POV: LAUREN
I grabbed the keys with determination, ready to confront Ethan. The photos on my phone clearly showed that woman sitting on his lap, laughing and drinking with him as if they were a couple. Was it because of her that he had changed so much?
Ethan's cruel words echoed in my mind, each syllable a blow to my heart:
“You will never be enough for any man. Your infertile womb makes you incomplete. You're incapable of making anyone happy.”
My anger exploded, and I screamed into the emptiness of the car:
“I made you happy for three years, Ethan! This isn’t fair!”
I pounded on the steering wheel, feeling the pain throbbing in my wrists, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. My eyes burned from the tears welling up, but I refused to let them fall.
I looked at the photos on my phone again, my lips trembling, and my heart crushed with pain. The words escaped in a desperate whisper:
“Please tell me this is a misunderstanding. Tell me you're not destroying our marriage like this.”
With anger boiling inside me, I parked in front of PharmaCare Industries, where Ethan ruled everything with his usual arrogance as CEO. The security guards recognized me and let me in without question. I went straight to the executive floor, my heart pounding wildly.
In the hallway, his secretary stood up hastily, her expression tense as she saw me.
“Mrs. Lauren, what a pleasure to see you!” she said, clearly uncomfortable. “Mr. Ethan is in an important meeting. I must ask you to wait while I notify him of your presence.”
Before she could finish, I pushed her aside without hesitation.
“This is important too!” I declared, my voice firm and laced with indignation.
Nothing would stop me now. I needed answers.
I strode firmly toward the door, pausing for a brief moment to take a deep breath before pushing it open forcefully. What I saw made my world crumble. Ethan stood there with his shirt unbuttoned, his lips stained with lipstick, while a blonde woman with long hair hurriedly got up from his lap, adjusting her skirt quickly and casually.
She shot me a cold, superior look, as if my presence were beneath her. Ethan, however, didn’t look surprised. He simply raised his eyes to meet mine, wearing the same arrogant expression I had grown to despise, as if my presence was nothing but a nuisance.
“Lauren, what are you doing here?” he asked irritably, standing up to adjust his belt and button his shirt with quick, dismissive movements.
My indignation boiled over. I took a step forward, my voice breaking with hurt and fury.
“So this is your 'important meeting,' Ethan? Is this why you're so busy and can’t make time for your wife? Because you're too busy between another woman’s legs?”
He stared at me with contempt, not hesitating to fire back.
“If you had given me what I always dreamed of, none of this would’ve happened,” he said coldly, his voice sharp and filled with bitterness.
Behind him, the blonde covered her mouth, stifling sarcastic laughter, while my chest burned with humiliation.
“This is your fault, Lauren!” Ethan added, as if his words were the ultimate justification for his betrayal.
“My fault?” My voice wavered, filled with indignation, as my hands trembled with rage. “All I ever did was dedicate my life to this marriage, to you!”
Tears streamed hot down my face, but I didn’t stop them. Before Ethan could respond, the blonde stepped forward, placing her hands on his shoulders and leaning in with a provocative air.
“Love, she’s overreacting. This could turn into gossip among the staff,” she said in a syrupy voice, throwing me a look of superiority. “Have your security guards escort this… poor woman out of here.”
Ethan, unfazed, held her hands and placed a maddeningly calm kiss on them.
“Violet, darling, let me handle this. I’ll see you later.”
She smiled at him, satisfied, and as she walked past me, she deliberately bumped her shoulder into mine, pushing my body subtly backward. Before leaving, she murmured over her shoulder with a sarcastic smile:
“Oh, sweetheart, do yourself a favor and leave with whatever’s left of your dignity.”
The sound of her heels echoed, mingling with her laughter as she walked away with impeccable posture, as if she had already won. I turned back to Ethan, my throat tight as I struggled to hold back my despair.
“How can you do this to us?” I asked, my voice breaking with pain.
“I want a divorce!” Ethan declared mercilessly, his expression cold and unyielding as he stepped toward me, forcing me to back away. “I’m going to marry Violet, a woman who can give me heirs.”
“What?” The words escaped my lips as shock consumed me. The tears, already hard to hold back, fell even more freely. “How can you do this? Did you ever truly love me? Or did you just use me to climb to success?”
Before I could say more, Ethan's hand struck my face hard, sending me to the floor. Pain exploded, and I clutched my cheek, gasping for air as I tried to breathe. I looked up in disbelief, but his expression remained cold and unyielding.
“I warned you never to say things like that, you ungrateful, useless woman!” he shouted, grabbing me by the elbows, yanking me off the floor, and slamming me against the wall. He punched the wall beside my head, making me shut my eyes in fear.
“I took care of you when no one else would!”
With a harsh shove, he pushed me toward the door.
“Now get out of my sight! My lawyer will send the divorce papers. And I want you out of my house before nightfall!” he thundered with disdain.
“Divorce?” I wiped the corner of my mouth, letting out a bitter laugh that echoed through the room. Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by my reaction.
“Did you forget that half of everything is in my name? I’ll take everything from you, Ethan Walker. Mark my words.”
Before he could respond, I stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me. Anger propelled my steps as I made my way to the parking lot. My heart pounded as I glanced back, hearing the elevator doors closing. When I turned forward again, the screech of tires made my body freeze.
I lifted my eyes and saw a massive car speeding toward me. Behind the wheel, I could have sworn I saw that damned blonde woman with red lipstick—the one I had just caught in my husband’s arms. My body locked up, and everything around me seemed to stop. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact.
“So this is how it ends? Would I die at the hands of the woman who stole the man I loved?”
POV: LAURENBefore the worst could happen, I felt strong arms quickly pull me away. My body spun, and I landed on something solid. I kept my eyes closed, my body trembling as I tried to process what had just happened.“Are you okay?” a deep and firm male voice asked near my ear.I slowly opened my eyes and found a strikingly handsome man in front of me. He had dark hair and intense blue eyes, and his serious gaze seemed to examine every detail of my face. His presence was as commanding as the sense of security he exuded.“Take your time,” he said, his expression serious as he watched me.It was only then that I realized I was lying on his firm, muscular chest. My face flushed with embarrassment, and I abruptly stood up, trying to regain my composure.“I'm sorry… thank you for saving me,” I murmured quickly, but before I could take another step, a wave of intense dizziness overwhelmed me. My legs gave out, my body grew heavy, and my vision began to blur.I felt his strong arms catch me
POV: LAURENStill lost in my confused thoughts, I was pulled back to reality by the insistent sound of a cellphone ringing next to the hospital bed. The name of my mother, Amelia, flashed on the screen. I answered quickly, still overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.“Mom?” My voice came out low, filled with uncertainty.“Thank God, I finally reached you! I’ve been calling for hours!” she exclaimed, the urgency in her tone impossible to ignore.“What happened? Are you okay?” I asked, feeling a growing tightness in my chest. “And Dad? Is he okay?”“Dear, we need you to speak to your husband,” my mother got straight to the point, her voice trembling with despair. “Your father’s company suffered a terrible blow. We’re on the verge of bankruptcy.”My heart began to race.“What? What do you mean, a blow?” I exclaimed, sitting up abruptly, the phone nearly slipping from my hand. “Mom, calm down! Explain exactly what’s happening!”On the other end of the line, I heard a sob.“I don’t understan
POV: LAURENOn the other end, he let out a dry laugh filled with contempt.“What kind of question is that?” he exclaimed impatiently, his irritation evident. “I spent three years by your side, and you were never able to get pregnant. It's time to face the truth, Lauren. You’re empty, incapable of having children. Accept it and stop wasting my time. Just tell me—do you accept my terms or not?”A sob escaped my throat, his words cutting into my heart cruelly, as he always knew how to do. My eyes dropped to my stomach, my hand lightly brushing against the fabric of the hospital gown. Silent tears streamed down my face, but my mind was racing.I lifted my chin, forcing myself to think about the future and everything at stake. My family was depending on me.“If you agree to my terms and sign the divorce papers, I’ll save your father’s company today,” Ethan added coldly, ignoring my sobs entirely. “So, do you accept or not?”I took a deep breath, fighting the lump in my throat.“I accept,”
POV: LAURENThe sun was setting on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple as I stared at the coffin in front of me. My hands trembled, not just from the pain of loss, but from the guilt of not acting quickly enough. I hadn’t managed to fix the company in time. I let myself get consumed by the conflict with Ethan and took too long to save my father and his empire.His skin was pale, his lips a bluish hue. Flowers covered his body up to his neck. A tight knot formed in my chest, and the pain was overwhelming. Beside me, my mother sobbed uncontrollably, clutching the coffin and begging the man she loved to come back. But he wouldn’t. He would never again make us laugh with his nonsensical jokes, tell his stories, guide us with his wisdom, or protect us from the world.“Oh, Dad, why did you do this to us?” I murmured through tears, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. I leaned closer to the coffin and placed a kiss on his cold forehead. “Rest in peace. I promise
POV: LAURENMy breathing grew heavy, my body trembling with anger and humiliation. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.“Get out of here!” I shouted through clenched teeth, struggling to stand, my voice overflowing with fury. “Now!”Arthur shot me one last look of disdain before turning and walking away slowly, leaving behind the weight of his threats.I stood there for a few moments, staring at the ground as I watched Arthur disappear into the distance. When I finally turned around, my eyes met familiar faces—people I once called friends. But not a single hand was extended to help me. I took a deep breath and got up on my own, brushing the dust off my clothes as whispers and muffled laughter surrounded me.The same people who had once promised to stand by me no matter what were now whispering and casting judgmental looks.“Lauren, I heard your father left you… quite a bit of debt,” Claire, an old college friend, remarked in a sweet voice, though the smile on he
POV: LAUREN“No! Don’t do that; it’s dangerous!” I shouted, running toward him as he started thrashing in the water, swallowing large gulps and sinking. “Hold on, I’m coming to save you!”Without thinking twice, I dove into the lake and swam with all my strength until I reached him. His small arms wrapped tightly around my neck, his sobs loud, his body trembling with fear.“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe now,” I murmured softly, trying to calm him as I held him firmly. “I’m going to get you back to dry land, alright? Just trust me.”Carefully, I swam back to the shore, keeping the boy close, feeling his desperation gradually ease. Once I reached the land, I gently laid him on the ground, making sure he was alright.“I’m scared,” he whimpered, clutching onto me even tighter, his voice trembling. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”“Oh, my sweet boy…” my eyes filled with tears, and I pulled him into a tight embrace, trying to offer him comfort. “Your parents need you to say goodby
POV: HENRYA single second was enough for him to disappear. In the distance, I heard his screams. The sound of his panicked voice calling for me made my chest tighten and my breathing falter.“Help, Uncle Henry, please!” Theodor screamed, his voice filled with desperation. “She’s going to die!”“Theodor!” I shouted back, my heart racing. A chill ran down my spine, and sweat dripped from my forehead as I sprinted through the cemetery, ignoring everything around me. I followed his voice until I reached the lake.There he was, standing at the edge of the water, pointing frantically at something I couldn’t yet see.“You have to save her!” he cried, his voice trembling, his wide eyes brimming with tears.I hurried over, frowning as I tried to process his words.“What are you talking about, Theodor? Who?” I asked, trying to make sense of it all while gasping for air from the run.“The fairy is drowning!” he shouted, his innocence evident in the urgency of his tone.I stopped for a moment, co
POV: LAURENWater was still dripping from my hair and clothes, leaving a wet trail behind me as I walked toward the gates of my family’s mansion. I frowned when I noticed a moving truck parked at the main entrance, with several men loading furniture, paintings, and boxes into the vehicle as if they were mere disposable items. My chest tightened as I ran toward one of the men carrying the old grandfather clock my father had cherished so much.“What’s going on here? Who authorized this?” My voice came out louder than I expected, filled with desperation.“Ma’am, please remain calm,” the man said, avoiding my gaze and quickening his pace toward the truck.Not satisfied with his vague response, I rushed to stop the next mover, grabbing his arm firmly.“These things belong to my father!” I shouted nervously. “You can’t just come into our home and take everything like this!”A man in a pristine suit and thick glasses approached slowly, holding a clipboard in his hands. Adjusting his glasses,
POV: HENRY“I… I regret it, my love.” Mia suddenly lunged forward, trying to hug me.A groan of pain escaped when she pressed against my abdomen.Before I could react, Lauren noticed and grabbed Mia’s arm with force, her nails digging into her skin.“He’s injured, you damn witch!” Lauren shouted, shoveling her hard.Mia stumbled to the side, caught off guard, but her expression quickly twisted into pure hatred.“Henry, your bandage.” Lauren’s voice wavered as she noticed the blood spreading through the dressing.I looked down and saw the red stain growing. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I took an unsteady step back, bracing myself against the hospital bed.Lauren moved quickly, gripping my arm and helping me settle back onto the bed. Mia tried to step forward, but Kate b
POV: HENRYI raised an eyebrow as I picked up the newspaper and read the article detailing the latest scandal fabricated by the media.“Billionaire Henry Carter was spotted at the luxurious West Gourmet restaurant with none other than the 'fallen princess' Lauren Becker. What seemed like an ordinary private dinner turned into a spectacle worthy of a high society drama when an armed man stormed the venue and threatened Lauren over a debt left by her late father.As is already well known among the elite, magnate Edward Becker chose to take his own life rather than pay his debts, leaving his daughter as the sole bearer of the family’s financial ruin. But the true shock wasn’t just the scandal surrounding the debt—it was how Henry Carter intervened.According to witnesses, the powerful CEO placed himself between the gunman and the woman, declaring for all to hear that Lauren Becker was his wife
POV: HENRYThe soft touch near my wound pulled me from my sleep. I opened my eyes slowly and found Lauren murmuring apologies, her eyes filled with guilt. The relief of seeing her safe came first, but before I could say anything, she turned. To my surprise, she threw herself into my arms, her body trembling against mine in a tight embrace.She needed to feel that I was there.“I'm here, Lauren,” I whispered against her skin, close to her ear. “And I’m fine.”“Why?” Her voice broke between sobs. “Why did you do that? Why did you put yourself at risk for me?”My jaw tightened. The answer was stuck in my throat, but I lied:“I did what any man would do.”The truth weighed heavily inside me. I didn’t do it because any man would. I did it because it was her.Lauren pulled back ju
POV: LAUREN“Friend, I am not letting you get out of this bed.” Kate crossed her arms and lifted her chin, looking at me firmly. “For God's sake, you almost lost your baby and your own life.”Guilt weighed heavily on my chest.“I know,” I murmured, lowering my head.My fingers clenched the sheets as my mind drifted back to that moment. Fear still lingered in every cell of my body.“That man…” My voice came out weak. “What happened to him? Who was he?”Kate let out a tired sigh and stepped closer.“The police arrested him. His name is William Bournes. It looks like he was one of your father’s company investors,” she explained.“He wanted to kill me.” My stomach twisted.“Yes. And I still can’t believe he
POV: LAURENThe sound of sirens echoed inside the restaurant, coming from outside. The lights in the room seemed even brighter, reflecting off the pools of Henry’s blood spreading across the floor.Panic was evident in the few people still there. Employees watched from a distance, shocked and frozen with fear.I was kneeling on the ground, my trembling hands pressing against my belly, while my gaze remained locked on Henry’s motionless body.“Step back!” The paramedic’s voice was firm. “Give us space!”A police officer pulled me up, holding me back, trying to move me away, but I struggled, fighting with everything I had.“No! I can’t leave! He’s bleeding! He’s dying!” My voice came out broken, choked by sobs. “I can’t leave him alone… He—he saved me, he…”&n
POV: LAURENMy heart pounded so hard it felt like it was about to burst from my chest.“You could’ve stayed quiet, but no. Now you’re going to die first, and your wife right after!” he shouted, his eyes burning with hatred as he unlocked the safety.My mind froze for a second.But then, acting on instinct, I grabbed the nearest chair and, with all my strength, smashed it against his back.The impact sent him stumbling forward, dazed, one hand instinctively reaching for his head.“You bitch!” he snarled, turning on me in fury.The slap came fast and brutal. My head snapped to the side, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.Before I could react, I felt his fingers tangle in my hair, yanking so hard that a cry tore from my lips.“You're useless—just like your
POV: LAURENThe man was still trembling, his breathing heavy, and his wild eyes locked onto me. The barrel of the gun wavered between Henry and me, but Carter remained firm, unwavering.“No, it’s definitely not fair,” Henry stated calmly, taking another step forward—without hesitation, without concern for the gun aimed at his head. “But you’re committing the same injustice against Lauren. The decisions were her father’s, not hers.”The man growled, his jaw clenched in fury.“That bastard was a coward!” he spat, his face twisting with hatred. “He chose death over facing the consequences of what he did! But someone has to pay for it.”My body froze as he shifted the gun back toward me, aiming over Henry’s shoulder.“I might go to hell for this, but I’m taking the magnate’s little
POV: LAURENThen, without warning, his lips captured mine.Shock hit me first.But it was the intensity of the kiss that truly disarmed me.Henry wasn’t just putting on a show. His touch was firm, demanding, as if he wanted to leave a mark—prove a point only he understood. His tongue brushed against my lips, forcing me to yield, and before I knew it, I was kissing him back.Heat spread through my body. My hands instinctively pressed against his chest, but instead of pushing him away, my fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. My heart pounded wildly, as if it were trying to escape my chest.What the hell was I doing?Before I could pull away, a bright flash followed by a clicking sound echoed around us.Flashes.The rapid snapping of cameras jolted me back to reality.I gas
POV: LAURENA soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. When I opened it, the housekeeper stood there, holding an elegant box out to me.“This arrived for you,” she said with a slight smile.I hesitantly took the box, feeling the weight of what it meant.“Did Mr. Carter send it?” I asked, suspicious.“Yes, he asked you to get ready for dinner—without delays,” she confirmed before stepping away.I took a deep breath and carried the box to the bed. Undoing the ribbon, I slowly lifted the lid.Inside, a white dress lay neatly folded—delicate and sophisticated. The lace details made it even more refined, and for a moment, I swallowed hard.“He’s got to be joking.” I murmured.The dress was stunning—almost too stunning. There was something about it that reminded me of a wedding gown. My fingers glided over the fabric, and the thought of what Henry might be planning settled in my mind.Was this a date?I shook my head, pushing the thought away. No… He was practical and calculated.