LOGINHailey felt a knot in her chest, a tightness that seemed to grow with every word Natalia spoke. She swallowed hard and nodded slowly, summoning the strength to accept the inevitable.Perhaps, after all, she had found a compelling reason to break off her engagement to Simon, a valid excuse to leave behind all the foolish hopes she had once harbored.But when her eyes met Natalia’s, she sensed something in her gaze that threw her off balance. It was then that Natalia dropped the bombshell with complete candor.“Simon was never in love with me,” she said in a firm voice, breaking the silence.Hailey jerked her head up, her brow furrowed and disbelief etched across every line of her face.“That can’t be true,” she retorted, her tone more tense than she intended. “Simon risked his life for you… are you telling me that wasn’t out of love?”A wry smile crossed Natalia’s lips as she slowly shook her head.“It wasn’t love, Hailey. It was guilt,” she let out a long sigh. “Ever since he discover
Henry McGregor drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair, his jaw clenched and his gaze fixed on the fire in the fireplace.“Isabella,” he murmured with restrained fury, almost as if the mere mention of her name burned his tongue.Hugo, his faithful vassal, stood at one side of the room, watching him with the loyalty of a man ready for anything.“I always knew that woman couldn’t be trusted,” Hugo said in a firm voice. But this… this crosses every line.Henry slowly turned his head toward him, his dark eyes reflecting a cold determination.“I want to kill her,” he declared with a calmness that was even more terrifying than a scream.Hugo tilted his head slightly, waiting for the rest of his words.“But that would be too easy,” Henry continued, feeling his voice harden. “Isabella doesn’t deserve a quick death. She likes the good life, Hugo. The reputation, the cameras, the magazine covers. We’re going to destroy all of that.”A grim smile curved Hugo’s lips.“If we expose her as a cr
The days passed peacefully, and Natalia began to notice a small bulge between her hips that grew day by day. That subtle sign of her pregnancy filled her with joy and reinforced the sense of stability she had found alongside Keiden, Astrid, Nathan, and her parents.For the first time in a long while, she could afford to breathe a sigh of relief.The constant threat Isabella had posed seemed to be slowly fading, though the memory of her conversation with Simon still lingered in her mind. She had a plan and was determined to carry it out.Standing in front of the large mirror in her bedroom, Natalia adjusted the tight-fitting blue dress she had chosen. The fabric gently hugged her curves, highlighting a slight bulge in her belly.She looked at her reflection with a mixture of wonder and tenderness, when suddenly she heard Astrid’s cheerful voice behind her.“You can already see your baby bump,” her younger sister remarked with an amused smile as she leaned against the doorframe.Natalia
A few days later, Delia walked slowly toward Natalia’s house, feeling a mixture of relief and nervousness. She was still recovering from the attack that had nearly cost her her life, but the real burden she carried was the weight of the secrets she had to keep.Upon entering, she found Natalia in the living room, absentmindedly stroking her belly as she leafed through a book on pregnancy.“You finally showed up!” Natalia exclaimed, carefully standing up to hug her. “Where had you been? You missed the baby’s first ultrasound!”Her friend’s annoyed tone struck her like a dagger. Delia felt a lump in her throat as her guilt began to overwhelm her.“I know, I’m so sorry,” she replied in a low voice, her eyes glistening with held-back tears. “Really, I didn’t want to miss that moment.”Natalia looked at her with a frown, but when she noticed the moisture in Delia’s eyes, her expression softened.“Why are you so emotional?” she asked curiously, tilting her head. “Are you pregnant too?”Deli
The hospital was in complete chaos as Keiden’s men searched every corner for clues. Tension hung in the air, and anxious glances darted back and forth when they realized that one of the nurses had disappeared.Keiden’s promise to catch Isabella echoed in their heads, but frustration grew with every room searched in vain. Keiden was in the monitoring room, his eyes fixed on the security camera screens.His jaw was clenched as he reviewed each recording, searching for any clue. But it was as if Isabella’s accomplice or any other clue had vanished without a trace.“Damn it!” he growled, pounding the table with his clenched fist. “She can’t be far.”Meanwhile, in a secluded spot, Calvin hurried over to where Isabella was, keeping watch on everything thanks to his contacts. She looked at him with annoyance, drumming her fingers on the edge of the table.“What are you doing here, Calvin?” she snapped, crossing her arms.“I came to get you out of this mess before you end up in prison,” he re
The question hung in the air like another bombshell, leaving everyone stunned. Hailey felt her face flush, and a lump formed in her throat.Simon was processing everything his son had said. He grimaced and looked at him for a moment, taken aback by the blunt question.His eyes softened instantly, though the discomfort was still etched on his face. He never imagined the situation would get this complicated.“No…” he said, hesitating for a second, as if trying to find the right way to answer. He glanced at Hailey briefly before continuing. “It’s not that, Nathan. This is… something that hasn’t been decided yet…”“No, little one… I’m not going to be your mom,” Hailey interrupted with a tense smile. “I’m here as a friend. Nothing more.”Nathan’s eyes looked at them curiously, but he didn’t seem entirely convinced. He looked at Simon, then at Hailey, and finally at the other adults surrounding him, all with complicated expressions.“Then why is everyone talking about getting married and we
Simon left Natalia’s office with quick, heavy steps. His thoughts were a whirlwind of rage and helplessness, a lethal combination he could barely control.He clutched the phone in his hand so tightly it looked as if he might snap it in two. Natalia’s cold voice echoed in his mind like a sound he co
Natalia and Simon turned around in unison when they heard a noise at the door. Keiden was standing there, arms crossed, with an expression that was a mix of tension and displeasure.His eyes scanned the scene, lingering a few seconds longer than necessary on the closeness between them.“Sorry to in
Natalia’s face went pale as her trembling fingers swiped across her phone screen. The air in the room grew thick, and a gasp escaped her lips.“It can’t be,” she murmured, her mouth slightly open, her face etched with deep bewilderment.“What’s wrong?” Keiden asked, concerned at the change in her e
Simon crossed his arms, watching as Isabella tried to compose herself after her obvious hesitation. The coldness in his gaze reflected his displeasure, something she couldn’t ignore.“Of course I told you the whole truth,” Isabella replied, trying to sound firm, though her voice cracked with a slig







