Mia‘s POV"Mommy, where are you?" My voice echoed through our house. The hardwood floors creaked under my mary janes as I searched each room. "I'm gonna find you!"Hide and seek was our special game, the one that always made Mommy smile even on her sad days. And she'd been having more sad days lately, especially after Daddy started working late."Found you!" I giggled, spotting her shadow behind my bedroom door. She swooped me up into a hug that smelled like jasmine and safety."You always do, clever girl." She peppered my face with kisses until I squealed. "Now it's my turn to seek. Remember the rules?"I nodded solemnly. "Don't go past the garden gate. Stay where you can hear me call.""That's my smart cookie." She covered her eyes, starting to count. "One... two..."I ran on tippy-toes, trying not to let my shoes click against the floor. The garden was my favorite hiding spot, full of Mom's roses and the big hydrangea bushes perfect for ducking behind. The afternoon sun painted ev
Mia's POVI'd cried until there were no tears left, until my eyes burned and my throat felt raw. But I didn't allow myself to keep crying. I still had my children. I had to start a new life. I couldn't figure out why fate had arranged this. But I was the one who signed the marriage contract. I had to accept any possible outcome. Everything might be fake, but at least my children were real."Enough, Mia." I whispered.My hand drifted to my growing bump, now impossible to ignore even under loose clothing. The babies seemed extra active this morning. A small kick. I rubbed gentle circles where I'd felt the movement.Gas whined softly from his spot by the bathroom door, his brown eyes full of concern."Thanks, Gas. You are my good boy." I patted his head.My phone buzzed on the counte. A message from Scarlett, probably checking in for the thousandth time since her honeymoon started:Living my best life in Bora Bora! 🌴 Miss your face though! How are my favorite niblings doing? 👶👶Attach
Mia's POVThe knock came again, more insistent this time. Gas's ears perked up, but his usual protective growl was notably absent. If anything, his tail gave a tentative wag. That's really strange."Coming!" I called and made my way to the door. I hadn't even finished turning the handle when Gas bounded forward, nearly knocking me off balance in his enthusiasm. The door swung open to reveal Nate, looking casual but put-together in jeans and a light sweater. His easy smile faltered slightly as his eyes dropped to my midsection, then quickly back to my face.The flowing fabric of my maxi dress did its best to conceal my pregnancy, but at nearly five months with twins, there was only so much clever draping could hide."Oh." The word escaped before I could stop it. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I realized what he must be seeing – what I'd been so carefully hiding during our friendship.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Gas's tail thumped against the hardwood as he looked between us,
*Mia's POV*I stared at the two men standing in my kitchen, both seemingly ready to escort me to a simple prenatal checkup like I was some kind of precious cargo. The absurdity of the situation made me want to laugh and cry simultaneously. I'm glad I have these sincere friends. But this is too dramatic."Look," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "I appreciate the concern, really. But this is just a routine appointment. I've been managing just fine on my own."Nate leaned against the counter, his casual posture at odds with the determination in his eyes. "Think of it as having a medical consultant on hand. Just in case."Mom watched the exchange with poorly concealed amusement. "They do make some valid points, sweetheart.""Not helping, Mom." I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache building. Gas, the traitor, wagged his tail happily between the two men like this was all terribly entertaining.My phone buzzed – Scarlett, because of course it was:*Please tell me Thomas made it ther
*Mia's POV*Time slowed to a crawl as I watched Taylor's Porsche barreling toward me. My body moved on instinct, survival reflexes kicking in despite my awkward pregnant state. I threw myself sideways, rolling onto the grass strip beside the walkway. The impact sent shooting pain through my ankle, but the soft ground cushioned my fall enough to protect my stomach.The horrific screech of metal on concrete filled the air as Taylor's car slammed into the retaining wall. The sound of the crash echoed off nearby buildings, followed by the tinkle of shattered glass hitting pavement.My hands immediately went to my belly, checking for any signs of distress from the babies. They shifted normally - if anything, more active than usual from the adrenaline coursing through my system. My ankle throbbed, but that was secondary to ensuring my children were safe.With trembling fingers, I pulled out my phone and dialed 911."911, what's your emergency?""Someone just tried to run me over," I said, k
**Mia's POV**Officer Martinez guided me back toward the squad car. I glanced back at our apartment building."Don't you want to spare her worry?" Officer Martinez asked, following my gaze. Her badge caught the afternoon sunlight as she shifted, the name "Martinez" gleaming against the metal."Yeah. She's still recovering. She doesn't need this kind of stress right now." A strange calm settled over me. After everything that had happened.I felt almost detached. Martinez nodded. "We'll need you to come to the station and make a formal statement. The paramedics can examine you more thoroughly there.""Okay." We reached the patrol car. Taylor was already secured in the back of another vehicle. Martinez followed my gaze. "We'll charge her with attempted murder, and possibly other offenses, pending our review of the surveillance footage. The prosecutor will determine the final charges." She helped me toward the passenger side door. "Do you have a lawyer?""Yes. I'll call them from the sta
Mia's POVThe journalists wanted to eat me.Martinez frowned. "We can take you in through the service entrance.""I'll handle them," Nate said firmly. "You focus on getting Mia inside safely."He stepped out first, Gas at his heels. The reporters descended immediately, microphones extended, questions overlapping:"Sir, what's your connection to Mia Williams?""Is it true Taylor Matthews attempted murder?""Dr. Pierce, are you and Ms. Williams romantically involved?"Martinez held up his hands, his posture straight and commanding. "Ms. Williams has no comment at this time. She's been through a traumatic experience and asks for privacy as she recovers."His authoritative tone made several reporters step back. Gas positioned himself protectively between the cameras and the car door as Martinez helped me out. The flashes were blinding, making me stumble slightly."Ms. Williams! Is it true you're pregnant?"The question hit like ice water. I froze."No questions," Martinez said firmly, shi
Mia's POVI stared at the message, my mind racing. There were only two options: reply or ignore. Either way, Kyle would eventually confront me about the twins. The question was whether I wanted that confrontation on my terms or his.I need to call Robert. If Kyle's going to push for custody, I need to be prepared.I thought for a moment, then typed: *Not tonight, Kyle. I need rest. We can talk tomorrow.*His response came instantly: *Are you alright?*The simple question caught me off guard. Was it concern for me, or for his unborn children? I hesitated and decided not to reply.Three dots appeared, disappeared.Nate cleared his throat. "You should try to sleep. Both of you." He glanced between Mom and me. "Will you be okay if I leave? I can stay if you're concerned about security.""The police officer is outside," Mom reminded him. "And Gas is better than any security system."At the sound of his name, Gas's tail thumped against the couch cushions."Besides," I added, "you've already
**Mia's POV**I spent the whole night thinking nonsense, so I didn't sleep well.A soft whimper from Gas drew my attention. He lay curled in his bed by the window, paws twitching as he chased dream rabbits. I envy Gas. He always gets a good night's sleep.My phone screen illuminated softly. It is 6:17 AM now. The date glowed also, October 15th. My "old" wedding anniversary. For the first three years, I always prepared for this day in advance. People can adapt easily. I almost forgot this day.To be honest, I had hoped that after the divorce, Kyle would disappear from my life completely. That I could never have to think about this man again. But I had underestimated things. Would Kyle give up my babies? And there was the kidnapping thing. Should I tell Kyle?Sometimes I feel so sad that Kyle and I met so early in life. I was so hopelessly in love with him years after. It seemed like our lives were so intertwined. But, sadly, we were still unable to find happiness.There were some thing
Mia's POVI listen to my mother's phone conversation with her lawyer. I can tell she truly wants to send her ex-husband to prison. I sit on the sofa and try to find a comfortable position, as my belly is getting bigger and bigger. Gas lies at my feet.“Yes, I understand the implications,” Mom's voice came from the kitchen, her usual shrill tone when she was dealing with legal matters. ”But I need the records from 1995 to 2000. All of them.”Gas nudged my ankle with his nose, placed his favorite rope toy on my lap, and his eyes filled with hope. I smiled and picked up the worn-out piece of string. Our games had become more gentle since I became pregnant. Gas had made his compromises for me.“Be careful, Mommy,” I murmured as we played a modified version of catch, throwing the toy very close. Gas ran over happily.I picked up the stack of papers Mom had left on the coffee table: bank statements, property records. Mom had really done her work.I flipped to “James Young Investigation,” th
*Mia's POV*I decided to take a nap, but then I suddenly realized something. Kyle didn't say anything about Taylor bumping into me yesterday. It was almost the first time he had ignored Taylor. With second thought. Of course he hadn't mentioned Taylor. He no longer saw Taylor as the girl. Naturally, he wasn't interested in Taylor anymore. He now knew that I was the girl.It seemed like I had finally defeated Taylor. I'd finally "won." But the thought didn't make me feel happy at all. Kyle's love had become something cheap, as it wasn't love at all."Nate?" My voice sounded small in the quiet car. "Have you ever been in love?"He glanced at me briefly. For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. I don't know why but I thought he must have felt that I was stupid.But he still answered, ‘Yes.” The word held weight, like stones dropping into still water."What was it like?" I pressed. "How did you know it was real?"His hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "You're really aski
*Mia's POV*The café was exactly halfway between our old house and my new apartment. Neutral territory, my lawyer had called it when suggesting the location. Through the window, I could already see Kyle at a corner table, looking impeccable as always in one of his perfectly tailored suits. He was early.My phone buzzed with a message from Robert: *Remember, you're not obligated to agree to anything today. This is just a preliminary discussion.*I took a deep breath, smoothing my sweater over my clearly visible bump. No point trying to hide it now—my pregnant status was splashed across every gossip site and society blog in the city. The headlines ranged from sympathetic ("Pregnant Ex-Wife of Business Tycoon Targeted in Shocking Attack") to scandalous ("Kyle Branson's Secret Love Child Drama").Kyle stood as I approached, something flickering in his eyes as they dropped to my stomach. For a moment, neither of us spoke."You're looking well," he said finally, his voice carefully neutral.
*Mia's POV*The banging continued, each thud making my heart race faster. My father's voice carried through the door, that familiar entitled tone that had terrorized my teenage years: "Mia Williams, open this door immediately!"I caught Mom's eye across the room. Her face had gone hard. After my mother regained consciousness, she never saw my father again. I don't know what my mother's feelings were like. I know that she, too, once prayed for her husband's love, just like I did. But my father was clearly a complete user. He may even have tried to kill her to get her property."Stay seated," she told me firmly, her voice brooking no argument. "Your ankle needs rest.""I'll handle this," Mom said, her chin lifting as she moved toward the door with surprising grace despite her own injured ankle. Scarlett squeezed my hand.Mom opened the door just enough to reveal my father's imposing figure. He stood there in one of his expensive suits, designer briefcase in hand, looking every inch the
Mia's POVMorning brought a fresh wave of chaos. Scarlett arrived like a hurricane at 7 AM, somehow having convinced the police officer to let her in. She burst into my bedroom, still wearing what looked like resort clothes, her face bare of makeup and creased with worry."Oh my god!" She flung herself onto my bed, barely missing Gas, who scrambled away with an indignant huff. "I almost had a heart attack when I saw the news! Are you okay? Let me see your ankle. Did they get that bitch in jail? I swear to god, Mia, if you ever keep something like this from me again—""Scarlett," I managed, sitting up groggily. "Breathe.""Breathe? BREATHE?" She pulled back to glare at me. "My best friend almost gets murdered and you want me to breathe?""Yes, because you're going to hyperventilate." I grabbed her flailing hands. "I'm okay. Really. Just a sprained ankle and some bruises."She studied my face intently, as if looking for hidden damage. Finally, her shoulders slumped. "I was so scared," s
Mia's POVI stared at the message, my mind racing. There were only two options: reply or ignore. Either way, Kyle would eventually confront me about the twins. The question was whether I wanted that confrontation on my terms or his.I need to call Robert. If Kyle's going to push for custody, I need to be prepared.I thought for a moment, then typed: *Not tonight, Kyle. I need rest. We can talk tomorrow.*His response came instantly: *Are you alright?*The simple question caught me off guard. Was it concern for me, or for his unborn children? I hesitated and decided not to reply.Three dots appeared, disappeared.Nate cleared his throat. "You should try to sleep. Both of you." He glanced between Mom and me. "Will you be okay if I leave? I can stay if you're concerned about security.""The police officer is outside," Mom reminded him. "And Gas is better than any security system."At the sound of his name, Gas's tail thumped against the couch cushions."Besides," I added, "you've already
Mia's POVThe journalists wanted to eat me.Martinez frowned. "We can take you in through the service entrance.""I'll handle them," Nate said firmly. "You focus on getting Mia inside safely."He stepped out first, Gas at his heels. The reporters descended immediately, microphones extended, questions overlapping:"Sir, what's your connection to Mia Williams?""Is it true Taylor Matthews attempted murder?""Dr. Pierce, are you and Ms. Williams romantically involved?"Martinez held up his hands, his posture straight and commanding. "Ms. Williams has no comment at this time. She's been through a traumatic experience and asks for privacy as she recovers."His authoritative tone made several reporters step back. Gas positioned himself protectively between the cameras and the car door as Martinez helped me out. The flashes were blinding, making me stumble slightly."Ms. Williams! Is it true you're pregnant?"The question hit like ice water. I froze."No questions," Martinez said firmly, shi
**Mia's POV**Officer Martinez guided me back toward the squad car. I glanced back at our apartment building."Don't you want to spare her worry?" Officer Martinez asked, following my gaze. Her badge caught the afternoon sunlight as she shifted, the name "Martinez" gleaming against the metal."Yeah. She's still recovering. She doesn't need this kind of stress right now." A strange calm settled over me. After everything that had happened.I felt almost detached. Martinez nodded. "We'll need you to come to the station and make a formal statement. The paramedics can examine you more thoroughly there.""Okay." We reached the patrol car. Taylor was already secured in the back of another vehicle. Martinez followed my gaze. "We'll charge her with attempted murder, and possibly other offenses, pending our review of the surveillance footage. The prosecutor will determine the final charges." She helped me toward the passenger side door. "Do you have a lawyer?""Yes. I'll call them from the sta