•Edward's POV•I didn’t realize when I changed direction from heading home to pulling up at a bar, one of the places I usually found myself in whenever I struggled with my feelings for Raya and tried to ignore Juliet’s pestering behavior.But now, it felt as if I had made the biggest mistake of my life by not loving Juliet first. I needed to clear my mind, and I could really use some loud music and liquor.With a sharp exhale, I shut off the engine and pushed open the car door, stepping out into the dimly lit street. The neon sign above the bar flickered, casting an eerie glow against the damp pavement. The muffled sound of music and laughter seeped through the wooden doors, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me.I shoved my hands into my pockets and walked in.As expected, the place had the same worn-out feel, booming music, the stale scent of liquor mixed with cigarette smoke, and a handful of patrons hunched over their drinks, lost in their own miseries. It was almost com
•Edward's POV•“Welcome home, baby,” she murmured seductively, moving her hand slowly around her hips, trailing her finger along the edge of her nightie and shifting it just enough to give me a premium view of her naked body. “I’ve been waiting for you, sweetheart.”I walked toward her, masking my lack of interest with a smile. She jumped up from the bed and did what she usually did to get me in the mood. I allowed her lips to brush against mine, expecting the usual instant arousal, but it wasn’t forthcoming.Raya, oblivious to my mood, continued her seduction. She rubbed her hand over my shoulder, slowly removing my suit jacket, then my tie. Normally, I’d pick her up, push her back against the wall, lift her thighs until they were wrapped around my waist, but instead, I just stood there, letting her do whatever she thought she was doing.“Eddy, what’s wrong?” she asked, caressing me and placing soft kisses on my neck. “You’re still very soft,” she added, stating the obvious.I gently
•Juliet POV•“Of course, Mr. Grigs. I’ve heard about your admiration for my designs," I said, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder as I reached out to button Jace’s shirt. “I don’t think partnership is something we should be discussing over the phone. If you want us to talk further, reach out to Eric.”With that, I pulled the phone away from my ear and tossed it on the couch before going back to finish buttoning Jace’s shirt and adjusting it a little.“Now, that’s my little scholar,” I chuckled softly, gazing at his face, only for my smile to deflate immediately when I noticed his lack of interest. “What’s wrong, honey?”“I don’t want to go,” he pouted, shaking his head. “If we’re still going to London, why do I have to go to another school?”I sighed, guilt crawling up my spine. How was I supposed to explain to Jace that I lied to him? That I might not be going back to London until he’s twelve, or maybe never?“I understand, baby,” I said, ruffling his hair gently. “Mummy sa
•Juliet’s POV•I wrapped my arms over my chest as I stared at them walking further into the room, my mother’s eyes scanning every corner, while Raya looked almost as if she were ready to do something atrocious.“This is a lot more than I expected," my mother said in a calm, solemn voice as she settled on one of the plush couches in the room. “How did you achieve all this?"I rolled my eyes so hard I could almost see my own skull. The urge to send them away prickled my nerves. I bit my lips in an attempt to subdue the rising tension and turned toward Eric, only to find him already deep in conversation with Raya.“I don’t think I have to discuss my company’s affairs with you, Mrs. Ryder,” I said through clenched teeth, making it crystal clear that I no longer regarded her as my mother.She scoffed with an eye roll, and I was sure she noticed the stares Nora was giving her. “You’re now successful, and you no longer remember respect,” she said, her voice raised. Realizing the attention sh
•Edward POV•“Good morning, bro,” a familiar voice said as I walked closer to the couch, trying to ignore the sharp pain shooting through my head. “You must’ve been up all night to be waking up at this time.”“Josh… seriously?” I said in awe, staring at the premium view of my younger brother, who had been away in Scotland for quite some time now.He sat up straighter on the couch, casually scanning my disheveled morning mess of a self. “Yeah, I know you’re surprised. And don’t…” He waved his hand dismissively. “Ask me all those questions you usually bombard me with over the phone.”I snorted, doing my best to mask the sudden joy rising in my chest with the lingering sadness from last night, then plopped down on the couch opposite him. “I wasn’t going to do any of that,” I said, lying poorly. “But you can’t stop me from asking how you’ve been doing. And how’s Scotland?”Josh sighed, running his hand through his now-blond hair, which used to be black. “I’ve been good. Just facing life a
•Edward POV•I sat in my car, staring at the steering wheel as if it held the answers to all the questions piling up in my head. According to what Josh has said, Juliet wasn't married, and I didn't even know why I had listened to his advice about seeing Juliet's son from a different perspective.Josh had a way of proving his points, and most times, he had always turned out to be right.I clicked my tongue, running my hand through my black hair as I looked out the window at the tall, glassy building with the gold-filling signboard displaying the company's name.I couldn't deny the fact that Juliet had done remarkable work on the design, work so good, mine looked like the opposite of everything.What was my plan again? I mumbled to myself. Walk in, meet her, try to run a little test of inquiries, and if she gave me the impression that I was right, then what?I sighed, trying to ease the heaviness in my chest, and finally got out of the car. As I stepped into the building, a brunette rec
•Juliet’s POV•I pushed open the door to the restroom and walked in hastily, still feeling the grip of Edward’s hand around my wrist, not just that, but the way he had wrapped his arm around my waist.Reaching for a face wipe, I began removing the makeup from my face, staring hard at my reflection in the mirror. How dare he walk up to me and talk to me that way? My heart wouldn't stop thumping in my chest as I replayed Edward’s words about Jace.Biting my lower lip, I leaned forward, my hand resting on the cold marble sink. He was too quick... too observant. I had thought I could keep Edward from knowing the truth, that Jace was his son, but after today’s encounter, I wasn’t sure if it would be that easy.I rinsed my face and patted it dry with a napkin before leaving the restroom. As I entered the dressing room, ready to freshen up with a light touch of makeup, I found Nora just finishing packing up her kit.“Can you do a light makeup for me?” I asked, settling into the chair.“Of co
•Edward’s POV•I pulled into the parking lot of my mansion, feeling utterly devastated. That emotion had clung to me like a shadow ever since I left Juliet’s company. I still couldn’t wrap my head around what she did, walking off while I was still talking, her PA escorting me out like I was some stranger. That wasn’t just rejection, it felt like punishment.With clenched fists, I slammed one against the steering wheel, the sharp pain doing little to dull the ache in my chest. Is this her way of getting back at me? Acting cold, detached, powerful, even bossy. Making sure I saw just how successful she’d become without me. It was a silent reminder of the woman I had once underestimated.I opened the car door and stepped out, the cool evening air brushing against my face, bringing with it a wave of nostalgia. It reminded me of the early days of my marriage to Juliet, how calm and shy she used to be. Back then, I had looked at her in disgust, wishing I hadn’t been the one forced to marry h
•Juliet POV•"Is that a yes?" James asked, his tone more serious than I'd heard all evening. The gravel crunched beneath our feet as we walked side by side toward his car, parked at the edge of the woods. Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting flickers of silver over his face.I bit my lower lip, still reeling from the kiss we had shared, from the way his hands had made me feel, from the intensity that lingered between us. My thoughts spiraled, caught in a loop of confusion. How had I gone from dodging his calls and cold-shouldering him, to surrendering in a kiss that unraveled something inside me?"Yes to what?" I deflected, forcing myself to look ahead.James smirked, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his pants, but his eyes were watching me even when I didn’t look at him. "I want to know if you've decided to give me a chance. To be part of your life."I gave a light scoff, the kind that masked more than it revealed. "If I gave you the answer you're hoping for, wo
•Juliet POV•I slowly placed my hand in his and stood up, my gaze drifting over his muscular chest and the tattoos that stretched across it.“I... I don’t have anything to change into. I can’t wear this gown into the water,” I stammered, my eyes meeting his.“Then take it off,” he said, his voice low and seductive, softer than I’d ever heard it. It felt like a whisper that clung to the space between us. His gaze dropped to my chest, but as if realizing his mistake, he turned his head toward the shirt lying on the sand. “You can wear my shirt.”“Okay,” I mumbled. As he released my hand, I bent to pick up the shirt. Glancing in his direction to ask for privacy, I saw he was already looking away.“I’m not looking,” he said quickly.I smiled softly at the sight of his back, his broad shoulders framed by moonlight. Even without an embrace, they looked inviting, strong. I could already imagine his arms wrapped around me. Reaching behind me to pull down the zipper of my dress, I realized it
•Juliet POV•I sat in the car, staring out the window, watching the streetlamps blur into streaks as night began to claim the city. My heart felt heavier than before, and Eric still hadn’t arrived. The longer I waited, the more awkward I felt. Sitting next to James in the dimly lit interior of his convertible didn’t help. He kept glancing at me, and his silence spoke volumes, loud, curious volumes.“Will you permit me to take you somewhere else, Juliet?” James’s voice broke the silence. It was soft, almost a whisper, yet carried an intensity that sent a flutter down my spine.I turned toward him sharply, my eyes widening slightly when they met his. The streetlight bounced off his face just enough to highlight the firm line of his jaw and the sincerity hidden behind those deep-set eyes.“Eric will be here soon,” I replied, my voice more unsure than I intended. “Maybe... maybe some other time.”James didn’t retreat. Instead, he leaned a little closer, resting one arm on the steering whe
•Juliet's POV•Why didn’t I know that Edward would go to such extreme lengths to prove his claim? First, he pretended to be someone else, and now he’s secretly undergoing a DNA test to prove Jace is his son.I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I walked out of the lounge hastily, anger and fear seeping into my bones. When I left New York years ago, I thought I’d never get involved in any drama relating to Edward or my family. I thought I was finally free to live my life and take care of my child. I never considered the consequences of coming back, and now everything I’ve spent four years nursing is on the brink of breaking, and Edward just might be the one to destroy it all.Once I was outside the lounge, I reached for my phone to call Eric. If only I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have asked him to leave or even encouraged this date.I bit my lower lip angrily as I brought the phone to my ear. “Eric, can you come pick me up now?” I said, my voice laced with anger. I was s
•Edward’s POV•I watched as Juliet walked hastily out of the lounge, her hand clutched tightly around her purse. I sighed deeply, the pain from the confrontation sinking into my chest like a vice clamping around my heart.Running my hand through my hair, desperation clouded my thoughts. This wasn’t how I had expected things to go. When I first saw the message on the dating site, about a desperate CEO looking for a man to play the role of a father for her child, I never imagined it would be Juliet.I thought it was just one of those women on dating sites, desperate and looking for someone to latch onto. But then the idea struck me that it might actually be Juliet. I did my research and eventually discovered that it was Eric who had been chatting on her behalf. I played my role well online, keeping it a secret, hoping it would give me the chance to talk to Juliet. To try to make her see just how much I regretted everything I’d done to her in the past.But things didn’t go the way I expe
•Juliet’s POV•I followed her closely, glancing around the lounge at the people seated in pairs. Their soft, humming conversations added a sense of elegance to the space. My gaze drifted to a seat in the farthest corner, near the glass wall window. A man dressed in a black shirt and what appeared to be gray pants sat there alone. He was the only one in the lounge without a partner, and in that moment, I knew he was the one I was supposed to meet.The man had his back to the front entrance, where I had walked in with the waitress, so I couldn’t get a good look at his face. My heart jumped slightly, the weight of my decision settling in my gut as I silently asked myself if this was truly the right thing to do.Brushing the thought aside, I reminded myself that getting to know this guy was my priority. Then, I could introduce him to Jace and everyone attending the March party, including Edward. I could already picture the expression that would twist his face when I did. That alone gave m
•Juliet's POV•"Mrs. Carl, can I please have a slice of your delicious cake?" Jace asked softly, standing close to the counter where the cake was cooling."Of course, my little prince charming," Mrs. Carl chuckled, picking up a plate and slicing into the moist cake. "But, I’m only giving you this if you promise me something."Jace tilted his head, curiosity lighting up his eyes. I stood quietly by the doorway, my heart swelling with joy at the sight of my happy son. Changing his school had been a mistake, one I wouldn’t repeat."What’s that, Mrs. Carl?" he asked.Smiling to myself, I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Mrs. Bianca's number. I left the kitchen, heading to the couch and sitting down just as she answered.We spoke about Jace returning to school, and her excitement burst through the line. Her joy made my chest ache with relief, as I try not to think about Edward or the possibility of him coming to Jace school to see him again. After the call ended, I glanced at the
•Juliet’s POV•“Jace, my love,” I said happily as I pushed open the door to Jace's room and stepped inside. My eyes immediately darted to his bed, hoping to find him still curled up under the covers, that would explain why he hadn’t come to my room this morning to interrupt my sleep like he usually did.But the bed was empty.My heart skipped. “Jace?” I called softly, walking further in. No answer.I checked the bathroom. Empty. Then I moved to his walk-in closet, identical in style to mine, still nothing. His clothes were all neatly arranged on the rack, untouched.Confused and beginning to feel the first prickles of panic, I stepped out of the room, forcing myself to stay calm. Don’t jump to conclusions, Juliet. Don’t panic yet.Maybe he was in the kitchen with Mrs. Carl… or in the gym, watching Eric do his morning workout like he often do. I picked up my pace and rushed downstairs.The sweet, warm scent of vanilla hit me the moment I entered the kitchen. Mrs. Carl was just pulling
•Juliet's POV•I sat on the bed next to Jace, watching him sleep peacefully. His small arms were wrapped tightly around his fluffy, cream-colored heart-shaped pillow.The day had been long, and I only wished it hadn’t ended the way it did.After we got into the car, I sat beside Jace, trying to cheer him up, but he didn’t say a word to me. His silence was deafening. It disturbed me so much that when I tried talking to him, he suddenly burst into tears, begging me to take him back to his other school.I’d tried to convince him otherwise, but he wouldn't listen. After dinner, he quietly asked if he could go to his room to sleep. I had simply nodded, and now, here I was, watching his chest rise and fall, my heart aching for him.I leaned over, pressed a soft kiss on his forehead, and stood up from the bed.As I walked down the stairs into the living room, I spotted Eric standing close to the three-seater couch. He was holding a mug and sipping from it, dressed in a white polo shirt and b