“Are you okay?” Abel asks the moment I step out of the room and I nod without saying a word.As I walk out of the hospital room, I’m relieved to hear that George will be alright and that he’ll be leaving tomorrow. I feel bad that I had to tell him we can’t keep doing what we were doing, and it is al
I’m at the new apartment, surrounded by movers unpacking my belongings. My mother is here, throwing orders around like it’s her own home.“Put that lamp over there, and be careful with that vase!” I roll my eyes at her theatrics trying not to let her get to me. I called her last night and asked if
Today it’s a bit chilly as I step out of the car. I pull on my trench coat tighter to fend off the cold as I walk toward the building. It’s a typical workday, and I’m focused on getting through it efficiently. I wanted to come early to the office since I didn’t come on Friday and I still had a lot o
“Can you tell me what that was about?” He asks and I know there is no way I’m getting out of this without telling him. I mean, he came to his company, this is getting a little out of hand, and I just need to make sure he will never show up here again.“That’s’ Winston.”“I figured that, what is he d
“I uh…I have to take this.” He says his voice distant. “Could you go with the twins to your office? I will have Zeddick pick them from there, please.” His request catches me off guard, and I nod and get up, asking Quinn and Finn to follow me to my office. Just as I step out of the office, I bump int
Abel stares at Lilith, then at me, confusion etched on his face. I can sense his mounting anger as he processes the unexpected connection between Lilith and me. Something I am in shock at the realization that I got played. I am just trying to understand what she wanted from me that she had to go to
“I need to go, Abel,” I say, my voice strained. “I think you two need to talk without me here.” He tightens his grip on my hand, his expression filled with remorse and determination. “Just give me a moment.” He says and I shake my head, but his grip is still on me.“Lilith you need to leave, you do
I nod at the waiter as he serves me my cup of coffee and turns my attention back to my computer. I had a lot of work to do but I decided to work from here because I want to stay in the office as less as I can. Ever since I received the news of George’s death, I’ve been keeping myself busy, desperate
“Abel, you are proposing…” The words tumble out of my mouth in disbelief, more of a statement than a question. He nods, and then, to my utter shock, he gets down on one knee. I feel the world around us blur and slow down, my pulse pounding in my ears.“Mildred Turina, will you marry me?” His voice w
She scoffs playfully, giving me that familiar look that says she’s still got it all under control. “I know how to take care of children, honey. We will be fine. You two go have fun.”Relief washes over me. Even though we’re leaving them in the best possible hands, the part of me that has grown attac
We’re heading to Abel’s lake house for a weekend getaway—just the two of us. He said he got the place a few years ago but rarely gets to use it. He has only taken the twins there a few times because the only time he gets enough time to spend with them without many distractions from work is during th
Epilogue"Come here,” I call her over, and she reluctantly pulls her fingers off her brother’s chubby cheeks, then walks back to where I am. I crouch down to be at her level, trying to mask the amusement I feel at her little pout.“If you keep harassing your brother, I will have him stay with me at
“Did I?”“You bitch!” I burst out laughing. He has definitely been holding that back.“I was busy dealing with a concussion to see anything, oh, and my mom has way more money than you, you know, and her money combined with the money my dad left me, which I just found out was a lot by the way, then A
“Mom, I…”“I should have taken you with me when he died, but I thought you were already a grown woman and you wouldn’t need me anymore, and I will never forgive myself for that because if I did, then you wouldn’t have ended up with an abusive man. I could have protected you from repeating the cycle.
"Abel, he is good for you," she repeats, this time more firmly. There’s a strange sadness in her eyes, as if she’s remembering all the times she wished someone had said those words to her. I nod, acknowledging her observation, but I don’t want to delve into a discussion about Abel with her. "I feel
"Are you ready to go home?" Abel asks, and I nod eagerly. The sterile scent of antiseptic clings to the air, making me desperate to leave this hospital room and everything it represents. My heart pounds with a need to escape—to feel the cool air outside, untainted by the trauma that haunts these wal
“Oh…”“I love you, and I would want you in my life and the twins too, but you need to accept that fact about me. I don’t even know if I can be a mother to your children or a stepmother. I just don’t know if I have it in me, even though I love them, and I love you,” I say, and I’m nervously waiting f