Amanda knew her husband’s affections were never hers, especially when she had gotten married in the place of her sister, Selene. But even still she hoped Ryan would come to love her, so she endured the endless abuse from his mother, and the pressure to beat an heir for the esteemed Steward family. Amanda had sacrificed everything to be the perfect wife, from her job as a doctor to her freedom, wanting nothing more than to be acknowledged by the man she loved. But her hopes come crashing down when Selene returns pregnant with Ryan’s child. Amanda was abandoned without a thought, even when she revealed she was also pregnant, it meant nothing to Ryan Steward. Just like that Amanda was left to fend for herself, as even her parents turned a blind eye to it all. But she was determined to rise again, and she chose to pursue her dreams to give her child a secure future. Seven years later, Amanda had grown to become the most sought-after doctor in the country, and she had a brilliant son to support her. But what happens when fate brings her to meet Ryan once again, but this time as a doctor and client? What happens when he begs for her forgiveness for the past? Will Amanda forget the pain she endured and accept him? Or will their reunion set the path for a more thrilling train of events?
View MoreAmanda's POV
Boom!!!
The second balloon popped from where I had hung it earlier in the day, jolting me out of my thought, the tiny pieces falling on the bed.
I watched as the clocked ticked again, signalling another hour added to the ones I had ticked down.
He wasn't still back from work, I moved to the kitchen and started heating the food I had prepared all over again.
"Maybe it's work, my husband is so good at his job that he has to stay longer to round up things. It's his company though, he has it at heart." I muttered to myself while turning of the microwave for the third time that night.
I knew I was making excuses for him again, he didn't come home last night too and it was already late in the night today.
This was our third year Anniversary, he wouldn't miss it for anything. I had stayed up all day decorating our room, I made his favourite dishes, ordered for his favorite wine, he would be back in no time.
The clock ticked louder but my heart slamming against my chest was the loudest, I sat on the little cushion in our shared bedroom, running my fingers around the little box I had kept our anniversary gift in, this was sure to make him happy.
12AM
The clock ticked again, the hole in my heart deepened.
"What's happening here?" His voiced pulled me out of my thoughts.
I turned to the door, my face lit up as my eyes fell on my husband, the man I had loved earnestly for years now.
He stood there, his expression stoic, he didn't look happy but I was sure with everything I had planned tonight, he would come out of it.
"Hey babe, happy wedding anniversary." I announced as I walked over to meet him.
"What's this about?" He asked as his eyes raked the room.
"I was trying to put something together for us to celebrate today, don't mind how it looks, I'm not really good at these decorations." I said smiling to hide my nervousness.
"And what's so special about the day that you had to litter my room with such stuff." He asked, his eyes boring holes in my head.
"It's our anniversary baby – "
"What's there to celebrate about it? I have told you countless times on this same day that I don't share in the reason for this celebration."
He was right, he had said it on our first anniversary, he had also said it on our second anniversary, was I being too delusional to understand he wouldn't change his mind even if it was our seventh anniversary?
"I'm sorry Babe, I just thought it would be a nice idea to do this." I said twirling the hem of my skirt in embarrassment.
"What part of relationship will it change? don't you think it'll be better if we both ignored it? Every year you keep reminding me of my misery, this day is not worth celebrating, you know it's my biggest life mistake."
"Our marriage was a mistake?" I asked in shock.
"The biggest I've ever made." He replied with disgusted look on his face, the same one I've been used to for the past years of our marriage.
"Okay, come inside, I'll go downstairs to arrange your dinner." I said trying hard to fight back tears, I was used to the harsh words anyways.
He walked inside the room, that was when I noticed the figure behind him, someone had been standing at his back the whole time.
"Selene?" I half asked.
My younger sister was standing behind him with an expression I couldn't read.
"What are you doing here by this time? Is everything okay at home?" I asked.
She didn't reply, she walked inside and sat on the cushion, the same one he was sitting on.
I watched the both of them in shock and silence, hoping one person would break it and tell me what was going on, but they were both quiet.
"Can you guys tell me what's going on? Ryan, why did you bring my sister to the house by this time?"
"I'm moving in." Selene said without looking into my eyes, she focused them on the red balloon I had tied over the bed.
Looking at it now, I felt silly.
"Moving in? Why am I just finding out about it now? Is everything okay?" I asked still not making sense of what was happening.
"Ryan go ahead and tell her, I don't have the energy for this please."
My eyes moved from my younger sister to my husband who was resting his back on the chair, eyes closed.
I hated the fact that something was happening and I was the only one with no idea of what it was. Had my parents called him to bring her home? Was there trouble at home? The more questions I had, the more confused I became.
"Amanda, I want a divorce."
The words made something snap in my head, I didn't know if I had heard wrong but at the same time, it was clear and loud.
"What did you say?"
"We both know this marriage thing isn't working, been with you is torture and I'm not ready to do that for the rest of my life, I don't want this anymore and right now, the only thing I want is to be free from you."
"Free from me? A divorce? Ryan what has gotten into you? This is our third year anniversary, we're supposed to be celebrating it together, not you telling me about a divorce."
The thought of it made my heart sink, it felt like the news had constricted my air flow, I was struggling to breath while fighting back tears.
"But, what went wrong? Selene, please talk to Ryan, help me plead with him, he wants to divorce me." I pleaded with my sister who had a bored expression on her face.
He was doing this to me in front of my family member.
"She can't do anything about it , isn't it obvious Amanda? I am marrying selene, she's already carrying my child."
The room fell silent, the only thing I could hear was the echoes of his words in my head, my world went dark.
Selena’s POV I hadn’t set foot near Blair’s school since the incident. Not because I couldn’t i had the driver, the time, the polished smile I could wear when needed. No, it was because every time I pictured Amanda’s smug face, every time I replayed the sting of her hand cracking across my cheek in front of everyone, my blood boiled so violently I could barely breathe. I had been humiliated. Dragged down in front of teachers, parents, students. Blair had seen it all—her wide little eyes brimming with confusion and shame. And Amanda had walked away with that self-righteous air, as though she were untouchable. The thought made my hands tremble as I paced our living room, glass of wine clutched too tightly in my grip. I wanted to make her pay. Desperately. The sound of the front door clicking open pulled me from my rage. Ryan walked in, his tie loosened, the weight of exhaustion in his shoulders. For a second, I braced myself for another fight our marriage had become nothing but
Adam’s POVI didn’t give Amanda the chance to argue.The moment that message flashed on her phone, I knew she was ready to grab her keys and run out alone, but there was no way in hell I was letting that happen. Not tonight. Not when she was already stretched thin from the custody case and from Selena’s antics.So I told her flat out: I’m driving.She frowned, muttered something about being capable of handling herself, but eventually slid into the passenger seat with that tight little sigh she always gave me when she knew resistance was pointless.At the hospital, the ordeal dragged for hours. A man had been rushed in from a construction site accident, bleeding, half-conscious, a mess of broken ribs and head trauma. I watched Amanda switch from tired mother to steel-spined doctor in an instant. Her hair was falling from its bun, her hands trembling slightly at first, but the second she snapped her gloves on, she became someone else—focused, commanding, unshakable.It always left me a
Amanda’s POVI walked away from the school like a storm in heels, Levi’s little hand clutched in mine so tight I was surprised he didn’t complain. Rage roared in my blood, so loud I barely heard the teachers whispering behind me. Selena’s voice was still ringing in my ears—her insults, her smug little smirk before I shut her up.If she thought for one second that I was going to sit back and let her humiliate me in front of my child, she had another thing coming.By the time I reached the car, my pulse was a drumbeat in my throat. I yanked the door open and buckled Levi into his seat with movements sharper than necessary.“Mommy?”The sound of his small voice softened something in me instantly. I forced a smile, brushing my hand over his curls. “Yes, baby?”He hesitated, chewing on his lip the way he always did when something was bothering him. Then he looked up at me with those big eyes the ones that could undo me with a single blink.“Is it true?” he asked quietly. “What that lady sa
Selena’s POVI saw her before she saw me.Amanda James. Kneeling on the pavement like some saint, wiping tears off my daughter’s cheeks as if Blair belonged to her.The sight burned through me like acid.How dare she? After everything the court, the humiliation, the fines after ripping Ryan apart in front of the world, she had the audacity to stand here touching my child like she was the mother Blair deserved?No.Before my brain could catch up to my fury, my feet were moving, heels stabbing the asphalt with each step until my hand clamped down on her arm and wrenched her back.She stumbled, eyes wide for a split second before recognition hit and then her gaze hardened like steel.“What the hell—” she started, but I cut her off, venom dripping from every syllable.“Stay the hell away from my daughter.”Blair flinched at my tone. Her big brown eyes flicked between us, watery and terrified, and guilt twisted somewhere deep inside me but it drowned fast beneath the tidal wave of rage why
Ryan’s POVThe courtroom humiliation still clung to me like smoke. Every word from that judge had burned through the armor I’d built, stripping me raw in front of strangers. Amanda had walked out holding Levi like some kind of victor, her smug little smile seared into my skull.I gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather creaked as I pulled into the driveway. Selena was already inside, lounging on the sofa like she owned the place, scrolling through her phone as if nothing had happened.Blair sat cross-legged on the rug, clutching a stuffed bunny, her wide eyes darting up to me when the door slammed.“Ryan,” Selena said coolly, barely glancing up. “You look like hell.”“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” My voice thundered through the living room, bouncing off polished walls. “Do you?”Selena raised a brow, unbothered. “If you’re here to throw a tantrum, spare me. You didn’t lose because of me. You lost because Amanda played her cards better.”I stepped forward, fists clench
Adam’s POV When I said those words outside the courtroom—she’s mine it had been instinct, a heat-of-the-moment reflex to make Ryan back off. A line drawn in the sand. Nothing more. But now, watching him stride toward us with that storm brewing in his eyes, I felt something twist in my chest. Not fear not exactly. I wasn’t afraid of Ryan Steward. But I was… wary. Because men like him didn’t back down easy. He looked sharp, calculated even in his defeat, his dark suit crisp like armor that hadn’t cracked, even though I knew it had. And despite every fiber of me wanting to keep things calm for Amanda’s sake, a small part of me almost wished he’d take a swing, just so I could hit back twice as hard. Amanda stiffened beside me, Levi perched in her arms, oblivious to the tension snapping like live wires in the air. Ryan stopped a few feet away. His eyes flicked to Levi—soft for a fraction of a second—before snapping back to Amanda, hard and sharp again. Before he could open his mouth
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