LOGINSelene’s POV. “No!” I spat “where did you get this?” His grin widened further. “Where was your trustworthy Rowland yesterday night huh?” He asked, bringing the photos closer to my eye level.My mind drifted to the lipstick stain on his shirt, and that floral scent. No, no, no. “Rowland would never do such a thing.” Tom chuckled. A chuckle from the deepest part of his throat. You know, my problem with you Selene is that you are too trusting. You think everyone has your best interest at heart. Meanwhile everyone is just overly selfish.” My tears had dried up. My lips quivered now. I thought about the baby. I thought about how many things could go wrong standing here alone with this man. “What do you want from all this?” “I want y..”The distant tone of my phone ringing in the living room silenced the room. Tom’s head snapped. His expression hardened His eyes moved to me and back to the doorway. “I know what you are thinking Selene. Don’t.” I looked between us, analyzing the
Selene’s POV. I leaned on the edge of the sofa. Finally relieved to be home and away from all that chaos. I let my bag slip to the floor. I stared at the light switch a few inches from me and sighed. My body felt limp. I rubbed my belly. It almost felt unreal. If I hadn’t seen the test results myself, I wouldn’t have believed. After all these years another life stirred in me from the same man. I chuckled. "It seems we weren’t able to tell Daddy about you. Things are really going south, and I really don’t want you growing up in this environment.” I exhaled again. “We might have to move, honey. I don’t know if I can handle another secret.” The silence of the house echoed. “I wish you were here, Sophie." I cleared my throat. My tongue felt uncomfortably dry. “We need a glass of water, honey.” I stood slowly, supporting my weight with the edges of the couch. “Someone might think I am crazy. Talking to an embryo.” I headed to the kitchen. “Well, everyone seem
Selene’s POV. "No, Selene.” Rowland shook his head. "You can't come with me. What if he’s there?” “I know Tom better than anyone else…” “No, no, no. Selene. I understand you are trying to be strong and independent, but leave this for professionals.” I gazed at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I am going to inform the police.” I frowned.“And then?”“And then I’ll go.”“Rowland—”“They need to know where I’m headed in case something goes wrong.”I stared at him.He reached for his phone and placed it over his ear. My eyes still lingered on the lipstick stain on his collar. This isn’t the time, Selene. He turned to me after the call. “What did they say?” “They said they are sending their team there now. I have to be there.” He walked towards the door. I followed behind him.He watched me walk past him and said nothing. Good. The drive to the location was too quiet. The faint smell of the perfume still lingered in the car. I took out a small bottle of body mist and s
Rowland’s POVI groaned. My eyelids felt as though they had been glued shut. My eyes fluttered open slowly to meet an unfamiliar ceiling. This wasn’t my house. “You are awake!” I jerked up from the sofa, looking around wildly.“…what time is it?”She glanced at the clock.“A little after eight.”Eight?My stomach dropped.No.“What…what did you do?" My eyes skimmed my body. "Where is my suit?" “Good morning to you too.”She grinned, crossing her legs. She was wearing a robe now. Holding up a cup of coffee to her lips like this was just another morning. "Relax…nothing happened; your suit is here somewhere. You seemed a bit too tense yesterday, Rowland.” I stood instantly, pointing my index finger at her. "You…you spiked my water.” She shrugged. “You think I’d poison a guest?”“I passed out!”“You fell asleep.”Welts of anger flagged up on me. “Why would you do that?" “I told you… you seemed tense. I am no doctor, but your blood pressure must have been on the high side yesterda
Rowland’s POV. I only had a few minutes before I would have to head back home. Selene was coming over, and I just wanted to get this over with. The lady, who I later learned is Isabelle. She sounded a little excited over the phone. The building hovered over me. A luxury apartment. I wouldn’t have imagined her living in a place like this. I glanced at my phone again, airplane mode. Just like she instructed. I walked through the sliding doors, and an elderly man in a suit walked up to me. “Good day, sir," with a touch of an Irish accent on his lips. “Good day, I am here to see Isabelle.”His brows furrowed. “Hmm, Isabelle.” Then his eyes widened. “Oh, Miss Croscolft, very well, sir." “Miss?” “I would just make a quick inquiry." He walked up to the long desk and picked up a telephone. He spoke in low tones into the receiver. “What’s your name, sir?” He asked out loud. "Mr. Rowland” He returned to the call, and in a few seconds he straightened. “This way, sir.” I followed
Selene’s POV I walked into the office buildings. It looked just how I had seen it the last time. Except the lady wasn’t around. I walked to the receptionist at the desk. “I am here to see Mr. Frank Thomas." She looked up at me. "Mrs. Selene?” I nodded. “Right this way, ma'am." She stopped at the elevator. “You stop at the seventh floor, ma'am." “Thank you.” The elevator was empty. I leaned against its walls. A million thoughts in my head. What could he possibly want to tell me? I could feel the pregnancy weakness kicking in. Mother had called about five times today. I told her not to inform Dad because I don’t know how he would react. He and Rowland had never really gotten along, and to drop a bomb like this... Oh dear. I just have no idea what I am doing. I closed my eyes shut. “I just wish all these would end.” The first thing that hit me when the doors slid open was the cold. The air conditioner was at its full capacity. The office was at the far end of the hallway.
Selene’s POV Tom was above me. His fingers wrapped around my hair while he thrust into me hungrily. My hands were pinned to my side, with each movement making my head bob. We had been going at it for hours, and now my body ached. I wanted him to stop; I had enough. “Tom,” I whispered. “T
Selene's POV(the wedding) My pleadings had fallen on deaf ears. Mr Harold needed a woman for his son, and I was the perfect candidate. How could Father think selling me like this would fix everything? Did he not see me as his daughter or just a pawn to secure a deal? After a week and one day,
FIVE YEARS EARLIER. Selene's POV. "Congratulations, you are pregnant!" The nurse grinned, holding up a clipboard. "Your vitals are great, and your baby is healthy." My heart pounded; for a second, it felt like the world spun around me. I shook my head. "I can't be pregnant; Rowland and I, we
A blonde woman sat on Tom’s lap, her arm draped over his shoulder as she sat crosleged over his Lap, their faces close enough to touch. My chest tightened, my legs felt like jelly, and for a second I couldn’t breathe. Tom stood up abruptly, pushing her gently aside. My voice quivered. “What's







