All Chapters of He was never mine: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Avery’s povThe morning news played on the café TV as I sat sipping coffee that couldn’t do anything to my present predicament.Just as I was trying to get into another monotony of it all, breaking news banners flashed across the screen and my eyes darted to it.“Richard Sterling, CEO of Sterling Industries, collapsed last night during a private event…”My cup froze halfway to my lips.The screen showed the Sterling mansion, ambulances parked outside, reporters pressed against the gates.”…condition currently stable, family spokesperson confirms…”Richard, the man who’d forced me into that marriage with his son, who had used me like a pawn in whatever game he was playing, and still my chest tightened at the sound of his name because he’d also been the only father figure who’d ever shown me any real kindness, who looked at me like I mattered.I hated the fact that it did.I pulled out my phone, frantically searching for his name on the browser. Articles were everywhere. “Sterling Recov

Wyatt’s povI sat in my truck outside Avery’s beach house, watching until her lights turned on inside, that’s only when I could breathe.What the hell was I doing?My hands were still shaking from pulling that psychotic woman off her. I’d broken every rule Richard gave me today. Every single one of them.I stared at Richard’s number on my phone that sat on the dashboard. I should call him, let him know what had happened, but my hands wouldn’t move. I’m Wyatt Kane. Twenty-eight years old, a self-made businessman, real estate investor. I built my empire from nothing with my own two hands.I’m also Richard Sterling’s dirty little secret. The illegitimate son he had pretended never existed.He never acknowledged me for once, he never used the word ‘son’ in the same sentence as my name.My mother died when I was ten years old. Cancer ate through her in six months. Richard paid for everything but of course he didn’t show up himself. He couldn’t risk anyone finding out about his bastard ki

Avery’s POVIt’s been three days since the attack, three days of hiding in my beach house.Nina had come to seabrook the day after the attack, she stayed with me for two days. She made me tea, forced food down my throat, let me cry on her shoulder. But she had to get back to work yesterday and left me with strict instructions to take care of myself.Now I was alone, again.I needed to get out to grab some air. I needed to stop being scared. Scarlett might have gone, probably back to whatever perfect life she’d built, I don’t know. But I couldn’t let her keep me trapped in fear.So I forced myself to leave the house. I walked to the small bookstore near the beach.It was quiet inside with wooden floors, shelves packed with old and new books, the smell of paper and coffee. An older woman behind the counter smiled at me as I walked in.I found the parenting section in the back corner, grabbed a book about newborns and settled into a worn armchair.“What to Expect in the First Month.” I

Nate’s POVCeleste stared at the papers on my desk like they might bite her.“Davis Investigation Services.” She read it out loud slowly. Then her eyes dropped again to the name written in bold capital letters on the top “Avery Monroe.”My stomach sank. The room seemed to tilt slightly. I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out.“Avery Monroe.” She repeated, picking up the folder with her hands shaking. “You’re looking for Avery Monroe.”“Celeste…”“How long?” Her voice cracked. “How long have you been searching for her?”I couldn’t lie anymore, not when the evidence was right there in her hands.“Six months.”She stared at me like she didn’t recognize me anymore.Then folder slipped from her fingers, papers scattering all over my desk.“Six months.” She breathed out. “Six f**king months.”“Let me explain…”“Explain what?” Her voice rose sharply. “The whole time we’ve been planning this wedding, picking flowers and cakes and seating charts, you’ve been paying someone to h

Avery’s PovWyatt’s cash on the kitchen table. Nine hundred and fifty dollars. It was more than enough to buy everything the baby needed.A sharp pain shot through my belly and I gasped. I reached for my prenatal vitamins on the counter, shook the bottle. It was empty. I’d been rationing the cheap ones for weeks, taking half doses to make them last and now it has finished and I didn’t even notice. The expensive ones Wyatt left sat unopened right in front of me, waiting. I picked up the bottle, pulled the cap off and I took one. I’m taking the vitamins because I need them, I told myself. Nothing more. But it felt like it was more than that, like accepting something I shouldn’t have.Another cramp followed and I doubled over, breathing heavily through the pain. I needed those iron supplements. My doctor had been very clear at last week’s appointment that my levels were dangerously low. But I couldn’t get them because I was low on cash.I looked at the cash again.I’d been eating insta