MasukA poignant and emotional tale about Mia, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage that was built on a business arrangement rather than affection. Married to Kyle Branson, a successful and detached businessman, Mia's life is an unacknowledged shadow to his true love—her younger stepsister, Taylor. When Mia unexpectedly discovers she is pregnant with twins, the news shakes her world, especially since her marriage contract forbids pregnancy. As Mia grapples with the reality of carrying Kyle's children, she faces not only the crushing weight of their cold, contractual relationship but also the sting of betrayal as Kyle continues his affair with Taylor. Mia’s internal battle intensifies as she navigates the emotional turmoil of being invisible to the man she once loved and the looming secret of her pregnancy.
Lihat lebih banyakMia's POVThe golden hour has passed, leaving behind that particular blue that only exists at tropical dusk—not quite night, not quite day, just this suspended moment when the world holds its breath.We're on the deck of our bungalow. The ocean stretches endlessly in every direction, turning from turquoise to navy to something darker, something ancient. The first stars are appearing overhead, hesitant, like they're not sure they're welcome yet.The kids are exhausted.Three hours of snorkeling, two hours of beach time after that, dinner at the cafe where Alexander ate his body weight in "crispy chicken tenders," and then a bath that involved more water ending up on the floor than on any actual child.Now they're in pajamas. Clean, damp-haired, sun-drunk and happy.Madison is curled against my side, Eleanor tucked under her chin. Her eyes are half-closed, but she's fighting it. Fighting sleep like it's the enemy.
Mia's POVGlass floor panels show the ocean below, actual fish swimming beneath our feet. A private infinity pool that seems to pour directly into the lagoon. A deck with stairs leading straight into water so clear I can see the sandy bottom twenty feet down. And the bed—"THE BED IS BIGGER THAN OUR ENTIRE APARTMENT!" Alexander has already claimed it, bouncing in the center like it's a trampoline. "LOOK! I CAN DO A STARFISH AND I DON'T EVEN TOUCH THE EDGES!""Alexander, shoes off the bed," I say automatically."BUT I'M TESTING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY!""Test it without shoes."He kicks off his sneakers. They fly in opposite directions. One lands in the pool."...oops.""I'll get it." Kyle is already moving.Ethan has found the glass floor panel and is lying on his stomach, face pressed against it, watching the fish."Mama," he breathes. "Mama, there's a school of sergeant majors. And I thin
Mia's POVThe Maldives looks like someone Photoshopped reality.I know that sounds ridiculous. But seeing it from the air—seeing those impossible rings of turquoise and sapphire and colors that don't have names, seeing the palm trees and the white sand and the tiny islands scattered across the ocean like someone spilled emeralds on blue silk—It doesn't look real."MAMA!" Alexander has his face pressed against the window so hard I'm concerned he's going to leave a permanent imprint. "MAMA, LOOK! LOOK AT THE WATER! IT'S BLUE! IT'S SO BLUE! WHY IS IT SO BLUE?""The water depth and the white sand bottom create light refraction that—" Ethan begins."I DON'T CARE ABOUT REFRACTION! I CARE ABOUT SWIMMING IN IT!""You can't swim in refraction. Refraction is an optical phenomenon—""ETHAN!""Boys." Kyle's voice cuts through. "Look out the window. Be amazed. Stop try
Mia's POVI should have known better than to close my eyes.The coffee helped—Patricia brought me something that could probably strip paint, bless her—but exhaustion is exhaustion, and I've been running on fumes since the wedding. Since before the wedding. Since approximately five years ago when I gave birth to two human alarm clocks who have never once slept past 7 AM.So when Madison finally falls asleep, and Alexander gets absorbed in some movie about talking cars, and Ethan opens his book about aerodynamics (because of course he does), I let myself sink into the leather seat and close my eyes.Just for a minute.Just—"MAMA!"I jolt awake.Alexander is standing in the aisle, his face pale, his eyes huge."MAMA, ETHAN FAINTED!"I'm on my feet before I'm fully conscious."What? Where? ETHAN!""He's in the bathroom!" Alexander is practically vibrating. "He went in there and I heard a THUMP and now he's not answering and the door is LOCKED and—"I'm already moving.Kyle is right behin












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