Lila Montgomery has loved the cold Adrian Hale since they were children, but her feelings remained a silent secret. When his world crumbles after his lover walks out, Lila seizes her chance to heal his heart. Proposing a marriage of convenience, she makes him a promise: she’ll do whatever it takes to win his love. Surprisingly, Adrian agrees, and for a fleeting moment, Lila believes her dream is within reach. As he begins to show glimpses of care and affection, her hope blossoms. But just as she starts to imagine a future together, Adrian’s ex-lover returns, reigniting old flames. And with that, he asks for a divorce. Heartbroken but determined to protect her dignity, Lila agrees to the divorce and vanishes without a trace—hiding the secret she knows could change everything: she’s carrying his twin babies. Years later, fate forces their paths to cross again. Will Adrian discover the truth and fight for the family he never knew he had, or will the wounds of broken promises keep them apart forever?
View MoreLila sits on the edge of the examination table, clutching the edges with her trembling fingers. The faint hum of the ultrasound machine fills the quiet room. Her gaze fixes on the monitor, her heart pounding in anticipation.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Hale,” the doctor says, turning the screen slightly. “You’re carrying twins. Both are healthy and developing well.”
Lila’s eyes widened. Twins. She presses a hand against her chest, where her heart races. “Twins?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.
The doctor nods, offering a warm smile. “Yes. You’re about twelve weeks along. It’s early, but everything looks great.”
She can hardly believe it. A laugh bubbles up, light and breathless. Twins. Adrian will be so happy. The thought brings a rush of warmth to her chest.
After gathering the ultrasound photos and instructions, Lila steps out of the hospital. The evening air is crisp, but she hardly notices. Her mind is already racing ahead, imagining Adrian’s reaction. He’s been distant lately, but this—this will change everything.
At home, the clock ticks steadily. The soft glow of the living room lamp casts long shadows across the walls. Lila sets the ultrasound photos neatly on the coffee table, arranging them just so. She glances at her phone for the tenth time in as many minutes.
No messages. No calls.
The hours drag on. Dinner sits untouched on the dining table, and the warmth in the room fades with the night. Lila wraps a blanket around herself and sits on the sofa, her head resting against the cushion. Her excitement dulls into worry. Where is he?
Eventually, exhaustion takes over, and she drifts into a restless sleep.
The low rumble of an engine outside stirs her awake. She sits up abruptly, the blanket sliding to the floor. The headlights sweep across the windows before the car comes to a stop. Lila hurries to the door, a smile breaking across her face.
The front door opens, and Adrian steps inside. His tailored suit is immaculate, his hair neatly combed. There’s no sign of the exhaustion she feels.
“You’re back,” she says, her voice filled with relief.
Adrian pauses, his sharp gaze sweeping over her. His expression is unreadable, his lips pressed into a thin line. He sets his briefcase on the floor, his movements deliberate.
“We need to talk,” he says. His tone is clipped, devoid of warmth.
Lila’s smile falters. “Talk? Is everything okay?”
Adrian exhales sharply, as if her question irritates him. “I want a divorce.”
The words hit her like a blow. She blinks, unable to process them. “A… divorce?”
“Yes.” He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t look away. “I’ll have my lawyer draft the papers. You can sign them whenever you’re ready.”
Her fingers grip the edge of the doorframe to steady herself. “Adrian, what are you saying? Why?”
His jaw tightens. “I don’t love you, Lila. This isn’t working.”
Her throat tightens, and she struggles to find her voice. “We can work through this. We’re married—”
“This isn’t up for debate,” he interrupts, his tone cold. “I’ve made my decision.”
Lila stares at him, the words she planned to say—the news she was so eager to share—trapped in her throat. The ultrasound photos sit on the coffee table behind her, unseen and forgotten.
Adrian picks up his briefcase and walks past her without another glance. The door clicks shut behind him, and the house falls into silence.
Lila sinks to the floor, her hands trembling. The joy she felt only hours ago is gone, replaced by a hollow ache that threatens to swallow her whole. Nonetheless, she still tries to fool herself.
‘Maybe Adrian is just stressed,’ she thinks. ‘Work has been relentless for him lately. The idea of a divorce has to be impulsive, born from fatigue or frustration.’
Her gaze flickers to the ultrasound photos still lying on the coffee table. A pang of hope flutters in her chest.
“Once he knows about the babies, everything will change. He’s always talked about wanting children—he’ll see this as a new beginning,” she mutters to herself.
Lila gets up slowly, her body heavy with exhaustion. She picks up the photos and carries them to their bedroom. She places them carefully on her nightstand, as if their presence will anchor her determination. Tomorrow, she’ll tell him. Tomorrow, everything will be better.
Lila sits on the cold floor for what feels like an eternity, staring at the door as if willing it to open again. Maybe Adrian is just stressed, she thinks. Work has been relentless for him lately. The idea of a divorce has to be impulsive, born from fatigue or frustration.
Her gaze flickers to the ultrasound photos still lying on the coffee table. A pang of hope flutters in her chest. Once he knows about the babies, everything will change. He’s always talked about wanting children—he’ll see this as a new beginning.
Lila gets up slowly, her body heavy with exhaustion. She picks up the photos and carries them to the bedroom. She places them carefully on her nightstand, as if their presence will anchor her determination. Tomorrow, she’ll tell him. Tomorrow, everything will be better.
The next day, Lila stirs, her hand instinctively reaching for the other side of the bed. It’s cold, empty. She blinks, sitting up quickly.
“Adrian?” she calls out, her voice echoing in the silence.
No answer. The house is eerily still. She checks the bathroom, the kitchen, even his home office. He’s gone.
Her chest tightens, but she forces herself to stay calm. He must have gone to work early. That’s all. She pulls out her phone, her thumb hovering over his name in her contacts. Just as she’s about to type a message, a notification pops up.
A message from Lyra Montgomery, her mother.
Her stomach twists as she opens it. The text is brief, but it feels like a punch to the gut.
“I told you long before that you were digging your own grave forcing him to marry you.”
Beneath the message is a link. Lila hesitates, her thumb trembling as it hovers over the screen. With a deep breath, she taps it.
The page loads, revealing a tabloid article with a glaring headline:
“Kristina Black is Back! Spotted with Adrian Hale at Exclusive Dinner.”
The article is accompanied by a photo. Lila’s breath catches in her throat as she stares at it. Adrian is seated at an elegant table, leaning slightly toward the stunning woman across from him. Kristina.
Her glossy black hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders, her lips curved in a knowing smile. The kind of smile that says she belongs there—next to Adrian.
Lila’s grip tightens on her phone. The date stamp on the article is fresh. Last night.
Her mind races, piecing together the fragments of the evening. While she had waited for him, falling asleep on the sofa with dreams of sharing their news, he had been with her.
She scrolls down, her vision blurring as the words blur together. The article speculates about their reunion, hinting at a rekindled romance.
Lila drops the phone onto the kitchen counter as if it burns her. Her mother’s words echo in her mind: “Digging your own grave.”
Forcing him to marry her… She swallows hard, her chest tightening. No, that isn’t how it was. Adrian had agreed. He’d said he’d give her a chance.
Had that all been a lie?
Andrew furrows his brows in confusion as he watches Adrian come to an abrupt stop. Just moments ago, Adrian had been striding purposefully toward the meeting room, his mind clearly focused on the business that lay ahead. But now, he hesitates, glancing back at the kids who were sitting a short distance away. Andrew expects him to shake off the distraction and resume his course, but to his surprise, Adrian pivots on his heels and walks back toward the children.What is he doing?The twins have now moved to a nearby seating area, clutching a small café menu. Their expressions mirror Andrew's surprise when they see Adrian returning. Ava clutches the menu against her chest, her wide eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. On the other hand, Liam narrows his gaze, instantly on alert, ready to protect his sister from any unexpected situation.Adrian shoves his hands deep into his pockets, looking down at them with a neutral expression. "I’m not the kind of man who leaves kids hu
An hour ago…Adrian Hale arrives at the Montgomery building, his head pounding from last night’s excessive drinking. He didn’t expect to get that drunk, and now he’s paying for it—late for a meeting, something that never happens. Adrian is the kind of man who’s always at his best. Almost perfect in everyone’s eyes. In business, he’s ruthless. He has no friends, no family—everyone is a potential enemy. Being late is a dent in his carefully crafted image, and he hates it. His jaw tightens as he strides forward, mentally preparing himself to walk into a room full of people who know he slipped up.“Has the meeting started?” he asks Andrew, his voice clipped as he picks up his pace.Andrew hurries to keep up. “Yes, sir. They waited for you, but since Miss Lila needed to present her new proposal, I told them you might be late, so they went ahead.”Adrian clenches his fists but says nothing. There’s no point in getting angry at Andrew—this is his own fault. Without another word, he heads str
Lila paces the length of her bedroom, her brows furrowed in thought. The morning sunlight filters through the curtains, but the warmth does little to ease the chill in her chest. Ever since Adrian became the largest shareholder in her company, the tension in her life has been palpable. The very thought of facing him again, especially after the incident at the hotel, makes her stomach churn. But today is important—a major board meeting that requires her presence. She has no choice but to go.Her internal debate is interrupted by a faint whimper. She turns to see Ava sitting on the edge of her bed, her face flushed and her small body trembling. Lila’s heart sinks.“Mommy, I don’t feel good,” Ava murmurs, her voice weak.Lila kneels in front of her, placing a gentle hand on her forehead. The heat radiating from her skin confirms her worst fears. “You have a fever, sweetheart.”Ava clings to her mother’s arm. “Don’t leave me, Mommy. Please.”Lila’s resolve wavers. She glances at the clock
The opulent chandeliers of the Grand Marquis Hotel glitter above as Lila steps into the luxurious dining room. Jacob, ever the charming host, orchestrates the evening with ease, ensuring Ava and Liam are entertained with the hotel’s special children’s menu and small gifts that light up their eyes with joy.“You spoil them too much,” Lila remarks with a soft chuckle, watching her children’s delighted expressions as they marvel at their new toys.Jacob leans back in his chair, a confident smile gracing his features. “If spoiling them brings out those smiles, I’ll gladly do it every day.”Lila shakes her head, a mix of gratitude and exasperation coloring her expression. It’s moments like these that remind her of how dependable Jacob has been through her most trying times.The sound of laughter and clinking glasses fills the room, but Lila feels a pang of unease—a shadow of something unspoken tugging at the edge of her mind. Brushing it aside, she excuses herself to the restroom.“I’ll be
Lila’s laughter fills the room as Ava and Liam wriggle under her playful tickles, their small bodies twisting and turning on the plush carpet. "Mommy, stop!" Ava squeals, her giggles bubbling over as Lila pretends to tickle her relentlessly.Liam, not one to be outdone, lunges toward his mother, wrapping his tiny arms around her waist in an attempt to save his sister. "We’ll get you, Mommy!" he declares, his voice filled with mock determination.Lila throws up her hands in mock surrender. "Oh no! The mighty warriors have defeated me!" She collapses onto the floor dramatically, causing both children to burst into laughter.The moment is interrupted by the shrill ring of Lila’s phone. Still smiling, she reaches for it and glances at the screen. Her expression softens when she sees the name flashing across it.“Jacob Kingston,” she murmurs, answering the call as she sits upright. “Hello, Jacob.”“Lila,” a warm, deep voice greets her. The rich timbre of his tone carries a blend of familia
The tension in the boardroom is palpable as Lila stands at the head of the table, her presence commanding despite the turmoil inside her. The board members sit in silence, their eyes flicking between her and Adrian, whose unyielding gaze remains fixed on her. She clears her throat and begins."Our quarterly projections indicate a dip due to external market conditions," Lila explains, her tone professional. "However, we can recover if we implement cost-cutting measures across non-essential departments."Adrian leans back in his chair, his arms folded, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. "Cost-cutting measures? That’s your solution? Sounds like a short-term fix for a long-term issue."Lila’s jaw tightens, but she doesn’t miss a beat. "A short-term fix is necessary for survival, Mr. Hale, while we work on diversifying revenue streams. Or would you prefer we take reckless risks without stabilizing the current situation?""Reckless risks?" Adrian raises an eyebrow, his tone dripping wi
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