I never thought I’d find myself in this position again—sitting across from Chester's mother. She has to come over to Manhattan. Defended me from Natasha and her endless emotional torture. This woman has always looked out for me and I am grateful for her love. I can't just ignore her call anymore. She sat before me, her posture composed as always and her eyes… they held what I have come to love her for.Genuine concern. For me. For the baby. And also, for her son. The private dining room of one of Manhattan’s most exclusive restaurants was quiet, save for the distant hum of conversation from outside. A setting fitting for a Blackwood matriarch, but I felt so much warmth sitting before her. Strangely enough, I felt at peace. I felt this feeling I had missed for some months now. And I regret putting her in the dark. I wish I didn't pushed her away when she offered to help. "Thank you for meeting me," She said, her voice cool and kind. I folded my hands in my lap. "I almost didn’t.
And I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you, whether you let me back in or not." I swallowed, looking away. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to hold onto my anger. But then, his voice softened. "I don’t just want to be in the baby’s life, Alex. I want to be in yours." I met his gaze, my heart hammering fast like a wheel. "Say the word," he whispered. "And I’ll walk away. But if there’s even a part of you that still feels something for me—tell me, and I’ll never stop fighting for us." The weight of his words crushed me. Because the truth was… I still felt something. And I hated it. "I just need time, Chester." His expression flickered—hope, pain, frustration. But he nodded. "I’ll wait." His voice was steady, but I could see the strain in his eyes. I swallowed hard. "This isn't just about us. It’s about our child. I need to be sure." He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "I understand, Alex. Take all the time you need." And with that, he left, but not
CHESTER BLACKWOOD POV I couldn’t breathe. The moment I walked into her apartment and found it empty, a deep, suffocating panic took hold of me.Alex, was gone!. There was no forwarding address. No goodbye note. Nothing. My hands trembled as I gripped the back of a chair, my entire body feeling cold, hollow, shattered. I lost her. I really lost her this time. The pain in my chest was unbearable, a sharp, twisting knife that dug deeper with every second. I had fought for her. Begged for her. Waited for her. And she still chose to leave?. A bitter, hollow laugh escaped my lips as I collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. For months, I had believed that if I just tried harder, if I just proved myself, she would come back to me. But now? Now, I was nothing but a miserable, broken man, still madly, crazily in love with a woman who didn’t want me anymore. I pressed my hands over my face, my chest heaving as the suffocating truth settled in. If Alex was t
ALEXANDRIA POV The room was filled with the sharp cries of a newborn, his tiny fists clenched as he took his first breath in this world.Tears streamed down my face as the nurse gently placed him in my arms. His skin was soft, warm, and his little chest rose, and fell as he let out whimpers, adjusting to life outside the womb.I was exhausted, but nothing could dull the overwhelming love that consumed me whole.My son. I wiped my tears as I took a better look at him, and the moment my eyes landed on his face, my breath hitched.His sharp features. The familiar curve of his lips.The same gray, piercing eyes.No… it wasn’t possible.Yet, as I traced the contours of his face, there was no denying it. He looked exactly like Chester Despites my moments of Joy, a part of me shattered all over again. I had fought so hard, left everything behind, built an entirely new life to escape him.And yet, every time I looked at my son, he would be staring right back at me?."What is wrong, Alex?"
CHESTER BLACKWOOD POV I stared at the bottom of my glass, the amber liquid barely reflecting the man I had become.A ghost!. A shell of the arrogant, ruthless businessman I once was.It had been months. Long, agonizing months since Alex disappeared. Since she left without a single trace, vanishing from my world like a cruel illusion.At first, i had been convinced i would find her. That no matter where she ran, no matter how far she tried to escape, i would track her down and bring her back.But every lead ended in nothing. Every investigator failed him.Every single day without her chipped away at my sanity, leaving me to drown in a darkness no one could pull me from."That’s enough, Chester," Daniel's voice cut through the thick silence of the Villa. In shame, I had returned back to Washington DC. My parents and some business partners laughed me to scorn. But, did I care?. Daniel, His best friend, was the only one who hadn't given up on me. And night , as usual, he stood near th
Daniel, who had been silently watching, let out a deep breath. "She’s right, you know," he muttered. I remained still. "You should’ve treated her better," Daniel added. "You had everything, man. And now—" He shook his head. "You’re just letting yourself rot." I didn’t respond. I barely noticed when Daniel left, the villa falling into silence once again. Then, as if moving on instinct, I stumbled toward my bedroom. My feet felt heavy, my chest tight, as i entered the dark space, and headed straight for the bathroom. Without removing my clothes, i turned the shower on, stepping beneath the cold water. It hit me like a shock to the system. Memories flooded my mind. Alex’s laughter, her soft voice, the way she used to look at me when she still believed in me. Then the pain. The way her eyes darkened with betrayal. The way she flinched whenever i raised his voice. The way she walked away, leaving me with nothing but regret. A deep, strangled sob tore from my throat. I pressed my
Meanwhile… Across the country, I sat hunched on the edge of my bed, my head pounding violently. A cold sweat drenched my skin, my entire body burning with fever.I clenched my fists, struggling to breathe. muscles ached, my vision swam, and my limbs felt unbearably heavy. My mother’s words from earlier haunted me. "Maybe she’s truly dead…my breath hitched, with chest tightening with agony. No. Alex wasn’t dead. She couldn’t be. But as my fever worsened, my mind began playing cruel tricks on me. I could hear her voice....soft, distant ...calling out to me. I could see the way she used to look at me, love shining in her eyes… before that love turned into pain. “Alex…” I rasped, gripping my temples as dizziness overtook me. Then, everything went black.*****CHRISTIAN POVI have been waiting downstairs, rushed up after hearing the loud thud from my boss's bedroom. My heart nearly stopped when I found my boss collapsed on the floor, completely unresponsive. “Shit! Boss!” With
CHESTER BLACKWOOD POV I barely paid attention as to my mother's finalized the details of my first meeting with Madeline Brooks. The so-called “perfect match” my parents had chosen for me. I knew I was expected to play along, to sit through dinner, smile, and pretend to care. But deep down, there was only one woman on my mind—Alex.... Despite all my efforts, she remained a ghost, slipping further away with each passing day. My private investigators had failed me. My mother’s words about Alex being dead still haunted me, but my heart refused to believe it. She was out there. She had to be. The night of the dinner came faster than i expected. Seated in an upscale restaurant, i barely glanced at Madeline as she spoke animatedly about her family’s businesses. “I know your mother wanted us to meet,” she said, swirling her wine glass. “But honestly, Chester, you look like you’d rather be anywhere else.” I smirked, leaning back in my chair. “Observant.” Madeline sighed. “Look, I’m not in
The opulent venue was buzzing with excitement as the guests gathered, their eager whispers filling the air. The grand chandeliers cast a golden glow over the extravagant ballroom, and outside, the elite guests sipped champagne in a garden adorned with roses, basking in the spectacle of Chester's and Madeline’s wedding. Chester stood at the altar, a mere puppet of his family’s design. His chest tightened with every passing second. The distant clink of glasses and the murmured chatter of the crowd did little to drown out the chaotic thoughts racing through his mind. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t marry Madeline. As the officiant began the ceremony, Chester’s gaze flickered to Madeline, standing beside him with her flawless smile and eyes that glittered with triumph. But all he could think about was Alex—the woman he had loved, the woman he had lost. His heart slammed against his ribs, and his breath caught in his throat as a text message vibrated in his p
The weight of the news still hung heavily in the air as Alex watched the announcement unfold on the television screen. The buzz from the media, the socialites, and the world beyond seemed to intensify as the forced engagement between Chester and Madeline Brooks was broadcasted. The lavish wedding details began circulating—grand venues, designer dresses, and the promise of a high-profile ceremony to match the family's elite status. It felt surreal to Alex, who had once been that woman—caught in the whirlwind of Chester’s world, a world filled with promises and expectations. Yet, here she was, standing at the threshold of a new chapter, away from it all. Her son stirred in his crib, pulling her out of her thoughts. She smiled softly, walking over to him, watching as his tiny fingers reached up in his sleep. Despite everything—despite the confusion, the heartache, the betrayal—he was her miracle. And for him, she would build a future free from the past, free from the shadows of Leon a
Alex sat quietly in the park, the soft hum of the city around her, but her mind was far away. She glanced down at her son, his bright eyes reflecting the sunlight as he played with a small toy in his hands. He was the center of her world, and every decision she made from here on out would be for him. But there was something else. Something growing inside her—an uncertainty, a curiosity, a question that she had tried to ignore for so long. Could she open her heart again?... Liam had been there for her in a way that no one else had. He had never asked for anything, never pushed her to be someone she wasn’t. The more time she spent with him, the more she realized how much she appreciated his quiet strength, his kindness, and the ease with which he made her laugh. It wasn’t love yet, not the passionate kind she had shared with Leon, but it was something. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time... Liam had made it clear that he wasn’t ru
The weight of the announcement still hung heavily in Alex’s chest. She had tried to stay indifferent, but the image of Chester, standing next to Madeline, his expression distant yet resigned, kept haunting her. It wasn’t that she expected him to sit around pining for her, but seeing him so publicly move on, so easily, was more painful than she anticipated. As much as she told herself that it was for the best, that she was better off without him, there was always that nagging voice in the back of her mind. What if things could have been different? What if they hadn’t fallen apart the way they had? Could they have found a way back to each other? But that was in the past. And now, all that mattered was her son. He had her heart and soul, and Alex was determined to give him the best life possible. As she sat in the quiet of her apartment, holding her son close, she felt a stirring of something unexpected. It wasn’t just a feeling of longing for a man who no
Chester could hardly believe the words Madeline had spoken to him three weeks later! I'm Pregnant? The thought made his stomach churn. He hadn’t been careful, but the idea of her carrying his child seemed far-fetched, especially given the haze of alcohol and the drug she’d so deftly slipped into his system. But the truth, as twisted as it was, couldn’t be denied. He had no choice but to go through with a test, something he dreaded more than anything. --- The Next Day... Chester sat in the sterile, cold hospital room, his hands tightly clenched around the armrest of the chair. The results from the test were about to be revealed, and with every passing second, the knot in his stomach tightened further. Madeline sat across from him, her face a mask of feigned concern. She had been playing the role of the victim perfectly, looking so innocent, but Chester could see through the charade. Still, despite everything, there was a part of him that feared what the test might confirm. A nurse
CHESTER BLACKWOOD POV I sat at my desk, surrounded by files, photos, and addresses, my eyes bloodshot but sharp. For the first time in months, i wasn’t drowning in whiskey or self-pity. i had focus now — and it all pointed to one city. New York.... My private investigator had finally unearthed a clue, subtle but undeniable: a hospital record flagged under a different surname, but the birthdate and the emergency contact screamed Alex. It was the only real lead he’d had since she disappeared. Daniel walked in unannounced, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. “You look like hell, but for once you look alive.” I smirked slightly, the first real smile in ages. “I’m going to find her.” Daniel stepped closer, glancing at the spread of documents. “And when you do?” “I’m not letting her go,” I said flatly. “Not again.” But deep down, anxiety twisted in my chest. If Alex had hidden herself this well, it meant she didn’t want to be found. --- Meanwhile, across in another city..
Instead, i called Daniel. “What the hell happened?” Daniel’s voice barked the second he picked up. “She drugged me,” I said flatly, pacing. “She took photos. She’s already feeding the media.” “You’re kidding me.” “I wish I was. My mother probably already saw the headlines. This is bad.” Daniel let out a long breath. “You need to control the narrative before she does. Deny it. Publicly. Say you passed out drunk and nothing happened.”I rubbed my temple. “And the photos?” Daniel hesitated. “Can you be sure she didn’t stage it all? If you didn’t touch her, we can fight this.” “She wanted me to believe something happened. But I didn’t feel anything—nothing to suggest we—” I broke off, disgust rising again. “She’s trying to force my hand.” A knock at the door interrupted me. I opened it to find my mother standing there, phone in hand, face tight with fury. “You want to tell me what the hell this is?” she snapped, shoving the screen at me. I glanced at it. A social med
CHESTER BLACKWOOD POV I stood by the window of my office, gripping the folder in my hand so tightly the edges curled. My heart thudded against my ribs as I stared at the document—a new lead. Finally. Daniel had just left after delivering it, his voice thick with cautious hope. “She used her old email to register a pediatric account in New York, Chester. Same name, same birthdate. It’s her.” My breath hitched. Alex! Alive. In New York. With their child? I couldn’t stop the surge of emotion that slammed into me like a tidal wave—relief, regret, desperation. I had been right not to give up. She was out there. And now, maybe, just maybe, he could finally— Buzz. My intercom crackled. “Sir, your mother is on line one.” I exhaled sharply. Of course. Reluctantly, I picked up the phone. “Yes, Mother?” “Chester,” My mom's voice was firm. “You’re attending Madeline’s birthday party tonight. No excuses.” I groaned. “Mother, I don’t care if it’s her coronation. I’m not going.” “Sh
CHESTER BLACKWOOD POV The upscale restaurant buzzed with murmurs and clinking silverware, its chandeliers casting soft golden light over the wealthy patrons scattered across velvet-lined booths and tables. At the center table sat the my mom, an image of wealth and status... if only the illusion matched the reality. I sat at the far end of the table, my body present but soul miles away. Dressed in a crisp navy suit with an expression cold enough to freeze the wine in my glass, I barely acknowledged the waiter who poured for my. My mother gave me a sharp glance, then smiled tightly at our guest. “And of course,” she said with feigned warmth, “Madeline has been such a constant in our family, even when Leon was... distracted.” Madeline Brooks laughed, all teeth and pretense. “Well, I believe true connections always find their way back. Don’t you think, Chester?” I slowly turned to face her. “No.” The table fell silent. Madeline blinked, her smile faltering. “Excuse me?” “I don’t b