A poignant and emotional tale about Mia, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage that was built on a business arrangement rather than affection. Married to Kyle Branson, a successful and detached businessman, Mia's life is an unacknowledged shadow to his true love—her younger stepsister, Taylor. When Mia unexpectedly discovers she is pregnant with twins, the news shakes her world, especially since her marriage contract forbids pregnancy. As Mia grapples with the reality of carrying Kyle's children, she faces not only the crushing weight of their cold, contractual relationship but also the sting of betrayal as Kyle continues his affair with Taylor. Mia’s internal battle intensifies as she navigates the emotional turmoil of being invisible to the man she once loved and the looming secret of her pregnancy.
View MoreMia's POVThe twins were already awake, their movements gentle but persistent beneath my ribs. "Good morning to you two," I murmured.The smell of coffee wafted from the kitchen. The real coffee, not the decaf I'd been restricted to. That meant mom was up. I carefully pushed myself to sitting. Gas immediately perked up, his tail thumping against the mattress as he watched me with adoration."Yes, we're getting up," I told him, scratching behind his ears. "Wanna play?"I slipped on my robe and made my way to the kitchen, Gas trotting faithfully at my heels. Mom stood at the counter, butter knife in hand, spreading something on toast. She looked up at my entrance, her face lighting with a smile that still caught me off guard sometimes. To have her back in my life."There you are," she said. "I was wondering if jet lag would keep you in bed all day.""The smell of breakfast was too tempting," I replied, easing myself onto a kitchen stool.Mom slid a plate of toast in front of me. whole g
Kyle's POVThe amber liquid in my glass caught the light as I swirled it, watching the way it clung to the crystal before settling. Macallan 25, a formidable scotch with notes of dried fruits and oak. I took another measured sip."She's back, you know."I looked up to find Morton watching me. My longtime business partner, occasional adversary, and perhaps the closest thing I had to a genuine friend. Currently, he was leaning back in his leather chair, nursing his own scotch.We were seated in the private lounge of The Metropolitan Club, where generations of New York's financial elite had conducted their affairs away from public scrutiny. The oak-paneled walls, leather furnishings, and discreet staff created an atmosphere of exclusivity that had always suited my preference for privacy."I'm aware," I replied, keeping my tone neutral despite the way my pulse had quickened at the mere allusion to Mia.Morton raised an eyebrow. "And?""And nothing." I set my glass down with precise contro
Mia's POVI sleep for several hours on the flight, waking only when the lunch service began."Feeling okay?" Scarlett asked, returning from a brief visit to the front of the cabin where Thomas was working on his laptop."Better than expected," I admitted. "Thank you and your husband for the first-class cabin."“That's what he should do, otherwise I won't marry him,” Scarlett said, pointing at her ring.I nodded, ”Very convincing.”"Not much longer," she assured me, checking her watch. "About two hours until we land."As if on cue, my phone buzzed with an incoming email. The airplane's Wi-Fi allowing me to stay connected despite being somewhere over the Atlantic. It was from my lawyer:Mia,Update on the situation with Taylor Matthews. She has been released on bail but with significant restrictions—surrender of passport, ankle monitor, no contact orders for you and your mother. Her attorney is positioning this as a misunderstanding, claiming she was an unwitting teenager manipulated by
Mia's POVI text Scarlett that I'm done with work. She responds quickly.Great! Lunch at that little place with the amazing onion soup? Last chance for authentic French cuisine before returning to land of bagels and pizza.Sounds perfect, I replied, smiling at her priorities.Back in my suite, I found most of my belongings already neatly packed, the hotel staff having worked their magic while I was at my meeting. Only a small suitcase remained open for last-minute items and tomorrow's travel outfit.I carefully placed the sketchbook from Bernard in my carry-on, along with my tablet and the few other items I'd need for the flight. The job offer letter and contract were safely tucked into a folder, ready for my lawyer to review upon our return to New York.A knock at my door announced Scarlett's arrival. She swept in wearing a chic travel outfit that somehow looked both comfortable and runway-ready."There you are!" she exclaimed. "Tell me everything about the meeting. What projects wil
Mia's POVI stared at the message. I took a screenshot and forwarded it to my lawyer with a brief message:Received this just now from unknown number. Likely Taylor or associate. Please document for potential restraining order.Then I blocked the number, set my phone aside, and crawled into bed.I sat on the bed, thinking about the moment Taylor sent this message. Although I'm not 100% sure it's her. But undoubtedly, she is the likeliest person. Threatening and manipulating are her favorite tricks. The only difference is that I'm no longer afraid. I figured something out. I don't need Taylor to realize that she's done wrong. I don't need her to apologize. I just need to make the people who hurt me pay the price they deserve. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.I need to sleep. Tomorrow, after discussing work with Bernard Leblanc, I can go home. Although I have only been gone for less than two weeks, I miss my mother and Gas. A lot.I close my eyes, letting the city's magic seep in
Mia's POVKyle has spared no effort to show his generosity.I downloaded the attached documents, giving them a quick review. I sent a brief acknowledgment:Kyle,Thank you for the documents. I'll review them with my attorney when we return to New York and get back to you with any questions or concerns.MiaI kept my professionalism. I wanted to teach Kyle about boundaries. He wanted to spill the money, but I still wanted to maintain my dignity.With my inbox cleared, I turned my attention to preparing for our last night in Paris. Scarlett had left a garment bag hanging on my closet door with a note attached: "Wear this tonight. Trust me."Inside was a beautiful emerald green dress I'd admired during our shopping expedition but had deemed too extravagant. The cut was perfect for my pregnancy—elegant without trying to hide my bump, comfortable without looking matronly.Another note fluttered from the fabric: "Consider it an early push present. From your eternally stylish best friend who
Mia's POVI'd been staring at my laptop screen for nearly an hour, cursor blinking at the end of an email I'd drafted, rewritten, and edited at least a dozen times. My acceptance letter to Bernard Leblanc.A sharp kick near my ribs made me wince. "Easy there," I murmured, rubbing the spot. "Mom's trying to make a life decision here."I glanced at the clock. 7:42 AM. Scarlett was probably still asleep after our late night discussion about my father's arrest. I was happy for my mother. But I woke up earlier than usual anyway.My phone buzzed with an incoming text from Mom.Are you okay, sweetheart? I know it's early there, but I figured you might be awake processing everything.Mom probably sensed my slight tension. Her intuition is second to none. My thumbs hovered over the screen as I considered how to respond. Finally, I typed:I'm okay. Working on my acceptance email to Bernard Leblanc right now.Her response came quickly: That's wonderful! Trust your instincts, Mia. You've always k
Mia's POVI sat up so quickly the room spun, grabbing the tablet with suddenly trembling hands. The article was from the New York Times, dated this morning:Richard Williams, founder of Williams Construction Group, was arrested yesterday evening on charges of attempted murder and financial fraud. Williams, 62, is accused of orchestrating the "accident" that left his first wife, Sarah Williams, in a coma for over a decade. The arrest comes after months of investigation prompted by Sarah Williams' miraculous recovery earlier this year.Sources close to the investigation reveal that financial records indicate Williams may have been systematically embezzling from his wife's considerable family holdings during her incapacitation, using the funds to shore up his failing business ventures.Williams' second wife, Helen Porter-Williams, has also been taken in for questioning. Legal experts suggest she may face charges of conspiracy and financial fraud.The Williams Construction Group has issue
Mia's POVThe night air had cooled significantly. Scarlett walked slightly ahead, talking animatedly on her phone with Morton about something involving the auction house and potential legal action.Thomas and I walk side by side. It's a good thing that Thomas and I had everything sorted out a few days ago. So I'm not as nervous now."You've been quiet tonight," Thomas observed, his voice pitched low enough that Scarlett couldn't overhear. "Everything alright?""Just processing a lot," I admitted. “As you can see, my life is always full of surprises. The job offer, this news about Kyle..."He stopped."I'm sorry if that ruined your evening," he said sincerely. "We debated whether to tell you.""No, I'm glad you did. Better to know than be surprised later."This has nothing to do with Scarlett or Thomas. The problem that needs to be solved only occurs between Kyle and me. But I should definitely talk to Scarlett and Morton about the need for some kind of confidentiality agreement between
Mia's POV"Congratulations," Dr. Ray said with a gentle smile, "you're pregnant."I blinked rapidly, trying to focus. Her smile never wavered as she guided my attention to the screen, pointing to two tiny dots pulsing in sync.“Twins,” she added. “You’re having twins.”Twins? I couldn't even grasp the reality of being pregnant. I had been so careful—so cautious. The pills Kyle had insisted I take every single day were supposed to prevent this. We had a contract—one that explicitly forbade a pregnancy. That was the deal, after all.“I… I’ve been taking the pills,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands shook, and I placed them on the edge of the examination table, trying to steady myself.Dr. Ray glanced at me with a slight frown. “If you've been taking them regularly. Are you sure you've been consistent?”I hesitated, unsure. My memory was hazy. There had been moments when I had been distracted. “I…” My voice cracked, and I shook my head. “I’m not sure.”Dr. Ray’s expressio...
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