Lachlan We were having another family dinner tonight, and I couldn’t still tell Amelia that my mom had insisted she showed up today. I didn’t understand why it was so tough for me to do that. Some months ago, she didn’t have much of a choice. She just had to tag along. Now, I hated doing anything that would make her go against her will. It wasn’t going to be comfortable for the baby. Shut up Lachlan. It wouldn’t be comfortable for her. And so it won’t be comfortable for you. I sighed as I let this truth sink. I think I’m falling in love with Amelia. No, not that I think. I know. Maybe I’ve denied this truth for so long, but I think Cassandra was right, for the very first time. I was falling in love with her. And no matter how I tried, it just got deeper. And I couldn’t help myself. Despite how cold she was towards me, I could still feel her softness. Her blue-doe eyes and red straight hair that complimented her white skin kept drawing me closer to her in ways that I was scared of.
Amelia I was still contemplating what to put in as I searched my wardrobe. The only place I had gone to, aside from the hospital for the antenatals, was nowhere. Lachlan made sure of that. And sincerely, I too wasn’t in the mood for any outing. I was bored at home, quite alright. But I preferred the peace and quietness I enjoyed here. And having the maid come to share her gossip with me was fun too—that I wouldn’t deny.I had to get Lillian to come sort out my clothes because I was confused on what to wear. I needed to still look good for this dinner even while pregnant. I knew my insatiable mother-in-law would still find something to trash talk me about. That I was already used to and was much ready for. I knew that was the reason why she wanted to see me. But Lachlan was right. If I didn’t come now, she would fix the dinner here, and we’d still have to meet. Meeting her then would even be much worse. And as long as I remained Lachlan’s wife, I needed to face my fears and deal with
Amelia There was a heavy silence hanging in the room. Only the sound of our cutlery could be heard. And maybe my racing heartbeat. After Lachlan’s outburst, I was the only one who gathered the effort to leave the frozen state Lachlan’s outburst threw us into, picked up the cutlery, and began munching the food, hoping to calm the atmosphere. Of course everyone followed after, but the atmosphere only got tenser. I could literally feel the heat of their gazes on us as we ate. But what in the heavens could be going on? Was this part of the pretence script? Well, Lachlan could have informed me earlier so I wouldn’t have acted so shocked. But as his usual manner was, we would agree on something, and later on he leaves me like Alice in Wonderland. And I’m left to wonder what to do.“You know what? We’re leaving!” Lachlan declared again, interrupting my fantasy. “Hmmm?” I said, looking up at him, and realised the whole family did. But his eyes were on me.“Let’s go, babe.” He said to me, t
Lachlan “I meant every single word. And you may not believe me, but Amelia, I’m in love with you. Trust me, I have tried shaking off. Like desperately trying to shake it off. But I just keep sinking deeper and deeper in the ocean of love I have for you. And sincerely, it hurts more because I know you have lost every feeling you have for me. And honestly, I’m not even going to ask you to love me again because, in all honesty, I don’t deserve an atom of your love. And even if you divorce me in the end, I will take up my cross because it was all my doing. But I swear with every living cell in me that I’m head over heels in love with you, Amelia. I only hope you'll see it someday and maybe love me just the way I have loved you. And together we’ll do a lifetime nurturing our own kids and loving each other.” I didn’t know how all these words came, but I knew I meant every single one of them. And sincerely, it just felt so good to finally pour it all out. It felt relieving to finally admi
Amelia He sounded really convincing. He was Lachlan Mallory after all. Always knew how to buy people into doing what he wanted with his words. I knew that too well to know I couldn’t be bought. So despite how true he sounded or how real his confessions were, all I could see behind was a façade. So I kept asking him different questions, finding a means to catch him red-handed. But as his usual manner was, he cleverly dodged them all, fabricating more lies. Whether they were true this time, I didn’t care. They were lies to me.He sighed after a few seconds of silence. He had looked into my eyes, and I had returned the gaze with equal intensity.“Amelia, sincerely even I don’t know. Cassie was right. This whole obsession began when you left. So maybe I had fallen in love with you before then but didn’t realise it. But it doesn’t matter, Amelia. I love you, and I know it’s painful that I’m just realising it. But I’m sorry. And I hope I can oneday make you believe that I, Lachlan Mallory
Nina“Lachlan! Come back here! Lachlan!!!” Mom screamed after them, but they didn’t even turn their necks, let alone give Mom the attention she was looking for as they left the house. I was stunned. Everyone was. I mean, I knew Lachlan was already catching feelings towards her. I knew he was beginning to care for her. But I didn’t think he would actually be bold enough to confess his love for her to the whole family in the face of Mother. It was bedazzling. I couldn’t even place how I felt about it. I was in literal shock.Mom banged the table in anger after they had walked out on her. She was boiling. She looked at us with fury in her eyes.“Eat your food!” She ordered, and we all, including Dad, turned our focus back to the food. A heavy silence hung in the atmosphere. The tension could be felt. I could barely eat my food. I just played with my cutlery around it. I noticed the same thing happened with Chris, who ate his food slowly, his brain trying to process what the hell just h
Cassie “What?!” What the bloody hell did this bitch wake me up for?“I’m sorry, babe. But your chances of being a Mallory are very slim. No, it doesn’t exist.” She said it slyly, and I could feel the sinisterness in her voice, and I just knew why she called. But that didn’t matter at the moment. The information she had just passed across was much more important than her childishness. But what the fuck?!“Well, that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Lachlan told me they were getting a divorce after Amelia delivers the baby.” I said in defence, but the idiot burst into a full-blown laughter.“Yeah, keep dreaming, Cassie. A man who literally declared his love for a woman in the presence of everyone tonight, I don’t see a divorce, Cassie. Your man is gone, miss. I just thought to let you know.” She said, giving a sinister laugh.“You bitch! What have I ever done to you?” I screamed at her, tears streaming down my face. I never liked her, but I haven’t done her wrong in any way. I didn’t know wh
Amelia I woke up in the cosy arms and hard chest of someone. I turned my eyes to see myself still cuddled in his arms as we lay on the bed. I jerked out of his body in shock, stirring him a bit. I then recalled all that transpired last night. How I screamed and how I had fallen into his arms to save my sanity when I couldn’t get help from Bailey.I sighed as I stared at him and got up from the bed. I took a glance at the wall clock. It was a few minutes past ten. Lachlan was very late, and he was still asleep. It was very unlike him.I tapped him gently until she stirred and opened his eyes.“It’s 20 minutes past ten Lach. Get up!” I said, and immediately he jerked from the bed. He was almost naked, having only his boxers on, and I had to take my eyes off him for a bit to avoid ogling at him while he grabbed his pyjamas.“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” He asked as he hurriedly put on his clothes.“I just got up too. I’m sorry if I made you late.” I replied."Oh, it’s fine. You didn
Christopher.I immediately turned and was meant with nothing but barrels of oil on the floor. There was no sign of Lachlan. I sighed, slapping my forehead again before stepping into my car and driving off.Nina’s POVThe headline popped up on my phone while I was sipping my morning latte, and I nearly choked. Normally I ignore stuff like this and focus more on the fashion news, but this story was too hot not to catch my attention. “BREAKING NEWS: Attempted Home Invasion at Mallory Mansion!" My eyes widened as I scrolled through the article. Apparently, some idiots tried to break into Lachlan’s house last night. They were dead now, of course, because nothing ever happens to Golden Boy Lachlan without some cosmic justice raining down in his favor. Still, it was juicy. Men storming his house, Amelia being in the house, and now they’re six feet under? This was practically ripped from a soap opera. I could already hear my mother’s voice in my head: “Nina, stop meddling in your brothers’
LACHLANThe fluorescent lights of the police station buzzed faintly as I walked through the doors, my mind heavily held down by a mixture of dread and determination. Matthew trailed just behind me, his expression stoic but his eyes alert. The station gave a stench of stale coffee mixed with frustration, a combination I’d grown accustomed to during these past few chaotic days. The detective in charge of the case called in earlier today that there have been some findings about the whereabouts of the assailants. It was good news, yes, but there was more, and they couldn’t tell me over the phone, so I had to come down here myself. Detective Harper greeted me with a curt nod. “Mr. Mallory, thank you for coming in. Let’s talk in my office.”I followed her into a small, cluttered room. Matthew remained close. If anyone could recognise Amelia’s attackers, it was him. Which was why I had brought him along with me again. Harper motioned for us to sit, her lips pressed into a grim line.“We fou
CHRISI stumbled into my apartment, half-drunk, exhausted, and honestly just wanting to sleep off the buzz from the club. It was nearly 3 a.m., and I’d lost track of how many rounds I’d downed with all those hot women. All I could think about was peeling off these clothes, getting under a scalding shower, and letting the water wash off the night.As I turned on the shower, the bathroom mirror fogged up, and I closed my eyes, letting the water pour over my blonde hair. But as soon as I stepped out and grabbed a towel, my phone vibrated on the counter, lighting up the dim room. Cassandra.I groaned, but something in the back of my mind told me to pick up. She wouldn’t call at this hour without a reason. So I dried off quickly, yanked on some pants, and slid the green icon.“Cassandra, I was wondering when I’d hear from you again.”I heard her take in a shaky breath. “Chris… I need your help.”I frowned, and my voice softened with a hint of sympathy. “Rough day, I take it?”“You could sa
AMELIA I woke up slowly, my mind drifting through a thick haze, like I was trying to wade through fog. For a moment, everything was blurry, and a tightness settled in my chest. Where was I? Was I still at the hospital?Then I felt the warmth of a hand over mine, firm but gentle, and everything came rushing back. Blinking, I looked up to see Lachlan sitting beside me, his face tense but softening as he noticed I was awake. The sight of him washed away the last traces of fear, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding.“Lachlan…” My voice was barely a whisper, but his expression shifted, relief flooding his eyes.“I’m right here, love,” he said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.I wanted to tell him everything I was feeling—how scared I’d been, how grateful I was that he was here now—but the words felt tangled in my throat. Before I could even try, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in a white coat stepped in. He had a kind face, with just a hint of greying at the
CASSANDRAHow could they fail? I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I paced the length of my bedroom, the sour taste of anger mixing with fear. They were supposed to be professionals, discreet. They were supposed to handle everything without it coming back to me. But those idiots let Amelia slip through their fingers. I should have known his chauffeur wasn't normal. Lachlan was onto us now. He was too smart; I’d known this. It was part of why I’d fallen for him in the first place.Well too late for regrets; thanks to their incompetence, I was backed into a corner, and the thought made my skin crawl. The image of him still being by that bitch’s side burnt in my mind, fuelling my jealousy. Why her? Why did he look at her the way he used to look at me? I could have given him so much more if he’d just let me back in.My phone buzzed, and I saw Eric’s name light up the screen. My pulse quickened, a mix of hope and apprehension, but before I could even speak, his voice thund
LACHLANI should have been there. The thought ran circles in my mind, looping through every possible scenario in which I had somehow kept her safe. I was supposed to protect Amelia. But I had left her alone, vulnerable, and now she was in the hospital, recovering from an attack that could’ve cost her life. Worse, our child’s life. I clenched my fists so tight that my knuckles cracked, trying to keep my anger in check. It was mostly anger at myself—a gnawing, bitter frustration that I hadn’t been there when she’d needed me.Matthew sat beside me at the police station, scrolling through images on the detective’s tablet, helping to sort through potential suspects. He was silent but tense, his face a mirror of my own worry. I could see in his eyes that he was as furious as I was about what had happened. If he’d been there earlier, maybe he would have stopped those men. But he wasn’t to blame, and deep down, I knew that. The responsibility fell on me alone.“You don’t have to stay, Matthew
The house felt unusually still as I put away the last of the dishes. Lachlan had left just after dinner, saying he’d be home soon. He was working late again and had just come home during lunch break to spend time with me before he took off again. Lately, “soon” had been stretching longer and longer, but tonight, with the baby restless, I missed his presence more than usual. I sighed, patting my belly gently. “He’ll be home any minute now, my miracle, don't you worry,” I whispered, hoping it would somehow make the time pass faster. Lillian wasn't in the house today. She had gone to her home for her usual medical checkup, so she was sending her daughter to her place. Her name is Rebecca, and she and I have spoken a few times on the phone. She is a really lovely person. So yes, I was all alone in this empty house with nothing else to do but sleep. Which was exactly what I did. Cooking dinner did a number on me. My whole back was aching. Maybe I could ask Lachlan to give me one of thos
LACHLANThis whole week has been nothing but great. I had just closed a million-dollar deal with a company I've been chasing throughout the year. I had my beautiful wife waiting for me at home, and our son or daughter was going to be born soon. Amelia didn't want to find out the gender before the baby was born. She said it would ruin the thrill of having our first child. She wanted it to be a surprise for both of us. I, on the other hand, so badly wanted a daughter. Someone I could pamper, learn how to braid for, buy dresses for because she was my pretty princess, and chase away boys who wanted to come close to her. I didn't realise I was smiling widely until my cheeks started to hurt. I quickly stopped my daydreaming and continued to sign the projects we were supposed to commence with. I was planning on building a few gas stations in Dubai. My friend Abdul Rashad, who lives there, told me it would be a very good investment. Expanding my business was my goal. The whole world would kn
AMELIA I woke up that morning and Lachlan was already out of bed. My hands touched the side of his bed and was met with cold and empty space. Except for a single white rose. A smile spread across my face as I picked up the stalk. I brought the flower to my nose and took a deep inhale into my lungs. It's been 3 weeks since Lachlan and I made up, and ever since that day, he always left a single white rose on the bed next to me every morning. I asked him why he chose a white rose, and he replied with the statement, “It represents your purity. You're the light to my darkness. That's why I chose this particular flower.” I had gotten so emotional I was already a crying mess before he finished his statement. He had called me a crybaby, and I cursed him out, and then we made love over and over again. The new Lachlan was my favourite Lachlan. We had so much fun together and every waking day was so full of love and happiness. Life was getting better. An additional reason why I said so was