The sun rose slowly over the city, casting a golden glow across the tall buildings. It was a special day—the day of Nadine’s annual opening ceremony at the mall. Inside the large shopping center, there was already a lot of movement.Nadine’s personal assistant moved around with urgency. She gave instructions to the decorators and the cleaning crew, pointing to every corner of the mall.“Please make sure the flowers are fresh!” she said loudly. “The red carpet must be clean, and the lights need to be perfect! This is going to be all over the news.”The hall inside the mall was being decorated beautifully. It sparkled with gold ribbons and floral designs. A large banner hung across the top that read:“Annual Opening Ceremony of EverGlow Mall”Camera crews and reporters were already gathering outside, preparing for interviews and live coverage. They didn’t just come for the opening—they were curious to see who really owned this massive shopping mall.Back at home, Nadine stood in front o
The party was already in full swing. The grand hall of the shopping mall gleamed under golden lights. The decorations sparkled, the music filled the space with joy, and the guests mingled, sipping drinks and enjoying the celebration of something much bigger than just a business launch—it was Nadine’s official return to the world.Everywhere she looked, people were smiling, cameras were flashing, and reporters whispered to each other about her elegance and strength. Nadine stood by Adrian’s side, her deep blue dress flowing like silk water around her legs. She looked stunning, but beneath her graceful expression, her heart was racing.Adrian turned to her and gently placed a hand on her back. “It’s time,” he whispered.Nadine took a deep breath. She had practiced the speech several times, but standing before a real crowd was different. Still, she knew she had to do this—for herself, for Liam, and for the future she was building.As she stepped onto the stage, a spotlight followed her.
Mr. and Mrs. Blake sat quietly in their spacious living room. The grand curtains were drawn back, revealing the evening stars, but their eyes were fixed on the television screen. On it played highlights of tonight’s big event: Nadine’s annual mall opening ceremony.Mrs. Blake’s fingers toyed with the edge of her silk shawl. She watched Nadine on the screen—smiling, confident, speaking with poise and grace. A soft smile tugged at her lips, but she covered it quickly, smoothing her expression before her husband could see.“Look at her,” Mrs. Blake whispered, though the volume was low. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”Mr. Blake took a slow sip of his wine, then set the glass down without looking away from the screen. His face was unreadable—calm, measured. He made no reply.Mrs. Blake’s heart fluttered. She had always liked Nadine: kind, determined, a woman of genuine warmth. Now, seeing her succeed so brilliantly felt like a validation of everything she believed. But her husband’s silence
The next morning dawned quiet and cool. Sunlight streamed through the windows of Nadine’s home, painting soft patterns on the floor. After the excitement of last night’s ceremony, the house felt peaceful—almost too peaceful.In the kitchen, Nadine poured herself a cup of tea. She had barely slept, her mind replaying every moment of the mall opening. Adrian sat at the table, reading through his emails on a tablet. He looked up as Nadine entered.“Good morning,” he said, smiling.Nadine returned the smile, but her eyes were thoughtful. “Good morning,” she replied softly. “Did Alonso tell you about the car?”Adrian nodded. “He said it was back by the gate sometime before dawn. We haven’t been able to see who was inside.”Nadine’s hand tightened around her cup. “That car worries me. I feel like someone is watching us.”Adrian reached across and squeezed her hand. “I’ll handle it. Let me talk to Alonso again.” He tapped on his tablet, making a quick call. “We’ll find out what’s going on,”
Nadine glanced around the room, buzzing with soft chatters, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. The party was going smoothly as she had planned."Champagne, Miss?" a waiter asked politely, holding out a tray. Her gaze shifted to the glass of champagne, but her hand instinctively went to her belly."No, thank you," Nadine declined with a soft smile.The waiter nodded in understanding and walked away."Mommy can't have any alcohol. I have to take care of you, my little one," Nadine whispered, her lips curving into a tender smile. "I can't wait to tell Daddy about you. He's going to be so excited, and maybe he'll finally stop acting distant."Adrian, her boyfriend, had been avoiding her lately, going on more business trips, having fewer conversations, and a coldness she couldn't explain. She figured he was stressed, which was why she planned this party to celebrate his latest business success.It was the perfect opportunity to share her big news. "I'm so excited," Nadine giggled sof
Three years later. The Manhattan skyline glimmered against the glass windows of Adrian's luxurious office. But the natural beauty couldn't ease his exasperation. "How long will it take you before you find her?" Adrian questioned, his voice tinged with desperation. "Mr. Blake—" Craig, his investigator, began cautiously. "It's been three years of searching the country for Nadine, and I'm not happy about the constant disappointments," Adrian snapped, his voice rising. "There have been no trace or sign of her. It's like you aren't even looking at all." "Mr. Blake, that's why I came here today," Craig said, retrieving an envelope from his briefcase. "A woman was spotted in a small coastal town called Seabrook Haven. She works at a small and quiet café." He handed the envelope to Adrian, who swiftly collected it and pulled out a picture. Adrian's hands trembled as he peered down at the photograph of a woman leaving a cafe.Her face wasn't entirely clear but he was certain that
Adrian was about to get to the door, but he suddenly froze on the spot. His hands clenched, beads of sweat forming on his palms despite the cool air."I didn't come all this way to turn back," Adrian said, but found his steps withdrawing.He didn't know how he was going to approach Nadine. Would she forgive him? Let him see the child that could be his? How much had she changed? Could she still be the sweet girl that he knew? Well, that wouldn't be possible, not after what he did to her. There were too many questions that were left unanswered. Was he truly really to learn those answers?"I can't," he shook his head, turning away from the Cafe. "I'll come here tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be around."He quickly returned to his car, and started the engine. As he drove off, Clara stepped out of the café. She had seen his car earlier and thought he was coming into their café."He left?" she uttered, lifting her brows. "I thought we were going to have a rich customer. Damn it." Pursing her
The woman Adrian beheld wasn't Nadine. It was Clara. "Liam, why did you leave my side?" Clara asked, her voice laced with worry. She rushed to Adrian and gently took Liam from him. "I saw him wandering, and wanted to help him in looking for his mother," Adrian muttered, a bit disappointed. "I'm glad you're here." "I'm not his mother," Clara replied with a weary smile. "I'm his mother's friend—Clara." "Clara," Adrian repeated, fighting the urge to ask if her friend was Nadine. "Liam, you had me worried," Clara said, turning her attention to the boy. "Where is your drawing?" Liam's face fell, realizing his drawing was lost. He glanced around, warily gripping Clara's sleeves. Adrian instinctively lowered his gaze to the floor, searching for the drawing. After a few moments of glancing around, he spotted a paper a few feet away, lying on a cobblestone. As he walked over there and grabbed the paper, his eyes fell on the drawing of a boy labeled Liam, his mother and a blurry father
The next morning dawned quiet and cool. Sunlight streamed through the windows of Nadine’s home, painting soft patterns on the floor. After the excitement of last night’s ceremony, the house felt peaceful—almost too peaceful.In the kitchen, Nadine poured herself a cup of tea. She had barely slept, her mind replaying every moment of the mall opening. Adrian sat at the table, reading through his emails on a tablet. He looked up as Nadine entered.“Good morning,” he said, smiling.Nadine returned the smile, but her eyes were thoughtful. “Good morning,” she replied softly. “Did Alonso tell you about the car?”Adrian nodded. “He said it was back by the gate sometime before dawn. We haven’t been able to see who was inside.”Nadine’s hand tightened around her cup. “That car worries me. I feel like someone is watching us.”Adrian reached across and squeezed her hand. “I’ll handle it. Let me talk to Alonso again.” He tapped on his tablet, making a quick call. “We’ll find out what’s going on,”
Mr. and Mrs. Blake sat quietly in their spacious living room. The grand curtains were drawn back, revealing the evening stars, but their eyes were fixed on the television screen. On it played highlights of tonight’s big event: Nadine’s annual mall opening ceremony.Mrs. Blake’s fingers toyed with the edge of her silk shawl. She watched Nadine on the screen—smiling, confident, speaking with poise and grace. A soft smile tugged at her lips, but she covered it quickly, smoothing her expression before her husband could see.“Look at her,” Mrs. Blake whispered, though the volume was low. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”Mr. Blake took a slow sip of his wine, then set the glass down without looking away from the screen. His face was unreadable—calm, measured. He made no reply.Mrs. Blake’s heart fluttered. She had always liked Nadine: kind, determined, a woman of genuine warmth. Now, seeing her succeed so brilliantly felt like a validation of everything she believed. But her husband’s silence
The party was already in full swing. The grand hall of the shopping mall gleamed under golden lights. The decorations sparkled, the music filled the space with joy, and the guests mingled, sipping drinks and enjoying the celebration of something much bigger than just a business launch—it was Nadine’s official return to the world.Everywhere she looked, people were smiling, cameras were flashing, and reporters whispered to each other about her elegance and strength. Nadine stood by Adrian’s side, her deep blue dress flowing like silk water around her legs. She looked stunning, but beneath her graceful expression, her heart was racing.Adrian turned to her and gently placed a hand on her back. “It’s time,” he whispered.Nadine took a deep breath. She had practiced the speech several times, but standing before a real crowd was different. Still, she knew she had to do this—for herself, for Liam, and for the future she was building.As she stepped onto the stage, a spotlight followed her.
The sun rose slowly over the city, casting a golden glow across the tall buildings. It was a special day—the day of Nadine’s annual opening ceremony at the mall. Inside the large shopping center, there was already a lot of movement.Nadine’s personal assistant moved around with urgency. She gave instructions to the decorators and the cleaning crew, pointing to every corner of the mall.“Please make sure the flowers are fresh!” she said loudly. “The red carpet must be clean, and the lights need to be perfect! This is going to be all over the news.”The hall inside the mall was being decorated beautifully. It sparkled with gold ribbons and floral designs. A large banner hung across the top that read:“Annual Opening Ceremony of EverGlow Mall”Camera crews and reporters were already gathering outside, preparing for interviews and live coverage. They didn’t just come for the opening—they were curious to see who really owned this massive shopping mall.Back at home, Nadine stood in front o
Nadine sat on the soft couch in the living room, her eyes quietly watching Liam as he played with his toy truck. He was so full of life, laughing and making little car noises, completely unaware of the dark storm that was quietly building around them.Adrian stepped in from the kitchen holding a glass of water. He sat beside Nadine and gave her a soft smile.“You’ve been quiet all evening,” he said gently, handing her the glass.Nadine took it with a grateful nod. “I’ve just been thinking.”“About Vanessa?” he guessed, already knowing the answer.She sighed and looked down. “Yes. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s planning something again. The way she’s been so quiet lately… It doesn’t feel right.”Adrian reached out and held her hand. “I understand. But I won’t let her hurt you or Liam. That’s a promise.”Nadine looked into his eyes, seeing the seriousness in them. “I believe you. But we both know how far she can go. What if she finds something to twist? What if she tries to ruin e
Nadine came home from the mall, feeling a little tired but proud. The staff had been welcoming, and she was happy to be stepping into her new role. The house was quiet when she entered, but she smiled when she saw Adrian sitting in the living room with his laptop open.He looked up and smiled back. “You’re back,” he said softly.“Yes,” Nadine replied, taking off her heels. “It was a good day.”But something felt… off. His smile didn’t reach his eyes.“Are you okay?” she asked, walking toward him.Adrian hesitated for a second, then nodded. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”Nadine sat beside him. “About what?”Adrian shut his laptop. “My father. He hasn’t picked up my calls since the dinner.”Nadine frowned. “Maybe he’s still processing. It was a lot to take in.”“Maybe,” Adrian said. But deep down, he didn’t believe that. His father had never liked Nadine, and now that she was back in their lives, it felt like he was quietly planning something.Nadine reached out and held his hand. “We’ll ha
Vanessa stood in the middle of her penthouse living room, pacing like a wild cat. Her heels clicked loudly against the marble floor, and her long nails tapped impatiently against her phone screen.She had just received news that made her blood boil—Adrian had taken Nadine and that little boy to his family house. His father, Mr. Blake, had accepted the child… hugged him.“What the hell is going on?” she whispered to herself, unable to process how things had changed so fast. She clenched her jaw, her eyes burning with rage.Her assistant, Lydia stepped into the room holding a tablet. She looked nervous, as she always did around Vanessa—especially when she was like this.“Ma’am,” Lydia began carefully, “Sir Adrian’s lawyer sent a reminder for you to sign the divorce documents on time”Vanessa froze for a second. Then, without a word, she turned and threw the glass she had been holding. It hit the wall and shattered into pieces.Lydia flinched but didn’t move.“Do you think I’ll just sit
Adrian gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove towards his family home. Nadine sat beside him, looking out the window, lost in thought. Liam, who was seated in the back, kept humming a song, excited about meeting his grandparents.“Are you sure about this?” Nadine asked softly, glancing at Adrian. “Your father doesn’t exactly like me.”Adrian reached out and held her hand for a moment, squeezing it reassuringly. “It doesn’t matter what he thinks, Nadine. You and Liam are my family. He has to accept that.”Nadine let out a small sigh. She knew Adrian meant what he said, but she also knew that his father, Mr. Blake, was a man of pride. He had always wanted Adrian to marry someone from a wealthy, powerful family someone like Vanessa.Liam suddenly leaned forward. “Mommy, do you think Grandpa will like my drawings?” he asked with excitement in his eyes.Nadine turned to her son and smiled. “Of course, sweetheart. Your drawings are beautiful. I’m sure he’ll love them.”Adrian nodded
Vanessa sat in her lavish mansion, her legs crossed as a makeup artist carefully applied the finishing touches to her flawless face. She stared at her reflection in the grand mirror before her, admiring her beauty. To the world, she was untouchable—powerful, elegant, and perfectly in control.But today, that illusion was about to shatter.Her assistant, Lydia rushed into the room, clutching a folder in her trembling hands. Vanessa raised an eyebrow at the interruption, irritation already building in her chest.“I told you never to barge in while I’m busy,” Vanessa said coldly.Lydia swallowed hard and stepped forward. “Ma’am, I—I have urgent news.”Vanessa sighed dramatically. “Spit it out, Lydia. I don’t have all day.”Rachel hesitated for a brief second before placing the folder on Vanessa’s vanity. “Sir Adrian want you to sign the paper with immediate effect” Lydia said and silence filled the room.For a moment, Vanessa didn’t move. She didn’t blink. She simply stared at the folder