LOGINLYNETTE'S POVNicholas turned slowly…too slowly, as if he was scared to look back, his fists clenched at his sides.His mother’s voice filled the room again.“I’m good, dear. How are you two lovebirds doing?” she asked in her usual teasing tone.Before I knew it, Nicholas moved very fast and closed the space between us in seconds.His hand shot out trying to grab the phone, but I stepped back just in time, holding it slightly above my head.His eyes were wild now, jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.“Hang up now,” he whispered harshly, giving me a deadly look. “Lynette…hang up.” His voice was tight with a hint of desperation in it.“Lynette, are you there?” his mother’s voice came again, warm and completely oblivious.My smile widened mischievously. I held Nicholas’s gaze for one more second. Then I lifted the phone back close to my mouth.“We're doing just great, Martha,” I said lightly. “I just wanted to say hi. Nicholas sends his regards too.”Then I ended the call before sh
BRADFORD'S POVIt's been over five hours since the proposal was sent to Lynette, yet there was no response. I've never had to wait for something like that, I'd have taken the deal off the table by then. But there I was, waiting longer than I should’ve.I rested in my seat and drummed my fingers on the armrest. Was she really stubborn enough to turn down the offer? I sat up again and called Sophie through the telecom.“Have we received any response from Lynette Evans yet?”“Not yet,” she replied quickly.“Are you sure the proposal was sent to the correct contact?” I asked even when I already knew the answer to that.She paused for a split second before responding, clearly surprised by my question. “Yes, Mr. King. I’m certain.”I ended the call. Of course she was. Sophie didn’t make mistakes like that. I just had to confirm the obvious.I should’ve expected that from Lynette after she avoided me for three weeks like I was something dangerous.No one's ever treated me like that. But sh
LYNETTE'S POV“What? Did you just say King…King Atelier?” I asked in disbelief.She nodded eagerly.“Yes. Bradford King’s company.” She said, grinning widely.I took a step back and put my hand to my temple “Oh. my. God.”“I know, right?” She squealed, “It's unbelievable. King Atelier wants to hire us for a collaboration!”Then she started pacing and gesturing with her hands as she talked excitedly.“I mean, I don’t even understand why. They always work with top designers,” her eyes widened slightly, “big names Lynette. The kind that have entire fashion houses behind them. But who cares why?”She laughed breathlessly. “This is amazing! I can’t believe I might actually get to work with them. It’s like a dream come true.”Then she suddenly stopped and looked at me with expectations in her eyes.“So what should I do? Should I start drafting our response?”I stared at her, still trying to process everything at once. Her voice sounded distant, like it was coming from somewhere far.She did
LYNETTE'S POV My vision blurred instantly. I breathed out shakily as the realization began to settle in.I didn’t even know when the tears started falling down my cheeks.I had always imagined what it would feel like to have my own child. My own little family.And now…now it's finally happening.Then my chest tightened painfully as another realization hit me.Except… the father's the same man I had spent the last three weeks desperately trying to avoid.A broken sob escaped me before I could stop it. Why does it have to happen like this? Why?I sniffed, grabbed my phone from the counter and walked out of the bathroom. There's only one person I could talk to right now. I drew a sharp breath, hugged myself with one arm and dialed her number as I walked back and forth in my room.The phone rang twice before she picked up.“Good morning, beautiful,” she chirped in her usual cheerful tone. “Why are you calling so early? Did Nicholas finally—”“I’m going to be a mom,” I said, my voice uns
BRADFORD'S POVThree weeks laterLate morning sunlight spilled across my office, turning the glass walls into mirrors of the skyline outside. From up here, the city looked calm. But calm wasn’t the word for what had been happening inside my head.I stood near the window with one hand in my pocket, the other holding a small white business card between my fingers.The only piece of Lynette I had managed to hold on to.Well… that and the memories of that night that stuck with me.I turned the card slowly between my fingers.It's been three weeks since I last saw her. Since she stormed out of the café like I had personally offended her existence. I called, texted, even sent emails, something I only use for businesses. Yet they were all ignored. I sent flowers to her office, but they were returned the same day. I even went to see her at her office, more than once.Each time, her assistant would greet me with the same polite, practiced smile. “I’m sorry, sir, Ms. Evans isn’t in today.”I
LYNETTE'S POVI stared at him in surprise. And he just held my gaze steadily, completely unbothered by the heavy silence between us.A smirk was playing on his lips, so I wanted to believe he was joking, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn't.He was standing so close to me, that the memory from last night came rushing back.I blinked fast and forced the thought out of my head before it finished forming.I swallowed, forcing my voice to be steady.“You're going to have to forget…Mr King,” I said firmly.I slowly crossed my arms over my chest. That gesture felt like armour.Bradford didn't flinch. He didn't move.I lifted my chin slightly.“Whether you want to or not,” I added, my tone sharper now. “Because…you might not know this, but I'm a married woman.”And for the first time since we had met today, his jaw flexed slightly, and something flickered in his eyes, surprise maybe. But it was just for a second.“So,” I continued quickly, before my nerves could betray me, “it would be







