"Can you believe that he asked for a DNA test just a few weeks after the baby was born?" Olivia said letting out a sigh, leaning back into the spa chair as her long nails were being punished. She looked at her friend, Harriet, who sat a few inches away from her, completely engrossed in her phone. "I mean, after everything we had been through together I thought we had each other's trust."Harriet finally looked up with a sympathetic face, still not fully part of the conversation. "Men are dogs and they are all the same. You give them your all and they throw it back in your face like it was nothing.""Not all of them, I must say." Faye corrected from another corner of the room. She wiggled her toes happily as the pedicurist finished another layer of coating her nails with polish. "Harriet's boyfriend spoils her but she isn't telling us about it."Harriet let out a smug smile. "Exactly. Stephen knows everything he needs to know about treating a woman right. I'm not out here like the r
"Welcome back to Los Angeles, Jessica Johnson." Ricky teased, bumping his shoulder into hers as they walked through the airport terminal. His voice as usual was playful, but Jessica could sense the underlying romantic tension between themselves as they made their way towards the fleet of black SUVs. Avery, her five-year-old daughter, held her mother's hand as she bounced excitedly at the sight in front of her."Wow, I haven't been home in years," Jessica muttered silently, taking in the familiar sights in the distance. She could feel a rush of various emotions running through her body as they stood together. "Let's hope nothing soils this moment for us.""Hey, we are here now. Let's enjoy it to the fullest." Ricky said to her, showing her his flirty yet reassuring smile. "Besides, you're not alone this time around. I'm here with you and Avery is also here with you. Right, champ?""Yes!" Avery jumped, smacking her tiny hands into Ricky's as she responded to his high-five.Jessica n
"Remember, tonight you're Griselda," Ricky whispered into Jessica's ear, gently holding her arm as led the two beautiful ladies, Avery and Jessica out of their sleek car, stepping into the grand entrance of Ethan's mother's birthday. The huge mansion was decorated with twinkling lights, everywhere buzzing with chatter and laughter from elites of the city of Los Angeles.Jessica adjusted her black-laced mask, her heart racing in her chest with a steady rhythm that matched every step she took. "I know. Ricky," she replied, even though the tension that laced her voice betrayed the calm, outward appearance she was trying to maintain. "No one's going to know it's me.""Mummy, are we going in now to see more people with pretty dresses?" Avery asked, wrapping her fingers around her mother's hand and pulling it slightly.Jessica glanced down and smiled at her little daughter. "Yes, baby girl. It's going to be a big night with mummy and Uncle Ricky."Ricky leaned closer to her, his voice s
The morning sun made its way into the Johnson household through the large windows that had been placed at different strategic locations, casting a glow over the family members who had gathered at the breakfast table. The air was still heavy with flashbacks from the previous nights in the minds of Jessica and Ricky, the grandest party where Griselda had finally unveiled herself to the rest of the world. The tension between them was real yet it was unspoken of.Jessica sat in with the family, this time she was quieter than usual, her still fixed on the toast bread on her plate. The previous night had been more draining than she had expected it to be, the entry of Ethan back into her life with Olivia still by his side, unlike the news she had seen online, had brought back memories that she had hoped would remain buried for life.Janet, who was always to break any silent family gathering, took one more sip of her tea before setting the cup down in a manner that would capture everyone's
The entire Johnson household was quiet as the family finished breakfast. Jessica could barely focus on the meal in front of her or the conversation that they were having. Ethan was at the gate, and this ominous presence continued to disturb her while she sat there. She had tried her best to forget about him after what she saw last night, to push him far into the deepest and darkest corners of her mind. And now, he had brought himself to her family's doorstep, without an invitation."Is everything alright, Jess?" Ricky asked with a soft voice that was filled with concern for her. He leaned in closer to her, his hand drawing close to hers on the table.Jessica blinked, coming back to the reality she had tried to avoid, forced to make a fake smile to everyone on the table. "Yeah. I will be."Janet, watching her daughter with narrowed eyes, took a sip of her tea and dropped her cup down gently. "Maybe it's time you settled things with Ethan, dear. I want you to live the fullest life an
Jessica's heart froze immediately as she heard her daughter's tiny voice call out from behind her. Avery, with her brown eyes, stood at the breakfast table, clutching her purple doll to her chest. She was still dressed in her pajamas, an innocent expression on her face as she was completely unaware of the grief between her mother and the tall, muscular man standing next to her.Ethan's eyes moved from Jessica to the little girl who had just run into the room, his brows narrowing in total confusion. He opened his mouth slightly, but couldn't find the words. His gaze shaking as he tried to process everything that was unfolding in front of him."Mummy?" Avery asked again, still wondering why her mother had been raising her voice.Jessica quickly crouched down to her daughter's level, her back against Ethan so he wouldn't get a good look at her face. "Everything's fine, my love. Do you mind going back to your room to play? I'll be with you soon."But Avery wasn't hearing anything she
The silence filling Jessica's room was thick as she stared at the number on her phone, her thumb hovering around Ethan's number. She'd been fighting the decision to reach out to him for hours, her mind was tangled in doubt and fear. Yet, somewhere, deep down, she knew the truth was going to out. The longer she continued to keep Avery away from him, the worse it was going to be when it finally occurred.Taking one deep breath, she hit the call button on her phone. The line rang immediately, causing her heart to pound in her chest with each second that passed. Finally, she heard his familiar voice pick up the phone."Jessica?" Ethan's voice called out, bracing himself for whatever she had to say to him."Hey, Ethan.." she began, swallowing a huge lump of fear in her throat. "I need us to talk and it has to be somewhere private."There was a pause on the other side of the call, and then his voice returned. "This is all I've wanted, Jess. Just pick a time and a place, I'll be there."
Ethan couldn't help but let out a big smile on his face as he watched his daughter, Avery, dig into her ice cream cone, her eyes firing up with every bite that she took. They were sitting on a bench a few steps away from a small ice cream shop in the city, spending quality time together sd father and daughter. For the first time, he was looking at his daughter and having her by his side since she was born five years ago."Do you always order strawberries?" he asked curiously as she tried to get to know more about her, noticing the ice cream smudge on her chin.Avery nodded with much enthusiasm, licking her cone to show him how much she liked it. "Uh-huh! Strawberries are my favorite." She looked up at him, meeting his curious gaze. "Mum says I should always be polite, so what's your favorite flavor?""I'm more of a chocolate person," Ethan replied, smiling from ear to ear. "I like mine extra dark, just like this right here." He held up his cone, sniffing it dramatically before taking
The courtroom emptied, leaving behind an air of tension that seemed to live out with Jessica as she hastily made her way through the heavy double doors. Her heels hit against the cold marble floor, each step echoing the desperation screaming in her heart.Avery’s cries still rang in her ears, fueling the urgency that she felt. She spotted her daughter in the hallway, her tiny body forced against her grandmother’s tight embrace, hiccupping as the leftover tears ran down her eyes. Jessica rushed forward, her voice filled with regret.“Avery,” she whispered, kneeling. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry anymore.”Avery lifted her face ruined by tears, her cheeks red from the continuous crying. “Mummy...mummy, you were yelling? Did daddy do something?”Jessica’s heart clenched when she heard her daughter’s words. “No, no, my love. Not at all. Mummy wasn’t angry at Daddy. I was...I was upset at something that was happening in there.”Avery sniffled, clinging to her mother’s arm this time
The courtroom had fallen into a session of uneasy silence, the kind that pricked against the skin and made breaths seem shallow. Jessica sat on the witness stand, her knuckles white as she held on to its edges. Gregory Welsh adjusted his tie as he saw this, the perfect example of calculated confidence, his every move deliberate as he moved forward.“Ms. Williams,” he began, his voice still smooth but filled with accusation, “You have still given me an answer to my question.” Jessica’s throat tightened. Gregory’s gaze pinned her on her seat like a predator who finally caught its prey. He continued. “Why did you take Ethan’s unborn child abroad, raising her far from her biological father for five years?” Every eye in the courtroom was fixed on her, waiting to hear her answer, the same one that she hadn’t summoned the courage to give. She glanced at her later, Lois, who gave her a steady nod, urging her to remain calm and answer. But Jessica could feel the weight of judgement coming fr
The court reconvened shortly after the brief recess, the tension in the air was palpable to everyone. The jury made their way back to their seats, their earlier expressions of doubt surrounding Ethan Mitchell still roaming g in the air. Jessica Williams sat beside her lawyer, Lois, who leaned in and spoke in a low tone.“We’ve started well, Jessica,” Lois said, her eyes narrowing with determination in them. “But now’s where the real test begins. Stay calm, answer the questions truthfully, and don’t let his lawyer try to corner you. We already have momentum on our side, let’s keep it up.”Jessica nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Her heart began to pound heavily as the judge stepped in, announcing that the proceedings should continue. It wasn’t long before that her name was called. “Ms. Williams,” the court clerk called out to her. “Please take the stand.”Jessica rose, her hands trembling as she made her way to the witness stand. She took the oat with a clear and steady voic
The room fell silent as Ethan Mitchell made his way to the witness stand. His steps were steady and calculated, but his face betrayed the unease he felt in his heart as he sat down, adjusted his tie and took the oat that was administered by the bailiff. The jury watched very closely, their expressions remaining neutral but very attentive, ready to weigh every word that proceeded out of his mouth.Lois rose from her seat, her every movement planned and deliberate. Her navy blue suit remained crisp and sharp, her expression calm but determined to bring Ethan down. She approached the stand, her bind in between her hands.“Mr Mitchell,” Lois began, her voice smooth but having a sharp undertone to it. “Thank you for being here today, we all know how busy you are. I want to just ask a very simple question. Can you please tell the court why your marriage to my client, Jessica Williams, came to an end?”Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his teeth gnashing against each other. “Our marri
Jessica sat quietly on the bench in the courthouse waiting room, her fingers gently caressing Avery’s hair as her little girl continued to hold on to her stuffed bunny. Around her, the air was filled with tension and anxiety. The polished floors around her gleamed under the light from the ceiling, but to Jessica, the space felt terrifying and uninviting.Joseph and Janet, her parents, sat behind her, their presence making sure she knew that she wasn’t alone. Janet reached out and squeezed her daughter’s hand, her lips forming into a firm line, while Joseph leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, staring at the ground as he made a silent prayer for his daughter. Ricky stood near the window, his arms crossed together, watching as though he could protect Jessica from the storm that was on its way for her.Lois, impeccably dressed in a nicely tailored navy blue suit, paced a few feet away from them, flipping through her binder and speaking quietly to herself. Ever so often, she glanced a
Jessica sat at the edge of her chair, hands cleaned tightly around her cup of tea making her knuckles turn white. The steam turned in the air, but the tea inside the cup had become cold, forgotten due to her nerves. Lois stood a few feet away from her, flipping through a binder filled with notes, legal jargon and a few highlighted sections.“Jessica,” Lois said, her voice bold but not unkind to her friend. “I need you to focus. Tomorrow isn’t just going to be about formality. The jury will decide Avery’s future. I need you to be prepared to answer their questions properly.”Jessica nodded, but her gaze was still fixed on the floor. Across the room, Ricky leaned against the wall, his arms crossed with a confidence hovering around him that she wished she had right now.Lois sighed, pulling out a chair across from where Jessica sat. She leaned forward, placing her hands on the table. “Let’s try again. What will you say when you are asked if you would like to co-parent with Ethan?”Jessic
Ethan sat in the dim light of his penthouse, his fingers drumming a rhythm on the edge of the glass in front of him. The whiskey swirled inside in the glass, a deep amber colour that looked like his current situation. His phone vibrated on the table, drawing his attention as he checked to see if Jessica had finally replied to his message.I want to see AveryHis message had been read but he had not gotten any reply. He had texted her many hours ago, every word showing his frustration, especially after the revelation he had gotten from his mum. He had called and sent messages to follow up, but this was all he got in return. Her cold detachment, her refusal to even let him spend a little time with their daughter.His thumb hovered over his phone screen, his mind racing, but the words seemed to leave before he could even think of them. He threw the phone back down on the table, the screen lighting up one more time to mock him.His penthouse had become noisy and chaotic. Laughter filled t
Ricky’s apartment had this cosy feeling to it, exuding a sense of wealth and warmth that Jessica found herself happy to be part of, admitting all the chaos from the recent days. The scent of garlic and herbs took over the air, making her stomach rumble once she stepped inside.“Ricky, this smells amazing,” Jessica said, taking off her coat and placing it on the rack that was by his door.Ricky emerged from the kitchen, a huge smile on his face. “Of course, I would prepare only the best for you. I know you’ve been through enough, Jess. Tonight is a night where you forget about the rest of the world, even though it is for a short while “Jessica smiled at him, touched by the thoughtfulness in his heart. “Thank you, Ricky. You didn’t have to do all of this for me.”“Are you kidding? This is just the beginning. Wait until you see what I have planned for dessert.” He winked, leading her into his dining room where the table was already set for two. A single candle standing in between the pl
The study was cold; on the desk were shadows flickering as the only desk lamp did its best to illuminate the room. Ethan stood at the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon far ahead of him. His mind continued to race, each thought fighting with the other, dragging for his attention. Olivia’s release didn’t make any sense to him. The bail, the timing, and the secrecy involved in it showed that someone had gone to great lengths to ensure that she walked out of there free.Clenching his fists, Ethan let out a very much-needed sigh of relief that he hadn’t realized he was holding for minutes. His hand moved to the paperwork on his desk, the reports he had gathered to find Olivia’s secret benefactor. Every lead he found pointed to the same conclusion that kept him unsettled. He grabbed his phone and dialled a number.“Ethan, darling, why are you calling so late at night?” His mother’s voice came in very warm, the kind of warmth that had helped him get away with being pampered as a young ch