It was agonizing to stand beside the man she once believed would be her forever, watching him vow his life to another woman—her own sister, Evelyn. As the maid of honor, Kaira was painfully close, each vow and whispered promise a knife twisting deeper. She could feel her heart splintering with each passing moment, a suffocating ache in her chest as if her entire world had fractured beyond repair.Kaira had known heartbreak before, but discovering that Julian had been unfaithful was an agony she hadn’t anticipated. She had trusted him, seen him as the one stable, loving force in her life. The betrayal alone had been devastating, but to learn it was with her own sister—the sister who had taken so much from her—was a torment that left her feeling stripped bare, like her very identity had been torn away.Finding out through a wedding invitation was a new level of humiliation. It was a double blow, the kind that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about loyalty and love. H
The comfortable sheets cocooned Kaira as she snuggled deeper into the bed, the intoxicating scent of cologne filling her senses. She almost didn’t want to open her eyes, but as she rolled to her side, her hand brushed against something solid—a strong, masculine body. Realization hit, and her eyes flew open, meeting the intense gaze of a stunning man with piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight through her. She gasped and bolted upright, putting as much distance between them as possible.The man’s warm smile, though friendly, only unsettled her further. Panic and regret flooded her thoughts. If she hadn’t drunk herself into a stupor, she wouldn’t be in this situation, waking up next to a stranger. She tried to recall the events of the previous night, but her memory was foggy, cut off at the last drink. Any attempt to remember only made her head throb painfully.“Did… anything happen?” she asked carefully, praying for an answer that would reassure her.Sebastian tilted his head,
As Kaira entered the house, she was met with a hard slap across the cheek from her stepmother, Claudia. The stinging pain snapped her back to the harsh reality of her life here. She’d been foolish to decline the food offered to her that morning; the slap reminded her that she’d likely be starved today as punishment. Across the room, her sister Evelyn was watching the scene with obvious satisfaction, a smug grin playing on her lips. Julian, her former lover and now Evelyn’s husband, sat beside her, his expression unreadable but his gaze fixed on Kaira.“What was that stunt you pulled at the wedding yesterday, huh?” Claudia’s voice was shrill with anger as she practically shouted into Kaira’s ear. She threw two newspapers onto the coffee table, and Kaira’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the headlines. It was the first time she’d ever made it into the news—she, the forgotten daughter, had actually captured the public’s attention, and on two front pages, no less. *Wow, I’m quite the c
The house had been unusually peaceful since Evelyn left. With her sister gone, everyone seemed too occupied with preparations for the grand dinner party in two days to pay much attention to Kaira. It was a relief, really. She wasn’t particularly fond of these lavish social events, and she already planned her escape from the evening’s watchful and judgmental eyes. She’d perfected the art of slipping into the background, avoiding unnecessary attention.Today, though, her mind was elsewhere. Kaira slipped into a modest but stylish outfit, soft and unassuming, yet put together. She carefully added a touch of makeup, hoping to make a slightly better impression than last time. She was returning Sebastian’s clothes, and though she told herself it was a simple errand, her heart thumped with anticipation.Once outside, she flagged down a taxi and, within minutes, found herself standing in front of his mansion. As she gazed up at the towering structure, Kaira felt small. The building was easily
Kaira sat at the bar on the edge of the party her father had insisted she attend. He claimed it would seem suspicious if she didn’t make an appearance, so here she was, with a glass of wine in hand, enjoying one of the few indulgences she allowed herself. She noticed the servants casting judgmental glances her way as she munched on a cookie, but she couldn’t care less about their opinions tonight.Her gaze drifted to her father, Mathias, along with Evelyn and Julian, laughing together over something their business partner was saying. So much for “making an appearance,” she thought, shaking her head. Her stepmother was nearby, deep in conversation with a law firm owner. Kaira knew well enough that this party was just a network of favors, disguised as a celebration. A soft melody played in the background, briefly drawing everyone's attention to the father and daughter on the dance floor.Evelyn and Mathias were the first to dance. Evelyn was skilled, and her movements impressed the gues
Kaira sat in the chair, silently processing the weight of Sebastian’s words as he carefully tended to the bruises on her wrists. His touch was surprisingly gentle, the warm scent of antiseptic filling the air as he dabbed at the wounds left by her fall. The house had fallen into an uneasy silence, the kind that lingered after the departure of guests. The Blackwoods were preoccupied with tending to Evelyn, leaving the atmosphere heavy with their absence. Only the faint whispers of the servants broke the stillness as they hovered at the edges of the room, their astonished eyes fixed on the scene before them. Kaira, the forgotten daughter, the invisible one, now had everyone's attention. Evelyn may have been the star of the evening, but it seemed Kaira had unknowingly stolen the spotlight, and Sebastian, of all people, was at the center of it. Whispers spread like wildfire among the servants, many mentally noting not to cross her. It seemed Kaira had climbed the ladder in ways they had
Kaira woke up to an empty bed, feeling surprisingly well-rested. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of Sebastian’s warmth, which had enveloped her throughout the night. Without lingering, she got up, freshened herself, and headed downstairs, her senses immediately captivated by the aroma of freshly prepared dishes. “Miss Blackwood,”The staffs greeted her with respect as she passed. Their respect felt unwarranted, and she couldn’t help but wonder why they treated her with such reverence. “You’re awake, Princess,” Sebastian’s deep voice called from the dining room. He was seated at the head of the table, his presence as commanding as ever. He gestured for her to join him, and, knowing his persistence, she complied without protest. Over the days spent in his company, Kaira had learned that refusing him never yielded results. “Did you sleep well, Princess?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked up from his plate. “Yes, I did,” She replied, her focus fir
The media erupted with shocking news of Sebastian’s secret wedding just days after their marriage. The revelation left everyone eager to uncover the identity of the mysterious woman who had captured the heart of the elusive bachelor. Women who had once dreamed of winning him for themselves were consumed with envy.The Blackwoods were no exception, though they seemed more intent on using the news to taunt Kaira.“I wonder what Mr. Ashford’s wife looks like,” Claudia mused aloud, her eyes glued to the headlines. “She must be incredibly beautiful and, no doubt, of high status.”“I can’t help but feel jealous of her,” Evelyn chimed in, a dreamy expression on her face. “I mean, how could she have possibly won his heart?” Evelyn moved back into her parent’s household since her supposed near miscarriage. Neither of them realized the irony, the woman they envied was right there in the room with them. Kaira sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the television, refusing to react.“Unlike some people
Kaira walked to the gate hesitantly, hearing the screeching of wheels. It was only Nora who knew her whereabouts and she wasn’t coming today because she had slept over. She pulled the gate opening, poking her head out slightly. Her heart raced when she saw Sebastian standing by his car with a wide grin.“Hello princess.” He said softly, his eyes lighting up. Her heart fluttered at the pet name she had missed listening to for over a month.Kaira opened the gates widely, staring at him with different emotions. She was happy to see him, it felt like years she had seen him and she couldn’t help but feel guilty over the bags which seemed to be under his eyes. “Aren’t you going to invite me in, princess?” He asked, walking towards her. “Sebastian.” She managed to say her voice cracking as she wrapped her arms around him, her swollen belly poking him slightly.“I missed you, princess.” He mumbled against her neck, stroking her hair. She opened her mouth to respond but nothing seemed to c
"Thank you." Nora smiled at the saleslady as she took back her card. She had stopped by the closest stores near Kaira’s place to pick up a few things."Do come again!" The saleslady beamed. Nora gave her a nod before turning to leave—only to bump into someone."Are you okay?" A man’s voice rang out in concern as she bent down to gather her fallen groceries."Yeah, I’m—“ She stopped mid-sentence, eyes locking onto the man in front of her. Cole. His initial look of worry quickly switched into a scowl the moment he recognized her."Miss Gray." He greeted her with a fake smile, eyes full of disdain. Even knowing it wasn’t real, her heart still fluttered."Cole." She responded evenly, meeting his gaze."Fancy running into you here. I don’t believe you live around this area." His voice carried a hint of sarcasm as his eyes flicked to the groceries in her arms."I don’t," she replied curtly, slightly taken aback by his sudden interest. He usually avoided her like she was the plague."Must be
Sebastian sighed, glancing at his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. His patience was wearing thin as he waited at the restaurant for Nora and Elijah.Just as he was about to get up and leave, they rushed in, both breathless, as if they had just sprinted the whole way."Nice of you both to finally show up," he remarked, his voice laced with irritation as they struggled to catch their breath."The traffic was insane," Nora explained, her voice raspy."We ran here because we know how much you hate waiting," Elijah added, sinking into the empty chair. Nora followed suit.Sebastian’s irritation eased as curiosity took over. "Why were you both late in the first place?""I stopped by Grandfather’s before coming here, and we used his car," Nora replied.Sebastian nodded—until realization hit him. His eyes widened. "Wait… where the hell is the car if you both ran here?""Still stuck in traffic," Nora said with a grin.Sebastian shook his head in amusement. "You two are absolutely cr
“Julian!” Evelyn screamed her lungs out as she stormed inside his room. He raised his eyes from his phone, glancing at her face filled with rage. “What do you want now, Evelyn?” He hissed in angrily. “How dare you?” She asked, stepping closer to him, lounging on the bed lazily. “How dare I do what?” He snapped, irritated by the annoying suspense. “I gave an order in the company as the new CEO for everyone to gather for a brief meeting today and you convinced them otherwise?” She asked rhetorically, her hands fisting on her hair in outrage. Julian paused, searching his memory for her accusation. “I simply told my team that we were having a meeting.” He said dismissively.She laughed bitterly, “Who do you think you are to challenge my orders, Julian?” She spat out, her eyes red from anger.“Your husband.” He retorted bitterly, the words repulsing him. “My husband?” She repeated with dark glint, “You’re nothing but a piece of trash, Julian.” His jaw tightened in anger, springing u
Sebastian sat on his office desk, his eyes glued to the paperwork on his desk. It was infuriating how little he had to do today. He wanted to bury himself with work, the need to escape the reality of returning back to an empty house each day. “Come in.” He commanded, hearing a knock on his door. His eyes flicked to Clara stepping into the office.“You have a visitor, sir.” She informed in a professional manner. “A visitor?” He echoed, wondering how it could be now. Nora just left his office a while ago so it couldn’t be her again.“Yes, the other Mr Ashford.” She clarified, referring to Elijah. Sebastian sighed in frustration, clenching the pen in his hand. Elijah was the reason Kaira wasn’t here now and he had the guts to show his face to him? “Let him in.” He commanded regardless, the curiosity of what had dragged him all the way to his office when he was still in suspension consuming him.“Yes, Sir.” She responded curtly, turning on her heels. Soon Elijah entered the office with
Sebastian stared at the picture of Kaira on his phone with a smile on his lips. It had only been days, since she left but he already felt as though he was loosing his mind. He hit the gym more often, burying himself with work each time just to stop the urge of reaching out to her. “Are you okay?” Nora asked loudly pulling him out of his trance. He glanced up at her and offered a small smile. “Sebastian.” She called out as though saying he could talk to her. She knew exactly what the problem was but she already made a promise to Kaira, though she was sure he knew her where about. “I’m fine, Nora.” Sebastian reassured sternly, dropping his phone down on the couch. It had now become a habit, always spacing out in the middle of a conversation. “We should go out on a date, tomorrow.” Nora offered with a smile, twirling the glass of wine in her hand. She made it a routine to visit him often either in his office or at home just like she did with Kaira. “Get a man to go on a date with.
Kaira left the next morning just as agreed, with the condition of returning when she felt sane. She traveled way out of the cities of New York where she believed Sebastian wouldn’t find her easily but she knew deep down he find her if he wished to. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Nora asked as she drove her out of town. Nora was the only person she could trust because just like her, she was equally kept in the dark about everything.“For the hundredth time, Yes, Nora.” She responded with a roll of eyes.“I know Sebastian was wrong but—“Enough about Sebastian, please. I never said I was getting a divorce now did I?” Kaira asked with a flicker of irritation in her eyes as she cut her off.“No you didn’t. But girls say something and do something else. I’m not saying this because his my cousin but I just don’t want the child to grow without a father.” She admitted in concern. Kaira sighed, “Even if I were to get a divorce, I’m sure my child would never grow without a father’s love.
“So tell me the lies you have to feed me now.” Kaira said sarcastically staring at them. They both shared a look between themselves almost as though asking who would speak. “Stop the hesitation and just talk okay?!” She snapped in frustration. “Kaira.” Sebastian whispered in warning as he walked over and sat close to her. She glared at him but didn’t protest.“First I would like to apologize for keeping the truth away from you.” Older Mr Ashford said in sincerity that almost touched her heart. Keywords, Almost.“You apology won’t bring back the dead would it?” She asked in mockery. “I understand how you feel but please understand that it was an accident.” He responded and she chuckled bitterly.“An accident you say? Your grandson happened to accidentally kill two of my family? Such a coincidence, don’t you think?” She asked in rage, sarcasm evident in voice.“Actually, Sebastian didn’t—“ Aunt Layla said but she cut her off. “Save it. Just say whatever you have to say and leave!” S
It had been a week since Kaira last stepped foot outside of the building, turning to Sebastian’s captive. The few times she had attempted leaving the house had proved futile, having being told that Sebastian had ordered that she doesn’t step foot out of the building. Keeping her against her wish was suffocating her enough when all she wanted to do was to get away from him as far as possible. He caged her in their room, making sure she doesn’t move to the guest room and when she did? It was useless after all. He would still pull her back to their bedroom and act as though everything was fine between them both when it was far from that.Kaira sighed in frustration , rubbing on her flat stomach, her stare hardened on the door as she heard the sound of Sebastian’s car driving in. “Hello, princess.” He beamed as he walked in with a wide smile on her face. She didn’t as much as react to him, rising abruptly from the sofa. “Kaira please…”He whispered, running his hand through his car in f