POV: LAUREN
My head was a whirlwind of voices, and none of them would let me breathe. The hurt pulsed like an open wound. The memory of that article… Mia in his lap, as if his past still had more power than I ever would. And the pain of remembering that night, the hope I carried in my chest when I was about to tell him everything. How I desperately wished he would accept being the father of my child. How I dreamed of a life by his side. As his wife. As a family.
I felt my eyes welling up. I tried blinking slowly to hold back the tears, but they pooled in silence, forming a thin line of shine that made me feel… small. Weak. Useless.
Part of me wanted to scream. To beg for forgiveness. To say I had been an idiot, that yes, I had lied—but only because I was scared, insecure, and confused. I wanted him to know that everything I felt for him had been real. So intense, it still consumed me today.
But
POV: HENRYI stayed silent for a few seconds, trying to control my breathing. My chest rose and fell in an erratic rhythm, still tasting the kiss that shouldn’t have happened. I looked at her, and she stared back at me with red, watery, confused eyes full of hurt.I hadn’t planned any of that. Furthermore, I didn’t go there to kiss her or to touch her like that. But all it took was one gesture, one sigh, one hesitation—and I got lost again. Just like I always did with her.I noticed her agitation. The way her fingers moved restlessly in her lap, her eyes constantly avoiding mine, shifting back to Theo. She was uncomfortable, on the verge of a breakdown. When she got up from the couch with a weak excuse, saying she was going to make something, I knew it was an escape. And this time, I wasn’t going to let her run. I stood up too and followed her, feeling a tight pressure in my chest that I didn’t want to admit was fear.Fear of losing her. Fear that it might already be too late.“Lauren
POV: HENRYBecker tried to pull away, pushing my arms with a quick, almost automatic motion. Before she could take a second step, I grabbed her wrist. Her skin was cold, trembling.“What does that mean, Lauren?” I asked quietly but firmly. I could feel there was something unsaid, something she was hiding, and it only made the pressure in my chest worse.She hesitated for a moment, then slowly turned around, eyes glassy, her expression exhausted.“I'm considering moving to another city,” Becker said, her voice thick with emotion, though she tried to sound rational. “Starting over, far from here. Henry, thanks to the agreement you signed, I was able to pay off all my father's debts. I'm truly grateful for that. But… I can't take it anymore. This place reminds me of everything I lost. It destroyed me. I can't breathe here anymore.”Her words hit hard. Part of me understood. But the other part reacted without thinking.“So you're going to do to Theodor what you did to me?” I snapped, my v
POV: LAURENHenry’s eyes widened the moment he read the first words. His firm steps echoed on the wooden floor as he moved closer to the note. I saw his fingers tremble slightly as he held the paper. The silence that settled for a few seconds felt like it was screaming inside the room. My chest tightened. It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath my feet.Theodor’s words pierced my heart with a dull, growing pain.“Uncle and Fairy, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be part of a broken family like this. Mom and Dad fought a lot when they were alive. I thought my new family would be filled with love, respect, and playtime, like it was in the beginning. But everything broke after you separated, and I can’t pretend to be strong and brave while watching you both so sad. I don’t know how to protect Alice from this, either. I won’t be a good brother or a good son. Furthermore, I don’t have your blood, Fairy, and still, you call me your son. Uncle Henry could learn a bit from you. He’s a nic
POV: LAUREN“Lauren, what’s going on?” Kate ran up to me, her voice filled with concern.“Theodor ran away.” I said, the words broken up by sobs. “He’s nowhere to be found. I already checked every place he used to hide. My words fell apart, just like my emotional control.“Hey, hey, calm down.” Kate pulled me into a tight hug. I felt her sweet perfume, the warmth of her body against mine, and for a moment, I could breathe a little easier. “You’re going to make yourself sick like this. We’ll find him, Lauren. Kids scare us like that sometimes.”“He left because he couldn’t stand seeing us fight anymore…” I sobbed, my chest shattered. “He thinks it’s his fault. And I… I’m failing him. What am I doing wrong?”“You’re doing the best you can.” She h
POV: LAURENAt that exact moment, a soft sound cut through the rain. A muffled sob, almost imperceptible but clearly close. We froze, silent, as if even breathing might drown out that fragile hope. Our eyes met for a second before we started scanning the area.“There,” I pointed, my voice trembling. “Look at that tree. There’s an opening.”The rain made it hard to see, the heavy drops blurring everything, but I caught a subtle movement. A little foot pulling back inside the hollow trunk.“Thank the Goddess… He’s here, Henry,” I said.Henry ran ahead, crouching and entering without hesitation. I followed right behind him. Inside the tree, Theodor was curled up, completely soaked, his body shaking and eyes wide with fear. When he saw us, he let out a muffled cry and threw himself into our arms.“I’m sorry, Fairy… I&
POV: LAURENI watched him grab two towels and one of his oversized shirts—the kind that always wrapped around my whole body.“Go dry off and warm up, please. I don’t want you getting sick, especially now… it wouldn’t be good for you or the baby,” Henry said, his voice softer and more careful than usual.I felt my stomach tighten when I heard him mention the baby. Furthermore, I was speechless for a few seconds.“You don’t have to, Carter,” I murmured with a weak smile. “I… I’ll go back home.”Even as I said that, my body was lightly trembling, my feet still damp, clothes clinging to my skin. I was tired, emotionally drained—but what hurt the most was the way he made me feel, just by the way he looked at me. As if he was saying everything he couldn’t put into words.“It’s
POV: LAUREN“Henry, please… you’re exhausted. Today was a hard day.” I tried to stay calm, but my voice cracked. I just wanted to stop him. Furthermore, I wanted to silence him before his words shattered me completely.“It’s been hard since we broke up!” he burst out, his voice firm and full of pain, throwing the truth at me without any filter. My body frozen. My eyes widened, and I felt the blood drain from my face. “Theodor ran away because he couldn’t handle the pain of not seeing us together anymore. And I know exactly how much that hurts. Every single day, Lauren. I hate coming home and not finding you here. I hate the silence. Furthermore, I hate not hearing Theo’s laughter echoing through the rooms while you two played. Furthermore, I hate this empty, cold bed—where you used to throw yourselves into my arms, barely leaving me space but filling me with so much more love. I hate prete
POV: LAURENHis hands slowly slid up my bare thigh, firm and commanding. The shirt I was wearing—his shirt—lifted gradually, revealing my skin as his fingers pressed with intention, claiming territory. The loose fabric, which looked more like a dress on me, rose along with the tension spreading through my body. And he didn’t stop kissing me. Henry’s mouth was locked on mine—hot, demanding, hungry. His tongue explored mine with such urgency, like he wanted to erase every boundary between us and take everything I was.A shiver ran up my spine when I felt his fingers slide into the crease between my thighs, teasing with soft, circular strokes over my most sensitive spot. My body arched, trembling beneath him, and my lip caught between my teeth to hold back a moan. My lungs gasped for air between one sigh and the next.“Henry…” I whispered, my voice weak, shaking, fighting against the storm
POV: LAURENThe cold floor beneath my knees felt distant from the real pain consuming my lower belly. I had no idea where I was. Everything was dark, blurry, and confusing. Every wall, every street, and every corner seemed to spin around me. I placed my hand on a nearby wall, leaving behind a sticky red mark of blood.“I need help.” I whispered, my lips trembling and my breath shallow.I kept moving—or rather, dragging myself with effort. One step at a time. The dizziness intensified. My head felt heavy, and the contractions were already coming in endless waves. I felt more blood and fluid run down between my legs, thick streams soaking the nightgown that was once white. Now, it was almost entirely red. My feet left uneven footprints on the floor. Every touch of fabric against my skin was a cruel reminder of what was happening: my daughter wanted to be born. And I was alone.I reached a busy stre
POV: LAURENMy knees were giving out. Every two steps, a new contraction took over my body, forcing me to stop and grab onto anything I could for support. The pain was sharp, tearing me from the inside. I cried out, feeling my muscles clench involuntarily.Blood kept dripping, staining the floor in thick drops.“Easy, baby…” I whispered with a shaky voice, one hand gently pressing against my belly. “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay… Just a little longer.”My face was soaked in sweat and tears. Air came in gasps, my lips trembling. I tried to take a deep breath, but the pain came back, forcing each whimper out of me.“Oh God, this hurts so much.” I grated my teeth through the pain.But I wasn’t going to stop.I couldn’t stop.Because now, more than ever, my da
POV: LAUREN“Are you behind all of this?” I asked, unable to hide the tremor in my voice. The words came out almost as a whisper, shaky, scraping through my raw throat.That revelation made me shudder. My eyes were locked on him, searching for some logical explanation for the madness. But there was nothing logical there. Nothing.“Why, Ravi?” I pressed, my voice breaking, feeling my throat tighten even more.He let out an impatient sigh, as if my anguish was annoying to him. With slow movements, he removed the rest of the surgical mask, revealing his face—calm, cold, and completely devoid of guilt. His half-lidded eyes conveyed a cruel boredom, like he was tired of watching me suffer.“You followed my pregnancy from the very beginning.” I said, swallowing hard, the tears burning my eyes. “I trusted you. I thought I could trust you.”
POV: HENRY“Roger, stop!” Margareth cried, sobbing, trying to hold him back by the arms. “This is real! It’s James! He’s our son, but he… he’s sick!”“This is fake!” he shouted, spitting on the broken device.“What the hell are you doing?” I exclaimed, stepping forward, the rage burning in my throat like fire. “Are you defending a kidnapper just because he shares your blood?”“YOU WANT TO SHAME US IN FRONT OF THE WORLD?” Roger roared so loudly, his voice echoed through the room. His face was red, his eyes bulging with fury, and his breathing was short and ragged. “You want us to turn against our own son because of a video? That was staged, Henry!”He pointed a trembling finger at me as if accusing me with his eyes could somehow erase the truth.“YOU set this up!” Roger bellowed, clutching his chest like he’d been struck. He stumbled a step back. “You're trying to destroy us!”Margareth rushed to him, alarmed.“Roger, please, calm down!” she begged through tears, gripping her husband's
POV: HENRYRoger stepped forward. His expression, which had been confused until then, grew more tense, more closed off. His face tightened, his brow deeply furrowed.“What do they want?” he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. The gesture was firm, but the tension in his touch betrayed the fear beneath it.“They called me not long ago,” I said, keeping my tone controlled despite the chaos inside me. “They’re demanding fifty thousand dollars. In cash. Unmarked bills.”I swallowed hard. My throat burned.“Or they’ll kill her and the baby,” I added.“This is monstrous…” Roger murmured, visibly shaken, running his hand through his hair with force, trying to think. “But who would do something so cruel? Who would dare touch Lauren?”He paused, staring at me.“I know money isn’t the issue for you, son…” Roger continued with a tense sigh. “But why did you come to us?”Before I could answer, Margareth turned to him with teary eyes and a choked voice, cutting him off:“Roger! He didn’t come he
POV: HENRYI slammed the car to a stop in front of the Bouvier mansion. The engine was still running, but I couldn’t hear a thing. My hands gripped the steering wheel, so tightly the knuckles turned white. Rage consumed me from the inside—hot, corrosive—filling every inch with my body. My jaw ached from how hard I was clenching it. I wanted to get out. I wanted to walk into that house and rip the truth out with my own hands.But the phone vibrated on the console.Unknown number.I frowned. My stomach twisted. I knew it could only be them. The damn kidnappers.I answered.“Speak,” I said. The word came out dry, thick with tension. My throat felt like it was made of broken glass.“Mr. Carter,” said a distorted voice, digitally altered. Robotic. Cold. “We have your wife.”The air i
POV: LAURENMy stomach turned. My breath caught in my throat. My blood bubbled in my veins. I clenched my fists tightly, trying to ignore the pain still throbbing in my arms, my abdomen, and my soul.He laughed.“That angry little face of yours…” he mocked. “It looks even prettier like that.”“You sick piece of shit!” I screamed, the voice coming from somewhere deep inside, fueled by pain, rage, and the pure instinct to survive.I sprang to my feet, my body staggering, but driven by pure impulse.Furthermore, I lunged at him.James widened his eyes for a second, surprised by my reaction—and then laughed even harder.Before I could hit him, he grabbed my arms forcefully and shoved me with brutal strength. I was thrown against the wall, the harsh impact echoing through my entire body.
POV: LAURENThe air vanished from my lungs. I was trembling. Cold sweat covered my skin. My heart was beating so fast it hurt.“I keep wondering…” he murmured, lowering his face over mine, his hot and repulsive breath making me turn my head away. “What it must feel like to be inside you?”“NO!” I tried to scream, but my voice failed. The scream died in my throat.His hand moved upward, slowly, toward my most intimate part.“Is it as warm as it looks, Lauren?” he whispered, sliding his fingers along the path I was desperately trying to keep protected.I cried, sobbing. My whole body trembled.But my mind was screaming: DO SOMETHING!“Please… don’t do this…” I whispered through tears, my entire body shaking. My voice came out broken, stuck in a thr
POV: LAUREN“James, please…” I begged through sobs that tore at my throat. The tears were already falling uncontrollably, soaking my face. “I'm begging you… please, don’t do this to me… don’t touch my baby. I’ll do whatever you want… anything…”“Anything I want, Lauren?” His voice echoed, laced with malice, low, with a perverse pleasure dripping from every syllable.I nodded with difficulty, swallowing hard. The taste of fear coated my mouth. A cold shiver ran down my spine, locking up my muscles in pure terror.“Y-yes…” I murmured, my voice trembling. “Just… just don’t touch my baby…”James slowly turned his face to the masked man standing in the back. A silent command, given only with a look and a slight nod.My stomach twisted viole