Olivia's world spun on its axis as her gaze fixed on Cathleen's silhouette perched at the top of the grand staircase, her hand resting gently on the curve of her belly. Confusion laced with a bitter sting of betrayal wracked Olivia's body, her heart slamming against her ribcage like a caged animal desperate for release. "You...you made her pregnant...how is that even possible? Where do I stand, Xavier?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper, yet the hurt in it echoed loudly in the sprawling foyer."Where were you standing before?" Xavier's response was as cold and hard as the marble floors beneath their feet, his tone a razor-sharp edge slicing through the tension hanging in the air.Xavier's steely gaze cut across the distance to where Cathleen stood, statuesque and silent. The redness around her eyes betrayed her stoic facade—a raw, visceral testament to her turmoil since the revelation of Olivia's pregnancy. A night had passed without a word between them—not even the customary gree
Olivia's body twisted in the silken sheets, a restless dance of frustration and anger. She had envisioned herself as the undisputed queen of the Knight estate, her womb carrying the heir that would cement her place beside Xavier. But now, Cathleen's swelling belly mocked her dreams, threatening to unravel everything."Damn you, Cathleen," she hissed into the darkness, her voice a serrated whisper cutting through the silence. "How did you manage this?" The walls of the opulent guestroom seemed to close in on her, each breath being a simmering cauldron of schemes gone awry.In another wing of the sprawling mansion, Dora lay awake, her mind a whirlwind of calculations and conniving. The plush mattress beneath her felt like a battleground where futures would be decided. Cathleen was ahead; her pregnancy was more advanced than Olivia's—a fact not lost on Dora's calculating gaze."Who will bear the first Knight heir?" she muttered, tracing the patterns on the bedspread with a manicured nail
"Good morning, Cat." Xavier's voice sliced through the silence of their opulent bedroom. Cathleen, her back rigid and her eyes void of warmth, merely sighed—a sound that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand unspoken words.She rose from the sheets, a silent specter in the early light, her movements devoid of the grace that usually accompanied her every action. Xavier trailed behind her, the distance between them stretching taut as a drawn bowstring. "Cat, please," he pleaded, his voice thick with urgency. "Talk to me, slap me for being a fool, shout at me—anything. I can't stand this silence."But the silence was her armor, and Cathleen wielded it expertly, offering him nothing but the cold shoulder of indifference.His jaw clenched, Xavier turned on his heel and strode to the bathroom, his muscles tense under the strain of their domestic battlefield. He twisted the faucet, letting the water cascade into the tub, steam curling up like wraiths caught in the morning sun. "Cat, the w
Sunlight filtered through the grand windows of the Knight mansion, casting long shadows across the polished marble floor. The aroma of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon wafted from the kitchen as the staff moved with practiced efficiency. But the opulent dining room, usually bustling with the morning's first meal, lay silent and abandoned.With his customary punctuality, Old Mr. Knight made his entrance, the rhythmic tap of his walking stick a staccato against the cold stone. He scanned the vacant expanse, lips pressed into a thin line, irritation clouding his aged eyes. Where the hell was everyone? He thought"Mr. Knight, it's good to see you." Dora's voice cut through the silence, syrupy and sweet. She stepped forward, her smile faltering under his withering glance. The old man spared her no words; he had no time for snakes masquerading as loyal subjects.The click of heels on the staircase drew his attention. Olivia descended with calculated grace, cloaked in feigned warmth, like a w
The wheels of Xavier's luxury SUV screeched as he threw the car into a reckless turn, barreling down the tree-lined driveway to Dr. Martin's secluded home. Gravel spewed out behind him, the engine's roar shattering the morning's calm. He skidded to a halt, and before the dust could even settle, he saw Dr. Martin, a silhouette against the porch light, his face etched with urgency."Bring her inside," Dr. Martin barked, gesturing sharply towards the door. "It's too late for the hospital. She's lost too much blood."Xavier's heart hammered as he carried Cathleen, her breaths shallow and ragged, her body limp in his arms. Inside, the smell of antiseptics hit him like a physical blow. He followed Dr. Martin to a room that seemed far too sterile and cold for anything warm or living."Wait outside," Dr. Martin ordered, but Xavier's response was immediate and fierce, his voice a growl of desperation."No, I'm staying with my wife."Dr. Martin's eyes widened, taken aback by the intensity in Xav
Dora feigned surprise, her eyes wide with mock innocence. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you," she cooed, the corners of her mouth twitching into a sly grin that she quickly smoothed over. The air in the grand hallway of Xavier’s opulent mansion felt charged—a battlefield of wills and hidden daggers. "At least she's fine, right?" Dora continued, her voice laced with venomous sweetness. "I mean, Cathleen couldn't bear you a son. Maybe you should marry the woman who was supposed to be your wife in the first place; don't you agree with me? It was just a girl. I don't know why she would faint because of a girl; maybe it was a boy. Why make a fuss over a dead girl?"Xavier's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing into icy slits as he stared at the conniving woman before him. "Mrs. Jackson," he called out, his voice low and dangerous."Yes," Dora answered too hastily, her heart leaping with the mistaken belief that this was her opening, her chance to push her daughter Avery into Xavier's arms and li
The weight of silence hung heavily in the air, a thick blanket smothering the study where old Mr. Knight sat, his hands clasped together as if in prayer. Each breath he drew was a battle against the tightening vice of grief. His eyes, usually sharp and assessing, now brimmed with an unspeakable sorrow as he contemplated the empty future without his granddaughter's laughter echoing through the halls.A knock shattered the quietude like a hammer to glass, and the door creaked open. Xavier loomed over the threshold, his presence darkening the room. The old man observed him—a tower of control now crumbling, a man who commanded empires yet stood defeated by loss."I hope you know what you are doing." Old Mr. Knight's voice sliced through the tension, each word a pointed blade aimed straight at his son's heart.Xavier stiffened, his steely facade showing cracks. "What are you talking about, Father?" Confusion warred with the torment etched on his features."You can fool me, Xavier; this is
The morning light crept through the curtains, casting a golden glow on the polished staircase that Cathleen descended with deliberate grace. Clad in a tailored suit that hugged her slender frame, she moved like a panther—sleek and poised despite the storm that raged within her.Xavier sat at the breakfast table, his posture rigid, exuding an aura of control that belied the turmoil he felt. The sight of Cathleen, so composed and so fiercely alive, unsettled him. He watched her pour coffee with hands that didn't tremble, and his voice betrayed a hint of surprise. "You look well.""Good morning to you too, Mr. Knight," she retorted, the edge in her tone sharper than the knife beside his plate. Xavier cleared his throat, grappling with an unfamiliar unease. "Morning, sorry; it's just that you look good.""I don't look like my problems, Mr. Knight." Cathleen shot back, her coffee as dark and bitter as the reality they faced.He tried to pierce her armor with concern. "So, Cat, how are you