath. She pulled out a chair from the dressing table and sat. "You know I am here to stay, and if you have a problem with that, you should address it with your mother, Lucas." She added mockingly. Lucas stood quietly, his face with no emotion. He stared at Mia and did not break eye contact. He wondered how exactly he had gotten to that point. He did not understand how he let his mother get away with everything, even against his will. Lucas smirked as he placed his hands in his pockets, "Fine. Stay however long it pleases you." He said to Mia. He then called out to his servants and asked them to pack up his things. "Let the staff at the penthouse know to expect me," he said to the staff bef
Isabelle woke up to kisses and morning breathe. She kept her eyes closed in fear of it being a dream, and Lucas disappeared immediately she opened her eyes. "Good morning, Mrs Archer," Lucas whispered. The words, the voice, everything was so familiar, yet felt like a distant memory. She reminisced on how she woke up to those four words every morning for three years since they got married. After their three years mark, everything seemed to change, Lucas, their relationship, everything. Lucas kissed her on the lips, and she braced herself for whatever would happen after she opened her eyes. He was real. He was really there, with her. She smiled at the realization that everything had happened the previous night and that he was still there in bed with her. "Good morning, Mr Archer," she replied in her sleepy tone. Lucas began to kiss her as he told her how much he had missed her and how home did not feel like home without her. Isabelle wanted to ask why he had divorced he
Lucas stormed into his house angrily. He wondered why Lucy would lie to Isabelle. His driver told him Lucy would be waiting for him back at his house when he got into his car from Isabelle's apartment. Mia stood from where she sat on the couch as she tried to hug Lucas as he entered, but Lucas pushed her away. "Don't you ever touch me," he yelled angrily. Mia scoffed as she folded her arms in shock and half embarrassment. "Lucy!" Lucas wondered where she could be. He began to walk towards the stairwell when Lucy emerged from the hallway that led to the library. "Good morning to you too, son," she mocked. "It's too early to be this angry, don't you think?" She spoke calmly with a smile on her face that made Lucas even angrier. 'She's enjoying this.' He thought as he watched her walk towards him. She playfully pinched he cheek, "Oh my boy, have you had anything to eat?" He starred at her in disbelief, 'How could ruining someone's life make her this happ?' "Why would you tel
Isabelle woke up abruptly to the sound of her alarm. She groaned as she questioned herself as to why she needed an alarm. She had nothing actively going on in her life, and now she felt like she had no reason to wake up early in the morning or a reason to smile. She grabbed the alarm and hit snooze before yanking the batteries out and throwing the alarm into a drawer right beside her bed. She lay on her stomach and groaned into her pillow at the thought of what had happened the previous morning. As she began to doze off, her phone vibrated, and she grabbed it to check who was calling her, 'Lisa Ross.' She groaned as she realised that she had a meeting planned for later that afternoon with Lisa. She let it go to voicemail in hopes that Lisa would be calling to reschedule. She hesitantly played the voice message Lisa sent, "Hi Isa, sorry, old habits," she chuckled. "I just thought to call in and see if you're still up for lunch later today. I'm just excited and can't wait
Lucas walked down the stairs when he heard voices. The voices he heard were giggling and chatting. They were familiar voices, but he wished they wouldn't be there in his house. He hoped he would wake up and find them gone.But there they were, still in his house like a bad dream. He clenched his jaw in anger. Mia and Lucy quieted down as Lucas stepped off the last few stairs. They looked in his direction, but he tried to pretend they were invisible. "Aren't you going to greet your mother, wife-to-be, and son, Lucas?" Lucy asked with a grin as if mocking him. Lucas continued to walk towards the exit like he was not affected by Lucy's words. "Lucas Archer Jr!" Lucy said as loud as she could in an attempt to get a reaction from Lucas, but he knew her too well and was not going to give her the satisfaction by responding to her. "LJ, I love the sound of that," Mia cheerfully added as she rubbed her stomach. Lucas angrily stopped in his tracks and turned back towards where h
"Are you sure you will be fine? I can stay all night if you'd like." Lisa asked Isabelle for the tenth time. She drove Isabelle home and ensured she was up in her apartment and safe. She calmed Isabelle down and made her some chamomile tea to help her calm her nerves and sleep. Isabelle felt seen and well taken care of, one other thing that she hadn't felt in years. 'How could someone I have not spoken to in years be this kind to me?' She wondered. "Thank you, Lisa." She sniffled. "And I am so sorry.." Lisa held her hand before she could finish. "Hey, you do not need to thank me or be sorry." Her eyes sincere are reassuring. "I should apologise for bringing this on you at such a time." "You had no way of knowing," Isabelle yarned. Lisa knew it was time to let Isabelle rest. She said her goodbyes and promised to check up on her the next day. **** Isabelle woke up to the sound rattling cabinet doors. She sat upright quietly on her bed to listen for where the rattli
Isabelle had not been her best self for a few days, but Lisa was always around to keep her company and away from her thoughts of Lucas and their divorce. Lisa was always there when she needed a shoulder to cry on when she needed to have a laugh, even when she just needed someone to be there for her. After lunch, Isabelle decided to give Lisa an explanation for abandoning their friendship the way she did. Lisa had not asked her once for an explanation, but Isabelle felt the need to explain. After everything Lisa had done for her since their reunion, it was the least she could do. "I'm sorry for how I left things between us," she hesitated, trying to find her words. Lisa did not need an apology or an explanation, but she sat there and listened in silence. "I somehow believed Lucas when he said he was all I needed, when he said he would be my family and my friend till death do us part. Yet here I am." She bit her lower lip, trying so hard to hold her tears back. She began to
"Okay, I think we can both agree that we have had enough crying and being sad for today," Lisa grinned as she got up from her seat. "Shopping always makes me feel better. Let's go grab you a dress." She stretched her hands out to Isabelle, who was still in her seat. "Get up couch potato," Lisa teased. 'Shopping would help, I guess,' Isabelle thought. She shrugged as she reached out to grab Lisa's hands. "Thank you." She stood up with Lisa's help. She wasn't just thanking Lisa for the help getting up but also for being the wonderful friend and support system she had always been. At the store, both Lisa and Isabelle picked out dresses to try on for Lisa's book launch event. They headed to the changing area, and Lisa tried on her dresses first while Isabelle waited to give her opinion on the dresses. Lisa went in and came back out. They both made eye contact and laughed at how silly she looked in the first dress. She tried on the second dress, and they both agreed that the colour
'What was I even thinking going to his office? What exactly did I expect to get from an arrogant man like him?' Lisa thought to herself as she took a sip of her tea. Lisa was so upset about how inconsiderate and uncaring Lucas was that she cancelled everything she had planned for her day off from work and drove back home after leaving Lucas's office. 'Such a scumbag. How did Isabelle put up with that attitude for that long?' "Ohh... I need to tell Isabelle. I wouldn't want her finding out from the wrong person." She felt a knot tie in her tummy at the thought of telling Isabelle. She knew Isabelle would understand that she was just looking out for her but she also knew that if she had asked her before going over to Lucas’s0ffice to confront him about his engagement, Isabelle would not have allowed to go. Isabelle was as sweet and as she was kind. Everyone who knew her was lucky to. However, her kind l, sweet and understanding nature made it easy for people to manipulate and walk a
"What are these?" Lucy asked, unable to mask her anger. She knew exactly what she was holding in her hands but prayed her thoughts were wrong. Mia was still processing what could anger Lucy that much and why she would storm in on her. Her eyes moved from Lucy's face that had turned furious red to her palms to see what she was holding with her hands stretched out. 'What the ....' her heart clenched at the sight of the pregnancy tests in Lucy's hands. 'These stupid servants can't do anything right,' she thought to herself as she stood, knowing that things had gone wrong. "Are you deaf and dumb all of the sudden, or are you just very stupid? I said and will not repeat my self, what the fuck are these?" She asked angrily, her veins popping out of her head in fury. "P_pre uhmm pregnancy tests." Mia finally managed to blurt out. "Do not.. Do not mess with me. You know better than to mess with me." Lucy shook angrily. "Do I look blind to you?" She asked still shaking. "Why the fuck
"Excuse me. Excuse me, ma'am." A lady came towards Lisa rushing in her heels.Lisa stopped and turned to see who was calling after her. "Yes?" She asked in annoyance. "Is there a problem?""I'm sorry, but who are you looking for?" She asked as she opened the day planner she was holding in her hands."Why are you asking me that?" Lisa crossed her hands."Well, you were walking towards the hallway with only the CEO's office in it. And that area is restricted for walk-in visits." The lady tried to explain politely. "My name is Pearl, Mr Archers assistant." She introduced herself."I am just trying to figure out who you are here to see so that I could direct you appropriately." Pearl added a smile."I am here to see Lucas Archer." Lisa responded sternly."Okay. Let me just check his schedule for your appointment." She flipped through her day planner. "What's your name and what time is your appointment with him?" Pearl o
Mia walked down the stairs, grinning, with a bunch of magazines in her hands. She had seen the pictures of her engagement to Lucas Archer almost a thousand times already, but to her, every time, it felt like the first. She opened the magazines every time someone called to congratulate her on her engagement to 'Mr Archer the Billionaire', and every time, she looked at her engagement ring. She called back the staff that had just served Lucy a cup of coffee as she took a seat and set the magazines on the couch next to where she sat. "Bring me a cup of tea," she held a finger up in the air towards the server, "and some biscuits too." and then waved him off. "Good morning?" Lucy asked Mia playfully with a grin on her face. "More than good." Mia shrieked. "This may just be the best morning I have ever had." She picked the magazines up and placed them on her laps. She held one up in the air, showing Lucy the cover page. "They referred to me as Mrs Archer in this one." She could not hi
Isabelle brought her car keys out of her purse. She turned towards Lisa and said goodbye. "What? No. Why would I let you drive alone in your state?" Lisa argued as she rubbed Isabelle's shoulder. "I'm coming with you." "I need some time to my self," She forced out the words. Talking was the last thing she wanted to do. She needed to think, to process what she had just seen, how it had happened, and how she felt about it all. "I understand, but please let me make sure you get home safe, and I will leave you alone if you still want me to. I promise." Lisa raised her pinky finger, hoping that some humour would help Isabelle feel better. Isabelle knew Lisa would not leave her alone no matter what she would say to try and convince her, and she was not in the mood to try, so she just nodded in agreement, and they both walked to her car. Lisa tried to talk to Isabelle during their drive back to Isabelle's apartment building, but Isabelle asked that they just drive their quietly.
Lucas woke up and sat at the edge of his bed. He let out a groan when he felt pain in his head as he tried to stretch his body. He buried his face into his palms as he tried to remember what had happened the previous night. All he could remember was arriving at his house and being pulled away from the crowd by his mother to get scolded about arriving at his own event late. As he was still trying to process the previous nights events, he felt movement in his bed behind him. He slowly looked back to see who he had shared his bed with and saw a naked Mia under his sheets. He let out a loud groan that woke her up from her slumber. "Good morning, Mr Archer," Mia said in what sounded like a purr. "Was last night not amazing? It was one of the best nights of my entire life, all thanks to Lucy.
***** "Thank you for bringing me out for brunch, I have been cooked up in my tiny apartment for days now." Isabelle gently grabbed Lisa's hand and gave it a tight, soft squeeze. They both giggled as they walked the curb that led to the restaurants entrance. They walked into the restaurant and found an empty table with two seats close to the restaurant's glass walls that gave a view of the street. "Perfect." Lisa exclaimed as she nodded her head in the direction of the table for Isabelle to look. They both walked towards the table and settled in sitting across each other. A waiter brought their menus to them and walked away when they asked to be excused for a few minutes while they decided on what to order. "Have you had a chance to speak to Marcus?" Lisa asked with concern. Isabelle had mentioned her intentions to call him but never told her how their conversation went. "Uhm.. No, not yet," Isabelle exhaled sharply, her eyes glued to the menu. "I wanted to call him yesterd
"I still can not believe he agreed to this, it-it still feels like a dream," Mia shrieked in excitement as she watched people walk into Lucas's house with decorations and other things meant for her engagement party to Lucas. "I told you not to worry. My son is a gentleman who takes pleasure in fulfilling his promises." Lucy said with a smile on her face. Mia walked closer to Lucy, almost skipping in her heels, "Can I hug you?" She fake pouted. Lucy took a few steps closer to her and then hugged her first. "After tonight, we will be family, and you will not have to ever ask for my permission to hug me." Lucy had been asking Isabelle while she was still married to her son Lucas when they would have a baby, Lucas had made it clear to Isabelle that he was not ready and dis not want to talk about it but Isabelle dis not te her that. Instead, she kept it to herself and never gave Lucy a response anytime she would ask. "You should go get ready, the party will begin in a few hour
"Lucy, I was not expecting you today." Lucas said sternly as he watched his mother close the door behind her after she had walked into his office abruptly. He sensed there was something wrong, Lucy had a hard time hiding what she felt or thought, and one could simply read her mood from her facial expressions. "I did not think I needed to notify anyone before coming to see my son," she responded, sarcasm laced in her tone. "That's not what I meant. Why are you here?" Lucas knew his mother as much as she knew him, and in that moment, he knew that she was not in the mood for small talk. "You are getting engaged. Tomorrow evening." Lucas tried to speak, but Lucy raised a hand to silence him. "Don't you know better than to interrupt me when I am speaking?" She scorfed. Lucas laid back in his chair as he crossed his hands and brought them to his chest, his lips touching, forming a straight line. "Good. As I was saying, you promised me that you would engage Mia and then offic