Judith’s POV “Where’s the groom?” “It's running late; we can't spend the whole day here without anything happening.” The people in the crowd murmured and complained, with heavy frowns on their faces. “Will the wedding still hold, or have I been dumped?” That was the only thought going through my head as I stood on the altar. Whispers were flying around, adding to the discomfort I already felt. I knew what was going through the minds of the guests seated in the beautiful Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Rome. It's amazing that I had the presence of mind to observe the structure and interior of the church in such a situation. If not for the presence of so many people, I would have wanted to give myself a round of applause. At least I proved that people can still spare their energy for other things in extremely stressful situations. So... why is my fiancé not returning messages or showing up? The head officiating minister walked towards me. “We are running really late, Judith; I'd h
I struggled to open my eyes to an unfamiliar environment. It was the hospital. The smell of disinfectant in the air is a bit pungent, but it's reassuring at the moment, as I felt a breath of fresh air, although I was still extremely weak. I scanned the room and found my mom back, turned at me, staring at an empty space. Weakly, I called “Mom.” “My baby," she said as she walked towards me, sitting beside me. She placed her palm on my forehead for some seconds, trying to deduce my body temperature, before finally nodding in satisfaction. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took her palms off my forehead, took my hands in hers, and kissed them. I looked at my mom's face and realized that I didn't know when she had wrinkles at the corners of her eyes before. She had a few gray hairs in her hair and dark circles underneath her eyes, indicating that she hadn't had a good night's sleep in the past few days. Thinking of those times I let mom worry about me, I'm all grown up, and I still ca
Mother had suggested that I spend a few more days in the hospital so I would be able to recuperate and possibly stay away from any judgmental and pitiful looks I might likely attract in the neighborhood. My neighborhood isn’t a really pleasant one, and I’m sure I’ll be the topic of gossip for some months. While at the hospital, I managed to relax and feel a little better. I didn’t forget my ordeal, but I was able to accept that Felix and I weren’t meant to be after all. “Now, I just have to get better and move on with my life,” I thought, gazing out the window at the scene of a newly born baby and his family taking a picture with some nurses in the garden. The mother of the child seemed really excited because her face was lit up with a contagious smile. “I hope to have a baby, somebody,” I said with a dry smile as I made my way out of the room to go look for my mother. She had initially told me she was going to see the doctor earlier, and her absence was longer than expected. Even
Judith’s POV Eight months later, I was wheeled into the operating room. Yes, I decided to keep the baby. When I told my mother and the doctor that I had overheard their secret conversation about the pregnancy, their shock was palpable. They were at a loss for words, clearly stunned that I had found out. My mother tried to change my mind and justify her decision, but I was already resolute and unwavering. During the prenatal period, I struggled with conflicting thoughts in my head. On one side, the scene of that night replayed, and on the other side, it flashed back to her mother's slightly hunched yet determined figure sitting alone on a garden bench; the sound of her own agonized despair and reverent confessions intertwined with the echoes of that night. As the operating lights came on, I closed her eyes and made a life-changing decision. A few years later... “Mommy!!!” The twins ran up to me in the school parking lot. “How was school today?” I scooped both of them into my ar
“Good morning, ma'am," I greeted the receptionist, trying to sound as polite as possible. “I'm here for the interview,” I told the receptionist at the front desk on the ground floor. “We don't interview for cleaners here. Just go to the back of the building; you'll see the office of the chief cleaner.” I was taken aback by what she said. Cleaner? Is that what she thinks I'm here for? “I think you're mistaken; I'm not here for the cleaning job; I sent an email to the hospital last night,” I corrected her. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't check; what’s the name?” She still seemed unconvinced, critically glancing at me. I noticed that she didn't really seem convinced, so I had to speak up for myself: “It's Judith, Judith Summers, “I applied for...” She cut me off before I could even finish. “PA?” she asked in disbelief. “I'm sorry, is there a problem?” I asked, feeling embarrassed and sensing my confidence slipping away. “No ma'am. Here’s your tag. I think you're already late,” she ad
Nathan’s POV I sat on my bed for a few minutes after I woke up, needing to recollect all the energy I lost the previous day and then lose it all today again. That’s how my life has been lately, and today, being the day of the job interview, I already predicted what the future of stress had in store for me. I painted my room dark gray to ease tensions for mornings like this. When I wake up, I don't seem to remember who I am. They calm me and remind me of my purpose, making me feel better. “That shouldn't be what's on my mind now,” I muttered to myself as I struggled to stand up and picked up my laptop to check for any new mail that I might have gotten the previous day. “Argh, I have an interview to host too.” I lamented inwardly and undressed before walking into the en-suite bathroom. I went into the bathroom, did all the necessary preparations, got into my car, and drove off. Stopping in front of my office has always given me stress and anxiety attacks, but it was different today.
Judith’s POV “It was really awkward, Vanessa,” I said on a call with my best friend, explaining how strange today had been. The interview had caught me off guard, as I wasn’t expecting it to be so effortless. I had already picked up the children from school, and they were sound asleep. “How would you rate it on a scale of one to ten?” Vanessa asked, letting out a laugh. “Vanessa, it breaks that scale!” I screamed excitedly. “He was sweet and even had a conversation with me.” “The same man that people are scared of?” She asked in disbelief. “The same man, Vanessa. It was like a dream. He was really handsome too, but his eyes seemed familiar. But then, who do I know in London? It's a whole different continent. I couldn't possibly know him,” I said, munching on crackers. “You want some crackers, Vanessa?” I teased. “Are you teasing me on purpose?” she asked in an off-tone. “So, about him, from what you’ve said so far, I think I’ve grasped one or two things.” “Oh, tell me,” I said w
Nathan's POV I could hear my alarm blaring from the nightstand by my king-size bed. I was still feeling sleepy because I slept so late last night, working on the business proposal my father wanted me to come up with. “Oh God, it's 7 a.m. already.” A surge of irritation came on me: “I can legitimately swear that I slept just a few hours ago.” These days, rest has become such a luxury. This billionaire lifestyle is so difficult. The saying "money isn't everything" echoes within me deeply. I can't even remember the last time I had a proper rest or genuinely had fun. When I was a dirty and broke street thug, I was happier than I am now. I didn't have to worry about so many responsibilities. I didn't have to worry about business deals, proposals, or any investments. I didn't have to prove my capability to anyone. Somehow, I actually missed the days I lived without a care. Dragging myself out of the duvet, I ventured into the en-suite bathroom. After a quick shower, I walked into my cl