Liv Westberg never imagined that a visit to the Hawthorne family company would change her life forever. When Liv reveals to Esdras Hawthorne that she's pregnant with his late brother, Eros, several conflicts arise. Despite the initial tension, a sincere friendship blossoms between Liv and Esdras, the charming director of one of the most prosperous entertainment companies. This friendship evolves into something more, fueling a mutual attraction that Liv struggles to ignore. However, even though she's drawn to Esdras, she hesitates to surrender to love again, especially because he's part of the family she's learned to despise and she hasn't completely overcome her relationship with Eros. As time passes, she discovers the dark truth behind the man she once intensely loved. Revelations about Eros's true character shake her convictions and pave the way for a new perspective on her relationship with Esdras. Thus, torn between desire and conflict, Liv is confronted with the difficult choice of leaving behind the wounds of the past and opening herself up to a new love.
Chapter 1 Pregnancy
*Esdras Hawthorne*
Pregnant?
I observed the woman seated in front of me. There wasn't even a noticeable bump on her belly, which meant she was in the early stages of pregnancy.
"And who guarantees that she's telling the truth? Eros is no longer with us to confirm that," Sarah, my secretary, remarked.
Like me, she was also intrigued by the sudden appearance of this woman, who claimed to be pregnant with my brother's child.
"Do you think I would come here, waste my time, if it weren't true?" the green-eyed blonde retorted to my secretary.
"I do!" the redhead beside me crossed her arms, looking sternly at the young, still unknown woman. "If you don't know, or pretend not to know, many women would do anything to get their hands on the Hawthorne fortune. And you might be one of them!"
Sarah's words were sharp. I knew she cared about me and my family, but there was no need to speak in such a manner. However, despite Sarah's rudeness, the young woman in front of us didn't seem fazed by my secretary's words; instead, the blonde let out a small ironic laugh.
"Should I see you as my competitor then?" she replied sarcastically, earning a nearly lethal glare from Sarah.
Undoubtedly, if Sarah had enough authority, she would have expelled the young woman from my office right then.
But before the conversation took a different turn, I decided to speak up.
"I think you should know that my brother passed away less than two months ago."
The blonde's intense green eyes shifted to me.
"I know, Mr. Esdras Hawthorne, and accept my condolences. I know that your pain of losing a brother is a thousand times worse than the pain I feel for losing a friend and lover," her words made Sarah roll her eyes, but the blonde ignored her. "I came here not because of money. I came here because the baby forming in my womb deserves to know his father's family. I don't think it's fair for this child to grow up without knowing who his father was. Or who the man his mother loved the most was."
At that moment, I felt truth in her eyes, which were now moist with tears as she spoke about my brother.
"If you two were a couple, why didn't we know about you? He never mentioned any girlfriend," Sarah returned with her questioning.
Wiping away with the back of her right hand the only tear that slid down one of her cheeks, the blonde looked at Sarah.
"I didn't know what kind of relationship he had with the family. If they were close enough for him to confide his feelings. But I know he planned to introduce me to them. But... The accident took him before that."
Now her beautiful green eyes were flooded with tears, which she tried to contain.
She didn't seem to be lying. For some reason, her words had stirred something within me. However, the same couldn't be said for my secretary, who remained skeptical.
"Okay... So, let's suppose this is true... That you are really pregnant with Eros's child. Do you only want the family's knowledge about the pregnancy, or do you expect something in return?" Sarah said.
With my elbow resting on the arm of the chair, I scratched my beard as I analyzed the situation, waiting for her assertive response, one that would make me not think that I had easily been deceived by a few tears and words.
"And what could I possibly want in return?" she looked outraged at Sarah. "I don't need your damn money to take care of this child. I can work. I can give a decent life to this baby. I don't need your help," her gaze alternated between Sarah and me. "In fact, I've finished what I came here to do." She stood up from the chair. "You're now aware of my pregnancy, Mr. Esdras Hawthorne. Now, it's up to you to tell your family... Because I refuse to go through another onslaught of questions that humiliate and doubt my words." The blonde gave my secretary a deadly look. "With your permission, I'll take my leave."
The young woman walked towards the exit of my office, leaving with a gentle tap on the door.
I remained with my fingers on my beard, scratching it as I thought about what had happened.
Sarah was right when she mentioned that my brother hadn't even mentioned a girlfriend. But the blonde was also right when she said she didn't know if Eros had a good relationship with the family to the point of openly talking about his feelings.
And on that, she is absolutely right.
My brother always had difficulty expressing what he felt, getting close to his own family. He preferred to seek refuge away from us than to tell us what he was facing, even though we were all open-minded and willing to help him.
And thinking about it, makes me believe that maybe there are many things about him that even we don't know.
"What are you going to do about this?" Sarah's voice brought me out of my reverie.
"What she wants: To tell my family."
"Without even being sure who she's pregnant with?"
"That's why we'll do a DNA test first."
"Do you really think she'll agree to a DNA test?" she raised her eyebrows. "You saw how arrogant and rude she was. She'll think you're doubting her words."
"She herself said she wants us to know about her pregnancy. If she's lying, she'll refuse to take the test. But if it's true, she won't hesitate, even if she doesn't want anything from my family."
"And do you think she was sincere? Surely she'll want some amount to support the child."
I turned my face and stared coldly at Sarah, with my forehead wrinkled and incredulous at her words.
"Do you really think that if this baby really is my brother's child, I won't provide the necessary support?" I raised my eyebrows equally.
Seeing the seriousness on my face, Sarah lowered her gaze, feeling intimidated.
"I know you will, Mr. Hawthorne. I know you won't leave this child unsupported. That's why I acted the way I did. After her, many other women may come forward claiming to be pregnant with your brother's child."
"And we'll test them all until we find one who tells the truth," I said. "Now, go after her and bring her back to the office; we'll do the DNA test as soon as possible." I issued my ultimatum.
Chapter 1 Pregnancy
22/02/2024
Chapter 2 My son
22/02/2024
Chapter 3 Hawthorne
22/02/2024
Chapter 4 Despite different, still a Hawthorne
22/02/2024
Chapter 5 A sleepless night
22/02/2024
Chapter 6 DNA test
22/02/2024
Chapter 7 A (nearly) pleasant day
22/02/2024
Chapter 8 Wet ground, starry sky, and deep conversations
22/02/2024
Chapter 9 Mother
22/02/2024
Chapter 10 I don't work miracles!
22/02/2024
Chapter 11 Suddenly
18/03/2024
Chapter 12 I'll Do Anything
23/03/2024
Chapter 13 I already know my answer
02/05/2024
Chapter 14 A big revelation
03/05/2024
Chapter 15 Comings and goings
16/05/2024
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