POV: LAURENWe stopped in front of the imposing mansion gates, and I couldn’t help but glance around in admiration. It was larger and more grand than the house I grew up in. I felt small, warm hands clutching mine. Looking down, I was met with Theodor’s sweetest and most innocent smile.Was this what it felt like to have a child by your side? My heart tightened at the thought that soon I’d be holding my own child’s tiny hands.“Come on, Fairy!” Theo exclaimed with the typical excitement of a child. “I want to show you the house. There are so many places to play!”Before I could say anything, he was already tugging at my hand, leading me inside. The entrance was just as impressive as the exterior. We moved toward the staircase when we heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat behind us.“Did you forget about me?” Henry’s firm, commanding voice filled the space, cutting through Theo’s enthusiasm. He stood in the hallway, casually yet dominantly poised, one hand in his po
POV: LAURENAfter my conversation with Henry Carter and under his ever-skeptical gaze, I left the office feeling drained. One of the housemaids guided me to the room adjacent to Theodor’s. After a quick shower, I noticed a tray of fruits and juice placed strategically on the small table next to the bed. Besides, it was a piece of letterhead titled “House Schedule” and, just below, “Theodor Carter’s Agenda.”Sitting on the bed, I picked up the paper curiously. The schedule was meticulous, detailing times for almost every imaginable activity. I had the distinct feeling that if I looked closely enough, there might even be a scheduled time for bathroom breaks.“Henry Carter doesn’t mess around when it comes to control,” I murmured, taking a sip of juice as I flipped through the pages.When I reached Theodor’s agenda, my expression shifted to something between disbelief and concern. The routine was exhausting, even for an adult. It included language lessons, traditional school curriculum s
POV: LAURENKeeping up with Theodor’s demanding routine was truly challenging. His schedule was so packed that almost every afternoon he ended up completely exhausted. Henry, as usual, didn’t compromise on perfection. He was strict about punctuality, posture, impeccable appearance, and especially Theo’s grades.“Theodor, you need to apply yourself more!” Henry said sternly, his voice tinged with concern as he looked over the test papers on the table. He let out a long sigh, clearly tired, softening his tone slightly. “If you’re struggling with the material, I can arrange tutoring for you or even teach you myself. What do you think, champ?”“More studying, Uncle Henry?” Theo grumbled, his tone nervous as he crossed his arms and pouted. “I don’t want to!”“But you need to!” Henry shot back without hesitation, exhaling in frustration. “Theo, I want to ensure you have a great future. Why can’t you see that? You’re a Carter—this empire will be yours someday.”“Sure, until you have your own
POV: LAURENIn the middle of a busy morning, Henry informed me that he had an important meeting in his office and made it very clear that Theo was not to disturb him. I decided to use the time to play with the little one and ease some of the tension that had built up over the past few days.While we were playing hide-and-seek, I started to feel unusually nauseous—something that had become more frequent due to my pregnancy. I tried to ignore the discomfort as I ran toward the “wall” that marked the end of the game, but I couldn’t hold it in. I dashed to the bed and threw up, emptying my stomach completely.Theo saw me in that state and looked visibly frightened. He came over, rubbing my back with his small hands in a sweet yet deeply worried gesture.“Fairy, are you okay?” he asked, his voice trembling. “Are you going to die?”Before I could calm him down, Theo turned around and bolted toward the mansion, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Uncle Henry, hurry! The fairy is sick!”“Theo,
POV: HENRYI leaned in, just enough for my nose to graze lightly against her neck, inhaling that sweet, intoxicating perfume. She froze, but her body trembled slightly, and the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end in my proximity.“Never seen a man naked before?” I teased, my voice low and rough, dripping with sarcasm. “Didn't you like what you saw?”She opened her mouth, but only a nervous sound came out. Her eyes darted to my hands, then back to my arms. Finally, she let out a shaky sigh and stammered:“I… it was inappropriate. I apologize for intruding into your room.”I tilted my head, observing every detail of her body language.“Is that what you did?” I asked, keeping my tone deliberately low and seductive. I stepped closer, shrinking the already small space between us. My chest almost brushed her back, and I could hear her breathing grow heavier. I slid a hand along her arm, up to her shoulder, gently brushing aside the cascade of her hair. Leaning in, I whispered ne
POV: LAURENAfter sharing my idea with Henry and hearing his reluctant agreement to participate more in Theodor’s small activities, I left his room with my heart still racing. That man knew exactly how to provoke a woman, and that made him dangerous.“As if he’d ever be interested in a divorced, broke, and pregnant woman!” I muttered to myself.The next day, I decided to plan a special movie night for Theodor—something simple, but enough to take some weight off his intense routine.“But Uncle Henry doesn’t let me eat junk food,” Theo said with a hesitant air, crossing his arms. “He’s so boring and no fun.”“Theo, that’s not fair,” I corrected him gently, offering a small smile. “Your uncle is just trying to take care of you and make sure you stay healthy.”He sighed, but I noticed his eyes sparkled with the idea of breaking a rule.“So... just tonight?” he asked quietly, as if someone might overhear us.“It’ll be our little secret,” I whispered, winking at him, watching his face light
POV: HENRYI walked into the kitchen, annoyed by James’s delay in returning with the drinks. The moment I entered, I found him standing by the counter, his hand midair as if he’d been caught red-handed. He ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture that seemed to mask something, and took a step back.James flashed me a cynical smile, clearly trying to maintain his composure.“Everything’s fine, buddy,” he said in that irritatingly casual tone of his. “I didn’t know Lauren Becker was your latest hire. Pleasant surprise. I thought I’d say hi, and we ended up chatting a bit, catching up.”My eyes narrowed as I listened. Crossing my arms, I studied his overly relaxed posture before shifting my gaze to Lauren. She was fidgeting with her pajamas, her trembling hands giving away her unease as she avoided looking at me. Something was off, and my patience was wearing t
POV: LAURENI ran to the bedroom as fast as I could, shutting the door behind me and trying to catch my breath. I leaned against the wood, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. Theo was sitting on the bed with the remote in his hand, a bright, excited smile lighting up his face.“Fairy! I picked out a bunch of movies,” he said eagerly, pointing proudly at the TV. “We’re going to watch all of them, right?”I forced a smile, trying to hide my frazzled state.“Of course, my little brave one. We’ll watch as many as you can handle before you fall asleep,” I said as I walked over to the bed and sat down beside him. But before I could fully settle in, Theo’s sharp eyes narrowed with concern.“Fairy, what happened to your arm?” he asked, pointing at the spot where James’s handprints were still visible, dark bruises stark against my skin.
POV: HENRYBecker tried to pull away, pushing my arms with a quick, almost automatic motion. Before she could take a second step, I grabbed her wrist. Her skin was cold, trembling.“What does that mean, Lauren?” I asked quietly but firmly. I could feel there was something unsaid, something she was hiding, and it only made the pressure in my chest worse.She hesitated for a moment, then slowly turned around, eyes glassy, her expression exhausted.“I'm considering moving to another city,” Becker said, her voice thick with emotion, though she tried to sound rational. “Starting over, far from here. Henry, thanks to the agreement you signed, I was able to pay off all my father's debts. I'm truly grateful for that. But… I can't take it anymore. This place reminds me of everything I lost. It destroyed me. I can't breathe here anymore.”Her words hit hard. Part of me understood. But the other part reacted without thinking.“So you're going to do to Theodor what you did to me?” I snapped, my v
POV: HENRYI stayed silent for a few seconds, trying to control my breathing. My chest rose and fell in an erratic rhythm, still tasting the kiss that shouldn’t have happened. I looked at her, and she stared back at me with red, watery, confused eyes full of hurt.I hadn’t planned any of that. Furthermore, I didn’t go there to kiss her or to touch her like that. But all it took was one gesture, one sigh, one hesitation—and I got lost again. Just like I always did with her.I noticed her agitation. The way her fingers moved restlessly in her lap, her eyes constantly avoiding mine, shifting back to Theo. She was uncomfortable, on the verge of a breakdown. When she got up from the couch with a weak excuse, saying she was going to make something, I knew it was an escape. And this time, I wasn’t going to let her run. I stood up too and followed her, feeling a tight pressure in my chest that I didn’t want to admit was fear.Fear of losing her. Fear that it might already be too late.“Lauren
POV: LAURENMy head was a whirlwind of voices, and none of them would let me breathe. The hurt pulsed like an open wound. The memory of that article… Mia in his lap, as if his past still had more power than I ever would. And the pain of remembering that night, the hope I carried in my chest when I was about to tell him everything. How I desperately wished he would accept being the father of my child. How I dreamed of a life by his side. As his wife. As a family.I felt my eyes welling up. I tried blinking slowly to hold back the tears, but they pooled in silence, forming a thin line of shine that made me feel… small. Weak. Useless.Part of me wanted to scream. To beg for forgiveness. To say I had been an idiot, that yes, I had lied—but only because I was scared, insecure, and confused. I wanted him to know that everything I felt for him had been real. So intense, it still consumed me today.But
POV: LAURENI wanted to pull away. I wanted to create distance. But everything in me screamed for the closeness I had avoided for so long. And I hated myself for still wanting it. For craving his touch, his voice, the comfort only he could give me. Because none of it was fair.Not to me. Not to him. Not to Theo or Alice.The tear slipped out before I could stop it. I reached for my face automatically, trying to hide it—but he saw.Henry stood up slowly, saying nothing at first. His fingers touched my face gently, and his thumb wiped away the tear in a gesture so intimate it took my breath away. His hand stayed there, holding my face, and in that touch there was something strange—a mix of care and provocation. Like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.I held my breath. My heart sped up, and inside, everything was spinning. It wasn’t just the touch—it was the way he l
POV: LAURENThe pain I felt now wasn’t just physical. It was the weight of choices, silence, and heartbreak all stacked together. I had ruined everything. That was the truth I fought against every single night. Whatever we could’ve been—me, Henry, Theo, and now Alice—I had destroyed it.And as if Alice wanted to remind me she was there too, that all of this affected her as well, another kick came. Stronger. Deeper. A sharp jolt knocked the air out of me for a second, and I instinctively placed my hand on the side of my belly. I closed my eyes and let out a soft, muffled groan. I wanted to play it off and pretend it was just minor discomfort, but I couldn’t.When I opened my eyes, Henry was already standing.“Are you okay, Becker?” Henry’s voice had changed—firm, alert. His hand touched my shoulder directly, without hesitation. Warm. Familiar.
POV: LAURENI gripped the doorknob tightly, trying to control the shaking in my fingers. My heart was beating so fast and so hard it actually hurt, like every thump was a reminder of what I had lost… or what I still felt. It had been a long time since I last saw Henry Carter—and that was no accident. I had been avoiding him. Hiding like a coward because I didn’t know how to deal with the chaos he left inside me. I fell for him in a way I never thought possible. I was his. Completely. And even now, just the thought of facing him made something inside me fall apart.I took a deep breath, and before I could hesitate again, I opened the door.He was there. So real. So absurdly handsome, just like I remembered. His hand, raised midair to knock, froze in place. His eyes locked onto mine—intense, that impossible shade of blue, like they could see straight through everything I was trying to hide. The corner of his lip
POV: HENRY“When Kate got there, the chaos had already started. Her mom was surrounded by armed security, pressured, threatened... my uncle was ready to make an example out of her. Kate freaked out. She tried to reason with them, to defend her, but no one there was about to listen to someone with a dirty last name and a pile of debt.” He paused, like he was choosing his words carefully. “She only avoided being dragged in with her because, when she saw my photo hanging in my uncle’s office, she said—without blinking—that she was my girlfriend. That we’d been together for months. She tried to sell a convincing story.”I choked on my drink the exact second he finished the sentence, coughing and thumping my chest.“Girlfriend?!” I repeated, clearing my throat in disbelief. “Should I congratulate you or ask when exactly you decided to start living in that fantasy?”“It never happened,” Lucian replied, gripping the glass, so tightly that his knuckles turned white. “But I didn’t deny it. I j
POV: HENRYLucian was standing in front of my desk, his fists pressed firmly against the wood. The veins in his arms bulged, his fingers nearly pale from the tension. His jaw was clenched, eyes locked on mine, waiting for a reaction I had zero patience to give.I tilted my head, impatient, and brought the whiskey glass to my lips with the calm of someone who had already passed every stage of anger. The alcohol burned as it went down, but the sting was nothing compared to the rage eating me alive.“They deserve to die for what they did.” My voice came out low and steady, leaving no room for interpretation.Lucian didn’t reply right away. He sat down across from me with a sharp creak of the chair against the floor. He started tapping his fingers on the desk—rhythmic, annoying—like he was trying to gauge how close I was to blowing up.“Mia actually thought she could show up here with that crazy saint face and pretend we slept together.” I went on, full of disdain. “She drugged me. Knocke
POV: LAUREN“Lauren, I’m sorry.” Kate murmured, eyes lowered, avoiding mine. “I have to go. I won’t be able to take Theodor back today.”She looked exhausted. Her face was tense, her shoulders stiff. That phone call had shaken her more than she wanted to admit.“Hey, it’s okay,” I said, gently squeezing her hand. “I’ll take Theo tomorrow. I’ll let Henry know. And… if you need anything, call me—any time.”“I know,” she replied in a muffled tone. Then she pulled me into a tight hug, like someone who needed to hold onto something before falling apart.“But this… this is something I have to face on my own.”I nodded, respecting her silence, even though my heart clenched at seeing her so vulnerable. I watched as she walked away, slowly, like every step weighed a ton.