CELINE'S POVHis words hit me like a physical blow. My heart hammered in my chest, a tidal wave of emotions crashing over me. I looked at Franco, and we shared a hesitant, almost apologetic smile. He knew, I knew, that this wasn't ideal. But I had no choice. Monday was family day, and it had to be a special day for Connor. He needed a father to be introduced to his friends, to avoid the whispers, the pointed stares, the inevitable bullying.“Connor,” I began, my voice a little shaky, “Remember what we talked about? Your dad was died. You can't have a pretend daddy, your real daddy is…”“He's dead!” Connor blurted out, his voice tight, the raw pain in his eyes shattering my heart.Franco reached out, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.“I know, buddy. But your real daddy is always with you, in your heart, right?”Connor nodded, but his eyes were still filled with an unyielding sadness.“But my friends have dads, mommy. And my teacher asked who my daddy is. I don't even know how to a
This day he needed to pretend to be Connor’s father so that the teachers and friends of Connor would not bully him on the family day today.A few moments later, the rumble of an engine drew my attention. A sleek black sedan pulled up beside us, and the window rolled down, revealing Franco's familiar smirk.His eyes twinkling with amusement. “Hop in, shall we?”I hesitated for a moment, my pride clashing with the pragmatism of the situation. I had initially refused Franco's offer to drive us, adamant that the facade of a happy family should not be perpetuated. But Connor's eagerness and the prying eyes of his classmates swayed me.“Fine,” I sighed, mustering a half-hearted smile. “But only to make a point.”Connor squealed with delight and jumped into the backseat. Franco leaned forward and patted Connor's head.“Glad to have you aboard, champ.”I slid into the passenger seat, my gaze fixed out the window. Franco's presence made me uncomfortable, but I knew it was for the best. For Con
FRANCO'S POV My footsteps echoed through the grand foyer of our opulent mansion, each step carrying with it a weight of dread and foreboding. I had spent the afternoon at a family day with my ex-wife, Celine, and her son, Connor, instead of attending to the pressing matters at my company. Now, as I arrived home, Athena stood before me, her eyes blazing with fury. 'Where have you been?' she demanded, her voice laced with accusation. 'I have been inundated with calls from investors, all demanding to know what is happening with their investments. The company is on the brink of bankruptcy, and you chose to spend the day with your family instead?' A surge of guilt washed over me. I knew I had neglected my responsibilities, but I had also been struggling to keep my secret meetings with Celine and Connor hidden from Athena. I had told her I was working late, but she knew me too well. 'I had an important meeting,' I lied, my voice devoid of conviction. 'I couldn't reschedule.' Athena'
CELINE'S POV The morning sun peeked through the cracks in the blinds, casting a warm glow over my slumbering form. I stretched languidly, my body is still heavy with sleep. As I rolled over, I noticed my five-year-old son, Connor, sound asleep beside me, his tiny hand curled around mine. A surge of tenderness washed over me as I gazed at his peaceful face. 'Good morning, sleepyhead,' I whispered, gently shaking him awake. Connor's eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at me with a sleepy smile. 'Good morning, Mommy,' he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. 'Are you ready for a fun day?' I asked. 'Yes!' Connor exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. 'Can we go to the park?' I chuckled. 'Of course, we can go to the park. But first, we need to get you ready for the day.' I helped Connor out of bed and into the bathroom. As I brushed his teeth, he chattered excitedly about all the things he wanted to do at the park. My heart swelled with joy as I listened to his innocent laugh
FRANCO’S POV As I arrived at the company from the park, a sense of unease washed over me. The weight of the crisis we were facing pressed down heavily on my shoulders. With the investors threatening to pull out and the company teetering on the brink of collapse, I knew decisive action was required. I had used the money I had borrowed from Celine to pay off the investors who were demanding their money back. It was a risky move, but it had given us some breathing room. Now, it was time to address the root of our problems. I called for a meeting with all the staff in the financial department, determined to get to the bottom of this crisis. As they filed into the conference room, their faces reflected a mixture of anxiety and uncertainty. “Good morning, everyone,” I began, my voice heavy with concern. “As you all know, we are facing an unprecedented challenge. The company is in financial distress, and we need to take immediate action to address the situation.” I paused, letting m
I took a deep breath to calm myself as I’m still holding my patience. I know she was drunk so it was really non sense to argue with her and confront her.“Let’s go inside, Athena. You don’t know what you are talking about,” I said, calmly.“I know it, I know it!” the last words she said before she suddenly close her eyes and slept.I took a deep breath and brought Athena to our bedroom. I couldn’t help but stare at her from head to toe. Athena is really beautiful and sexy but I don’t feel any special feeling while I’m looking at her. I know to myself that I don’t love her. All I’m thinking right now is our divorce. I want a divorce with her.I gently placed her on the bed. I watched as her chest rose and fell with each breath. The sight of her sleeping made me feel nothing, not even pity. It was just a realization that I had been living a lie for the last five years.I stormed out of the room and walked downstairs. There, I saw my in-laws watching TV, their faces illuminated by the fl
I told Harvey about the growing chasm between Athena and me. It started small, little annoyances that I ignored, brushed off. But it had festered, growing into a gaping wound. I couldn’t stand her attitude anymore. The way she spent billions of my money, our company’s money, on her own luxury. The mockery and insults I endured from her parents. I was tired, drained. Especially now, facing the looming crisis in my company.Harvey listened patiently, his face etched with concern.“Her parents,” I said, my voice cracking with suppressed rage, “they’re unbearable. They treat me like I’m some kind of… some kind of… a nobody.”“What do you mean?” Harvey asked, his eyes narrowed.“They belittle me, constantly,” I said, the words spilling out in a torrent.“They said they regret their choice for choosing me as Athena’s husband. They told me I can’t provide Athena a good life despite the fact that Athena wasted my billions of money!”Harvey's brow furrowed. "That's absurd. You built your own c
Before I could answer, a small voice piped up from behind her. “Uncle Franco!”Connor ran towards me, his arms outstretched. I scooped him up, his laughter filling the air. He was a whirlwind of energy, bouncing around in my arms, his eyes shining with excitement.“Connor, my boy.” I chuckled, burying my face in his soft, curly hair.My gaze drifted to Celine who stood in the living room, her eyes fixed on us. She was a vision in a simple, cream-colored dress, her hair cascading down her shoulders. My heart melted at her stare, the warmth in her eyes sending a jolt of electricity through me.“Celine,” I greeted, my voice a little shaky. I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks, the sudden surge of emotions making me feel vulnerable.“Franco,” she returned, a faint smile gracing her lips.For a moment, our eyes locked, unspoken questions and emotions swirling in the air between us. I desperately wanted to ask about the date, to see the flicker of something in her eyes, but the words wou
Connor burst into the room, his laughter infectious. “Mom! Can we have a picnic in the backyard later?”Celine smiled, her heart swelling at his enthusiasm. “Absolutely! We’ll make it special.”Franco appeared in the doorway, a soft smile on his face. “I can help with the picnic,” he said, stepping into the kitchen. The warmth between them had been growing, and she could feel the connection rekindling after all they had endured.As they prepared for their little picnic, Celine felt a flutter of anticipation. She caught Franco glancing at her, his eyes filled with admiration. The memories of their past—the hurt, the struggles—began to fade, replaced by a shared understanding and a desire to move forward together.Once they were outside, they spread out a blanket beneath the shade of a large oak tree. The afternoon was bright, and the world felt vibrant around them. Celine watched as Connor played,
The sun peeked through the curtains of Celine's small living room, casting a warm glow over the room. It had been a week since they had escaped the warehouse, and the world felt a little brighter. The shadows of Harvey and his men still loomed large, but justice had been served. Harvey was behind bars, facing serious charges, and Celine felt a weight lift from her shoulders.As she watched Connor play with his toys, Celine couldn’t help but smile. He was starting to heal, laughter returning to his voice. Franco had been a steady presence since their ordeal, never leaving their side, supporting them both as they adjusted to a new sense of normalcy.“Can I help you with anything?” Franco asked, entering the room with a freshly brewed cup of coffee for Celine. His gaze was steady and sincere, filled with the determination to mend the fractures in their relationship.“Just keeping an eye on him,” Celine replied, motioning to Connor, who
The adrenaline from their escape quickly faded as Celine, Franco, and Connor found themselves stumbling through the dark woods. Each crunch of leaves beneath their feet felt like a reminder of the danger still lurking behind them. They needed to find safety, but every shadow seemed to whisper of Harvey’s reach.“Are we far enough?” Connor’s small voice broke the tense silence, his eyes wide with fear.Celine glanced back, her heart heavy. “We need to keep moving, sweetheart,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. “We can’t stop until we’re sure we’re safe.”Franco led the way, his expression grim. “We should find a place to hide,” he suggested, scanning their surroundings. “If Harvey’s men are still after us, we need to stay off the main paths.”Just as they pushed deeper into the trees, a chilling sound echoed through the night—a distant shout that
Celine's world spun as she fought against the hands gripping her arms, but she was outnumbered. The chaos of the struggle turned into a blur, voices merging into a cacophony of shouts and grunts. Connor’s terrified face was imprinted in her mind as she was dragged away from him, but there was no time to think; they were all in danger.“Franco!” she cried, her voice strained as she was pulled further away. Despair flooded her as she caught a glimpse of him grappling with one of Harvey's men. The chaos twisted in her gut as she was shoved into a waiting van, the cold metal biting into her skin.Franco’s eyes met hers for just a moment, a fierce determination in his gaze. “Celine! Connor!” he shouted, but another man lunged at him, blocking his way. The last thing she saw was his struggle as the van doors slammed shut.The van jostled as it sped away, the sound of tires crunching on gravel filling the air. Celine sat in the darkn
Celine’s heart raced as she and Connor dashed deeper into the woods, the shadows closing in around them. Each step felt like a lifeline, but the distant shouts of Harvey’s men echoed through the trees, a haunting reminder of the danger that lurked behind them.“Mom, I’m so tired!” Connor panted, his little legs struggling to keep up.“I know, sweetheart. Just a little further,” she urged, fighting to keep her own panic at bay. They needed to find a safe place to hide. Her mind raced through options, each one fraught with uncertainty.As they rounded a thick cluster of trees, Celine suddenly spotted an old hollowed-out log. “There!” she whispered, pointing it out to Connor. “Get inside!”He climbed in quickly, and she crouched beside him, holding her breath as she listened for the sounds of their pursuers. The shouts grew louder, closer, and she felt the weight of dread settle over her.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple as Celine, Franco, and Connor settled into their makeshift hideout. Laughter and lighthearted chatter filled the air, pushing aside the worries that had weighed on them for so long. Celine felt a warmth in her chest, a sense of belonging that had been missing for too long.But as the shadows grew longer, a heavy tension settled over the clearing. Celine’s instincts kicked in, her earlier happiness slipping away. She glanced at Franco, who seemed to feel it too; his smile faded as he scanned the woods around them.“Let’s head back,” he suggested, his voice low. “It’s getting dark, and we don’t want to be out here when we can’t see.”“Can we play for a little longer?” Connor pleaded, his eyes bright with excitement.“Just for a few minutes,” Celine said, hoping to ease her son’s disappoin
The sun peeked through the gaps in the wooden slats of the cabin, casting warm stripes of light across the room. Celine stirred awake, the comforting weight of Connor’s small body pressed against her side. Franco was still asleep in the chair nearby, his face softened in repose. For a moment, Celine simply watched them, her heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. The memories of their past—the pain, the distance—haunted her, but the warmth of the present was undeniable. They were together, fighting for their family. As she shifted, Connor stirred, blinking sleepily up at her. “Morning, Mom,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. “Morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?” He nodded, stretching like a cat. “Can we play again today?”Celine smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “Of course. Maybe we can explore the area a bit. There’s a whole forest out there.”“Can we find a secret fort?” he asked, eyes bright with excitement.“Definitely,” she replied, her hea
The car bumped along the rough dirt road, the trees closing in around them like a protective barrier against the world. Celine glanced at Franco, who sat in the front passenger seat, his jaw set and eyes alert. She felt an unspoken connection between them growing stronger amidst the chaos, a tether forged in the fire of their shared struggle.“Are we almost there?” Connor asked from the backseat, his voice a mix of exhaustion and anxiety.“Just a few more minutes, buddy,” Franco replied, turning slightly to give their son a reassuring smile. Celine noted the warmth in Franco's eyes, a glimmer of hope amid the darkness.“Can we play a game when we get there?” Connor asked, attempting to lift the mood.Celine couldn’t help but smile, her heart swelling with affection. “Absolutely. What do you want to play?”“I want to play hide and seek!” Connor exclaimed, a bright spark lighting up his face.Franco chuckled softly, glancing back at Celine with a hint of pride. “I think we can manage th
The truck rumbled down the uneven logging road, its headlights cutting through the darkness like a beacon of hope. Celine sat beside Connor, her heart still racing as the trees blurred past. The sound of the engine filled the silence, but her mind was a whirlpool of anxiety.“Are we almost there?” Connor asked, his voice small and tired.“Just a little longer,” Celine replied, forcing a smile. She glanced at Franco, who was focused on the road, brow furrowed with concentration. “Keep an eye out for any signs,” Elias said, scanning the sides of the road. “We need to find a place to lay low.”They drove in tense silence, the weight of their situation pressing heavily on all of them. Celine felt the pulse of fear in her veins, a constant reminder that they were being hunted. Suddenly, Franco slowed the truck as they approached a clearing. “There’s the town,” he said, pointing to a cluster of dim lights in the distance. “We should park a little ways out and approach on foot.”“Good idea