The car ride home was unlike any other. Ben kept reaching across the console to squeeze Serena’s hand, his other hand barely steady on the wheel as excitement pulsed through every fiber of his being. The man who once never smiled without calculation was now grinning like a boy who had just discovered magic.Serena couldn’t stop looking at him. “You’re acting like you’re the one who’s pregnant,” she teased, brushing her fingers across his jaw.Ben stole a glance at her, his eyes full of emotion. “Baby… I might not be the one carrying our child, but I feel like the luckiest man alive. There’s a heartbeat growing because of us. You’ve given me a future.”They pulled into the mansion's driveway, the sun casting golden light across the expansive lawn. As soon as the front doors opened, Ben’s tone shifted firm, commanding, but laced with joy.“All of you, gather here!” he called out.The household staff, including the housekeepers, the chef, the gardener, and the security guards, hurried to
The morning sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the soft sheets of their bed. Serena stirred with a quiet groan, her hand moving instinctively to her lower abdomen.Ben, who had been awake and reading beside her, immediately turned to her with concern etched across his face.“You okay?” he asked softly, placing his book aside.“I don’t know…” Serena murmured, her brow furrowed. “I feel strange. My body feels bloated… and I’m weak. I barely slept. My head is spinning too.”Ben was already sitting up, his palm on her forehead, then gently rubbing her arm. “You’ve been a bit off these past few days,” he said, voice filled with worry. “Let’s not ignore it. I’m taking you to the hospital. No arguments.”Serena tried to protest, but the dizziness that rushed through her when she sat up silenced her.“Alright,” she whispered, leaning against him. “Maybe it’s just fatigue…”Ben helped her get ready with a tenderness that made Serena smile despite her d
The moment the door clicked shut behind Ben, the sly smile on Stacy’s face widened into a full-blown grin. Her eyes flickered to the dimly lit corner of the suite where a small, sleek black camera, no larger than a thumb drive, blinked faintly behind a decorative vase on the table across the bed.She threw the sheets off her body and got out of bed with a catlike stretch, her silk robe now draped loosely over her shoulders. The scent of perfume and sin still lingered in the room, and she breathed it in as if victory had its own intoxicating aroma.“You think you’re smart, huh, Ben?” she said aloud to the empty room, walking over to the vase. Her heels clicked softly on the marble floor. “You think it’s over because you walked out with your conscience dragging behind you like a kicked dog.”She retrieved the hidden camera with delicate precision, smirking at the blinking light. “But I’ve got the real power now.”She walked over to the laptop she’d hidden under the bed, slid it out, and
The air was heavy in Ben’s car as he sat parked outside the hotel.He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The city lights glowed dimly around him, casting flickers of red and gold across his windshield. His mind replayed the last few hours like a never-ending reel—Serena’s laughter that morning, her eyes lighting up when he brought her tea in bed, the way she had pulled him close and said, “Promise me you’ll never hurt me.”But here he was.Parked outside the Orion Hotel, Suite 907. Stacy’s chosen place.His head dropped back against the headrest, and he closed his eyes. Why am I here? he asked himself, over and over. He already knew the answer.He wasn’t here for lust. It wasn’t about desire. It was about control. Stacy held something over him something that could rip Serena apart and in a moment of weakness, self-hatred, and fear, Ben had chosen the coward’s path.He took a deep breath, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stepped out of the car.The lobby was qu
Casedepero Lounge was dimly lit and stylish, with velvet chairs, low golden lights, and a jazz trio playing in the corner. Ben walked in, scanning the room with the sharp, assessing gaze of a man used to being in control.And there she was.Stacy sat at a secluded table, sipping a martini, her lips painted blood red and her dress clinging to her like silk on fire. She waved him over with an infuriating smile.“Well, well,” she purred as he slid into the seat across from her. “You came.”“I came for answers,” he said curtly, not bothering with pleasantries.“Of course,” she murmured, tracing the rim of her glass with one finger. “But first, let’s drink to old times.”Ben ignored the offer and leaned forward. “How do you know about Serena’s parents?”Stacy tilted her head, smirking. “I told you, I have my ways. You’re not the only one who’s been digging through the past, Ben. You should know me by now I always land on my feet. And lately, I’ve been… curious.”He stared at her, expressio
Hi, Ben,” she said seductively, her voice purring like a cat circling its prey.Ben leaned back in his chair, one hand lazily resting on the armrest, the other holding his phone to his ear. He arched a brow at the sound of her voice silky, confident, and dripping with trouble. “Hello, Stacy,” he replied in a teasing tone. “Good to hear from you. It’s been a while.”“Well,” she said with a dramatic sigh, “after our last encounter in your office, I haven’t reached out. Thought I’d give you space. But I decided now is as good a time as any.”Ben chuckled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Wow, that’s considerate of you.”There was a pause, then Stacy’s voice returned with a playful edge. “Could we meet up by 7 PM? I pick the place.”“Stacy, Stacy…” Ben said her name like a warning, half amused, half wary. “What would you think my wife who is your supposed best friend would feel if she knows you’re planning a little evening with her husband?”“Oh, come off it, Ben.” Her voice suddenly sharpe