Alice
I snapped my eyes open, and the morning sunlight danced across my face. As I quickly sat up, my gaze swept around the unfamiliar room. That's when I saw him - the man from the one-night stand, lying beside me. "What have I done?" I whispered to myself as I hastily threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed, reaching for my clothes. But before I could grab them, the man's hand closed around my wrist. Startled, I gasped and turned to face him. "What...?" I began, but he cut me off. "Do you think this is some cliché romance movie where you can just run away?" he asked, raising a brow. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself despite the embarrassment I was feeling. "I...I'm sorry about last night. I was just out of it. I'm really sorry." Without waiting for his response, I grabbed my clothes and dashed into the bathroom. After getting dressed, I stepped out to face the man standing before me. He wore only his underwear, and I quickly averted my gaze. "I'll take my leave now," I whispered, and almost turned to rush out but his low and husky voice stopped me. "I have a proposal for you," he said. "A proposal? For me? Well, what is that?" I asked curiously. But before he could respond, his phone rang. He picked it up and answered, launching into a conversation about business and money. As I listened, I realized that this man was more than just a charming stranger - he was a high-powered businessman, a tycoon, possibly. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I listened to him discuss deals and mergers with ease. Who was this man, really? Who the hell did I have sex with? He ended the call and turned to me, a soft sigh escaping from his lips. "I'm afraid I have to leave. I have an important business to attend to at the office." "I see," I muttered, nodding slightly. "But I would still like to discuss the proposal with you," he continued. "Can we talk whenever?" "Hmm, I guess that won't be a problem," I replied. "Here, take this," he said, handing me his business card. "Make sure to give me a call so that we can discuss the proposal further." "Okay," I replied, taking the card from him. He quickly dressed and rushed out the door. As soon as he was gone, I let out a sigh of relief. I looked down at the business card in my hand and my eyes widened in shock. BLACKWOOD COMPANIES. Blackwood Company was a vast and influential enterprise, a household name founded and owned by the enigmatic Mr. Blackwood. What did this man have to do with them? Was he someone important or what? "I won't have to meet him again," I muttered to myself, shoving the card into my bag. "He's just a one-night stand, nothing more..." I hailed a taxi outside and headed home. The ride was quiet, giving me time to gather my thoughts. When I arrived at our apartment, Naomi looked up from her phone, feeling surprised and at the same time, concerned. "Hey, why are you late? I was worried sick!" she exclaimed. "And you weren't even picking up your calls." "I'm sorry, I just had a bit too much to drink and ended up sleeping over at… the bar. Ended up waking this morning." Naomi raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "Okay, fine. I'm running late for work, and I need to leave now." "No problem," I nodded. "Bye and be careful." "Yeah, sure," she replied, grabbing her bag and headed for the door. "Oh, and there's food in the kitchen. Help yourself." I smiled, grateful for her thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Naomi. You're a lifesaver." We exchanged a quick wave goodbye, and Naomi rushed out the door, leaving me alone in the apartment. I pulled out my phone and decided to do some online research. I typed in Blackwood company CEO, and my eyes widened as I scrolled through the search results. Xavier Blackwood, the man I had a one-night stand with, was the owner, and they claimed he was a successful billionaire CEO. I couldn't believe it. Did I really sleep with someone this influential? The thought sent shivers down my spine. I've heard of Blackwood Company, but I'd never seen the CEO's face until now. I made up my mind then and there: I would never see him again, and I also tried to put the encounter out of my mind. Time flew by, and I soon started a new job as a server at a small restaurant, which helped me earn some much-needed money. But then, I began to feel unwell. At first, I brushed it off as exhaustion, but as the days went by, my symptoms only worsened. One morning, as I was getting ready for work with Naomi, I suddenly felt nauseous, and I rushed into the toilet and started vomiting. Naomi followed close behind, concern etched on her face. "Hey, you okay?" she asked. I nodded, still feeling queasy. "I'm fine," I replied, washing my face with cold water. But she wasn't convinced. "I don't think you should go to work today. You look so pale. You should rest." I shook my head, trying to act brave. "No, I'm fine. I can do it. Besides, I really don't want to miss work." Naomi looked really worried, but she didn't push the issue. At least, not yet. But before we could continue the conversation, I felt another wave of nausea hit me. I rushed back into the bathroom and vomited again. This time, Naomi's expression was even more concerned. "Alice, are you pregnant?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. I spun around, shocked. "What? No, I'm not! How...why would I be pregnant?" "It's just a simple question," she said, rolling her eyes. "Why would you ask that kind of question," I snarled, looking completely upset. But before another word could escape from my lips, I felt a cold feeling creeping up my spine because I had suddenly remembered the one-night stand from four weeks ago… and the fact that we didn't use protection and I was on my ovulation. Oh God. It can't be. Please! "No, I'm not pregnant," I said, shaking my head in denial. "It's not possible. Never." Naomi raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you go to the doctor to confirm? At least you'll know what's wrong and can get some rest and medication." I sighed, feeling a bit defeated. "Okay, fine. I'll go." I took a deep breath and left for the hospital. After a series of tests, my name was called. I stood up, my heart racing, and made my way to the doctor's office. The doctor, a kind-faced woman with a gentle smile, greeted me warmly as I took my seat opposite her. "Congratulations, Miss Brown, you're four weeks pregnant." I felt like my world had been turned upside down. This should not be happening to me.XavierI narrowed my eyes, and slowly softened the look on my face before letting a smirked crawl over my lips."Did you really think I'd forget you, Alice? Once bitten, twice shy, don't you think?"Alice looked taken aback. "What? You… you remember?""I remember everything, I chuckled, nodding my head. "I was only trying to pull your leg. You know, like those cliché movie scenes."As I spoke, I winced in pain, clutching my chest. Alice had slammed her hand against there, and I could see the anger and grief in her eyes. She was about to hit me again when the doctor intervened, gently prying Alice away. "Ma, please calm down. He's still recovering "She resisted, her eyes flashing with emotion. "No, I won't calm down! Did you see what he just did? He pretended not to know me!"I shook my head, a hint of a smile on my lips. "I'm sorry, Alice. I didn't mean to scare you.""How could you act like you don't know me?" Alice demanded, her voice trembling. "I was worried sick about you. I tho
AliceA WEEK LATERAs I gazed lovingly at my baby, I couldn't help but smile. She was so peaceful, breastfeeding and moving softly in my arms. I saw Xavier's features in her tiny face, and my heart swelled with love.Just then, the door opened, and Xavier's parents walked in, beaming with smiles. "Oh my goodness!" Xavier's mother exclaimed, rushing towards me. "Look at her! She looks just like Xavier!"I smiled warmly, feeling a pang of sadness. "Yes, she does."Xavier's mother cooed over the baby, admiring her tiny features."What about Wendy and her husband?" I asked. "They also promised to see me today.""They'll be here soon," Xavier's father replied. "They just stopped to...visit Xavier first."My eyes clouded with sadness, and I nodded silently. Xavier's father asked gently, "Don't you miss him?"Did he even need to ask? My face showed how much I missed him. It's been a weak already!"I miss him so much…" I replied, my voice trailing off. "But there's nothing we can do now, can
AliceI slowly opened my eyes, wincing in pain. My head throbbed, and my body ached all over. As my gaze cleared, I realized I was in a familiar room - my ex-husband Ethan's bedroom. I sat up with a start, my heart racing.What was I doing here? I looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings. Even the bed was the same one where I'd caught Ethan and my step-sister Kate together. The memory still stung.I tried to piece together how I'd ended up here. Then, it hit me - Ethan had kidnapped me from the shopping mall. I'd been so scared, and now I was trapped.Determined to escape, I stood up, holding my stomach. I was still getting used to my pregnant body. I made my way to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. I tried again, but it wouldn't budge.Panic set in. I started banging on the door, shouting, "Let me out now! Let me out before you regret bringing me here! Ethan, Let me go!"But soon, I gave up because he wasn't even answering me and as I stood there, frozen in
XavierI sat in the meeting, surrounded by CEOs and billionaires, discussing business deals and strategies. But my mind kept wandering, my heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason. I rubbed my chest, trying to shake off the odd feeling.Lumber, sitting beside me, noticed my discomfort. "Is everything alright, sir?" he asked, concern etched on his face.I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit...off," I replied, unsure of what was wrong."Maybe you should get some rest, sir?" he suggested. "You've been working non-stop for weeks."But I shook my head, determined to push through. "Let's just finish this up, and then I'll take a break."The meeting finally came to a close, and I stood up, shaking hands with the other executives. As I walked out of the conference room, my secretary handed me a bottle of water. "Here, sir, drink this. It'll help calm your nerves."I took a sip, feeling a bit more centered. Then, I remembered my wife, and how I'd promis
MariaAs I sat in my favorite armchair, reflecting on my life, I couldn't help but think about my son, Xavier. Had I truly given him the best possible life? The answer, I realized with a pang of guilt, was no.I had been a distant, uninvolved mother, never taking the time to understand my son's desires or dreams. Instead, I had dictated his path, choosing his career and making decisions on his behalf, right from a young age.A few years ago, Xavier had brought Phoebe to meet me, telling me about his plans to marry her and how much he loved her. But I had refused to accept her. In my mind, I would choose the perfect woman for my son, and Phoebe didn't fit the bill.So, behind the scenes, I had manipulated events to sabotage Xavier's business, watching with a sense of satisfaction as it crumbled. My son was devastated, unable to understand why his company was failing. Little did he know, it was his own mother who was responsible.I recalled the conversation I had with Phoebe, telling he
AliceI walked slowly down the staircase, gripping a large, brown envelope containing the divorce finalization papers. Reaching the bottom step, I paused, looking up to see Xavier descending towards me. His polished shoes clicked against the stairs, echoing through the hallway.As he approached, he extended a hand, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, this is it. I can officially call you my ex-wife, right?"I smiled, inhaling the scent of his cologne as I took his hand. "Not for long, Xavier," I replied, our handshake brief but firm.We broke apart, and together, we walked towards the car waiting for us outside. The driver stood by the door, tipping his hat as we slid into the backseat.As the car glided smoothly into motion, Xavier turned to me, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Divorce has never tasted so sweet," he whispered, his eyes crinkling at the corners.I smiled, my heart skipping a beat. "I can't help but agree," I replied, our lips meeting in a tender, s