As Stephan drove out of the hospital, he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next if the child was truly his. How would he be able to tell his family about his son when they have been disturbing him to proceed with the wedding? He had been stalling the wedding plans because he wasn’t in love with Amelia, she was just his childhood friend whom he sees as a sister. Their union was orchestrated by their parents because they believed their union would be great for business. Stephan went ahead with the proposal as planned but he couldn’t go through with the wedding. Stephan decided to keep the information about him having a son to himself till he confirmed if Ethan was his. His head was aching from processing everything he found out today, he needed to relax so he drove straight to the hotel. As he got to the hotel, he slipped into the private elevator that led to the penthouse he wanted to be alone. The elevator pinged signifying they had reached their destination “Whe
As Amelia left, Stephan collapsed onto the couch, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He knew that agreeing to the dinner was the right thing to do, a chance to spend time together and perhaps find some clarity in their relationship. But a fragment of his being could not shake the feeling of discomfort; he knew that this dinner was just a strategy devised by both families to strengthen their relationship. He felt as if he was being tugged into a conflicting path—his family's expectations, his desires, and the gravity of responsibility that came with it all. The news about his son had shocked him to the core, and he could not bear the thought of entering into a loveless marriage when his heart yearned for something more. After much consideration, Stephan decided to hold back the wedding for as long as he could so he could buy time to get his messy life on track.A call interrupted his thoughts, he reached for his phone in his pocket and looked at the screen, he r
Stephan couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease as he walked into his childhood home the next morning. The recognisable scene of the well-decorated walkway and the aroma of freshly made coffee should have brought him warmth, but today it only increased his nervousness. He made his way to the dining area where his father was seat at the head of the table patiently expecting him.With caution, Stephan said, "Good morning, Father," and sat down across from him.His father looked up from his newspaper, his face unreadable. “Good morning, Stephan,” he replied curtly.The room was dead silent, and Stephan braced himself for whatever discussion was going to take place. He was familiar enough with his father to know that although he was a quiet guy, his words were powerful when he did speak.It seemed like a lifetime, but at last, Mr. Rodriguez folded his newspaper and put it neatly next to his plate. He met Stephan's stare, and there was a decidedly steely edge to it. “Stephan,” he
The following day, Stephan, Ruby and Naomi waited by Ethan’s bedside in the hospital room while a staff of medical professionals carefully prepared him for the transfer. The air was charged with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. Stephan looked on watchfully as they placed Ethan onto a stretcher, attaching tubes and monitors to his tiny body. Dr. Evans walked up to them; his face dimmed with sorrow and understanding. He was honestly wishing Stephan, and Ruby good luck in this new journey of Ethan’s treatment. I know for a fact that St. Luke Hospital will offer him the specialized treatment he needs. Stephan inclined his head gratefully as the doctor spoke. “Thank you, Dr. Evans, we thank you for all that you have done for Ethan.” Naomi put her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, her eyes ignited with a determination meant to encourage Ruby. “We shall do everything possible to make sure that Ethan gets well, he well well-being is our priority and if transferring him to St Luke would he
At Stephan’s words, Amelia’s heart missed a beat. Something important? What could it be? Her mind raced trying to find any rational justification for his haste. Was something wrong with his family? Maybe it was about their relationship?“Yes, of course, Stephan. Dinner would be great,” Amelia said, her voice full of both excitement and doubt.They decided to have their date at a quaint Italian restaurant close by. As the time for their dinner drew closer, Amelia couldn’t help but feel something was amiss. She quickly prepared herself for the dinner. She wore a red sleeveless dress, paired with a silver heel and clutch, she did her hair in a high ponytail. Se adorned her outfit with some expensive-looking pieces of jewellery and finally sprayed a pheromone fragrance. She twirled in front of the mirror one last time she was pleased with how beautiful she looked, even though Stephan sounded off, this was a date something they had not done in a very long time. Amelia sat at thei
Tears rolled down Amelia’s eyes as she looked at the untouched dish before her. Suddenly, the atmosphere of the restaurant began to weigh on her, and she felt the craving for fresh air to calm her thoughts down. She jumped to her feet and went outside. The night breeze brushed against her face as she crossed the crowded sidewalk. The streets were filled with gloom, and Amelia wandered through them thinking about what to do next. She loved Stephan too much to let him go easily without a fight, she had promised herself to fight for his heart, but with Ethan in the picture, she doubted if she could still win Stephan’s heart. Amelia halted right where she stood with her mind in a whirlwind of emotions. She knew she had to make a decision, and it had to be soon. Stephan was the man she had dreamed of, the one who had captured her heart from the moment they met and she was not ready to lose him for a son he just discovered, the child was a product of a one-night stand and not an aff
On the following day, Amelia walked down to the lobby of Stephan’s hotel, her heart beating faster with anticipation. Her index finger danced over the message icon on her phone and she anxiously stared at the display screen waiting for any update from Stephan. The screen lit up, displaying a short but powerful message: Come up to the penthouse Amelia’s heart skipped a beat, and her mind was in turmoil – part of it filled with apprehension while the rest was full of optimism as she went to get into an elevator. The doors opened and she walked out onto the lush carpet, walking towards the penthouse. Amelia stood in front of a magnificent, tall door that lit up with ornaments. She savoured the moment as she released her breath. She knocked on the door, her palms sweaty and her heart pounding. She hasn’t seen Stephan since he broke and news to her. After waiting a couple of minutes, the door opened to reveal Stephan’s weary countenance. As the sun poured across his face, he
Ruby smiled back politely and shook Amelia’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Amelia,” she replied. “I recognise you from the news.”Amelia’s smiled feeling slightly flattered, but she quickly recovered. “Oh, Well, I’m happy to finally match a face with the name.” Stephan, noticing the unease between the two women, intervened with an anxious giggle. “Yes, it’s great that you two have finally met.”As they stood there in an awkward silence, Naomi walked into the room, her eyes lighting up when he saw Stephan. “Hey Stephan, good to see you” she exclaimed, rushing over to him and embracing him tightly. They have all gotten closer throughout Ethan’s illnessStephan returned her embrace warmly. Naomi’s eyes widened in surprise as she finally noticed Amelia standing beside Stephan. She quickly pulled away from Stephan and turned to Amelia, Stephan cleared his throat, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the situation. “Uh, Naomi, this is Amelia,” he said, introducing the two women to each oth