Autumn opens her eyes at the hospital. She heard the familiar sobs that could only belong to Iris. She had a look around just to spot Iris bawling her eyes out. She slowly sits upright as Iris notices Autumn had just awaken.
"Autumn, how could you. Why couldn't you wait till after the wedding to reveal that you're pregnant?" Iris sobbed even harder. Autumn couldn't understand how her sister could not have a single compassion. She couldn't even care that her sister was stripped to a stretcher? She couldn't even imagine that she might had lost her life. "Abort it Autumn." Iris begs. Autumn furrows her brows and without thinking she slaps Iris. She didn't know when her hand had a mind of it's own, or maybe she's aware that's why she didn't feel any ounce of guilt. Realizing what she had done she immediately apologizes. "I'm sorry Iris, my hand slipped." Autumn turns her gaze to the other side of the hospital, Iris in shock held her cheek. She was filled with rage. She wondered when Did her sister start growing balls to commit such an act of it wasn't revealed that she was pregnant she would have returned the favor. The doors burst open revealing Ivan. Autumn felt as if time had stopped she froze even more at his icy stares. He walks over to Autumn who has her palms over her cheek. Iris looked away avoiding Ivan's gaze. "Did you slap her?" Ivan asked, spitting venomously. Autumn didn't move, for a moment she felt invincible, not giving Ivan any reaction until her face was greeted with a slap from Ivan. Her ears rang and although it was worse than the one her father gave her, she still manage to get a hold of her senses. Even at that, it couldn't stop her tears sliding down her cheek. "Just because you're pregnant you think you're entitled to touch my wife?" Ivan yells as Autumn eyes went bloodshot red. "I am your wife too Ivan." Autumn yelled in her defense. "When will you accept you were just a substitute. I only married you at my father's whim. Now that he's dead I see no reason why I should be with you." He paused fixing his gaze at her flat tummy and then at her crocodile tears. "Besides how can I tell that child is even mine. I'm sure it belongs to another bastard." Autumn was shocked, how could Ivan say such a thing. "You're the only man I've slept with Ivan, what you're spewing is ridiculous." Autumn spits back, she couldn't handle what he was saying anymore, it was breaking her heart. "Are you calling me a liar?" He raised his hand again but refrains when Iris grabbed on to his wrist. "Ivan, she's pregnant. You will stress the baby." Iris pouted as Ivan dearly held her gaze. "Why should I care about the bastard, it's not even mine." Ivan said as Iris pleaded with him. "Even though, the poor child should not suffer for what the mother did. Instead why don't you divorce her from having a affair?" Iris suggested. It was ironic really, Autumn had spent twelve years with Ivan as he disrespected her countless of times and have an affair with her own sister. She forgave him all those times and just when he heard blatant rumors of her affair he just couldn't stand it. "I did not have an affair, this is your child Ivan. I swear on my life." Autumn mutters as Iris pulls Ivan away from Autumn and whispers something into his ear. Ivan returns to Autumn, he clears his throat. "I'll have the doctor run a test, if it's mine I'll let you keep your title as my wife but if it isn't mine, our marriage will come to an end." Autumn nodded, she was confident she will be right. After all the last time she had sex with Ivan was solid alibi that it was his. The doctor conducted the test and immediately the results came back. Autumn's parents had heard about the reveal, they showed up to hear who owned the child. The doctor walks in with the results as he reads it out loud. "Mr Ivan, I'm sorry to say but you are not the father."Ivan's hand quaked under the butt of the gun. His eyes reddened, simmering in a heat of hatred. He didn’t know what he hated more—his stupid uncle or the way every single person looked up to him in admiration. He hated it to the fucking core, the same admiration his uncle had gotten when he publicly disowned him and his brothers. He lowered his gaze, and the sight of her pissed him off even more. It wasn’t bad enough that she was the main reason his father tortured him day and night, but she just had to fuck the one person he hated most. "Is this who you left me for? My uncle? After everything I did for you!" Ivan raised his voice, his index finger laced around the trigger. He turned his attention back to his uncle. "And you," he seethed. "What do you think you’re going to gain? Do you really think everyone believes you’re some fucking hero just because you put on some shitty chivalry? You’re a fucking asshole." Ivan spat the words, but Derek didn’t flinch one bit. His eyes lock
Ivan could no longer maintain his composure as he slammed the documents onto the table, his glare drilling into the now-nervous executives. The tension in the room was thick. Just before they could finalize the deal, news broke that Derek and Autumn were on their way to oversee the negotiations. The news spread like wildfire, leaving the company’s employees buzzing with indistinct chatter.Ivan’s eyes darted toward Judas, then to his phone. Twenty-five minutes was left. Judas, however, was seething beneath his calm exterior. Ivan’s outburst had shattered their carefully constructed facade, making them appear inexperienced and unfit to lead the company. Worse still, Derek’s insistence that no meeting should proceed without him complicated matters further. Winning over the executives now would be a fucking uphill battle. If Judas had foreseen his uncle meddling with his plans, he might have considered a more drastic solution, he should have killed him from the beginning."Ivan," Judas
Autumn held her stomach, exhaling a puff of warm air as her stylist tightened the corset further. She had been feeling self-conscious about her figure, and when the stylist suggested a corset, it seemed like a good idea. Now, as the laces pulled taut, she wished she could breathe with ease. After what felt like an eternity, the stylist helped her into a red midi dress—a tailored, structured piece with a V-neckline and a wrap-style bodice. The fabric hugged her frame, cinched at the waist with a matching belt that enhanced her silhouette. Autumn gulped, a forced smile tugging at her lips. "Is the belt really necessary?" she asked with a nervous chuckle. The stylist simply nodded, patting her gently on the back as she adjusted the final touches on the belt. A mirror had been brought over, nestled close to the table near the hospital bed, reflecting Autumn’s image back at her. Her hands fiddled awkwardly as she stared at the woman in the mirror. For a moment, she could barely recogn
The line went dead, and the silence that followed was almost suffocating. Autumn’s hand trembled, her face twisting into a worried pout. She glanced at Evette, then at Derek. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice quivering as she turned to Derek. “They’re going to take everything,” Autumn hissed, her voice rising in panic. “And it’s all my fault.” Before her knees could buckle, Derek caught her mid-fall, pulling her gently back up and guiding her onto the bed. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice steady as he wiped the tears streaming down her face. Autumn shook her head bitterly. “It’s not okay. I didn’t think this through. I left the company practically in Judas’s grasp. I was so scared of Iris that I forced Evette to watch over me instead of keeping an eye on him. I handed the company to your nephews on a silver platter,” she sobbed, her voice fragile and broken, like splintered glass. “I let you down.” A pout formed on her lips as Derek continued to dry her tears, liste
Autumn could not decipher if this was a dream. Derek remembers her well not so clearly but he somehow remembers the love he has for her.Derek pulled Autumn close patting the back of her head as she broke down, sobbing into him. The more she cried, the more he felt pathetic for making her this miserable.They both pulled away from the hug, Derek plants a kiss on Autumn's forehead, slowly he kisses her nose. He presses his lips on both her cheek. He pulls away once more, his eyes glued to her lips. Autumn's cheeks spread a warm color across her cheek bones, her eyes plummeting down to her thighs.Derek slowly inched towards her, his heart racing. Autumn shuts her eyes as Derek came closer, his lips brushing against hers."Derek?" Evette screamed in shock as Derek stepped aside to reveal Autumn who's face was redder than a tomato.Autumn immediately saw that Lucas wasn't with her and began to panic."Where is Lucas?" Autumn asked.Evette walked closer to her pulling out her phone."Lu
Derek could feel the world closing on him. It was ridiculous he was looking for someone and didn't even know how they looked like.But he felt if he just saw this person, things would feel better, the pounding headache he was feeling every second would simmer.He dragged his feed forcibly across the cold tile of the hospital. The walls around him began to spin and immediately he figured out if he should just give up."Derek!!!" Derek paused. That had to be his name, the nurse called him Mr Derek earlier. He couldn't force his body to turn, so he just stood there. The sound of footsteps coming closer could be heard till the figure appeared before him.His eyes widened open to get a closer look of the woman."You're awake." Relief was laced in her tone, her eyes wet in tears. Derek slowly extend both his hands, they cupped her face as he pushed his face closer to hers to get a closer look."Autumn?" He asked as the woman shook her head. Derek immediately saw the validity in her gaze an