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
Ruby watched as Amelia walked away, her words echoing in her mind. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the threat Amelia had just made. It was clear that Stephan's fiancée was not willing to let Ruby and Ethan into their lives without a fight. Determined not to let Amelia's words discourage her, Ruby composed herself and returned to the room where Stephan was waiting."Are you okay?" Stephan asked, his voice filled with concern. Ruby sighed, trying to push aside her worries. "Yes, I am, just needed fresh air."Naomi furrowed her brow "Your fiancée just threatened Ruby," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance."Well, I'll be damned," Stephan muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on Ruby. He knew Amelia was still trying to adjust to his new reality but he won't let her scare Ruby. He could feel the tension in the room, it was like a cord pulling down their every utterance. Naomi was not going to overlook Amelia's warning.Ruby forced a smile, her resolve harden
The next day, at the dinner table, Stephan and Amelia sat opposite each other, their hands moist with expectation. They were planning to tell Stephan's parents the news together knowing that they needed to stand unitedThe sound of cutlery rattling against the plates filled the air as Stephan's parent were relishing their meal. Stephan had fidgety eye contact with Amelia and then cleared his throat. "Mom, Dad," he began hesitating slightly. We need to talk to you about something.Mrs Rodriguez stopped chewing with a wide-eyed expression. Mr Rodriguez put down his fork and looked at his son worriedly. "What is it, Stephan?" he asked, his voice a mixture of both excitement and fright.Amelia drew a deep breath trying to summon a brave voice. "There is something important we have to tell you," she said quietly yet with determination."I have a son" Stephan blurted out There was silence in the room as Stephan's parents stared at him, their eyes oval with astonishment. Mrs Rodriguez drop