XavierAs I lay beside Alice, I didn't want to wake her up. She needed her rest, especially with the baby on the way. I cared about her, and the thought of causing her or the baby any discomfort was unbearable.I carefully got out of bed, trying not to disturb her. I headed to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the fatigue. After dressing, I grabbed my wallet and phone and headed downstairs.The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as I entered the dining room. Wendy and Lexi were laughing and chatting over breakfast. I walked over to the table, poured myself a cup of coffee, and took a sip.Wendy looked up at me, concern etched on her face. "You came home late yesterday?""Yeah," I nodded, taking another sip of my coffee."Why, though?" she asked."You don't need to know," I replied, noticing the coldness in my tone which I didn't quite care about.Wendy's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she didn't press the issue. Lexi, on the other hand, looked like he was burs
XavierI took a deep breath, my eyes locked on Lily's. "I want to apologize for treating you poorly back then," I said, my voice laced with remorse. "I gave you a cigarette and then rejected you because of it. I'm truly sorry about that."Lily's face scrunched up, and she shook her head. "No, I think I deserved it," she whispered, her voice cracking.I shook my head firmly. "No, you didn't. If I hadn't done that to you, you wouldn't have been triggered to seek revenge. I'm sorry, once again." My eyes pleaded for forgiveness. "I just came to unburden myself, to pour out my feelings. I acted like shit back then, and I'm deeply sorry."Lily's gaze met mine, her eyes brimming with tears. She searched my face, as if seeking the truth behind my words."Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you reject me when you gave me the cigarette? Why did you do that? It still confuses me to this day." Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice cracked with emotion.I felt a pang
AliceI slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. The room was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. I reached for my phone on the bedside table and dialed Wendy's number, but she didn't pick up.I sighed and tried Lexi's number instead. He answered on the first ring."Hey, where are you?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.There was a pause on the other end, and then Lexi whispered back, "What's going on? Why are you whispering, sis?""Never mind," I replied, rolling my eyes. "Has Xavier gone to work yet?""Yeah, he left some minutes ago," he replied.I sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "I just woke up."Lexi's tone turned curious. "Why does it seem like you're trying to hide from Xavier?"I sighed, feeling a pang of frustration."I'm not hiding from Xavier, actually. I just wanted to stay off him for some days."Lexi's voice turned skeptical. "Why?"I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'm mad at him."Lexi's tone turned firm. "I
XavierAs I stepped out of the psychiatric rehab facility, the cool evening air enveloped me, a stark contrast to the sterile atmosphere I had just left behind. I slipped my hand into my pocket and retrieved a cigarette, the familiar ritual a comforting escape. I lit the cigarette with a flick of my lighter and took a long drag, feeling the nicotine coursing through my veins.My eyes drifted upward toward the sky as my mind began to wander. I knew I shouldn't be smoking, not with my health condition, but I couldn't bring myself to care. What was the point anyway? I was going to die soon, no matter what.As I stood there, lost in thought, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. "Sir, please wait!" a voice called out. I turned to see a woman running toward me, her face etched with worry and fear. She was panting heavily, her chest heaving with each breath.I watched her approach, my curiosity piqued. As she drew closer, I asked, "What's the problem?" My voice was calm, but my mind was
AliceXavier's sudden grip on my hand was like a vice, his fingers digging deep into my skin. I winced, trying to wiggle my hand free, but he only tightened his hold. My wrist throbbed in protest, the pain shooting up my arm."Xavier, please," I begged, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're hurting me."But he didn't respond. Instead, he pulled me along, his strides long and purposeful. I stumbled, trying to keep up with him."Where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice rising in alarm.Xavier's face was set in a grim mask, his eyes blazing with anger. He didn't answer, just kept pulling me along."Xavier, please calm down," I tried again, my voice softening. "Just listen to me, okay?"But he wasn't listening. He was beyond reason, his emotions simmering just below the surface. I'd never seen him like this before, his anger and frustration palpable.We reached the car, and Xavier yanked open the door, pushing me inside with a rough gesture. I landed hard on the seat, my wrist throbb
Xavier"Will you speak already and stop staring?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin. The doctor's smile faltered, and she cleared her throat."Firstly, I would like to apologize. So, I'm so sorry, Mr. Blackwood," she began, her voice hesitant. "It appears we made a terrible mistake. The test result wasn't actually for your wife, Alice. It belonged to another patient."My mind reeled as the doctor's words hung in the air. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut."I'm deeply sorry for my negligence," the doctor continued, her eyes filled with regret. "As for your real test result..." She opened her drawer and pulled out a file. "We received it this morning, and I was about to contact you, but I forgot. I'm glad you both came in."I snatched the file from her hand, my heart racing. I scanned the pages, my eyes devouring the words. And then I saw it – the test result, confirming that our baby was healthy.A wave of relief washed over me, followed by a rush of joy. I felt like I was wal
AliceI lay on the hospital bed, anxiously waiting for the doctor's verdict. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Brown," he said gently. "But you are not pregnant. Those are just symptoms of stress, and I advise you to take a rest from work."I swallowed hard and nodded my head."But... did you find anything wrong with me?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. "Is there anything wrong with me? Why can't I get pregnant?""You're alright, Mrs. Brown," he said, his tone sympathetic. "We've checked, and your body is quite okay. We don't know the reason why you're unable to get pregnant, but I advise you to bring your husband in for a check-up, just in case."My thoughts swirled as I processed the doctor's words. I wondered what my husband's reaction would be. Would he want to do it? Would he even care?Lately, I'd noticed a change in his behavior, and it filled me with worry. We were three years into our marriage, and this sudden shift was unsettling, leaving me feeling sad and uncertain.I still needed to p
AliceI wiped away tears, trying to calm myself down. "So, what about us?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Do you think I can just...accept some kind of polyandry relationship? Hell no."My husband and step-sister exchanged glances, and then burst into laughter. I frowned, feeling more confused than ever. Why were they laughing? Nothing was funny here.He shook his head, still chuckling. "Wait a minute, did you actually think that I would even want to be with two women at once?"I raised an eyebrow, my heart racing. "What are you even saying? Isn't that what you wanted? Isn't that what you've been doing!"I wish I realized that I was talking nonsense, but I was too troubled to accept reality.He shook his head again, his expression cold. "I'm throwing you away, Alice. Don't you get it? I want your step-sister, not you."I clenched my teeth, wiping away my tears as I struggled to compose myself. "Don't expect me to leave," I said, my voice firm. "I'm not leaving. That husband snatcher is t
Xavier"Will you speak already and stop staring?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin. The doctor's smile faltered, and she cleared her throat."Firstly, I would like to apologize. So, I'm so sorry, Mr. Blackwood," she began, her voice hesitant. "It appears we made a terrible mistake. The test result wasn't actually for your wife, Alice. It belonged to another patient."My mind reeled as the doctor's words hung in the air. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut."I'm deeply sorry for my negligence," the doctor continued, her eyes filled with regret. "As for your real test result..." She opened her drawer and pulled out a file. "We received it this morning, and I was about to contact you, but I forgot. I'm glad you both came in."I snatched the file from her hand, my heart racing. I scanned the pages, my eyes devouring the words. And then I saw it – the test result, confirming that our baby was healthy.A wave of relief washed over me, followed by a rush of joy. I felt like I was wal
AliceXavier's sudden grip on my hand was like a vice, his fingers digging deep into my skin. I winced, trying to wiggle my hand free, but he only tightened his hold. My wrist throbbed in protest, the pain shooting up my arm."Xavier, please," I begged, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're hurting me."But he didn't respond. Instead, he pulled me along, his strides long and purposeful. I stumbled, trying to keep up with him."Where are you taking me?" I asked, my voice rising in alarm.Xavier's face was set in a grim mask, his eyes blazing with anger. He didn't answer, just kept pulling me along."Xavier, please calm down," I tried again, my voice softening. "Just listen to me, okay?"But he wasn't listening. He was beyond reason, his emotions simmering just below the surface. I'd never seen him like this before, his anger and frustration palpable.We reached the car, and Xavier yanked open the door, pushing me inside with a rough gesture. I landed hard on the seat, my wrist throbb
XavierAs I stepped out of the psychiatric rehab facility, the cool evening air enveloped me, a stark contrast to the sterile atmosphere I had just left behind. I slipped my hand into my pocket and retrieved a cigarette, the familiar ritual a comforting escape. I lit the cigarette with a flick of my lighter and took a long drag, feeling the nicotine coursing through my veins.My eyes drifted upward toward the sky as my mind began to wander. I knew I shouldn't be smoking, not with my health condition, but I couldn't bring myself to care. What was the point anyway? I was going to die soon, no matter what.As I stood there, lost in thought, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. "Sir, please wait!" a voice called out. I turned to see a woman running toward me, her face etched with worry and fear. She was panting heavily, her chest heaving with each breath.I watched her approach, my curiosity piqued. As she drew closer, I asked, "What's the problem?" My voice was calm, but my mind was
AliceI slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. The room was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. I reached for my phone on the bedside table and dialed Wendy's number, but she didn't pick up.I sighed and tried Lexi's number instead. He answered on the first ring."Hey, where are you?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.There was a pause on the other end, and then Lexi whispered back, "What's going on? Why are you whispering, sis?""Never mind," I replied, rolling my eyes. "Has Xavier gone to work yet?""Yeah, he left some minutes ago," he replied.I sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "I just woke up."Lexi's tone turned curious. "Why does it seem like you're trying to hide from Xavier?"I sighed, feeling a pang of frustration."I'm not hiding from Xavier, actually. I just wanted to stay off him for some days."Lexi's voice turned skeptical. "Why?"I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'm mad at him."Lexi's tone turned firm. "I
XavierI took a deep breath, my eyes locked on Lily's. "I want to apologize for treating you poorly back then," I said, my voice laced with remorse. "I gave you a cigarette and then rejected you because of it. I'm truly sorry about that."Lily's face scrunched up, and she shook her head. "No, I think I deserved it," she whispered, her voice cracking.I shook my head firmly. "No, you didn't. If I hadn't done that to you, you wouldn't have been triggered to seek revenge. I'm sorry, once again." My eyes pleaded for forgiveness. "I just came to unburden myself, to pour out my feelings. I acted like shit back then, and I'm deeply sorry."Lily's gaze met mine, her eyes brimming with tears. She searched my face, as if seeking the truth behind my words."Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you reject me when you gave me the cigarette? Why did you do that? It still confuses me to this day." Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice cracked with emotion.I felt a pang
XavierAs I lay beside Alice, I didn't want to wake her up. She needed her rest, especially with the baby on the way. I cared about her, and the thought of causing her or the baby any discomfort was unbearable.I carefully got out of bed, trying not to disturb her. I headed to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the fatigue. After dressing, I grabbed my wallet and phone and headed downstairs.The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as I entered the dining room. Wendy and Lexi were laughing and chatting over breakfast. I walked over to the table, poured myself a cup of coffee, and took a sip.Wendy looked up at me, concern etched on her face. "You came home late yesterday?""Yeah," I nodded, taking another sip of my coffee."Why, though?" she asked."You don't need to know," I replied, noticing the coldness in my tone which I didn't quite care about.Wendy's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she didn't press the issue. Lexi, on the other hand, looked like he was burs
AliceAs the night wore on, I paced around my room, tears brimming in my eyes. The doctor's words echoed in my mind: "Mrs. Alice Brown, I'm afraid your baby's growth is restricted. The ultrasound shows the baby's not developing at a normal rate. We need to run more tests to determine the cause and the best course of action."Before I knew it, I burst into tears again. Wendy entered my room, concern etched on her face, and tried to comfort me. "Everything will be fine, Alice," she said. "Please stop crying already."I glared at her, frustration and fear simmering inside me. "You've said that for the umpteenth time already, and I don't think everything will be fine. What's going to happen to my baby?"She sighed deeply and hugged me, calming me down. "When my brother comes, you need to tell him everything, okay? I'm certain you two will be able to talk it out."I swallowed hard and nodded. "I will. I just need to think about it first. I'm actually scared of telling him just yet.""Okay,
Xavier"Stop the car!" I screamed at the driver, my heart racing with fear. "Fucking stop!"The driver slammed on the brakes, and I leapt out of the car, sprinting towards Phoebe. She was still standing in the middle of the road, her eyes fixed on some point in front of her, as if waiting for the inevitable.I ran as fast as I could, my legs pumping furiously as I desperately tried to reach her before the truck did. Memories of our past flooded my mind, memories of our laughter, our tears, our kisses.We were lying on the bed, our lips locked in a passionate kiss. I laughed and asked her, "So, I guess you're trying to do the battle of kisses, huh?"She laughed and said, "Yeah, come get it!" Her lips pouted, inviting me to kiss her again. And I did.As I ran, tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. I didn't even realize I was crying. All I knew was that I had to save Phoebe.Just as the truck was about to hit her, I launched myself at her, wrapping my arms around her waist and
XavierI ignored Phoebe's attempt to divert her gaze, and she gave a small smile. "I guess I'll just drink without clinking glasses even if it hurts."Phoebe took a sip from her glass, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hmm! Tastes strong and so nice.My irritation grew with each passing moment, and I couldn't help but feel like she was toying with me."What the hell are you doing here?" I asked again, my voice low and even.Phoebe smiled, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of anger in my tone. "You haven't answered my question yet," she said, her voice dripping with nonchalance. "What are you doing, drinking like this? You know it's not good for your health."My frown deepened, my eyes flashing with annoyance. "That's none of your business," I growled. "What I want to know is, what the hell are you doing here? And how did you find out that I was here?"Phoebe's smile never wavered. "Oh, it was easy," she said, her voice light and airy. "I follow your secretary's postings on Ins