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: HENRYI hesitated in front of the door, my hand hovering midair, ready to knock. But something held me back. The muffled sound of her crying seeped through the wood, heavy with anguish. I clenched my fists, closed my eyes, and let out a long sigh. I knew that, even if I asked, she wouldn’t tell me what was going on.Turning away in frustration, I made my way to my office. Lauren’s perfume still clung to my clothes, a vivid reminder that unsettled me more than I wanted to admit. The trembling of her body in my arms and the fear evident in her every movement lingered fresh in my mind, leaving me restless.I turned on the computer, my patience already worn thin. I accessed the house’s security cameras, knowing there was one installed in the kitchen. As the image loaded, I ran a hand over my face, trying to keep control. When the footage finally played, my jaw tightened, and I slammed my fist onto the desk.&
POV: LAURENI didn’t know how long I had been sitting on the floor crying. My mind kept dragging me back to what James had done in the kitchen.“That disgusting bastard!” I murmured angrily, rubbing my arms as if I could erase his vile touch. “What would Mr. Carter do if he knew what his friend had done?”I closed my eyes, but instead of finding calm, I saw Henry. The warmth of his embrace, the unexpected gentleness as his fingers stroked my hair, and that woody scent that seemed to wrap around me completely. He looked at me like he truly cared. When I pulled away, there was a fleeting moment when I wished he had held me closer, stopped me from leaving, and... kissed me.“What am I thinking?” I whispered to myself, shaking my head as if I could dispel those thoughts. “I’m just his nanny. James is right—why would Henry care about what happens to me?”
POV: LAURENA burnt pancake, too much chocolate syrup, and contagious laughter. That morning carried something special light, carefree atmosphere that was rare to witness. Henry, usually so strict and serious, was genuinely trying to connect with Theo. And it was working. Sometimes, I caught Theodor sneaking fascinating glances at his uncle, as if he couldn’t believe this new dynamic.“How about we paint?” I suggested with an enthusiastic smile. The reaction was immediate: both of them turned to me with skeptical expressions, as though I’d proposed something utterly absurd.“Paint?” Henry arched an eyebrow, running a hand casually through his hair. “That doesn’t sound very productive,” he remarked, casting a quick glance at Theo before sighing. “But we can give it a shot. What do you think, kiddo?”“Really?” Theo’s eyes lit up for a brief moment, but hesitation quickly followed. “You’re not going to mind the mess?”“Messes are part of the process,” Henry replied, winking at his nephew
POV: HENRYI walked toward Theodor’s room, ready to give him a stern talking-to about the incident that morning. But as I got closer, I heard his soft voice speaking to Lauren.“I’m scared Uncle Henry will leave, like my parents did.” Theo’s voice was trembling, and it made something tighten in my chest.I stopped in the hallway, biting the inside of my cheek, my hands curling into fists. Damn me for always seeming distant when he needed me most. I relaxed my posture and, with a heavy sigh, knocked on the door.“Mr. Carter, were you able to finish your call?” Lauren asked politely, her voice calm yet firm. She then nudged Theo gently, tilting her head toward him in a subtle gesture of encouragement. “Theodor has something he’d like to say to you.”I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms and tilting my head slightly as I looked at him expectantly.“Oh, really, little man?” My voice carried a teasing tone as I waited.“But, fairy…” Theo grumbled, casting a pleading look at Lauren. She, ho
POV: LAURENI was surprised when the housekeeper came to take my measurements, and even more so when I opened the box that arrived hours later. Inside was a stunning dress, as if it had come straight off the cover of a magazine. Since marrying Ethan, my style has become more subdued, because, according to him, there is no need to waste money on “frivolities.”“Tell that to your mistress,” I murmured sarcastically, staring at my reflection in the mirror as I finished getting ready.The dress fit my body perfectly, elegantly and discreetly accentuating my curves. Despite the pregnancy, my belly was still unnoticeable, and the fabric draped flawlessly. It was sophisticated, with just the right balance of class and sensuality—something I hadn’t worn in a long time.How long had it been since I last felt this beautiful? I gently touched the skin exposed by the subtle neckline, letting my thoughts drift for a moment, imagining what it would be like to wear dresses like this when my belly wa
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.