Conrad was stressed and needed to relax. Not sleep ‘relax’, or any other kind of rest. He needed his woman.He attempted to touch Sarah but she kept resisting him.He was burning with desire. Sarah had been denying him of sex for some time now, but Conrad didn't make a fuss about it because he thought it could be the pregnancy hormones.But tonight, he needed her badly.“Stop it, please,” Sarah said softly, pushing his hand away and slightly adjusting herself on the bed.“Come on, baby. You know it's been a while. I'm starving,” Conrad said, his voice sounding desperate, like someone in need.He moved closer to her again, and Sarah could feel the unmistakable pressure of his arousal pressing against her. He rubbed her shoulders with his hands and kissed her neck and shoulders.It irritated Sarah.“Stop it, I said,” she yelled now, sitting up on the bed.“Please, just give me some tonight. I miss you so much. Don't you miss me?” Conrad asked, his body on fire.“Conrad, I'm so tired and
Leah walked out of Jeremy’s house, her breath ragged, her heart hammering violently against her chest. The night air hit her face, cool but unable to calm the storm inside her. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold in the emotions threatening to spill over. Pregnant. Sarah was pregnant. Jeremy’s child. The words replayed in her mind like a broken record, each repetition digging deeper into her chest. How could this be happening? And now? Tears stung her eyes as she walked aimlessly down the street, her vision blurred. She had no idea where she was going, only that she couldn’t stay there. She couldn’t stand in the same room as Sarah, couldn’t watch Jeremy wrestle with the consequences of his mistakes. Her feet carried her without thought, her emotions too raw to care where she ended up. Then, as if by fate, she found herself in front of Noah’s apartment. She hesitated. Noah. The one who had always been there. The one who had seen her at her lowest, who had h
Leah and Sarah were a couple now. And Jeremy was stuck with Sarah. Jeremy had called Leah to explain that he was family oriented and wanted his child to grow in a serene environment, and that even though he didn't love Sarah, he was stuck with her for the sake of the baby.“Go to hell,” Leah said harshly.“I'm sorry, Leah. I never meant for any of this to happen. I never meant to hurt you. I'll always love you,” he said sincerely.“Screw you,” Leah said and hung up abruptly.He had the guts to spew those words to her.“I'm family-oriented, Leah. I want my child to grow up in a stable home. I don't love Sarah, but I have to be with her for the sake of the baby.”His words had rung in her ears long after she hung up, after she spat out the harsh words, “screw you.”She blinked repeatedly to stop the tears that were forming in her eyes. Thankfully, it worked. She inhaled and exhaled sharply.She would not cry over Jeremy any longer. Leah had always believed that nothing happened by cha
Leah's hands trembled as she stared at the contents of the safe. Her breath hitched, and she felt Noah’s gaze on her, watching, waiting for her reaction.Besides the neatly arranged documents, a small velvet box, and most shockingly, a sealed envelope with her name written in bold, elegant handwriting.Her father’s handwriting.Leah swallowed hard, her pulse pounding in her ears. She reached for the envelope first, her fingers shaking as she tore it open. A letter slid out, the paper slightly aged but still crisp.She hesitated, glancing up at Noah who gave her an encouraging nod.A part of her didn’t want to read it. A part of her feared what she would find. But she had come too far to turn back now. Taking a deep breath, she unfolded the letter and began to read.My Dearest Leah,If you’re reading this, it means you’ve found the safe, and I can only hope you have done so before Margaret did.There is so much I wish I could tell you in person, so much that I have kept from you, not o
“Why have you done this to yourself, son?” Maggie’s voice was soft, filled with concern as she looked at Jeremy. Her eyes, though kind, held a deep sadness. It pained her to see her son like this. So weighed down, so lost.Jeremy, seated across from her, barely looked at her. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest of the chair, betraying his unease. “Because it’s the right thing to do,” he said finally, his voice hollow, but not convincing.Maggie exhaled sharply, studying him. He looked exhausted. His usual sharp, confident demeanor had become dull, replaced by something she struggled to define. “But you’ve become so unhappy. You’re clearly unhappy,” she pointed out gently.Jeremy looked at her and looked away.“You can still perform your duty as a father without being with Sarah. Don't do this, son. You'll regret it forever,” Maggie said.Jeremy tilted his head. “But parents sacrifice their own happiness for their children, don't they? You wouldn't understand that thoug
Conrad entered the basement in Big Margaret's house, his footsteps echoing as he walked towards the safe. The safe was there, staring at him, silent and unyielding, like a guardian of untold secrets. Certainly, it was something of great value.He licked his lips, staring at the steel box embedded in the wall, its numerical keypad waiting, daring him to unlock it.This was his chance. His golden ticket.Conrad had given years of his life to Big Margaret. What did he have to show for it? Peanuts. Scraps. He had been her errand boy, her enforcer, her puppet in the shadows. He had done things for her that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He had even satisfied her sexually, a degrading act of submission that had left him hollow inside.And for what? Nothing.Sarah had left him, spitting in his face about how he was a useless man who could never give her the life he had promised. And now, she was with Jeremy, even though she was carrying his child. He knew it was his child even tho
Sarah was sipping from a glass of wine as she admired her reflection in the mirror.Her life had taken a drastic turn suddenly. Leaving Conrad had been the best decision she had ever made. He was a failure, a man too weak to give her what she wanted.She was glad that she schemed her way back into Jeremy's life.Just as she was about to take another sip of wine, her phone rang. The unfamiliar number flashing on the screen made her hesitate. Normally, she ignored calls from numbers she didn’t recognize, but something told her to answer this one.She picked up but didn’t say a word. Instead, she waited, listening to the silence on the other end.Then, a thick, hoarse voice broke through.“Hello, Sarah.”“Conrad,” she muttered, her voice dripping with irritation. “Why the hell are you calling me?”“We need to talk,” Conrad said, sounding miserable.Sarah scoffed. “There's nothing to talk about. Please, stop calling me,” Sarah said and hung up abruptly, tossing the phone onto the nightst
The very next day, after Jeremy and Sarah had met Leah and Noah at the mall, was Big Margaret's court hearing date.Jeremy didn't go. He couldn't stand seeing Leah with Noah like that, as a couple. He knew now that he was making a mistake by considering marrying Sarah because she was pregnant.He was miserable with her. His heart, body and soul belonged to Leah. He thought about her all the time. He yearned for her. He longed for her warm touch and her sweet kiss. Oh, he missed her.But she had moved on, and too quickly. It hurt him like hell. He was so pissed. But he wasn't supposed to be. Leah wasn't his anymore.Sarah came to the living room to see Jeremy watching the news. She picked the remote and changed the channel. Then she sat beside him. “We should go to the hospital and do a scan. You know, see how the baby is doing. Hear the baby's heartbeat,” she said.Jeremy didn't respond. His mind was far away.“Jerry?” She called out.“Um, yes. You were saying,” Jeremy snapped out o
The atmosphere seemed to have changed for good. It felt like joy had finally taken root and was blooming beautifully. After so many years of tears, pain, betrayal, and heartbreak, Maggie was finally getting her fairy tale. And the man holding her heart? None other than Alfred, the same man she’d loved deeply in the past, the one who’d made her cry, and now, the one making her smile again.A wedding was being planned.Yay!It wasn’t just any wedding. It was Maggie and Alfred’s wedding. And it was going to be beautiful.Everyone was excited and anticipating the D day.The two lovebirds were like teenagers, always whispering sweet things into each other’s ears. Sometimes, they'd sneak out of the house just to take long walks or go on simple dinner dates, even though everyone already knew they were deeply in love.They were always on the phone with each other. Alfred could just drop Maggie off and still call to check on her.Maggie would blush whenever Alfred told her she looked beautifu
Noah zipped up the side of his black duffel bag and tossed in one last folded shirt. His room felt empty, but not in a peaceful way. The walls were still the same soft cream color. The picture of him and Elizabeth still stood on the bedside table, staring back at him like a ghost of laughter and lost love. But everything else had been stripped down. Clothes packed, shelves cleared, shoes lined up by the door like soldiers ready for one final march.He was done pretending.The air was still and heavy, like it was holding its breath. Then came a soft knock on the door. He froze for a second, eyes closing briefly, already knowing who it would be.The door creaked open, and Leah stepped in.Her face was tired. There were shadows under her eyes, and her shoulders were tense. But she still carried that air of quiet strength, even though it seemed to be slipping through the cracks today.“You’re really leaving?” she asked, her voice low.Noah didn’t look at her at first. He folded another s
The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky as Noah parked his scooter outside Cassandra’s new house. The house was simple but cozy. Neat hedges and bright flowers swayed gently in the breeze. In one hand, he carried a brown bag filled with fresh fruits. This was something he brought every time he visited. Cassandra and Leah had always liked it. It was his small way of saying “thank you” and showing love. Today, it felt like the only strength he had left to give.He walked up to the door and knocked softly. Cassandra opened the door a few minutes later. She looked radiant, her hair tied back. She smiled warmly when she saw him.“Noah,” she said softly.“Good afternoon, Mama Bear,” he greeted, forcing a weak smile.He handed her the brown bag.She opened it and her eyes lit up just a little. “Watermelons! Thank you, my dear boy. You always remember.”He nodded slowly. “I know they’re your favorite.”She took a closer look at him then, her smile fading as concern filled her gaze. His eye
Noah sat still, his eyes staring blankly at the sky above. Leah was beside him , but she wasn't speaking. She just let him be. He couldn’t think clearly. He couldn’t breathe properly either.The atmosphere felt too small, too dark, too full of pain.His heart was heavy. Too heavy to carry.She was gone.Elizabeth.The love of his life.The woman who showed him that love wasn’t supposed to hurt, wasn’t supposed to be a battle of pride or pain. She made him feel like a man, like someone worthy of being loved. She healed parts of him that he didn’t even know were broken. She lit up the corners of his soul that had been dark for too long.He leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees, and buried his face in his hands.It wasn’t supposed to end like this.He closed his eyes and let the memories take him.— — —He remembered the first day they met, like it had just happened. It was at one of Jeremy’s casual in-house parties—nothing too loud, just a few friends, drinks, music, laughter,
Noah couldn’t sleep.The wind wasn’t soft and peaceful anymore. It had turned bitter and cold, like something had changed in the air. He sat on the edge of his bed, still fully dressed. His phone was in his hand, his thumb hovering over Elizabeth’s number again.He had already called three times tonight.Still no answer.Still switched off.Something was off. Deep down, he knew it. And the more he tried to shake it off, the stronger the feeling grew. It was like trying to ignore smoke in a room. It kept stinging his eyes and choking his lungs.He stood up and walked around the room, his fingers running through his hair. “If Elizabeth had travelled, Leah would’ve told me,” he said out loud to himself. “She would’ve said something.”Noah hated this feeling. This strange silence. The way no one was saying anything clear. It felt like being tossed around in the dark, no clue where to turn.He stopped pacing and looked at the phone again.He didn’t want to believe anything bad had happened
Most people had gone. The event hall had begun to empty. Waiters moved about clearing plates, the tables that were occupied and busy now mostly bare. Only a few people remained—close friends, staff, and some family still exchanging last laughs and hugs before leaving.Noah finally found the chance to really catch up with Leah's mom.He’d been trying to get a moment alone with her since he arrived, but she seemed too occupied, being pulled here and there as the event planner. But now, finally, she stood by herself, sipping orange juice and looking really happy.He walked up to her with a boyish smile. “Mama Bear, you look so different.”Cassandra turned to him, her eyes lighting up. “Different good, different bad?”He chuckled. “Good, of course. You're glowing, and you look very happy and even younger.”Cassandra placed a hand on her chest like the compliment had hit home. “I know, right. Thank you, my boy. You don't look bad yourself.”Noah scratched his head, slightly shy. “The trai
The music had slowed, now playing something softer, gentle instrumentals that swayed like a whisper. It filled the background as guests settled into a more relaxed rhythm, sitting at tables, clinking glasses, sharing quiet laughter. The earlier excitement of the proposal had mellowed into warm joy, like a comforting hug that held the night together.Maggie sat beside Alfred, tears still forming every now and then as more guests stopped by to offer their congratulations. Alfred held her hand and kissed her temple gently now and then. He looked younger somehow, not in his face, but in the way his eyes danced. He looked like a man who had found peace again, like someone who had been through the fire and come out stronger.Cassandra hadn’t left Maggie’s side for too long either. She leaned close, teasing, “You better let me pick your wedding gown. I already have ideas.”Maggie laughed, still shy. “You’ll go for something dramatic. I know you.”“And why not?” Cassandra grinned. “This love
The celebration roared on with laughter. Glasses clinked and the warm hum of live music floated around the event hall. Candlelit chandeliers sparkled above the heads of elite guests, casting a golden glow that made everything look soft, beautiful, and magical. The air was rich with scents of exotic perfumes, delicious food, and champagne.“Congratulations, Maggie,” Cassandra said again, squeezing Maggie's hand gently.Maggie gave her a bashful smile, still overwhelmed from the surprise proposal. “Thank you, Cassandra. I still feel like I’m dreaming.”Casa chuckled. “Oh, it’s real. And it’s well deserved. You and Alfred are finally getting your happy ending.”Leah stood just beside them and leaned in, her eyes filled with emotion. “You do deserve to be happy, Maggie. After all you and Alfred have been through... it’s time.”Maggie’s lips trembled a little as she nodded. “Thank you, Leah. That means a lot.”Jeremy arrived shortly, his eyes twinkling with warmth. He reached for his mothe
Cassandra hadn’t always been a people person. In fact, Leah’s mother was known to be more reserved—kept to herself, hardly ever went out except for family obligations or church on Sundays. She liked the quiet, the calm. She never cared much for noisy gatherings or social events, but all of that had begun to change since everything that happened with Leah, Jeremy, and the chaos they had all just barely escaped from.Maggie had played a big role in that change.Their connection had been unexpected. It had started with shared concern—two mothers deeply shaken by the dangers their children had faced, both grateful to have them back safe. It quickly blossomed into something softer, more beautiful. Friendship. The kind that made Cassandra laugh more, the kind that made Maggie feel lighter.Cassandra began visiting Maggie’s art studio, something she would have never done before. She would sit on a stool by the window while Maggie worked on a canvas, sipping tea and talking about everything f