LOGINAmee WilsonI heard Olivia’s hurried footsteps. Its rhythm pulsed together with my heart.She stopped when she was near me. “Are you okay?” The worried expression on her face washed out all the anger that simmered within me, replaced by gratitude for her timely interference.If she hadn’t come. I bet Zeke and I would have been embroiled in a showdown by now.Just thinking about it made me feel embarrassed. I almost stepped out of line with proper decorum.Yes, Zeke hurt me. But it does not mean that I have to stoop to his level to be able to send my message across. Or to inflict the same pain he had given me.That’s not how life works.Sometimes, silence is the most painless retaliation one could muster.If one maintains composure under pressure, that is pure class.There is this classic story about focus and resilience. It says there that you cannot always control the chaos, noise, or negativity happening around you, but you have complete control over what you choose to focus on.And
Amee Wilson POVMy conversation with Olivia kept ringing in my ears. I stroked my belly gently, and in my head, I kept asking my child for forgiveness.I shouldn't have been rushed and given in to my emotions.If Olivia had not intervened at the right moment, I would have lost my baby. And I would have suffered a lifetime of regret because of it.Being alone and pregnant was never a weakness.I can do this. I thought with conviction.Again, I gently stroked my belly and decided that the first thing I needed to do was to tender my resignation to the head office, effective immediately.Cutting ties with Zeke is my first order of the day.
Olivia Barnett POVFour pairs of eyes stared at me while they groaned their disappointment.Josh mimicked the disappointed look on his children’s faces, earning my glare. “Don’t aggravate the situation,” I warned him, and he turned to the children to quiet them.“Shhh.” He told them and spread his arms wide.I quirked a brow when Ivy and Zoe walked on their knees on the bed to reach their father. When his arms wrapped around them, they began to complain.“There is no wedding?” Zoe whined, pursing her lips in a pout.“Yes.” Josh agreed. “Not now.”Ivy looked crestfallen, too.“But you kissed!” Zoe demanded. Her voice sounded like I had shortchanged all of them.That I busted all their plans. But I was surprised when Josh said something that sounded more like a promise, which made my heart beat faster. I only gave him two months to prove himself. I never assured him of anything. But it seemed he was so sure.“There will be a wedding, children, just not now.”“Why?” Zoe wailed. Among the
Olivia Barnett POV“I don’t really have that much choice, do I? The children are going to stay here for two months.”Josh hugged me tight and ignored what I said.His delight shone in his eyes.I could feel happiness radiating through his body, but I couldn't join in his celebration because exhaustion had taken its toll on my body.My knees gave out. My body became limp so suddenly, and the last thing I remembered was falling right into Josh’s arms while he called out my name with a sense of urgency.And then, oblivion finally took over.Sunlight filtering through the window woke me up, but I wasn’t openin
Olivia Barnett POVI was mad. No. I was furious.How can he do this to me?Was the fifteen years I endured loving him not enough. Did he want more?I already spent almost half of my life loving him and what did I get in return?Heartbreak. Disappointment. Rejection and Cruelty.“What more do you want from me, you bastard?” I hissed.I grabbed the lapels of his shirt and pulled his face toward me, but that was a wrong move because closer, I could smell his natural manly scent and his minty breath that frazzled my nerves uncontrollably.And more impor
Josh Morgan SterlingI tasted her pain, and that made me want to hit myself repeatedly.How could I have hurt her like this?At first, Olivia resisted. Her body thrashed and she pushed at my chest with her palms. But I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close, but not too tight. I do not want to crush her.She struggled. Olivia won’t be subdued.“I love you.” I told her in a strangled voice.Olivia’s face twisted. Like I expected, the expression on her face told me she did not believe a word.“Liar!” She muttered contemptuously.
Olivia Barnett POVWhen Josh left, he brought the tension with him, leaving all of us feeling an odd sense of relief.Despite that, he left a question for everyone around, with me at the center.No one understood what the tension was all about, but they could feel it.I was waiting for Josh to divul
Olivia Barnett POVThe next morning, even before the first rays of sunlight appeared, I woke Lucy so we could go.She looked surprised when her eyes ran over me. It was probably because I had already taken off my hospital gown and was dressed in my clothes from the day before.Lucy got up, yawning.
Olivia POVI turned around to leave. I can’t have Josh realize that I already discovered his wicked, dark secret. My gut twisted painfully. My stomach churned at what I had just witnessed. I ran back to the restroom, straight to the sink. I vomited what I had for dinner. All of it. While my stomac
Olivia Barnett POV“No.” The denial came off my lips so quickly, but because I lied, I could not look at Josh’s face without feeling guilty, so I avoided looking.When I dared sneak a peek, I noticed he was not convinced. He stared at me, debating in his head whether to believe me or not.“Well, the







