Clara sat on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing. The evening light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room. Devon's words kept playing in her head like a broken record.
"You're just a florist... You couldn't even keep a relationship together..."
She touched her cheek where tears had dried, leaving salty tracks on her skin. Why did the man she loved always find new ways to hurt her? Every time she thought they were getting somewhere, every time she saw glimpses of the gentle man who had held her through morning sickness and talked to her belly at night, he would say something that cut deeper than a knife.
The worst part was that some of his words rang true. She was just a florist. She had failed at relationships before. And here she was, pregnant with his twins while living with another man because she was too proud and too hurt to go back to him.
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her growing
After what felt like an eternity, the elevator doors of Yvonne’s penthouse finally chimed, a soft, almost imperceptible sound in the suffocating silence. Yvonne, who had been huddled in a corner of the living room, staring at James’s lifeless form with wide, unblinking eyes, sprang to her feet. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic, terrified drum. This was it. Her last hope.He moved with a quiet efficiency, his gaze sweeping over the opulent living room, settling for a brief, assessing moment on the still figure of James. He saw the spreading pool of blood, the overturned furniture, the raw panic etched on Yvonne’s face. He nodded, a slow, deliberate movement that seemed to acknowledge the entire chaotic scene without a single word.“The money,” he stated, his voice a low rumble, devoid of any emotion. He didn’t ask what happened, didn’t comment on the body. Just the money.Yvonne, despite the terror still gri
The silence in Yvonne’s penthouse was deafening, broken only by her ragged, desperate breaths. James lay on the plush carpet, unmoving, a dark, growing stain spreading beneath his head. The vase, still clutched in her trembling hand, felt impossibly heavy, slick with blood. Her heart pounded like a frantic drum against her ribs, a wild, terrified rhythm.She stared at him, her eyes wide with a horror that was both external and internal. What have I done? The thought screamed in her mind. One moment, he was a snarling, violating beast, and the next, he was… this. Lifeless. Still. A chilling, unblinking stare fixed on the ceiling.Her body was trembling uncontrollably, a violent shiver racking her from head to toe. She dropped the vase, and it clattered to the floor, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the sudden stillness. She stumbled backward, away from him, until her back hit the cold marble wall. Her legs gave out, and she slid down, collapsing onto the
At Devon’s home, a world away from the mansion’s polite deceptions, a different kind of morning was unfolding. Devon had gotten up early, before the sun had fully risen, to make breakfast for Clara. He wanted her to have breakfast in bed, a small gesture of comfort and love after the terrifying ordeal of the night before.He walked into the spacious bedroom, a tray laden with delicious food balanced carefully in his hands. He was wearing only his joggers, his bare chest gleaming, and a slightly comical apron tied around his waist. Clara, still nestled under the covers, slowly opened her eyes. She saw him standing there, looking utterly sexy, a vision of domestic bliss. A soft smile touched her lips, and her heart swelled with affection.“Good morning, sunshine,” he said, his voice warm and tender, placing the tray gently on her lap as she sat up, propped against the pillows. “How was your night?”Clara nodded, her eyes shining. “It was perfect,” she whispered, her gaze lingering on hi
It was morning, and the grand Cage mansion was already buzzing with activity. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air as everyone gathered at the long dining table. But despite the usual morning routine, a quiet tension hung over the room. Yvonne, looking impeccably dressed but with a subtle tightness around her eyes, looked worried. She hadn’t heard from Devon all night. Her mind was racing, replaying James’s panicked call. She hoped, desperately, that no matter what, Devon would not find James before she was able to help him leave the country. She knew Devon. He would have his eyes at every airport, every port, making sure James never left the country after what he did to Clara. The thought made her stomach clench with a cold dread.“Have you heard anything about Clara, Mother?” Rita asked Nana, her voice hushed, reflecting the general concern.Nana sighed, a weary sound. “Devon called last night. He said she
After his call with his sisters, Devon knew he couldn’t put off calling Nana any longer. She would be worried sick, and he needed to manage the narrative, keep his secret of being at his place with Clara safe, and most importantly, keep Clara safe and undisturbed. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and dialed her number.Nana was in her elegant sitting room, a worried frown on her face, talking with her son, Richard. They were speaking in hushed tones about the Clara situation, about Devon’s frantic departure, and the unsettling news that Clara was in the hospital. The phone rang, startling them both. Nana snatched it up, seeing Devon’s name flash across the screen. She immediately put the call on speaker, her voice laced with anxiety.“Hi, son,” Nana said, her voice trembling slightly. “Your dad is here too. What happened? Is Clara okay? Are the babies okay? We’ve been so worried!”Devon’s voice, thoug
Clara laid there on the cold, hard floor, a searing pain blooming in her lower abdomen. Her vision swam, blurring the ornate ceiling above her. She opened her eyes briefly, a faint flicker of consciousness, and through the haze, she saw a figure walking towards her. A tall, strong shadow. She couldn’t quite make out who it was, but a wave of desperate hope washed over her. Her eyes opened faintly again as she felt herself being gently lifted, strong arms cradling her. The world tilted, spun, and then she passed out, succumbing to the pain and the shock.The next minute, or perhaps it was hours later, she opened her eyes to the stark, sterile white of a hospital room. The scent of antiseptic filled her nostrils, a sharp contrast to the sweet perfume of roses from moments before. Her hand instinctively flew to her tummy, a primal fear gripping her. “My babies,” she whispered, her voice hoarse, barely audible. “Please… please save my babies.”Devon was there, a blurred figure by her beds