Holly pushed Ryder far away, away from the prying eyes of her family and she slammed the door shut.
"What are you doing here?"
She whispered as she glared at him. Ryder shrugged. He seemed to be holding a bouquet of flowers and a backpack.
"I called you so many times. Then I went to your apartment and your neighbour was kind enough to give me your home number. Your mum answered and she told me you were here. I wanted it to be a surprise."
Holly folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.
Surprise?? More like a shock.
She was shocked.
"Well, I am not surprised. You have to go now."
Holly loves thanksgiving. It was her favourite holiday after Christmas.As she and Ryder joined the dinner table with her family hours later, she couldn't help but salivate over the delicious meal she and her mum had cooked while Ryder hung out with her sister Ella's husband.The star of the dinner table was ranch seasoned roast turkey, with green bean casserole, creamy mashed potatoes on the side, with homemade cranberry sauce and cornbread stuffing.For dessert was the classic easy pumpkin pie Holly had made herself with her grandmother's recipe.Dinner had been far from awkward. Crystal was the first person to notice Holly's Tiffany bracelet and she made a huge fuss over it. Then during dinner she had chastised Holly for eating too much. Holl
"Do you really think you're making the right decision?"Jake asked as he furrowed his eyebrows. He was seated casually on Ryder's sofa nursing a drink. It was still mid afternoon but Jake still indulged himself in a glass of whiskey.Ryder's focus was elsewhere, on the files and the information that he just lost one of his biggest clients.It didn't happen often, in fact, Alpha properties had not lost a client in years. That was how good they were."Hey! Why did we lose Hoffman?"Jake shrugged."I don't know."Ryder paused for a while deep in thoughts.
They sat, engrossed, barely noticing the plates of food that barely made it to their slack mouths. Holly and Ryder were so engrossed in themselves that they didn't have time for anyone and anything else. Holly was ecstatic but also very nervous. She and Ryder had only just started their dinner date and everything was going so well. She had tried so hard but she still couldn't bring herself to tell Ryder the truth.Her hands were shaking and she was jittery.Even if she wanted to, what was she going to say? She thought as she twisted her fingers in her clothes. How was she going to start? She asked herself as she watched Ryder who was totally oblivious to her anxiety. If he noticed that she was anxious, he didn't say anything. Maybe he thought it was first date jitters. He was also looking exceptionally handsome too.He was wearing a nice suit and he looked like he had taken extra time and ef
There were a few things that bothered Ryder Quinlan Bates.He hadn't thought so long and hard and deep about a woman since Catalina. But now, he constantly fought with memories of Holly invading his thoughts. He couldn't deny that he was hurt.And it was a feeling he hadn't given room to fester for years. Ryder was always the heartbreaker.Now, he was the one nursing a broken heart.His mind went to Holly and once again he pondered on the one question that seemed to be on a constant loop in his mind.Was it all a lie?Did she really feel nothing for him?Ryder wonde
The Hamilton residence was as big as Holly expected it to be. She already knew it when the address was in the Hamptons and she stopped in front of a beautiful gated mansion.She was not only delivering the cake but Mrs Hamilton also extended a private invitation to her.Holly only accepted out of courtesy, she had little to zero interest in kid parties and would rather spend twenty minutes there. Besides, it was a weekend so she decided that curling up on her bed with Netflix would do her some good.Holly was hesitant about it but she supposed that it was a good way to take her mind off a lot of things.The past few days she had buried herself in work. Although she found out that she was consta
"Mrs Elenora, I'm fine. I don't need to take the pregnancy test. What I really need to do is leave. Thank you for your hospitality."Holly said as she tried to leave but the persistent pregnant woman held on to her arm."I'm sorry I'm so nosy but that's how I am. Can I just let my nurse friend take a look at you? Please? It'll really put me at ease."She pleaded and Holly finally caved into her demands as she waited in another room while Elenora called on the nurse.Holly's mind was running around and she was a huge bundle of nerves. It was true that she was late but Holly was always late sometimes when she overstressed herself and she didn't bother too much about her periods.It had alw
Time moved slowly as Holly watched the single word that changed her life.Pregnant.That was the only word displayed on the over the counter pregnancy kit she had gotten from the pharmacy and Holly's heart skipped several beats.She was brought out of her shock by the sound of her phone blaring across her apartment and Holly rushed to her phone.Anything she had to do to get away from the pregnancy test of doom. To her, there was no possible way she could be pregnant. It just didn't happen that way, she thought ignoring the small voice in her mind that was confirming the pregnancy kit."So?? What did it say?" Charlie almost scream
Catalina studied the white envelope, flipping it over and over and trying to know what exactly it was. She didn't know if it was work related or personal. But from the looks of it, she could tell it was personal. And the way the woman had looked when she lied that she was Ryder's girlfriend had made her conclude that Ryder had something to do with her.Catalina was unsure about a lot of things in Ryder's private life, she wondered if he dated the woman. The woman was far different from the kind of woman Ryder would have normally gone for. She would have been gorgeous, if she was slimmer, Catalina thought.Catalina decided to open the envelope, just to have a glimpse of what was inside of it.She opened the envelope and unfolded the contents. It was a pregnancy test result and a short letter.I didn't mean for this to happen this way. I am available to talk so that we can work this out some way. I
September 2019.Holly pushed through the crowds of Fulton Street until she got to the park. She pulled the stroller to a crawl and then stopped at the edge of the curb. She pulled the top of it back and look down at her daughter Skylar Rae.She was peacefully sleeping as usual. She was a very happy baby. She had a calm energy about her and it was addictive."How old is she?" a woman asked. She was standing in front of the park with them, staring down at Skylar appreciatively."Two months.""She's gorgeous." she said."Looks just like you. Identical mouths."Holly smiled.
He had been smiling when the news came. Laughing at a joke his father made, readjusting his bow tie and imagining the love of his life in the wedding dress he saw her in two days before. He knew she was even going to be better than he pictured.The urgency and speed that Ryder used to rush into Holly's room was unmatched. And the sight he was met with made his heart stop.There was Holly, lying on the cold ground with her pale body and her white gown soaked with the crimson red blood that was gradually spreading from her chest.Before he knew it he was barking out instructions to no one in particular as he took her in his arms. The ambulance had been called. But they had to wait for it to arrive.Ryder didn't need to ask the question of who did
Mischievous. Cunning. Deceptive. Cruel.Those were the names anyone who knew what Kim was doing would call her. That was what she would have been called. For the past few days, Kim had been madly obsessed with Holly. Tracking her every movement, studying every move and every emotion on her face.From when she went into the bridal shop and when she emerged with a bright smile that only made Kim more angry. To when she went for her spa facials and Kim had paid two attendants 1,000 dollars each to listen in on she and Charlie's conversation. From what she had gathered. The wedding was going to be at the Pierre hotel. It was a private ceremony, so it was most likely going to be strictly by invitation.But there were other ways Kim would get her way. Other ways she could get her way that would go unnoticed.
The Peninsula spa at Fifth Avenue. That was the gift card that Ryder had given her for a full day of spa treatment. She had almost forgotten all about it due to the stress of planning a wedding till Charlie mentioned something about Holly going to a spa and getting her facials done in time for the wedding.That was when Holly remembered about the gift card. Charlie had decided to accompany her. She was going to be her maid of honor.The Peninsula spa gave an intimate vibe in a space that was gracious, discreet and luxurious. The walls were dark lacquered wood walls and it had English chandeliers and Carrara marble counter tops. It was so quiet and serene that Holly and Charlie found it hard to believe that they were still in New York. They couldn't even hear the sound of traffic!The spa offered everything from a regular sauna treatment to a cryo facial to rej
"Is this good?"Holly asked for the tenth time as she did a little spin in front of the mirror."You look amazing! Please stop worrying so much. My parents would love you."Holly turned to look at Ryder with a glare."I know you're saying that just to cheer me up but I'm so nervous."She said as she turned back and faced the mirror. She was wearing a navy blue pleated A-line dress with a V neck with lace sleeves.She had bought it in hopes that it would be fancy enough for Ryder's parents. She was so nervous about seeing them. Ryder had been trying to reassure her all week.
Christmas started around midnight for the Michaels family. Not only because it was Christmas but because it was also Holly's birthday. Ryder and Holly had stayed over at her parents house for Christmas. Then when the clock chimed twelve, they had woke Holly up with an array of birthdays gifts and happy birthday songs.It was how Holly had always celebrated her birthday when she was home. She always celebrated it with birthday songs and a huge birthday cake at midnight and she got her presents early. In fact she always got two presents. A birthday present and a Christmas present.The last few days had been hectic because she and Ryder had to go gift shopping for the family. There was a long list of things to get since Ryder also wanted to get gifts for his parents and his brother Alex. They had visited about five shops in total and spent almost two days shopping for gifts alone.Then, Holly's
The news of Holly and Ryder's engagement spread like wildfire since Holly made the brutal mistake of telling her sisters first. Holly sent the pictures to her eldest sister Ella who in turn sent it to the entire family. The picture that Holly had taken in bed with the engagement ring had been circulated by her mother, Crystal and even Ryder.Holly and Charlie had a long conversation, where they were both gushing about the amazing details on the ring. Charlie was so genuinely excited that Holly was finally happy with Ryder that she cried.After a blissful morning with the love of her life, they were off to spend lunch with her parents in a restaurant. It turned out that Ryder had slipped up and exposed the fact that Holly was carrying a baby, so her parents were already aware that she was pregnant. But no one was expecting the engagement news either. Because Ryd
They had to rush into Ryder's car because of the pouring rain and after twenty minutes they reached his hotel.By the time they got into his hotel room, they were both drenched from the rain. But they didn't care about it, it was as if they didn't even notice anything else but the presence of one another.Ryder told Holly everything, from the fact that Jake his best friend stole from his company and was wanted by the law to the extents which Kim's deception ran deep when she partnered with Jake.Jake was still at large somewhere, the police had been unable to find him. Holly had called Jamie out of excitement and told him to start the bakery's reopening without her. She still very much planned on spending Christmas with her family, that was if Ryder decided he wanted to stay in New Jersey for Christmas.
"Get out Ryder!""Get out of my house! Get out of my life!"Holly said as she started walking away. Her resolve was crumbling fast and she couldn't even bear to look at Ryder's face.Her hands were shaking so much that she felt dizzy and she sat on the edge of her bed to steady herself."Are you okay?"Ryder asked as he moved quickly to her side."Holly please, just give me a minute to explain. You can't send me away without knowing the whole truth."Holly finally brought herself up to look at him.He was exactly like s