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
Two 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. Blackwell—" Craig, his investigator, began cautiously. "It's been two 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. Blackwell, 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
"Where is the man?" Nadine asked, casting a glance around."Where did he—Oh there he is!" Clara exclaimed, pointing at Adrian, who was still standing where she left him.However, his back was turned against the counter, making it impossible for Nadine to see his face.She scrutinized him curiously, noting his expensive clothing, the partly visible butterfly tattoo on his neck, thick dark hair, and luxurious watch. Everything about him seemed so familiar, stirring an unease deeper than she had ever felt."Is that Adrian? No, it's not possible...What could he be doing in a small Coastal town like Seabrook? He could never visit such a place, could he?" Nadine thought, her mind racing. Her breath hitched, and her steps involuntarily retracted."Where are you going?" Clara asked, her confusion evident."Tell him that I'm busy, but grateful...And please, don't tell him my name," Nadine instructed, rushing back into the kitchen."Nadine," Clara gasped.The moment she left, Adrian turned aro
Nadine's breath came in short, panicked gasps as she rushed out of the shopping mall. She held Liam tightly to her chest, his little arms wrapped around her neck. She could feel his heart beating rapidly against hers, matching her own fear.As she hurried through the crowds, people stared at her with curious expressions. But Nadine didn't notice. She was too focused on getting to the car as quickly as possible.Liam's soft voice broke through her thoughts, trembling with confusion. "Mommy, why are we running?" he asked.Nadine tried to calm down, taking a deep breath before answering. "We're just... uh... trying to beat the traffic, sweetie," she said, forcing a weak smile.But Liam's eyes looked uncertain, and he tightened his grip on her neck. "But Mommy, we're almost running," he pointed out.Nadine's heart sank. She knew she couldn't keep the truth from Liam for much longer. But for now, she just wanted to get him to safety."It's okay, baby," she whispered, trying to reassure him
Nadine froze, her heart pounding in her chest as the sharp knock echoed through the quiet house. Liam, sitting cross-legged on the floor, perked up and smiled.“Mommy, is that Daddy?” he asked excitedly, already scrambling to his feet.“No, sweetheart, it’s not,” Nadine said quickly, forcing calm into her voice. She hurried over, catching Liam’s hand before he could reach the door. “Go to your room, okay? Stay there until Mommy says it’s safe.”Liam looked unhappy, but he did what Nadine said. He slowly walked up the stairs, dragging his feet. Nadine waited until she heard his door close softly before she unlocked the front door and opened it a little.The gardener was standing on her porch. His hands were in his pockets, and he looked worried. His eyes kept looking behind her into the house."Sorry to bother you, Miss Nadine," he said, moving his feet. "I just wanted to tell you that I saw someone near the edge of the property earlier."Nadine's breath caught. "What do you mean? Did
Morning light filtered through the curtains as Nadine busied herself in the kitchen, preparing Liam’s lunchbox. She glanced at the clock, noting the time. “Liam, come on! We’re running late, buddy,” she called out cheerfully.Usually, he would come bounding into the room with endless chatter, but today there was only silence.Nadine frowned and walked to the living room, where Liam sat quietly on the couch, his small hands clutching the strap of his backpack. His head was bowed, his feet swinging aimlessly above the floor.“Liam?” she said gently, kneeling in front of him. “What’s wrong? You’ve been so quiet this morning.”At first, he didn’t respond, but then he lifted his eyes to meet hers. They were brimming with tears. Nadine’s chest tightened as he whispered, “Mommy, why don’t I have a daddy like the other kids?”Her breath caught. The words hit her like a punch to the gut. For a moment, she couldn’t speak, her mind racing as she tried to process the question.“Sweetheart,” she
Nadine stood at the entrance of the penthouse, holding Liam’s small hand while guards loaded their luggage into the car. Her heart was beating fast, a mix of emotions rushing through her. She had agreed to return to America with Adrian, to finally face everything that had been haunting her for years. It wasn’t just about Adrian anymore—it was about Liam and their future as a family.Adrian, standing beside her, gave her a reassuring look before walking ahead to open the car door for them. “Come on, let’s go,” he said gently.Nadine hesitated for a second but then helped Liam into the car before sliding in herself. Adrian followed, shutting the door behind him. The driver started the car, and immediately, the convoy of security vehicles followed closely behind.The ride to the airport was quiet, except for Liam, who was excitedly looking out the window. “Mommy, are we going to a new place?” he asked curiously.Nadine smiled, stroking his soft curls. “Yes, sweetheart. We’re going on a b
The soft afternoon light streamed through the large glass windows of the penthouse as Nadine placed a cup of coffee on the table. It had been a few days since Adrian brought them here, and though she was still adjusting to the change, she had to admit—Adrian had done everything possible to make them comfortable.Liam was sitting on the floor, playing with his new set of toy cars, happily making sounds as he pushed them around. Nadine watched him for a moment, her heart swelling with warmth. Seeing him happy made everything feel a little less overwhelming.A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She walked over and opened it, smiling when she saw Clara standing there with a bright grin.“Surprise!” Clara said, stepping inside and pulling Nadine into a tight hug.Nadine laughed, feeling relieved to see her best friend. “I didn’t expect you to visit so soon.”“Well, you didn’t call, and I needed to make sure you weren’t losing your mind in this big house,” Clara teased, looking
Nadine sat on the couch, her fingers gripping the edge of her dress as she watched Adrian pace back and forth in front of her. His jaw was clenched, his hands balled into fists, and his mind seemed to be elsewhere. She knew exactly what he was thinking—Vanessa. The woman who had made her life a living nightmare without Nadine even knowing her personally.After everything that had happened, Adrian had told her the truth. He had laid everything bare—Vanessa’s threats, her manipulations, and how she had been the one behind all the terrible things that had happened to them. The house burning down, the attempted kidnapping, the messages she sent to Adrian, warning him to return or suffer the consequences.It had been a lot to take in, and Nadine had needed time to process it all. But now, she had made up her mind.She took a deep breath and stood up. “I’m coming with you,” she said firmly.Adrian stopped pacing and turned to her, his brows furrowing. “What?”“If you’re really doing this
The morning sunlight streamed through the wide windows of the penthouse, casting a soft golden glow on everything inside. Nadine blinked awake, momentarily disoriented. It took her a second to remember where she was. This wasn’t her small, cozy home. It was Adrian’s penthouse, the place he had brought them to after their house burned down.She sat up slowly, stretching as she looked around. The bed was soft, the sheets smooth against her skin. She wasn’t used to this kind of luxury. Everything in this place screamed wealth, from the expensive furniture to the chandelier hanging in the center of the room. It made her feel out of place, like she didn’t belong here.Nadine swung her legs off the bed and stood up. She needed a shower to clear her mind. As she walked into the bathroom, she stopped in surprise.Everything she used was here.Her favorite skincare products were neatly arranged on the counter. The shampoo and conditioner she always bought were placed right beside the bathtub
Adrian sat in his study, the glow of his laptop screen the only source of light in the dim room. It was late, but he couldn’t sleep. Not after everything that had happened. Nadine and Liam were finally safe, resting in the rooms he had prepared for them in his penthouse. But Adrian couldn’t shake the unease in his chest.Whoever had tried to kidnap Liam and burned down their house wasn’t just an ordinary criminal. This was personal. Someone was sending a message, and Adrian needed to find out who.He sighed, rubbing his temples as he switched between work emails and security reports. He had already hired a team to investigate, but so far, they had no solid leads. The thought of Nadine and Liam being in danger made his blood boil. He had failed them once before—he wouldn’t let it happen again.Then, his phone buzzed on the table.Adrian picked it up, expecting a work email or a message from Marcus. But the moment he saw the name on the screen, his heart stopped.Vanessa.His fingers ti
Nadine sat on the cold pavement, her arms wrapped around Liam as they watched their home burn. Tears streamed down her face, though she barely noticed. The flames crackled, smoke rising into the dark sky. Firefighters worked to put out the fire, but it was already too late—the house was gone. Everything she had built, every memory she had made with Liam, was now ash.Liam clung to her, his small body shaking. “Mommy… my toys… my drawings…” his voice broke, and Nadine’s heart shattered into pieces.She kissed the top of his head, trying to stay strong. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s here.” But deep down, she didn’t know what to do next.Just then, the sound of a car screeching to a stop made her look up. A black SUV pulled over, and before she could react, Adrian was running toward them. His face was full of worry, his eyes scanning them for any injuries.“Nadine! Liam!” He crouched in front of them, breathing heavily. “Are you okay?”Liam turned and saw Adrian. Without thinking, he ran int
Adrian sat at his desk, his laptop screen filled with documents and emails that needed urgent attention. His company had been running smoothly in his absence, but there were still issues that required his input. It had been days since he started spending time with Liam and Nadine, and though he wanted to see them again today, work was piling up.His phone buzzed beside him, and he picked it up to see Nadine’s name flashing on the screen. A small smile tugged at his lips as he answered.“Hey,” he said, leaning back in his chair.“Hey,” she responded, her voice softer than usual. “Are you coming over today?”Adrian sighed. “I really want to, but I have a lot of work to catch up on. I have meetings lined up, and my team needs me.”There was a brief pause on the other end, and Adrian could sense the disappointment in Nadine’s silence.“I understand,” she finally said. “Work comes first. Just let me know when you’re free again.”“I promise I’ll make it up to you and Liam,” Adrian reassured
The past few days had been different. Nadine wasn’t sure how it happened, but Adrian was becoming a part of Liam’s life. At first, she had only allowed Adrian to see Liam because she thought it was the right thing to do. But now… now she was starting to feel something else.She wouldn’t call it love. No, she refused to. But watching Adrian and Liam together made something in her chest tighten in a way she hadn’t felt in years.She shook the thought away as she set the table for dinner. Clara had suggested a small gathering, a way for them all to relax. At first, Nadine had wanted to say no. Having Adrian in her house, sitting at the same table as her, felt too personal. But somehow, she found herself agreeing.And now, here she was, preparing food while Liam sat on the floor, drawing something.“Mommy, is Uncle Adrian coming?” Liam asked without looking up.Nadine’s fingers tightened around the spoon she was holding. Uncle Adrian. The words felt strange, but she knew that was better t
Nadine was in the kitchen, making breakfast when she heard a knock at the door. She frowned, wiping her hands on a towel. It was still early, and she wasn’t expecting anyone. Clara usually called before coming over, and she hadn’t ordered anything.She hesitated for a moment before walking toward the door. When she pulled it open, her breath caught in her throat.Adrian stood there.“Good morning,” he said with a small smile.Nadine’s grip tightened on the doorknob. She had allowed him to spend time with Liam, but that didn’t mean she was comfortable with him showing up at her house unannounced. She debated closing the door in his face, but before she could say anything, a small voice interrupted her thoughts.“Mommy, who’s at the door?”Liam’s voice came from the stairs. Nadine turned her head, but before she could respond, Liam spotted Adrian. His eyes widened, and then, to Nadine’s surprise, he ran straight toward him.“Adrian!”Adrian barely had time to react before Liam threw him