**POV: Harper** My heart raced as I held Ethan close to me, feeling the weight of his stress seep into my skin. It was hard to watch him so burdened, especially when he was usually the one with a bright smile lighting up the room. The gentle rise and fall of his chest beneath my fingers was a brief comfort against the storm brewing in my mind. I cuddled him in my arms, playing with his hair as he slept peacefully. He looked so sad and stressed out when he arrived. I would have thought that he had so much to do at work, but his countenance said otherwise. And his warning about my visit to Emma said it all. They were the reason why he was stressed. Emma and her sister were using his guilt against him, making him do things that upset him. I didn’t know what they had done to make him so upset, but I felt so bad that I was the reason why they were angry with him. I should not have investigated his past and unearthed secrets he was trying to keep from me. Though the light in the roo
POV: HarperThe sterile smell of antiseptic assaults my senses as I fight to blink away the haze of sleep that is tormenting me. My body is heavy, like a heavy weight was wraps around me like a tight blanket. Pain radiates through me, a dull throb that seems to pulse in time with my heartbeat. But amidst that pain, the first thought that pierces through the fog is primal and fierce: My baby.“My baby!” I scream in panic, sound of my voice coming out so loudly that it hurt my throat. My hands fly to my abdomen, cradling the life that grows within me as I hoped and prayed that it is still there. I struggled to sit upright, and in my frantic attempts to sit up, pain flares through my body like wildfire. But I ignore it, desperate to ensure my baby is unharmed. I need to get up. I have to protect it, I have to protect the one thing that makes sense in my life right now, the one thing that makes me feel completeI struggled to sit upright, but the pain was unbearable, my body is badly b
**POV: Harper**When I woke up, I found myself still lying in the hospital bed, sweating profusely because of my dreams. I looked around and discovered that Ethan was not in sight. I thought that I would sleep better knowing that my unborn child was doing okay, but the nightmares kept me awake, reminding me of my near-death experience.I wasn't surprised when I didn't see Ethan sitting next to me in my hospital bed. If anything, I felt relieved that he had taken my advice and gone home to freshen up and attend to a few things he had abandoned because of me. He had been in the hospital with me since I was brought in, so it was expected that after I got better, he would head home for a quick shower and a change of clothes. I knew I was the one who asked him to leave, but I missed him already. I felt safer when I was in his arms; in his presence, I was not scared of anything or anyone.It was after he left the hospital that Serena called me to "congratulate" me for the accident and told
POV: HarperMy heart raced, and my breath hitched in my throat as I pressed the call button. I needed a nurse—no, I needed Ethan. The room felt suffocating, filling with echoes of Serena’s laughter that echoed through my mind like an annoying melody. I curled my fingers tightly around the sheets, willing the warmth of his presence to seep into my bones, to protect me from her venomous words that wrung out my resolve like a ragged sponge. If this was meant to break my resolve and shatter my heart. Then kudos to Serena because she is doing such a great job at it. I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces as I heard her excited laughter after she disclosed to me that Ethan had been with her while I was struggling to stay alive and protect our baby too.Ethan was supposed to be my fortress, my shield against everything out there. Instead, I felt like a shipwreck, tangled in a twisted wreckage with a storm raging all around me. How could I have been so naive to believe that this wa
**POV: Harper**“This is not happening! No, no, no, no! I won’t take this! Someone must have tampered with my phone; her number has been deleted from my call log. I can’t believe this. Who would do something like this?” I challenged, looking at the maids and guards he had brought with him to help me out here. They were supposed to take care of me—why would they do something like this to me?“What now? Are you going to blame my guards and maids too? Should I send them home before they get dragged into your conspiracy theories?” he asked me, sounding a bit sarcastic and annoying. He thinks I’m cooking up stories just to make Serena look bad. Why is he not seeing the traces of the games she is playing with me? Why can’t he believe me?He looked at me as if I were insane. I could swear he was thinking that the accident had affected my head. Whoever did this to me would not get away with it; I’d make them pay for this betrayal. They had succeeded in making me look stupid. This proves that
**POV: Harper**"And by the way, Harper, I forgot to thank you for letting Ethan come to me yesterday morning while you attended your prenatal examination alone. Or maybe you should thank me for calling him away yesterday morning. I mean, I saved him from being involved in that fatal accident with you, didn't I?" She asked me the last time she called me in the hospital. I couldn’t stop thinking about it; I couldn’t get those words out of my mind. Nobody believes me—not even Ethan—believes that she called me. I had to stop talking about it so I wouldn’t get mistaken for a lunatic. I stopped asking him about his phone call that morning and even stopped mentioning her threats and evil plans. He said I couldn’t make these accusations without evidence, so I decided to wait until Serena called me again. When she didn’t call me back after a few days, I decided to call her myself. I got her number from Ethan and tried calling her back in his presence so he could hear what she had to say to
**POV: Harper**“No, my love, you can’t leave, please. I’ll tell you anything you want to know; we can talk about this. Please, Harper, please don’t go.” He pleaded, turning me to face him and forcing me to look into his eyes. “I didn’t know; I thought it was a call from work, I swear it. I have nothing going on with Serena, and even if she said something, it doesn’t matter. It was a mistake, and I didn’t lie to hurt you. I only wanted to protect you. After the stunt she pulled at our baby bash, I couldn’t tell you I went to see her to discuss business because I didn’t want you to think that I’m having an affair with her. Please, my love, you have to believe me,” he said, sounding repentant.“Then why did you keep it from me? Why did you have to lie to me?” I asked, crying sadly. My breath caught, tears spilling over as I recalled everything I’d been through. He made me look stupid when I brought it up; they even called me a lunatic. All the doctors and nurses thought I was going ins
POV: HarperI was restless, I could not close my eyes for even one second because I was scared that Serena might try to hurt me if I sleep. The nightmares would plague me in my sleep, so I decided not to sleep instead. I lay in the guestroom of Kate's house, staring at the ceiling, unable to forget the memories from the accident that still haunts me even when I’m wide awake. I admit, this new room felt foreign, too different from the comforting familiarity of my own, but the chaos at home made it impossible to stay. Different thoughts raced through my mind, I keep replaying the moments from that fateful day. How could someone know exactly where I would be? I keep thinking hard about it, but no matter how hard I try to figure it out, I keep coming right back to Serena. I wanted to wave her words aside as just silly talk, but her admittance has to be true because nothing e6mskes sense. I just need evidence to tie her to my accident and Ethan would finally believe that she is a psyc
POV: Harper “Yes, Liam told me that! I know she is crazy, and that is exactly why I need you with me! We can’t keep playing this game of chase with Serena. I refused to keep hiding and dodging one person for the rest of my life. I refuse to spend another day not knowing if tomorrow you’ll be taken away from me or if I’ll lose you in some way.” His voice rose, emotion spilling over as his frustration became palpable.“What do you mean, Ethan, what are you saying?” I asked him. Tears stained my cheeks as my heart ached. I wanted so badly to run into his arms, to feel safe. But I could still see the world outside crashing down around us. I could feel the emotions in his voice and I know in my heart that there is more to this that he is not telling me. If he knows that he is not ready to open up to me, then why the hell is he here?“I can’t go back there. I won’t risk it,” I said firmly, shaking my head, though it felt like my heart was shattering with each rejection. If only he knows
POV: Harper Ethan’s visit was unexpected, but I was glad I let him into the house. When I opened that door and saw him there, a weight I didn’t realize I was carrying lifted just enough to let me breathe. Five months apart had felt like an eternity. Every second without him was a slow burn that turned into a bright flame the moment he stepped into my world again. I didn’t just miss my husband I missed his touch, his warmth, his entire presence. It felt so good to feel his touch after five months. I knew I was missing my husband, but I had no idea how much my body yearned for his touch until he put his hands around my waist and kissed my lips. It was such an emotional moment as we reconnected, expressing our deepest desires through passion.When he wrapped his hands around my waist and pressed his lips to mine, I felt an electric charge run through me. It was like a dam had broken open, and everything I had been holding back, the love, the despair, the longing, came rushing forth. T
POV: Harper I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart as I looked into Ethan's pleading eyes. The memories of our past flooded back, a past filled with love and pain. I had never intended to see him again, at least not yet. But as I looked at him, I saw a reflection of my own longing."This is not how I planned my day," I finally said, my voice shaking as I told him Let's talk. As I led him into the house, leaving Liam and Clara behind, they decided to go out together and give us our privacy. I wonder who told Liam that he could meddle in my relationship. I guess this is what I get for setting him up with Clara. It must be his way of paying me back for fixing him up in a relationship that he never wanted. I should have known when he agreed to do it that he would try to get back at me. The worst part of it is that I can’t even complain about it because I did the same thing to him and he never complained.As I shut the door, I wondered if I was sealing my fate or simply r
POV: Harper We have stayed in this underground secret hideout for three months now, and I thought we would never leave again The dark walls are a stark reminder of everything I’m trying to escape, but at least I’m safe here. Safe from Serena and her endless threats. Safe from everyone who thinks I’m dumb for leaving my marriage with the most eligible bachelor in town, Ethan.If only they know what I had to go through as his wife, if only they know that I’m currently fighting to stay alive and protect my unborn child from a lunatic that is obsessed with my husband. If anything, I should be commended for staying alive and safe this long. I’m not sure how long I can keep this up, but I sure know that I’m doing a great job so far. I watch as Liam spends more time chatting with his newfound love, Clara, and I feel a pang of jealousy twinge in my heart. But I remind myself, it was my idea that he dated her. I made this happen , I found him this girl and literally forced him to speak with
POV: Harper “Just be yourself , Liam, I’m sure your are going to be okay,” I told him with a warm smile. As he looked at me, his expression shifted from apprehension to something that looked a little more like determination. “I suppose I’ll give it a shot,” je mumbled, taking a deep breath as he opened Clara’s chat window. I sat behind him at first, but the moment they started typing, I leaned forward, unable to contain my enthusiasm. Clara’s typing indicator flickered to life, and I was struck by how her energy radiated even through text. He began reading her messages, and for a brief instant, I saw a smile glimmer at the corners of his mouth.“Hey Liam, it’s so great to finally connect! Hailey has told me so much about you.” She said. I watched him respond to her with a newfound excitement, his demeanour shifting as he connected with her. “You used a fake name and then gave her my real name?Are you nuts, Harper?” he asks me when she called me Hailey and not Harper. As they excha
POV: Harper “When is Liam coming back, Harps, when am I going to meet him?” Clara asked me after two weeks of chatting and talking about Liam. “No offence, Hailey, I really love chatting with you, but I think it’s time I meet Liam and get talking with him. I have heard so much about him and I feel I already know him. When can I meet him, can you help me arrange that?” she asked me, looking excited. I could tell that she is eager to meet him, I just don’t know how long I can keep lying to her when Liam has refused to talk about her anymore. “Ill get him to speak with you as soon as he gets back, I promise.” I told her. She nodded in understanding, the excitement in her voice dying away. To think that Liam is seated right across from me as I chatted with her. And yet he didn’t make any move to meet or speak with her. I’ve been doing this fir two weeks, I always initiate a chat with her when he’s around so he can hear how happy and excited she is to meet him. But he still hasn’t sho
POV: Harper Could it be that he is a little bit interested but doesn’t want to tell me the truth yet?I felt triumphant, I could actually make him like this idea if I pester him enough. I’m so going to pester him, I’ll fucking breath down his neck until he agrees to do this with me. I knew he hated the idea of me meddling in his life, but it was too late. It’s way to late for him to back down on me because he has no fucking choice in the matter.I had already taken matters into my own hands, and I couldn’t keep it a secret for too long. Clara was too special, a beautiful girl with a kind heart, the kind of person who could easily light up Liam’s world, something he desperately needed. Plus, we shared the same Zodiac sign, which I found to be a perfect for Liam, and their both Zodiac signs accept each other, and that is a plus. “It’s not such a bad thing Liam, it’s something you would love if you just open your heart to it. Check out the good reviews from this platform, it’s so amaz
POV: Harper It almost looks like I was staring at a mirror. It feels like I was staring at a complete replica of me, but with a different face. It’s as if God created a different version of me and made a slight change in the face to show the difference. I leaned forward, captivated, as I read her words on a post she made just recently,“I believe kindness is the best gift we can give to one another,” she wrote. I felt my heart swell with excitement. Could this girl be the one? A kindred spirit for Liam, the missing piece that would make him whole again, someone who would cherish him and lift him up?I clicked into her gallery, scrolling through pictures that painted a vivid picture of her life. Photos of Clara by the beach, sunlight dancing over her skin, or laughing with friends during a picnic in the park. These snapshots told a tale of warmth, adventure, and a sparkle in her eye that suggested she embraced life with open arms. In each picture, I sensed strength and compassion meld
POV: Harper The next few days were so fun and beautiful. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be here, hidden away from all the chaos and danger, just me and Liam. After I bared my soul, telling him how lost I felt when he left me alone, he made an effort to make up for those dark days when I felt abandoned. It was like a new beginning, and I was grateful for every moment.We played our favourite games, the underground hideout filled with echoes of laughter and playful banter. Liam had this vast collection, games I never even imagined existed. Visual games that transformed the room into a world of colour and excitement. I was completely immersed, taking my mind off everything that was outside those thick walls. It was more than just an escape, it was a new adventure. I didn't realise that this underground hideout could be so much fun until he showed me all the beautiful games he had here.Today, we had chosen to race cars. A little competition never hurt anyone, right? And of cour