Alex Today was one of those few moments when happiness looked real, and it all started with Ava. Her grin was like a key, unlocking a portion of my heart I hadn't known was still there. Her eyes lighted when she spoke, and the small tilt of her head when she reflected—it was Camilla all over again. There was something else. The slope of her nose, the curve of her lips, and even the way her face creased in thinking made me think of a younger version of myself. I couldn't stop talking about our meeting. The gentle way her small hand rested against mine, the faith in her innocent eyes, and the melody of her laughter stirred emotions I hadn't felt in years. It was more than simply memories. Hope. A want to recover the life I had ruined through my own ignorance. Seeing Ava reminded me of everything I had lost. Her resemblance to Camilla was clear, but what about the characteristics that mirrored mine? They were a revelation, a possibility I hadn't explored until now. Could she really
Camilla "For Nina," Ava said, holding out the spoon to me, her small hands calm but her eyes full of doubt. I stopped what I was doing and focused totally on her. "For Nina?" I asked, the name foreign to me. "She's in my class," Ava stated, her voice quiet but steady. "She does not bring food to school. When others eat, she used to stand and watch." Her words hung in the air, breaking the morning's flow. I realized that the extra spoon had been in her bag every day for a week. I hadn't questioned it because I felt it was simply one of her tiny quirks. I now understand its role. Ava's gaze traveled awkwardly to mine, as if she were bracing for a chastisement. But all I felt was a strong flood of emotion—a combination of joy and wonder at my little girl's goodness. I crouched to her level and carefully brushed a stray hair from her face. "You have a good heart," I told her, bringing her into a hug. "And Mommy loves that." Her small arms curled tightly around me, and her re
Camilla "Hi, David," I mumbled, my voice softer than I intended."Hi, Camilla," he began in his familiar, steady voice. "I finalized everything today, and I'm now in the state." "Wao... That's fast" I said with happiness."I'll see you tomorrow." He said hurriedly, like he wanted to attend to something.As the phone ended, I replied, "Okay," with a warm smile on my face. I felt a burst of relief rush over me. David was currently in Los Angeles. His presence kept me steady during some of the most terrible years of my life. He always found a way to show up, despite his busy schedule as a doctor. A late-night phone call or a simple text message made me feel less alone. I put the phone on the table and lay back on the couch, taking a big breath. The last three weeks had been a whirlwind of chores and feelings. With Ava's change to her new school, the pressures of Millach Ltd., and the lingering shadows of my past, I felt like I was balancing on a tightrope. Knowing David was here
AlexA knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I set my coffee cup on the table, rage boiling beneath the surface. Who might it be? Nobody had told me of any visit. I stood up and made a tentative step toward the door. As I reached for the handle, a familiar fear crept into my chest. The moment I opened it, my stomach tightened. Alessia stood there, her face pale, but her eyes blazed with a need I understood all too well. "Hi," I muttered, carefully holding the edge of the door. "Hi, Alex." Her voice was quiet and almost scary. Her tone lacked warmth and instead suggested dread. "Hope you're fine," she remarked casually, as if she hadn't just appeared unwanted. "I'm fine," I said, my tone bland and casual. "Okay." She moved slightly, as if to leave, but something about her demeanor told me she was not going anywhere right now. We were divorced. We had no work left. And yet, there she was, standing on my porch, her presence weighted with unsaid meaning. "Thanks for a
CamillaWe arrived at Julie's apartment, and she slumped onto the couch with a heavy sigh, the weight of her feelings evident in every movement. "Thank you for coming to my rescue," she said quietly. "I'm glad I could help," I said, setting her medications on the table. But my relief was quickly followed by wrath. "Julie, but you shouldn't have done that," I said firmly, my voice filled with fear. Her eyes welled up with tears, which quickly rolled down her cheeks. She looked at me, her sadness sharp and overwhelming. "I just wanted to end it all," she explained, her voice cracking. "I wanted to escape everything." Her words struck me like a punch to the chest. I drew closer, my voice full of surprise and hurt. "Would you end your life? Over a man? Julie, you deserve so much better than this. "Don't let him take everything from you." She wiped away her tears with the back of her fingers and shook her head. "We were supposed to get married in a month," she exclaimed. "I tol
CAMILLA At 6 p.m., I finally turned off my laptop. The screen's light casts shadows on the table. I felt more tired than I thought I would after two days of training with the marketers. I thought I had a moment to calm down, but Julie's sudden situation threw me back into the chaos. But I was glad I was there for her when she needed someone close.I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. Thoughts of work quickly left my mind as Ava's face flashed in front of me. I stood up. That's enough. I was needed by Ava now.Walking to her room, I paused at the door. She was sitting on the floor, surrounded by crayons and papers. Her tiny fingers gripped a blue pencil as she wrote intently. “Mommy!” Her face lit up the moment she saw me, and my heart twisted.“Hey, sweetheart.” I knelt down, pulling her into a hug. She smelled of crayons and baby lotion—a scent I hadn’t allowed myself to enjoy in days.I swallowed the lump in my throat. “ How about we do your homework together?”Her
Camilla Ava tugged on my dress in the morning, her eager eyes gleaming with joy. Her smile had a note of fun to it, and I knew she was about to ask for something I might refuse."Mom, can I follow the school bus today? "Just this once," she whispered, raising her small index finger to make her point. She squinted one eye halfway, as if we were negotiating a secret deal that only the two of us knew about.I breathed. This was not the first time she had asked. "Ava, we've discussed this before. I prefer taking you to school myself.""But Mommy," she moaned, bouncing on her toes, "all my friends take the bus." They claim it's fun! Please? I'll be careful. Only this once. "I promise."Her excitement was infectious, yet a familiar knot grew in my stomach. My heart raced at the idea of her alone in a car, surrounded by strangers. What if something happens? What if she became frightened or forgot her lunch? These were nonsensical worries, but as a mother, they seemed very real.I knelt down
Camilla The invitation to the dinner at Millach LTD had been waiting on my desk all week. I had considered about declining. In fact, I almost convinced myself it was the proper thing to do. But I knew better. As a partner to the company, my absence would have raised questions — questions I wasn’t ready to address. Questions that would circle back to Alex.So, I decided to attend. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.As I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my outfit, a knot clenched in my gut. I brushed my fingertips over the slick black fabric, smoothing out unseen wrinkles. The dress embraced my physique in all the right places – exquisite, reserved, a firm display of authority. Yet, beneath the polished façade, my heart was a disaster.*What would I say if I saw him?* *Would he even speak to me?* *Or would we pretend, as we had for so long, that we were nothing more than two partners crossing paths?*Ready or not, it was happening.---A quiet laugh from the livin
Alex The previous two days had been a maelstrom of emotions. Sitting in my study, I let out a long sigh and rubbed my temples. The weight of tiredness pulled on my shoulders, yet sleep had proven difficult. My mind refused to relax. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ava—her small, delicate body lying on that hospital bed, bandages around her head, her pale face devoid of its typical brightness. I clinched my fist. The kidnapping, The drive to catch the kidnappers, The accident, The moment I saw her unconscious and drenched in blood. Every second of it replayed in my mind like a nightmare I couldn't shake. I had never experienced fear like this before. The thought of losing her had almost crushed me. The worst part? I had no claim to her. There is no right to make decisions. I was simply a man who had stepped in when she needed assistance. But why did it seem like more than that? Why did saving her make me feel like I was saving a part of myself? I leaned back in my
Camilla The steady beep, beep, beep of the heart monitor was the first thing I heard when I entered the hospital room. The sterile aroma of antiseptic permeated the air, mixed with a slight touch of something metallic—blood, perhaps, or the aftermath of trauma. My heart beat in time with the beeping machine, each sound a heartbreaking reminder of how close I had gotten to losing Ava. I gulped hard and forced myself to walk forward. Then I spotted her. Ava reclined on the hospital bed, her small frame almost swallowed by the white covers. Her head was wrapped in heavy bandages, and an IV line was attached to her small hand. The sight of her like this—so frail and still—took my breath away. My knees weakened, so I clutched the doorframe for support. It was my fault. If I had been more diligent and protected her properly... Perhaps she wouldn't be lying here, hooked up to machines and battling to recuperate. I let out a faint whimper before I could stop it. "Ava…" Her
CAMILLA A slight buzz of voices trickled through the hospital's closed doors. My eyes felt heavy, and my body was tight from resting in one position for too long. I squinted at the dimly lit room, with early morning light filtering in through the blinds. I must have fallen asleep just before daybreak. A throbbing ache throbbed at the base of my skull, reminding me of the sleepless night I'd spent tossing and turning, haunted by Ava's face. Pale. Frightened. Helpless. The memories hit me all over again, jolting me completely awake. Ava. I turned my head, expecting to see Alex sitting in the chair by the window, like he had last night. But the chair was empty. Panic clutched at my chest. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, forcing myself up despite the tiredness that weighed me down. My bare feet contacted the icy floor, causing a shiver up my spine. I reached for the lightweight cardigan I'd droped over the chair and slipped it on as I exited the room. The hallway
AlexThe air was thick with anxiety as our car sped down the deserted road, tires buzzing against the asphalt. The black SUV ahead of us faded into the distance, its taillights blazing red and flickering like a heartbeat. We were getting near, but not fast enough.We'd been after them for over half an hour. The police used a GPS tracker concealed on their car. We knew they were going south on Route 19, but every second felt like we were losing them. My stomach twisted from anger and anxiety. I should have acted faster. I should've been more prepared. If I had, Ava might not be in danger now. But now all I could do was track them down. As the SUV's red taillights flashed in front of us, I grasped the armrest tightly. My heart was rushing and thumping inside my chest. Every second seemed like an eternity. I couldn't let them leave with her. We needed to get her back. "Keep on them!" The officer next to me ordered, his voice tense with urgency.The officers in the car with me were doin
Camilla The front door was slightly opened. As I pushed, the wood creaked, ringing through the silence like a warning. A moist chill crept across my skin. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of mold, dust, and something more. Something metallic. The room was consumed by darkness, but a dim light flickered in the distance. It hummed weakly, throwing long, fragmented shadows on the walls. My breath came out in short, uneven gasps. Every instinct screamed at me to turn back, run, and seek help. But I couldn't, I kept moving. Because somewhere in the darkness, Ava was waiting for me.Then, from the darkness, came a voice. "Hands up." I froze. The voice was calm. Too calm. Possessing such control implied power.Footsteps were the next sound, which was slow and measured. Heavy. Deliberate. A rough, hard hand clamped around my wrist. Not cruel, but uncompromising. A silent warning. "Move." The grasp tightened slightly, guiding me forwards. My legs felt weak, but I
CamillaThe jet's hum filled the silence around me, but inside my head, all I could hear was noise—loud, excruciating noise. Ava. Her name rang repeatedly, pressing my heart even more. I gazed at my phone screen, my fingers quivering as I dialed Marta's number again. Still turned off.I tried again. Still nothing.Tears blurred my vision. My daughter was out there, in the hands of a dangerous person. Was she crying? Was she afraid? Did they injure her? My gut wrenched in misery at the thought. Across from me, Alex stood with his phone to his ear. His voice was steady and controlled, in stark contrast to the conflict inside me. "Alexander Brookes, CEO of Millach LTD," he said while listening to the other end of the line. His expression was unreadable, but I could sense the strain in his jaw. "There was an emergency that we needed to attend to. We already left. Tell Ms. Montgomery for a reschedule of this meeting if feasible." There was a delay before he said, "Alright, sorr
CamillaMy heart raced as I entered the room, my trembling fingers on the door just as it closed behind me. The silence around me was intense, broken only by my choppy breaths. I leaned my back against the door, feeling its coolness, but it didn't help quiet the turmoil inside me. Alex. The memory of his touch and the feel of his lips stayed with me like a haunting presence I couldn't escape. My resolve and the walls I carefully built around myself fell apart whenever he got near. I tried really hard to keep him away to protect myself and my daughter, but when he looked at me with those pleading eyes, I lost my strength. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to manage my feelings. It wasn't just about him; it was how he made me feel and how he could always remove the walls I felt I needed. The best thing I could do was put some space between us, lock the door, and guarantee that the mistakes of the previous night were never repeated. Sliding down to the floor, I sat with my knees t
AlexShe pulled the room door open without speaking, allowing it to swing close behind her. I caught it before it closed fully and followed her inside. Camilla walked straight to the couch and dropped herself upon its edge with a stiff motion. She crossed her arms again, her fingers grabbing her sleeves as if bracing for a blow. Her eyes was concentrated on a faraway location, her expression opaque yet heavy with thought. I paused near the door and watched her. She didn't recognize my presence as she moved her head slightly away. I took a breath and stepped closer, each movement slow and deliberate. The cool floor muffled my footfall, but I could feel the space between us. When I got close enough to talk, I stopped and kept my voice low. "Camilla, please listen to me." Her body tensed slightly, but she did not glance at me. The silence extended, dense with tension, and her only reaction was a tiny twitch of her fingers against her arm. "There's nothing to talk about," she st
ALEX The warm rays of sunlight crept through the blinds and woke me up. I stirred, slipping into the mattress, the warmth strange but weirdly soothing. As I opened my eyes, images of the previous night flooded back to me. I was on Camilla's bed. I sat up gently, putting my elbows on my knees and running a hand through my hair. A faint smile pulled on the corner of my lips. For the first time in years, the nothingness inside of me didn't feel so overwhelming. Being with her filled a gap I had no idea was so profound. As I shifted, the covers slipped down, showing my bare chest and the empty space next me. My heart dropped slightly when I realized Camilla was not there. I looked around the room, my eyes scanning every angle. Her scent lingered slightly in the air, but she was nowhere to be found. I pushed the blankets away from my legs and found my clothes lying on the floor. I picked them up one by one, the room's silence disturbed only by the subtle rustle of cloth as I dressed