POV: LAURENThe tension in the air seemed to thicken until a robust man with a mustache and an authoritative demeanor approached.“Now, Henry, do we really need all this drama?” he said in a conciliatory yet condescending tone. Only then did I realize it was Roger, James’s father.Henry let out a dry, ironic laugh, crossing his arms as the vein on his temple became more prominent.“Roger, you really should be more selective with your guest list!” he retorted impatiently, his imposing stance and icy gaze making his discomfort clear.Before any more words could be exchanged, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. The warm voice of Margareth caught me by surprise.“Mrs. Becker, my goodness, it’s been ages!” she exclaimed kindly, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her presence was almost a relief amid the chaos. She whispered into m
POV: LAUREN“Becker, Becker, what a surprise to see you here,” James said in a mocking tone, leaning in to whisper near my ear. “Have you become Henry’s pet now, going everywhere he takes you?”“Hello, James,” I replied, trying to maintain my composure as unease crawled up my spine. I took a step back, forcing a polite smile. “I’m here accompanying Mr. Carter because I’m his nephew’s nanny, and Theodor is also attending the party,” I added, standing from my chair. “Speaking of Theodor, I should go check on him.”“Nonsense!” Margareth intervened, gently holding my hand. “Let the boy enjoy himself a little without supervision. Why don’t you and James go dance? I’ve always admired your friendship. I thought you two might end up getting married one day.”“Why would you think that?” I aske
POV: LAUREN“Whoever got you to dance first and managed to take you home would win. I was heading your way that night, but then I heard your father felt unwell, and you left the ball with Ethan. What a surprise, huh?” James mocked, a malicious glint in his eyes.“How do you know that?” I asked, my voice faltering. James leaned in provocatively, grazing his teeth over the tip of my ear.“Oh, darling, Ethan bragged about it afterward,” he said with a laugh. “Your father’s 'illness' was caused by Ethan during that 'urgent meeting' they had earlier that day.” James laughed louder, clearly enjoying himself. “And you fell for it. His attention, his concern for your father—it was all part of the plan.”“That’s impossible,” I murmured, a knot tightening in my throat as my body began to tremble. I couldn’t hide the wave of tensi
POV: LAURENI raised my gaze to him, confused, but followed in silence to the railing. The view before us was breathtaking: a river reflected the soft glow of the moon, surrounded by trees that seemed to whisper in the quiet night.“What a beautiful view,” I remarked, mesmerized. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the fresh night air fill my senses. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the emotions that were so close to the surface.When I opened my eyes again, I found him fixed on me. He was watching me intently, as if he were trying to uncover every hidden thought in my mind.“Do you feel better?” he asked, his voice low and soft but no less intense. His fingers brushed a strand of hair that had fallen over my face, tucking it gently behind my ear.“Better?” I murmured, still confused, frowning slightly.“Yes, weren’t you t
POV: HENRYWith quick strides, I headed toward the sound of crying, not looking back. It was only when we stopped at the playground that I realized I had taken Lauren’s hand, pulling her along to match my pace. There was Theodor, sitting on the ground next to the slide, holding his leg and crying loudly.“Buddy, what happened?” I asked, kneeling beside him quickly. I noticed the stares from people around us and realized only then that my hand was still holding Lauren’s. She immediately let go, taking a step back and avoiding eye contact.“Uncle Henry, it hurts!” Theodor whimpered, crying even louder. My attention returned to him, and I saw blood running from his knee.“I told you this would happen, boy!” Mia stepped forward, her tone irritatingly smug. “I tried to stop him, but he pushed me and fell!”“That’s not true! She
POV: HENRYHer words lingered with me. Casting an intrigued glance at Margareth, I turned my attention back to Lauren, who was cradling Theo with an almost natural care.Before she could continue, I quickly intervened, taking Theo from her arms.“Let me handle this. He’s getting heavy,” I said, holding Theo securely as he rested his head on my shoulder, visibly exhausted. I glanced back at Lauren, who hesitated, her timid eyes avoiding mine, her expression carrying a hint of sadness. Perhaps it was because of my earlier harsh tone.I stepped closer and whispered so only she could hear:“You really are a fairy, aren’t you? You managed to make him stop crying.”Lauren’s eyes widened, her lips forming a small “O.” She slowly shook her head, still surprised, while gently stroking Theo’s back as he began to yawn.“Mr. C
POV: LAURENI closed the door and let out a deep sigh, feeling my heart beat faster than usual. My hands were sweaty and trembling slightly as I tried to calm myself down. On the other side of the door, I heard slow, deliberate footsteps, stopping right in front of my door. My body reacted before I could even think. I took a step back, shaking my head in denial.“Please, don’t come in,” I murmured to myself, my voice barely a whisper. I took a few more hesitant steps back, watching the shadow under the door slowly move away. My chest tightened, and a wave of confusion washed over me. “What am I doing?”I turned and walked to the mirror, desperately trying to unzip the dress that stubbornly refused to budge. I bit my lips, frustrated with the situation.“It would be easier if we just picked up where we left off,” I muttered under my breath, almost joking with myself. “At least the dress would come off more easily.”The words slipped out before I could stop them, and suddenly, an unwant
POV: LAURENMy heart raced, fast and erratic, as if it were trying to escape my chest. I turned slowly, trying to compose myself, but it was impossible to ignore his presence. Henry stood there, as imposing as ever, with a glass of drink in his hand. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that seemed to cut through all my defenses. It was as if he could read every thought and every desire I tried to hide.Before I could say or do anything, the dress I had been holding so carefully slid down my body, falling softly to the floor. The cold air of the mansion touched my skin, but it wasn’t that that made me tremble. It was his gaze. His eyes traced every inch of the fabric as it fell, as if memorizing every curve, every detail of my body. He didn’t rush. Every movement of his eyes was slow, deliberate, as if savoring the moment.I felt exposed, vulnerable, but also… desired. The way he looked at me was unlike anything I had ever experienced—it was deeper, more intense.
POV: LAUREN“Lauren, what’s going on?” Kate ran up to me, her voice filled with concern.“Theodor ran away.” I said, the words broken up by sobs. “He’s nowhere to be found. I already checked every place he used to hide. My words fell apart, just like my emotional control.“Hey, hey, calm down.” Kate pulled me into a tight hug. I felt her sweet perfume, the warmth of her body against mine, and for a moment, I could breathe a little easier. “You’re going to make yourself sick like this. We’ll find him, Lauren. Kids scare us like that sometimes.”“He left because he couldn’t stand seeing us fight anymore…” I sobbed, my chest shattered. “He thinks it’s his fault. And I… I’m failing him. What am I doing wrong?”“You’re doing the best you can.” She h
POV: LAURENHenry’s eyes widened the moment he read the first words. His firm steps echoed on the wooden floor as he moved closer to the note. I saw his fingers tremble slightly as he held the paper. The silence that settled for a few seconds felt like it was screaming inside the room. My chest tightened. It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath my feet.Theodor’s words pierced my heart with a dull, growing pain.“Uncle and Fairy, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be part of a broken family like this. Mom and Dad fought a lot when they were alive. I thought my new family would be filled with love, respect, and playtime, like it was in the beginning. But everything broke after you separated, and I can’t pretend to be strong and brave while watching you both so sad. I don’t know how to protect Alice from this, either. I won’t be a good brother or a good son. Furthermore, I don’t have your blood, Fairy, and still, you call me your son. Uncle Henry could learn a bit from you. He’s a nic
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