"Are you sure that's the right thing to do?" Kai asked, watching his friend get a few things together from his office table.
He'd never seen Nolan in this kind of mood, and if a year ago someone had told him Nolan would act this way towards Jules, he'd have had them arrested. “The papers are ready, Kai. I've made my decision.” Nolan replied, his expression tight. Kai sighed and watched him for a while. “What if she was actually framed?" Nolan spun around to face his friend, irritation flashing in his eyes. “How, Kai? You saw the pictures, didn't you?” “Yes." “So what's the excuse? That she was drugged and dragged down to the hotel with the man? If you didn't see it, she looked perfectly sober, Kai." His voice rose with his temper. “She knows how I feel about cheating. She knows what I've been through and what I'm still trying to come out from. And she still chose to cheat on me, and get pregnant for another man.” His tone suddenly went low, his voice more serious than ever. “I refuse to be the heartbroken one this time." A knock suddenly cut through the tension, turning both men's attention to it. But before they could inquire who it was, the door flung open, and a woman trudged in, a bright smile on her lips. "Hi, Nolan!” She greeted cheerfully, almost bouncing on her toes like a little child. She was stunning—red hair, brown eyes, red lipstick. Height elevated to average by heels and her body was just like Nolan remembered—distracting. “My god,” Kai whispered, unable to take his eyes off their intruder. Nolan's throat bobbed as he stared. “Evie. What are you doing here?” Evie rolled her eyes and clutched her handbag tighter, stepping closer to Nolan and never breaking eye contact with him. "Nice to see you, too.” She said, her voice was soft and daring. She clearly knew how to pull a man. "Heard about your wedding. Sorry I couldn't make it.” "No problem," he finally looked away and circled to the other side of his desk where his chair was and settled himself in it. “What are you doing here?" Evie smirked and placed her bag on the desk. “Aren't you happy to see me? It's been such a long while. I thought you'd be thrilled.” She purred, placing her hands on the desk and leaning in. Nolan certainly wasn't thrilled when his aunt brought her up just a day after his failed wedding with Jules. But seeing how much she's changed over the years, he wasn't sure what he was feeling. They'd been friends since his parents were alive. They used to be such close friends, and they knew basically everything about each other. But Evie had suddenly told him how much she liked him, and Nolan, who knew the type of girl she was, didn't think he could reciprocate the affection. After that day, things became awkward between them and when she'd confronted him, he told her outright that he wasn't interested and he didn't want to see her again. “I'll meet you at home, Nolan." Kai announced and left the office. "Good to see you again, Nolan. Aunt Maggie told me you needed me.” “And you believed her?" Nolan asked, his voice straight. Evie smiled. “Well, I know you need someone. Since Jules, or whatever her name is, decided to be a sl—” “You have no right to speak about Jules in that way,” Nolan snapped. Evie just smiled and stepped around the desk, perching on the edge right in front of him. “It's nice that you still defend her, despite the fact that you're planning to shove divorce papers into her hands." She said, running her hand along the file on the table. “That reminds me. I'd like to watch her sign it." Nolan looked away, his face serious. “No Evie, you're not coming." ***** Evie skipped down the hall, a smile on her face and a bouquet in her hands like she was going to some child's birthday party. Every worker and patient they passed by turned, stared, and gossiped. But that was what Evie liked. That was what she was here for. She rushed forward and held Nolan by the arm. “Not so fast Nolan. I have short legs, remember?" She whined. Nolan ignored her and just kept his head forward, file in hand, as he made his way to the ward, which he was told Jules was admitted to. His aunt just had to force him to take Evie along. As soon as they pushed the ward's door open, Nolan's eyes met Jules’. She was in the hospital’s blue, a couple of IV tubing and cannula taped to her hand, and a bowl of soup in her lap. Around her bed were her mom and Cassie, who shot him angry looks as the silence lasted. But then Evie bounced in with the energy of a jerk. “Hi! The name's Evie. You must be Jules. Huge fan!" she chirped, like she thought it'll lift the mood in the room. Jules just stared in confusion, wondering who the hell she was. Instead, Evie stretched out the bouquet with a smile. “I got this for you. Hope you like them.” Jules' eyes dropped to the bouquet, then back to her face. She already didn't like her. Finally, she shifted her gaze to Nolan, her face as emotionless as possible. "Come to finish things, I see.” She said calmly, masking the hurt in her chest. Nolan heaved a silent sigh and stretched the file. "I've signed my part.” He announced, his voice low. Evie set the flowers on the side table and slid her arm through Nolan’s. Jules' breath hitched. ‘He’s replaced me already.’ she thought but remained quiet, her eyes dropping to the soup in her hands, trying to force back her tears. Her mom snatched the file and glared at both of them. But Evie just shrugged and leaned into Nolan’s side. Nolan looked away, trying his best to keep his face straight, and not show the care he still had for this cheat. Finally, he turned towards the door with Evie still clinging to his arm. “You don't have to sign it now. Just come with it when you come to get your things." Cassie was fuming on the inside. All she needed was a go ahead to shove those stupid flowers down their throats. Jules stared at Nolan's retreating back. “So this is it?" She called. "You're going to throw away two years just like that." Nolan exhaled and turned around. “You didn't think of that when you kissed that man. Why should I?" Jules paused, her mind racing. He seemed so confident—so sure that she had cheated. It was kind of suspicious. Like, why the switch? Where was the doubt? And who was that fucking leech on his arm? She clenched her fist, a sudden anger overcoming her. She snatched the file from her mom, skipped to the part where she was to sign, and scribbled her signature. “There." She stretched it to Nolan. "You can proceed with the final documents.” With no more words, Nolan collected it and walked out of the ward. Jules stared down at her soup, fighting back her tears as she vowed to leave the city. Far away, somewhere she wouldn't see or remember him. She and her unborn child.“You didn't tell me why you have so many writings on your arm, daddy,” Asher said in his tiny, curious voice, the hint of laughter tugging at his lips as he fumbled with one of Ethan’s fingers, laying on the bed.“Oh, these?" Ethan said with a raised brow, glancing at his tattoos.Asher nodded.“It's art." He replied. “You know, daddy used to like art when he was little." “Like me?" “Yeah, exactly like you. I’d draw on everything—my books, the walls, even my bed. And my mum? She’d beat me so hard.” He pulled a goofy face.Asher giggled."And when I became a man, I still drew everywhere until I drew on my body.”"Isn't that bad?" Ethan nodded. “Very. And if my mummy were here, she'd beat me till I pee on myself." Asher chuckled some more.Jules leaned against the doorway, arms folded, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips.She had expected Ethan to be furious when he arrived at the hospital—instead, he’d said almost nothing about Asher’s condition and took it as a chance
The words hit Jules like someone had clapped a pair of cymbals against her ears.‘Before I get married to Evie.’It echoed, sharp and relentless.She stared at Nolan, unable to look away, her heartbeat pulsing through her ears. Her breathing shook. And she didn’t even know why.Did he have to dump the information on her like that? At this moment?“I made a promise.” He added, his voice low, his eyes unable to meet hers. “And I want to keep it.”Jules just swallowed and turned back to her fingers.“And after the wedding here, we'll move back to the city." She gritted her teeth, forcing her voice out steady. “When is the wedding?”“In about three weeks." He took a quick glance at her but couldn't catch her expression."Well, then…" she paused. “Good luck." But Nolan couldn't help but feel uneasy. The thought of getting married to Evie had died a long time ago, especially when he realized Jules had a son.But there was nothing he could do now because, out of his arrogance and thoughtle
Before Nolan could get to the parking lot, he could see her car zooming out of the premises, with her driver standing dazed by the curb.“Shit,” he muttered, rushing toward his own car and fumbling with his keys. There wasn’t time to ask where she was going.All that mattered was following her.And the moment he got into the car, he got on her tail in a hot chase.They hit the highway, and Nolan slowed a bit, trying not to cause a scene. But when Jules didn’t even stop for a truck as massive as a trailer, his brows lifted.She wasn’t just in a hurry. She was in panic mode.Nolan floored it. He wasn't about to miss her.He glided through cars and trucks and traffic lights that he almost felt like he was doing a stunt for some movie.Whatever was making Jules drive like that sounded like trouble.Finally, she slowed down and swerved into a parking lot.Nolan looked. “A hospital?" He wondered, giving her a head start. Before pulling into a free space away from hers. With the way she dro
Jules pulled open the drawer in her desk and took out the bottle of vodka, poured herself a shot and downed it in one gulp, all while keeping her eyes on the door in case anyone walked in.Then she quickly shut it back in the drawer and smoothened her blouse, taking deep breaths.Finally, she walked out towards the conference room where she'd called for a meeting with the board, the entire executive team, and, of course, Nolan.When she got there, almost everyone was ready and waiting, including Zee, standing at attention behind her chair—and of course Nolan was also present.Their eyes met briefly—only a second—but it was enough to send an unexplainable shiver down her spine.Why? She couldn't decipher.“Sorry for the delay." She said out loud, her voice cutting through the silence in the room. Then a small smile appeared on her lips. “Before I start, I'd like to say thank you to all of you for seeing that the company was still running in my absence." A few nodded. The rest just sta
The sound of Nolan’s heavy footsteps echoed through the house. It felt silent and hollow—just like his chest.It'd been two days since he confirmed Asher was getting a half sibling and he felt nothing less than foolish.‘Do I really act without my brain?’ he asked himself as he got up the hallway and turned towards his bedroom.It was dark out. Later than the time, he usually got off work. But for the last two days, he'd buried himself in more work and drank a little more booze.Evie hadn't spoken to him ever since, and he knew his aunt was lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the right time to bring up their marriage.He opened his room's door and walked in.He froze.“Evie,” he breathed, eyes locked on the figure sprawled across his bed.It was either Evie was lying on his bed, covered with the duvet, and scrolling through her phone, or the booze was playing with his head.“Evie?" He called again.This time, she only spared him a glance for a second and turned back to her phone.
“I’m just glad everything is finally going back to normal,” Jules said into the phone just as the car rolled to a stop in front of her company.“So just like that? The media are silent?" “Nah, not really,” she replied, stepping out of the car. "Some are still digging—wanting to know what's next after this. How Nolan's going to handle the aftermath of all.”"Me included, bitch.” Cassie quipped.Jules just smiled, her eye catching sight of Zee standing at the door, waiting. “Of course you do, Cassie." "Good morning, ma'am.” Zee greeted, her smile sharper than the gator on her pants.“I have to go, Cassie. Some of us have work to do.”Cassie gasped in the background. "Good one Jules." Jules just chuckled and ended the call. “Welcome back, ma'am. You've got—" “Don't tell me." Jules interrupted with a small wave and a smile. “I know I have a lot to do, and you can brief me when I'm in my chair." Zee smiled back and shrugged.She was greeted by the few employees she passed by, but th