All Chapters of After One Reckless Night; A Secret Binds Us: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Kimberly’s lips parted in stunned silence, her entire body going still. For a moment, the world around her seemed to stand still. The whole living room was dead silent now, one could even hear a pin drop. Only Bryce's words kept ringing in her ears.Surely she had misheard him. Maybe her exhaustion, the whirlwind of panic over Keira, was twisting her senses.Her throat felt dry, her voice cracking as she finally managed to speak, “W-what…?” Her wide eyes locked onto his. “Bryce, what did you just say?”Bryce didn’t flinch, and he didn’t stutter either as he spoke. His voice carried no hesitation, nor room for any doubt.“I said we should get married.”Kimberly’s breath caught in her chest upon hearing him repeat the same words again, her pulse racing so hard it almost drowned out his steady tone.Bryce’s jaw tightened, the steel in his expression leaving no space for argument.He had thought this through, and Kimberly could clearly see it in his eyes. This wasn’t some spur-of-the-mome

Bryce didn’t know what to feel after Kimberly agreed to his proposal.All he knew was that he was happy. Happy because his daughter would no longer be apart from her mother. Happy because Keira would no longer be left wishing for her mom every now and then, but would finally have her right there, every day.Most of all, he was happy because he wouldn’t have to see that sad, gloomy look on Keira’s face anymore, a look that always made his chest tighten with helplessness.A few minutes later, he headed quietly down the hall to check on Nana Ellie. He hadn’t truly sat with her since he got back, and something inside him tugged to do it now.He hesitated at the door for a moment before pushing it open softly.He stepped inside to find her sitting propped against her pillows, her favorite knitted shawl draped over her shoulders, and her thin fingers slowly scrolling through her phone, likely watching some news.Bryce blinked, surprised. Edna had told him Nana was asleep. But here she was,

****“Good work today, Kimberly,” Vanessa said, sliding some notes back into her folder. “You kept everything on track. I’ll let you know when the next call is. For now, take a break.”“Thank you,” Kimberly replied, smoothing her hair back, though her shoulders still felt tight from holding poses too long.Kimberly had been pulled into one of Vanessa’s assignments since she arrived work and the woman had set eyes on her. She had been helping a handful of models with a small promotional shoot. She’d posed in two different outfits, held smiles for long hours, and even assisted the junior models who couldn’t get their timing right.This woman seemed to enjoy stressing her out every single day since she started modeling at the agency.Was she the only good model here?She wasn't complaining, though. Because as exhausting as Vanessa could be, moments with her always felt cool, even with her strictness and no-nonsense personality.She might not utter it out to her, but Kimberly knew deep d

“There's no damn way you just got married, Kim! What? I don’t believe you.”Cindy’s voice shot through the room like a firecracker, full of disbelief and betrayal, after Kimberly finally spilled what had happened.Kimberly had just gotten home, exhausted from the never-ending day at work and everything that happened today. She also hadn't been able to see Cindy all day at the agency, after they saw each other in the morning, then leaving with Bryce, and now here she was, facing her like a storm waiting to break.“I mean, you left yesterday and didn’t even come home, and now you’re telling me you’re married? Married!” Cindy’s arms flew dramatically in the air as she laughed bitterly. “This is insane, Kim. Absolutely insane.”Her laughter wasn’t joy, it was completely raw, disbelieving mockery. And underneath it all, hurt. Because it wasn’t just anyone Kimberly had married. It was Bryce Harrington. Her boss. No, their boss now.Cindy’s head spun with questions she couldn’t voice fast e

Kimberly stared at her daughter in disbelief, caught between laughter and exasperation.Keira would really be the end of her one day. This little girl never ceased to amaze with her quick wit and sharp mind.She was far too clever for her age. The older she got, the more curious and dangerously observant she became, spouting thoughts and questions that sounded much too grown-up.Where on earth did she even get all that knowledge from?“Keira Dove Harrington,” Kimberly said softly. The little girl’s eyes lit up the moment her mother used her full name. “You’re entirely too much for your age.”Keira only giggled harder, hiding her face in the pillows, and mumbling something about “Princess always live with their princes.”Kimberly couldn't help but chuckle at that. “Princess and prince.” she mumbled, pulling her daughter back into her arms, her head resting on her chest, listening to her mom's heartbeats. And it didn't take long before the little girl drifted to dreamland, still in her