Mandy’s POVEmily’s question hung in the air like a thundercloud about to burst as my breath was suddenly caught in the middle.She was so young, too young to be burdened with the weight of my choices, but there was no escaping it now. So, I dropped to my knees in front of her, reaching out to take her tiny hands in mine. “Emily. Baby,” I began, my voice trembling, “what you heard… it’s true. Lucas is your daddy.” Her eyes widened, and she pulled her hands away, stepping back slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you. I thought it was the best way to keep you safe.” “From what?” she demanded, her voice rising. “From Lucas?” “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Not from Lucas. Never from Lucas. I just… there were things happening that I didn’t understand, things I was afraid of. I thought keeping it a secret was the right thing to do.” Her lip quivered, and tears welled up in he
Mandy’s POVThe morning sun sneaked through the blinds, putting long streaks of light on the bedroom. However, its warmth did not help the cold knot in my stomach. I’d barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, Mary’s message caught my mind and was almost as luminous as a neon light, mocking me.Meanwhile, Lucas stirred beside me, his breathing steady and calm, as though he didn’t have a care in the world. How could he sleep so peacefully after last night? After that message? With that, I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded to the kitchen. As the smell of coffee brewing filled the air, but even that couldn’t calm the storm raging inside me. I was halfway through my cup when I heard his footsteps. He entered the kitchen, his hair tousled, his face still marked with the exhaustion of the past few days. “Mandy,” he said softly, his voice breaking the silence. “We need to talk.” I set my mug down, folding my arms across my chest. “About Mary?” He nodded, pul
Mandy’s POVThe house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the heater kicking in. Lucas sat on the couch, his phone gripped tightly in his hands, his face a mask of tension. My earlier question hung in the air like a storm cloud. “Who sent this?” I asked again, my voice firmer this time. He didn’t look up, but I saw the way his jaw tightened, the way his shoulders stiffened. Whatever he was holding back, it was big. My heart pounded as I crossed the room and sat beside him. “Lucas,” I pressed, my tone soft but unyielding. “Talk to me.” He exhaled sharply, finally setting his phone down on the coffee table. His hands raked through his hair, leaving it even messier than before. “It’s from....," He paused as a quick sigh escaped from him as he continued immediately. " It's from someone who knows Damian,” he said, his voice low. "Damian?" I quipped. "Is that why the message stated, “You can’t hide forever. The truth will come out.”"What are you hiding again, Lucas, what truth
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 POV“Lucas?” I called out in surprise.“Are you done packing?” He asked with a harsh tone in his voice, “Have you forgotten your flight leaves in 5 hours?”“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just that I feel a bit sick. I think I’m coming down with a fever,” I said and he scoffed in response.“And you expect me to believe that? I know the only reason you are pretending to be sick is because not only are you lazy you do not want to leave,” he said arrogantly.I tried to speak again but he cut me short.“You are leaving this afternoon. I’ll personally drive you to the airport.” he said. I smiled bitterly at his last words, surprised that he offered to drive me to the airport by himself. Maybe he…Then I met his glare again. “Fine. Don’t fool yourself, Mandy Vanderbilt. He is not doing it out of care but to ensure you really leave the country for good,” I said to myself.Immediately he left, I dragged my tired body back to my box and continued packing. But the more I packed, the we
Mandy's POV I bit my lips, hesitant to reveal my struggles to Lucas.Finally, I decided to do it for the sake of the baby. This was the only way.“I've not received any living expenses like Grandma promised,” I said, feeling ashamed.He scoffed.“You called me after such a long time and that’s all you want to say? You’re such a parasite, always asking for money,” he said.His voice was cold.“But I need help, Lucas. Please,” I pleaded out of desperation.“I’ll send you some money but not right now,” he cut me off.“But I…….”“Also, don't bother me with trivial matters like this again. I have a company to run,” he said.Before I could reply, he ended the call. His words stung. Tears pricked at the corner of my eyes.I laughed bitterly, ruminating over my actions.Maybe I shouldn't have called him, I thought.Hugging my pregnant bump, silent sobs shook my body.Indeed, I was all alone in this world.**********************Eight months Later**********************I was coming out o
Mandy’s POVThe house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the heater kicking in. Lucas sat on the couch, his phone gripped tightly in his hands, his face a mask of tension. My earlier question hung in the air like a storm cloud. “Who sent this?” I asked again, my voice firmer this time. He didn’t look up, but I saw the way his jaw tightened, the way his shoulders stiffened. Whatever he was holding back, it was big. My heart pounded as I crossed the room and sat beside him. “Lucas,” I pressed, my tone soft but unyielding. “Talk to me.” He exhaled sharply, finally setting his phone down on the coffee table. His hands raked through his hair, leaving it even messier than before. “It’s from....," He paused as a quick sigh escaped from him as he continued immediately. " It's from someone who knows Damian,” he said, his voice low. "Damian?" I quipped. "Is that why the message stated, “You can’t hide forever. The truth will come out.”"What are you hiding again, Lucas, what truth
Mandy’s POVThe morning sun sneaked through the blinds, putting long streaks of light on the bedroom. However, its warmth did not help the cold knot in my stomach. I’d barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, Mary’s message caught my mind and was almost as luminous as a neon light, mocking me.Meanwhile, Lucas stirred beside me, his breathing steady and calm, as though he didn’t have a care in the world. How could he sleep so peacefully after last night? After that message? With that, I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded to the kitchen. As the smell of coffee brewing filled the air, but even that couldn’t calm the storm raging inside me. I was halfway through my cup when I heard his footsteps. He entered the kitchen, his hair tousled, his face still marked with the exhaustion of the past few days. “Mandy,” he said softly, his voice breaking the silence. “We need to talk.” I set my mug down, folding my arms across my chest. “About Mary?” He nodded, pul
Mandy’s POVEmily’s question hung in the air like a thundercloud about to burst as my breath was suddenly caught in the middle.She was so young, too young to be burdened with the weight of my choices, but there was no escaping it now. So, I dropped to my knees in front of her, reaching out to take her tiny hands in mine. “Emily. Baby,” I began, my voice trembling, “what you heard… it’s true. Lucas is your daddy.” Her eyes widened, and she pulled her hands away, stepping back slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you. I thought it was the best way to keep you safe.” “From what?” she demanded, her voice rising. “From Lucas?” “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Not from Lucas. Never from Lucas. I just… there were things happening that I didn’t understand, things I was afraid of. I thought keeping it a secret was the right thing to do.” Her lip quivered, and tears welled up in he
Mandy’s POVSilence settled over the house and it was deafening. It was the kind of silence that came after a storm had passed, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. I sat in the living room, my gaze fixed on the floor, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that had taken over me.The chaos, the fear, the uncertainty. it all felt like it had happened in a blur, and now, in the aftermath, it was hard to know what to hold on to.Lucas sat across from me, his face etched with exhaustion. His usual confident demeanor had been replaced with a weariness that spoke volumes. We had just survived the worst of it, but the reality of what we had faced, and what was still to come, weighed heavily on both of us.He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with the burden of the choices he had made. “I never thought it would come to this,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. “I never imagined that it would get this far.”I nodded, unable to find the words to comfort him. The truth was,
Lucas’s POVHowever, the air was thick with tension as I stood in the dimly lit warehouse, the sound of my own breathing the only thing keeping me grounded. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins. I had set the trap, and now, the moment of reckoning had arrived.I glanced around, the cold concrete walls of the abandoned building pressing in on me. The place was empty—save for the figure standing at the far end, his silhouette barely visible in the shadows. Damian.He had taken the bait. He had come, just as I knew he would. But I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what this moment would bring. What I had learned about him, about his connections, his twisted motivations—none of it had prepared me for the confrontation that was about to unfold.Damian stepped forward, his face emerging from the shadows, his expression unreadable. There was no warmth in his eyes, just cold, calculating fury. He knew exactly what this was. He knew I had set him up, and he wasn’t
Lucas’s POVThe weight of the plan settled heavily on my shoulders as I sat in the dimly lit office, the stack of files in front of me a constant reminder of everything that was at stake. Damian had made it clear—he wouldn’t stop until he had everything he wanted. He’d crossed a line, one that could never be uncrossed. And now, it was time to turn the tables.I ran a hand through my hair, my eyes flicking over the information I had painstakingly gathered. Damian’s network was vast, complex, and deadly. Every step I took felt like walking on a razor’s edge, and one wrong move could cost us everything. But it was the only move left.I leaned back in the chair, staring at the map of connections and safe houses spread across the table. The walls felt like they were closing in, but I knew I couldn’t afford to hesitate. Damian was playing a dangerous game, and if I didn’t play it better, I’d lose everything—Mandy, Emily, and even my own life.The plan was simple, in theory. I would feed
Mandy’s POVThe front door creaked open, and my heart skipped a beat. I rushed to my feet, my breath catching in my throat as I saw Lucas standing there, Emily in his arms, her small face pale and her eyes wide with fear. My heart ached at the sight of her, but relief flooded me all the same. They were home. They were safe.“Thank God,” I whispered, rushing to meet them. Lucas’s eyes met mine, a silent message passing between us—one of exhaustion, relief, and something else I couldn’t quite place. He gently placed Emily down on the couch, where she curled up, her little body trembling despite the warmth of the house. I knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face, my fingers trembling as I tried to comfort her. “Hey, baby,” I murmured softly. “You’re safe now. You’re okay.”But Emily didn’t respond. She just clung to me, her small arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I could feel her fear, her confusion, and it broke me inside. I wanted to shield her from all of this,
Lucas’s POVEmily’s soft sobs tugged at my heart, but I kept her behind me, shielding her small body with my own. The men blocking the doorway were like wolves, circling their prey. I could see it in their eyes—the malice, the hunger for violence. Damian had chosen them well. “You think you can just walk out of here?” one of them taunted, his voice a low growl. I didn’t respond. Words wouldn’t save us. Action would. Emily’s trembling hand clutched at the back of my shirt. “lucas?” she whispered, her voice so faint it nearly broke me. I glanced back at her, her tear-streaked face lit by the faint glow from the hallway. My heart shattered, but I forced myself to focus. “Stay close to me, sweetheart,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Her trust in me was absolute, and that trust gave me strength. I turned back to the men, my grip tightening on the gun in my hand. “Step aside,” I said, my voice low and cold. “This is between me an
Lucas’s POVThe clock was ticking. Each second that passed felt like a lifetime, the weight of the situation pressing down on me with increasing force. Emily was out there, and I had no idea where. Damian had her, and I couldn’t let him get away with it. Not this time. I stood in the middle of my office, the room filled with the tense energy of the small team I’d assembled. The investigator, whose calm demeanor had been a constant through this ordeal, sat at the desk, his laptop open in front of him. Across from him was the former associate of Damian’s, a man who had his own reasons for wanting to see Damian fall. His eyes were sharp, his face hardened by years of dealing with people like Damian, but there was something else there—something that told me he was just as determined as I was to bring this to an end.“Where do we stand?” I asked, my voice low, my patience wearing thin.The investigator looked up, his face tense. “We’ve got a lead. It’s not much, but it’s something. Damia