It was just another day at work when Sylvia walked to Scott's office, a gift bag in hand. She knocked three times on the door but received no response. Curiosity got the better of her, so she turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, peeking inside. The office was empty, but a warm cup of coffee on the table indicated that he had been there not too long ago.

Made her way in. She decorated the table with the gifts she had brought, she stared at them, hopeful that they would help repair the rift that had formed between them. After lingering for a moment, she quietly left the office, closing the door behind her.

As the day came to an end, she headed home, feeling a bit down. Throughout her shift, she hadn't heard a word from Scott regarding the gift, and he continued to avoid her.

The next workday we found Sylvia busy at her desk, assisting Mr. Adams with some files. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Scott walking back and forth from Mr. Adams' office, seemingly oblivious to her presence. Whatever was happening in there must have been significant.

At one point, her boss called her into the office, and Scott was already seated on the couch, engrossed in the mess of files in front of him. He didn't look up even once while Mr. Adams spoke to her, leaving her feeling quite cold about his indifference. Yet, as her gaze landed on the cufflinks and tie she had gifted him, a warm smile crept onto her face.

She found solace in the thought that, even if he wouldn't acknowledge her, at least he was wearing the gifts she had chosen for him.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Sylvia and her nephew James made their way through the supermarket to pick up groceries for home. Tasked with shopping that day, they navigated the aisles, filling their basket with various items. Suddenly, they nearly collided with a man around a corner. "Oh, I'm so sorry! We didn't see you there," Sylvia exclaimed, looking up to find Scott dressed casually. He looked handsome as ever, with his auburn hair slicked back, wearing black jeans, and a brown T-shirt beneath a blue jacket. A necklace hung around his neck, adding to his appealing look.

Sylvia's heart skipped a beat. "Scott, what are you doing here?"

He observed her briefly before shifting his gaze to James. "Shopping. Just like you. Is this your son?" he asked, glancing at the boy.

She stammered, "Um, no. He's my nephew, Mabel's son."

Scott extended his hand to James. "Nice to meet you! I'm Scott. And you are?" James seemed mesmerised, as if seeing a Mediterranean man for the first time. Finally, he managed to reply, "You're handsome."

Scott chuckled, giving him a sidelong smile. "At least someone appreciates my looks."

Sylvia let out an exasperated sigh. "Not this again. How long do I need to apologise?"

Scott pulled some cash from his pocket and offered it to James. "Please take this and grab yourself a drink from the fridge while I have a chat with your aunt. I promise not to keep you long."

James looked between them, sighed, and took the money before walking away. Sylvia called after him, "Don't go too far, please!" He nodded back at her, leaving them to talk privately.

An awkward silence settled between them before Sylvia finally spoke. "Look, I really don't want to argue, but I'm genuinely sorry for what I said behind your back. I never meant to hurt you."

"Did you?" Scott retorted, stepping closer. "You thought sending me cufflinks and a tie would fix everything?" Sylvia stood her ground, meeting his challenging gaze. He continued, "You really don't know how to apologise when you're in the wrong, do you?"

Frowning, she challenged him, " You never gave me a chance to apologise. What do you want me to do to prove that I'm sorry?"

Irritation flickered in his eyes as he took hold of her arm and pulled her into a corner, pressing his lips against hers. At first, she was taken aback by his boldness, but soon, she melted into the kiss, surrendering to the moment.

Every kiss he pressed onto her ignited a fire within her-one she never knew existed. As they melted into each other, Sylvia offered him more access to her mouth. "Scott, we can't do this here. We're in the supermarket," she whispered between kisses. But Scott wasn't listening; he lifted her thigh onto his, deepening the kiss while holding her chin up. The taste of him elicited a moan from her lips, and as her hand roamed eagerly across his back, he sensed her desire. Reluctantly, he pulled away, leaving her breathless. Leaning in, he whispered in her ear, "I can tell you're feeling a bit restless down there. When you figure out what you really want from me, you know where to find me." With that, he walked away, leaving her in stunned silence.

Between breaths, she pondered who the real Scott was. The man she thought she knew was nothing like the one who had just kissed her and walked away, making her yearn for more of his touch. In that moment, she realised she was in deep shit.

With a kiss like that, she knew she was bound to go for more.

***

In the quiet of the night at Ben's house, he leans back against the headboard of his bed, work files resting on his lap while his wife sleeps peacefully beside him. He glances over at her, noticing a frown creasing her face as if she's in some discomfort. Gently, he reaches out to caress her cheek, imagining the challenges of carrying another human being inside her. He marvels at how effortlessly she seems to handle it all. More than anything, he feels an overwhelming love for the woman beside him and immense joy knowing she's expecting their child. He is committed to doing everything in his power to protect both her and their baby.

_

A/N: I just wrote this chapter, and I just couldn't keep it in my draft for another day, even though I just released a previous chapter today. I hope you enjoy reading it. Don't forget to leave a comment or vote.😁