Serena had just finished setting the table when the doorbell rang.Her heart leaped a little as she quickly wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and rushed to the door. She had been trying to reach Ryan for the past hour, but his phone had been unreachable. She figured he had probably been too busy with Amy to notice.She unlocked the door and pulled it open, expecting to see both of them standing there, but the moment she saw Ryan holding a sleeping Amy in his arms, a soft smile formed on her lips.“She’s out already?” Serena whispered, glancing at her daughter’s peaceful face.Ryan nodded, adjusting Amy slightly in his arms. “She had a long day.”Serena stepped forward, her hands reaching out. “Here, let me carry her—”But Ryan took a small step back, shaking his head. “No, I’ll do it.”Serena blinked, slightly taken aback by his insistence, but she nodded and stepped aside to let him in. Ryan carried Amy inside with ease, carefully adjusting her weight in his arms as he walked tow
Ryan pulled out of the driveway, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel as he navigated through the quiet streets. The night air was crisp, and the city lights shimmered in the distance, casting a soft glow over everything.Serena sat beside him, her arms crossed loosely, gazing out the window. The atmosphere inside the car wasn’t tense, but it carried a weight of unspoken thoughts.Ryan glanced at her. “So, what should we talk about?”She turned to him with a small smirk. “You’re the one who dragged me out for a drive. Shouldn’t you have a plan?”Ryan chuckled. “Fair enough.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “Alright, let’s start with something simple. What’s the most ridiculous thing Amy has ever done?”Serena let out a small laugh, already knowing she had plenty of stories to choose from. “That’s a long list, but one time, she decided she wanted to bake cookies. I told her I’d help, but she insisted on doing it all by her
Serena lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, the weight of the night pressing heavily on her mind. She had made a mistake. She shouldn’t have let him kiss her. Not after everything. Not after the scandals, the betrayal, the chaos he had brought into her life.She turned on her side, squeezing her eyes shut, but the memory of his lips on hers refused to fade. She could still feel the warmth of the kiss, the way he had hesitated, the way she hadn’t pulled away. “Why? Why hadn’t I pulled away?”Frustration bubbled inside her, and she groaned, shoving her face into her pillow. “Ugh, what is wrong with me?”She tossed onto her other side, hugging her blanket close. Maybe she was just tired. Maybe her emotions were all over the place, and that was why she had let it happen. It didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t mean anything.But deep down, she knew she was only lying to herself.Letting out a deep sigh, she forced herself to take slow
Ryan sat in the dimly lit living room, fingers absently tapping against the whiskey glass in his hand. The television across from him flickered with images of Serena’s press conference, her calm yet firm voice filling the silence of the room. The media had completely shifted in her favor, painting her as the woman who had been wronged, the wife who had suffered betrayal and public humiliation at the hands of her husband and his supposed mistress.Ryan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He had known this would happen the moment Serena stepped forward, but what frustrated him wasn’t the backlash—it was the fact that everything she had said was true.He had hurt her unknowingly back then.The scandal had already hit its peak, and now, all eyes were on Kate. People were demanding answers.And yet, Kate hadn’t left the house all day.Ryan glanced toward the staircase. She had claimed she wasn’t feeling well, that she needed time alone.
Serena sat at her desk in the spacious, sunlit office of Rocky’s Design, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of a sleek pen. The air in Rocky’s design that day was cool, the hum of productivity filling the background as employees moved about, focused on their work. But Serena’s mind was elsewhere, replaying everything that had happened in the past few weeks—the betrayal, the scandal, the press conference.She had spent sleepless nights going over every detail, the voice recording, every accusation, trying to piece things together. At first, when she heard the audio of Steve Jacob allegedly plotting against her, she had been furious—devastated, even. But now, after taking a step back and analyzing everything with a clear head, something wasn’t adding up.A knock sounded at her door, pulling her from her thoughts.“Come in,” she called, straightening in her seat.The door pushed open, and Steve Jacob stepped inside. He looked exhausted, his us
Kate paced back and forth in the living room, her arms folded tightly across her chest. The soft silk of her nightwear clung to her skin, but she barely noticed. Her usually composed demeanor was gone, replaced by frustration and panic. She was alone now—no Ryan around to keep up her act. The moment he left for work, the fear had begun creeping in.Who had called Ryan last night?Who was the person who put that call through about her miscarriage?Kate’s heart pounded at the thought. She had been careful. Very careful. The entire hospital visit had been staged perfectly. Rolly had helped her pull the strings, and the medical staff involved had been paid handsomely to keep their mouths shut. No one was supposed to know the truth—so who had slipped up?She replayed Ryan’s reaction in her head from the previous night. He had looked disturbed, but he hadn’t said much. That meant he was still trying to confirm whatever he had heard. She knew Ryan w
Meanwhile, back at Rolly’s apartment, Kate was sitting cross-legged on the couch, her fingers gripping a steaming cup of coffee. Rolly, now fully awake and dressed, sat beside her, smirking as she scrolled through her phone.“You’re trending, babe.” Rolly chuckled, turning the screen to show her. The headline read:KATE ANDREWS—VICTIM OR MASTER MANIPULATOR?Kate snatched the phone, scrolling furiously through the comments. Most were calling her a liar, saying Serena had handled herself with grace and class while Kate had played the victim.Her stomach twisted.She had expected some backlash, but not this much.Kate set the phone down, rubbing her temples. “This isn’t good, Rolly. First the call to Ryan, now this? Everything is crumbling.”Rolly, unfazed, took a sip of her drink. “Relax. That’s why we’re handling it.”Kate looked at her sharply. “And how exactly are we handling it?”Rolly smirked. “First, we find out who made that call. T
Kate’s hands clenched into fists as she and Rolly pushed their way through the crowded airport. Her heart was hammering inside her chest, but she forced herself to stay composed. She couldn’t afford to lose her cool now.“We need to find her before she gets on that plane,” Rolly murmured, her voice tense as she kept glancing around. “Did you get a good look at her picture when I showed you?”Kate nodded sharply. “Of course, Rolly. I’m not that dumb. I memorized it.”The image of Lillian Williams was burned into her mind—the woman who had made that call to Ryan, who had almost ruined everything. Kate didn’t know how or why the nurse had done it, but she was going to get answers today.And if Lillian dared to say anything to Ryan again…Kate’s jaw tightened.She wouldn’t allow it.The Boston flight hadn’t left yet, which meant Lillian had to be somewhere in this airport. Kate scanned the terminal, her eyes darting over the crowd, searching, h
Ryan’s heart was pounding in his chest, but he forced his feet to move. He had stood frozen for too long. Serena still hadn’t seen him. She was focused on breathing through her contractions, her hand gripping the railing as she took slow steps forward. His throat was dry. His palms were sweaty. But he couldn’t waste another second. “Serena.” The moment he spoke, she froze. Her body tensed, her grip on the railing tightening. Slowly—so slowly—she turned her head toward him. Her eyes widened, her lips parting slightly. “Ryan?” Ryan exhaled sharply. God, she was beautiful. Even in a hospital gown, with exhaustion written all over her face, she looked like the most stunning thing he had ever seen. His chest tightened. She was about to give birth to his child. And she had tried to keep it from him. “Why?” His voice was hoarse, raw with emotion. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Serena immediately turned away. “Not now, Ryan,” she muttered, trying to keep walking. But Ryan wasn’t le
The cold air of the ice rink bit at Ryan’s skin as he skated across the smooth surface, his breath coming out in white puffs. The crowd was cheering, the sound of sticks hitting the puck echoed through the large arena, and his teammates were yelling for him to pass the puck. But none of it registered. His mind was somewhere else. Or rather, with someone else. Serena. The moment Amy’s innocent little voice had blurted out the truth over the phone, Ryan had felt the world shift beneath his feet. She had been carrying his child for nine months. Nine months. And she hadn’t told him. The thought kept slamming into him like a freight train, making his grip on his hockey stick tighten, his movements stiff and uncoordinated. “Ryan, focus!” Ethan’s voice rang from behind him. Ryan barely heard him. Ethan must have noticed, because the next thing he knew, his best friend skated up beside him and knocked him hard on the shoulder. “Dude, what’s wrong with you? You look like you jus
The Christmas lights twinkled softly in Serena’s living room, casting a warm glow over the space. Snow was falling gently outside, covering the city in a soft white blanket. The smell of cinnamon and vanilla filled the air, courtesy of the cookies Emma had baked earlier. It was supposed to be a peaceful evening. But Serena was anything but peaceful. She sat on the couch, one hand resting on her very pregnant belly, while the other rubbed her forehead. She was exhausted. Nine months. She had managed to keep her pregnancy a complete secret for nine whole months. It hadn’t been easy—working from home, avoiding public appearances, making sure no one suspected anything. Emma had done an amazing job shielding her from the world. Even now, as her due date crept closer, Serena still wasn’t ready for the world to know. And most importantly, she wasn’t ready for Ryan to know. She sighed, leaning back into the cushions. Amy was sitting on the floor in front of the Christmas tree, her li
Emma had just stepped out of the shower when her phone started buzzing on the nightstand. She wrapped a towel around herself, quickly reaching for the device. A small smile tugged at her lips when she saw the name flashing across the screen. Ethan. She answered immediately, pressing the phone to her ear. “Hey, babe.” Ethan’s deep, familiar voice came through the line, warm and teasing. “Hey, beautiful. Busy?” Emma chuckled, settling onto the bed. “Not really. Just got out of the shower. Why? You sound suspiciously sweet today.” Ethan laughed. “Can’t a man be sweet to his girlfriend without suspicion?” “Not when that man is you,” Emma teased, shaking her head. “So, what’s up?” “Clear your schedule tonight,” Ethan said smoothly. “I’m taking you out.” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Out? Like… dinner?” “Dinner, yes,” Ethan confirmed. “But before that, I’m taking you shopping. You need something special to wear for tonight.” Emma’s heart did a little flip. “Ethan, you know I can pick
Serena had been feeling off for weeks. It had started with the constant nausea, the exhaustion that no amount of rest could fix, and the strange sensitivity to smells that had her gagging at the most unexpected moments. At first, she dismissed it as stress. Her life has been a whirlwind of events lately—Philip being exposed, Ryan trying to win her back, the scandal that nearly destroyed her company, and the overwhelming relief of regaining her reputation. It wasn’t surprising that her body was reacting to all of it. But when she could barely keep food down for three days in a row, Emma had stepped in. “You need to go to the hospital, Serena,” Emma had said firmly, standing in her office with her hands on her hips. Serena, who was slumped over her desk, groaned. “It’s just stress.” Emma arched her brow. “Stress makes you tired, moody, and maybe gives you headaches. Stress doesn’t make you throw up every morning for two weeks straight.” Serena sighed, pinching the bridge of her n
Serena sat in her office, staring out the large window at the city skyline. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the buildings, but she hardly noticed. Her mind was elsewhere, tangled in the mess of emotions she had been avoiding for weeks. Everything had changed. The truth about Philip. The revelation that Steve—the man who had helped her rebuild her life—was actually Ryan’s father. The scandal that had almost cost her everything. But most of all, Ryan. His presence in her life had once been something she had accepted begrudgingly. Their nights together, their moments of passion—it had all been something she had allowed herself to indulge in, telling herself that it didn’t mean anything. She had convinced herself that it was just sex. That her heart wasn’t involved. But now, as she sat alone in her office, she realized that Ryan had always been a storm in her life. And she was tired of storms. She exhaled, leaning back in her chair. She had fought so hard to re
The news spread like wildfire, dominating every media outlet, news channel, and social platform. It was a scandal unlike anything the city had ever seen. The man the world had known as Thomas Winters was not Thomas at all. Every major newspaper, every television station, and every online gossip site ran with the same shocking headline: Philip Winters—Imposter Billionaire! Not the Real Thomas Winters! Billionaire Steve Jacob is Actually Thomas Winters! The revelation shook the entire business world. For years, the Winters family had been seen as one of the most powerful and influential families in the country. But now? Now, the truth had shattered their reputation in ways no one could have ever imagined. And Kate’s involvement? That only made it worse. Reports detailed her role in the conspiracy—how she had aligned herself with Philip, how she had worked against Serena Winthrop, how she had helped orchestrate attacks on Serena and her daughter. It was a complete disaster for
Kate sat on the floor of Rolly’s living room, her hair disheveled, eyes wild with frustration. The walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her as her thoughts spiraled deeper into madness. The only sound in the dimly lit apartment was the low hum of the television, where a news report was still playing clips of the scandal that had ruined her life. The footage of her and Thomas—no, Philip—played over and over again, reminding the world of her shame. She clutched her phone tightly, her nails digging into the glass screen as she dialed Ryan’s number again. One ring. Two rings. Straight to voicemail. Kate let out a ragged breath, her pulse hammering in her ears. She had called him more than a hundred times. Had sent him texts, voice messages—begged him to at least talk to her. But there was nothing. He had cut her off. Completely. A scream of rage ripped from her throat as she threw the phone across the room. It hit the wall with a loud crack, pieces scattering onto the floo
The room was filled with a suffocating silence as Margaret Winters’ sharp gaze swept over her husband. She squared her shoulders, her expression unreadable. “I don’t know what you’re trying to imply,” she said coolly, her tone sharp and unwavering. “But I’m looking at my husband, Thomas Winters, right now. There’s nothing off about him.” Ryan’s breath hitched. His gaze flickered between his mother and Steve, waiting for some kind of reaction—a hesitation, a flicker of doubt. But Margaret remained completely convinced that nothing was wrong. Steve smirked, shaking his head slightly. “Well, Philip,” he said, his voice laced with amusement as he looked at Thomas. “Are you going to start confessing? Or should I spill the truth myself?” A brief shadow crossed Thomas’s face—a flicker of confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?” he snapped, his tone edged with irritation. But Ryan caught something beneath it. Fear. Steve sighed, slipping his hands into his pockets. “You’re r