LOGINEvelyn woke with a frown. Something felt wrong.The room was dark, the faint glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows across the walls. She stayed still for a moment, blinking at the ceiling. Then a dull ache spread across her waist.Evelyn stiffened. Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach.“…Ow.”The soreness stretched from her lower back to her waist. Not sharp. But uncomfortable enough to make her uneasy.Her brows knitted.Immediately, her thoughts flew to the fortune teller."I cannot feel your pregnancy. As if it's not there."Her heartbeat picked up. Evelyn turned toward the other side of the bed. Roman wasn’t there.Her heart became frantic. “Roman?”No answer. She sat up with effort, pushing the blanket away.The soreness hit again, causing her to wince.“Ugh…” She pushed herself off the bed.The hallway remained quiet. Only one room carried light beneath the door. The study.Roman's calm voice drifted through."…the quarterly projections need to be revised. I want them
Lena woke with a splitting headache.Morning light slipped through the curtains and landed straight across her face. She groaned and dragged the blanket over her head.Her head throbbed and her mouth felt dry.“You’re awake.”Evelyn’s voice came from somewhere too close.Lena cracked one eye open.Evelyn sat on the edge of the bed with a bowl of soup in her hands. Steam curled from the top.Lena squinted. “When did you learn to make soup?”“I didn’t.” Evelyn placed the bowl on the nightstand. “I ordered it.”Lena nodded once. “That makes sense.”“Don’t change the subject.”Lena frowned. “What subject?”Evelyn stared at her.“The one where you told me you were meeting Rhys, then somehow ended up drunk at a fancy restaurant.”She paused. "Drunk, Lena. In public."Lena groaned and pressed both palms against her eyes.“Can we not?” Her voice came out rough. “My head feels like someone is punishing me for my life choices.”“You promised me.” Evelyn crossed her arms. “You said you’d pull yo
Rhys didn't turn around. His hands were trembling, shoved deep into his pockets."I can't," he said quietly. "And I won't."Then he walked out.Lena sat alone at the table. The roses sat between them, untouched. The champagne sat in its glass, bubbles rising and popping.She stared at the door where he had disappeared. Then she laughed in disbelief. Her eyes reddened. “Wow,” she muttered under her breath.Even after everything. He still wouldn’t let her go.Her gaze lowered to the ruined divorce papers. The ink had bled into the wine, turning parts of the page into a smudged mess.She almost wanted to laugh again. How ridiculous.Rhys had always been like this. Controlled and calculated.Even after she had lost their child. Leaving her seventeen calls unanswered while she bled.Her throat tightened.Lena reached for the champagne and took a sip.It felt bitter in her throat. Nothing like she imagined champagne would taste. But she drank again anyway.The restaurant looked exactly the
That night, Rhys returned home.The penthouse felt cold, empty, and dark.He stood at the entrance for a long moment with a loosened tie. Dark circles sat beneath his eyes with stubbles covering his jaw. His clothes hung looser now. Work had become the only thing keeping him sane.He took on different cases and stayed in long hours meetings. Rhys did anything to avoid returning here. To the silence and place that no longer held Lena.He walked past the couch she used to sleep on, past the kitchen mug she liked, and past her blanket. Everything still smelled faintly like her.He felt his chest bleeding.She had been pregnant and he never noticed or cared for her. He ignored her…ignored seventeen calls.Rhys swallowed hard, then entered the bathroom. He stopped when his eyes landed on something near the trash. The used pregnancy test. There were three of them. Each with two lines.His breathing stopped. Slowly, he crouched.His hand shook as he picked it up with knot forming on his sto
The house felt quiet. Lena stood by the door for a long moment after unlocking it.The familiar scent of the living room greeted her.She still looked pale. The hospital bracelet had only been removed that morning. Her body felt weak. Every step carried a dull ache through her stomach, reminding her of everything she had lost.The doctor had told her to eat properly, rest, and avoid stress. As if grief listened to instructions.Lena lowered her bag to the floor and slowly walked further into the house. Her gaze drifted around the living room, staring at the little lamp at the side, and the framed picture of her and her father by the shelf.For some reason, being back here hurt.Because this was the place she always returned to whenever life became unbearable. Only this time… she felt different. Like something had been carved out of her and never returned.Lena let out a tired breath and walked toward the kitchen, and slowly opened the fridge. Her fingers froze around the handle.There
The red light above the emergency room flickered. Then went off.Theon and Rhys were on their feet almost at the same time.Rhys stumbled forward first, his weak body swaying. The IV mark on his wrist pulled painfully as he gripped the wall for support.Theon stood so abruptly the chair scraped against the tiled floor.The emergency room doors swung open.Dr. Rosy stepped out first, exhaustion written all over her face. Her surgical cap had been removed. Loose strands of hair stuck to her forehead, and her mask hung in her hand. She looked very tired.Neither of them spoke, they just stared at the doctor eagerly.Rosy let out a breath and offered a weak smile. “The surgery was successful. She made it.”Theon’s knees almost buckled. A breath escaped him—one he didn’t even realize he had been holding. ‘Thank God.’His hand covered his eyes as relief crashed into him all at once.“Thank you…” he muttered hoarsely. “Thank you so much, doctor.”The tightness in his chest finally loosens. H
Still sniffling, Evelyn told him everything. Her father had strangled her, and he also demanded she restore the business relationship between their families. They'd also keep calling her ‘a whore’ the whole time for sleeping with "Nathan's uncle." The worst part was she couldn't even defend herself
**WARNING: MATURE CONTENT**The silk nightgown disappeared over her head in one fluid motion. Roman hooked his fingers into her lacey underwear and dragged it down her legs. His hands traced every inch of her skin as he slowly kissed his way down her body—her collarbone, the curve of her breasts, h
**WARNING: MATURE CONTENT**They drove to the magnificent estate Alexander had gifted them. Evelyn was absolutely breathless as they approached, while the exterior appeared elegantly understated, it was clearly worth millions, with panoramic views and extensive manicured gardens filled with bloomin
For a long moment, the grand ballroom was completely silent. Every guest seemed to be holding their breath.All eyes turned toward the source of that commanding voice. Roman walked calmly through the crowd, his presence commanding immediate attention. Nathan began trembling visibly."U-Uncle?" Nath







