Lucas's POV I sat frozen in my seat, as if I had been enchanted with a spell by the mysterious dancer who was twisting and twirling her body around the stage.She was dancing to jazz music and she was doing it perfectly well, making me more interested in watching her.Her slender waist and perfect body shape had me entranced. It was almost as if my eyes were glued to her body.Forever.I visited the club with my friends, Ethan and Miles. I didn't want to come before as I wasn't interested, but they somehow managed to persuade me and made me come with them.Now I was somewhat grateful that they forced me to come. Because if they didn't, I wouldn't have been able to gaze my eyes upon this beauty.Although her eyes and part of her face were hidden, I could still see that she was a beauty.While my friends were busy having fun with other girls, I focused all my attention on this one dancer.There was something about her that drew me to her. I just couldn't place a finger on it. My f
Mandy's POV"What have I done?" I thought, as flashes of our sex life shadowed on me."I...just kissed him,""Did I?" I wondered as I felt skeptical of what to name it since it wasn't really a kiss.However, the thoughts of it all, triggered my memories of him.Especially our sex life.Gosh, it was one of the best things about our marriage.I know it's wrong for me to miss him as he was and still is a jackass.I know it is an emotion I can't pretend to myself but I need to forget him.I have to.He isn't worth any of my time, I.... Just have to.Having all of this thought swirling in me, I shook my head in agreement to my decision as I walked my way to change my outfit.Subsequently, after a long day at the club eclipse, I finally arrived at home.Trust me, I was so exhausted but I needed to continue house haunting on the app, that's the only way for me to avoid Lucas completely.At exactly an hour later, I suddenly felt my eyes closing bit by bit as I yawned afterward.This was evide
Mandy’s POVHowever, I made my way outside the house as I stood frozen, my eyes locked on Lucas as he emerged from the sleek Mercedes Benz. What was he doing here? I wondered, my mind racing.As he approached, his gaze met mine, and for a fleeting moment, his stare paused on my face. I sensed a flicker of surprise, but his expression swiftly returned to its usual composed mask."Ready?" he asked, his deep voice low and even.Though, I nodded, still perplexed by his sudden arrival.With that, Lucas opened the car door, gesturing for me to enter. "I came to pick you up," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact."Why?" I asked, my wariness evident."Why would you want to do that? You didn't have to put on these charades,"Lucas scoffed."Listen, we're attending Grandma's party together," he replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "As husband and wife."Hearing this, my heart sank as the familiar weight of resentment settled in. Pretending to be married again? The memories I'd tried to sup
Lucas's POV10 minutes ago, I hung up the phone call, as I began scanning the room for Mandy. But she was nowhere to be found.Then, a flicker of concern crossed my mind as I remembered Mandy wasn't exactly the independent type. She might be scared, alone in this crowded party.I suppressed a scowl, unhappy with her disappearance. Yet, I couldn't shake off the urge to find her."Excuse me," I said to a passing waiter, "have you seen my wife?"Just then, I saw Mary approaching where I stood with her radiant smile calming my growing unease."Lucas," she called out my name. "Don't worry," her voice soothing. "Mandy might be overwhelmed or chatting with old friends. She didn't mean to disappear and upset you."Her words eased my tension, but I couldn't help comparing Mary's composed nature to Mandy's turbulent presence.Mary always prioritized others, never seeking to stir trouble. Even three years ago, when Mandy...terminated her pregnancy, Mary had defended her, suggesting Mandy might
Chapter 15Lucas’s POV I should’ve known the night wouldn’t end smoothly. It never does with Mandy. Grandma’s face twisted into a polite but unmistakable grimace when Mandy emerged from the bathroom wearing that ridiculous mini-skirt. My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. What the hell was she thinking? “Mandy, dear,” Grandma began, her tone sharp enough to slice through the murmurs in the room. “This isn’t appropriate for the occasion. What happened to the dress you were wearing earlier?” Mandy’s eyes flitted to mine for a fraction of a second before lowering. Her voice was calm, steady even, which somehow made it worse. “I didn’t mean to cause offense, Grandma. This was all I had.” All she had? That was a lie. Mary had gone out of her way to lend Mandy a perfectly good dress just moments ago. Why she refused to wear it was beyond me. I stepped forward, my voice quieter but no less irritated. “Mandy, we talked about this.” Her gaze lifted to meet mine,
Mandy's POVThe morning light filtered through the curtains, but my chest felt heavy, like a storm cloud had settled over me. I couldn’t stop replaying Lucas’s expression from last night—the tension, the frustration, the way his eyes seemed to drill into me, looking for answers I wasn’t ready to give. Let him wonder. Let him stew in his own questions. I’d made my choice long before we started this arrangement. This wasn’t about him, and it never would be. My focus was on saving Grandma Claire, and once she was safe, I’d walk away from Lucas and everything he represented. Still, there was this tiny, infuriating tug in the back of my mind. The way his voice softened when he spoke to me last night lingered longer than I wanted it to. I shook my head and forced myself to focus. Whatever kindness he tried to show didn’t matter. I wouldn’t let it weaken my resolve. I was pulling my hair into a loose bun when my phone buzzed on the dresser. “Hello?” I answered, pinching the bridge
Lucas's POVThe hum of the club hit me the moment I stepped inside—a dim red glow cast long shadows across the room, while the low chatter, and the heavy bass of music thumping through the walls. I shouldn’t have been here. Hell, I knew it was wrong, especially with Mandy always looking at me like I was some kind of monster when it came to my choices. But I couldn’t stop myself. Suddenly, Ethan clapped a hand on my shoulder as we walked toward a table near the back. “You’ve got it bad, man. I’ve never seen you this hung up on someone.” “It’s not like that,” I muttered, my eyes already scanning the room, scoffs. I didn’t even believe my own words. “Sure,” Ethan said with a smirk, sinking into his chair. The truth was, I didn’t know what it was. This woman—the masked dancer—I couldn’t get her out of my head. She was a puzzle I couldn’t solve, and for some reason, that drove me insane. And not long, the lights dimmed suddenly as the music shifted, my attention snapped to the
Mandy’s PovAs Lucas forced me into his car, the silence in the air became suffocating as Lucas’s grip on the steering wheel was so tight his knuckles turned white. I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, staring out the window, with my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel his anger radiating off him, and part of me wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension. But the other part—the part that had been living in survival mode for months—kept my lips sealed. But when we were almost halfway home, I couldn’t take it anymore so I broke the silence.“Lucas,” I said softly, testing the waters. “I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.” His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look at me. “Didn’t mean for me to find out at all, you mean.” I flinched at the bitterness in his voice. “I wasn’t trying to lie to you. I needed to survive and it was my only option,"“Your only option?” he repeated, his voice rising. He finally turned his head, his eyes flashing with anger. “You could
Mandy’s POVAfter a few days with Emily in London, Lucas and I decided to bring Emily back with us to New york. But one thing was certain to me, she wasn't staying with Lucas but with me.About two days to our departure from London, Lucas and I took our time out to talk about Emily. It's a lot to handle but if we must co-parent, there must be some certain discussions beforehand.However, we chose to meet up at a small restaurant across the street, though the atmosphere in there was a quiet one as the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of cups created a deceptive calm. I sat across from Lucas with a glass of champagne in my hands, but I hadn’t taken a sip. My fingers tightened around the glass cup as I stared at him, his face unreadable. “So,” he began, his voice steady but low, “we need to talk about how this is going to work.” “Yes. Sure.” I nodded, swallowing hard as Lucas leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I want to be part of her life, Mandy. A real
Lucas’s POVSome days had passed after our meet up at the Café and I guess it was time to really meet my daughter Emily. So, Mandy and I made our way to London and thank goodness I own a house there. I mean, I am a billionaire, so I could get most things at the tip of my hand.Gosh, I was terrified.I know I’d closed billion-dollar deals without breaking a sweat. But this? Meeting my three-year-old daughter for the first time?The park we agreed to meet up with Wendy, who would bring Emily out was quiet, the kind of calm that made the air feel heavier. I stood near a wooden bench, hands stuffed into my jacket pockets, scanning the playground like it was enemy territory. My heart was pounding, and for the first time in years, I felt completely out of my depth. “Relax,” Mandy said softly from beside me as she took notice of every one of my reactions. Then, not too long, her eyes shifted away from me as it was now fixed on a little girl approaching happily with a smile on her face whi
Lucas’s POV Sitting in the corner of the café, I stirred my coffee absently, my mind running a thousand miles an hour. The place was busy enough to keep the atmosphere neutral, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that every set of eyes in the room was on me. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel—angry, hurt, relieved? All of it was swirling together, leaving me with this gnawing ache in my chest. Mandy had a lot to answer for, but the part that scared me most was what came next. Soon, the door opened, and there she was. Mandy stepping in, her coat wrapped tightly around her like it was some kind of armor with her eyes scanning the room as it landed on me. I was surprised to see me by the way, I mean how she able to find me, but I guess that's a question for some other day.Though, she hesitated, just for a second, before making her way over. “Lucas,” she said, her voice soft but steady as she slid into the chair across from me. “Mandy,” I replied, my tone sharper than I inte
Mandy's POV Guilt is like that annoying neighbor who always shows up uninvited. You think you’ve locked the door, pulled the blinds, and settled in for a quiet evening, but there it is, banging on the window, reminding you it’s not going anywhere. And tonight, guilt was practically moving in. I couldn’t stop replaying the look on Lucas’s face. That raw mix of shock, anger, and betrayal—it had been seared into my brain. I didn’t blame him. If the roles were reversed, I’d probably be furious and confused too. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier to deal with. I paced the length of my living room, my phone clutched in my hand like it might sprout wings and fly away. Wendy had texted me earlier, something about Emily asking questions again. I hadn’t responded. What could I even say? “Hey, sorry I didn't tell Lucas about his kid for three years, but thanks for holding down the fort?” Yeah, that’d go over well. My stomach twisted at the thought of Emily asking questions. S
Lucas's POV I should’ve known something was off. It’s funny how life can trick you into thinking everything is fine, only to drop a bombshell when you least expect it. That night, it was supposed to be just another quiet evening—no arguments, no heavy conversations. Just me and Mandy, finally getting back to some semblance of normal. We were sitting at the dinner table, the flickering candlelight casting soft shadows over her face. It felt almost... comfortable. For the first time in ages, we were just two people, having a meal, talking about nothing in particular. There was no tension in the air, no undercurrent of things unsaid. It was easy. Too easy. I almost let myself believe that maybe we could find our way back. Maybe we could fix this, whatever this was. I had to admit, I’d missed her. The real her—the one who wasn’t constantly on edge, the one who smiled at the dumb things I said. But then, of course, the phone buzzed. It was Mandy’s phone, not mine. I glanced over w
Writer's POV Leaving the Café, Lucas and Mandy drove their way to Mandy's house and as soon as they reached her apartment, they stood in the quiet of her living room as the weight of their conversation was still hanging in the air. They had talked—really talked—for the first time in what felt like forever. Words had been exchanged, some hard to say, some harder to hear. But they had landed in a way neither of them had expected. The walls that had built up between them, brick by brick, over the past few weeks, were finally starting to crumble.Mandy had been the first to speak up, breaking the silence that had settled between them like a thick fog. “I’m sorry,” she had said, her voice quiet, yet steady. “For pushing you away. For not letting you in when I needed you most.” The words had felt heavy coming out of her mouth, like they carried more weight than she had intended. But they were real. She didn’t know how else to say it.Lucas had listened, his eyes softening as she spoke. H
Writer's POV The tension between them had been building for days, an invisible wall growing higher with every moment of silence, every unspoken word. Lucas had tried to give Mandy space, hoping she would come to terms with her feelings. But the distance only made him more anxious, like he was standing on a cliff, waiting for the ground to crumble beneath him. The more time passed, the more his mind raced, questioning everything he’d done, every move he’d made. Had he messed up? Had he pushed her too far?He couldn’t keep walking on eggshells anymore. He needed to see her. He needed answers. They couldn’t keep pretending like everything would magically fix itself. So, he reached out. He had no idea what to expect, but it was time to stop letting the silence speak for them.When she agreed to meet, Lucas felt a brief flicker of hope. But that hope was quickly squashed by the anxiety twisting in his gut. What if she pushed him away again? What if this was the end? Eventually, they met
Mandy’s POVGetting to my apartment, the silence inside still feels suffocating. It’s been a day since the argument with Lucas, and the weight of it is still hanging over me. I can’t stop thinking about what I said, the way I pushed him away even though I didn’t want to. My chest tightens every time I remember his face—confused, hurt, and so damn patient. I’ve spent the last few hours pacing around, trying to make sense of it all, but the truth is, I’m not sure what to do next. I reach for my phone, my thumb hovering over Lucas’s contact. I want to call him. I want to apologize, to explain myself. But every time I think about it, the fear grips me, and I pull away. How do I tell him about the things that haunt me? How do I let him in when I’m still not sure if I can trust him with all of me?Instead, I text Wendy as usual as she’s always been the one I turn to when I’m drowning in my own head, when the emotions become too overwhelming to handle on my own. I need her advice, her stea
Lucas's POV The day after our argument, I found myself standing in front of my office building, staring at the entrance. I should be heading inside, catching up on work, but my mind was elsewhere. It's been a restless night. I keep replaying the conversation with Mandy, the words we exchanged, the look in her eyes when she shut me out. It’s like I’m caught in a loop, trying to figure out what went wrong and how I can fix it.I’m not stupid—I know it’s not something I can just fix overnight. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I’m failing her. I don’t know how to help her, how to be the partner she needs me to be. And the more I think about it, the more I realize I’ve been approaching this all wrong. I’ve been focused on my frustration, on my own feelings, and I’ve neglected hers.Not long, I pulled out my phone and searched for therapists in the area. I’ve never been a fan of counseling, but right now, I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes. Mandy’s been through hell, and I can’