The little boy lay on the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't comprehend how cruel his new classmates were, taunting him for not having a father. But was it Ethan's fault for not having one? No, it wasn't. There was no one in the world who longed for a Daddy more than him. "What's so special about him that the teacher praised him so much, making us look like fools?" one classmate sneered. "Yeah, there's nothing remarkable about him!" another chimed in. "My mother told me he doesn't even have a father!" "That's true, my mother said his mother had him when she was 19." These words pierced through Ethan's heart, fueling his pain. Despite knowing that his mother loved him dearly, he yearned for the embrace of a father's love. Suppressing his vulnerability, he summoned his strength and rose from the ground, shouting, "I do have a father! He's the richest CEO in town!" "We don't believe you!" "You're just a liar!" The bullies continued to laugh and mock him, their word
One could reach an agreement that the scene unfolding before everyone's eyes was undeniably inconvenient, and Ethan was surely bound to have his share of suffering from it. That's why Christine's heart twisted in pain and her stomach muscles clenched, not because of some sort of jealousy. It was out of genuine concern, nothing else. The man held no such power over her, so why would she be jealous of a cheating bastard? The only thing he deserved from her was hate. It wasn't even her he cheated on; it was Martha. For what it was worth, she should have felt rather grateful if her stepsister got to taste the pain of betrayal. Even if a tint of jealousy might have coursed through her veins, she was quick to brush it off, maintaining a dignified demeanor. The same couldn't be said about Hunter; his absurdly handsome features were crossed by different emotions. One could spot embarrassment, confusion, anger, and distress, not particularly in that order. He muttered a curse, while Christi
Time slowed down as his words resonated in her head. Her mind raced, attempting to grasp the meaning behind them, yet her brain couldn't have chosen a worse moment to deny her its cooperation. The instant he leaned his head on her shoulder was the same instant she snapped out of the trance she had fallen into. She blamed her fluctuating hormones for her lack of basic self-respect. All her analytical thoughts seemed to have vanished into the heavy air, likely due to the tense circumstances and her practically nonexistent sex life. There were no other reasons. The confined space and the memory of the night Ethan was conceived surely played a part in stirring up her feelings, mixing them and leaving her confused. What could he possibly expect from her by undressing in the elevator? Certainly, he wouldn't dare to believe that she would strip naked and jump into his arms just because he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his amazingly fit body. There might be other women who would do just
In his dimly lit room, Ethan tossed and turned, unable to sleep a wink. His mind raced with unlikely scenarios, keeping him awake. For the past two days, he had tried everything he could think of to bring his Mommy and Daddy closer, but his attempts had failed miserably. A frown twisted his adorable features, making him look even more cute than usual, if that was possible. Since the unfortunate incident with his teacher, Christine had avoided any unnecessary contact with Hunter. She managed to outsmart every effort Ethan made to bring them together. At least things had settled down at school. After his Mommy had a conversation with the principal, which probably included some unspoken threats, or so he believed, the teacher apologized in front of Ethan's entire class for the misunderstanding she caused. She claimed that she had mistaken his father for another man, but even the little boy knew it was a lie. She had to comply with this request to keep her job, enduring only a three-mo
On the terrace, Christine and Loukas were having breakfast while Hunter had a meeting with a client, and Ethan was still sleeping peacefully like a little angel. "I wanted to ask you something, Christine," Loukas announced, his serious expression overshadowing their casual conversation as he sipped his rich espresso. "You can ask me anything, you know that," Christine replied, curious about the change in Loukas' demeanor. Loukas waited for the maids to set the tray of warm croissants and fresh sliced fruits on the table, ensuring their privacy before continuing the conversation. His hesitance indicated the importance of what he was about to discuss. "Since you and Hunter will be working together for a long time, I need to know how you feel about him," Loukas finally revealed, catching Christine off guard. Her heart raced, and she struggled to catch her breath, feeling as though her heartbeats were amplified for everyone nearby to hear. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. She took a sip o
In his office, Hunter was preparing for the crucial meeting with the CEO of Ada Corp. This particular client held the potential to invest a staggering five billion in the Smart Home Project, making it imperative to secure that capital. Although Hunter knew that prioritizing the business proposal should be at the forefront of his mind, his devious thoughts had other plans. The image of Christine kept invading his mind, clad in that alluring nightgown, her disheveled hair adding to her irresistible charm. Even in her absence, he could vividly picture her, her flushed cheeks betraying her embarrassment. Her hazel eyes, adorned with scattered flecks of gold and green, seemed to beckon him, enticing him in ways that consumed his thoughts. The curves of her body promised nights of passion and sleepless gratification, igniting a desire in him that hadn't been stirred in years. Hunter knew he needed to snap out of this seductive reverie, but how could he resist when Christine looked so dam
Christine dropped Ethan off at school. Her little angel had been in a gloomy mood for days, and his sadness tugged at her heartstrings. She was determined to find a solution to cheer him up. However, the situation bothered her so much that it became challenging for her to focus on her work. There was nothing she couldn't endure, except for watching her precious boy feel so low spirited. It broke her heart into pieces and made her question her abilities as a mother. She believed that Ethan's classmates must have caused him harm again. Children can be ruthless when adults fail to educate them properly. Exiting the car, Christine walked over to open the door for Ethan. She crouched down in front of him, gently lifting his chin with her fingers. "Look, baby, what do you say if we invite all your classmates to a garden party after school? Our backyard is large enough to host even a wedding, and it's Friday, after all. I'll take half a day off from work since I've had a busy week anyway,"
It was already Monday morning, and Hunter had a jam-packed schedule for the day. However, his mind was elsewhere, flooded with memories from the garden party. The image of a loving family tugged at his heartstrings, a long-held aspiration that had remained unresolved. His previous marriage had ended before he could fulfill his deepest desire, and Martha was never inclined towards it either. But then Christine entered his life with her adorable and intelligent son, becoming a precious gift bestowed upon him. If only she would accept him. Last Friday had been a teaser, offering a glimpse of the blissful life he could have. The boy, the flowers he had given Christine, the shared kiss—they all left a memorable impression on him. The warmth of Christine's body mixed with the subtle tremor he had felt while holding her in his arms was incredibly intimate, consuming his thoughts. The combination of anger and desire reflected in her eyes was evidence of the passion that burned within her, a