Nathaniel’s POV
I stared at the boy not knowing what to say. I noticed Ava was not happy. My first instinct wasn’t denial; It was disbelief.Not because I thought the boy was mine… but because he looked so much like me, it was disturbing. The same blue eyes...the same dimples. Even the same stubborn curl that always flopped over my forehead as a kid.I couldn't move because Ava was standing beside me, her body was tensed and her hand slowly slipping away from mine.“Ava...” I started, my voice cracking.She didn’t answer. Her eyes were locked on the woman then the child then back at me.The woman smiled, a little too sweetly, like she knew exactly the kind of trouble she’d just started. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Actually, I wasn’t planning to tell you this way, but…” She trailed off, placing her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “This is Caleb.”The name meant nothing to me. But the boy… he was watching me like he aNathaniel’s POVI stared at the boy not knowing what to say. I noticed Ava was not happy. My first instinct wasn’t denial; It was disbelief.Not because I thought the boy was mine… but because he looked so much like me, it was disturbing. The same blue eyes...the same dimples. Even the same stubborn curl that always flopped over my forehead as a kid.I couldn't move because Ava was standing beside me, her body was tensed and her hand slowly slipping away from mine.“Ava...” I started, my voice cracking.She didn’t answer. Her eyes were locked on the woman then the child then back at me.The woman smiled, a little too sweetly, like she knew exactly the kind of trouble she’d just started. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Actually, I wasn’t planning to tell you this way, but…” She trailed off, placing her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “This is Caleb.”The name meant nothing to me. But the boy… he was watching me like he a
“…But do you want to build a family with me?” He asked softly. “Have kids?”I froze, trying to process the question he had just asked. It wasn’t a question I expected. Because before I signed the contract I was told that him and Jessica knew I can't conceive. Or she didn't tell him?I looked at him speechless. The word 'Kids' rang in my ear a illion times in just few seconds. I didn't know whether to tell him the truth or not...I was scared...scared he might change towards me when we just finally reconciled.I blinked, forcing a smile onto my face, the way people do when they hear something heartbreaking in a public space and don’t want to make a scene.Nathaniel didn’t notice, at least not immediately. His eyes were filled with hope, like he could already picture that future...A home... Laughter...Children who carried bits of both of us.I wanted to say yes. God, I wanted to give him that, but my throat locked up.Instead, I loo
“They saw me… and didn’t even stop. Just kept going like I wasn’t even there.” He let out a shaky breath. “She didn’t cry... Didn’t apologize...She just wrapped herself in the sheets and said, ‘You weren’t supposed to be back till tomorrow.’ Like I was the one who ruined something.”I pressed a hand to my chest, like I was thinking of me in that kind of situation.“And that wasn’t even the worst part.” His lips twisted. “A few days later, I found out she’d been stealing from me. For months....Draining accounts, using my cards. She made me believe we were planning a future together while slowly bleeding me dry behind my back....”His voice was cracking now. “She said I wouldn’t miss it...that I had more than enough. Like it was nothing to me.”He ran a hand through his hair, breathing slowly to calm down. “I didn’t just lose a fiancée...I lost my best friend...childhood friend...My trust in people...My dignity. I couldn’t even recognize myself
"Nathaniel, save your words for..."His hands grabbed my waist, pulling me close on his body. His lips brushed against mine before I could complete my sentence. It started slow, hesitant, but quickly deepened...months of tension, anger, longing, guilt... all pouring out into that kiss.I wrapped my arms around his neck as he gripped my waist like he might never let go. When we finally broke apart, I whispered against his lips, “So are you going to stop avoiding me now?”He smiled, panting. “I’ll consider it.”We laughed softly, foreheads touching. But then we heard the click of a camera.We turned and at the edge of the patio stood one of the press photographers. He smiled. “What a perfect shot. The troubled couple finally reconciling. Can I quote this for tomorrow’s headline?”Nathaniel stiffened. “Delete that... can't we have some privacy for once."The man shrugged. “Nope...not when you guys are doing it public...just like
Ava’s POV"Ava! What the hell?" Jessica turned, she turned angrily. She was naked, I could see her bare boobs but the sheets covered her while she was on top of a young guy. He looked like he would be around Nathaniel's age. He didn't even care that I was there, he kept on going while I was frozen."Ava! get out!" Jessica instructed. "Oh...sorry." I quickly ran out and closed the door. What the hell did my eyes just see? I wondered.Mrs. Hargrave was cheating on Mr. Hargrave. Could I use this against her? I wondered as I went back to my room blank. "Ava! what did she say?" Priscillia looked up at me with red eyes she got from crying minutes ago. I dropped down on the bed, like I had been traumatized. "Priscillia, I just saw something nasty.""What? What did you see?" I explained to her and she gasped. "The nerve...she framed me at school as a whore while she is whoring herself....you should have taken a phot
Ava’s POV"Ava! What the hell?" Jessica turned, she turned angrily. She was naked, I could see her bare boobs but the sheets covered her while she was on top of a young guy. He looked like he would be around Nathaniel's age. He didn't even care that I was there, he kept on going while I was frozen."Ava! get out!" Jessica instructed. "Oh...sorry." I quickly ran out and closed the door. What the hell did my eyes just see? I wondered.Mrs. Hargrave was cheating on Mr. Hargrave. Could I use this against her? I wondered as I went back to my room blank. "Ava! what did she say?" Priscillia looked up at me with red eyes she got from crying minutes ago. I dropped down on the bed, like I had been traumatized. "Priscillia, I just saw something nasty.""What? What did you see?" I explained to her and she gasped. "The nerve...she framed me at school as a whore while she is whoring herself....you should have taken a photo to blackmail her..." Priscilla stood up, taking her phone out."Wait! Do