Kate stormed into Rolly’s apartment, her heels clicking angrily against the hardwood floor. She threw her handbag onto the couch and crossed her arms tightly, fuming. “Can you believe this, Rolly? Ryan didn’t even bother to call me when he arrived, and when I tried calling him, he ignored my calls! The moment he eventually picked up, he was giving me stories. I mean, who forgets to reach out to his woman? Ryan has changed a lot and it hurts. This isn’t the Ryan I had fallen in love with. The Ryan I knew would never spend a day without reaching out to me and getting to know how I’m doing.”Rolly, who was sitting on the couch with a cup of tea, sighed and shook her head. “Kate, you need to calm down, okay? You’re always so worked up over him. I’m beginning to think this guy isn’t worth you in any way and I’m tired of you chasing him all over like a balloon! Are you sure you want to keep pushing things with Ryan?”Kate’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What do you mean by that? Of cou
The bright lights of the Parisian shopping mall twinkled as Ryan and Juliette walked side by side, weaving through the bustling crowd. The air was filled with the scent of fresh pastries, perfumes, and the occasional whiff of coffee drifting from nearby cafes.“So,” Juliette began, glancing at Ryan with a playful smile, “what kind of gift do you think your daughter would like? Or you don’t know what she likes?”Ryan rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes scanning the shelves stacked with colorful toys and plush animals. “Well, I think Amy loves dolls and anything pink,” he said with a small laugh. “But she’s also really into puzzles lately.”Juliette grinned. “A smart girl, I see. Let’s find something that will challenge her but still be fun.” She led him to a display filled with different puzzles, picking up one shaped like the Eiffel Tower. “How about this? It’s Paris in a puzzle!”Ryan took the box from her and examined it closely. “That’s actually perfect. She’ll love it.”Julie
The moment the plane touched down at Arizona Airport, Ryan let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples. “This is it,” he muttered under his breath. “Back to reality.”Jefferson glanced at him as they unbuckled their seatbelts. “Not happy to be home?”Ryan scoffed. “Would you be, if you were me?”Jefferson chuckled but didn’t say anything. The flight attendants thanked them as they exited the plane, and soon enough, they were making their way through the private exit where a sleek black car was already waiting for them.Ryan slid into the backseat while Jefferson got in next to the driver. Just as they pulled out of the airport, Ryan’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and sighed again. His father.“Already?” Jefferson muttered under his breath with an amused smirk.Ryan shot him a look before reluctantly answering the call. “Hello, Dad.”“Ryan,” Mr. Winters’ deep voice came through the speaker. “I assume you’ve landed safely?”“Yeah, just got off the plane,” Ryan replied, resting
Ryan was exhausted by the time he pulled up in front of his house. The long flight, the tense conversation with his father, the visit to Serena’s house—it was all weighing on him. He just wanted to take a hot shower, get some sleep, and deal with everything else tomorrow.As he stepped out of the car, Jefferson smirked at him from the passenger seat. “You sure you don’t want me to come in and make sure no surprises are waiting for you?”Ryan rolled his eyes. “What surprises?”Jefferson shrugged. “I don’t know… maybe a very angry girlfriend who just found out you were in town from your parents instead of you?”Ryan let out a sigh. “I didn’t tell Kate I was coming back today. But she doesn’t have any reason to—”He stopped mid-sentence as realization hit him. Kate was with his parents. She must have been there when his father called him earlier. If she had expected him to be home and he wasn’t…“Damn it,” Ryan muttered, rubbing his temple.Jefferson laughed. “Good luck, boss. You’r
Bianca Tyler sat at the kitchen island, swirling a glass of freshly poured orange juice in her hand, her eyes filled with annoyance. She had been seething ever since she found out that Serena had gone out with Nathan. The mere thought of it made her stomach churn.Across from her, Maddie, her best friend, leaned against the counter, watching Bianca’s expression darken. Maddie had known Bianca for years—long enough to know when she was plotting something. And judging by the way Bianca’s jaw was clenched, she was furious.“So, what did your investigator say?” Maddie asked, taking a sip of her coffee.Bianca exhaled sharply and grabbed her phone, scrolling through her messages. “He sent me pictures, Maddie. Pictures. Of Nathan and Serena together.” She turned the phone screen toward her friend, showing her an image of Nathan and Serena at an event, their heads slightly inclined toward each other. “Look at them. Doesn’t it look like they’re on a date?”Maddie frowned as she studied
The ambulance doors burst open as paramedics rushed Serena inside the hospital, pushing her gurney toward the emergency room. Bianca trailed behind, her face the perfect mask of worry, though deep inside, she was still relishing how smoothly everything had gone.She stood outside the emergency room, pacing back and forth, making sure to look as anxious as possible in case anyone was watching. The nurses had assured her that the doctors were doing everything they could, but she needed to make sure someone else knew about this.Pulling out her phone, she dialed Serena’s office.After a few rings, Emma’s voice came through. “Hello, Rocky’s Design. Emma speaking.”“Emma!” Bianca exhaled shakily, making sure her voice trembled just enough. “It’s Bianca Tayler… I— I don’t know how to say this, but something happened to Serena.”There was a sharp pause on the other end. “What? What do you mean? What happened?”Bianca forced out a shaky breath, letting her voice waver. “She… she had an ac
The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the hospital room, a steady contrast to the quiet murmurs between Emma and Amy. Serena’s eyelids fluttered open, her vision blurry at first, but then clearing enough to see her daughter curled up in her arms.“Mommy?” Amy’s small voice was filled with relief as she tightened her hold around Serena. “You’re awake!”Serena exhaled slowly, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. “Amy…” Her voice was hoarse, dry, as if she had swallowed a desert. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”Amy nodded eagerly, her face lighting up. “I’m fine, but you scared me! You were sleeping for so long, and everyone was worried.”Serena managed a weak smile and kissed Amy’s forehead. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to worry you.”Emma sighed in relief, stepping closer to the bed. “Serena, how do you feel? You’ve been out for a while.”Serena blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim hospital lighting. “I feel… tired,” she admitted, shifting slightly. “But I’m okay
Kate stood on her balcony, a self-satisfied grin stretching across her lips as she scrolled through her phone. The city lights flickered around her, reflecting off her wine glass, but nothing was as entertaining as the news she was reading.Serena Winthrop, CEO of Rocky’s Design, involved in a drowning incident. Condition unknown.The headlines flooded every corner of social media, and Kate couldn’t contain her excitement.She scrolled through comments, enjoying the chaos.— She’s probably dead by now.— How does someone just drown like that?— Is this real or just some publicity stunt?Kate laughed, taking a slow sip of her wine. “Oh, if only they knew,” she murmured to herself.She had made sure the media exaggerated the situation.Earlier while she was resting on her bed, she had suddenly received a call from her private investigator, informing her of Serena’s tragic fate of drowning in a pool.Kate being who she was, felt that was a great news to leak out to the media while also
Serena stirred awake as the morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her bedroom. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness before sitting up and stretching her arms above her head. Today was the day she was returning to her company and finally going to put an end to the rumors.They’ve done too much trying to drag her name down the muds. For what reason exactly? This, she doesn’t know.It’s not as though she’s in their way, yet they won’t let her have some breathing space.“I already have this good feeling this morning and I just can’t wait to get everything back on track, leaving my enemies behind and speechless!” Serena uttered, smirking widely into space.She got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face to wake herself up properly. After brushing her teeth and tidying up, she walked to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. The smell of toast and scrambled eggs filled the air as she set the t
The evening air was cool, but Ryan’s blood was boiling with frustration. The image of Steve Jacob flashed in his mind, but what made his chest tighten was the little girl he saw in those features—Amy. Her resemblance to Steve was undeniable, and it gnawed at him, making his head spin.Slumping back in his office chair, Ryan let out a rough sigh. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and his suit jacket was tossed aside. He needed to clear his head. Finishing the last of his work, he reached for his phone.“Mr. Ryan,” Jefferson, his assistant, peeked in through the half-opened door. “Anything else you need before I leave?”Ryan shook his head, his voice curt. “No, Jefferson. Go home. I’m done here.”Jefferson nodded and left, leaving Ryan alone with his restless thoughts. Without hesitation, Ryan scrolled to his contacts and dialed. The line barely rang twice before a familiar voice answered.“Yo, Ryan!” Ethan’s voice was warm and lively. “Knew you’d call. I’ve been seeing the mes
The grand, luxurious interior of Ryan’s mansion stood in perfect silence—a sharp contrast to the chaos brewing outside. Kate lounged on the plush cream-colored couch in the living room, her bare feet tucked beneath her, a half-eaten tub of ice cream balancing on her lap. She had been indulging herself freely since Ryan left for the office earlier that morning. With no one watching, there was no need to keep up her usual act—no sweet smiles, no fake tears, no calculated pouts. Just her, the food, and the empty house.“Finally,” she muttered, scooping another bite of the cold, creamy dessert into her mouth. “Some peace and quiet.”She had wandered through every corner of the house, opening cupboards, sampling expensive wines from the cellar, and even trying on some of Ryan’s clothes—just because she could. This was her space now, or at least it would be soon enough once she becomes Ryan’s wife.Bored, Kate tossed the empty ice cream tub onto the coffee table and grabbed her phone.
That afternoon, the large conference hall buzzed with anticipation, a low hum of murmurs filled the air as journalists adjusted their microphones and tested their cameras. Bright flashes from photographers sparked across the room, casting quick bursts of light on the polished podium set for the day’s speaker.Rows of reporters, some from the most prestigious media houses and others from hungry online tabloids, filled every available seat. Notepads flipped open, and fingers hovered over recording devices. The air felt charged—thick with curiosity.The subject of their speculation was a man few had seen in public. Steve Jacob. The reclusive tycoon who rarely appeared in the spotlight had summoned them. The internet was already flooded with theories—some claimed it was a business announcement, others speculated a scandal. After all, Steve Jacob was a name synonymous with power and mystery.The side doors opened. Conversations halted as heads turned. A tall, striking figure entere
The morning sunlight streamed softly through the curtains as Kate lay comfortably on Ryan’s bed, her body half-covered by the blanket. She held her phone tightly against her ear, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as she whispered into the receiver.Rolly’s excited voice buzzed through the line.“Kate, you won’t believe it! Mrs. Winters really went all out. She got Serena arrested last night!”Kate’s eyes sparkled with delight, and a wide smirk curled on her lips. She sat up slightly, her back against the soft pillows. “What?!” She gasped in fake surprise, though her voice couldn’t mask the thrill she felt. “Are you serious?”“Totally!” Rolly replied with excitement. “It’s already all over the internet! Serena Winthrop was arrested for causing your miscarriage. The headlines are crazy!”Kate let out a soft, breathy laugh and covered her mouth. “Oh, Rolly, this is perfect. Just perfect! She deserves every bit of it. Now the world will finally see her for what she truly is—a home-
Emma sat up in bed, staring at her phone in disbelief. Serena’s voice still echoed in her head—“I’m being arrested. Please come to my apartment. Take Amy and stay with her until I sort this out. Also call the contact I’m sending to you.”She threw her blanket aside and jumped out of bed, her heart racing.“This can’t be happening,” she muttered, pulling open her wardrobe and grabbing a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Her hands trembled as she struggled to get dressed, her mind spinning with worry for both Serena and little Amy.Before heading out to her living room, Emma grabbed her phone again and dialed Ethan’s number. He answered on the second ring, his voice groggy with sleep.“Hey, babe… what’s wrong? It’s late. Aren’t you sleeping yet? Do you want me to tuck you to bed?” He asked, his voice playful.“Ethan,” Emma blurted out, her voice shaky, “I need your help. My boss, Serena, has been arrested.”“What?” Ethan shot up from his bed, now fully awake. “Arrested? For what?”“I d
Ryan stood outside the hospital room, clutching a bouquet of fresh roses and a small bag filled with gifts. His heart pounded heavily against his chest, each beat a reminder of his guilt. I’ve hurt her so much. I can’t undo what’s happened, but I have to make things right, he thought, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.Inside, Mrs. Winters sat beside Kate’s hospital bed, her face stern and cold. Kate was lounging against her pillows, munching on slices of apples from the fruit basket Rolly had brought earlier. The moment Ryan walked in, both women looked up.Mrs. Winters scoffed loudly, rolling her eyes.“Well, look who finally decided to show up,” she muttered bitterly, crossing her arms.Ryan ignored her sharp tone and walked straight to Kate, placing the bouquet gently on her lap.“These are for you,” he said softly, his voice filled with regret.Kate’s eyes flickered with curiosity. “What’s he up to now?” she thought but kept her face neutral. She accepted t
Ryan stood by the hospital window, his phone gripped tightly in his trembling hand. The sky outside was dull, the clouds gray and heavy, mirroring the weight pressing down on his chest. His fingers hesitated over the screen before he finally tapped his mother’s number. The phone rang only twice before Mrs. Winters picked it up.“Ryan?” Her sharp voice echoed through the speaker.Ryan swallowed hard, his throat dry. “Mom… something happened.”Mrs. Winters’ tone shifted immediately. “What is it? What’s wrong? Hope you’re okay?”“ I’m fine mom. But It’s Kate. She isn’t okay…,” Ryan muttered, his voice low, guilt dripping from every word. “She… she lost the baby.”Silence. For a moment, there was only the faint sound of static. Then came the explosion.“What?!” Mrs. Winters’ voice roared through the phone, making Ryan wince. “How could this happen? What did you do, Ryan?!”“What did you do to Kate that led to her losing my grandchild? What the hell did you do?” She demanded, her voic
Kate paced around her small apartment, her footsteps echoing in the quiet space. The morning light barely seeped through the blinds, casting long shadows on the walls. Her face was flushed with frustration, her jaw clenched tight. She’d spent the entire night at Ryan’s house, waiting like a fool. She sat on his couch, checking the time over and over, hoping he’d walk through the door. But he never came.Now, back in her apartment, her mind was racing with dark thoughts.Where the hell did he go?Her chest tightened with suspicion. Maybe he was with Serena. Again. Even after everything—the lies, the news that Amy wasn’t his daughter, all of it—what if he still wanted her?Kate’s hands curled into fists at the thought.“No. I won’t let that happen. Not again.”She snatched her car keys off the counter, her mind already racing with a plan.“This time,” she muttered under her breath, “I’ll make sure Ryan hates her for good.”She grabbed her phone and quickly typed out a message to Rya