Four

The sunlight across the ivory sheet like honey, delicate and golden, warming the chilled air of the Blackwood's mansion.

Franklin stirred beneath the duvet, shifting until his arms found her–Yulia.

His peace.

His everything.

His prize.

Franklin snuggled his arms around her waist, her hands coiled his neck. Both enjoying each other's warmth.

It was a dream come true to wake up beside her. No more risky morning calls, no more meetings in hotels.

Thalia is gone for good, out of their lives.

"Good morning, Mrs Blackwood." He whispered into her ears.

They got married secretly two years ago, had their honeymoon in London and now it's official.

Call it cheating, but Franklin doesn't care. He chased his dream of being with Yulia. It was never his intention to be with Thalia but it happened anyways.

"Morning, Frank" She replied his greeting sweetly, placing a light kiss on his bare chest.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, their fingers tangled instinctively—habitual and intimate.

His hands dropped to her belly, rested there with reverence, feeling the gentle curve beneath his palm. Not big yet but he could feel his baby growing inside there.

He loves her so much for fulfilling his dream of becoming a father. And her becoming the mother of his children.

"I did, Frank. Having you by my side gives me peace of mind. Not like when you had to stay with that barren." Yulia said with a cold scoff.

"She's gone for good, it's me and you now." He muttered, his lips captured her mouth, kissing her hungrily.

She moaned, pulling him closely to have all of him to herself. His hands cupped her right breast, moulding it. Squeezing her nipples harshly.

"Mmmmm."She moaned again, sweetly in his mouth.

Nothing matters to them at that moment than the pleasure they're giving each other.

His phone rang on the table lamp beside the bed, he didn't hear it at all. The caller ID is boldly written there.

MOM with love emojis.

His mother dialed his number again, worriedly. She saw the pictures Yulia posted last night. She posted a video too of herself kissing Franklin, with caption "We're back together, legally"

Franklin is married to Thalia, how is it legal? It can't be true, her son can't leave Thalia for that witch.

She has always loved Thalia, ever since she came into her son's life—he changed more than she thought he'd.

Franklin stopped partying, drinking. He won't work. He will spend lavishly, he never cared about anything. Her son had always lived a life of a spoilt son, she spoiled him though. He started behaving responsibly, ever since he met Thalia.

Nothing changed even when he met Yulia, he was crazy about her but she never changed him. It was when Thalia came into the picture, she saved him from the bad life he was living.

Delilah didn't stop dialing his number. When he didn't pick her calls, she shook her head.

"I won't watch you go astray again, Frank." She said with the determination to stop him.

"Get the car, I'm visiting my son"She uttered to her driver, she had meetings today. But if canceling everything will help, she doesn't mind.

Franklin pulled out of Yulia and grunted.

"Your phone Frank" She said breathlessly, they just had a morning sex and it was the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to her today.

"Mom, called" His brows creased and she sneered.

Yulia knew his mother never liked her from the start, she must've seen the video she posted.

Franklin pulled her closer while he dialed his mother's number again. Her head placed on his chest with a sinister smile playing on her face.

"Delilah, it's too late. Franklin is mine now, not even your words will make him go back."She said under her breath, caressing his bare chest.

Thalia stirred and opened her eyes as slowly as ever,she glanced at the ceiling surveying the room. Her eyes shut and she opened them again.

Where's she?

She was warm, and she could feel the softest sheet against her skin. She blinked in confusion, until her eyes landed on the man standing beside her.

Her eyes moved from his dark hair, to his steel-grey eyes,his face, his trimmed beard, his tailored black shirt clinging to his muscular form.

He looked like a God carved from shadow. He looks so familiar to her.

"....you" she whispered, her throat was so dry.

"You remember me?" His expression softened instantly.

She stared at him, trying to remember his face.

Then she recalled...

Three years ago, before she married Franklin, her bestfriend— Elaina then accused him of rape.

He was arrested and sentenced to jail. But seeing he was innocent. Thalia chose to gather evidence against Elaina. It might not be right but he was so innocent.

He loved her Elaina so much but just to get rid of him, Elaina accused him and he was proven guilty.

But Thalia made sure her Elaina confessed in a recording, and with this evidence. Thalia bailed him from jail.

He appreciated her a lot, and promised to pay her back. Then he left the city instantly.

And when he saw her in the rain last night, he was surprised.

"Do you finally recognise me or..."

"I do, I do.."She breathed out, her voice trembling. He sat beside her on the bed, carefully not to startle her.

Thalia straightened up, he helped her adjust the pillow behind her back.

"What happened to you?"He asked with concern and curiosity. The question he had been curious to ask ever since he brought her to his penthouse.

Thalia bit her lower lip, tears piling up in her eyes.

"It's a long story."She sniffed, a tear slipped down her cheek.

He reached out without hesitation, brushing it with the back of his thumb.

"I've got time, talk to me." He said gently.

"I'm pregnant for him but he is still head over heels in love with my sister. I thought he chose me, but I was just a convenience."She started, her voice hollow.

George took his hand in his. He didn't interrupt her, not once, as she told him everything. From the moment she found out she was pregnant to when he saw her in the rain.

His jaw clenched, she'd saved his life once. And now hers was in ruins.

"Can I say something?"

She nodded slowly.

"Your world might've betrayed you but I'm here for you, for that baby always."His words were steady like an oath carved into stone, raw and

Tears burst from her eyes as she threw herself into his chest, he caught her holding her so tight to himself.

"It hurts,he didn't have to do this,if he still loved my sister." she sobbed.

George embraced her, comforting her gently.

"Sssshhhh," George whispered into her hair. "Don't cry, he's not worth it."

She cried harder, clinging onto him. He didn't pull away, he held her all through it.

After five minutes, she finally pulled back, her eyes red, her lips trembled.

A heavy silence settled between them, the tension crackling like a live wire—volatile, suffocating and impossible to ignore.

"Thalia...I know your baby is not my blood but then I'd like to be the father," He offered slowly, steadily.

"I want to be there, for you, and for the baby. Thalia,if you'll let me." His words didn't plead, it offered protection and stability.

Thalia looked up,her eyes swimming with unshed tears.

"You'd do that for me?"

"You once gave up your friendship to save me. Let me save you too."

Thalia looked up at him, her eyes swimming with unshed tears.

She searched his gaze for any sign of pity, but there was none. Just resolve, and something deeper, something she never wanted to feel again.

"Why would you..."Her voice broke. " Why would you do that for me?"

George tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear.

"Because I owe you more than I could ever repay. You fought for me when no one else did. You believed me even when it cost you everything. Thalia you eased my pain, let me ease your pain too."His voice steady, as though each word were carved from his soul.

She blinked, her heart pounding loudly on her chest. She never expected this from him or anybody.

"I don't want you to do this because you feel indebted," she said,her voice trembling.

"I'm not." He uttered firmly. "I'm doing this because you deserve to be protected, you deserve to be cherished not discarded like nothing."

Thalia looked away, her chest tightened. The sincerity of his words made her heart ache.

"But we barely know each other."She protested weakly.

"You don't have to say anything for now. Just think about it."He said, rising slowly from the bed. "I'll give you some space, but you can always tell me if you need anything."

He turned ready to give her space to breathe. But she held his hand.

"George,"She called, her voice low. And he turned to face her, his eyes questioning her.

"Don't go, just stay..."

And he did, he sat beside her without saying a word. She leaned to him, her head against his chest.

She might not heal from Franklin's betrayal but she's not alone.

"I'm here for you Thalia."He said as if listening to her thoughts.

Then a phone buzzed in George's pocket, he moved away slightly.

"Your phone." He gave it to her.

She didn't move, just took the phone from him, it was a message from an unknown number.

One tap and the message opened. It was an image.

It loaded in seconds but the devastation hit her in milliseconds.

She froze.

Her body went rigid against his body. Half breath caught—half gasp, half sob—as she stared at the screen like it had slapped her.

On the screen was Franklin in a tuxedo and Yulia dressed in a peach lace wedding gown.

George noticed the shift instantly.

"Thalia?"

She didn't answer him, but her lips parted. She stared at the screen, her eyes widening with disbelief.

It's not even twenty -four hours and he already married her sister.

"What's wrong?" George looked at her, alarmed by her reaction.

She turned the phone towards him with shaky hands.

His eyes moved from the photo to the caption underneath it.

“You were just a rehearsal and I was the real bride”

George blinked, stunned. "What the hell!"

"He married her." She whispered, her voice barely audible.

She dropped the phone like it was burning, her hands gripped the edge of the bed. She felt as though her world was tilting and she needed to hold on.

"Thalia." George called, trying to steady her.

"He married her, George!" She said louder this time holding the hem of his shirt. "My husband just married my sister!"

As if that wasn't enough, Franklin rang her. But George picked up the phone and swiped the green button.

"She won't speak to you!"George growled.

"And who the hell are you?"Franklin yelled from the phone.

"Her new life!"without thinking, George retorted.