CELINE POVMy heart skipped a beat as I froze in my seat. The name repeated several times through my mind, a familiar echo from a past I had long tried to bury.A young man, his face etched with annoyance, emerged from the inner sanctum. “F*ck. I knew it he will not let me lend even a single penny!” he barked into the phone.“That guy is so selfish!”As he hung up the phone, I couldn't help but notice the name that he had repeated over and over again: Franco.A wave of irritation washed over me. Why did the universe insist on throwing that name in my face? It was like a constant reminder of a chapter in my life that I had desperately tried to close.“That name is a kind of b*llshit!” Irene glanced at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and concern. “Celine, you seem so affected to him,”“No I’m not. Today I hear that name too many t
FRANCO'S POVAs I strode into the conference room, my gaze swept across the assembled faces. A sense of urgency permeated the air as I immediately addressed the company's pressing problem.“Everyone please pay attention” I said calmly."Our financial struggles are a serious concern," I stated resolutely."We need to identify the root cause and implement solutions without delay."I instructed my team to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial department. "Leave no stone unturned," I emphasized. "We must find the anomaly that has led to these losses."As the team dispersed, one of the members approached me hesitantly. His eyes held a mixture of trepidation and concern."Sir," he began in a hushed tone, "I have something I need to share. It's... personal."I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."“You wife, Athena, has been receiving large sums of money from the company's account," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper.A chill ran down my spine as I processed this shockin
The woman turned, her face coming into view. It was Celine, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of surprise and an indiscernible emotion. My heart raced in my chest, a chaotic symphony of feelings battling for control.I cautiously approached her, my steps unsure, my mind racing. But just as I was about to reach out, my phone buzzed in my pocket, abruptly interrupting the delicate moment. It was Harvey, his voice booming through the speaker, demanding to know my whereabouts."I'm right outside," I replied, my voice strained."I'll be there soon.""Get a move on, man!" Harvey barked before abruptly ending the call.I stared at the phone in my hand, my heart sinking. Celine had vanished. I frantically looked around, but she had disappeared as if she had never been there. Disappointment washed over me, leaving me feeling lost and disoriented.With a heavy sigh, I shook my head in frustration. It was a mere illusion, a figment of my imagination, I reassured myself. Celine was gone, a
"Can you say that name again?"I frowned."Ms.Celine Winston. Why?" I asked."She's my ex-wife," I stammered.The air hung heavy with a mix of shock and confusion. Harvey stared at me with wide eyes.“Is she your ex-wife? “he asked in disbelief as his eyes widened.“Y---Yes”“What the hell! Are you really serious about this? Is she really your ex-wife?!” Harvey's voice was a mix of disbelief and awe.My heart sank. I had never told him about Celine. The guilt of leaving her had been a heavy weight on my shoulders. “Yes, it's Celine Winston,” I confirmed, my voice a mere whisper.“The woman I left to marry Athena.”Harvey's reaction was a mixture of shock and disappointment. He had always admired Celine from afar, seeing her as a successful businesswoman, a powerful woman who had built an empire in the media world. He had even confessed to me earlier that he fantasized about her.“Celine, the CEO of CLN? The Celine Winston who is the most influencial woman in FTM media from the ground
CELINE’S POVIt was like a punch to the gut, a rush of memories and pain flooding back. I immediately turned my back and ran to the parking lot. My legs were shaky, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I could feel the heat of his gaze on my back, even though I was already halfway across the parking lot.It was an unfortunate twist of fate. Of all the places in the world, he had to be here. And of all the times, after all these years, I had to run into him. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. It's an unfortunate to see my fucking ex-husband again. I can't forget how he hurt me. How he filed for divorce, how he married another woman, how he accused me of being a gold digger."Fuck you, Franco!"I muttered under my breath."I will not let my son recognize you as his father. "Never!"The memory of his betrayal, his callous words, his cold indifference, still stung. It was like a fresh wound, raw and exposed. I had spent years rebuilding my life, trying to forget him, trying t
My breath hitched in my throat. I was shocked. “Saw your father? Where, honey?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.“In my dream,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “He was tall and had kind eyes. He was smiling.”I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. It was just a dream, I told myself. But a shiver ran down my spine. It was impossible for him to have seen his father, Franco. Connor had no idea who his father was. I'd kept that part of his life a secret, a painful wound I hadn't yet been ready to open."What did your father say in your dream?" I asked, trying to sound calm."He said he loved me, Mommy," he said, beaming. "He said he missed me."A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. Relief that he was happy in his dream, fear that this might be something more, and a deep, aching loneliness that I couldn't quite place. I couldn't breathe. The thought of him possibly seeing Franco, the man who had broken my heart and abandoned me, sent a cold dread through me. But I knew
My heart sank. Gossip. It was always a delicate dance in the office, but this was crossing a line. I stopped in my tracks, my smile fading. I couldn't let them talk about me like this.I approached them, my voice firm, “Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I'm afraid I have to address this.”The group fell silent, their eyes widening in surprise. The employee who had started the gossip, a young woman named Sarah, cleared her throat nervously.“Oh, Ms. Winston, we were just...”“You were gossiping about my personal life,” I finished for her, my voice unwavering. “And I won't have it.”Sarah's face flushed red. “But we were just...”“Just what?” I asked, my patience thinning.“Just speculating about my romantic life? Just assuming things about my past? Do you know what it's like to be judged and dissected without even a shred of understanding?”The others in the group looked uncomfortable, their eyes darting between me and Sarah.“I'm not asking you to be my fr
My stomach twisted. The question, so innocent and simple, felt like a punch to the gut. I frowned, trying to mask the pain that flared within me.“I don’t know, Martha,” I said, my voice flat. “And frankly, I don’t care anymore.”“But…” Martha started, clearly unconvinced.“We’re fine without him,” I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended.“Connor is happy, we’re happy. It’s not important.”I added.I could feel Martha’s gaze on me, her concern growing. I knew she saw through my facade, knew that the truth was far more complicated. I couldn’t bear to explain, to relive the pain, the betrayal, the utter devastation.I remember how Franco banished me from our home. He had filed for divorce, claiming he had found someone else, someone better, someone who could give him what I couldn’t. The details of his betrayal, the words he had used, the way he had treated me, still haunted me.“Madam, you can’t just pretend he doesn’t exist,” Martha said gently, her voice filled with concern. “
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