As the evening drew to a close, Mae and Brian left the restaurant together, laughing at each other's jokes. The cool night air greeted them as they stepped out onto the street. Mae was feeling quite content until she suddenly flinched, her eyes landing on two familiar figures standing a short distance away.Her heart skipped a beat. It was Kai and Calix. Both of them seemed to be waiting for her, and the sight of them together filled her with anxiety and confusion.She quickly tapped Brian on the shoulder. "Brian, can you go ahead without me? I need to handle something."Brian looked at her with concern. "Are you sure everything's okay, Mae?"Mae forced a reassuring smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Really. It's just something I need to deal with."Brian hesitated, his worry evident. "Are you positive? I can stay if you need me to."She shook her head gently. "It's okay, Brian. Thank you for tonight. I’ll be fine."Though he was reluctant to leave her, Brian nodded. "Alright, if you're sure. But
Kai immediately ordered Calix to resume driving towards their intended destination. As the car lurched forward, Kai swiftly reached for his handkerchief, expertly knotting it around Mae's wrists to secure her hands behind her back.Mae's heart pounded in her chest as she felt the fabric cinch tightly around her wrists, her movements restricted by the tight bindings. She shot a furious glare at Kai, her eyes blazing with defiance."What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Mae seethed, her voice laced with anger and fear.Kai's expression remained impassive as he tightened the knot, ensuring that Mae's hands were securely bound. "I'm making sure you don't do anything stupid," he replied curtly, his tone brooking no argument.Mae struggled against her restraints, her frustration mounting with each futile attempt to free herself. But Kai's grip was firm, his resolve unwavering as he maintained control over the situation.As the car finally came to a stop, Calix stepped out and opened th
The soft morning light filters through the curtains, nudging Kaitlyn gently awake. She's greeted by the cheerful symphony of birdsong outside her window. As she rubs the sleep from her eyes, she extends her arm across the bed, expecting to find the warmth of her husband, Dean, but instead encountering only the cool sheets. With a bemused frown, she glances around the room, half-expecting to spot him hiding behind the curtains or perhaps already up and about in the bathroom.And so, Kaitlyn made her way to the kitchen to atleast make some breakfast for Dean. With the ease of someone well-acquainted with the morning routine, she set to work. She effortlessly cracked eggs into a bowl, their sunny yolks contrasting beautifully with the pristine porcelain. Meanwhile, bacon danced and sizzled on the hot skillet, its irresistible aroma mingling with the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee. While Kaitlyn busied herself in the kitchen, Dean made his entrance, dressed to the nines in a sleek s
Kaitlyn stood there in shock, her voice strained as she asked the butler to repeat his words, silently wishing for a different outcome. With caution, he repeated, "Miss Kaitlyn, your father has been admitted to the hospital."Desperation etched into her expression, Kaitlyn pressed the butler for more information. "Which hospital?" she demanded. "Harmony General Medical Hospital," he replied. A glimmer of hope sparked within her. Thankfully, she knew someone who worked there.Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed the number. Each ring seemed to echo with urgency. Finally, a familiar voice picked up on the other end, offering a lifeline—a connection to the answers she desperately sought about her father's condition.As the call rang, each moment felt like an eternity until finally, a female voice answered with a tentative "Hello." Kaitlyn, her voice filled with anxiety and relief, responded, "Dr. Fiona, it's Kaitlyn. Is my father, Leon Ashe
Kaitlyn stared at her father whilst her tears rolled down her cheeks as she asked, "Papa, what do you mean? What did you know?" Her voice shook drowned in different feelings as she tried to understand.Mr. Ashenwood sighed heavily and began to share a hard truth. "Kaitlyn, I found out about Dean's cheating even before your wedding. But seeing you happy, I thought maybe it was a mistake. I stayed quiet, hoping it would change."The room felt heavy with the unspoken truth and that made it hard for Kaitlyn to keep pretending everything was okay. She felt betrayed by both her husband and her father, and it hurt deeply.Mr. Ashenwood apologized with the evident sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Kaitlyn," he spoke out of deep regret. "Seeing you suffer every day has been my silent burden. I hoped for your happiness, but I was wrong. I should have spoken up and told you the truth."Kaitlyn felt a wave of emotions wash over her as her father blamed himself. Guilt was gnawing deep within him. "
Taking a seat beside his bed, Kaitlyn fidgeted with the edge of her scarf, her nerves betraying the composure she tried to maintain. "There's something I need to tell you, Papa," she began, her eyes brimming with both anxiety and a strange kind of joy.Her father, sensing the weight of her words, put the book aside and reached for her hand. "You can tell me anything, sweetheart. What's on your mind?"With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Kaitlyn finally shared, "I'm pregnant, Papa." The words hung in the air, carrying a myriad of emotions. A mixture of joy, fear, and anticipation flickered in her eyes.Mr. Leon's initial surprise transformed into a warm smile as he processed the revelation. "A grandchild," he uttered, his voice filled with a sense of wonder. "This is wonderful news, Kaitlyn! Congratulations!"Tears welled up in Kaitlyn's eyes as the weight of her father's acceptance and joy enveloped her. "I was afraid you'd be disappointed or worried," she confessed.Her father c
As Kaitlyn discreetly stowed the papers back into the envelope and placed them in her bag, a sudden wave of nausea overwhelmed her. Dean, ever observant, didn't miss the subtle signs.With a mocking tone, he assumed, "Pregnant with someone else's child, are we?" His words dripped with sarcasm, a cruel insinuation that further strained the atmosphere in the room.Dean, with a calculated calmness, began to hurl insults at Kaitlyn, each word laced with venom. However, Kaitlyn, her gaze fixed on him, absorbed the verbal assault in silence, tears streaming down her face. The room, heavy with the weight of their fractured relationship, became a battleground of unspoken painWith a dismissive "Oh well," Dean casually shrugged off the emotional turmoil in the room. He left without a second glance, heading off to work or, as he put it, perhaps to meet his so-called beloved.As the door closed behind him, the room lingered in the aftermath of a confrontation that left wounds unhealed and questi
Kaitlyn, with a sense of quiet anticipation, selected an apple from the nearby table. She made her way to the window, drawn to the view that unfolded before her in PortaMare. Settling down with the apple in hand, she gazed out, taking in the serene sights that characterized the town.As she positioned herself near the window, Kaitlyn felt a blend of emotions swirling within her. The apple, a simple companion at this moment, held a certain symbolism of life's sweetness and the natural rhythms that surrounded her. With the view as a backdrop, she patiently awaited Fiona's reading of the letter connection to her father that transcended both distance and time.Fiona took a deep breath and started to read the letter with careful emotion:"My Dearest Kaitlyn,As I sit down to pen this letter, my heart is heavy with the knowledge that time is a fleeting companion, and there are words, sentiments, and a father's love I wish to share with you before it slips away entirely.Above all else, I wi