In the quiet of the hospital room, Shopia stared blankly out the window. Her heart churned, her mind a storm of thoughts. In just a few days, her life had turned upside down—from being a single mother struggling on her own, to a woman caught between two men, each with a past and ambitions of his own. But today, she had made her decision.Shopia took a deep breath. In her hand was a signed divorce document. Her fingers trembled as she waited for Hunter Jackson to arrive. This was the end of a long, exhausting chapter… and maybe the beginning of something new.The door creaked open. Hunter Jackson walked in, dressed simply, his face tired, yet carrying a faint trace of hope."You wanted to talk?" he asked quietly.Shopia stood and handed him the blue folder. “These… are the divorce papers.”Hunter stared at the folder for a long time, reluctant to take it. “So… this is your decision?”“I’ve spent too long clinging to the past, Hunter,” she said, trying to stay strong. “I need to do what
Morning at the hospital never truly felt peaceful.The hum of medical machines, the hurried footsteps of nurses, and the occasional cries of patients filled the air with an invisible pressure. But that morning felt heavier than usual for Shopia Joy.Joe was still asleep in the VIP ward, an IV drip attached to his small hand. His pale little face made Shopia’s heart sink every time she looked at him. She sat by his bedside, gripping his hand tightly. Most of her time since last night had been spent taking care of Joe, and the rest battling thoughts that kept circling back to Hunter Jackson.That embrace… those words…“I miss your warmth…”Shopia closed her eyes. She couldn’t allow herself to doubt again. Maybe Hunter regretted everything—or maybe he didn’t. But one thing was clear: he was no longer the man she could rely on.Before she could gather her thoughts, her phone rang. The name flashing on the screen made her body tense up instantly:Damien.She glanced at Joe, then stepped ou
Late at night, Shopia Joy finally stepped out of Joe’s hospital room.The cold air of the corridor bit at her skin, but she continued walking slowly toward the waiting area to buy a bottle of water. Her feet ached, but her mind was far more exhausted. Ever since Damian had shown up and revealed that he knew about Joe, her head hadn’t stopped spinning with the worst possible scenarios.But her steps came to a sudden halt when she saw Hunter Jackson sitting on one of the long benches. His head was bowed, fists clenched on his knees, as if he were battling something deep inside. He wore an old, faded jacket that looked as worn as his soul.Shopia intended to walk past him, but his quiet voice stopped her.“Shopia, wait a moment.”She sighed, turning slowly. “What now, Hunter?”He stood up, eyes red—either from exhaustion or emotions he could no longer contain.“We’re not divorced yet, Shopia Joy,” he said softly but firmly. “Legally, you’re still my wife.”Shopia frowned, cautious. “Don’
Rain poured relentlessly, drenching the windshield of Damian Arman's car parked in front of the hospital. The wipers had long stopped moving, letting the mist and rain blur his view. Still, his eyes remained fixed on a fifth-floor window—the room where Joe was being treated. The curtain had briefly swayed earlier, revealing the silhouette of Shopia and the child.Damian rubbed his temples. His anger hadn’t subsided since their earlier confrontation. Shopia’s words still echoed in his ears:“I will never give my child to you, Damian!”He wanted to laugh—and scream. That child was his flesh and blood, so why did everyone treat him like the enemy?Damian was about to step out of the car when an old vehicle pulled up at the hospital entrance. A man stepped out, wearing a faded uniform with the logo of a discount store on his chest. In his hand was a plastic bag with fast food and a pack of toilet paper.Damian narrowed his eyes. That face... it was still familiar.Hunter Jackson. A wareho
The sky darkened as evening approached. On the top floor of Arman Group’s headquarters, Damian stood with his back to his desk, gazing out at the city through the floor-to-ceiling window. Light rain blurred the view of the skyscrapers beyond.Suddenly, his phone vibrated on the table. The screen lit up with a message from an anonymous sender:“She’s at the hospital. With the boy.”Damian’s face instantly turned cold. His jaw tightened, and the hand holding his phone curled into a fist.“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath. Grabbing his coat, he pressed the intercom button.“Postpone all my meetings tonight. I’m leaving.”“Yes, Mr. Damian,” his assistant responded.He stormed out of his office, his footsteps echoing through the hallway. Staff lowered their heads as he passed, none daring to meet his eyes.In the basement parking lot, he got into his sleek black sports car and sped off into the rain. His grip on the steering wheel was firm, and his other hand tapped anxiously on his
That morning, Damian was dressed in a black Armani suit and a dark gray tie. Calmly, he stood by the bedroom door, watching Shopia as she brushed her hair in front of the mirror.“I have to head to the office. There’s an important meeting with the board of investors,” he said quietly.Shopia only nodded. She didn’t say much that morning. The previous night still lingered in her body and mind—how Damian had treated her, relentlessly, without pause.Damian stepped closer. “Remember, Shopia. Never try to leave this house. It’s not just a rule—it’s protection. You know how cruel I can be when you disobey.”Their eyes met. Shopia swallowed hard. “I know. I’ll stay.”He kissed her forehead briefly, then left. As the sound of Damian’s car engine faded, Shopia stood by the window for a long moment. Her heart pounded wildly. This time, she wouldn’t stay silent.She grabbed her designer handbag, slipped into a light coat, and quietly exited the villa, using Damian’s spare car. She knew his sche
Morning came faster than expected.Shopia slowly opened her eyes, her body feeling weak, as if the long night had drained every bit of energy from her. Damian was still asleep beside her, his face calm, almost innocent… and that was exactly what made her chest tighten even more.She rose carefully, trying not to wake the man next to her. Her steps toward the bathroom were heavy, but her mind was heavier.Water gushed from the faucet, splashing against her face. Shopia stared at her reflection in the mirror—swollen eyes, pale skin, and a smile that had vanished who knows when.“What have I done?” she whispered internally.Damian might have given her shelter. He even offered her protection. But every inch of his attention came with a price: full control over her body and life. He never asked what she wanted. Everything had already been decided. All she could do was accept—or be broken again.---Meanwhile, on the other side of the city…Hunter Jackson hadn’t slept all night. Shopia’s ph
Shopia stared at the ceiling of the luxurious room that still felt unfamiliar. The dim light from the crystal chandelier above cast soft reflections on the pristine white walls. The air was warm—too warm. Her breath came in shallow bursts. Her body trembled, not from cold, but from the storm of emotions she could no longer control.Damian sat at the edge of the bed, watching her like a lion that had just trapped its prey. His gaze burned—with desire, with dominance. And Shopia knew—this would not be a tender night.She sighed, half in surrender, half in resistance.“Damian…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. But he only smiled, a slow, hungry smile filled with passion and ambition he didn’t even try to hide.“This is our night, Shopia. The night I’ve waited for since you came to me broken and lost. Now, I’ll make you forget every bit of that pain.”Damian was no ordinary man. He was a storm—fierce, unpredictable, and devastating. His touch was scorching and demanding. He offere
The city sky was still gray when Hunter Jackson returned to his gloomy apartment. His watch showed nine in the morning, but the silence that greeted him made it feel as if midnight hadn’t passed. The apartment door was unlocked. No sound from inside. No scent of coffee or the familiar fragrance of his wife that used to calm him after a long night shift, though lately everything between them had felt cold.“Shopia?” he called softly, but no reply came.Jackson stepped cautiously into the living room. The leaking bucket in the corner had overflowed, water spreading across the floor. But that wasn’t what made him uneasy. The sofa was empty. No women’s shoes near the door. No trace that his wife had been home recently.Nervously, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He tapped the contact labeled My Wife.Ring… Ring…“The number you’re trying to reach is currently unavailable…”He tried again. And again.“Damn it,” he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. “Where a