Natalie's POVWilliam noticed that I was stunned and distracted. He took half a step back and stared into my eyes, then followed my gaze to something behind him. There stood a man leaning on the wall, legs crossed, hands in his pockets, with a cornered smile on his lips.“Surprise!” Rafael trifled, his gaze full of disdain.William stepped back in shock and snapped, “Who are you?”I closed my eyes tightly, took a deep breath, placed my hands on my hips, and asked, “What are you doing here?”“I came to see my son!” he answered nonchalantly.I could see the confusion on William’s face as he asked, “Your son?”Rafael walked towards me in steady steps, boldly and possessively wrapped his arm around my shoulder, locked eyes with me, and replied to William, “My wife!”William laughed. “Is that a joke?”Rafael raised his eyebrows and replied, “For your misfortune, it’s not.”I pushed his arm off my shoulder and roared, “How the hell did you get into my apartment?”The look on his face made m
Natalie’s POVWhen I got out of the bathroom, the smell of fried eggs made my stomach growl. I was starving; I hadn't eaten anything yesterday.I headed towards my room, ignoring Rafael. I didn’t want him here, and I wasn’t going to give him any attention. I knew being around him was dangerous.Why couldn’t I just pick one of my comfortable summer dresses like always? Why was this so difficult now? I glared at my reflection in the mirror and sneered, “Do you really have to ask? It’s all because of the distraction in your kitchen.”I sighed.The blue dress was the ideal choice for me. It wasn’t too much, and it fit the place I intended to go.Thinking about today’s meeting made me anxious.I lifted my hair into a ponytail, applied sunscreen, mascara, and pink gloss. After spraying my perfume and putting on my high heels, I went to the kitchen, only to find Rafael still there, wearing just a towel! His back was to me as he washed something in the sink.I couldn’t help but stare at his mu
Natalie’s POVI didn’t reply to her because I knew exactly what kind of history Rafael had with women.I turned around again and was about to enter Daniel’s car when a large hand held my arm. “I said, I’ll drive you.”I pulled my hand away and said with a smile, “No need. Stay with your friend and reminisce about your precious history together.”He wiped his face with both hands and then lifted me into his embrace. I gasped in shock and yelled, “Put me down!”“No,” he said calmly. Walking towards his car, he asked Daniel, “You can join us.”Daniel didn’t hesitate and entered Rafael’s car, sitting in the front seat as Rafael placed me in the back. I rolled my eyes when he put the seatbelt on me.When he started the engine, Julia said through the window, “I’ll message you through I*, Rafael!”I hate that kind of woman, who knew the man was married and still tried to grab his attention desperately.“Where are we going?” Rafael asked me through the rearview mirror. I didn’t want him to kno
Rafael’s POVAs I stood beside Daniel at the Roswen mansion, I suddenly found myself surrounded by several women glaring at me. One of the older women stepped forward and asked, “Are you the father of the child?”I nodded with a smile and replied in a cheerful tone, “Yes.” I was proud to be the father.She tightened her lips as if she wasn’t satisfied. Then, to my shock, she raised her wrinkled hand, grabbed my ear, and pinched it like I was a child. “So it’s you? What are you doing here then?” she demanded.I was too stunned to respond. What could I say to a woman who was as old as, if not older than, my grandmother?“Grandma, he’s a guest here, please take it easy on him,” Daniel intervened.I stared at her with a pleading look, hoping she would release my ear. This was unexpected behavior. She scrutinized my face before grinning and declaring, “I see. The stupid girl fell for your charming face!”Everyone around us burst into laughter. She turned to Daniel and shouted, “He’s our so
Natalie’s POV I was standing among the lively chatter of the family gathering, my eyes inevitably drifted towards Rafael. He was standing beside Daniel, surrounded by a group of curious women. There was something magnetic about his presence, a quiet confidence that seemed to draw everyone in. Our eyes met once a while and I could see the amusement into his eyes, as if he was telling me that he was happy to be here.How he didn’t feel annoyed about what granny did to him?On the contrary, he handled their probing questions with a charming smile, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and pride. I even heard him saying that I was the core of his life. I really started to feel the ice around my heart melted.My heart bounding as if I love him for the first time!After our kiss at the back yard, I felt I need more of him. What if I forget the past and started over? “The man indeed in love!” Maya grinned.I rolled my eyes, pretending that I didn’t care. Even though my heart was softe
Natalie's POVEventually, I decided not to let him in. I didn’t want my decision to be rushed and based on a moment of emotional weakness. I had been there before with him, and if I decided to go back, it needed to be based on a well-considered decision.My phone rang at six in the morning, and I was surprised to see it was from my next-door neighbor."Hello!" I answered.“Natalie?” she asked, her voice a little nervous. “Are you at home? Are you okay?”With confusion obvious in my tone, I mumbled, “Yes! What’s wrong?”She let out a deep sigh of relief and said, “Oh, thank God!”“Hey, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me,” I said, sitting up in bed with an anxious look.“I was passing by your apartment door, taking the kids to school, and I saw a man, a handsome man, changing your front door lock. I was afraid he was a gangster or a thief. I was about to call the cops but hesitated because he didn’t seem like one,” she explained.I immediately got out of bed and said with a terrified look,
Natalie's POVRafael smiled at my question but didn’t reply. He kissed me on the cheek, surprising me. He didn’t hide his affection for me in front of Julie. Instead, he said in a harsh tone, “You look amazing!”I looked at Julie and asked, “You wouldn’t introduce us?”The woman wore a purple dress that revealed and highlighted all her body curves, suggesting she was vying for attention. Yet, she seemed quiet and elegant, holding Rafael’s arm as if he was her savior.Was this the type Rafael liked? Women who relied on him, submissive and obedient like a kitten? She seemed she would drown in an inch of water.Before Rafael could say anything, Lucas grabbed his arm and said, “You’re finally here, man. Come, Grandpa wants you!”What was that? Why did Grandpa need him?Shaking my head, I turned to go back to the girls, not wanting to spend another second with Julie. But before I could leave, she grabbed my arm and said, “Wait!”I stared at her questioningly. “Yes?”She smiled, narrowed her
Natalie's POVI let out a long sigh as I placed my hand on my belly. The persistent stomach acidity overwhelmed me, making every meal a challenge. In this last month of my pregnancy, it had worsened to the point where sometimes I had to stop eating altogether. The pressure on my stomach was intense, and the relentless heartburn felt like a fiery serpent coiling in my chest.I reached into my purse and found a mint sweet, a small relief that helped soothe the symptoms. As the cool mint flavor spread in my mouth, I felt a slight reprieve. The sweetness mingled with the refreshing mint, momentarily distracting me from the discomfort. I leaned back in my chair, savoring the fleeting relief.Afterward, I took some photos with the girls and posted them on my I*******m account. I hadn't been active for a while, wary of Rafael finding me. The comments came pouring in like wildfire as soon as my big belly appeared on their feeds. My friends Rebecca and Fello weren't surprised, though. Whereas a
Hello everybody!!Thank you for reading this book. I appreciate the time you spent on this journey with me.I feel a mixture of emotions now—both happy and sad. Happy because I successfully completed this book, and sad because the journey has come to an end. The lesson of this book is that true love is strong and marriage is precious. Try to understand your spouse, take their hand, and face life's difficulties together.Please follow me and stay tuned for my new book.With love,Jeje Romanzoo
Natalie’s POVI heard the sound of Rafael's keys in the door lock with great anticipation. I took a deep breath as he opened the mansion door, and a wave of claps and joyful laughter washed over him. The room was filled with friends and family, their faces glowing with happiness. But the one thing that captured his attention, the one image that filled his heart and eyes with overwhelming joy, was me. I stood in the center of the room, holding Matt in my arms, wearing a stunning white dress—a wedding dress.Rafael’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief, and then tears of happiness welled up. His expression mirrored my own overwhelming emotions. I remembered the days when I loved him secretly, the painful nights I spent yearning for his touch. The jealousy that broke my heart at that time. Then, I thought of how much he had changed for me, how he had shed his sadistic tendencies and embraced a love that was tender and true. Our love had become a sanctuary, a safe haven where we could be
Natalie’s POVThe location led me to a rundown part of town, a place I would never have thought to visit under normal circumstances. The taxi stopped a few blocks away, and I paid the driver, telling him to wait. I couldn’t risk Debbie spotting the car.I walked the rest of the way, my senses on high alert. Every sound, every shadow made my heart race. Finally, I reached the address Debbie had sent. It was an old, abandoned warehouse, the kind of place that sent shivers down your spine just by looking at it.I wiped a tear ran down my cheek, and with taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. The air was musty, and the only light came from the gaps in the boarded-up windows. My footsteps echoed eerily as I walked further into the building.My heart bounded with anticipation, finally I would see my little boy. How did she manage to feed him? He didn’t take the formula milk.“Natalie,” Debbie’s voice rang out from the darkness, sending a chill down my spine. She stepped out from the shadow
Natalie’s POVAs the door swung open, my breath caught in my throat. But, there, standing on the doorstep, was my family—the Rowsons. Maya, Daniel, Lucas, their mother and father, and even our granny. They all looked worried, their presence both comforting and overwhelming.As I stared at them, I was shocked. It was the last person to step forward who shocked me the most. My real father. He stood there, looking healthier and stronger than I remembered, and there was a softness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen the last time I visited him. For a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. It was as if time had stopped, and all I could do was stare at him.“Hey guys, you came!” Rafael cut the silence with a surprised tone."Nat," Maya said softly, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around me. "We're here for you."Everybody stepped inside and started hugging me except one person, my father.However, he stood there puzzled for a moment then said softly in a whisper, “Natalie,” his voice th
Natalie’s POVThe long night passed in a haze of dread and exhaustion. I couldn’t sleep; every time I closed my eyes, I saw Matt’s face, heard his cries. The darkness outside the window was a mirror to the darkness inside me, a suffocating blanket that left me gasping for breath. I paced the room, my steps slow and heavy, my mind replaying the events of the day over and over again.Rafael had been gone for hours, searching desperately for any clue that might lead us to our son. The silence of the house was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of the floorboards or the distant hum of traffic outside. The waiting was unbearable, each minute stretching into an eternity. I could feel the panic rising within me, threatening to consume me whole.I moved from room to room, my body restless, my mind tormented by the unknown. I went into Matt's room and sat on his bed, clutching his favorite stuffed animal, inhaling the faint scent of him still lingering in the fabric. Memories of h
Natalie’s POVSix hours had passed, and still, no news about Matt. My heart tightened with each minute that dragged by, constricting so tightly that I could barely breathe. The silence was suffocating, every second stretching into an eternity. I couldn’t imagine what Debbie might be doing to my little boy. Rafael had been updating me frequently with whatever scraps of information he could gather, but the constant fear gnawed at me, an ever-present shadow that made me feel as if I might crumble at any moment.“No news?” Tobi asked gently as she handed me a cup of coffee. Her voice was soft, but the concern in her eyes was palpable. I shook my head, unable to find any words that could convey the depth of my fear. Nothing was clear. Debbie was careful—she’d even managed to avoid the street cameras.The waiting was unbearable. My mind started to spiral, conjuring horrific images of my son’s screams, trapped in my head like an endless loop of terror. It was dark outside now, the evening s
The room spun around me, and I had to grip the back of the chair to steady myself when Natalie told me that Matt had been kidnapped.“Matt is kidnapped,” her words echoed endlessly in my mind.“Matt is gone, Raf! You have to bring my son back to me!” she wailed through the phone, her words barely understandable through her loud sobs.Every passing minute was crucial, every second a potential danger. The guilt was overwhelming. Was I the reason danger had found my family? Why did I ever get engaged to that witch in the first place?Documents and everything else on my desk scattered to the floor as I shoved the table over in a fit of rage and frustration. The chaos mirrored the turmoil inside me.The office door swung open, and Jack and several employees rushed in. “What’s going on?” Jack asked, staring around the wrecked room in shock.“She kidnapped Matt!” I roared, my voice raw with desperation.Earlier that afternoon, I had received a call from the main city police station warning m
Natalie’s POVThe afternoon crowd was stifling as I wrapped up the meeting for the upcoming fashion show and made my way home. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the bustling streets, a stark contrast to my serene thoughts.It had been three months since we returned to the USA, and I had already launched my new fashion design company. My heart swelled with happiness at the thought. Living with my husband and our nearly four-month-old son was a dream come true, and every day felt like a step closer to my ambitions as a fashion designer.I couldn't help but smile as I imagined Rafael at home, sitting beside Matt’s crib, watching him sleep or feeding him his bottle. The mere thought of our little family filled me with warmth.My phone rang, jolting me from my reverie. I glanced at the screen and pressed the reply button, Laura's voice echoing through the car speaker. “Natalie, are you on your way home?” she asked, her tone edged with urgency.“Yes, what's wrong, Laur
Natalie’s POVThe room door swung open, and the Rowsens filed in one by one until the space was filled with their lively presence.“Hey, new mother!” Carla exclaimed, balancing a box of gifts in her hands, as the other family members held their own presents.“Oh, look at the little boy. He’s a spitting image of the charming Lucas, which is me,” Lucas mumbled, bending down to get a closer look at my child.“Move away!” Rafael snapped, shoving Lucas aside. “Don’t touch him. He’s still weak and could get infected easily!”I stifled a chuckle. Rafael’s overprotectiveness was one of his most endearing traits.“Hey, man! What’s wrong with you? I was just trying to see the boy! Don’t tell me you’re one of those overprotective fathers!” Lucas teased, prompting laughter from everyone in the room.I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. The Rowsens had supported me when I was at my lowest, and they had become my real family. But now, with Rafael and our son, I had my own family. I loved them a