As they finally arrived home, sitting snugly inside the car, Rowan was eager to reach for the door handle, but James urged her not to worry and hurriedly opened the car door."Thank you," Rowan expressed her gratitude to James, trying to mask her true feelings and maintain a facade of composure.James understood her attempt and played along, not wanting to exacerbate her discomfort.Once the car door swung open and Rowan stepped out, she was greeted by Jessica's warm welcome, just as friendly as always."Welcome, Rowan," Jessica cheerfully greeted her."Thank you," Rowan replied with a hint of reservation. Her sole desire was to retreat into her thoughts and avoid dwelling on Flora's troubles."Should I go and bring your food?" Jessica kindly offered."No, I'm fine, have eaten from Rolland place," Rowan replied, her response made Jessica realize something was amiss. She wished she could ease Rowan's burdens.It was easy for Rowan to capture the hearts of many but the two most importan
Anger coursed through David as he scanned the words on the screen, forming the sentences of the headline. He couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration, even though he shouldn't be angry about the blogger exposing Rowan. The issue was that Rowan's name was now entangled in this controversy, and David didn't have all the facts to know the truth of the matter. He found himself doubting if Rowan could be so malicious as to cause Flora to lose her baby."Find a way to take this down," David said, handing the phone back to Richard. There was a visible hesitation in Richard's expression as he accepted it, struggling to respond to his boss, Mr. David.David wasn't typically a demanding boss, but this situation was making it difficult for Richard to convey the message, knowing it would only further infuriate David."Is there something you want to say?" David inquired, noticing the conflicted look on Richard's face."Yes, boss," Richard began, his loyalty to Rowan making him hesitant to pro
Flora's heart sank as she struggled to find her voice. Did David really suspect her involvement in the baby's sudden loss? Her first instinct was to understand what was racing through his mind.In a hushed, trembling tone, she asked David, "What did you mean?" His eyes held a peculiar mix of confusion and suspicion as he met her gaze."You were perfectly fine when I left, and the doctor assured us everything was okay. But now, this unexpected call and the loss of the baby..." David's words trailed off, his expression betraying a deep, gnawing doubt.Before Flora could even process the weight of his suspicion, she responded, her words carrying the heavy weight of exhaustion, "I don't comprehend. If the doctor told me I was okay just a while ago, and now they're saying I'm not, why would you question me instead of the doctor?" Her voice conveyed a sense of despair, as if life had been cruelly drained from her.With a heavy sigh, David reluctantly revealed, "That's another issue, Flora.
Chapter David left the doctor's office with a heavy heart. As he walked down the hospital corridor, he turned into Flora's ward. There, he found her sleeping peacefully. His eyes remained fixed on her for what felt like an eternity, and he couldn't help but wonder where his beloved Flora had gone. "Is this really my Flora, or did I make her this way by marrying Rowan?" David asked, his confusion evident. David had always carried the guilt of leaving Flora to marry Rowan, and it weighed on him heavily. He continued to gaze at her for a while before finally turning and making his way out of the hospital. He had other matters to attend to, but leaving Flora behind didn't mean he wouldn't take care of her. At times like this, he needed work to distract his troubled mind. Upon returning to the office, David encountered two of his staff members at the reception area. They were engrossed in a lively conversation, touching up their makeup. The anger welled up within him, and he couldn't t
James sat in the car, anxiously waiting for Rowan to join him for their daily commute. His mind raced with worry, wondering if Rowan had discovered the hurtful comments about her on the internet. He hoped she hadn't changed her mind about going to work. As Rowan finally approached the car, James couldn't wait any longer. He hastily opened the door for her, and she slid in. Rowan began to apologize for the delay and contemplated sharing the reason for her delay but ultimately decided against it. "Ready to go?" James asked with a playful tone, trying to lighten the mood. To his delight, Rowan smiled. With the car in motion, they ventured into a world of silence. Neither of them spoke during the journey. James held on to the hope he would find a way to stop Flora from causing Rowan more pain, while Rowan's mind was occupied with thoughts about the tragedy that had befallen Flora and her lost child. Arriving at the hospital, Rowan reached for the car door, but James gently touched her
Inside the cab, Rowan's anger was like a pot boiling over, and she couldn't keep it in any longer. Finally, she hit that breaking point, where she just refused to put up with nonsense from anyone.She might have truly hit that limit of taking no crap. The driver, oblivious to the brewing storm within Rowan, attempted to strike up a conversation. But oh, she was a volcano of fury, and there was no room for pleasantries.Now, this driver was a chatterbox, an oddity in the world of usually quiet chauffeurs. Despite Rowan's silence, he just couldn't grasp the art of reading people's moods. It's like he had a radar malfunction or something.As the journey progressed, Rowan's tolerance for the man's absurdity reached its limit. She couldn't bottle it up any longer. The frustration spilled out, her words cutting through the air, and she didn't give a damn about how the man felt. It was a rare occurrence for Rowan, but circumstances had pushed her to the edge."Drive in silence, please. I nee
Flora gazed at Rowan, her eyes filled with accusation. "You probably think knowing the baby isn't David's is enough to drive him away from you," she stated.Rowan, looking directly at Flora, retorted, "I wasn't interested in your man. I don't care what he does about you. What bothers me is the wreckage of my name. Marrying David was your doing. If you hadn't slipped pills into his drink, we wouldn't have ended up together.""Why didn't you just walk away when I offered you money not to marry him? Instead, you tied yourself to the same man I wanted. And now you expect me to stay calm?" Flora questioned."I promised never to cross your path again, but what did you do? You spread lies about me. I bet the rumors circulating are all your doing, accusing me of killing your child," Rowan revealed, her voice tinged with frustration.During their exchange, Rowan's hand accidentally brushed the phone screen, but Flora, consumed by the confrontation, didn't notice. The air hung heavy with the we
Outside, James paced near the usual spot where Rowan joined him for lunch. He glanced at his watch, growing increasingly anxious as he noted Rowan's delayed arrival. Frustration lingered in the air as minutes slipped away. Unable to endure the wait any longer, James reluctantly headed back into the hospital. Inside, he unexpectedly crossed paths with the two nurses who had inadvertently revealed the rumors to Rowan earlier. The weight of their guilt was palpable, their expressions betraying unease. Curiosity and concern etched James' face as he approached them. He sensed the tension in the air, wondering why Rowan was taking so long. The two nurses' faces filled with apprehension and exchanged worried glances. "Did she tell David?" one nurse nervously whispered to the other, fearing the consequences of their unintentional disclosure. The hospital corridors seemed to close in as they deliberated the potential fallout. One of the nurses, a witness to their internal turmoil, couldn't
Instantly, the air around David crackled with tension. He swiftly shed his suit, the fabric feeling heavy in his trembling as he handed it over to Richard, who felt like crying at the back of his boss—this was all his boss had been working for in the past few months: to have Miss Rowan to himself finally, without fear of Flora hurting her again. Just then, James' phone buzzed, interrupting the silence that engulfed the atmosphere. Seeing the caller, James picked up at once. "Hello, babe," James said into the phone, drawing curious glances from David and Richard. To them, only Rowan would receive such a nickname. Seeing their suspicious gazes, he switched the phone to loudspeaker. "Hi, Naomi, you can speak now," James invited. "Miss Rowan has been rushed to the hospital. She's unable to fly; she started having contractions before she entered the plane," Naomi informed them. Before James could reply, David snatched the phone from his hands. "Miss Naomi, this is her husband at the ho
The room was alive with happiness as Flora jubilated, knowing that in a few hours, every TV station and blogger would be buzzing about her wedding to David Thompson, the president of the Oregon group of companies."As the heiress of Seraphims Holding, I only deserve the best," Flora declared from where she lay on the bed, with Andrew planting kisses on her neck and along her jawline."You know I will compensate you handsomely. I panicked when I found out David had regained his memory but didn't want me anymore. I thought everything was over, after years of patiently waiting," Flora confessed, a smile playing on her lips."I've told you that you don't have any problems. Since you've opened up to me about your true feelings and that it's me you love, and only his money you desire, since you've promised that it's my child you'll carry in his house, then I don't have any issues. The wedding is set to proceed, and in a few hours, you'll be Mrs. Thompson officially, but inwardly, you'll be M
It had been a few days, and tension hung thick in the air as Steve returned to James's house to deliver his response. The silence that filled the room was deafening, each breath heavy with anticipation. Jessica, though she thought she was prepared for any outcome, couldn't help but rub her hands together nervously. Ryan, sensing the tension, rested his head on her lap, his instincts picking up on the palpable anxiety swirling around them. "So, brother, have you finally made your decision?" James asked, his tone harsh yet tinged with regret. In the past few days, he had come to realize that his emotions had clouded his judgment. He understood that everything Steve had done was out of love for him — Steve didn't want him to lose the love of his life, just as James had lost his. It was this realization that had prompted James to allow Steve to make his own decision, even if it meant James would have to bear the pain of parting with his brother, if only for a while. "Yes, kid brother,"
What?" David's father asked, surprised by his son's allegations. "Dad, answer me. Are you involved with her too?" David demanded. "No, I'm not. And I'm disappointed that you would think so little of your father," David's father said. "I don't care, Dad. If she knows something about you significant enough to trade for my safety, then it must be substantial, and I need to know about it today," David said defiantly "Sit down, and I will tell you everything," David's father said. Reluctantly, David slumped into the chair, his anger palpable, emanating from him like a dark cloud. "Firstly, I discovered the kind of person Flora was after you started seeing her. Knowing how much you love her compelled me to dig deeper. I didn't want you to end up with the wrong woman. After finding out that she was involved with different men, I decided to confront her myself instead of letting you do it. During our conversation, she confessed that her uncle had forced her into those situations and that
"What do you mean, David? It was the marriage certificate we both signed, isn't that what we both wanted back then? Just because you didn't have the memory doesn't change the fact that your mother is aware of it, and a mother can't lie," Flora's voice came over the phone, her tone laced with frustration and desperation. She wasn't even attempting to come to David's house, realizing she had nothing left to lose."Flora, even if it is true, I don't want this marriage anymore. We have to annul the certificate," David stated firmly, using a word he never wanted to utter."What? David, are you trying to use me and then discard me? We've been dating for almost seven years. Now you don't want me anymore, and you didn't consider the repercussions it will have on my family and me, on the company, on everyone who believed we would end up together... I won't force you, David, but think about the consequences. We are legally married starting next week. If we don't announce it publicly, I don't kn
Naomi could only hum softly as she listened to Rowan's teasing remarks. Bending down, she reached for the coffee cups placed in front of them, an order she had made for both of them. Savoring the warmth, she took a delicate sip before carefully placing the cup back on the table.Inwardly, Naomi grasped the subtle undertones of Rowan's words. Since meeting James, she felt a shift within herself, a desire to embody qualities that might earn his admiration. But could she confide in Rowan that the catalyst for her change was the very man who harbored feelings for her?"Miss Rowan, I can't say there's any love involved. Let's just say someone's critique nudged me towards self-improvement," Naomi replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Rowan's gentle smile lingered, leaving Naomi to ponder if her response had hit the mark."You know, being challenged by someone and feeling compelled to better oneself because of them, well, it's akin to love. You might not realize it now, but soon enough
Before James exited the hospital, he had arranged to meet Naomi, only to hear the distressing news that she was banned from leaving the house. Naomi, a pivotal figure in her father's company, had inadvertently stirred up trouble by being seen at clubs, inviting scrutiny from shareholders and adding pressure to her father's plate. She was slated to marry into another wealthy family to enhance the company's stature. James, though conflicted, found himself driving toward Naomi's house despite his vow to stay away and avoid complicating matters for both families. The prospect of being desired by Naomi's father for his daughter weighed heavily on him, even as he questioned his own intentions. Arriving at the grand mansion, James couldn't help but admire the exquisite taste of Naomi's father. The meticulously landscaped gardens, the elegant architecture both inside and out, and the grandeur of the estate left James in awe, despite his familiarity with opulent surroundings. "It seems I'll
David's desperate calls echoed in the air, chasing after Rowan who seemed to be slipping away from him. The tears streaming down her face mirrored the storm of emotions raging within her. The weight of reality crashed upon her, a cruel revelation that left her heart shattered. The love she thought would one day be hers had been claimed, sealed, and signed on a marriage certificate.Her steps quickened, driven by a mix of anguish and fear. She wished she could stop, and gather herself, but the intensity of her emotions made it impossible to fake composure. The fear of David thinking she was running away from his happiness gnawed at her, yet the pain of witnessing the love of her life marrying someone else was unbearable.Lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts and the ache in her chest, Rowan's misstep jolted her back to reality. Her leg collided with an obstacle, threatening to send her crashing to the ground. Just as she teetered on the edge of falling, a strong hand encircled her, savi
Three agonizing days had crawled by since Rowan left David's house. The deafening silence hung heavy in her heart as she resisted the urge to reach out to him or answer his father's calls. Flora's mysterious behavior and her cousin's news about an award only added to the tumult of emotions swirling within her. The absence of David was a constant ache, the void left by his departure filled with memories that refused to fade. Today found Rowan grappling with the challenges of the IT department at the hospital, a temporary distraction from the emotional turmoil. As she navigated the hospital corridors, a man emerged from a ward—discharged after six months of battling mental illness triggered by a traumatic accident. His struggle mirrored Rowan's own internal conflict. The man, seemingly normal at times but haunted by bouts of lunacy, resonated with her. What gripped her most was the unwavering love poured onto him by his family, clinging to the hope of his eventual restoration, even in