"I love you, Alice Taylor. And I have since the first moment I saw you. You are and always will be the woman I'm in love with, even though it can never be."Alice heard every word that came from her beloved Jared's lips. She squeezed her eyes shut, as well as her hands against her chest, trying to calm her racing heart and absorb this confession, which felt like a balm for her wounds.What should she do? Should she open her eyes, tell him she heard everything, and confess the love she felt for him from the moment she first saw him? Should she reveal that her love was reciprocated?She didn't know what to do, but she began by opening her eyes.Seeing that she was awake, Jared's pale face turned even paler, and his cheeks flushed red. He quickly stood up, embarrassed because she had probably heard that confession he had poured from the depths of his heart."I-I..." Alice had never seen him so nervous, and he was usually quite serious. This brought a fleeting smile to Alice's lips."You
It was a very strange situation. He had little contact with that pregnancy and was not particularly enthusiastic about having a child with Alice. However, he never thought about the death of that child, especially now that he knew it was necessary for an heir to be born from the union of both families to maintain their connection.He always looked down on both of them and left them locked in that house, unaware that he might need them. His father had reached an agreement with the Taylors."Why didn't he tell me something like this?" He would have paid a little more attention to Alice or her pregnancy. Could it have been his fault? Did it have something to do with the way he treated his wife the night before? Could it be possible?"No, it can't be my fault. She must have done something wrong to lose our child. If there's anyone to blame, it must be her, she was the one who was pregnant. It can't be my fault," he told himself to avoid carrying that burden. He walked to the hospital wher
For Alice, having Robert around for such a long time was very strange. He didn't move a second from that room, and he couldn't either. He had to show the Taylors that he wasn't present because he didn't want to be, not because he couldn't be. The only way to do that was by staying with Alice until his family eased off after Robert's apology in front of everyone, even though it was hard for him, as he didn't like feeling inferior, especially to Alice Taylor.They were discharged from the hospital, but he was still there. He behaved like a concerned husband. What happened to his plans of traveling? Didn't he say he had more important things to do and was very busy? Why wasn't he leaving now?But he couldn't just disappear with his lover. It was a family moment, and he couldn't afford to run away, not when the Taylors had their eyes on him. One more mistake, and the consequences could be fatal. He couldn't risk Sofia Taylor staying against him."Doctor, how long after the cesarean can my
"Jared! Can't you hear me?" Immersed in his thoughts, he completely ignored the voice of his assistant calling him several times, his boss seemingly oblivious. Angry, she called once more, daring to shout at him because he seemed lost in something else, unable to hear her voice. "Jared!"He couldn't stop thinking about Alice, how she was, how she must be coping after the loss of her child. He pondered the strange relationship she had with her husband, as if it lacked love, as if... they felt nothing for each other, just as Sofia Taylor had said.It also bothered him greatly that she heard his confession. A part of him felt relieved that she didn't say anything because that wasn't the right time or place, but on the other hand, he wanted her to have some opinion, since she heard what he said when he thought she was asleep, when he confessed, thinking she couldn't hear him.He also wished that at least she would say something, because he didn't even know if those words offended her, con
Jared wasn't just Robert's best friend; he was also like his right-hand man for everything, one of his most relied-upon employees. This was especially true now that Robert had a mistress and was neglecting many of his responsibilities. He entrusted Jared with a lot of confidence and a significant workload, even beyond what his role required.Personally, Jared was a good friend. They had known each other for many years. However, in a professional setting, Robert saw him only as another employee. That's why Jared hanging up the call the way he did felt like an insult to Robert, a challenge to his authority as his boss. Friendship didn't hold much weight in such situations."Are you leaving already?" Dayana's voice still carried the energy of their recent activities. "Have you thought about what I told you, Rob?" Dayana wanted to stop being just his assistant and secure a better position in the company. She was very clear about this. Being his lover meant more than just that; there were
Jared held Robert's gaze, filled with impotence and indignation at the way his friend had chosen to handle things. It was in front of that woman that Robert had taken his place, giving it to her – someone without experience or the proper preparation for this position, with all its responsibilities and numerous additional tasks that had been added to the role. How many things did he no longer have in progress?How could he leave all that work to that woman? Why?Robert Graham's vision was clouded, blinded by the affronts Jared had made by refusing the first time, along with his strong need for Alice to agree to have children with him. He needed Jared for that, he needed him there at his house, with the sole intention of having him pull Alice out of the depression she was sinking into after the death of her baby. Despite the passing months, she wasn't recovering, and he needed her to be well so that she would decide to resume her duties as a mother, as a wife, and have a child with Robe
Jared waited patiently to see Alice. He had already been informed that he was there.The woman who had left a couple of minutes ago had just returned, and from her expression, it was clear that she didn't bring good news for him."The lady says you can't stay and she doesn't need you," the employee informed Jared, just as Alice had instructed her to say. Her tone made it clear that she didn't like his presence, that she disagreed with everything, and that she was on her mistress's side—this man should leave as soon as possible; he wasn't what Alice Graham needed to get better.She needed her husband, didn't she?"Does Alice know it's me? Did she mention my name?" Jared asked, finding it hard to believe that Alice would send him away like this without even coming to tell him herself. "Did you tell her?""Of course, sir," she replied, raising an eyebrow at his doubt, as if she thought he was being dishonest. "I told her it was Jared Sinclair, and it was right after that when the lady to
Before him stood Alice, but it was a very different Alice, he had never seen her like this, not even close to this appearance.She tried to hide her face from him, but there was no time for that; Jared was already observing her, looking at the frail figure of the woman who, in a matter of weeks, was no longer even a shadow of what she once was. She was emaciated, to the point of appearing sick, lying in that bed, trying to shield herself from him.Jared felt his chest tighten at the sight of Alice's so clearly deteriorated state. He ran a hand over his face, in disbelief, a bit perplexed by what he was seeing, astounded by the alarming condition she presented, and that striking thinness.Losing all that weight so suddenly had definitely not been healthy, to the point of changing her appearance entirely, making her seem like a different person."Alice," the pronunciation of that name dripped with utter sadness, and in his anguish, he had to restrain himself from crying or showing too m