Anton paced in the living room, his patience wearing thin. He had been waiting for Alina far longer than he had expected, and his excitement for the surprise he had planned was turning into impatience.“Sweetheart, if you don’t come out now, we’ll have to reschedule this for tomorrow,” he called out, trying to keep his tone light.Since Alina's nightmare, Anton hadn’t left her side. He had been there for her every moment, except for the brief time he had to meet Natasha. That meeting, though brief, had been significant. Natasha had agreed to the deal Anton offered, though he knew she was biding her time for her next move.“Just five more minutes!” Alina's voice came from the other room, making Anton shake his head with a soft smile. She had been saying “five minutes” for the last half an hour."I don’t understand why you’re taking so long, you’re already gorgeous." His voice trailed off when the bedroom door finally opened, and Alina stepped into his view.Anton froze, all his words d
'How could I have been so foolish to believe Natasha loved me?' Lucas thought, his jaw clenched as he stared ahead, lost in his thoughts. 'I almost fell for her trap again. I forgot who she truly is a heartless manipulator. Lucas Marshall, you were this close to making the same mistake. If I hadn’t overheard her intentions, I might’ve left Amanda for her. She still has the audacity to try...'“LUCAS!”Lucas snapped out of his thoughts, startled by Amanda’s voice.“What? What happened? And why are you shouting?” He looked at her, blinking, trying to figure out what he had missed.Amanda narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean, why am I shouting? My boyfriend has been mentally checked out for the last five minutes!” Her frustration was evident.“What are you talking about? I’m sitting right here,” Lucas replied, bewildered.“Oh sure, your body’s here, but your mind? It's off somewhere far from Earth. Do you even know how many times I called your name, and you didn’t respond once?” Amanda
The air was crisp and fresh, a far cry from the suffocating tension of the city. I leaned back in my seat as Anton drove us through the winding roads leading to the mountains. It was strange, feeling a sense of relief wash over me after weeks of pretending to be distant from him. For now, Lucas was too distracted to notice anything. “Are you comfortable?” Anton asked, glancing at me with a soft smile as he maneuvered the car along the curves of the road. “Yes,” I said, smiling back. “It feels good to finally have some space to breathe.”The truth was, ever since we had started pretending to be broken up, the charade had weighed heavily on me. It was necessary, of course, to trick Lucas into thinking I was vulnerable and alone. But here, on this vacation, we could finally be ourselves.Anton reached over, placing his hand on mine. "I’ve been waiting for this moment. I hate pretending we aren’t together.”I squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth and sincerity in his touch. “Me too. Thi
The soft light of dawn filtered through the cabin windows, casting a warm glow across the room. I stirred, slowly waking from one of the best nights of sleep I’d had in months. For the first time in so long, there were no nightmares, no memories of that dark future. Instead, there was only Anton’s steady breathing beside me and the warmth of his body, making me feel safe.I shifted slightly, turning to face him. He was still asleep, his features softened in the early light. A small smile tugged at my lips as I traced the lines of his jaw with my eyes, remembering how far we’d come. From misunderstanding to heartbreak, and now to this—to waking up together in a place where no one could touch us.For a brief moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was no Lucas, no Natasha, no danger. Just us, here in this peaceful bubble. And for once, I allowed myself to fully indulge in that feeling.Anton stirred, his eyes fluttering open. When his gaze met mine, a slow smile spread across h
Lucas sat in his office, the low hum of tension hanging in the air. His mind raced as he replayed the events of the last few weeks. Natasha’s obsession with revenge.The door to his office creaked open, and Lucas barely looked up from his desk. He assumed it was one of his men with another meaningless update, but when a muffled sob reached his ears, his head snapped up in alarm.Amanda stood in the doorway, her body trembling as she leaned heavily against the frame. Her face was bruised, one eye swollen and purple, a deep cut visible on her cheek. Her usually sleek hair was disheveled, and her clothes were torn and dirty as if she’d been running for her life.“Amanda?” Lucas shot up from his seat, his heart pounding. “What the hell happened to you?”Amanda limped inside, collapsing into the chair across from his desk, her face buried in her hands. Her sobs filled the room, raw and filled with pain. For a moment, Lucas stood frozen, unable to comprehend the sight before him. Amanda, wh
The soft hum of city traffic buzzed faintly in the distance as Amanda strode confidently into the private lounge of the upscale café. Her gait was graceful, her posture upright, and the look on her face a stark contrast to the broken, teary-eyed woman Lucas had seen only hours before.She slipped into the booth where Anton and Alina sat, sipping coffee and casually chatting. Alina’s eyes lit up with amusement as she took in Amanda’s impeccable appearance—no bruises, no limp, not a single sign of the woman who had appeared so devastated in front of Lucas.Amanda grinned and waved at the waiter as she slid into the seat across from them. “I’ll have a latte, thanks,” she said cheerfully, before turning back to Anton and Alina. “Well, that was a fun little performance. I think I deserve an award.”Anton chuckled, leaning back in his seat with a satisfied smirk. “You did a spectacular job, Amanda. The look on Lucas’s face when you told him Natasha tried to kill you—it was priceless. He swa
Lucas stormed into Natasha's apartment with an explosive rage coursing through his veins. His jaw clenched as the door slammed behind him, reverberating through the silent space. He didn’t care about pleasantries anymore. After everything that had happened with Amanda and the sudden withdrawal of support from her family, Lucas was done playing games. “Natasha!” he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls as he marched through the apartment. “Where the hell are you?” Natasha appeared from the hallway, her face twisted with confusion at his aggressive tone. “Lucas? What’s going on?” she asked, her brows furrowed as she took in his frantic state. “You know exactly what’s going on!” Lucas snapped, his eyes blazing with fury. “Amanda just broke up with me. She came to me all bruised up, crying, saying that you tried to kill her!” Natasha’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth dropping open. “What? Are you out of your mind? I didn’t do anything to Amanda! Why would I even—” “Don’t lie to
Lucas sat in his darkened apartment, the weight of the recent events pressing down on him. Amanda’s abrupt departure, her family’s withdrawal of support, and his explosive confrontation with Natasha had left him shaken and desperate. His once meticulously crafted life had unraveled in a matter of days, and for the first time in his life, he felt powerless. But there was one glimmer of hope left in the back of his mind—Alina. If he could somehow get her back, maybe, just maybe, he could salvage what was left of his life. He had been ruthless in the past, but Alina had always been the one constant, the prize he had never fully appreciated until it was too late. He had made mistakes, sure, but if he could fix things with her, everything might turn around. His heart skipped a beat when he heard the familiar sound of a knock on his door. Lucas stood up, his pulse racing. Could it be? Could it actually be Alina? He hurried to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it, and when he
The villa was a picture-perfect scene of Christmas cheer. Twinkling lights adorned the exterior, casting a warm glow over the snow-dusted garden, while a large Christmas tree stood proudly in the living room, its ornaments glinting in the soft light. The scent of fresh pine and cinnamon filled the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of friends and family. Alina held her one-month-old daughter close, cradling the tiny bundle in her arms as guests arrived. She smiled, watching as Linton and Gabriel practically hovered around her, peering down at the baby with wide-eyed wonder. “Is she really my sister?Sometimes it feels like a dream mommy.” Linton asked for the tenth time, his voice filled with awe. Alina chuckled softly. “Yes, sweetheart. She’s really your sister. You got exactly what you asked Santa for last Christmas.” Linton beamed, reaching out a cautious hand to touch his sister’s tiny fingers. “Hi, baby sister,” he whispered. “ I’ll always protect you.” Gabriel,
The doorbell rang, and Alina smiled, knowing exactly who it was. A few moments later, Linton’s excited voice echoed through the hall as he raced toward the door to greet his best friend, Gabriel. “Gabriel!” Linton yelled, throwing the door open and giving his friend a high-five. Gabriel grinned as he stepped inside, holding a little gift bag in his hand. “Hey, Linton! Hi, Aunt Alina!” Gabriel greeted, his eyes wide with excitement as he approached her. “How’s the baby?” Alina chuckled, patting her belly. “Getting bigger every day, Gabriel. And she’s quite active today.” Linton immediately perched himself beside his mom, his eyes sparkling with interest. “Can I talk to her again, Mommy?” he asked with a shy smile. “Of course, sweetheart.” She smoothed down her shirt and leaned back so the boys could get closer. Gabriel scooted onto the couch beside Alina, looking both curious and excited. He handed her the little gift bag, inside of which was a small stuffed bunny with floppy ea
Alina rested on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs and her hand resting on her rounded belly. At seven months pregnant, her baby bump was unmistakable, and it was a joy to see how much it had become a part of the family’s daily life. From Anton’s frequent hand resting over her belly to Linton’s fascination with “talking” to his baby sibling, the whole house seemed to radiate warmth and anticipation. Linton, bursting with excitement, had clambered up onto the couch beside her, his small hands gingerly placed over her belly as if holding a fragile treasure. He leaned in close, his expression serious as he started whispering to the baby. “Hi, baby sis,” Linton said, his voice soft but filled with excitement. “It’s me, Linton, your big brother! I can’t wait to meet you, and I’m gonna teach you everything I know. We’re gonna play so many games, and I’ll teach you how to draw dinosaurs and superheroes. And… and I’ll share my toys, too!” Alina chuckled, resting her hand over his.
Alina gently ruffled Linton’s hair, nudging him awake. Anton was already up, sipping his coffee in the kitchen, as she whispered to their son, "Wake up, Linton. I have a surprise for you today." Linton’s eyes fluttered open, and he rubbed them with his small fists, his face brightening instantly at the word “surprise.” “A surprise? Where are we going, Mommy?” Alina smiled. “You’ll see soon enough. Go get dressed, and we’ll be on our way.” As Linton scrambled out of bed and rushed to get ready, Alina made her way to the kitchen. She kissed Anton on the cheek, feeling a surge of excitement about the secret she was about to share. She had been working on a special painting for weeks, pouring her heart into every brushstroke, and today, she would finally reveal it. “Where are we off to this morning?” Anton asked, raising an eyebrow with curiosity as he sipped his coffee. “Just a little outing to the gallery. I have something special to show you both,” Alina replied, her eyes twin
Alina and Anton pulled into the driveway of David and Isabella’s home. Their hearts were light, filled with the warmth of their recent trip to Paris and the excitement of reuniting with their little one. As they stepped out of the car, Linton’s energy was palpable; he bounced on his feet, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he saw his parents getting down the car. "Mom-dad I missed you so much." Linton hugged their legs. Anton picked him up in his arms. “Are we ready to see Gabriel?” Anton asked, ruffling Linton’s hair. “Yes! I want to show him the new toys you brought!” Linton exclaimed, practically dragging his parents toward the front door. Alina chuckled at her son’s enthusiasm. “Hold on, buddy. Let’s not rush too much. We’ve got to make sure we greet everyone first.” They rang the doorbell, and moments later, David swung the door open, a wide grin lighting up his face. “Welcome back, you guys! We missed you! Literally ever since Linton got to know you are coming he h
Steam filled the bathroom, the warm mist clinging to the glass walls of the shower as water falling softly. Alina leaned against the cool tiles, her body relaxing under the hot spray. She felt a gentle touch at her waist, and without opening her eyes, she knew it was Anton. "Mind if I join you?" his deep voice rumbled softly in her ear, a smile evident in his tone. Alina smiled and turned slightly, glancing over her shoulder. "Of course sweetheart. You never need permission." Anton chuckled, stepping closer, his hands slowly trailing up her arms, pulling her back against his chest. The heat of his body mixed with the warmth of the water, enveloping her in comfort and safety. "I thought I’d be polite today so I was asking for permission," he teased, his lips brushing against the side of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Alina leaned her head back, resting it against his shoulder. "You? Polite?" she teased back, the warmth of his breath tickling her skin. "Hey, I c
David's house was alive with the sounds of giggles and shuffling papers as Linton and Gabriel sat side by side at the large wooden dining table, their books spread out before them. “Got it!” Gabriel declared triumphantly, holding up his math workbook. Linton, still scribbling away on his own page, glanced at him with a smirk. “You think you’re fast, huh? Let me check that.” He leaned over, playfully scrutinizing Gabriel’s work. “Hmm... looks right, but I bet I can finish mine faster.” “Oh, it’s on!” Gabriel grinned, and they both dove back into their homework with renewed energy. Isabella stood at the kitchen counter, watching the boys with a fond smile. She was whipping up pancake batter for their afternoon snack, the aroma of freshly made batter already filling the air. The kitchen was warm and inviting. She glanced over her shoulder at David, who was reading on the couch, occasionally glancing up to chuckle at the boys' competitive banter. “I love how determined they are,
The next day, Paris greeted us with a warm breeze and a clear blue sky.Anton was already up, sipping on his coffee by the window as he admired the view. I walked over to him, still in my pajamas, and leaned against his arm, taking in the sight of the Eiffel Tower standing tall in the distance. “We’re really doing this, huh?” I asked, smiling as I looked up at him. Anton grinned, setting his cup down on the table. “Absolutely. Are you ready for a day of cliches and tourist photos?” I laughed, nodding. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” An hour later, we were standing at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, and despite the crowds around us, I couldn’t help but feel the excitement bubbling up inside. Anton had his camera ready, capturing moments before we even started climbing. Every few steps, he’d stop, turn to me with that teasing smile, and snap a picture—of me laughing, of us together, of the view. "Okay, one more,” Anton said, holding up his phone, getting us both into the fram
Anton’s hand brushed softly against the small of my back as we entered the suite, his touch lingering just a little longer than necessary. I looked around, taking in the breathtaking view from the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city of Paris. The Eiffel Tower sparkled in the distance. Everything about this place felt perfect—luxurious and romantic. The door clicked shut behind us, and the sound echoed in the quiet, intimate space. I placed my purse on the plush chair near the window and took a deep breath, letting the atmosphere of the city sink in. “We’re really here,” I said softly, more to myself than to Anton. Anton chuckled behind me, his arms sliding around my waist. “We are. No distractions. No meetings. Just you, me, and Paris.” I leaned back against him, closing my eyes and enjoying the warmth of his embrace. For the first time in what felt like forever, we had no obligations pulling us in different directions. Just us. I turned in his arms, looking up a