"Is it okay for me to be attending clubs yet? It isn't up to a month since the divorce."
Noami looked at Tiffany’s direction. "What could possibly go wrong?" She said with a smile. The car door opened, and Tiffany got out.
She wore a black halter top with a triangular handkerchief design. The front is sleek and fits closely, forming a sharp, inverted triangle that ends at her waist. The back is open and secured with thin crisscrossing straps, showing off her shoulders and back. She paired this unique top with loose-fitting black pants that are slightly oversized. The pants sit low on her waist, giving her a casual look.
Tiffany let her long, straight black hair flow past her shoulders. She wears red lipstick, black thin heels and a small white handbag.
Naomi on the other, stepped out wearing a soft pink, off-the-shoulder dress with delicate ruffle details along the neckline, fitting her curves with the hemline stopping above the knees. She accessorizes with a simple yet sparkling necklace and matching drop earrings.
Noami locked her hands with Tiffany, walking towards the club. As they reached, Naomi's hands slipped out of hers, waving towards a buff man at the corners.
"Daniel!" Noami waved, and his hands opened inviting her in.
Tiffany looked around, exhaling as she let Noami have her moment, but little did she know she would be dragged.
"Daniel, this is my friend I told you about, Tiffany Halton," she said, smiling.
Tiffany looked up at the man. "Daniel Choi."
Tiffany looked at Noami, and her eyes shot daggers at her. Was Noami setting her up?
"Oh, Daniel. It's nice to meet you. I didn't think would be having companies," Tiffany said, shooting Naomi's daggers back at her.
"You know what. Why don’t we go inside?" Noami said, cutting Tiffany short.
The music from inside the club pulsated in the air as they stepped past the velvet ropes. Tiffany still felt her cheeks flush with annoyance, her gaze flicking between Daniel and Naomi, who was already chatting away with him.
Tiffany adjusted her grip on her small white handbag and took a deep breath. This is fine. It’s just a night out, she thought, reminding herself to stay calm. But Daniel’s towering frame and disarming smile made her feel timid.
“So, Tiffany,” Daniel said, his deep voice cutting through the music spilling as they walked in. "Naomi’s been hyping you up. Said you could use a good night out.”
Tiffany forced a polite smile, her red lipstick doing all the heavy lifting. "Yeah. I guess."
Tiffany glanced at Naomi, who was suddenly very preoccupied with the bartender slipping him a playful wink.
"This is insane," Tiffany muttered to herself.
He chuckled, his voice warm, catching her sneaky glances at Noami. "She’s got good intentions. And trust me, this place? It’s a perfect escape."
The dim lighting of the club engulfed them as they stared at each other. The bass reverberated through the floor, and neon lights splashed colours across the crowd. Tiffany squinted.
"Daniel, I'm divorced," Tiffany said and headed towards the bar.
Naomi was already at the bar, ordering drinks, her pink dress catching the light. Tiffany trailed towards Noami, feeling the energy of the crowd press against her.
Daniel turned to her as they reached Naomi. "Nice, a divorcee. My type."
Tiffany scoffed, staring at him. She looked away, slightly amused by his response.
"What's your drink?" he asked, leaning closer to be heard.
Tiffany hesitated. “Just something light,” she said. “Maybe a vodka soda.”
Naomi passed her a knowing look as she handed her a glass. “Relax, Tiffany. You’re here to have fun, remember?”
Tiffany took a small sip, the fizzy drink cooling her nerves. “Right. Fun,” she said, forcing herself to focus on the music, the lights, and anything other than Daniel’s lingering presence but Daniel leaned against the bar, watching her with a curious expression.
Naomi clinked her glass with Tiffany’s, her smile mischievous. “To fresh starts,” she said, raising her glass high.
Suddenly, she felt a hand tap her from behind. "Tiffany?" As she turned around, Levi Jones— Francessa's brother stared at her with a wide smile.
She turned to Daniel who looked confused but plastered a warm smile.
"Oh. Levi! What are you doing here?" Her eyes scanned around for the possibility of Kai being here.
"I'm here for a friend's birthday. What about you? You look gorgeous as ever," he said, and Daniel stood straight beside Tiffany.
"I'm here for some celebration," Tiffany replied, awkwardness tugging at her.
"Let me not bother you. I'll call you soon," he said, glaring at Daniel. Before Tiffany could respond Levi had disappeared in the crowd.
A few hours later, Tiffany had already digested ten glasses, while Noami placed the eleventh one on the table for her. Tiffany shook her head, rejecting it. Her eyes could barely open as she could already feel tipsy.
"I can't! No more!" She said, Daniel chuckled.
"You know what? Let's go dancing!" Noami said, grabbing Tiffany’s wrist, and pulling her up towards the dance floor. Her eyes met with Daniel who followed slightly and shifted towards their belongings.
"My bag," Tiffany muttered, but Noami spun her, jumping to the beat.
Everything felt so spiny. It's been ages since she had drunk this much. Back then as a stripper, it was a regular, but with Kai, it was slight and wine. Tiffany could feel her body dropping.
"Are you okay?" Daniel asked, catching her.
"Oh," she murmured, moving away, but he caught her wrist, holding her. Tiffany looked back at Noami she had already found a dance partner.
"You need to sit," Daniel said, helping her back to their chair. Tiffany dropped to the chair, covering her face with her hands as she exhaled. "I'll get you water."
Tiffany watched him find his way through through bustling crowd. As she looked around for her bag. A bitter scoff escaped her lips, her frustration mounting as she realized with a sinking feeling that it was no longer there. Panic began to rise within her as she searched for her missing bag.
"Uh! No," she cried, scanning their table hoping to find it, but the only bag left was Naomi’s. "Damn it."
A hand suddenly shoved it in her face, and Tiffany's face brightened seeing her bag appear to her. As she raised her head, her smile dropped seeing Kai. His dark hair framed his face in soft, slightly tousled locks, the fringe brushing casually against his forehead, giving him an effortlessly charming and boyish look. His sharp yet gentle—high cheekbones and a defined jaw softened by the warmth of his easy smile and Broad shoulders. Draped over him was an oversized, fluffy white sweater, its texture cosy, as though it had been designed to match his understated yet captivating presence, he matched it with a pair of white jeans.
Tiffany sighed, rolling her eyes. She reclined on the chair, breathing loudly but the sound of the music masked it all.
Kai bent before her, taking out a bottle of water. "Here, you'll need it."
Tiffany stared at him, leaning forward, her eyes dancing in his piercing deep blue eyes. "Why are you here? Are you stalking me?"
"Maybe."
"What?" Tiffany asked, flushing red.
"Because I find you interesting," he said, his eyes flickering in the light.
Tiffany moved away, swallowing as her heart trembled in her chest. She glared at Kai, watching him open the bottle, and handing it to her with a lighthearted smile.
Taking a deep breath, Tiffany took it from him, carefully drinking it. Her eyes didn't move away from Kai as he arranged her things.
Their eyes met, and Tiffany raised her gaze. Kai glanced around the club. "You're coming with me."
"Why should I?" She asked, grumpily.
"Because you can't walk. I'll take you home," Kai said, approaching her, but was stopped by a presence. Kai and Tiffany looked up to find Daniel glaring at Kai.
"She's fine. What are you doing to my girl?" Daniel asked. Kai raised his brows, looking at Tiffany. Instead, she swallowed, avoiding his gaze.
Kai scoffed, his smile turning into a mocking smirk. "Your girl?"
"Get your hands off her," Daniel warned spitefully.
Kai inhaled, looking at Tiffany. Her eyes could barely stay open. Kai stood up, his height matching Daniel's. He smiled warmly, placing a hand on his shoulders.
"Tiffany Halton isn't your girl. That's my wife," he said, Daniel glanced downwards at Tiffany.
"She's divorced."
"It isn't yet finalised. Why don't you move, you don't want to cause a scene. Tiffany is my responsibility," Kai said.
"You might want to prove that. How am I supposed to let her go with a stranger?"
"Uh? Mr Winson? What are you doing here?" Noami said she looked towards Tiffany, and she seemed to have passed out on the couch.
Daniel turned to Noami, "You know him?"
They both stared at Kai, and she nodded. "Ugh, he's Tiffany’s husband— I mean, Ex," she pulled Daniel, whispering to him. "He's the popular Kai Winson of the Winson family. You know that multibillionaire family."
"Mr Winson, the car is ready," Audrey said behind him. Kai looked at Tiffany.
"Since you've confirmed my identity. Tiffany is going with me," Kai said, wearing her bag, and reaching for her but pauses midway at Noami’s statement.
"Uh? I don't think she would-" Noami swallowed her words.
"I don't think-"
Noami pulled Daniel away, "shush!" She said, watching as Kai picked her up, Audrey cleared the way.
Celine smiled softly, the same warmth in her eyes that Lizzy had. "Hi, I’m Celine. My mother told me a lot about you."Tiffany didn’t respond. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Her eyes widened and stunned never lifted from Celine’s belly. After a pause that stretched just a second too long, Tiffany blinked and gave a small shake of her head, as though clearing the fog. “I’m… I’m sorry. I’m Tiffany Halton.” Her voice trembled slightly, and she tried to muster a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “My mother— she’s asleep right now. Maybe, uh… another time. I’ll introduce her to you.” A nervous chuckle slipped out, thin and brittle.“Yeah, of course.” Celine glanced around the half-renovated space, her brows knitting slightly. “You know, I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here while the work’s going on. Our place has a guest wing—you could—”“No, I’m fine,” Tiffany interrupted sharply. She waved a hand. “Really. I just… I’ll need to make some calls soon.” That was a lie
The woman chuckled, her laughter light and kind. "I could tell," she said, her eyes twinkling. "You’ve been holding your belly the whole time. Don’t worry, sweetheart."Tiffany stared at her, the words sinking in like heavy stones. She didn’t know what to say. Her gaze fell to her stomach and there she was, so protective of a life she wanted to get rid of. Her lips trembled as a surge of emotion she couldn’t name bubbled up. Then, suddenly, the words burst out like a dam breaking. "My mother. Thank you very much, but I have to go home to my mother." Her voice was sharp, almost defensive, as if it could shield her from the truth she wasn’t ready to face."You can’t—" Liz began, but the words trailed off as Tiffany’s knees buckled. Liz caught her just in time, her arms firm. her breath hitching as she steadied. Tiffany leaned into her even with her weight heavy and her strength sapped."My mother is alone," Tiffany whispered, her voice more like a plea than a statement. Her hands clut
The car hums softly against the gravel road, tires crunching with each roll. Dust swirls in the warm air, sun slipping low behind rows of whispering trees. A modest sedan turns off the main road and slows to a crawl.Ahead, at the edge of an open field, stood a small, weather-beaten house. The roof sagged slightly in the middle. The paint that was once white and vibrant was now peeled away to reveal skeletal patches of grey wood beneath, like scars etched into its surface. One shutter hung precariously by a single rusted hinge, swaying and creaking in the gentle, mournful breeze. The house seemed to breathe tiredly. The car pulled over and stopped, kicking up a faint cloud of gravel dust that settled almost apologetically around it. Tiffany sat frozen in the driver’s seat, her fingers gripping the wheel so tightly that her knuckles blanched. Her face was pale. Her lips pressed into a firm line. For a moment, it seemed as though she might not move at all. As if the weight of the mome
Kai’s brow furrowed. "What is it?"She stepped closer, offering the small white envelope in her hands. "I found this in the trash. I think Ms Halton... I—I only found it while I was cleaning your bedroom this morning. I wasn’t sure if you knew."Kai snatched the envelope from her fingers like it was a lifeline. He tore it open, his breath catching in his throat as he pulled out the single sheet of paper inside.His eyes scanned the words, and as he read, blood drained from his face.Kai’s gaze flicked from her face to the envelope, his chest tightening. His pulse quickened. The single sheet of paper inside felt heavier than anything he’d ever held. His breath hitched as his eyes scanned the words, each line hitting him like a blow to the chest.Patient Name: Tiffany Halton. Diagnosis: Confirmed Intrauterine Pregnancy. Gestational Age: 8 weeks, 3 days. Recommended Treatment: Patient advised rest and monitoring. For a moment, the words didn’t register. They blurred together as h
Kai slammed his hands on the table. "It's been three fucking days already and I can't find my wife! What the fuck am I supposed to do with the information that you found her car dead by the bridge?" The three private investigators standing across from Kai in his office flinched as his fury rolled through the room like thunder. One of them, a tall man in a beige coat, cleared his throat as if to speak, but Kai’s glare froze him."You’re supposed to find her, not feed me vague, recycled bullshit that sounds like a script," Kai snarled. His voice was low, dangerous. "Her car was found near the bridge. That’s all you brought me after hours of silence? No surveillance footage? No witnesses? Not even a goddamn trail?""Sir, we’re still working—" one of them began, but Kai held up a hand."Don’t," he hissed. "Don’t insult me by pretending that’s an update."He paced away from them, dragging his hands through his hair. His chest heaved with each breath, rage mixing with something deeper, te
"You don't have to work if you're feeling really down. You can stay home and rest. I think you need it," Kai said softly, his voice filled with care as he brought the car to a smooth stop in front of the boutique."I need to work. I just… need a little space," Tiffany replied, her lips curving into a small smile. But it didn’t reach her eyes, and Kai could see the weariness behind them.He studied her carefully, his gaze lingering on her face as if searching for something unsaid. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. I'll pick you up later. I was thinking maybe we could have dinner tonight? We can talk about our date figure out the venue and outfit for the wedding," he added."Of course. I’d love that. Um… I’ll be done by six," she said, her hands already moving to unbuckle her seatbelt.Kai leaned in closer, his eyes soft and focused, as though she was the only person who mattered in the world. "Don’t I get a kiss?" he asked, his breath brushing against her cheek.Tiffany turned to him, her
Kai paced back and forth restlessly. His shirt sleeves rolled up. His shoulders were taut, his jaw clenched, and his eyes darted to the door every few seconds as if willing it to open. As soon as the door opened. Tiffany stepped in, walking almost lifeless. Her eyes glued to the floor and barely even noticed him until he called out. "My love!" Kai’s voice sharp with worry. He swiftly walked towards her, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, searching for any sign of hurt. "Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you."Tiffany froze, her lips parting as guilt settled heavily in her chest. She forced herself to meet his eyes. "I… I went to see my mother," she said softly, the lie slipping from her lips smoothly. "At her place. I needed a little time after… everything that happened last night."Kai’s gaze bore into hers, his jaw tightening as if he were dissecting her words, worry etched on his face. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a slow nod. "You could've t
Kai stood there for a moment, watching her with a heavy heart. He wanted to say something, to comfort her, but the walls she had built around herself felt impenetrable. "Goodnight, my love," he whispered. Then he turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.As the morning crawled through, Tiffany laid in bed beside Kai. Her mind restless and her chest tight with heaviness of having a child. While her heart raced. She listened to the soft rhythmic sound of Kai’s breathing filled their bedroom. It was soft, alluring and so calm she could watch him sleep all night. But it was a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her. She glanced over at him and felt a pang of guilt for the secret she carried. She hadn’t told him about the strange symptoms she’d been experiencing and brushing them off as stress or fatigue. Not yet. Not until she knew for sure, but pregnancy was the last thing she expected. Her mind still doubted it, she was fully on
Tiffany scrambled away, her chest heaving as they subdued Kate. But Kate’s voice rose, sharp and mocking as she sneered at Tiffany. "You think you’re special? You think Kai loves you? You’re nothing but a means to an end. You’ll never carry the Winson heir. Kai would never let you! You're just some whore he picked at the club!" The words struck Tiffany like a physical blow. Her blood ran cold. Her period… it hadn’t come. Her chest tightened as realization crashed over her. In a sudden haze, She bolted up the stairs, her mind spinning, ignoring Audrey’s calls as she raced up the stairs. Her breaths came fast, unsteady. Her heart pounded as she grabbed her phone from the dresser, yanking open her calendar app. She scrolled back counting the days. Twenty-six days. Twenty-six days late. Panic clawed at her as she stared at her phone and her hands trembled, gripping the edge of the vanity. Slowly, she sat at the edge of the bed with her gaze locked on the screen. "Tiffany…" Kai’s voice