Becoming Strangers Again Novel PDF Download/Reading Online

 

Becoming Strangers Again Synopsis

My life would have been so perfect, married to a man who makes my 

heart flutter, a man, whose smile is capable of making me forget every other worry, 

whose words give me instant hope. Everything would have been perfect if the heavens 

blessedus with a child of our own. Although Ryan doesn’t say it to my face, I know he 

wants a child; he desperately needs one as much as I do. I see him staring at little kids 

at the coffee shop for far too long, I catch a glimpse of him smiling at baby pictureson 

the internet. Having gone to the clinic countless times, and having seen different 

specialists, we were told that we were perfectly fine and that the baby w

uld come at the right time. 

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CHAPTER 1 

LILY 

My life would have been so perfect, married to a man who makes my 

heart flutter, a man, whose smile is capable of making me forget every other worry, 

whose words give me instant hope. Everything would have been perfect if the heavens 

blessedus with a child of our own. Although Ryan doesn’t say it to my face, I know he 

wants a child; he desperately needs one as much as I do. I see him staring at little kids 

at the coffee shop for far too long, I catch a glimpse of him smiling at baby pictureson 

the internet. Having gone to the clinic countless times, and having seen different 

specialists, we were told that we were perfectly fine and that the baby w

uld come at the right time. Waiting for that baby for two years now is almost making me 

desperate. Ryan’s love for kids makes him visit the orphanage twice every year, and 

today is the second time for the year. Although I’m late, I have a perfect excuse. I’ve 

been baking some cookies for the children at the orphanage which took most of my 

time. Pulling the car over in the parking lot, I got down, walking over to the trunk. The 

staff and volunteers at the orphanage who recognized me, approached me to assist in 

carrying out the cookie boxes from the trunk. Stepping aside, I let them carry the boxes 

as my eyes wandered around in search of my husband. It didn’t take much effort to find 

him, because Ryan always has a unique way of standing out. “We’re done with the 

boxes, ma’am.” A female voice informed me, taking my attention away from Ryan and 

the lady He seemed to be in a deep conversation with. It was kind of difficult to figure 

out who the lady was since her back was faced in my direction. “Did you get the toys in 

the back seat?” I asked the young lady who shook her head before proceeding to get 

the toys. Locking the car, I sashayed towards my husband, already formulating an 

apology speech for my tardiness in my head. However, my step was fluttered when the 

lady who had been backing me turned to the side. Stephanie, Ryan’s ex-finance. When 

did she get back to the country? Slowly moving my eyes from her face, I shifted it to 

Ryan who was smiling widely at something she said. I’ve never seen my husband smile 

this widely, at least not towards me. You see, in every relationship, there is always 

someone who loves the most, and I think that’s me. I have always loved Ryan dearly, 

hoping that one day he’ll love me as madly as I loved him. At least he hasn’t cheated on 

me with other women all these years, and that gives me hope that one day, he’ll love 

me as insanely as I loved him. Maybe, just maybe having a child with him should be 

able to solve that. Masking the panic I felt at the sight of Stephanie, I cleared my throat 

before approaching them. “Babe!” I called out, walking over to Ryan to give him a peck 

on the cheek. “I’m sorry I’m late.” His hands lay limply at his side. “It’s no news, Lily, 

you’re never on time.” I’m never late, just that he’s always too early. Not sure how to 

respond to that, I moved my attention to Stephanie, forcing a smile for the sake of 

courtesy. “Hello, Stephanie.” I stretched out my hand for a handshake to which she 

accepted. “I had no idea you’re back in the country.” Her grey eyes flickered to Ryan 

and she smiled fondly at him. “Ray never told you?” Ryan shrugged. “I didn’t see the 

need to.” He didn’t see the need to?! His ex-fiancé who broke things off with him a few 

months before their wedding returned to the country and he didn’t see the need to tell 

me that he met her? I faked yet another smile for the paparazzi. “Let’s go in, we’re already late as it is.” I tried to reach for his hand but he slipped it into his pocket. “I’ll see 

you tomorrow at the office.” He informed Stephanie, and smiled at her one last time 

before heading towards the orphanage entrance, leaving me standing like a fool. Trying 

not to feel embarrassed over the fact that my husband just openly rejected my touch, I 

chuckled nervously. “I’ll see you around,” I muttered, ready to walk away from her. “It’s 

surprising that I’ve been in this country for three months, working with your husband and 

he never told you about my return?” She chuckled. “Just how damaged is your 

communication life with your husband?” Tilting my head, I observed her slowly. “You 

heard him yourself Stephanie, he didn’t see the need to.” I met Ryan when he was 

wounded over the hurt and heartbreak She inflicted on him, I helped him heal, so she 

has no right whatsoever to act like she belongs to his side. “My husband and I tend not 

to discuss irrelevant issues, like our past.” “I’m standing before you honey,” she 

deadpanned, “and I’ll be meeting with him tomorrow, I’ll be working late nights with him 

in the future. Does that sound like the past to you?” “That sounds like a woman who is 

trying to ignite not only jealously, but doubt in me.” I took a step toward her, making sure 

to keep my face neutral so the paparazzi wouldn’t be able to figure out what was going 

on here. “I trust my husband, Stephanie; I trust him not to go back to his old vomit.” She 

threw her head back and laughed loudly. “Your naivety is entertaining.” She mused. “I’ll 

see you around cupcake.” With that, she turned and walked away. I took deep calming 

breaths before going to join my husband, hoping that my bad mood would not reflect on 

my behavior towards the kids or my interaction with them. ****************** I had to wait 

until we were in the confined of our home before bringing up the issue of Stephanie. 

Watching him flip through the magazine, I thought of how best to bring up the topic. 

“Why didn’t you mention you were working ona project with Stephanie?” I asked, 

decided to be blunt with my question. “I thought I gave you an answer to that question 

already?” Ryan responded without looking up from the magazine. “How can’t you see 

the necessity to tell me that your ex is back in town and you’re working with her?” I 

asked him with a baffled tone. “How would you feel if my ex shows up and I start 

working with him without informing you?” Closing the magazine, he dropped it on the 

table and stared at me with a stoic expression. “You don’t have an ex, Lily, and you 

don’t have a job. So, I can’t really picture such a scenario in your case.” “And whose 

fault is it that I don’t have a job?” I snapped at him, feeling attacked by his statement. “I 

told you to quit your job because I wanted you to focus on this family.” He folded his 

hands. “Two years later, it’s still just the two of us and you show up for every event late.” 

My heart dropped at his words. “Are you insinuating that I’m the reason why we have no 

child?” He heard the doctors, we were both healthy, so why is he blaming me for this? 

“Are you for real Ryan?” “Don’t expect me to always explain myself to you, Lily, you 

haven’t earned it.” Grabbing his glass of wine, he stood to his feet. “What do you mean 

by I haven’t earned it, Ryan?”I equally stood to my feet. “I am your wife Ryan in case 

you’ve forgotten.” He looked me straight in the face, his face still stoic and 

expressionless. “If you’re my wife, then start acting like it.” He turned to walk away but 

stopped at the doorway. “About the charity ball tomorrow night, don’t bother getting 

ready.” With my appetite already gone with the mood, I pushed my plate away. “And 

why shouldn’t I get ready for it?” “Mum needs your help in the garden.” He responded. 

“Tomorrow night?” What will I be doing in the garden late in the night? “What happened 

to the daytime?” “She’s a busy woman.” He deadpanned, letting the silent ‘Unlike You’ float in the air, “and the flowers are night bloomers. Make yourself available for her 

tomorrow night, and try notto be late.” “Ryan, I don’t think” “Don’t argue Lily, learn to 

be grateful.” With that, he walked away from the dining room. I was left standing all 

alone, wondering what the hell just happened.

Chapter 2 

I don’t think I can ignore this anymore. The constant tiredness, oversleeping, 

and inability to keep food down. Although I started feelingnauseous two days ago, the 

tiredness and oversleeping started over a month ago. Rolling to the side, I ran my hand 

over Ryan’s side of the bed, and as expected, it was cold. I was hoping last night would 

be different, but he didn’t sleep in as usual. Ryanspends most of his nights at the office 

now. I understand the fact that he is working on a new project, but I’d like to see mor of 

my husband. The soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts, Rolling out of 

the bed, I grabbed my robe before answering the door. Bella, the cook stood at the 

other end of the door. “Good morning, ma’am. Breakfast is ready. Would you like to 

have it in your bedroom or the dining room!” The thought of breakfast made my stomach 

churn. “I won’t be having breakfast today” Iinformed her, “Sorry for the inconvenience. 

She nodded. “What about Mr. Williams, will he be having breakfast?” Ryan hasn’t been 

home in one week; well at least he hasn’t been home when I’m around. “Yes, he won’t 

be having breakfast too.” It’s better thantelling her that my husband hasn’t been coming 

home. Bella gave me a short bow before walking away. Closing the door, I walked into 

the shower, took a quick bath, and changed into something suitable for the day before 

leaving to meet up with my doctor. Becky has always been a friend, we met during my 

wedding preparation, and ever since, we’ve clicked, and the fact that she’s a doctor is a 

plus. Picking up the p picture frame of her family on her desk, I smiled at her cute son. 

Jayden has always been a sweetheart. The door opened and Becky sashayed in. “I’m 

sorry for keeping youwaiting Lily.” She apologized as she took

a seat. “Did you wait for long?” I returned the picture to its initial position. “It’s fine, I 

haven’t been waiting for long.” I jerked my head at the nuts on the table, “this kept me 

company by the way.” Chuckling, she leaned back and stared at me scrutinizingly. “You 

look sick. Are you okay?” 1 shook my head in response to her question “1 look sick 

because I feel sick.” I’m the type that hardly falls sick. “I’ve been feeling tired these 

days, I fall asleep at any given opportunity and I’ve been throwing up and feeling 

nauseous at the mention of food.” “Any fever!” She asked and 1 shook my head. “When 

was the last time you got your period Lily?” My period! I glanced at the calendar on her 

wall I was supposed to get my period last week. “I’m a week late,” I replied, trying not to 

get over-excited. Many times, I’ve gotten my hopes high, and many times it was 

crushed. “Did you get your period lastmonth?” She asked again. My brows furrowed 

into deep concentration as I tried to remember if I got it last month “I don’t think so, 

Becky.” My hand went to my stomach. “You think I’m…” She smiled. “Let’s not jump to a 

conclusion until we have confirmed itthrough test.” Becky encouraged. Getting off her 

seat, she grabbed my hand and led me towards the lab where my blood was taken for the test Although Ryan told me that I wouldn’t be going to the event. I went ahead to 

shop for a dress, just in case he changed his mind. Walking into the store, I respectfully 

rejected the assistance of the salesgirl, opting to walk around myself and pick out 

something I liked. An hour later, I ended up with three dresses which I liked, and since I 

wasn’t low on cash in any way, I decided to go for the three dresses. Tonight. I will wear 

them before Ryan and maybe he will change his mind about me not going to the gala. 

as sinile when I was about to walk into the fitting room when my phone vibrated in any 

purse. Fishing it out, my lips stretched into a saw Becky’s name on the scrECTL young 

lady who walked in with me to help with the dress. All alone. I Swiping to the receive 

soon, I walked into the fitting room and dismissed the your Inally gave Hecky my 

undivided attention. Is the result out?” 

“Yes,” her cheerful tone told 

me to expect some good news. “You are pregnant Lily,” she blurted out, “the result 

came out positive.” At first, I was frozen, unable to scream or shout, because I was still 

in disbelief thatI was finally carrying my child. “I am going to have to call you back 

Hecky,” I need to speak with Ryan. I need to share this news with him. “Thank you so 

much for this great news, Becky, you don’t know how happy I am right now,” 

Disconnecting the call, Ihastily walked out of the dressing room. “Ma’am,” the young 

lady called out, “are you ready to fit the dresses?” Fit what dresses? I have more 

important things to do. “Package the three dresses and have them sent to my house; I 

will pay via your website.”I ar a regular, so my address isn’t a problem, and they know 

that I do not owe them for any reason. If peradventure I’m low on cash. I do not bother 

buying Strutting out of the store. I got into my car and dialed Ryan’s number to find out if 

he was still at the office, but my call went unanswered. I called his secretary instead 

who picked up instantly. “R&W Constructions. How may we help you?” “It’s Mrs. William 

on the line.” I said, “I just wanted to know if Ryan is in the office.” “Good day, ma’am. I 

apologize for not recognizing your voice, and no, Mr. Williams isn’t in his office. He 

closed for the day early today.” He left already? My eyes went to the dashboard our of 

reflex and I frowned at the time. It is just two in the afternoon. “Thank you, Martha.” 

Disconnecting the call, I opted to drive home instead. There is every probability that he 

isn’t home, but since he isn’t picking up my calls, I can as well go home and check if he 

is there. Pulling over in the parking lot, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked next to Ryan’s 

car. Curious to know who was home with him, I turned off my engine and quickly made 

my way into the house. Do not get me wrong, I do not think he is cheating on me, that is 

something Ryan wouldn’t do, but then he isn’t the type to have visitors, which only 

makes me more curious. Stepping into the living room, I found it empty. I was about to 

go upstairs to search for him in his office when his familiar voice called out to me from 

the dining room. I changed directions instantly. On entering the dining room, I halted at 

the sight of the guest; what is Stephanie doing in my house? Trying not to let my 

thoughts show, I stopped right beside my husband. “I called your secretary and she told 

me that you already left for the day. Is everything alright?” Ryan doesn’t leave the office 

early even if he is sick. Uttering no word in response to my question, he dropped a big 

brown envelope before me. I glanced at the envelope with furrowed brows, wondering 

what was going on. “Open it.” He instructed with the tone he takes with his secretary 

anytime she is getting on his nerves. Unable to keep the worry from my eyes, I picked 

up the envelope and opened it. Dipping my hand into it. I pulled our documents from 

within. The other content of the documents didn’t matter to me at the moment, not when the heading was glaring at me. “What’s going on Ryan” whispered. for a divorce. He 

shook his Slowly turning to face me whilst still scared, he crossed his hand. “What does 

it look like Lily!” he rasped, “I am asking fo hear, “Scrap that, I am demanding a 

divorce.” 

Chapter 3 

LILY 

My afternoon did no not go as planned at all. When I entered my car to 

drive home, what I envisioned was telling Ryan about the pregnancy, and in

my imagination, he lifted me into his arms and peppered my face with ki*ses, telling me 

how we were going to be perfect parents. Divorce papers weren’t part of that 

imagination at all. I was still seated in the same spot that Ryan was seated a few hours 

ago when he gave me the divorce papers. My legs had given out the moment he 

ignored my questions and walked away with Stephanic, and that was five hours ago. 

The distant sound of the front door opening and the soft thuds of footsteps proved that 

he was horne. Dragging myself up from the dining chair, I gripped the papers tightly and 

went in search of the man who vowed at the altar that he would love me till death do us 

part, the man who swore never to hurt me or cause me any pain. I walked into our 

bedroom in time before he walked into the bathroom to take a shower, “What is going 

on Ryan? What is the meaning of this?” I flung the papers at him and they went flying all 

over the room. “This is the second time you are asking me that he deadpanned, “don’t 

you have any more questions after going through the divorce agreements?” I can’t 

believe what I am hearing “I did not go through any agreement!” I yelled at him, “And I 

won’t be going through them, not until you tell me why you are thinking of divorcing me.” 

Ryan sighed. “I am not thinking about it Lily, it is already a reality. Know the difference.” 

I glared at him. “Is that all you are going to say?” I growled but he shrugged in response, 

looking indifferent to the whole thing “What was Stephanie doing here?” is she the 

reason why he is leaving me! “Why was your ex–girlfriend in our home when you chose 

to give me the divorce papers! Folding his hands, he stared at me with a tired 

expression. “She is a lawyer,” he drawled out as though I was dumb or something-She 

is no divorce or family lawyer,” I reminded him, “so don’t make it seem I do not have the 

right to question her presence. Biting my lips hard, 1 tried to keep the tears in “Is she 

the reason you are divorcing me?” He stared at me intently without giving me a 

response. My heartbeat quickened as my lungs threatened to collapse. “Why aren’t you 

answering Ryan 1 expected him to assure me that whatever I was thinking was all in my 

head, but his silence made me think otherwise. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” I 

bellowed. “Because I am wondering how this happened. He spat, flicking his hand 

between us, “How did I end up here?” I exhaled shaky breath breath. “End up where?” 

please don’t tell me he is regretting getting married to me because I might end up losing 

my mind. “Here.” He repeated. “Look, there are certain decisions that we take that do 

end well for us. Let us take this marriage as one of them. can feel my Jungs contracting 

no matter how hard I try to prevent it “This is because of Stephanie right? Everything 

was okay until she showed up again and you suddenly want to divorce me” “This has nothing to do with Stephaniel” he roared angrily, “this has everything to do with us.” He 

inhaled deeply. “I have had a long day Lily, and I really want to take a shower and get 

ready for the team of designers who will be getting me ready for the gala.” He turned to 

walk away but I stopped him. “Is this because we don’t have a baby yet?” if that is why 

he is leaving me then he shouldn’t because the baby is already here “Baby?” he smiled 

sadly, “you know Lily, I have never been so glad that we haven’t had any baby since we 

got married.” My lips trembled, “what do you mean by that?” “I mean, there is no baby to 

deal with the aftermath of our divorce, and also no reason for us to see each other or 

tolerate each other.” “Tole_” unable to take in air anymore, I began gasping. “I can… 

can‘… Byan..…….” He walked over to the drawer opened it, pulled out a paper bag then 

tossed it over to me. “You already know the drill,” he said flatly, “take slow breaths into 

the paper bag and you should be fine.” Without sparing me another glance, he turned 

and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Watching my husband 

leave while I struggled for breath pained more than I could have imagined. I ended up 

not going to the gala, nor did I take his mother’s call for gardening. I wasn’t in the right 

state of mind to interact with anyone right now. If I face Ryan’s mother right now, I might end up snapping at her or cursing her which isn’t something I 

should do since I am trying to get Ryan to change his mind about this divorce, soI 

locked myself away in our bedroom and watched the gala live on TV hoping to take my 

mind away from the ordeal that has hit me. Watching the guests arrive for the red 

carpet, watching the camera capture them, and watching them pose for the camera 

made mewonder just how strong some of them are. I know for a fact that some of them 

are being faced with different problems, yet they smile at the camera as though all is 

well. I wonder if I can be that strong. I was still staring blankly at the screen when Ryan

suddenly showed up for pictures on the red carpet, only that he wasn’t alone. Clinging 

to his arm with a wide smile is Stephanie The paparazzi became even more aggressive 

with their picture, no doubt wondering why he showed up with his ex to the event 

instead of his wife. This was Ryan making it known to the world that all is not well 

between us, that our marriage is about to crumble. His silent announcement wasn’t 

what scared me or broke my heart, rather it was the way he stared at Stephanie as she 

posed for pictures, the way he helped her with her dress, and the way he smiled widely 

when she whispered something in his ear. I watched my husband through the screen 

behave in a manner I have always yearned for, only that it wasn’t directed towards me 

but to his ex-girlfriend. He is looking at her like a man in love and he isn’t even 

bothering to hide it. How much more humiliation do I need to understand the fact that I 

have lost my husband to her? How much more heartbreak must I endure? He claims 

that Stephanie isn’t the reason for our crumbled marriage, but he is either lying to me or 

himself. Stephanie Waper is the reason my marriage is coming to an end.

Chapter 4 

LILY

 I have been avoiding the truth and reality for a week. Ryan behaves as though I do 

not exist, he comes home when I am asleep then leaves before I wake up, and the few 

times that I am awake when he returns, he simply ignores me. I want to give it one last try, to try to save my marriage one last time, but Ryan isn’t even giving me an 

opportunity “Lily,” Becky called out, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay? 

You’ve been staring blankly at your juice for some time now.” Smiling tightly at her, I 

picked up the glass and took a sip. “Sorry about that, but I just have a lot of things on 

my mind, that’s all” The fact that I am bouling everything up while dealing with morning 

sickness is making the whole thing exhausting. “Is Ryan not happy about the baby?” 

Becky asked in a concerned tone. “You both seemed like you wanted to have a baby 

badly” Biting my lips, 1 stared into my glass to keep the tears from falling “You haven’t 

told him, have you?” Trust Becky to quickly figure everything out. I shook my head. “I 

haven’t told him yet.”

…

diately and sat down on the chair next to me. “You were ere excited about the news that 

day Lily, and it has been a week Why haven’t you told him!” I remained mute, 

contemplating whether I should discuss my marriage issues with her or not. Becky 

reached forward and took my hand into hers. “You can talk to me. Lily. I always opened 

up to you whenever I had issues with Derek and you helped me fix them The tears 

rolled down and I reluctantly wiped them away. “This isn’t just an issue Becky,” I 

whispered, “Ryan wants a divorce.” She gasped. “A what?” blinking rapidly, she tried to 

make sense of the situation. “What happened? Why is he leaving you?” I shrugged, 

hating myself for shedding tears in public. I guess he fell out of love with me.” Seeing 

how he is with Stephanie; I wonder if he was ever in love with me. “He fell…” she 

smacked her lips, “what does that even mean!” Becky placed her index finger on my jaw 

and lifted my head. She wiped my tears with her thump. This has something to do with 

the girl he attended that gala with, right?” I shook my head in denial “Don’t be silly girl!” 

she chastised softly, “which man goes to an event without his wife but with his ex?” she 

scoffed, “I didn’t want to say anything about it because you weren’t talking about it 

either.” Not sure how to respond to that, I moved my gaze from her. “I can’t bring myself 

to tell him that I am pregnant, not after he told me that he is grateful we don’t have any 

baby.” Her eyes widened. “He said that?” she exclaimed and I nodded. “Have you tried 

talking to his mum? Maybe she can help talk some sense into him.” Mr. Sarah Williams? 

“She will be ecstatic to hear that Ryan is divorcing me.” I mused, “She almost missed 

the wedding Becky, that is how much she hates the fact that I am married to him.” don’t 

get me started on his father. They all see me as a failed business deal “And his father?” 

she asked, I understand that women can be dramatic at times.Have you tried talking to 

his father?” I shook my head. “Richard Williams is a businessman through and through. 

That man hasn’t said more than twenty words to me since I got married to Ryan. 

“Stephanie’s family has the biggest law firm in the country, andif Ryan had gotten 

married to her. Waper law firm would have backed R&W Construction up legally for 

generations. I think he will be glad to hear that Ryan wants to get back with Stephanie.” 

Becky sighed. “So, what are you going to do!” “I am going to havea conversation with 

Ryan for the last time and ask him if this is what he really wants, if he insists, I am going 

to give freedom. him his Becky cursed under her breath. “Be sure to get enough 

settlement from him, you deserve it after what his family put you through throughout this 

marriage duration” She seemed as pained as I am about the situation, “you literally planted flowers while the rest of the family merry inside.” 1 chuckled, unable to help it, “I 

actually liked planting those flowers.” It gave metime to escape their judgmental glares. 

Tater that night, Ryan walked in as usual, probably thinking that I was asleep. I let him 

have his shower and change into his pajamas. The moment he crawlerl into the duvet; I 

opened my eyes. “We need to talk.” 11:28 AM Chapter 4 Ryan sighed. “Can’t it wait till 

morning?” he asked, “I am really tired.” “You will be gone before I wake up.” He puts in 

too much effort to avoid me. “So no, it can’t wait it till morning.” o this?” I asked calmly. 

“There is no His face tightened “What do you want to talk about?” “You know what I 

want to talk about.” I stated firmly, “It is about the divorce, are you sure you really want 

to do going back if I sign those divorce papers.” Craning his neck, he stared at me. “I 

am a business manLily; I do not say or do things that I do not mean.” He folded his 

hands, “before I reach any decision, I think about them carefully to be sure I do not have 

regrets.” I bit my inner lips. “Can you at least tell me why?” Ryan cursed under his 

breath. Do Ineed to spell it out for you Lily!” “Yes, I do not want to assume things, I 

want you to spell it out for me.” “Our marriage has become an unwanted distraction, and 

I think it is best we let each other go on good terms before the feeling in me grows into 

something else.” “Something else like what? “Hatred.” He deadpanned. “Anger and 

frustration, the list can go on if you want.” Lifting my left palm, I shook my head. “That 

won’t be necessary,” As much as I do not want to ask this, I have the right to know. “Did 

you ever love me, Ryan?” He stared at me intently, unable to answer my question I 

chuckled bitterly, “Do you love Stephanie?” again, he remained mute, but his eyes gave 

me the answers I needed. Wiping the silly tears that rolled down, I reached for the

bedside drawer, pulled out the divorce paper, picked up a pen, and signed on each 

before passing it over to him. “Goodnight Ryan This is the last time we are going to 

share the same space.

Chapter 5 

LILY 

As the sun rose the following morning. I parked my belongings shortly 

after Ryan’s departure for work. Climbing into my car, I embarked journey to Becky’s 

place. The night before, I had phoned her to share the distressing news, and she 

graciously offered her home as a sanctuary until the divorce proceedings concluded. 

Becky’s sacrifice to remain home today was solely on my account. Upon arriving at her 

residence, I spotted her standing in the driveway, patiently. awaiting my arrival. Bringing 

my car to a stop, I stepped out and walked into Becky’s embrace. Tears streamed down 

my face, mirroring the heartache of a child who had just lost her favorite treat. my 

hudand Well, maybe my tears is justified, seeing that I just lost my Becky signaled her 

housekeeper to retrieve my bag from the trunk, then guided me into her home, leading 

me straight to the guestroom she had arranged for my stay. “I’m sorry, baby girl she 

murmured softly as she patted my back. I am really sorry.” My tears dampened her 

shirt, but she didn’t seem to mind. “All I did was love him,” I sobbed. “All I did was 

dedicate my time and affection to him. and thisis what I get in returni Becky gently pulled my shoulder back and cupped my face, her thumb 

tenderly wiping away my tears. “You are going to be fine. Lily. You are a strong woman, 

and I believe you can overcome anything” Feeling utterly lost, I confided,I don’t even 

know what to do right now, I know this happened because of Stephanie. I am sure of 

this.” Letting out a heavy sigh. Becky eased back, leaning against the sturdy bedframe, 

her hands folded in front of her. “Let’s not dwell on the reasons behind Ryan’s decision 

to file for divorce. It won’t change anything at this moment. We should focus on planning 

for your life after the divorce,” she suggested, her gaze steady as she looked at me. 

“Are you considering accepting the divorce settlements?” Just the mention of divorce 

threatened to bring tears to my eyes. “Of course, I’m taking it. I deserve it after leaving 

my job and devoting four years of my life to him” “You shouldn’t have listened to him 

and quit your job, Becky murmured softly, her tone tinged with regret. “But that’s not our 

concern right now.” I couldn’t help but regret my decision. If only I had known that our 

marriage would end like this, I wouldn’t have sacrificed my career to be the perfect wife 

to Ryan. Tm considering going back to work,” I admitted. Becky’s expression shifted to 

one of exasperation. “Of course you should go back, Lily. You’re a medical doctor, and 

a very astute one at that,” she emphasized, her tone tinged with conviction. Licking her 

lips, she leaned in closer. “You were the brightest in our class. I was genuinely 

disappointed when you mentioned quitting your job to focus on starting a family with 

Ryan.” “I know,” I admitted with a heavy sigh. I realize now that it was a foolish decision. 

I may not have recognized it back then, but it’s crystal clear to me now Becky extended 

her hand, gently clasping mine. “Returning won’t be an issue. All you need to do is have 

your credentials reviewed, engage in ongoing professional development, and complete 

a few necessary steps. Then you’ll be back on track, she reassured me with a 

reassuring smile. “I don’t want to stay in New York, I reflected, a sense of unease 

settling over me. “I don’t think I can handle the thought of running into Ryan or seeing 

him with that woman at events,”Becky’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. “I know 

someone in Canada who could help you secure a job at a hospital,” she disclosed, her 

voice filled with assurance. “Mrs. Georgina is a remarkably affluent widow. Her late 

husband owned one of the largest hospitals in Canada, and upon his passing, he 

entrusted its operations to her. She’s been successfully managing the hospital ever 

since, and I’m certain she’d welcome you to her team “And how did you come to know 

this remarkable woman?” I inquired, curiousabout the connection A shy smile graced 

Becky’s lips. “We met at a conference, and we’ve been friends ever since Becky had 

always possessed an infectious charm and a warm demeanor that drew people to her 

effortlessly. It was such a meaningful connection with Mrs. Georgina. no wonder that 

she had formed I would truly value the recommendation; I expressed gratefully. The 

idea of moving to Ganada seemed increasingly appealing, offering a tresty start far 

away from Ryan and his family.

 Threeweeks later, the divorce was 

finalized. I was presented with five apartment complexes in New York and a 

compensation package of five million dollars. It appeared to be a reasonable 

arrangement, so I accepted the money, intending to invest it for the future of the baby. 

In my perspective, this was not merely compensation ion for a failed marriage. Instead, 

it was securing a portion of my child’s entitlement to his father’s wealth. While Ryan 

might view it as compensation, to me, it was ensuring my child’s rightful share in his 

father’s legacy. As soon as the legal seal was affixed, I swiftly grabbed my purse, rose from my seat, and made my way out of the office. Stepping into the elevator, I 

anticipated a moment to gather my thoughts, but to my surprise, Ryan entered just 

before the doors closed, accompanied by his lingering shadow, Luke I chose to ignore 

him, fixating on the descending floor number. “I’m truly sorry that things had to end this 

way, Lily,” Ryan apologized, “We both had our moments during the course of this 

marriage, and I’m sure you wouldn’t label it a failure, considering the substantial fortune 

you’ve gained from it.” Finally shifting my gaze from the numbers, I stared at him, 

starting from his shoes and moving upward. “I made a fortune?” I questioned 

incredulously, “Do you genuinely believe this money can compensate for the heartache 

you’ve put me through!” Ryan’s smirk persisted. ‘Oh, it will. A week in Paris or Miami will 

make you forget about this divorce,” he asserted, slipping his handsinto his pockets. “It 

didn’t work out. Lily. Suck it up and move on with your life.” As the elevator pinged, 

signaling our arrival, I responded evenly, “You don’t owe me anything, Ryan. At least I 

no longer expect anything from you, and when you don’t have expectations of someone, 

you don’t become disappointed or heartbroken by their words or actions. “Cut to the 

chase, Ryan interjected, his tone impatient. “Stephanie is the real reason why you 

ended our marriage, isn’t she?” I confronted him directly, refusing to dance around the 

truth any longer. “I’ve reiterated this countless times, and I’ll repeat it again for clarity: 

Stephanie had absolutely no bearing on the dissolution of our marriage, Ryan 

maintained firmly, his tone unwavering “Cease attempting to attribute blame to someone 

else for your perceived shortcomings.” His denial provoked a scoff from me “This 

marriage isn’t solely my failure, Ryan. It’s a collective failure.” I asserted with a hint of 

bitterness, striding purposefully out of the elevator and towards my awaiting car. As I 

was about to ignite the engine, the arrival of another vehicle interrupted the moment I 

observed as the car pulled into the parking lot, and to my dismay, Stephanie emerged 

from within. She hastened into Ryan’s awaiting embrace without hesitation. Right before 

my eyes, she carefully rose on her tiptoes, planting a tender ki*s upon his lips, and 

Ryan made no move to deter her advances. For someone who vehemently denied any 

involvement with Stephanie, who insisted she wasn’t the reason for the divorce, he 

seemed all too comfortable receiving and indulging in her affectionate gestures.

Chapter 6 

LILY 

(ONE MONTH LATER)

Having successfully relocated to Canada and 

diligently renewing my practice license, I find myself on the brink of full readiness, with 

just two pending tasks. Mrs. Georgina, in her kindness, extended an invitation for me to 

visit her home and discuss potential opportunities at her hospital while 1 await the 

completion of the remaining certification processes, The cab I hailed came to a halt 

outside the imposing gates of Mrs. Georgina’s residence. Disembarking from the 

vehicle, I settled the fare with the driver and proceeded toward the entrance. The 

grandeur of her home triggered memories of Ryan’s family house, a sharp contrast to 

the temporary abode of a hotel room where 1 currently reside. Let me clarify, the hotel 

suite isn’t unpleasant by any means, but it lacks that comforting essence of home. It 

simply doesn’t evoke the same sense of belonging. As I mused over these thoughts, 

one of Mrs. Georgina’s security personnel approached me, his voice resonating through 

the narrow opening in the iron gate. “Are you Ms. Lily Bernard? he inquired, his tone 

professional yet courteous With a silent nod, Lacknowledged his query, opting to 

provide my father’s surname to avoid association with Ryan’s familyname. “I’ll need to 

verify your identity, ma’am, he continued, his demeanor unwavering in its adherence to 

protocol Retrieving my identification card from my purse, I handed it over for inspection. 

His gaze lingered on the ID momentarily before lifting tomeet mine. This ID bears the 

name Lily Williams,” he observed, his tone neutral yet probing. Accepting the ID back 

from him, I affirmed. That’s my former husband’s surname. I’ve undergone divorce 

proceedings and am in the process of reverting to my maidenname. Unfortunately, my 

updated identification hasn’t been issued yet.” promptly Maintaining his steady gaze, he 

murmured into his communication device. After a brief pause, he signaled to the gate 

attendant, who initiated the process of granting me access. With a silent 

acknowledgment, I followed, stepping into the confines of the compound. The young 

man regarded me with a curious expression, his eyes filled with intrigue. “Are you 

walking down?” he asked, his tone tinged with confusion. Perplexed by his inquiry, I 

simply blinked in response, With a shake of his head, he gestured towards the waiting 

car. “Get in he instructed, prompting me to comply Our journey spanned over thirty 

minutes before we finally arrived at the main building. Stepping out, I mademy way 

towards the entrance, while Eddie, the young man, skillfully reversed the car and 

retraced our path. Led into the living room, I settled in to await Mrs. Georgina’s arrival. 

After a few minutes, the sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention. Rising to 

my feet, I turned to greet her. Mrs. Georgina approached with a warm smile. “Ms. 

Bernard,” she greeted, extending her hand for a handshake, which I accepted 

graciously. “It’s wonderful to meet you in person. Returning her smile shyly, I 

responded, “It’s equally lovely to meet you, Ma’am: She shook her head gently “Please, 

call me Georgina. A friend of Becky is certainly a friend of mine: Gesturing for me to take a seat, she settled on the sofa nearest to mine. “Becky informed me about your 

divorce. I’m truly sorry to hear about it.” Mustering a smile, I endeavored to conceal the 

emotional weight of recent events. “I suppose it just wasn’t meant to be, I offered, 

attempting to downplay the complexities of the situation. Georgina regarded me with a 

mix of empathy and frustration, voicing her displeasure with the mistreatment of women 

by certain men. It’s disheartening how men can behave,” she grumbled, sighing as she 

crossed her legs, an embodiment of thoughtful contemplation. “And what about the 

baby! Does he knows she inquired, her concern evident. Slightly taken aback, my eyes 

widened in surprise. “Becky shared that detail as well?” I admitted, appreciative of her 

support yet grappling with the intrusion into my private life. Georgina shook her head 

gently, her expression softening with understanding. “Becky didn’t disclose anything 

about the baby. I gleaned it from simply observing you, she clarified, her words carrying 

a sense of reassurance. As the maids graciously served us cold juice, she continued, 

“While 1 may not have experienced motherhood firsthand. I possess an intuitive sense 

when

it comes to discerning a woman’s condition “ Mesmerized, I watched Mrs. Georgina with 

unabashed admiration. At sixty years old, she exuded a timeless elegancethat left me 

in awe Clean my throat, I decided to shift the focus to the primary purpose of my visit. 

“Concerning my complete documents, they should be fully preparest 11:29 AM Chapter 

6 within the next two weeks,” She nodded gracefully, her demeanor composed and 

understanding. “Rest assured, Lily, there’s no cause for concern,” she affirmed with 

reassuring sinile, her gaze lingering as I tentatively took a sip of my drink, a subtle 

tension settling in the air. Unexpectedly, she dropped a bombshell, “I must say, Lily, I 

find myself quite fond of you, I like you,” she declared, her statement catching me off 

guard, causing me to choke momentarily on my drink. A whirlwind of thoughts raced 

through my mind, pondering the implications of her confession. Is she into women! 

Becky didn’t mention that.. besides, I thought she was married to a man before he died! 

Wide–eyed and utterly baffled. I could only manage a soft, disbelieving whisper, “What? 

Georgina’s laughter, light and melodic, filled the room, her amusement evident as she 

observed my bewildered reaction. “Oh, Lily, forgive me for the confusion. When I 

expressed my fondness for you, I meant it in a purely platonic sense, she clarified, her 

voice warm and reassuring as she took another sip of her juice, her composure 

unwavering. “My romantic interests lie elsewhere, I assure you. I am very much more 

interested and attracted to dick Blushing furiously with embarrassment, I stumbled over 

my words in an attempt to apologize, recognizing that I had inadvertently caused 

discomfort with my misinterpretation. 1I’m terribly sorry, I stammered, acutely aware of 

my unintentional blunder. “I didn’t mean to let my thoughts run wild.” Georgina waved 

away my apology with a graceful gesture, her poise unwavering even in the face of my 

embarrassment. “There’s no need for apologies, dear Lily, she reassured me, her tone 

gentle yet firm. Crossing her legs with elegant precision, she shifted gears, her 

expression morphing into one of earnest contemplation, “On a different note, Icouldn’t 

help but hear about your connection to the Williams family in New York. I heard you 

were married to the Williams family in New York,” I nodded slowly, absorbing her 

revelation. “You’re familiar with them?” I inquired, intrigued by her connection to the 

Williams family. Georgina shrugged nonchalantly. “Tve had a few unpleasant run–ins with their mother, Sarah Williams,” she confessed, her tone tinged with a hint of 

contemplation as she idly traced her thumb along the rim of her glass. “But let’s focus 

on you, Lily. I want to help you” Her words caught me off guard. Wasn’t that the purpose 

of our meeting? Wasn’t she already extending her assistance by offering me a position 

at her hospital? “I’m determined to transform you into a woman whom Ryan Williams 

will deeply regret divorcing. Georgina continued, her gaze fixed firmly on me. “The 

Williams family values wealth and affluence, and I intend to mold you into that image. 

you absolutely certain you don’t have While I appreciated her efforts, I couldn’t shake 

the feeling that Georgina was taking this too personally. “Are you a personal connection 

to the Williams family?” I probed gently, sensing an underlying tension in her words. 

She let out a slow exhale, her expression thoughtful “As I mentioned, my encounters 

with them haven’t been pleasant,” she reiterated, her lips tightening slightly. I won’t 

stand by and watch them mistreat another woman.” Her mention of “another woman 

piqued my curiosity. Did she have unresolved grievances with the Williams family? “Did 

they wrong you in some way! I ventured, cautiously probing the delicate topic. “Or 

perhaps you know someone who was hurt by them? Georgina’s sigh carried a heavy 

weight, laden with sorrow and unresolved grief. “It was my sister, she began, her voice 

tinged with a mix of pain and resignation. “Richard Williams drove my sister into 

depression, and she eventually took her own life. ir with A pang of sympathy shot 

through me, and I offered a heartfelt apology. “I’m so sorry to hear about your loss,” I 

murmured, my words echoing genuine compassion. A sad smile touched Georgina’s 

lips, imbued with a sense of acceptance and understanding. “Don’t apologize,” she 

responded softly, her gaze reflecting a mixture of emotions. “I can see that you’re not 

like them, and yet you’ve also fallen victim to their manipulation and mistreatment.” 

Intrigued by her story yet hesitant to delve deeper into her painful past, I treaded 

carefully. “If you’re comfortable sharing, what happened to your sister?” I inquired, 

mindfulof the delicate nature of the topic. Her voice carried a weight of sorrow as she 

recounted the tragic events. “My sister married Richard, and they were expecting a 

child. But tragedy struck when she lost the baby in an accident, and due to 

complications, she was unable to conceive again. Richard assured her that everything 

would be alright, but he had impregnated another woman, Sarah, from a wealthy 

family,” she explained, her words laced with bitterness and sorrow. “Despite my siver’s 

struggles, Richard divorced her and married Sarah, with the full support of his family. 

Sarah eventually gave birth to Ryan “I’m s so sorry.” I muttered. you for She smiled at 

me. “Don’t be. I am just glad that you didn’t end up like my sister, and I’m going to make 

sure to make you richer than that binilso he left.

 Chapter 7 

(SIX MONTHS LATER)

Recently, everything in my life has been progressing 

smoothly. Just six months ago. I had the pleasure of establishing a meaningful 

relationship with Georgina. Our connection has flourished to the point where 

acquaintances who aren’t well–acquainted with her often mistake me for her own 

daughter. A few weeks back after I arrived in Canada, Georgina discovered that I was  still in the process of searching for a suitable home to provide a perfect environment to 

raise my baby. In her characteristic kindness, she generouslyproposed that I move in 

with her Initially, I hesitated to accept her offer, politely declining. However, Georgina’s 

persistence gradually wore down my resistance, and I eventually relented. The thought 

of continuing the search for the perfect apartment while juggling the demands of 

pregnancy and work felt overwhelmingly daunting. Thus, I made the decision to accept 

her offer, agreeing to live with her until my baby arrives. Following the birth, I intend to 

continue my search for accommodation. While savoring the newfound happiness and 

deepened connection with Georgina, an unforeseen tragedy struck. Following our usual 

post–work routine of heading home together, a deviation occurred. Instead of partaking 

in our customary sequence of retiring to our r respective rooms, taking individual 

showers, and subsequently sharing a meal Georgina insisted on engaging in a 

conversation. The somber tone with which she told me that we needed to talk made a 

dreaded feeling come over me. Seated together on the sofa, Georgina’s countenance 

bore an unusual distance and sadness in her e cyes. I couldn’t shake the feeling that 

something unseling was about to happen or be discussed. “Is everything okay?” I 

inquired. Taking her place beside me on the sofa, Georgina began with a reflective 

tone, I have observed your dedication to y your passion for it.” to your work, Lily, and 

witnessed Although accustomed to her words of encouragement and praise, an 

unfamiliar nuance in her acknowledgment raised my concern. “Did something happen?” 

Iprobed She gazed at me in silence for a moment, her expression heavy with 

contemplation, before exhaling deeply. “Can you please listen to me without 

interrupting?” she implored gently In reflex, I offered a quick apology, feeling a pang of 

guilt before nervously biting my lower lip. “As you already know, I don’t have any 

children, and my relationship with my late husband’s siblings and relatives is strained, 

she began, her voice carrying a weight of seriousness. “That’s why I need you to be 

present on theday my will is read I furrowed my brows in confusion. “Why are we 

discussing your will reading?” I blurted out, my anxiety rising at the unexpected turn of 

the conversation. Despite my instincts telling me to remain silent and let her speak, I 

couldn’t shake off the sense of foreboding that gripped me. Relaxing slightly, Georgina 

offered a sad smile. “I intend to leave the hospital to you, she revealed, her words hitting 

me like a thunderbolt. My eyes widened in shock as her revelation sank in. Tve 

observed and evaluated your capabilities, and I believe you’re the only one capable of 

managing the hospital effectively, preventing it from facing potential closure due to 

mismanagement in the coming months or years. “What are you talking about!” I 

interjected, still grappling with the confusion surrounding our conversation Georgina 

continued, undeterred by my interruption. “I considered Becky, but she recently opened 

her own clinic

. Besides, she lacks the depth of understanding of this company’s management thatyou 

possess, and—” Raising my hand, I halted her mid–sentence. “Hold on a minute” 

Georgina tilted her head, acknowledging my request. “Why are we having discussions 

about your will and me potentially taking over the hospital? I tried to suppress the lump 

that had formed in my throat, a wave of uncase washing over me. “Are you, dying?” The 

question hung in the air, my hope clinging to the possibility that she would dismiss it 

with laughter, but she didn’t. My fingers trembled as I pressed for darity. “What’s going on, Georgina “I’ve been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, she disclosed, her smile 

strained as she attempted to soften the impact of her revelation. Tears strained down 

my cheeks uncontrollably. “Please don’t cry, she gently chided, concern evident in her 

voice, “it’s not good for the baby.” “How can you ask nie not to cry when you’ve just told 

me you’re slowly dying?” I cried out, my words muffled by sobs that wracked my body. 

“Don’t make it out to be worse than it is,” she insisted, rising fromher seat to comfort 

me, a role reversal that felt surreal “I start treatment the day alter tomorrow.“. Her 

words, though filled with hope, struggled to penetrate the heaviness that settled over us. 

“This is just so unfortunate. Why is it that bad things always seem to happen to good 

people?” I muttered softly, feeling the se 11:29 AM Chapter ? pressing down on me as 

tears continued to roll down my cheeks unabated Turning to face Georgina, I pulled her 

into a tight, comforting embrace, hoping to convey evena fraction of the support and 

strength she needed in that moment. “Everything is going to be fine, I insisted, though 

deep down, I couldn’t shake the knowledge that treatment for stage IV lung cancer isn’t 

about curing the disease but rather managing symptoms and improving quality of life. 

“You’re going to fight this, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right by your side through 

it all As we parted from the embrace, Georgina’s hands gently cupped my tear–streaked 

cheeks, her touch both comforting and grounding. With a and sadness. “I’m truly 

grateful for your desire to stay close to me.” she began, her voice filled with warmth. “It 

speaks volumes about how much you care. However, I’d prefer if you stayed back and 

took care of the hospital business while I focus on the chemotherapy.” tender sweep of 

her million–dollar scarf, she wiped away my tears, her eyes reflecting a mix of appreciar 

forting and grounding. With a I sniffed back my tears. “Hospital business or not, I’m 

going to stay by your side until youfight this, I affirmed, the weight of my commitment 

seuling in the air between us For the first time since she shared the devastating news, I 

saw Georgina’s eyes well up with tears. I’m just grateful to have someone someone 

willing to stand by me not out of obligation, but out of genuine care,” she murmured, her 

voice trembling with emotion. like you, Seizing her hand, I lifted it gently and placed a 

tender ki*s upon her palm. “You’re an incredible woman with a heart of gold. How could 

anyone not love and care for you!” I expressed, captivated by the purity of her soul. Her 

confession caught me off guard. “My husband’s family,” she revealed with a sad smile, 

the weight of the past hurts evident in her words. They said I would die sad and alone 

for not giving my husband children.” My expression twisted into a disapproving frown. 

“How dare they say something so cruel? 1 hissed, incredulous. “How is it your fault that 

you couldn’t have children?” Georgina blinked at me, a hint of amusement in her eyes. 

“Actually, it was my fault that I tone. “I was on contraceptives, and when I couldn’t 

continue due to health issues. I opted to have my womb removed.” I couldn’t have 

children,” she revealed in a surprisingly calm any Curiosity gnawed at me, tempting me 

to inquireabout her decision, but I refrained, not wanting to appear judgmental in Taking 

a deep breath, Georgina leaned back, her gaze drifting to the portrait of her late 

husband on the wall. “He didn’t want a baby,” she continued, her voice tinged with a hint 

ofsorrow, I turned to look at the image of the deceased man, pondering the 

complexities of their past and the choices that had shaped their lives. “He was certain 

that he didn’t want any children and that our future wouldn’t include them, she added. Is 

thatwhat love really is about? Sacrificing your own desires to please the other person?” 

Memories of giving up my job and career aspirations for Ryan only to have him disregard my sacrifices flooded my mind. “One thing was certain though, Georgina 

interjected, her voice tinged with reflection, he did love me with every fiber of his being 

until his last breath.” 1 refrained from arguing the point, recognizing that it wasn’t the 

crux of the matter at hand. “When is your next doctor’s visit?” I inquired, already 

mentally preparing to clear my schedule at the hospital to accompany her. Whether she 

acknowledged it or not, she needed someone’s support and love during this challenging 

time. “The day after tomorrow, Georgina replied. “However, I’ve called for a board 

meeting tomorrow. I’m appointing you as the acting president until either Lovercome this 

or it overcomes me Concerned, I asked, “Do you think they’ll agree to me being the 

acting president of the hospital? Anxious about the potential challenges I might face. 

“They won’t have a choice” she assured me, her confidence unwavering. “I am the 

highest shareholder, and my word is law. Cupping my cheek, she added, “Don’t let them 

walk all over you. 

Chapter 8 

LILY 

(TWO MONTHS LATER) 

When the announcement ment came, declaring 

me e acting president, a few of the board members seemed rather discontent about the 

decision. Nonetheless. I adhered closely to Georgina’s counsel: maintaining a dignified 

stance and ensuring that nobody trampled over me. I convinced myself of the necessity 

to exert my utmost effort, driven by the belief that I needed to preserve the position for 

Georgina’s eventual return. Yet, deep down, a small voice within me whispered the 

truth: I was merely deluding myself. The medical prognosis for Georgina was grim, the 

doctors had given her a mere two months to live. Astonishingly, she hasmanaged to 

exceed that timeframe, but her current condition remains critical within the confines of 

the hospital walls. It’s as thought my life has become intertwined with the hospital’s 

routine–I find myself sleeping and awakening within its sterile confines. Even my 

appointments with the obstetrician happen within the same hospital premises, making 

things a bit easier for me. As the hands of the clock struck six in the evening, signaling 

the end of the workday, I shut down my laptop, swiftly retrieved mypurse and jacket. 

and briskly made my exit from the office building. Before heading to the hospital, a 

familiar craving stirred within me, prompting a brief pit stop at my favorite dining spot to 

procure dinner. After pulling into a parking space, I confidently strode towards the 

building’s entrance, Upon reaching the elevator, I pressed the button and patiently 

awaited its arrival, Stepping inside, I selected the floor where Georgina was currently 

admitted, mentally preparing myself for the emotional rollercoaster that awaited me. 

Upon arriving at her designated floor, my heart skipped a beat as I caught sight of two 

burly figures stationed outside Georgina’s room, their presence strikingly unusual with 

the usual hospital security. Surveying the scene, I couldn’t shake off the unsettling 

feeling gnawing at my insides. Gathering my courage, I approached the imposing 

figures, my gaze fixed on the bald man who seemed to exude an aura of authority. 

“What’s going on here? And who exactly are you!” A pregnant pause ensued as they met my inquiry with an unsettling silence, their eyes betraying 

so hint of explanation. Suppressing the rising tide of frustration, a surge of protective 

instinct washed over me, prompting me to exercise caution for the sake of my unborn

child’s well–being. Frustration clenched my fist, but I remained composed, attempting to 

walk past them into the room. Yet, they obstructed my path, extending their hands to 

block my entry I shot a disdainful glare at their obstructing hands, feeling my irritation 

surge. “What on earth is the meaning of this absolute nonsense?” Just as the door to 

Georgina’s ward swung open, out stepped an older woman accompanied by a younger 

man. Her piercing gaze bore into me with a mix of disdain and contempt. “It meansyou 

are no longer granted access to Georgina’s room,” she declared, her tone dripping with 

finality. Victoria Georgina had painstakingly drilled into me the names of her husband’s 

relatives, cautioning me about potential threats. Clutching the strap of mypurse with 

increasing intensity, I met Victoria’s steely gaze with a mask of stoicism. “Your crazy 

behavior doesn’t come as a shock, but I never imagined you’d bring it to a hospital 

environment. “What?” Victoria scoffed, her incredulity written on her face. “Did you just 

insult me?” Her son, standing protectively by her side, took a menacing step forward. 

“Insult my mother again and you’ll soon regret it.” he spat, his voice dripping with 

malice. Shifting my attention from Victoria to her son, I addressedhim with a calm yet 

firm demeanor. “It appears you’ve taken a wrong turn, bringing your mother to this 

particular ward. If memory serves me right, the psychiatric floor is typically situated on 

the last floor,” I pointed out, my voice devoid of any discernible emotion The young man 

took a step towards me but his m mother grabbed his arm, stopping him. “don’t hit a 

pregnant woman, I raised you better than that.” Feeling a headache growing, I sighed. 

“why exactly are you stopping me from entering Georgina’s ward?” I had a long day at 

the hospital and I do not have the strength to banter with anyone. “Georgina is in a 

vulnerable state right now, and we do not want who isn’t family around her to avoid 

manipulating her into doing things to my advantage I know what this is about. “Are you 

scared that she is going to hand the hospital over to and blood of Georgina and her 

husband. er to me?” I mean this isn’t e even a family buuness, it is s, it is the arm 

certain that your name won’t even be on the list because you are not family.” She stated 

with a sly smile. “The manner with which you behave now will determine if we will let 

you continue working in the hospital after her demise.” I 

wondered why people tend to be selfish. “You call yourself family yet none of you 

showed up all these months.” It was as if they were waiting for her to be on the brink of 

death before showing up. “I don’t have time for this Victoria, step aside,” She chuckled. 

Just leave. Lily, you do not have any reason tobe here.” She turned to the security 

men. “make sure she doesn’t make it past this This is crazy. “what did you do with 

Georgina’s security?” She blinked slowly at me. “I fired them.” My eyes widened with 

shock. “What did you just say?” I blurted out and she shrugged aloolly, “what gave you 

the right to fire them?” “My brother hired them and I love the right to fire them since he is 

no longer alive to do that” Glaring at me one last time, she grabbed her son’s hand and 

pulled him towards the elevator. She halted abruptly, her back still facing me. “Start 

looking for a new place. That house will be placed for sale after her funeral. “She is not 

even dead!” I yelled at her, “at least have some respect for her you old haggard bitch!” hospital once he assumes his position” “Position of what?” does this dude even know 

what it takes to run an establishment! “What do you think? He is going to be the new 

president of course.” Throwing a sudden laughter again, she walked into the elevator 

with her son. Returning my attention to the bodyguards, I bounced my eyes from one to 

the other. “you aren’t going to really stop me from seeing her right?” They remained 

mute, ignoring me as though I wasn’t even standing there. I tried to take another step 

but they blocked my path again. My fingers tingled as the urge to slap them coursed 

through my veins. I was ready toattempt going in again when the slight pain I had been 

feeling in my back became sharper. I bent out of reflex, my hand grabbing theirs for 

help. “Are you okay Ma’am?” one of them asked but I was still engrossed in the pain, 

waiting for the wave to pass before answering them, but it didn’t stop any time soon. 

“Should we take you to the doctor?” As the pain subsided, I gradually stood erect and 

took a deep breath. “Just let me see her please.” “I am sorry ma’am, but we can’t do 

that. We are working under order and we can’t go against it.” I was about to respond 

when another pain hit me. Wincing. I placed my hand on my waist. Maybe I should go 

my doctor. I was about to take a step forward when wet liquid rolled down my legs. I 

stared down at the wet puddle onthe floor with wide eyes “My water just broke.” I 

mumbled. Both men rushed to me and grabbed my arm. “Do you want to see the doctor 

here or should we take you to your doctor?” “My doctor works here, I informed them. 

They helped me into the elevator and tothe second floor. The same night, I gave birth 

to my little boy, and that was the same night that I lost Georgina.

Chapter 9 

LILY 

When Georgina died, all of those who claimed that they are her family 

did not even bother to lay her to rest. I hadto wait for Becky to come down co Canada 

before I requested the body for funeral, however, I was told that I was have to get 

permission from her family before her body is eleased to me. took Becky with me, went 

to Victoria’s house and knelt down before her, pleading that she let me have the body. 

She was clearly delighted to have ne kneeling before her, but at the end of the dy, she 

gave me a pass to take the body from the morgue. Although I was typically 

embarrassed to kneel before her, but I have to do what I have to do to give Georgina 

the respect she deserve. We laid Georgina to rest beside her husband, just as she had 

requested while she was still with us. Standing by her grave, I couldn’t help but ponder 

now our joyful moments had culminated in this somber occasion. Are you alright?” 

Becky’s concerned voice broke through my thoughts. Tearing my gaze away from the 

freshly turned earth. I managed a nod before turning and making my way back to the 

car. ONE WEEK LATER After dropping Becky off at the airport, I noticed a car parked 

outside the gates as I returned home. Instructing the security team to adhere strictly o 

my directives, I emphasized the importance of not granting access to anyone without 

my explicit consent, It wasn’t about asserting ownership of The property, but rather an 

acknowledgment of the complexities and greed within Georgina’s family. Stepping down 

from the car, I made my way toward the familiar figure of Mr. Kelvin, Georgina’s legal 

representative. “Mr. Kelvin?” I greeted him, a sense of curiosity mingled with concern in my voice. “What brings you to this place? Is everything in order?” Mr. Kelvin met my 

gaze with a slightly quizzical expression. “Were you not informed?” he inquired, his tone 

laced with a hint of surprise Perplexed. I raised an eyebrow. “Informed! I must admit, I 

seem to have missed something. What exactly should I have been informed about?” I 

asked, trying to make sense of the situation. The reading of Georgina’s will,” he 

explained patiently. “I had instructed the restof the family to ensure you were notified. 

Did they not reach out to you?” A wave of realization washed over me, coupled with a 

touch of bittemess. “No one thought to inform me about any will reading.” I replied with a 

sigh, feeling a pang of disappointment. Glancing at my wristwatch, I couldn’t help but 

furrow my brow in frustration. “I should be attending to my sons needs right now. Can 

you tell me when exactly this reading was scheduled to take place?” Two hours ago. Mr. 

Kelvin reiterated, his gaze briefly meeting mine as he checked his watch. “I’ve 

rescheduled the meeting for five pm.” His professional demeanor remained steadfast as 

he emphasized the importance of my attendance. Please ensure you’re present. Mrs. 

Georgina expressly instructed me not to proceed with the will reading if you’re not 

there.” Absolutely, I’ll be there, I affirmed, recognizing the gravity vity of the situation. 

tering my own vehicle and driving With a diplomatic smile, Mr. Kelvin bid farewell and 

made his way to his car

. I watched his departure before entering soward the family compound. Dressed entirely 

in mourning black, I took the time to pump sufficient breast milk for Liam, Ethan, and 

Noah, anticipating a lengthy gathering at the family house. With a keen awareness that 

not everyone within those walls harbored goodwill towards me, I saw no need for 

unnecessary niceties. Choosing black stilettos to complement my attire, I ensured every 

aspect of my appearance, even down to my once–ginger hair, now dyed black, 

resonated with the solemnity of the occasion. Parking my car in the garage, I stepped 

out and made my way into the house. The butler greeted me and directed me to where 

the rest of the family had gathered Entering the home office, I was met with 

disapproving glances fromeveryone except the lawyer. Ignoring the tension in the air, I 

took a seat and crossed my legs with an air of nonchalance. “You’re late,” Victoria 

admonished, her tone sharp with disapproval. “Don’t you understand the importance o 

ckders?” of punctuality and respect for your “I apologize.” I responded, though the 

sentiment didn’t truly resonate within me. “As a lactating mother. I have to prioritize my 

baby’s needs and contend with traffic.” “Is that supposed to excuse your tardiness? 

Victoria Interjected,her tone dripping with skepticism. “Do you think we don’t have 

responsibilities as 11:30 AM Chapter 9 “Seeing as you are all here, ready to take 

someone’s properties with no care in the world says as much.” I fired back calmly. 

Before she could respond, Kelvin beat her to it. “Since everyone is present, let’s 

commence with the reading. Kelvin interjected, effectively halting Victoria’s impending 

remarks. He produced a large brown envelope. sealed with Georgina’s unmistakable 

emblem. “Contained within is the untampered will of the late Mrs. Georgina Harrison” 

Passing the envelope to the person beside him, he instructed, “Please confirm that the 

seal remains intact and then pass it along for further verification” The will made its 

rounds until it reached Victoria’s son, who clutched it tightly, his gaze fixed on me with 

unmistakable hostility. Suppressing a smile at his overtly dramatic display, I couldn’t 

help but find his behavior rather amusing Interrupting the tension, Kelvin cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the silent room. “Please pass the will to her, she is a 

vital part of this process and deserves inclusion” As the will landed on the table before 

me, I reached out and picked it up, verifying that the seal remained intact before 

returning it to Kelvin. With practiced efficiency, he retrieved a pen from his pocket, 

swiftly tearing open the seal and withdrawing the contents. “1. Georgina Harrison of 

Canada, declare this to be my last will and testament, nullifying all previous documents, 

the words echoed through the room as Kelvin began reading aloud. “I hereby appoint 

Mr. Kelvin Sawman as my executor. He shall settle my debts and funeral expenses 

without delay” The tension in the room palpably heightened as the anticipation grew. “I 

bequeath the following specific items to the individuals soon to be named as 

beneficiaries” As Kelvin’s voice continued, the air grew heavy with anticipation. “All 

properties acquired through my husband’s and my efforts, including the hospital and 

estate, I bequeathto Ms. Lily Bernard.” Gasps erupted, spreading like wildfire through 

the room, evolving into murmurs that crescendoed into curses directed squarely at me. 

“She’s not even family!” the outburst reverberated through the room, punctuated by 

accusations questioning Georgina’s decision. Victoria’s directed at me was 

unmistakable. “How do we know she didn’t manipulate her into changing her will when 

she was sick and her judgment clouded?” she insinuated, casting doubt on the integrity 

of Georgina’s final wishes sneer I couldn’t help but scoff in response. Then perhaps you 

should have been by her side when she was sick and dying to prevent me from 

whispering those words in her ear. The hypocrisy of everyone in the room, except for 

the lawyer, was glaringly evidentto me. Kelvin, ever the voice of reason, cleared his 

throat, his tone commanding attention amidst the chaos. “Can we please keep the noise 

down?” he requested, patiently waiting for the tumult to subside before continuing. “To 

Lily’s unborn child, I give the house in which she is currently residing. Despite Kelvin’s 

attempt to restore order, murmurs persisted, but he remained undeterred, focused on 

fulfilling and chaos in the room. ulfilling Georgina’s wishes despite the noise “To 

Genevieve, I bequeath thefamily company, with the stipulation that it remains within the 

family. To the rest of the family, I leave the estate, Kelvin declared, his voice carrying 

the weight of legal authority as he presented Georgina’s words, complete with her 

signature. “These words are legally binding, and anyone who challenges them without 

due process will face the consequences of the law.” With that, he returned the 

document to its envelope, sealing it once more and tucking it away. His departure 

signaled the conclusion of the reading, leaving a tense atmosphere lingering in his 

wake. As Kelvin exited the room, I saw no reason to linger. Rising from my se seat, I 

retrieved my purse, ready to leave. “This isn’t over, Victoria’s voice cut through the 

silence, her words dripping g with venom. “I won’t let you have that hospital.” Tilting my 

head, 1 regarded Victoria with an air of detachment. “It’s already settled, Victoria. The 

hospital belongs to me, and there’s nothing can do to change thuat With those final 

words, I grabbed mypurse and exited the house, leaving behind the crazy family and 

their goddamn house.

Chapter 10 

LILY 

(FIVE YEARS LATER) 

Becky recently welcomed another precious baby 

into the world, and I’m excited to fly down to New York to visit her and the newest 

member of family. What’s even more special is that Becky has chosenme to be the 

baby’s godmother, so naturally, I must be in New York to fulfill this important role It’s 

been five years since I last set foot in New York, and as I prepare for this trip, I find 

myself contemplating the possibility of running into Ryan my ex–husband. Unlike some 

divorced individuals who might dread such encounters, I approach the situation with a 

sense of acceptance. Whatever happens, I believe it’s meant to be. However, I am 

determined to keep my sons away from him during our time in the city When I learned 

that I was expecting triplets, the scan results revealed the joyful news. While I didn’t 

anticipate that they would all be boys, their gender didn’t matter to me. All I ever wished 

and prayed for were healthy babies, and I am immensely grateful that my prayers were 

answered. “Mummy” Ethan’s sweet voice called out, interrupting my thoughts. Blinking 

slowly, I redirected my gaze to him and offered a warm smile. He pointed eagerly our 

the window and pleaded, “Can I have ice cream, please?” “Of course, sweethean, we’ll 

get some later,” I assured him, gently cupping his cheek and planting a noisy ki*s on it. 

Meanwhile, Noah, who had been peacefully sleeping on my thigh, stirred slightly but 

quickly settled back into his slumber. Liam, the cheekyand occasionally impertinent 

one, playfully slapped his own head in an exaggerated manner. “Why does he always 

fall asleep. whenever we’re traveling?” he questioned, staring at Noah as if he had 

committed some preposterous act. Before I could respond, Ethan chimed in with his 

wisdom, beating me to the explanation. That’s because he’s tired,” he said matter–of–

factly, “wh you’re tired, you just fall asleep. The simplicity of his explanation drew a 

chuckle from me Liam shot a sharp look at Ethan. “And you believe none of us are 

tired?” he retorted, crossing his tiny arms and fixing his gaze firmly on his brothe “Do 

you see any of us sleeping?” Their bickering was nothing new, it seemed to be a regular 

occurrence, a reflection of the stubbornness and hot–headedness they inherited from 

Ryan. Liam and Ethan were certainly cut from the same cloth in that regard. In contrast, 

Noah remained the calm and collected one, rarely engaging in arguments and 

preferring the simple pleasures of eating and sleeping over quarrels with his brothers As 

they continued to argue, I found myself caught between exhaustion and the funility of 

trying to intervene. Their spirited debates could go on f ages, and trying to divert their 

attention away from the topic at hand seemed like a Herculean task. So, for now, I 

decided to

let them hash it out amongst themselves, hoping that perhaps they would tire 

themselves out before too long. Gently running my fingers through Noah’s soft hair, I 

shifted my gaze to the window, immersing myself in thecomforting familiarity of views 

unseen for years. Despite the potential discontent it might stir in Liam and Noah, I made 

a deliberate choice to abstain from any sightseeing adventures. The primary motivation 

was to avoid the possibility of running into Ryan or anyone with connections to him, 

shielding my sons from inadvertent encounters that could stir up unwelcome emotions. 

The car car smoothly glided to a halt in front of Becky’s residence, and as we 

disembarked, Ethan’s eager footsteps carried him ahead towards the welcoming haven. Meanwhile, Liam chose to stand steadfastly by my side, With the door swinging open, 

the air was filled with Becky’s infectious joy. She greeted us –us with in a warm hug. 

Mindful of Noah’s peaceful slumber on my shoulder, the embrace held a gentle 

restraint. Heckoning us inside, her staff assisted with an exuberant squeal, rushing 

forward to envelop me the suitcases. Becky’s arms reached out to lift Liam, but he 

instinctively recoiled, evading her wellintentioned gesture. I couldn’t help but chuckle at 

Becky’s puzzled expression. “He really isn’t one for all the fuss, I explained, offering a 

knowing smile. “You might have better luck with Noah and Ethan“. “Ah, noted,” Becky 

responded with a smile of understanding. “Come along, let me guide you to where he 

can rest Following Becky’s lead, we made our way to the room designated for the three 

boys. As I settled onto the bed. Becky excused herself, tending to the needs of her own 

newbom Seated beside me, Liam emitted a low grumble, barely audible yet enough to 

capture my attention. I turned to him, prompting him to repeat himself. What did you 

say, sweetheart!” He met my eyes with a mischievous glint and chuckled, revealing his 

charming left dimple. “I said ours is better.” Perplexed by Liam’s assertion, I inched 

closer to his side, a warm smile playing on my lips as I attempted to decode his cryptic 

declaration. “Could you help me understand what you mean by “better?” Without a hint 

of jest, Liam delivered his verdict with deadpan seriousness. “Our house” Suppressing a 

burgeoning chuckle. I respected it of his attempt at a serious 

conversation, knowing his aversion to laughter during such moments. “David raved 

about the vastness of this place. leading me to believe it might surpass our own.” 

Cupping his cheek tenderly, I aimed for a reassuring ki*s, yet he tactfully evaded the 

affectionate gesture. “Size isn’t the measure of a home, Liam What truly matters is that, 

each day, you have a place to sleep and wake up surrounded by your family” His 

response, characterized by a playful crinkle of the nose, found him sprawled out on the 

bed. “Ours still holds the title for size, he declared, touch of playful defiance lingering in 

the air. “Perhaps a bath will help lighten the mood and resolve the house issue‘ with 

David, I proposed to Liam, knowing full well his unwavering stance, He nodded in 

agreement, bounding off the bed and eagerly taking my hand as we made our way to 

the bathroom. I swiftly gave him a bath, allowing him to change into his nightwear 

before setting off to find David, Becky’s eldest child. After tending to Ethan in a similar 

fashion, I took a quick bath myself, leaving the door slightly ajar for Noah in case he 

stirred from his slumber. Satisfied that I was presentable enough to hold a newborn, I 

ventured in search of Becky and her bundle of joy. Entering the baby’s room, I sanitized 

my hands before gently reaching for the precious infant. “She’s absolutely beautiful,” I 

cooed, admiring the delicate features of the newborn. “Aurora suits her perfectly.” “I 

completely agree. Becky remarked, her gaze fixed adoringly on her newborn. “Mason 

and I feel incredibly blessed to have such a beautiful addition to our family. Amidst the 

shared moments of cooing and admiration for the newest member of the family, a staff 

member discreetly interrupted to announce that dinner was ready. Becky, with the grace 

of a new mother, attended to her baby’s needs before joining the rest of the family for 

the evening meal. While Beckyfocused on the baby. I retreated to my room to handle 

some hospital–related calls. Tomorrow’s surgery, initially my responsibility. had been 

entrusted to a skilled doctor from India. My call to verify his check–in at the reserved 

hotel room reassured me of the seamless arrangements. With the assurance that 

everything was in order, I descended the stairs, ready to reunite with the rest of the family and share in the joy of a meal together. Upon entering the dining room, I was 

taken aback to find Mason already seated. “Hey,” I greeted warmly, moving in for a hug. 

“When did you get back! You weren’t here when I arrived.” “Just a few minutes ago, 

Mason replied, pulling out a chair for David and then one for Liam and Ethan. “How was 

your flight here?” “Smooth,” I answered, taking my seat. Although Noah didn’t seem to 

enjoy it much, hence why he’s still fast asleep. Mason chuckled in understanding as we 

engaged in light conversation over dinner, spanning topics from politics to business. 

The evening progressed smoothly until Liam broached a rather unexpected and 

sensitive question. “Mum,” he began, a slight furrow creasing his brow. “Yes, love, 

what’s on your mind?” I responded, attentive to his demeanor. Liam’s question hung in 

the air, laden with a weightiness that belied his tender years. “How come David has a 

dad and I don’t?”

Chapter 11 

LILY I felt a sense of relief witnessing Mason’s ability to provide a 

response to Liam’s question, a rare occurrence given that my sons seldom seek their 

father’s presence. I’ve been devotedly filling every emotional void in their hearts, 

inadvertently leaving no space for him. This unexpected inquiry from Mason cnight me 

off–guard, exposing a gap I hadn’t known existed, A gentle breeze brushed against me 

as I leisurely ambled down the street, holding an ice cream cone. Becky insisted I carve 

out time for myself. urging me to enjoy a carefree stroll without the constant worry about 

my kids. She perceives my life as stress–laden, woven around their needs, suggesting 

that in their absence, I feel somewhat lost and uncertain about how to live and what to 

do with my existence. Undeniably, she speaks the truil. My sons currently constitute the 

very essence of my existence, and envisioning a life devoid of their presence renders 

me adrift in uncertainty, Abruptly halting in the midst of the walkway, a sudden 

realization compelled me to turn on my heels, intending to retreat to the house because 

this wasn’t working. My mind keeps going back to them, so there is no need to try to 

spend some time alone. Just as I poised to retreat, my attention was arrested by a sleek 

black car parked along the roadside, triggering unwelcome recollections. The vehicle 

stirred memories of someone I’d rather keep at bay. In an almost ironic twist, the car 

door swing open, and to my displeasure, one of the individuals I harbored disdain for 

emerged. Stephenie, wearing a smile that seemed forced, stepped out with a greeting. 

“I thought that was you,” she remarked, approaching me with an aura of familiarity that I 

would rather avoid. Unwilling to feign civility for the sake of onlookers, I attempted to 

walk away, but Stephenie intercepted my escape by swiftly seizing my hand, causing an 

immediate tensing of my entire body. “Let me go, I hissed, forcefully wrenching my hand 

from her grip with obvious frustration. Undeterred, she circled around to stand directly in 

front of me, raising her hand in a mock gesture of surrender. “I am sorry if I offended 

you,” she lied again, her words wrapped in a thin veil of insincerity, “that wasn’t my 

intention.” Realizing that she wouldn’t relent unni she has said what she wants to say, I 

confronted her with an exasperated tone, “What do you want, Stephenie?” Maintaining 

her disingenuous smile, she casually shrugged. “Nothing serious,” she replied, taking an 

audacious step closer. “Having spotted you from my car, I simply wished to extend a 

casual greeting. How have you been? Do you need a ride!” Her persistent smile 

seemed to taunt me, intensifying my internal struggle to resist the urge to wipe it off her 

face. In response to the offer of a ride, a scoff escaped my lips as I candidly remarked, 

“Let’s do away with the illusion of friendship. Stephenie. The truth is, you and I share no 

fondness for each other, so kindly remove yourself from my personal space.” 

Undeterred by my straightforwardness, she questioned, “Why can’t we be friends? Is it 

because of Ryan?” Folding my arms. I met her gaze with a stoic aloofness. Undaunted, 

she continued, “Don’t harbor resentment because I reclaimed him from your grasp. 

From a technical standpoint. I merely retrieved what you had taken from me. He was 

initially mine, and following a minor disagreement, you entered the picture. I returned 

only to reclaim what rightfully belonged to me.” Upon reflection. I acknowledged my 

mistake in getting entangled with him so soonafter his heartbreak with Stephanie. It 

dawned on me that I should have allowed him the space to grapple with his pain and go through the healing process independently. The more I scrutinized the past, the more I 

convinced myself that, in essence, I was merely a rebound in his journey to overcome 

the residual pain and heartbreak of his previous relationship. As my eyes leisurely 

trailed the contours of Stephenie’s form, my gaze lingered momentarily on her finger, 

and with a tone of mocking amusement, I vocalized a pointed observation, “No ring yet! 

It’s been, what, almost six years, and there’s still no glimmer of commitment from him to 

you?” In a reflexive response, Stephenie lifted her finger, studying it with a hint of 

defensive scrutiny. “Don’t entertain the notion that my finger lacks a ring because Ryan 

hasn’t presented one,” she retorted, adding a subtle lick to her lip. With a gesture, she 

extended her hand, fixating on her fingers. and candidly declared, “This is by choice; I 

made it clear to him that I harbor no desire for marriage. She is lying. Her eyes say it all. 

I have gotten a lot better at reading people’s emotions after dealing with Georgina’s in–

laws. Shaking my head in amusement. I took a step towards. “I have two theorics going 

on in my head, and I think it is either of the two or both” Stephanie’s features contorted 

into a frown as she questioned, “What are you talking about?” Ryan, and I maintained a 

composed demeanor, explaining further. “You haven’t crossed paths with me or 

witnessed my life since the divorce from suddenly, my reappearance has stirred unease 

within you. It’s as if you fear I might disrupt whatever you have going on with Ryan. The 

second theory is you’ve spent six years with him and have yet to secure a proposal 

Now, you’re curious about how I managed to ger a ring within just onse year. So, which 

one is it?” Anxiety crept into response as as she stammered, “You’ve lost your mind,”  Taking a moment to observe her, I couldn’t help but burst into 

laughter, throwing my head back. “Are you kidding me right now? The answer is both, 

isn’t it? You’re here for both reasons, 1 declared with a knowing smirk. Despite her 

feigned indifference, Stephanie’s attempt to dip her hands into her jacket betrayed 

woeful failure to conceal the unease that my observations had stirred within her. “I am 

living a perfect life with Ryan,” she insisted, but the tone in her voice carried an 

undertone of defensiveness, resembling more of an argument than a confident 

proclamation. “Everything I desire is at my beck and call, unlike someone I know who 

seems to be wallowing in poverty, trekking down the streets due to an apparent inability 

to afford a taxi fare.” Her accusation of financial hardship triggered an unexpected 

response from me. My head involuntarily tilted backward as laughter, genuine and 

unrestrained, echoed through the air. “Wallowing in poverty just because you saw me 

walking down the streets? I responded incredulously, finding the absurdity of her 

assumption too amusing to ignore. It dawned on me that she might be oblivious to my 

profession. “Feel free to harbor whatever thoughts you want, but never again halt me to 

subject me to your baseless judgments,” I declared firmly, refusing to allow her attempts 

at belittlement tosway my sense of self–worth. The blaring honk of a car diverted both 

our attention, and as the window rolled down, Mason’s voice resonated from inside. 

“What’s going on?” In an attempt to glean more clarity on what was really going on, he 

emerged from thecar and approached us, coming to a halt right beside me with a 

protective hand dr@ped across my shoulder. “Is everything alright here?” Stephanie’s 

smile widened as she spoke, “For a moment, I thought he was your man, but then I 

realized he looked very familiar. Shifting her focus to Mason, she continued, “Aren’t you 

that man who was always with that woman who thought it was okay to harass me every 

time our paths crossed? The revelation left me both confused and curious about what she meant. Iturned to Mason, raising a quizzical brow. It had never been disclosed to 

me that Becky had been fighting for me here in New York. Stephanie pressed on with 

her assumptions, asserting, I get it now. They are your friends, right? You sent them 

after me, didn’t you?” |||Scoffing, I replied, “Looking back, I wish I had. Come on, 

Mason, let’s go.” With that, he steered me towards the waiting car, skillfully opening the 

door for me before rushing to secure the driver’s seat. As we drove away, Stephanie 

lingered by the walkway, her gaze tracking our departure. I was certain about 

something, she wasn’t likely to disclose our encounter to Ryan. It appeared she 

perceived me as a potential threat to whatever that was going on between them. I wish I 

could say I wish them the best of happiness, but that is far from the truth.

Chapter 12 

RYAN Walking into the reception hall with Stephanie standing next to me, 

her hand hooked on mine. One lovely thing about having Stephanie hooked on my arm 

during every event is that she always knows how to dress for the occasion; she knows 

how to dress to kill. The ushers of the event approached me with a diplomatic smile. 

“Welcome, Mr. Williams.” She greeted, “Your table isthis way.” Allowing her to lead the 

way, we headed for the table in front, I did not expect anything less than eloquence at 

this wedding, so I am not surprised at the amount of money that was splashed here. 

The only son of one of the biggest banks in America is getting married, of course, it is 

going to speak nothing but money and class. Joining the rest of my family, I sat down, 

allowing my security pull out the seat for Stephanie. My mum and sister acknowledged 

me with a smile then moved their attention back to the couple who were having a 

moment on the stage. “How did the meeting go?” Dad asked me. I am certain he is 

bored of this event as Lam. “Horrific.” I replied, “those bastards are nothing but barbaric. 

Reaching for the champagne flute, I took a sip, trying my best not to let my mind wander 

to the meeting 1 literally walked out on before coming for this wedding. “You should 

have been in that meeting. Why weren’t you there?” I asked. “It was literally me against 

those fools.” Father frowned, “Don’t call them names in public.” he chastised strongly. 

“they may be getting on your nerves, but they are still our shareholders.” Mum cleared 

her throat. “Can you both discuss business later?” she asked, moving her gaze between 

us. “this is a wedding reception, the last place you should be discussing business” “And 

that is why you do not have a seat on the board,” I mumbled, sipping more champagne. 

Mum’s eyes narrowed “what is that supposed to mean?” “It means that business should 

and can be discussed anywhere, as long as the need for it arises.” Dad answered on 

my behalf. “your inability to see and understand that is the reason you do not have a 

seat on the board.” “And your inability to have a baby and a stable life is the reason you 

are about to get kicked off your seat as the chairman of the company Mum retorted, her 

spite directed at me. I guess my words angered her. “Mum, please, do not start.” The 

thought of it alone is making me lose my mind. “the fact that they think like that irritates 

me?” This heaven’s sake, who thinks like that? is 2024 for Folding her hands, she 

glared at me. “I shouldn’t start what?” She shapped, “The fact that not just the board, 

but I also need a grandchild from you Stephanie who had become uncomfortable with the conversation wriggled in her seat before reaching for her wine. Her movement drew 

Mum’s attention. You have been separated “The fact that she is drinking alcohol right 

now proves that she is not pregnant yet!” Muny snapped. “what is going on son? Y from 

your wife for six years, and dated Stephine for that same six years, yet no baby, no 

wedding plans.” Truth be told, we have been trying for a baby ever since the board was 

on my neck a year ago, and yet, nothing to show. We went for several tests and they 

told us that we were perfectly fine. As for marriage, I do not want to get into a marriage 

with Stephinie; it is almost as if the more I spend time with her, the more I compare her 

to Lily, and the more that happens, the more I miss my ex–wife and the more I miss my 

ex–wife, the more I feel less euthanistic to wife Stephinic “How about you try marriage?” 

Father suggested, “It is still stability from your end, which is what I think the board 

needs. They don’t care if you have kids or not, they just want you to have responsibility 

over something and see how you handle it.” “Stephanie is a good girl” Mum suggested, 

“Getting married to her will be a great blessing to this family,” As if to rub on my 

mother’s statement, Stephanie placed her hand in mine and squeezed gently. Glancing 

down at her hand, I stared at her ring finger for the longest time but couldn’t just picture 

my ring resting on it. “I will give you a baby, I promise.” A friend of mine recommended a 

fertility specialist in Canada, and he claims that she will figure out what’s stopping us 

from having kids; I just have to free up my schedule, but the issue here is that my 

schedule for six months is already fixed, and it is tight as whatever shit you can imagine. 

why I hate gatherings Sensing someone’s gaze on me, I looked up and found Stephanie 

staring at me. I held her gaze until she looked away. This is wh that involve my mother, 

she always brings up marriage talk and in the end Stephanie gets disappointed. “How 

long did the board give you?” Dad asked, returning to the conversation I’d rather not 

have “At least a pregnancy news before the year runs out. I muttered bitterly. “it’s not as 

if they have the power to kick me out of that seal

Dad shook his head. “Don’t be so sure Ryan, you may be the highestshareholder, but it 

is nothing compared to all their shares together.” He reached for water, intentionally 

leaving out the alcohol. “If they are serious about kicking you out, they will” “Can we 

stop the conversation already?” Lora, my sister who is on husband number eight 

sighed. I glared at her in response, Getting married isn’t a big deal to her. All over the 

internet, she is called the collector of wealth because she fall in love with her, sets him 

up for cheating, divorces him, and in some cases leaves with half of his company. gets 

a man My parents consider her the black sheep of the family, but I consider her as 

someone seeking attention. She didn’t get quite enough as a chik ******* The rest of the 

party was tiring for me. I was more than ecstatic when the toast was made. After that, I 

made my way to the couple said my congratulations, and left. On the ride back home, I 

noticed that Stephanie was a bit distant. “Are you okay?” I asked her, drawing her 

attention from the window. “You’ve been like thisfor two days. Is it about the baby?” 

Biting her lips, she stared down at her hands. “I can’t believe I am about to make you 

lose your seat as the chairman just because I failed to give you a child“: Reaching 

forward. I took her hand in mine. “Don’t let those fools bother you, this isn’t your fault in 

any way.” “if I can’t give you a baby, then let’s get married. She suggested. “you heard 

your father, that can secure your seat too. Shaking my head, 1 refuted the idea, letting 

go of her hand and relaxing back. “Don’t let anyone pressure you into getting married to me.” “No one is pressuring me into getting married to you” she asserted. Sighing, I 

looked our the window. Then do not pressurize me into getting married to you.

Chapter 13 

LILY I had planned to stay at Becky’s for the weekend, but an emergency 

came up at the hospital that I couldn’t just ignore, which was why I had to cancel my 

plans and get back to Canada, and I’m glad I made that decision because I was able to 

save that young man. He was shot and it went his lungs. They were able to keep him 

alive with an oxygen mask before I got there, and luckily I was there on time because if I 

was a day late, he wouldn’t have made it.” I had just finished another major and was on 

my way to my office when a young man approached mewith a gentle smile. “Hello 

doctor.” Dressed in a black shirt with few buttons unbuttoned, a rolled up sleeve and 

black pants. Basically, he is dressed in an all black attire. Mirroring his smile, I dipped 

my hand into my scrub pocket. “Hello, how may I help you?” “The young man who 

caught a bullet in his lungs and you saved him is my cousin.” He pointed out, “I just 

wanted to thank you for trying your best on him, “I was only doing my job. I asserted, 

“And your brother is a lucky soul, some would have died at the spot, but he held om till 

he made it to the hospital. He licked his lips almost shyly. “I know you were doing your 

job, but I’d like to thank you? He flashed me a dimpled smile. “How about I take you to 

dinner.” “That’s not going to work.” I responded, already ruling it out in my mind. “Having 

dinner or personal meeting with a patients family isn’t something I do.” “And you won’t 

make an exemption for me?” He asked, his eyes searching my face. I’m not going to lie, 

he is a handsome guy, and I wouldhave said yes to having dinner with him Had we met 

in a different scenario. “No exemption for you.” Nodding, he took a step back, clearly 

respecting my decision and backing away. “To be sincere, I didn’t come here with the 

intention of asking you out for dinner, I just wanted to thank you, but I got blinded with 

your beauty bar I decided to ask you out. Not sure how to respond to his statement, I 

simply blinked at him. “Anyways, my name is Jake and I hope we get to meet each 

other outside this hospital Oneday” He winked at me before walking away, I must say, 

he has this charm that seemed resistible. If I didn’t have an ego as big as my head, I 

would have ran after him and confess that I’m regretting saying no to him. Sighing, I 

walked into my office and closed the door behind me. ONE WEEK LATER It was my 

day off and since the boys are still in school, I decided Treat myself a very good lunch, 

Dressing , I picked up the key for the Lamborghini, a car 1 don’t get to drive often 

thanks to Noah, Liam and Ethan,and drove off to my destination. Jake smiled at at me. 

“Hello” Yeah, I still remember his name because his face isn’t One that you can easily 

forget “Hello.” Carefully dropping my glass, I stared at him, “What a surprise 1 never 

thought I’ll see him again. “A pleasant one,” he mused with a smile as he jerked his head towards the empty chair. “Can I sit?” And he is a gentleman. “Please do My lunch 

arrived juss on time and he requested the his plate be transferred to my table. “You 

didn’t come around at the hospital to see your Cousin anymore.” He smirked. “I see you 

noticed. The waitress dropped his plate on the table and he mumbled appreciation 

before continuing. “I had to travel for a business meeting which was why I didn’t visit 

him for sometime.” “It’s fine” I replied, “You don’t have to explain yourself to ine, and 

while we’re at it, your cousin is making good recovery  “I don’t 

have to explain myself to you,” he stated in a calm voice, “but I want to, I chose to With 

the way he isn’t making a comment about his cousin’s health, 1 guess they aren’t as 

close as I thought they are, We talked about random things, and I have to say, it was 

very easy to make a conversation with him. We talked about general things, we both 

purposely keeping our private lives out of the

topic. I guess we both understood that we aren’t even close enough to brooch that topic. 

At the end of the lunch, I reached to pay but he beat me to it, handing the waitress his 

debit card. As the young lady went to swipe the card, I frowned at him. “I took myself out 

for lunch, so I should pay.” I argued. His brows furrowed into a frown a bit at my 

statement. “Don’t insult me kochanie.” He rasped, “You started and ended your lunch 

with me, of course I’m not going to sit here and watch you pay.” The waitress returned 

the card. -What does kocha kochi..” What was that word again? “Kochanie!” He 

chuckled. “I’ll tell you what that word means the next time we meet.” I couldn’t fight the 

smile on my face. “And who says I’m meeting you again after this?” Then get ready for 

more coincidences like this one.” He rasped, his eyes glistening with amusement. “How 

about we watch a movie? There is the movie that I want to see but don’t want to go 

alone.” Rolling my eyes. I grabbed my purse and stood up. “Look around you, I’m sure 

you’ll see someone who is willing to watch the movie with you.” His nose crinkled. “You 

are my only option because I do not have any friends or family who are willing to watch 

with me.” He tried to reach for my hand but stopped mid and pulled away. “I shouldn’t 

touch a lady without her permission.” For the second time since meeting him. I rolled my 

eyes. “You don’t have to sound checky, I’ll watch the movie with you.

Chapter 14 

LILY ONE YEAR LATER Things has been going on perfectly well with Jake. 

He is the perfect man anyone would ask for. I know that look, and I know what is going 

through your minds right now, but then it has been the six years, this year making it 

seven since I moved on from Ryan’s betrayal. What he did hurt me, no doubt, but that 

doesn’t mean 1 will judge all men and stay clear of all relationships. Liam. Noah and 

Ethan love him, and they get along with him, so I do not see why not. It has been a year 

since we started dating, and hehasn’t given me any reason to doubt him in any way or 

make me feel uncomfortable. Today is our anniversary, and I am really looking forward to what he is planning. I got him the limitededition Valentino Men Jacket he has always 

wanted. Walking out of theemergency ward where I had to attend to an accident 

patient, I walked to the front desk to instruct them on a few things. However, when I 

made it to the front desk, I was shocked and surprised at the sight before me. Byan 

arguing with the nurse with Stephinie standing quietly behind him. “What do you mean 

by I need an appointment to see Dr. Sandra?” he snapped at the nurse. “Do you realize 

that I had to cancel meetings and you tell me that I can’t see Dr. Sandra because I don’t 

have an appointment! Are youkidding me?!” to be here nurse causing me to halt. Why 

does he want to see the fertility specialist for? Shaking my head, I turned to walk away 

but Ryan cussed loudly ly at the nurse Clenching my jaw. I turned around and stomped 

towards them. “What is going on here?” I asked nurse Jane, intentionally ignoring Ryan 

They are here to see Dr. Sarah without an appointment.” Noticing that Ryan is suddenly 

quiet, I moved my attention to him, “I apologies sir, but Dr. Sarah is a very busy woman 

and hence you can’tsee her without an appointment.” He blinked slowly at me. “Please 

stop the formality Lily, I am a stranger.” 1 arched a brow. “You aren’t a friend either.” I 

looked past him to Stephine for a moment before returning it to him, “Please book a 

section with her, nurse jane will sell you what to do to book an appointment with her.” 

Having addressed the commotion, I turned to the front desk, to relay the message that 

brought me this direction in the first place. “The patient in ward ten, page me if his 

guardianshows up.” →Yes ma’am.” 1 turned to leave but Stephinie’s question stopped 

me. “You work here, right?” slowly turning around, I stared her, my eyes slowly running 

through her frame. “Perhaps you can use that influence and get us to see Dr. Sarah.” 

Amused and offended at the same time, I crossed both hands and continued to stare at 

her. “I don’t just work here, I own the place, and no, I will not use my influence to get 

you to see Dr. Sarah because here, we treat our patients equal here? She scoffed. “I 

doubt that.” She licked her lips and looked around, “and there is no way you own the 

place. I rolled my eyes. “You can believe whatever you want to believe, but at the end of 

it, you will still need to see Dr. Sarah after you have booked an appointment” Turning 

around, I walked away and left them standing there, Talk about my day almost getting 

rained. my way back from work, I received a text from Jake, telling me to get dressed 

with the clothes he sent to the house for me and the kids, but I told him 1 won’t be 

bringing the kids along, Ryan is surprisingly in town, and I do not want any sudden 

encounter between him and the kids just one look at Liam and the way he behaves and 

he will know the boys are his “You look beautiful. Liam complimented from Isis position 

on my bed. He is the only one awake a amongst the three brothers. Smiling at him, I did 

finish touches to my makeup. “Thank you love. Gesting off my seat, I went for the 

perfume. No matter how hard I tried to push it aside, I can’t help but wonder why 

Stephine and Ryan wants to see a fentity specialist. Are they trying to try for a baby but 

it isn’t working” Tahook my head to rid the

thought. Whatever they are doing isn’t my business. sny “Are you going out with uncle 

Jake?” he asked again, rolling off the bed to jo me in the closel 

“Yes, love, I am going out with uncle Jake.” I know he wouldn’t want to come with me 

because he doesn’t care, but I can’t say the same for Ethan. He nodded. “Please get 

me chocolates.. plenty chocolates.” Chuckling, I nodded. “Sure, I will get you lots and 

lots of chocolates.” He pulled the seat close to me, claimed on it and me goodnight on the check before racing out of my room Sometimes, I wonder how lonely and sad my 

life would have been. Grabbing my purse, I went to the rest of the sleeping boy’s 

goodnight when the intercom rang. Thinking it was Jake and one of his tricks, I picked it 

up. “You know you can drive in without having to call the intercom, right?” A voice 

cleared his throat awkwardly. Tam sorry to disturb ma’am, but there is man named 

Ryan Williams who is out here insisting to see you” My eyes bulged. What is Ryan 

doing here? “Don’t let him in, leave him standing outside for as long as he wants. He 

has no right to track me down. and I will make him see reasons. “And the next time he 

visits, don’t inform me about it, just let him stand there.” 

Chapter 15 

LILY I stood outside her gate for as long as I wanted, whilst wondering how 

she was able to amass such a level of wealth. When she told Stephanie that she owned 

the hospital, I didn’t believe ber. I mean come on. I know I gave her more than enough 

divorce settlement, but that isn’t enough to build this kind of hospital; don’t get me 

started on the cancer section that was just opened next to the hospital, like are you 

kidding? When I was left curious with no answers, I did what I usually do when I find 

someone confusing: I looked into her and found out that not only is the hospital hers, 

she lives in one of the biggest manors in Canada; how crazy could that possibly be? 

Thirty minutes later, the gate rolled open as a car came to a halt right inside the 

compound. Lily got down and stomped towards me with an angry expression, while I 

smiled in return. “I knew you’d eventually come out” I mused with a smile. “You can’t 

leave me standing here for so long” Stopping right in front of me, She rolled her eyes. “I 

am not here because I care about you or because I do not want you standing for so 

long, or whatever shit you’ve convinced yourself to think, I am here because I want you 

out of my property as quickly as I blink.” Fierce. She wasn’t this fierce while we were 

dating or married. “You have a lovely place. I complimented. “It’s a pity that I won’t get 

invited in Already fed up withher conversation with me, she pinched the bridge of her 

nose, almost carefully, that was when I noticed it, her makeup. “What exactly are you 

doing here Ryan?” She drawled out tiredly, “You have no business being in my house.” 

Slowly, my eyes trailed her body. Dressed in a black knee–length gown with cuts on the 

middle, complimented with what are unmistakably diamond earrings and necklace. Her 

makeup made her almost round face a bit oval. “Where are you going?” She must be 

heading out for her to be dressedlike this. Lily scoffed at me. “And what right do you 

have to ask me that question?” She leaned in a bit, “shouldn’t you be more concerned 

about your fertility with your mistress? I winced. “Right.” She sure knows h how to bite 

hard. “Things have been crazy these past few years, but you don’t have to rub it in like 

that.” “I wish I could say I’m sorry” She mocked. “I won’t be asking you again Ryan, 

what do you want in my house! If you should be stalking anyone, should be Dr. Sarah, 

not me.” She’s right. I have business being around her or showing my face to her. “Congratulations though, I am proud of the woman you’ve become.” At first, she stared 

at me as if I’d said the most absurd thing before her face turned red in anger, her tiny 

fist balling into a fist. “You can take that pride you are feeling right now and shove it up 

your face!* “How did you do it?” I asked out of the blue. Lily isn’t the type to get involved 

in illegal activities just to raise money, “how were you able to build such a house and 

hospital within a short period” You call six to seven years a short period? Is this a joke?” 

She spat angrily. “Why are you ruining my night Ryan?” I was about to argue my case 

when a car heading towards us suddenly turned on its light, flashing it at me directly. He 

pulled over, got down. approached Lily, and right before me, he ki*sed her; not only did 

he ki*s her, but she equally reciprocated. I literally had to clear my t throat to get their 

attention of each other. They are acting loveydovey right before me, and I’m not going 

to agree to that “Who is this?” The young man pulled away from Lily but kept his hand 

hanging on her waist. I to be angry at the moment, I asked for a divorce and I was given 

one, so why am I acting like this? My eyes pinned on it as my jaw clenched. I do not 

have any reason “I should be the one asking that question since you are the stranger 

here” He replied calmly, his demeanor not giving away what was going on in his head. 

“Who are you?” “I am Ryan William,” I replied smugly, certain that my name alone w 

would make him accustom some respect to me, I got the opposite reaction. He 

continued to stare at me with the same indifference. “And?” He deadpanned. “That does 

not explain what you are doing here.” Clearly, he is not blind. “Can’t you see I was 

having a conversation with my exwife before you rudely interrupted and yet you ask 

me what l’in doing here?” He continued to stare at me until suddenly, he chuckled, 

mocking me with his laughter, “I am glad that you acknowledged and since weare 

making

introductions in that manner, I’ll introduce myself. I am Jake, Lilly’s current boyfriend” 

that she is is your EXwile. “Boyfriend!” I teased. “Do you know 

how childish you sound right now?” “And do you know how stupid you look for or 

showing up here in the night?” If I keep staying here, watching that man draw circles on 

her waist, I might lose it. “Have Dr. Sarah see me tomorrow, or I’ll keep showing up here 

every night.” tug on the waist. “Come on, we are going to be “In this cold weather? You 

will most definitely freeze to death.” Jake quipped. He gave Lily a small tug late for our 

reservation” They left me standing like a fool, got into their car, and drove away.