Melissa sat on her bed, folding her washed clothes while humming a song. She had decided to let her past go for the moment, focusing more on her role as a soon-to-be mother. She was trying to forgive herself for being so foolish over the years, for neglecting her mother’s teachings and ending up as a rebellious, spoiled daughter. If only she could turn back time, maybe she would have been working in her father's office, enjoying the luxury of being part of the De Leon legacy. No one is perfect, and she had learned her lesson the hard way. But for now, though living under someone else’s mercy, she had decided to be happy. She owed that to herself and her baby.“Baby, I’m sorry for making you go through all this, okay?” she said, caressing her tummy as she finished folding her clothes. “I promise to make you the happiest child alive, even without your daddy. Just know that Mommy loves you so much,” she smiled softly. Suddenly, she felt a gentle tap in her stomach and gasped, startled by
It was a beautiful Monday morning. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, as if greeting the start of a new day. The streets of Beverly Hills were calm yet vibrant, with polished cars gleaming under the sunlight. The aroma of fresh coffee lingered in the air from nearby cafes, mingling with the scent of blooming flowers in the gardens. The neighborhood exuded a peacefulness that felt almost dreamlike, as though everything was just a little too perfect.But this peace didn’t extend to Charlie’s home. The small household was awake early, seeing their boss off on a trip to New York City. Melissa had just walked him out, reminding him to be careful and to return soon. His car rolled out of the driveway, and Melissa smiled as though she had just won a Grammy award.“Don’t miss him too much; he’ll be back soon,” Ms. Martha teased as they walked back inside.“And why would I miss my boss?” Melissa shot back, glaring at her. “As long as my salary keeps coming, I’m fine.”“Says the woman wavin
A few months passed, and Melissa’s tummy had fully protruded, making it hard for her to sleep at night. She woke up every hour, feeling pain here and there. Her legs felt heavier, almost making it impossible for her to move as quickly as she used to. Though Charlie tried to be there for her, his work became demanding, with one appointment after another. This week was particularly hectic because his company was vying for a contract worth millions of dollars. A rival company pushed them to work harder, with his staff putting in long hours to secure the deal. Charlie, who never tolerated laziness or incompetence, worked harder than anyone else and promised his team handsome rewards if they succeeded. Though motivated, the staff found the workload daunting. However, when the boss works ten times harder, complaining isn’t an option. Charlie returned home exhausted. The walk from the garage to the living room felt endless. Ms. Renetta rushed to take his briefcase, greeting him p
The baby was immediately taken away as the doctors discovered he had breathing problems. “Where are they taking him?” Melissa demanded. “Just relax. He’ll be fine,” Charlie assured her, but she wasn’t convinced. “They didn’t let me hold him. They just left. Is my child okay? What are they doing to him?” she cried. “Do you think I’d let them do anything wrong to him?” he said, and she relaxed. “He’s in the NICU, receiving urgent medical attention,” he explained. “Thank you for being here with me. I would have given up without your support,” she said gratefully. “It’s nothing. I’m happy you made it through,” he smiled, grabbing her hand and kissing her knuckles. “I’ll always be here, okay?” “You missed your presentation because of me. You’re supposed to be angry,” she said, feeling guilty. Charlie chuckled. “Why would I be angry? I can always get another contract, but if I lose you, how do I get you back?” His reply made Melissa’s eyes water. Sh
“Lisa!” Charlie shouted in his sleep, startling Melissa, who had been admiring his sleepy face. He jerked upright, disoriented, until his eyes found hers.“Boss,” Melissa called softly, sitting up.“Are you okay?” he asked, inspecting her. “Does anything else hurt? I told you to stop saying last words!”“I’m sorry,” she apologized, confused. “I didn’t repeat it.”Charlie exhaled sharply. “I thought something bad happened to you. The doctor said—”“It was a dream,” she interrupted. “I’m okay now. I don’t feel severe pain anymore. The doctor also said Junior will be fine, so there’s nothing to worry about. I didn’t want to wake you up, seeing how stressed you were,” she explained.“Okay,” Charlie said, stretching. “I’ll go get you something to eat. Stay safe,” he added, picking up his phone from the bed.“Don’t bother. I’m not hungry yet,” she said, grabbing his hand. “I think you should go home and rest. The doctors will take care of me.”“Don’t worry about me. Let me get you food firs
Melissa didn’t look up as she felt his gaze piercing her, making her feel exposed. “Look at me, Lisa.” His commanding tone sent shivers down her spine, and she found herself lifting her eyes to meet his. She dared not defy that simple order from her charming boss. He was eerily handsome, and every time she got close to him like this, her heart felt like it might explode. Her body reacted so sensitively to his touch that she wondered if she was truly in love with Jared. When her eyes met his, her pulse quickened.“Tell me what you want,” he said, his voice low and seductive as his hand brushed against her arm. It was hot in the room, but Melissa was certain she felt goosebumps form where he touched her.“I… I wanted… us to…” her voice trembled. Charlie leaned in, his lips barely inches from hers. His gaze seemed to pierce straight through her soul.“I’m listening,” he urged.Instinctively, her hand reached up to his chest, his heartbeat mirroring hers. “Can we talk outside? It’s very h
Melissa pinched her arm, hoping she was still dreaming, but no. She was fully awake, and Charlie’s words only made her feel lightheaded. “What… what do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling.A sly smirk spread across Charlie’s face as he stared at her. “What were you thinking, Lisa?” he asked sharply, making her recoil. “Stetson is my son, and nothing can change that.”“Stop saying that!” Melissa snapped, her temper flaring. “Don’t make me go crazy, Charlie. I’m just respecting you.”“Oh, you are?” he leaned forward, his dark hazel eyes locking onto hers. “Why don’t you lose it? Let’s see how far you can go,” he challenged her, then leaned back again.Melissa scratched her neck, trying to calm herself. Her temper was bad, but Charlie’s could be worse. Though she hadn’t seen him lose control, she had heard stories.“Fine, tell me what you mean by Stetson is your son,” she said, her voice calmer.“I adopted him,” he said curtly, reclining against the headbo
A month had passed since Melissa agreed to marry Charlie, and they had been actively preparing for their wedding. Melissa wanted a simple wedding. She didn’t want outsiders witnessing their union—just family members and a few friends. Currently, Charlie opened the car door for her as they arrived at Melissa’s mother’s house. She stood for a moment, gazing at the home she once called hers. She wasn’t sure if her mother would throw her out again. The last time she was here, she had promised to become the woman her mother always wanted. Was getting married truly the beginning of that journey? She took a deep breath as Charlie held her hand, reassuring her.“She’s still your mom,” he said. Melissa nodded, and they headed inside. One of the maids let them in, then went upstairs to get her mother.“Your house is beautiful,” Charlie whispered. Melissa smiled, surveying the living room. Nothing had changed much. It was just as she remembered, except it was quieter. This had once been her hom
Raymond didn’t show up at the house as Eureka thought he would. She waited all through the night, constantly looking out the window, hoping to see him come in, but he didn’t. She tried his line countless times. He didn’t pick up.Kailani was the first to wake up, going over to her mother’s room and knocking several times. Eureka was jolted awake, scrambling from the bed as the knock persisted.“Hold on a sec,” she said, rubbing her eyes and staggering to the door.“Mom,” Kailani entered. “Good morning, Mom. Did you send my dad away? He’s not in his room. He didn’t come home last night. He didn’t kiss me goodnight. Where did he go?” she asked, her eyes brimming with tears.“I... I didn’t send your dad away. Why would you think that?”“Did he travel? He would have told me,” she sobbed.“Stop crying, honey,” Eureka pulled her closer. “Your dad is fine. The thing is… he was with me in the office when I received a call from a client in Texas to come get a package.
Raymond straightened himself as Eureka elegantly approached him, dressed in a fabulous short red gown, her hair packed in a ponytail. Her steps were firm against the floor, her eyes meeting his briefly. Raymond’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes raking over her gorgeous stature. He loved her in red dresses. He swallowed, wishing he could grab her and kiss her to oblivion. When he realized he couldn’t anymore, he smiled disappointedly. He opened the door for her and entered. She watched him stride around the car before taking a seat behind the wheel.He looked at her through the rearview mirror, their eyes meeting again. “You look breathtakingly gorgeous, Miss Bennett,” he complimented her.“Thank you, Mr. Blackwood,” she said.“To the office or an appointment?” he asked, starting the car. She didn’t answer as her phone rang.“Hi, hon,” she picked up the call. Raymond felt his stomach twist as he glanced at her one more time. “Really? Aren’t you tired? You were all over
Kaiden was heading back home with his driver at the wheel. He was focused on his phone, replying to some comments on his latest video. His photographer had done a perfect job, and his fans loved it, showing the world how well he trained and all that. Suddenly, the car jerked as the driver pressed the brakes instantly, causing Kaiden to wobble on his seat. A car had just swerved into their path, prompting the abrupt stop. “What the heck?” he grumbled. “You’re lucky nothing happened to my phone.” “We have a problem, Kaiden,” his driver said as Lucy, her face masked as usual, stepped out of her car in a black leather jacket and pants. She leaned against the trunk, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “That’s your problem. You go take care of that,” Kaiden said casually. His driver stepped down, and in less than two minutes, he came back inside. “She wants to speak with you,” he announced. “And who the hell is she?” “A fan of yours, I believe,” the driver replied. “F
“Did you ever hate me?” Melissa murmured, moving dangerously closer. “Did you regret meeting me?”“Lisa,” he called, his hand sliding around her waist, causing her to gasp. “Stop asking silly questions. Our son must be watching. You can handle this, okay?” he told her, a soft smile appearing on his face.“You feel it?” she asked, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Is it that obvious?” she still lingered in her leaned-in position, inhaling his intoxicating fragrance.“You’re always vulnerable, Lisa,” he teased. “This was the same expression you gave me on our first night; I can’t ever forget.”“I’m doing it again. Will you do the right thing?” she whispered, her hand caressing the nape of his neck. “I know I’m being a spoiled brat again. I won’t regret this one.”“Lisa, careful. You need to stop,” he tried pulling away. She was reluctant, her lips nearly brushing his. Their breath mingled with each other, eyes locked. Before she could press her lips to his, his phone rang, start
Stetson was seated on the couch, his eyes fixed on the TV as he watched his favorite weekend series. It was the season finale, and he didn’t want to miss a single dialogue. “Come on, dude. Don’t make me panic, just tell her already. If she leaves this time, that will definitely be the end,” Stetson spoke to the screen as though the characters could hear him. He moved forward, putting his popcorn on the table. “Just say it!” he encouraged. “Wait a minute. Why does the advice seem directed at me? Damn it, do I really have the courage to tell her? Will she be disappointed? Gosh, that would be embarrassing.” Melissa descended the stairs, her slippers patting softly against the marble floor. She had gone shopping with Stetson earlier, and she had to go change into casual, knee-length navy blue pants and a white tank top. “Holy moley! What in the world just happened?” he exclaimed as the movie ended without the main lead and the female lead getting back together like he had expected.
“Kaiden, hold on, Kaiden, please,” Raymond called out as Kaiden headed upstairs. Kaiden reluctantly stopped, leaning against the handrail and scrolling through his phone. “I want us to talk. Can I get a minute, please?” Raymond asked as he neared him.“Your time starts now,” Kaiden said.“Look, I know you never liked me, and you’re trying to adjust to the fact that I’m your dad, but can you give me a chance to make up for lost days? I’m a better man now. I want to prove how much I love you and your sister. You guys are all I’ve got now, and I promise to always be here, please,” Raymond stated.Kaiden glanced at him. “Are you done?” he asked.“Yes,” Raymond affirmed, and Kaiden turned to leave.“Come on, Kaiden.”He ignored him, answering Lawrence’s video call. “No, don’t even start,” Kaiden told Lawrence.“Bro, look at your hair. You look totally different this time. Tell me, did she make it for you again?” Lawrence exclaimed from the other end in his room.“You don’t think I’ll keep
A large room, lit up by a dim blue light. A mini table in the middle with a bottle of whisky and two glasses. Across the table sat Mr. Mathews and a masked woman, her eyes barely visible, though she pierced them into him. The room was filled with tension, one concealed by a deafening silence, yet the world seemed to revolve around that table. The woman grabbed her glass of whisky and gulped it down, tossing the glass against the wall, a shattering echo filling the room.“Fuck, boss!” she groaned. “You promised me. You said you were going to destroy her for me. What the hell are you saying now?”“Don’t ever raise your voice at me, Lucy!” Mr. Mathews said, his voice dangerously low. “I’m still your boss, and I have the final say. You will go back to Sinaloa and live as quietly as you can. I don’t care what you two had, that must stop!”“Never,” Lucy defied. “I won’t ever stop until I see her six feet under. She took my happiness away, and I must strip her of everything, her life include
Eureka sat with Raymond in the backseat of her car. He had just been released from prison, and she had gone to pick him up. The car was parked along the street; the driver had excused them. But since the driver left, they only stole glances at each other. The next five minutes passed in silence, the air growing tense. It was Kaiden’s call that finally made Eureka speak up.When the call ended, she looked at Raymond. “What are you going to do now?” she asked.“Where do you want me to start?” he retorted, their eyes locking. “I have nothing left, Eureka. You’ve taken everything.”Eureka puckered her lips. “That’s so sad,” she said, her voice filled with mockery. “But guess what? I still have your credit card.” She took the card from her purse and handed it to him.“There’s literally no money on this card. Where are the others?” he demanded.“Oops, they got burnt.” She feigned a pitiful face. “Also, your accounts have been frozen, so I guess you may need to visit the bank. You can sort y
Kaiden sat at his desk, his journal open before him, his hand moving effortlessly across the page. The more he wrote, the heavier the tension in the room became. He couldn’t remember the last time he had jotted anything in his journal, but now felt like the right time—he could no longer contain his emotions.No matter how hard he tried to distract himself, the scene kept replaying in his mind. He didn’t want to believe she found joy in the presence of another boy. It hurt to the core, but he didn’t want to confront her anymore. Fate had decided this—it was nobody’s fault.Many might think it was just infatuation, but he believed in true love. Age had no say in what the heart felt. Even a baby understood what it meant to love someone deeply and wish they could stay by their side forever.Just as a baby cries for its mother’s presence, so does the heart yearn for the one it beats for. As the saying goes, the strongest love is the one that makes sacrifices, not the one that holds on tigh