Gage took a deep breath and spoke the words that had been echoing in his heart. "I love you, Nicole."Nicole's eyes widened in shock, and she froze, her mouth hanging open. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Gage, the man who was engaged to another woman, had just confessed his love to her.and she couldn't catch her breath.Gage, too, was taken aback by his own words. He didn't know why he had said them, but he knew it was because his heart had wanted to. He looked at Nicole, hoping to see some sign of reciprocation, but instead, he saw only shock and confusion.After what felt like an eternity, Nicole finally spoke. Her voice was cold and detached. "You're mad, Gage. You know we can never be in that kind of relationship. The only thing that was between us was our lust, and that's fulfilled now. It's time to end this. Get out, and never come back to my life, Gage. Never. I don't want to see you."Gage felt like he had been slapped. He nodded, feeling a sense of defeat wash
Gage sat in the plush, white chair, his eyes scanning the room with a mixture of disinterest and boredom. He didn't want to be here, trying on wedding dresses with Liz, but he felt obligated to make an appearance.It had been his father's idea, actually. His father had insisted that he come to the salon with Liz, citing that it was the best place to find the perfect wedding dress. What Gage didn't know was that Nicole had actually recommended the salon to his father, and now he was stuck here, pretending to care about wedding dresses.But the real reason Gage was here was because of the argument he had with Liz a few days ago. He had shouted at her, and now he felt guilty and obligated to make it up to her. So, he had agreed to come to the salon with her, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do.Liz, on the other hand, was in her element. She had always dreamed of this day, and now that it was finally here, she was determined to make the most of it. She twirled in front of t
After a morning of shopping, Liz and Gage headed out to lunch, but Gage was unaware of the plans until they were already on their way. It turned out that Liz's father had invited Gage to join them for lunch, and Liz had accepted the invitation without even consulting Gage.Gage had only agreed to go shopping with Liz that day because he felt guilty for yelling at her earlier. He had no idea that it would involve a lunch invitation, and he wasn't prepared for it. He felt like he was being dragged along, without any say in the matter.As they arrived at the restaurant, Gage could feel his anxiety growing. He wasn't in the mood for a fancy lunch, especially not with Liz's family. He would have much rather spent the day doing something else, anything else, but he felt trapped.They sat down at their table, and Liz began to chat enthusiastically about her latest art project. She showed her father some sketches on her phone, explaining her inspiration and creative process. Gage listened pol
Liz's eyes widened in shock as she watched Gage's car follow Nicole's vehicle out of the parking lot. What was he doing? Why was he following Nicole?She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Gage's number, her heart racing with anticipation. After a few rings, Gage finally answered."Hello," he said, his voice curt and distracted."Where are you?" Liz asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.Gage's response was abrupt. "I'm busy, Liz. Can't talk right now."Liz's frustration grew. "What's going on? "Why are you ignoring me?"Gage's tone turned rude. "Look, Liz, I don't have time for this. Just leave me alone, okay?"Liz's anger flared. "Fine!"And with that, he hung up, leaving Liz staring at her phone in frustration and confusion.Liz stood there, her phone still clutched in her hand; she felt a stinging sensation in her eyes. She tried to blink it away, but it was no use. Tears began to fall from her eyes, streaming down her face as she felt a wave of sadness and hurt wash over he
Ashley's hands trembled slightly as she reached for the doorknob, expecting it to be their neighbor.As she opened the door, her eyes widened in shock, and her breath caught in her throat.Standing on the porch, looking every bit as surprised to be there as Ashley was to see them, were Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, Lucas's parents. But something was different about them. They didn't have the same disapproving look on their faces that they had the last time Ashley had seen them. Instead, they looked... changed. Softer, somehow.Ashley's mind went blank as she stared at them, her thoughts racing with a mix of confusion and curiosity. What were they doing here? And why did they look so... different?Lucas, who was standing behind her, seemed to sense her confusion. He stepped forward, his eyes fixed on his parents. "Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?"Mrs. Brooks smiled, a warm and genuine smile that Ashley had never seen before. "We came to talk to you, Lucas. And to meet Ashley again."Ashley's
Nicole stepped out of her apartment, ready to take on the day at the office. As she turned to lock the door, she was suddenly pinned against it by Gage. His hands were on either side of her head, his face inches from hers.Nicole's eyes widened in shock, and she pushed against Gage's chest, trying to create some space between them. "What are you doing, Gage?" she demanded, her voice angry and frightened.Gage's eyes blazed with anger and jealousy. "You need to leave, Jack," he growled, his voice low and menacing.Nicole's eyes flashed with defiance. "Why? Why do I need to leave him?"Gage's face twisted in a snarl. "Because he's not good enough for you. Because he doesn't deserve you."Nicole shook her head, her anger rising. "That's not your decision to make, Gage. I love Jack, and I'm not going to leave him just because you're jealous."Gage's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. "You're making a mistake, Nicole," he warned, his voice dripping with menace.Nicole tried to push
Nicole walked back to her apartment; her mind was consumed by the weight of Mr. Harrison's offer. She couldn't shake off the feeling that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, one that could catapult her career to new heights. She had always dreamed of working in Paris, and now that the chance was finally within her grasp, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation.But as she walked, her thoughts were also filled with images of her mother, lying in her bed, her body weak and frail. Nicole's heart ached as she thought about not being able to spend more time with her mother, about not being able to be there for her in her final days.The truth was, Nicole wasn't even with her mother right now. Her father had recently reappeared in their lives, and Nicole couldn't bear to be around him. She had always had a strained relationship with her father, and his sudden return had brought up all sorts of painful memories and emotions.Nicole's mother had always been he
Nicole sat alone in her kitchen, sipping a glass of wine as the night wore on. The soft glow of the kitchen lights illuminated her face, and her eyes seemed lost in thought as she stared at the wine glass in her hand.As she gazed at the glass, memories began to flood her mind. She remembered the night the glass had slipped from her fingers as he pinned her against the wall. The sound of shattering glass seemed to echo in her mind as she recalled the passion that had ignited between them.But as she thought back on that night, Nicole realized that something had been different. It wasn't just the physical intimacy they had shared, which had been a part of their arrangement from the beginning. No, it was something more. Something that had sparked a connection between them, a connection that went beyond mere physical attraction.She remembered the way he had looked at her that night, the way his eyes had seemed to burn with an intensity that had left her breathless.It was true that she
The beautiful summer day, casting a warm glow over the lush green gardens where the wedding ceremony was taking place. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the soft chirping of birds could be heard in the distance.Nicole, looking stunning in her white wedding gown, stood at the entrance of the aisle, her father's hand holding hers. She took a deep breath, her eyes shining with happiness, as she prepared to walk down the aisle to meet her groom, Gage.She began her walk, all eyes turned to her, and a collective gasp of admiration filled the air. Nicole's father, beaming with pride, smiled at her, and she smiled back, her eyes sparkling with joy.As she made her way down the aisle, Nicole's gaze swept across the crowd, taking in the familiar faces of friends and family. Her eyes landed on Mr. Harrison, Gage's father, who was sitting in the front row, a huge smile spreading across his face.Nicole's heart swelled with affection as she looked at Mr. Harrison.
Nicole felt a wave of disappointment wash over her as she hung up the call with Mr. Harrison. She had been hoping that he would know where Gage was, that she could finally talk to him and make things right. But now, it seemed like she was back to square one.She walked over to a nearby bench and sat down, feeling defeated. She buried her face in her hands, trying to process her emotions. Why did she always have to make things so complicated? Why did she always have to push away the people she loved?As she sat there, Nicole's mind began to wander back to Gage.She suddenly remembered something that made her heart skip a beat. She quickly grabbed her bag and stood up, her mind racing with possibilities. Without hesitation, Nicole walked back into the airport.****The sun was setting over the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the small island that Gage owned. The island was a private sanctuary, a place where Gage could escape the chaos of the world and find solace in nature. And
The plane taxied down the runway; Nicole's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Gage's words from the book kept echoing in her mind, reminding her of the depth of his love for her. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was running away from something precious, something that could have been hers if only she had realized it sooner.The thought of Gage giving his heart to her, and now, unknowingly, giving her a part of himself through their baby, was almost too much to bear. Nicole felt a pang of guilt and regret, wondering how she could have been so blind to Gage's feelings.Suddenly, she stood up, her movements abrupt and decisive. The flight attendant, caught off guard, hurried over to her. "Ma'am, please sit down. We're about to take off."But Nicole didn't listen. She grabbed her bag and began to walk towards the exit, her eyes fixed on the door. The flight attendant tried to stop her, but Nicole pushed past her, determined to get off the plane."Ma'am, you can't just get off th
Nicole stepped down from the stairs, her eyes fixed on the floor as she made her way to the front door. Her dad, sister, and Lucas were all standing in the living room, watching her with a mix of sadness and understanding.Ashley walked towards her, concern etched on her face. "Nicole, do you really want to go?" she asked, her voice soft.Nicole nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I need to go, Ash," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Now that Mom is gone, this house just feels empty. I'm not used to being here without her. I need to get out of here and start fresh somewhere else."Her father, Henry, walked towards her, his eyes filled with compassion. "We understand, baby," he said, his voice gentle. "We'll miss you, but we understand that you need to do this."Nicole's eyes overflowed with tears as she hugged her father tightly. It was a moment of closure, a moment of healing, and Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of joy seeing her sister and father reunited like
Nicole stepped up to the microphone, her eyes scanning the crowd of mourners gathered to pay their respects to her mother. She took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice calm and steady."My mom was an incredible woman," she started, her words echoing through the silence. "She was a great wife, a great mom, and a great person. She had every opportunity to leave us, to start a new life after our dad left. But she chose to stay with us, to raise us on her own, and to give us the best life possible."Nicole's voice cracked slightly as she spoke, but she continued, her words pouring out from the heart."As a daughter, I have to admit that I failed my mom. I never understood her, I never appreciated her sacrifices, and I never thanked her enough for everything she did for me. She always put Ashley and me first, always prioritizing our needs above her own. And yet, I repaid her by being selfish, by running away from her when she needed me most."Nicole's tears began to fall, streaming
The doctor emerged from the room; Nicole and her father stood up, their hearts racing with anticipation. They walked towards the doctor, their eyes fixed on his face, searching for any sign of hope.But the doctor's expression was grim, his eyes cast downward. He seemed to be struggling to find the words to say."Doctor?" Nicole asked, her voice trembling with anxiety. "What's going on? How's my mom?"The doctor didn't respond, his silence hanging in the air like a heavy weight."Doctor, please," Nicole asked again, her voice growing more urgent. "Tell me what's going on. Is my mom okay?"The doctor still didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the floor.Nicole's anxiety turned to desperation, and she reached out and grabbed the doctor's collar, her hands shaking with fear."Tell me!" she demanded, her voice hoarse with emotion. "What's going on with my mom?"Her father intervened, gently prying Nicole's hands off the doctor's collar."Nicole, honey, stop," he said, his voice calm and soot
Nicole drove to the hospital; she couldn't help but think about the events of the past few days. Ashley and Lucas had just left for their honeymoon, and despite Ashley's initial hesitation to leave her mother's side, Nicole had assured her that she would take care of their mom. Nicole had reminded Ashley that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that she should go and enjoy her honeymoon with Lucas.Now, as Nicole drove to the hospital, she was filled with a mix of emotions. She was worried about her mother's health, which seemed to be deteriorating by the day. She was also thinking about Gage and the secret she was keeping from him. She was happy to be carrying his child, but she was also consumed by guilt for not telling him about the pregnancy.As she thought about Gage, Nicole's mind was filled with conflicting emotions. A part of her wanted to reach out to him, to tell him about the baby, and to see if they could work things out. But another part of her was hesitant, fea
Nicole took a deep breath and began to explain the situation to Ashley. "Ash, you know how Gage and I were in a friends with benefits agreement? Well, things got complicated. Gage fell for me, and I...I couldn't deny that there was something between us. Something that I couldn't connect with Jack."Ashley's eyes widened in surprise, but Nicole continued. "I know it's not fully Jack's fault that he didn't trust me. I never let him get close to me, not really. But with Gage...it was different. His touch, his kiss... it melted me, Ash. I couldn't deny it, no matter how hard I tried."Nicole's voice cracked as she remembered the pain she had felt. "And then Jack broke up with me, which hurt me, Ash. He said things that cut deep, and I realized that I deserved better. That's why I agreed to go to Paris, to get away from all this mess."Ashley's expression softened, and she reached out to take Nicole's hand. "But now...now you're pregnant with Gage's child," she said gently.Nicole nodded,
Ashley stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her wedding veil as Nicole sat on the bed, watching her with a warm smile."You look beautiful, Ash," Nicole said, her eyes shining with happiness.Ashley turned to her, her face radiant with excitement. "Thanks, Nic. I'm so nervous. What if I trip on my dress? What if Lucas forgets his vows?"Nicole laughed, getting up from the bed to give Ashley a reassuring hug. "You'll be fine, Ash. You've been preparing for this day for months. And Lucas loves you; he'll never forget his vows."Just then, there was a knock on the door. Nicole walked over to answer it, expecting it to be one of the wedding planners or maybe Lucas himself.But when she opened the door, she was shocked to see Gage standing there, looking handsome but somber in his suit. They stared at each other for a moment, the tension between them palpable.Nicole's heart was racing as she tried to process why Gage was here. They hadn't spoken since she slapped him, and she had been