Robert was struggling, haunted by the thought that Ethan was suffering from being away from his mother. The child would wake up crying at night, was eating poorly, and had developed a fever, which led Robert to take him to the hospital. He was unsure about how to raise a baby, having no prior experience, and while he didn't find it impossible, he was also overwhelmed by the knowledge that Alice would spend a year in jail. He was troubled too by the unresolved issues surrounding his son's disappearance, the theft by Henry Taylor at Ethan's birth, and the way Simon Leclerc had managed to clean everything up, continuing to do so despite Bethany Walton's attempts to bring them down. Simon Leclerc remained untouched, and only Alice Taylor bore the consequences.After the fever had passed, Robert returned home around seven in the morning with his son. Beth was there, comfortably settled in his living room.Robert had told her he had a lot to focus on and didn't have time for her games, but
Claiming she was nervous would be an understatement. How had she, Alice Taylor, found herself in jail at almost twenty-two years old, already divorced and separated from her son? If someone had told her two years ago, after marrying Robert Graham, that her life would take such a drastic turn, she might have defied her father for the first time, either by escaping or firmly refusing to marry Robert. But she had obeyed, and everything that followed is now history.Wearing the standard-issue gray prison uniform, Alice was shown around the large jail, housing about seven hundred inmates. She arrived with certain privileges, including being kept away from the general population in an isolated cell. In some ways, this was a relief. She didn't see herself as a criminal like the others and was terrified at the thought of living with women who had committed heinous crimes or sharing a room with strangers.This was the lowest point any Taylor had ever reached, and Alice continued to set unfortu
On the day of the visit, Robert found himself fussing over Ethan, combing his hair three times and changing his clothes just as often, clearly stressing both himself and his young son."Do you think you need a haircut?" Robert mused, smoothing Ethan's locks only for them to spring back into their natural wave. "Your hair's getting pretty long. Let's see what your mom says; she might have a better opinion on this. I think it’s too long, what do you think, Ethan?" The baby was visibly upset by his father's indecisiveness, and Robert too was anxious. He wanted Alice to see that Ethan was well-cared for and that she didn't need to worry. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but this is the first day, and I know it's important for her, for all three of us. It's a big day for you too, you'll be in your mother’s arms." The room's door opened, and Bethany entered. Annoyed, Robert placed Ethan back in the crib and approached Bethany, searching her hands roughly for the key, which she, with a smile, did not
Sitting on her bed, hands clasped together, Alice let tears drop onto her legs as the minutes swiftly passed. It was the time for her visit, but Robert hadn't arrived yet. He had promised he would come, and the fact that no one had come to fetch her indicated he wasn't there. She stood up, walked to the door, and peered outside. The corridor seemed deserted. Then she heard footsteps approaching. Could it be a visitor for her?"Against the wall, hands on your head," the guard instructed before opening the door. "You have a family visit, Robert Graham. Do you accept?" The question was unnecessary; she had been waiting for them desperately."I accept," she replied joyfully. They handcuffed her, and Alice didn't have time to dry her face.Entering the visiting room, the first thing she saw, the first thing her eyes desperately sought at the back of the room, made her smile.It was her son!She wished for the handcuffs to be removed quickly, but everything had its process. Once her hands w
As Robert watched the scissors move around Ethan's head, his heart was in his hands. He silently pleaded, "Don't move, Ethan. Please don’t move," while Ethan barely blinked and strands of hair fell around him. Although Ethan remained still, Robert felt more anxious than his son.He had taken Ethan to a child-friendly hair salon, and after the haircut, they gave Ethan a bath to ensure no stray hairs irritated his skin. "Wow..." Robert was speechless when they handed his son back to him. "You look so grown up. Did you grow with the haircut?" He stared in amazement."When their faces aren't covered by hair, they often look a bit older, especially if you're used to seeing them with longer hair," the stylist commented. "Do you like the cut?""I think... he looks so grown up, his face looks more serious, and that expression...""What about young Ethan’s expression?""It’s his mother’s expression. Wow," Robert said, smoothing Ethan's eyebrows before kissing his forehead.It was their third v
Robert, strolling through the shopping mall with a content smile, was filled with optimism. The lawyer had initiated the process for Alice Taylor's house arrest, and he had just finished setting up a comfortable, spacious room for her, complete with a large bed and a variety of pillows to support her back. He had even ventured to buy some clothes for her, anticipating her needs and comfort.Their relationship had evolved positively, marked by warm smiles and pleasant interactions during their visits. Robert was eagerly preparing for Alice's arrival at his home, committed to ensuring she had everything she needed."Robert." The familiar female voice caught him off-guard, and despite his reluctance, he stopped and turned. It was Sofia Taylor.As she approached, her expression was stern. "Sofia Taylor," Robert said, his tone edged with distaste."You say my name as if it's an insult," she noted."In my mind, it is," Robert replied bluntly. "The only reason for us to cross paths is if you
Alice was ready, excited, and very much so. She was eager to tell them both that she would be with them that very week. She wanted to see Robert's expression when he found out that she would be joining them in just a matter of days. The knot in her stomach and the unyielding excitement made it impossible for her to stop smiling. She was so happy... she wanted to burst through the door, see them both, and embrace them. She would finally be free! She would leave that cell behind and be with her son, living healthily with Robert and enjoying watching Ethan grow. Pacing back and forth, Alice was aware that it was time for the visit. She approached the door but didn’t hear footsteps. Why weren’t they coming for her? She was almost certain that Robert would already be there, the first to arrive as he was every day, every week. Sitting down restlessly, her eyes never left the door, and she began to feel desperate. She heard footsteps, but no key turning. Running to the door, a woman
He felt very concerned because he believed he had made a mistake; this didn't seem like a safe place for his client, Alice Taylor. He observed all the destruction, the lawn, stones, glass, fragments of a car, and Robert's exhausted expression. What had happened? Did the woman who just left cause all this? Was this why Robert and his son missed the visit? Alice was so worried, thinking something bad had happened, and it appeared to be just something personal with Robert Graham, possibly an ex-girlfriend."Is this where Alice will come?" he asked, without taking his eyes off the house and recalling the earlier scene. "I don't know if you understand how important this is, or if it matters to you as much as it does to her. I used to think it did, but seeing this... I have my doubts, Robert. Alice is coming here in two days, on Wednesday she's being transferred to your house, and this is where she's supposed to come? I mean... is there a risk that a woman might come and attack them? If thi