Addison Stone, Attorney at Law, thought she had the perfect life: A handsome husband, loving son, and a career with a promising future. That is until his first love, Evelyn Valentine, returned and everything she worked so hard to build started to fall apart piece by piece. But then, at her darkest hour, a mysterious man enters her life--Hunter Grant. He's handsome, powerful, and has the means to offer her what she wants--whether that is redemption or revenge. When her husband finally realizes his mistake, will it be too late to save his life and the love of Mrs. Stone?
View More[Addison]
I thought we were in love. I thought we were a family.
It’s funny the way things can change in a snap.
My world changed the day of my son‘s sixth birthday.
It’s not everyday that your only child turns six, so I wanted to make the day extra special for my son. I work overtime every day, securing business for our family law firm, but I left early, squeezing as much as in to the early morning hours, so I could take the rest of the day off to make his favorite meal from scratch and bake his very special birthday treats.
He is my miracle child and deserves the very best.
Donning a fancy outfit I selected for this occasion, I floated out of the house on a cloud of happiness. He is going to be so surprised! I can’t wait to see the look of joy on his smiling face.
“Mrs. Stone,” the crossing guard., Mrs. Jenkins greets me as I approach my son’s school. “What’s the occasion? This wouldn’t be for a special little gentlemen’s special day?”
Her eyes sparkle as she gazes up at the balloons in my hands, and looks down to see my knee-length, rhinestone dress that floats from my waist like a cloud of cotton candy.
“Well, it isn’t every day Jayson turns 6,” I smile back at her. I never dress like this, preferring the practicality of a smartly tailored suit and the simplicity of a face clean of makeup, but Jayson always wanted me to be like “the other mommies,” who wore fancy jewelry and sparkling dresses.
“I thought I’d be a princess for him today.” I point at the tiara and glitter.
“Well you look spectacular, Mrs. Stone,” Mrs. Jenkins nods in approval her gentle smile extending across her face as she holds back the cars for me. My heart lifts, feeling her warm gaze follow my movements as I safely approach the main gates of Westwind Academy, one of the most prestigious schools in the Upper East Side.
It’s a rare occasion that I can take this much time off just to be with my little guy. I work in my husband’s law office and often work later hours than he does as his assistant and co-council.
I was a top law school graduate, but after marrying my husband, Michael, I turned down a huge offer without hesitation and chose to work as a legal advisor for his small company instead. The law waits for no one, but neither does childhood. Jayson is growing up so quickly. Before I know it he’ll be off and gone, heading to college and I’ll miss all these small moments.
But where is he? His teacher should have brought him to the gate.
“Jayson!” I call out, my heart racing. This school is safe. Nobody but family could take him so he must be around here somewhere.
“Jayson, where are you?” I try again. This is strange. I even sent a text to his teacher reminding her that I’d be picking my son up early for his birthday. And now he seems to be missing.
“Did I make a mistake?” My fingers grip the cast-iron bars of the school gate as I pull my phone from my purse. No, it is Monday the 7th, 1 pm. The reminder is in my calendar with a note reminding me to pick him up early. There are no text messages saying that anything has changed, no note from his father or his school. He should be standing right there, in his usual spot, next to the lilacs.
Just as I turn towards the school office, my son’s lilting laughter carries on the wind like birdsong. My skirt floats around me, twirling as I look for the source, hoping to find my son laughing as he runs towards me.
What I see instead is a beautiful family–mother, father, and child. The man, tall and handsome has beautiful cheekbones and the brightest blue eyes. Holding onto him is a little boy with hair so blonde it looks almost white, a shade or two brighter than my own. On the little one’s other side, the mother is holding onto him, her petite hand griping his small one with tenderness, her perfect golden blonde hair cascading down her back in gentle waves, diamonds glistening on her ears and wrists.
It is a beautiful scene except for one thing–that’s my family. My husband and my son. But that woman with her elegant clothes and her effortless beauty isn’t me.
As she turns her head towards the gate, the sunlight illuminates her profile, making her hair glow like a halo of gold. She has the face of an angel, with small, perfectly formed lips and luminescent eyes, large and golden-brown like a cat, like a more vibrant version of my hazel.
She is stunning. And familiar.
No. I must be mistaken. It can’t be her. Michael would have told me if she were back in town.
The woman raises her eyes and our gazes connect from across the field. She places a hand on Michael's shoulder before pointing in my direction, smiling warmly and I know at once I am not mistaken after all.
That’s Michael’s first love, the girl who broke his heart and left him a shattered mess for me to heal in her wake. His college girlfriend whose picture still resides behind his driver’s license in the front pocket of his wallet, right behind our wedding picture and the baby picture of his son.
The woman of my nightmares.
Evelyn Valentine.
[Evelyn]Frowning, I tuck my phone back in my pocket and to let my frustration drain from my face. Debrassy doesn't need to add "or else" to his message for me to feel the ultimatum hanging over my head. I have to do better than my useless fiance. I'm already on thin ice with Mr. D.I've always been Debrassy's #1 girl. Yes, I know he's got others stashed away, but we've been together for 7 years now, ever since he discovered me working late nights working my third job at the college book store. I knew he wasn't the type to be faithful--I didn't need that. I had Michael. He was as loyal as a dog and so easy to manipulate. He stopped being a challenge ages ago, and I had been bored with him the day Debrassy walked into my life. Debrassy is anything but boring. He's always been a challenge. From the moment I first saw him I knew my life would never be the same.I'll never forget the day he walked into my life and turned everything on its head, leaving me breathless and wanting more, know
[Evelyn]"I hate to bother you like this," Michael's voice whines through my phone as I listen to his message. "But I have no other choice."When I felt my phone vibrating, I thought it would be something important, so I checked my messages like a damned fool. I should have known it would be Michael showcasing his incompetence.Michael has always been so short sided. Of course there were other choices than to bother me during my work day. He knows that my substitute teaching assignments are important. Mr. Debrassy is only helping us for as long as I am useful, and I can't be useful if I can't work. The poor man still thinks he has power. The only reason he's still breathing is because Debrassy values me enough to grant me a favor or two from time to time. I've convinced him for the moment that I still need Michael. "He makes a good cover story," I stressed as he rolled me over the raised cushion, giving him perfect access to his favorite parts of me. "Let's keep him around a bit longe
[Michael]"What is he doing here?" my wife snarls, her white teeth flashing. "Don't you have your own firm to run, Michael?""I'm collaborating with..." I begin to say but Adam cuts me off with a hard, rough laugh. "Oh, he's working for us now," Adam's jackal smile is wide as he tilts his head back. "CCRP now owns Stone and Associates Law Group, isn't that funny?" He wipes his eyes. "They went bankrupt, so we got a good deal. We liquidated everything--the building, the supplies, the staff. Do you have my mail, Michael?"Addison looks between the two of us as I hand Mr. Wright his stack of letters and magazines. She doesn't laugh or smile like that bastard Adam does as I do this. If anything, she looks a little sad. "That's...unfortunate," she eventually says, her gaze full of pity. "Is there any way to make sure he's working on another floor?" Her tone is neutral and professional, but her words sting like a slap. "Addy...I..." She doesn't look at me as she places a hand on Adam's s
[Vanessa]This is a terrible way to start a new relationship. “Oh, Mr. Wright!” reaching down to help him stand as I scowl at Mr. Andrews. “I’m sorry, sometimes my security gets a bit overzealous about protecting me. I assure you that he’ll be more respectful of our boundaries going forward.” Turning, I make sure I have Agent Andrews’ attention as I add, “right, Mr. Andrews.” “Of course, Mrs. Grant,” he stands a bit straighter, more like a soldier than security. But I guess most of Black Eagle has some government ties. He’s probably military trained. “Are you okay,” I return my attention to Adam, remembering that part of my mission is to get close to him. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Adam’s smile is dazzlingly bright as he reaches down to pick up a single white rose which he gently places in my hand. “It’s a shame about the roses, but I’ll have fresh ones brought to your office. Come,” he offers me his arm. “I have people I’d lik
[Vanessa]"Now please, Mrs. Grant, enjoy your breakfast." Agent Andrews pulls out a chair right before he picks up my plate places a scoop of eggs next to a large sausage."You didn't need to go through all this trouble," I insist, "I could have microwaved a breakfast sausage or..."Mr. Andrews looks up at me with a frown. "Not good enough," he scolds me. "Your doctor sent over very specific guidelines for your nutrition. No more junk food," he admonishes me as he places apple slices on my plate next to a piece of toast. "Besides, I like cooking for others. It helps me relax."Those words. His gaze of concern mixed with a genuine desire to care for me. It feels so familiar.Stunned, I take a step back, my hand over my heart as I observe the scene before me. Livy is kicking her feet, happily eating her toast while chattering away at Charley about something she read in a book. There are plates of food being brought in by Mr. Andrews, who takes away Livy's empty plate with a grin. It's s
[Vanessa]Even though I know it wasn't Hunter, I can't get the images of that poor man’s corpse out of my mind. Even though my second assessment revealed that most of the brutalization happened after he was dead, my mind keeps wandering to all the violence he must have felt while his heart was still beating. Somewhere out there is a family without a brother, son, and maybe even a father. Knowing that it wasn’t Hunter eases my pain, but not my sense of guilt and shame. I only hope Black Eagle procured this body by ethical means, and that they did right by the family who really lost their loved one. Knowing Hunter, I'm sure they did, but that isn't stopping my gut from churning. Although, as I wake up, I realize that isn't the only reason I feel sick. Smiling, I place a hand on my rounding belly. When Tracy told me that there are two little babies instead of one, I couldn't believe it at first. I didn’t think I’d ever feel the miracle of growing a tiny person inside of me again, only
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