XavierAs Lily held the phone, I peered down at the screen, my heart racing with hope. I saw the police entering the burning room, rescuing Alice and taking her to safety. I also noticed that they were taking Lily's mom's corpse away.I knew I had to act fast before Lily noticed what was happening on the phone. I didn't want her to realize that the police were saving Alice. So, I made a split-second decision."I'll kiss you," I said, trying to sound convincing.Lily's face lit up with a smile. "Really?" she asked, a bit doubtful."Yes, I will," I answered, nodding my head.She placed the phone on the floor, and I peeked at it again. This time, I saw the firefighters arriving, trying to put out the flames. Alice was safe.Meanwhile, I was still trying to untie the rope behind my back. It wasn't easy, but I was determined to escape. I jiggled and pulled, trying to loosen the knot.Lily didn't seem to notice what I was doing. She came closer, her eyes gleaming with excitement."What are
AliceI sat anxiously in my hospital bed, my fingers nervously drumming against the railing. Despite the relief that washed over me when the doctor announced our baby was fine, worry still gnawed at my mind. Xavier's sudden nosebleed had left me on edge. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.As I bit my fingernails, my mind whirled with possibilities. Was it stress? Had everything that happened finally taken its toll on him?Just then, the door swung open, and I straightened up, my heart racing with anticipation. Xavier walked in, a gentle smile on his face, and I breathed a sigh of relief."Hey," he said softly, approaching me.I stood up, the drip stand rolling beside me, but Xavier quickly intervened."Whoa, no, no, go back to bed," he said, guiding me gently back onto the mattress."But what happened?" I asked, my brow furrowed with concern. "What did the doctor say?"Xavier waved his hand dismissively. "Just stress, that's all."I narrowed my eyes, skepticism writt
XavierSitting comfortably in Lumber's living room, he smiled warmly and asked us, "Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, water, or perhaps something stronger?""I'll just have water, thank you," I replied.Alice smiled beside me. "I'll take coffee, please."Lumber nodded and left the room, returning a few minutes later with a steaming cup of coffee and a glass of water. We both said "thank you" in unison as he handed us our drinks.After taking a few sips, we turned our attention to Lumber, who sat opposite us.He leaned forward, his eyes curious. "What do I owe this surprise visit?"I sighed deeply, feeling a mix of emotions. "Lumber, I actually came to apologize for what happened. I'm sorry for not believing you, for suspecting you, and getting you arrested. I'm really sorry."His expression softened, and he smiled. "It's fine, sir. I understand. She lied about everything, lied against me... but it's fine now. I understand that things can happen."Alice spoke up, her voice fill
XavierAs Alice walked up to me, I remained still, my eyes fixed on her. Even without the wedding dress, she radiated a captivating aura. My chest fluttered, and I felt lost in thought.She tapped me gently on the shoulder, breaking the spell. "Xavier, are you alright?" she asked, concern etched on her face.I swallowed hard, composing myself. "I guess so," I replied, my voice low.She smiled. "We aren't done here, right? Because you need to wear the—""Yeah. I'll go put it on right now," I interrupted, nodding.With the staff's assistance, I headed to the dressing room. Moments later, I emerged, dressed in the tailored suit.Alice's eyes widened as she stood up, applauding. "Wow, you look dashing, handsome Mr. Xavier Blackwood!" she exclaimed.I smiled, feeling a sense of pride. "Thank you," I said, bowing slightly.After we were done, we headed outside, and as we settled into the car, I took the wheel, and we glided into the evening traffic. But as we drove, a creeping migraine bega
AliceI wondered what was happening. My eyes widened as I tried to understand the whole situation between this woman and us."I saw this little kid outside," she said softly. "He says he lost his mother.""It's me!" a woman exclaimed, rushing towards us. She hugged her son tightly, tears of relief in her eyes.After thanking the lady, she took her child back to her seat. The woman turned to us, a small smile on her face."Wishing you both the best, Xavier," she said, her voice laced with a hint of melancholy.I watched in stunned silence as the drama unfolded before me. The woman's sudden appearance, the lost child, the frantic mother – it all seemed too coincidental. And now, this woman was smiling at Xavier, a hint of familiarity in her eyes.As Xavier grabbed her arm, I felt a pang of jealousy. Who was this woman really, and why was she unnecessarily interrupting our wedding? I tried to push the feeling aside, telling myself I was being ridiculous.But as I looked at her, I couldn'
AliceAs I sat on the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the air, and the warm sand shifted beneath me. A stranger's voice broke the serenity, "The name is Lexi, what about yours?"I turned to face him, my long hair dancing in the ocean breeze. "Alice," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I stepped back, my eyes drifting to the sand as I began to play with it, my fingers tracing patterns in the warm grains.Lexi's voice drew my attention back. "Excuse me, did you say your name is Alice?"I turned to him, a hint of a smile on my lips. "Yeah, great name, huh?"Lexi's eyes widened as he dug his hand into his trousers and produced an invitation card. "Is this… you... Alice Brown?"My eyes narrowed as I took the card from him, my fingers tracing the embossed letters. "How did you get this?" I asked, my voice laced with a mix of curiosity and wariness.It was my golden wedding invitation card. How the hell did he get this?"My brother sent it to me," he
Alice"Xavier!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Don't go in there! What are you doing?" But he didn't listen. He continued to wade deeper into the water, determined to find the ring.I yelled again, "You won't even find the ring! Stop it already!" But Xavier was too focused on his quest. He didn't seem to care about the danger he was putting himself in.I sighed deeply and ran to Lexi, grabbing his arm. "Please, save him before he does something stupid!" I begged.Lexi's expression turned grim. "There's nothing I can do. I can't swim, and... Xavier can't swim either."My eyes widened in horror. "What? Xavier can't swim? Oh no!"Without thinking, I started running towards the water, holding up the sides of the dress. I didn't care that I was cold or that the water was deep. I just wanted to save Xavier.But just as I was about to reach the water's edge, Lexi grabbed my hand, holding me back."Leave me alone! Stop! Let me go!" I struggled against his grip."Calm down, Alice!" he sai
XavierThe car's engine purred to life as we settled in for the drive home. Alice sat close, her presence warming my side. Lexi climbed into the backseat, his eyes growing dull with exhaustion. A glance at her revealed a faint shiver, her shoulders trembling slightly. The cold had finally caught up with her. My hand reached for the heater controls, cranking up the warmth. As the air vents blew gentle heat, I shed my jacket, draping it over her shoulders."I'm fine, I'm fine," she protested, her voice weak."No," I objected, a heavy glint in my eyes. "Just be quiet and put this on."Her eyes met mine, a whisper of gratitude escaping her lips. "Thank you."A soft smile played on her lips as she snuggled into the jacket's warmth. The drive continued, the silence between us comfortable.Alice's voice broke the quiet, laced with concern. "Do you think your parents will be mad at me? I mean, I'm sure your mom will be really mad... Oh, goodness, I'm so ashamed of myself."A reassuring smile
XavierI narrowed my eyes, and slowly softened the look on my face before letting a smirked crawl over my lips."Did you really think I'd forget you, Alice? Once bitten, twice shy, don't you think?"Alice looked taken aback. "What? You… you remember?""I remember everything, I chuckled, nodding my head. "I was only trying to pull your leg. You know, like those cliché movie scenes."As I spoke, I winced in pain, clutching my chest. Alice had slammed her hand against there, and I could see the anger and grief in her eyes. She was about to hit me again when the doctor intervened, gently prying Alice away. "Ma, please calm down. He's still recovering "She resisted, her eyes flashing with emotion. "No, I won't calm down! Did you see what he just did? He pretended not to know me!"I shook my head, a hint of a smile on my lips. "I'm sorry, Alice. I didn't mean to scare you.""How could you act like you don't know me?" Alice demanded, her voice trembling. "I was worried sick about you. I tho
AliceA WEEK LATERAs I gazed lovingly at my baby, I couldn't help but smile. She was so peaceful, breastfeeding and moving softly in my arms. I saw Xavier's features in her tiny face, and my heart swelled with love.Just then, the door opened, and Xavier's parents walked in, beaming with smiles. "Oh my goodness!" Xavier's mother exclaimed, rushing towards me. "Look at her! She looks just like Xavier!"I smiled warmly, feeling a pang of sadness. "Yes, she does."Xavier's mother cooed over the baby, admiring her tiny features."What about Wendy and her husband?" I asked. "They also promised to see me today.""They'll be here soon," Xavier's father replied. "They just stopped to...visit Xavier first."My eyes clouded with sadness, and I nodded silently. Xavier's father asked gently, "Don't you miss him?"Did he even need to ask? My face showed how much I missed him. It's been a weak already!"I miss him so much…" I replied, my voice trailing off. "But there's nothing we can do now, can
AliceI slowly opened my eyes, wincing in pain. My head throbbed, and my body ached all over. As my gaze cleared, I realized I was in a familiar room - my ex-husband Ethan's bedroom. I sat up with a start, my heart racing.What was I doing here? I looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings. Even the bed was the same one where I'd caught Ethan and my step-sister Kate together. The memory still stung.I tried to piece together how I'd ended up here. Then, it hit me - Ethan had kidnapped me from the shopping mall. I'd been so scared, and now I was trapped.Determined to escape, I stood up, holding my stomach. I was still getting used to my pregnant body. I made my way to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. I tried again, but it wouldn't budge.Panic set in. I started banging on the door, shouting, "Let me out now! Let me out before you regret bringing me here! Ethan, Let me go!"But soon, I gave up because he wasn't even answering me and as I stood there, frozen in
XavierI sat in the meeting, surrounded by CEOs and billionaires, discussing business deals and strategies. But my mind kept wandering, my heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason. I rubbed my chest, trying to shake off the odd feeling.Lumber, sitting beside me, noticed my discomfort. "Is everything alright, sir?" he asked, concern etched on his face.I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit...off," I replied, unsure of what was wrong."Maybe you should get some rest, sir?" he suggested. "You've been working non-stop for weeks."But I shook my head, determined to push through. "Let's just finish this up, and then I'll take a break."The meeting finally came to a close, and I stood up, shaking hands with the other executives. As I walked out of the conference room, my secretary handed me a bottle of water. "Here, sir, drink this. It'll help calm your nerves."I took a sip, feeling a bit more centered. Then, I remembered my wife, and how I'd promis
MariaAs I sat in my favorite armchair, reflecting on my life, I couldn't help but think about my son, Xavier. Had I truly given him the best possible life? The answer, I realized with a pang of guilt, was no.I had been a distant, uninvolved mother, never taking the time to understand my son's desires or dreams. Instead, I had dictated his path, choosing his career and making decisions on his behalf, right from a young age.A few years ago, Xavier had brought Phoebe to meet me, telling me about his plans to marry her and how much he loved her. But I had refused to accept her. In my mind, I would choose the perfect woman for my son, and Phoebe didn't fit the bill.So, behind the scenes, I had manipulated events to sabotage Xavier's business, watching with a sense of satisfaction as it crumbled. My son was devastated, unable to understand why his company was failing. Little did he know, it was his own mother who was responsible.I recalled the conversation I had with Phoebe, telling he
AliceI walked slowly down the staircase, gripping a large, brown envelope containing the divorce finalization papers. Reaching the bottom step, I paused, looking up to see Xavier descending towards me. His polished shoes clicked against the stairs, echoing through the hallway.As he approached, he extended a hand, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, this is it. I can officially call you my ex-wife, right?"I smiled, inhaling the scent of his cologne as I took his hand. "Not for long, Xavier," I replied, our handshake brief but firm.We broke apart, and together, we walked towards the car waiting for us outside. The driver stood by the door, tipping his hat as we slid into the backseat.As the car glided smoothly into motion, Xavier turned to me, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Divorce has never tasted so sweet," he whispered, his eyes crinkling at the corners.I smiled, my heart skipping a beat. "I can't help but agree," I replied, our lips meeting in a tender, s
AliceBefore I could even process my emotions, Xavier dropped to his knees, his eyes locked on mine. He pulled out a small jewelry box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a stunning diamond ring. His voice trembled as he whispered, "Alice, please... divorce me. Let's divorce from this contractual marriage of ours and marry right. Please marry me."I felt like I couldn't breathe for a second there. We were married, yes, but it was a contractual arrangement, a business deal between us. But now, Xavier was asking me to break free from that contract and marry him for real.I stared at him, my mind reeling. His eyes were glassy with tears, and his voice was laced with emotion. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.And then, like a dam breaking, tears flooded my eyes. My voice shook as I whispered, "Y-yes... I'll marry you."Xavier's face lit up with joy, and he slid the ring onto my finger. He stood up, his eyes never leaving mine, and kissed me like he never had before. I reciprocat
AliceWe sat on the sofa, holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. We were finally home, finally together again! I couldn't ask for more."Shouldn't we call your parents, at least?" I asked, thinking of Wendy and how worried she must be. I remembered how much she used to call me, crying and bawling all night to my ears.Now, Xavier telling me not to reach out to anyone yet was something strange."Not now," he whispered, his eyes locked on mine. "Right now, I just want to ease the tension, look at you, talk to you, and feel our baby."I smiled, my hand instinctively going to my swollen belly. Next month, our little one would arrive, and I couldn't wait to see Xavier hold our child in his arms.He kissed my lips gently, his eyes filled with adoration. "I love you so much, wifey.""I love you too," I replied, my heart full.Xavier's expression suddenly turned serious, and he swallowed hard. "Alice?" he called, his voice low and gentle."Yes,
XavierI finally told the police I wanted to return to the US, but there was a problem - Phoebe had seized all my documents. The policemen offered to search her place again, and after a thorough search, they recovered my belongings.Relieved, I checked into a hotel for the night. However, my phone was still missing, and I suspected Phoebe had hidden it. I decided to purchase a new phone that same night and thankfully remembered Alice's phone number.I tried calling her, but she didn't answer. I tried again and again, but still, no response. Growing concerned, I decided to check her social media profiles. But when I reached her Instagram page, I found it had been deactivated.Confused and worried, I began searching for news about Alice. That's when I stumbled upon shocking headlines - my wife had been charged with plagiarism for a book she had written. I knew Alice was the original author of that book, and the accusations made no sense. Why would they do this to her? What the hell happ