Mandy’s POV As the apartment became silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. I sat on the couch, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the coffee table. The events of the evening played on a loop in my head, each moment sharpening the guilt that had settled like a stone in my stomach. Why did I lash out at Lucas? I knew he didn’t deserve it. He hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, he’d done everything right—giving me space, letting me lead the conversation, even making me laugh. For a brief moment, it felt... easy. Normal. And then the memory hit. The smell of his cologne, or maybe the way the light caught on the edge of his watch—it didn’t matter. Something had yanked me back to a place I never wanted to revisit, a place where fear ruled and my voice was silenced. I could still feel the weight of it pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memory to fade, but it clung to me like a shadow.
Lucas’s POV The next morning arrived and I wasn’t sure what I expected when I pulled up outside Mandy’s apartment, but I knew I couldn’t stay away. Not after last night. The drive over had been a blur, my thoughts circling the same questions over and over. What had triggered her? What had I done wrong? How could I fix it? But the truth was, I didn’t know, with that, I knocked on her door, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t answer, but then the door creaked open, and there she was standing in front of me. She looked tired—like she hadn’t slept at all. Her eyes met mine, guarded and wary, but she didn’t shut the door in my face. That was something, at least. “Lucas,” she said quietly, her voice devoid of the warmth I’d started to hope for in recent weeks. “Can we talk?” I asked, trying to keep my tone calm, neutral. She hesitated, her hand tightening on the edge of the door, but after a moment, she said, "Come in," as she stepped aside, letti
Mandy’s POVThe silence in my apartment echoed loudly as It’s been hours since the argument with Lucas, and I’m still here, alone, trying to make sense of everything. I didn’t want to be alone, but at the same time, I couldn’t bear the thought of being near anyone. Not after everything that happened, not after I pushed him away. I had to do this on my own, I told myself. I had to figure out what was going on inside my head before I could even think about facing him again.I sat on the couch, my knees pulled to my chest, and I stared at the blank wall across from me. My phone was on the coffee table, face down, and I haven’t touched it since the argument. The last thing I wanted to do was call Lucas. I couldn’t. Not after everything I said. I could barely look at myself in the mirror, let alone reach out to him and apologize. The words I’d thrown at him still echo in my head, each one more painful than the last. So, I closed my eyes and tried to push the memory away, but it’s there,
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’
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
Mandy’s POV Standing at the top of the stairs, I watched in horror as Mary, my husband’s older brother’s pregnant fiancée, tumbled down the stairs, screaming in pain. She was my husband’s older brother’s pregnant fiancée We were both heading downstairs to join the family party when she suddenly fell and began to roll down the stairs. I panicked and froze, not knowing what to do. This whole scene looked like I pushed her down the stairs. Before I could do anything, some guests from the party saw the scene and drew more attention. “Someone, call an ambulance!” one of the guests yelled. Today was supposed to be a special day. My husband's family, which was one of the richest in the city, was hosting a grand party. A lot of celebrities and business people attended. But now it had turned into a nightmare as everyone turned to look at me with anger in their eyes as if I was the devil himself. My heart began to race. “You did this. You’re a monster. You’re the devil himself
Mandy’s POV“I want a divorce, grandma. I can’t stand this any longer,” I heard Lucas’s voice echo again.“You don’t mean that, Lucas. You are just upset about what happened,” Grandma Claire said.“No, I’m not Grandma. I know exactly what I’m saying. I don’t want to be married to her anymore,” Lucas said. My heart ached at that instant.If this is a joke,Lucas , stop it now,”Grandma Claire said with a firm voice.“I’m not joking,Grandma. I’m done with this whole marriage.“We wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn’t bribed me with your power and company shares,” he said. “Lucas, calm down-” Grandma said, though interrupted by Lucas who seemed to be hot-heated. “Grandma, don't ask me to calm down!After all she’s done to Mary and her unborn child- your great- grandchild you still defend her?Lucas's anger boiled over as he continued.“That child was my brother's and now he's gone because of her. She killed the heir to your legacy . Yet you take her side?”I froze. Mary’s ch
Mandy’s POV“What?” I asked in shock.“You’re pregnant, Mrs. Vanderbilt,” the doctor repeated.Panic set in as the doctor’s word sunk in.My heart was racing and my palms were sweating.I couldn’t believe I was pregnant.My thoughts got tangled in a mix of emotions.The divorce, Lucas’s disdain and now, a baby.How am I going to cope? I thought anxiously.I was only 18 years old and last week I was struggling about college admissions; I’m practically a child myself.The weight of responsibility almost crushed me. How will I pull through all of these? “Mrs. Vanderbilt, are you okay?” The doctor asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.“Yea…yeah, I am,” I stammered.There was a brief moment of silence before I spoke again.“Please can I ask a question, doc?” I said.“Of course Mrs Vanderbilt. Go ahead,” the doctor said.“Is the diagnosis correct? “Are there chances that I could have been misdiagnosed?” “Well, misdiagnosis occurs most of the time in this line of work,” the doctor answe
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’
Mandy’s POVThe silence in my apartment echoed loudly as It’s been hours since the argument with Lucas, and I’m still here, alone, trying to make sense of everything. I didn’t want to be alone, but at the same time, I couldn’t bear the thought of being near anyone. Not after everything that happened, not after I pushed him away. I had to do this on my own, I told myself. I had to figure out what was going on inside my head before I could even think about facing him again.I sat on the couch, my knees pulled to my chest, and I stared at the blank wall across from me. My phone was on the coffee table, face down, and I haven’t touched it since the argument. The last thing I wanted to do was call Lucas. I couldn’t. Not after everything I said. I could barely look at myself in the mirror, let alone reach out to him and apologize. The words I’d thrown at him still echo in my head, each one more painful than the last. So, I closed my eyes and tried to push the memory away, but it’s there,
Lucas’s POV The next morning arrived and I wasn’t sure what I expected when I pulled up outside Mandy’s apartment, but I knew I couldn’t stay away. Not after last night. The drive over had been a blur, my thoughts circling the same questions over and over. What had triggered her? What had I done wrong? How could I fix it? But the truth was, I didn’t know, with that, I knocked on her door, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t answer, but then the door creaked open, and there she was standing in front of me. She looked tired—like she hadn’t slept at all. Her eyes met mine, guarded and wary, but she didn’t shut the door in my face. That was something, at least. “Lucas,” she said quietly, her voice devoid of the warmth I’d started to hope for in recent weeks. “Can we talk?” I asked, trying to keep my tone calm, neutral. She hesitated, her hand tightening on the edge of the door, but after a moment, she said, "Come in," as she stepped aside, letti
Mandy’s POV As the apartment became silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. I sat on the couch, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the coffee table. The events of the evening played on a loop in my head, each moment sharpening the guilt that had settled like a stone in my stomach. Why did I lash out at Lucas? I knew he didn’t deserve it. He hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, he’d done everything right—giving me space, letting me lead the conversation, even making me laugh. For a brief moment, it felt... easy. Normal. And then the memory hit. The smell of his cologne, or maybe the way the light caught on the edge of his watch—it didn’t matter. Something had yanked me back to a place I never wanted to revisit, a place where fear ruled and my voice was silenced. I could still feel the weight of it pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memory to fade, but it clung to me like a shadow.
Lucas’s POVDriving myself away from Mandy's apartment, the city lights blurred into streaks of gold and white as the weight of the evening pressed heavily on my chest. My hands gripped the steering wheel, tighter than necessary, but I couldn’t seem to loosen them. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—frustration, confusion, and a gnawing helplessness that refused to let go. "What went wrong?" I wondered to myself.One minute, Mandy and I were laughing, sharing a moment that felt almost normal, almost like the way things used to be. And then—just like that—everything shattered. She froze, her face turned pale and her eyes became distant, like she wasn’t even in the room anymore. I’d seen fear before, but not like this. This was something deeper, something that reached into the darkest parts of her. And I had no idea how to help. I replayed the moment over and over in my head, searching for the trigger, the thing that had sent her spiraling. But nothing stood out. Was it someth
Mandy's POVThe apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt deliberate. Lucas sat across from me on the couch, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, like he was trying to read me without overstepping. For once, he wasn’t trying to fix anything. He wasn’t offering solutions or apologies or declarations of how much he’d changed. He was just... there. It was strange, this version of Lucas. Softer. Patient. It made me nervous, like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel myself relax, just a little. We talked about nothing in particular—work, the weather and somehow the conversation drifted to the past, and we ended up laughing about a memory I hadn’t thought of in years. It was one of those rare moments when things between us had been easy, uncomplicated. I mean, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed that. “I’ll grab us some tea,” Lucas said, standing and heading to the kitchen. So, I nodded and watched him go. The silence
Lucas’s POVIt had been weeks since that conversation with Mandy. I’d spent most of those weeks walking on eggshells, trying not to overstep, trying to be more patient, more understanding. But what I’d learned in all that time was that patience wasn’t something I was particularly good at. I was used to getting what I wanted, to making things happen with a push, with influence, with money. But none of that worked with Mandy despite knowing her all my life. She wasn’t like everyone else. She was stubborn, but not in the way I was. She wasn’t built to rely on anyone, not even me.I leaned back in the chair in my office, staring out the window. The view was the same—tall buildings, busy streets—but today, it felt different. More distant.Maybe because I wasn’t feeling as in control as I usually did. The business, my life, everything had always been about control. But Mandy, she wasn’t someone I could control, and that had been a hard lesson for me to learn.I picked up the phone, about
Mandy’s POVI sat at the kitchen table, my fingers running over the edges of the letter, the words blurring together in front of me. It was a letter from the club’s manager, something about my canceled performances and some backdoor deal that had been made to cover my financial losses. The numbers were high, too high for someone who had been in my shoes for the past few months. It was generous, but it felt wrong.I hadn’t asked for this. I hadn’t wanted it. It felt like someone had swept in and fixed things for me without asking if I needed them fixed at all.The realization hit me like a cold wave, one that I couldn’t ignore Lucas. He had done this. He had found a way to fix my mess, just like he always tried to do—whether I wanted him to or not. Part of me wanted to be grateful. Hell, it was hard not to be, considering how close I’d been to losing everything. But the other part of me felt suffocated by his actions, trapped in this constant cycle where I was always the one needin