ALEXANDER'S POV "Astra..." I managed to say as I stared at her in surprise. It wasn't what I expected. She didn't look disheveled but she looked like she had been crying for days and it was surprising.Why would she cry? Wasn't she the one behind everything?Mom didn't say a word..she didn't have to though, her face already said a thousand words as she glared at the sad face Astra was pulling and then Susan. She was looking weirdly disappointed to see her."What's going on?" I asked finally, taking another step toward her."Alex.. I'm so sorry. I couldn't. I couldn't do it."I frowned, confused."What? Do what?" She sniffed, tears falling off her face."I tried to, Alex, I promise you. I tried to kill myself because I deserve to die. I wanted to punish myself for you. To do what you would want to do to me but I couldn't. I can't. Alexander, please forgive me."I blinked, utterly confused at what was going on.So Astra really did try to commit suicide? Why?"You tried to kill yourse
KATHERINE'S POVThe sight of Henry standing outside the building sent a jolt of unease through me. His presence here, of all places, couldn’t be a coincidence. My mind raced, trying to piece together why Alexander’s assistant would be here, especially after everything that had just transpired inside. Was Alexander keeping tabs on me? Or was this something else entirely?Hazel’s grip on my hand tightened, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Henry through the car window. “What the hell is he doing here?” she muttered, her voice low but laced with suspicion.I didn’t have an answer. My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, torn between the confrontation I’d just had with Elizabeth and Clara and the sudden appearance of Henry. My heart was still pounding from the adrenaline of standing up to my stepmother, and now this? It felt like the universe was testing me, pushing me to my limits.“Let’s go,” I said quietly, my voice steadier than I felt. “We’ll deal with this later.”Hazel nodded, but
ALEXANDER'S POV The room felt heavy with tension after Astra’s tearful confession and my mother and Susan’s abrupt departure. I sat in silence, my mind racing as I tried to process everything that had just happened. Astra’s sobs had quieted, but her presence still lingered, a reminder of the chaos she had brought into my life. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her sudden remorse than she was letting on. But for now, I had bigger things to worry about.My son. Franklin. The boy I hadn’t even known existed until a few days ago. The boy who had called me “Daddy” without even knowing who I was. The thought of him sent a pang of guilt and longing through me. Katherine had kept him from me for six years, and now that I knew the truth, I couldn’t just sit back and let her dictate how this would play out. I needed to see him, to talk to him, to be a part of his life. But how?I glanced at Astra, who was still standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, her eyes red and pu
KATHERINE'S POV"What's this call I just got, Katherine?" Hazel asked as she walked into my office.It's been hours of arranging and rearranging my mother's former office and trying to make it look exactly as I remembered it looked like.It wasn't easy ..no, everything since this morning hasn't been easy.Ever since I found out about Alex's involvement in the company, and then that visit of his..? Something just didn't stick to me, it just didn't seem right. I sighed and dropped the pile of files I was carrying and turned to stare at Hazel.The look on her face told me that she was angry and I could already tell that this was going to add to my already piled-up list of worries."What call?" I asked as I stared expectantly at her."What else??"The rolling of her eyes And the frown was enough for me to know who it was about.I sighed again and slumped on the seat.Great...just great."What did he do this time, Hazel?""He went to Franklin's school, Katherine, that's what he did."I sa
KATHERINE'S POV"No... Hazel, definitely not!"I was staring at the dress Hazel showcased in front of me and shook my head. There's no way she expected me to wear something like that to the club, no, anywhere.It was a sheer seductive black gown that looked short as hell.Definitely not something a CEO should be caught wearing."Oh come on, Katherine, be open-minded. This is really good, especially for our mission for tonight and what's that mission?"I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head refusing to give in."Come on, say it."I shrugged."Katherine...?""Fine.. to get fucked.""Louder, I can't hear you. What's the mission for tonight?""To get fucked.""To what??!""Get fucked!!" I yelled, finally bursting into laughter."That's the spirit. You need to get fucked and this dress screams everything about your availability to get fucked, not that...," she pointed at the clothes I was wearing with a frown on her face."But this is okay, I mean, it's uhmm, modest?""Right and who fuc
KATHERINE'S POV "Katherine?" Yeah Right. It was Charles alright.What the heck was he doing here? In a place like this?"Katherine?? Is ...is that you?" The sound of his voice sent shivers all over my body as I stared into those eyes of his.His full brows curved in surprise and recognition as he stared at me. He looked the same as he did three years ago, the only thing that changed was how tanned he looked, how long his buzz cut was now, and the pain in his eyes...the only thing I left him with."Charles," I managed to say but it only came out in a whisper as I stared at him, still surprised to see him here."It's really you??! Katherine? Wha... what are you doing here? I mean, no, wow, I'm...You look beautiful."A thousand words ran through my head as I stared at his surprised face. I wanted to tell him that he looked the same... but in a drop-dead gorgeous kind of way.I wanted to ask him if he was over me, if he ever forgot me...like I did the minute I stepped my foot into Texas
KATHERINE'S POV He turned to look at me And that sad look in his eyes was back as he gave me a little smile."You know who... Him. You came here because of him, right? To show Franklin his father?" I scoffed and shook my head."No, you're getting it all wrong. I will never let my son get close to him. I only came here for one thing and he is not the reason I'm back!"I didn't realize it but I was clutching my fist so tight at the thought of Alexander and Franklin. It wasn't until Charles reached for my hands and patted it lightly that I realized what I was doing."Relax, you're about to break your fingers just thinking about him."I shook my head and turned to stare at the door, observing the people in the bar."Katherine...""Charles, please... I just... I don't want to talk about anything right now. Please, I came here just..to forget about everything. Please, okay?"He stared at me for a while before finally nodding his head."Okay.. fine. Let's not talk about the past. How are y
ALEXANDER'S POV I shouldn't have stepped out of the house, I shouldn't have come here. That was what ran through my mind as I slowly walked toward the two figures standing in front of Katherine's house.At first I thought it was Hazel, because of the way she was dressed, Katherine would never dress like that, but as I got closer, it didn't take me long to realize who it was... Katherine, with a man!I felt my blood boil as I moved closer to them, my entire thoughts screaming wild as I saw the man holding her hand and the way he pulled her behind him in a protective way.What the hell was he protecting her from?I saw Katherine's lips move and also noticed how she pushed his hands away just as I got in front of them but none of that mattered to me. Not while he was still staring at me like I was a threat of sorts to Katherine."I'll call you later tonight," he said and with one last look at me, he walked away.The night air was thick with tension, the kind that made your skin prickl
KATHERINE'S POV As soon as I walked inside the door, I slammed it shut and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My back pressed against the cool wood, my fingers trembling slightly as I replayed the confrontation with Alexander in my head. Why was he here? Why did he have to see me with Charles? And most importantly, why did I feel like I just got caught cheating on him?Which was ridiculous because I never belonged to Alexander and I never will.I let out a sigh and slid off the door to the ground as the image of Alexander's face as he stared at me with Charles danced around my head."Oh well, look who's here," Hazel's Sharp voice interrupted my thoughts and I opened my eyes to see her at the foot of the stairs, staring at me like she was expecting me to be here."Hazel.." I called softly, and as if she could feel my frustration, she walked towards me hurriedly, with a frown on her face."What's wrong, Katherine? What happened? Did someone drug you? Force you to dri
ALEXANDER'S POV I shouldn't have stepped out of the house, I shouldn't have come here. That was what ran through my mind as I slowly walked toward the two figures standing in front of Katherine's house.At first I thought it was Hazel, because of the way she was dressed, Katherine would never dress like that, but as I got closer, it didn't take me long to realize who it was... Katherine, with a man!I felt my blood boil as I moved closer to them, my entire thoughts screaming wild as I saw the man holding her hand and the way he pulled her behind him in a protective way.What the hell was he protecting her from?I saw Katherine's lips move and also noticed how she pushed his hands away just as I got in front of them but none of that mattered to me. Not while he was still staring at me like I was a threat of sorts to Katherine."I'll call you later tonight," he said and with one last look at me, he walked away.The night air was thick with tension, the kind that made your skin prickl
KATHERINE'S POV He turned to look at me And that sad look in his eyes was back as he gave me a little smile."You know who... Him. You came here because of him, right? To show Franklin his father?" I scoffed and shook my head."No, you're getting it all wrong. I will never let my son get close to him. I only came here for one thing and he is not the reason I'm back!"I didn't realize it but I was clutching my fist so tight at the thought of Alexander and Franklin. It wasn't until Charles reached for my hands and patted it lightly that I realized what I was doing."Relax, you're about to break your fingers just thinking about him."I shook my head and turned to stare at the door, observing the people in the bar."Katherine...""Charles, please... I just... I don't want to talk about anything right now. Please, I came here just..to forget about everything. Please, okay?"He stared at me for a while before finally nodding his head."Okay.. fine. Let's not talk about the past. How are y
KATHERINE'S POV "Katherine?" Yeah Right. It was Charles alright.What the heck was he doing here? In a place like this?"Katherine?? Is ...is that you?" The sound of his voice sent shivers all over my body as I stared into those eyes of his.His full brows curved in surprise and recognition as he stared at me. He looked the same as he did three years ago, the only thing that changed was how tanned he looked, how long his buzz cut was now, and the pain in his eyes...the only thing I left him with."Charles," I managed to say but it only came out in a whisper as I stared at him, still surprised to see him here."It's really you??! Katherine? Wha... what are you doing here? I mean, no, wow, I'm...You look beautiful."A thousand words ran through my head as I stared at his surprised face. I wanted to tell him that he looked the same... but in a drop-dead gorgeous kind of way.I wanted to ask him if he was over me, if he ever forgot me...like I did the minute I stepped my foot into Texas
KATHERINE'S POV"No... Hazel, definitely not!"I was staring at the dress Hazel showcased in front of me and shook my head. There's no way she expected me to wear something like that to the club, no, anywhere.It was a sheer seductive black gown that looked short as hell.Definitely not something a CEO should be caught wearing."Oh come on, Katherine, be open-minded. This is really good, especially for our mission for tonight and what's that mission?"I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head refusing to give in."Come on, say it."I shrugged."Katherine...?""Fine.. to get fucked.""Louder, I can't hear you. What's the mission for tonight?""To get fucked.""To what??!""Get fucked!!" I yelled, finally bursting into laughter."That's the spirit. You need to get fucked and this dress screams everything about your availability to get fucked, not that...," she pointed at the clothes I was wearing with a frown on her face."But this is okay, I mean, it's uhmm, modest?""Right and who fuc
KATHERINE'S POV"What's this call I just got, Katherine?" Hazel asked as she walked into my office.It's been hours of arranging and rearranging my mother's former office and trying to make it look exactly as I remembered it looked like.It wasn't easy ..no, everything since this morning hasn't been easy.Ever since I found out about Alex's involvement in the company, and then that visit of his..? Something just didn't stick to me, it just didn't seem right. I sighed and dropped the pile of files I was carrying and turned to stare at Hazel.The look on her face told me that she was angry and I could already tell that this was going to add to my already piled-up list of worries."What call?" I asked as I stared expectantly at her."What else??"The rolling of her eyes And the frown was enough for me to know who it was about.I sighed again and slumped on the seat.Great...just great."What did he do this time, Hazel?""He went to Franklin's school, Katherine, that's what he did."I sa
ALEXANDER'S POV The room felt heavy with tension after Astra’s tearful confession and my mother and Susan’s abrupt departure. I sat in silence, my mind racing as I tried to process everything that had just happened. Astra’s sobs had quieted, but her presence still lingered, a reminder of the chaos she had brought into my life. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her sudden remorse than she was letting on. But for now, I had bigger things to worry about.My son. Franklin. The boy I hadn’t even known existed until a few days ago. The boy who had called me “Daddy” without even knowing who I was. The thought of him sent a pang of guilt and longing through me. Katherine had kept him from me for six years, and now that I knew the truth, I couldn’t just sit back and let her dictate how this would play out. I needed to see him, to talk to him, to be a part of his life. But how?I glanced at Astra, who was still standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, her eyes red and pu
KATHERINE'S POVThe sight of Henry standing outside the building sent a jolt of unease through me. His presence here, of all places, couldn’t be a coincidence. My mind raced, trying to piece together why Alexander’s assistant would be here, especially after everything that had just transpired inside. Was Alexander keeping tabs on me? Or was this something else entirely?Hazel’s grip on my hand tightened, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Henry through the car window. “What the hell is he doing here?” she muttered, her voice low but laced with suspicion.I didn’t have an answer. My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, torn between the confrontation I’d just had with Elizabeth and Clara and the sudden appearance of Henry. My heart was still pounding from the adrenaline of standing up to my stepmother, and now this? It felt like the universe was testing me, pushing me to my limits.“Let’s go,” I said quietly, my voice steadier than I felt. “We’ll deal with this later.”Hazel nodded, but
ALEXANDER'S POV "Astra..." I managed to say as I stared at her in surprise. It wasn't what I expected. She didn't look disheveled but she looked like she had been crying for days and it was surprising.Why would she cry? Wasn't she the one behind everything?Mom didn't say a word..she didn't have to though, her face already said a thousand words as she glared at the sad face Astra was pulling and then Susan. She was looking weirdly disappointed to see her."What's going on?" I asked finally, taking another step toward her."Alex.. I'm so sorry. I couldn't. I couldn't do it."I frowned, confused."What? Do what?" She sniffed, tears falling off her face."I tried to, Alex, I promise you. I tried to kill myself because I deserve to die. I wanted to punish myself for you. To do what you would want to do to me but I couldn't. I can't. Alexander, please forgive me."I blinked, utterly confused at what was going on.So Astra really did try to commit suicide? Why?"You tried to kill yourse