All Chapters of THE BARREN EX-WIFE WHO CAME BACK: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

SEBASTIAN'S POVThe ambulance ride to the hospital was a blur of sirens and Isabella's hysterical sobbing.She sat in the back, clutching Maya's small, lifeless hand, tears streaming down her face as the paramedics worked frantically over our daughter's body."Please," Isabella kept whispering, her voice breaking. "Please don't take my baby. Please, God, please... I can't lose her... I can't..."She was shaking violently, her whole body trembling with grief and terror. Her makeup was streaked down her face, her eyes red and swollen, her breathing coming in harsh, ragged gasps."She's all I have," Isabella sobbed, looking at me with wild, desperate eyes. "Sebastian, she's our baby... our little girl... please tell me she's going to be okay..."I sat on the opposite side, my jaw clenched, watching the paramedics perform CPR, watching the monitor show a flatline that made my stomach turn to ice.But I didn't cry.I didn't break down.I was a man. I had to stay strong, had to keep it toge

VANESSA'S POVI'd spent the entire day avoiding the main suite.Nicholas was home—it was Saturday, no work—and he'd been walking around shirtless all morning.Shirtless.Those broad shoulders, that defined chest, those abs that looked carved from marble. Water droplets from his shower still clinging to his skin. The way his sweatpants hung low on his hips, showing that V-line that made my mouth go dry.I couldn't stop staring at him.Every time I saw him, my brain short-circuited. My eyes would travel down his body, taking in every defined muscle, every line, every inch of perfect masculine beauty, and I'd forget how to form coherent thoughts.So I'd escaped downstairs.I'd been hiding in the living room for the past two hours, pretending to read a book while actually just trying not to think about Nicholas's body.It wasn't working.The house was quiet. Elijah was at his Saturday piano lessons—the same ones Maya usually attended—the staff were busy with their tasks, and I was alone w

SEBASTIAN'S POVWhen the door opened, I turned expecting to see a nurse.Instead, I saw Vanessa.And I forgot how to breathe.She was wearing something simple—just a navy dress, nothing fancy, nothing designed to impress—but she looked absolutely stunning.Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders. Her face was makeup-free, or close to it, showing the natural beauty I'd taken for granted seven years ago. The dress hugged curves that were fuller, more womanly than I remembered.She was beautiful.She'd always been beautiful, but this was different. This Vanessa—confident, strong, self-assured—was breathtaking in a way that made my chest ache.I hadn't been expecting to see her here.Hadn't thought she'd come.Maya was the child of my betrayal—the living proof that I'd cheated on Vanessa with her best friend. I'd assumed Vanessa would hate Maya for that. I'd also aassumed she would be glad Maya was sick.But here she was, standing in the doorway with a little boy beside her.Elij

VANESSA'S POVThree minutes later, I was sitting on our living room couch next to Nicholas, microphones clipped to our clothes, bright lights in our faces, and millions of people watching.Millions.The host—a stunning woman in her thirties named Claire Willams—sat across from us with a tablet in her hands and a smile that didn't reach her eyes."Welcome, welcome!" she said enthusiastically for the cameras. "We're here live with Nicholas and Vanessa Lancaster, America's newest power couple! Thank you so much for having us in your beautiful home!""Thank you for being here," Nicholas said smoothly, his hand finding mine and squeezing gently.I tried to smile, but my face felt frozen."Now, we have a very special segment planned today," Claire continued, her eyes brightening with excitement. "As you know, we love to play our signature game with couples—The Game of Truths and Lies! It's simple. I'll ask you both the same question. You'll each write down your answer separately, and then w

VANESSA'S POVIt had been three days since the Vogue interview.Three days since Nicholas had kissed me in the hallway after the cameras stopped rolling, and three days since we had both pretended it never happened.I couldn't stop thinking about it.The way his mouth had crashed against mine with desperate hunger, his hands tangling in my hair, his tongue sliding against mine with skill that had made my knees weak. The way his body had pressed against me, hard and masculine in ways that made heat settle low in my stomach.It had been the best kiss of my life, and we had not talked about it at all.Every time I looked at Nicholas, I wanted to ask him why he had done it. Whether it meant something. Whether he felt the same pull I did.But I was too afraid of the answer, so I said nothing, and he said nothing, and we both went on pretending this was still just a contract marriage even though it felt like so much more.This afternoon, Elijah had invited Maya over for a playdate. Isabella