Mia’s POVThe grand conference room buzzed with anticipation as the businessmen settled into their seats. The sleek, polished wood of the long table gleamed under the overhead lights, and the low hum of murmured conversations filled the air. Today was crucial—this meeting would determine the future of the collaboration between three prominent corporations, including Carter Enterprises and AMT Corporation, her heart racing in sync with the room's palpable energy. It had been days of preparation, and now, everything rested on the next few hours.Shaw entered with his signature confidence, his sharp suit emphasizing his imposing presence. He moved with purpose, his steps calculated, and Mia couldn't help but admire how effortlessly he commanded the room. By his side, she clutched her tablet, ready to assist at a moment’s notice. She had worked tirelessly to prepare for this, aligning everything perfectly for Shaw's vision. The weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders, but she wa
“C’mon, babe, you know all this is only temporary,” Liam pleaded, his voice soft but filled with urgency. He stood in the middle of their bedroom, his hands outstretched toward Maya, who sat on the edge of the bed, her arms folded defensively. Her face was a mix of frustration and sorrow, a look that had become all too familiar in recent days.“This is already becoming too much, Liam,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly. She averted her gaze, staring down at the carpet as if searching for an answer. “I can’t keep pretending this doesn’t bother me.”“Please, Maya.” Liam knelt in front of her, his hands resting gently on her knees. “Don’t let your jealousy stop us from reaching our goals. We’ve come so far together. Don’t give up on me now.”Maya hesitated, her eyes filling with unshed tears. She hated feeling like this—like a pawn in a game she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to play anymore. But Liam’s words tugged at her heartstrings. She loved him, and despite her doubts, she
Mia stared at the lipstick in her hand, its bright red casing gleaming under the dim light of the bathroom. The bold color felt out of place in her world of neutral tones and understated elegance, like a foreign object dropped into the wrong life. Its presence mocked her, taunting her with questions she wasn’t ready to ask. She turned it over carefully, as though it might reveal answers if held just so. A faint scent came from it, one that wasn’t hers. The floral undertone was sharp and cloying, completely unlike the subtle perfumes she preferred.Her pulse quickened. Who could this belong to? The thought stabbed at her, quick and sharp. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing herself to calm down. And then the darker thought crept in, uninvited but persistent. Did Liam bring someone here?Her throat tightened. She squeezed the lipstick in her palm, its smooth surface a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside her. Confronting him seemed like the logical choice, but the words s
The air in Mia’s room felt cooler than usual, a soft breeze brushing against her skin as she stood in front of her mirror, holding up yet another dress Grace had insisted she try on. The room was a riot of color, with dresses sprawled across the bed in various shades of elegance. The current dress, a dark, somber hue, made her frown.“I don’t like this one,” Mia said, handing the dress back with a sigh.Grace, who had been reclining on the bed, groaned dramatically and sat up. “Mia, that’s the seventh dress. At this rate, you’ll miss the party altogether.” She grabbed another option from the pile. “What about this one?”Mia turned, surveying the dress Grace held. Her eyes lit up as the emerald-green fabric caught the light, its shimmer hinting at sophistication and charm. She held it against herself and admired the way it complemented her figure.“Yes,” Mia said, her voice decisive. “This is the one.”“Finally!” Grace threw her hands up in mock relief before flopping back onto the bed
20 Minutes Earlier Maya’s grin widened as she led Liam down the dimly lit corridor, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Her grip on his wrist was firm, her touch electrifying. She glanced back at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief.“Come on,” she urged, her voice a low, seductive whisper. “We’ll only be a few minutes. You’ll thank me later.”Liam hesitated, his gaze darting nervously to the bustling party behind them. The faint hum of conversation and laughter still filtered through the hallway, a distant reminder of the event they were supposed to be attending.“Maya, I don’t know about this,” he said, his voice tight with unease. “What if someone walks in?”She rolled her eyes, tugging him forward with a teasing laugh. “Relax, Liam. Everyone’s busy networking, mingling, or glued to Ahmed’s speech. No one is coming back here, trust me.”They stopped in front of a door, slightly ajar, revealing a dimly lit, unoccupied conference room. Maya pushed it open with a f
Mia walked barefoot, holding one of her heels in her hand. Tears ran down her face as she remembered all the times Grace warned her not to get back together with Liam, if only she listened her heart wouldn’t be broken by the same man. It slowly began to rain but she didn’t care she continued to walk under the rain.‘Maybe this is just how men are, it’s in their nature to cheat.’ She thought to herself as the rain drenched her and ruined her make up The rain fell in a relentless drizzle, its cold sting matching the weight in Mia’s chest. She stormed past the grand front doors of the event, her heel and foot clicking on the wet pavement, each step faster than the last. Her chest heaved as emotions swirled inside her like the stormy clouds above. The voices of mingling guests faded behind her, drowned out by the pounding of her heart and the rain.A few minutes later a black car stopped near her and rolled the window down, it was shawShe didn’t listen she just continued walking aimles
The next morning, Mia stirred from a restless sleep, feeling marginally better but still groggy from the cold that had crept into her bones the previous night. The sunlight streamed through the gaps in her curtains, intensifying the pounding ache in her head. Groaning, she rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head, but it was no use. The events of the previous night replayed vividly in her mind—Liam’s betrayal, Maya’s mocking smirk, and the sheer humiliation she felt as she stormed out of the event.Eventually, she dragged herself out of bed, her body heavy with exhaustion and heartbreak. Sticking to her usual routine, Mia shuffled into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and stepped into a warm shower. The heat offered some relief, soothing her tense muscles, but it did nothing to wash away the ache in her chest.After throwing on a pair of sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, she made her way to the kitchen, where Grace was already seated, sipping her coffee and scrolling through
Mia woke up early the next morning, the weight of the previous event still heavy on her chest. She could still hear Liam’s words echoing in her mind, the tone of betrayal laced with excuses. But as the sun filtered through the curtains of her bedroom, something inside her clicked. She had spent too long crying over him, feeling as though her entire world had been turned upside down. She couldn’t afford to let Liam’s mistakes define her. It was time to take back control.She swung her legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cold of the hardwood floor beneath her feet. She sat there for a few moments, the weight of the past few days threatening to pull her back into despair. But she stood strong, refusing to give in. The pain of what had happened was real, but it would not consume her.She went through her morning routine, brushing her teeth, washing her face, and stepping into the shower to cleanse herself of the heavy emotions that clung to her. The hot water washed over her, sooth
Father John stood there in shock. Did Liam really just say that? “Liam, can we have a word?” the priest asked, his voice calm but firm.Liam met his gaze before giving a small, almost mocking smile. “Of course, Father.”He followed Father John to a quiet corner outside the room. The dim lighting of the warehouse cast long shadows against the walls, the air thick with tension. The faint hum of the generator in the background was the only sound accompanying their conversation.“What are you doing, son? This isn’t like you,” Father John said, his voice laced with disbelief and disappointment.Liam scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “This is exactly who I’ve always been, Father. When I see an opportunity, I make sure to grab it with both hands.”Father John’s brows furrowed. “By kidnapping a lady and forcing her into marriage? This goes against the will of God, and you know it.”Liam let out a dry chuckle. “Let’s not even go there, Father. Right now, there’s only one person’s will
Kim got back home around 7:30 AM, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she stepped into the dimly lit living room. The weight of frustration and jealousy burned inside her, and before she could stop herself, she grabbed a porcelain flower vase from the coffee table and hurled it against the wall. The shattering sound echoed through the house, the fragments scattering across the floor like her broken patience."Why is he still thinking about her?" Kim seethed, her breathing ragged. "Why can't he just focus on me?"She squeezed her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down. Losing control wouldn’t get her what she wanted. She straightened her posture, smoothing down the hem of her silk robe, and reached for her phone.She dialed Liam’s number, her fingers gripping the device tightly. He picked up after the first ring."Talk to me," Liam's voice was sharp, impatient."Shaw is onto me. We have to be more careful," Kim warned.
SHAW POVIt didn’t take long before the inspector began investigating. I texted Kim to come over so we could chat, and she agreed almost immediately.After speaking with Alicia, I had found a nice boarding school for Jake and sent him there. I didn’t want him involved in all this mess. He had already been through too much, and with Mia missing, things were getting more dangerous by the second.‘I’ll be at your place soon,’ Kim replied. I informed Jack, who was calling in for some support from his station. Then I turned to Grace and said, “It’s really good she has you as a friend. We’re going to find her. That’s a promise.”Grace gave me a slight nod, her expression unreadable. She had barely spoken since we left the station, but I knew she was just holding everything in. If she let it all out, she’d break down completely.Jack called me over, snapping me out of my thoughts. “So, backup is on their way. This is the plan: when she arrives at your place, try asking her some questions ab
SHAW POVHearing that was shocking. Immediately after ending the call, I tried dialing Mia’s number, but it didn’t go through. I tried a few more times, and it went straight to voicemail. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach.I had just finished having my bath and was about to head to the office when I received Grace’s call. I stopped everything I was doing and immediately began my journey to Grace’s place, my mind racing with possibilities. Something wasn’t right.In a few minutes, I was at her apartment. I knocked on the door, and she opened after the third knock. As soon as I saw her, I could tell she was in a state of panic. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her hands trembled slightly as she stepped aside to let me in.“What happened?” I asked as I walked inside, my voice sharper than intended.Grace shut the door behind me and took a deep breath before speaking. “Yesterday, I went out to get some groceries, and when I got back, I noticed that she was gone. At first, I thought she
Mia’s POVDarkness. That was all I could see. The space around me was tight, the air thick and suffocating. Every bump in the road sent sharp jolts through my body as I lay curled up inside what I could only assume was the trunk of a car. My hands were bound, the rope digging into my wrists, and a rough sack covered my head, making it impossible to see where I was being taken.I tried to steady my breathing, but panic clawed at my throat. The scent of gasoline and something metallic filled my nostrils, and my stomach churned. My baby. I had to protect my baby. I shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position, but the trunk was too small, the hard surface unforgiving.After what felt like an eternity, the car came to a sudden stop. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come next. I heard the sound of doors opening, footsteps crunching against gravel. Then, the trunk popped open.Rough hands grabbed me, dragging me out. I struggled, kicking out blindly, but my ca
“I’m done with her, Liam. It’s time for Plan B,” Kim said, her voice low and full of venom as she held her phone close to her ear.Liam was silent for a few seconds before he finally replied, “Alright. Where do we meet up?”“We don’t need to meet up. You already know the plan,” Kim responded coldly before ending the call.inside Shaw’s house, Mia and Shaw were enjoying some alone time, but their moments were constantly interrupted. Alicia had been intruding, and Mia was growing frustrated. It was clear that Alicia didn’t want her and Shaw reconnecting.A knock on the door made Mia roll her eyes. “I thought she was here to see Jake,” she muttered.“She is,” Shaw replied, slowly getting off the bed.“So why does she keep knocking here? This is the fourth time already,” Mia complained, folding her arms.“I’ll take care of it,” Shaw said, his voice firm as he walked toward the door.Opening it, he immediately grabbed Alicia’s wrist and pulled her out into the living room. “Jake is asleep
Mia woke up to the soft morning light filtering through her curtains. Today was the day. For the past two days, she had ignored Shaw’s calls and messages, trying to sort through the whirlwind of emotions that had overtaken her. But after much convincing from Grace, she had finally decided to hear him out. Avoiding him forever wasn’t an option—especially not when she was carrying his child.As she stood in front of her mirror, she gently placed a hand on her stomach. It had grown significantly since the last time she checked. Her lips curled into a small smile, but the moment was fleeting. Her mind was clouded with doubt and uncertainty. Would Shaw be the kind of father she hoped he would be? Could she trust him not to break her heart again?Shaking the thoughts away, she grabbed her handbag and headed out.The office was buzzing with activity when she arrived, but she kept her head down, avoiding any unnecessary interactions. She didn’t want to go to Shaw’s office first; she wanted to
Shaw woke up early, his body aching with exhaustion, but his mind refused to let him rest. The events of last night replayed like a broken record—Mia’s heartbroken face, the anger in her voice, the way she walked out without looking back. The sting of her absence was unbearable.He turned his head and found himself staring at Jake, who was still asleep on the couch. His small chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his little fingers curled into the blanket. Shaw studied him, memorizing every feature—the same dark brown hair, the familiar sharp nose, and those piercing blue eyes. His eyes.For four years, he had a son and never knew. How different would things have been if Alicia had told him? Would he have been a good father? Would he have been there for Jake in all the ways he needed?A heavy sigh left Shaw’s lips as he rubbed his tired eyes. There was no use wondering about the past. The only thing he could do now was figure out how to move forward. But could he fix the damage that
Shaw stood in the middle of his living room, his mind still racing from the chaos Alicia had just dropped into his life. His breath was uneven, his fists clenched at his sides. The silence in the room felt heavier than ever. The only sound was the ticking of the clock, each second a reminder that Mia was gone.His gut twisted.He wanted to chase after her, to explain everything, But what could he even say? Mia had been right—this changed everything.A small voice broke through the tension.“Mister?”Shaw turned slowly, his gaze falling on the boy standing in the doorway, his little hand still clutching Alicia’s. His wide blue eyes—very much similar to Shaw’s own—were filled with curiosity, maybe even a little nervousness.Shaw’s heart clenched.This was his child.His son.He exhaled, running a hand through his hair before glaring at Alicia. “You need to start talking. Now.”Alicia sighed, stepping further into the house. “I know you’re angry. You have every right to be. But let’s no