Shortly after, they walked out together and felt the refreshing evening breeze on their faces. While walking in a peaceful silence with their steps syncing naturally, Kendall unexpectedly felt a comforting sense of tranquility. Looking at Jason, she observed his gaze becoming gentler as he gazed ahead at the path."Have you ever done this?" she inquired, breaking the silence. “Just… take a break, step outside for a bit?”Jason chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Honestly? Not nearly as often as I should. I’ve been so focused on work and… everything else, I guess I forgot how grounding something as simple as this can feel.”With a slight smile on her lips, she nodded. "I believe it's simple to overlook." She stopped briefly to inhale the fragrance of recently dropped leaves. "It seems like there is constant noise surrounding us."Jason's facial expression became gentler as he briefly looked inside himself. He whispered, "You are correct.” “But right now, this feels… different.
As they pulled out onto the road, Jason kept glancing her way, a faint smile playing at his lips. After a short while, he eventually ended the quietness, his voice friendly but playful. "I have a small surprise waiting for you once we arrive at our house." Kendall's eyes grew wider, a combination of curiosity and enthusiasm shining through her face. "A surprise? You know I don’t like suspense, Jason.""He told me to just believe him," with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "The wait will be worth it." She settled back in her seat, trying to contain her anticipation but finding herself stealing glances at him, wondering what he had planned. The drive felt longer than usual, every turn and stop heightening her curiosity. After reaching the house, Jason got out and swiftly went to her side, opening her door with a smile. "He told her to shut her eyes, speaking in a gentle yet authoritative tone." Raising one eyebrow, she couldn't resist the strong intrigue. Breathing in, she closed he
Jason’s day began in silence. The soft shadows painted his bedroom walls as the gentle morning sun's golden rays filtered through his curtains. After blinking a few times, he let his eyes adapt before straightening up. He let out a quiet exhale while running his hand across his face, gradually waking up in the quietness of the room. Bending down, he grabbed the glass of water on the little table next to his bed, drinking a few calming sips to relieve his parched throat. Placing the glass aside, he reclined, allowing the quietness of the early morning to engulf him. For a brief period of time, the burdens of the day had not fully impacted him yet, and he was enjoying the peace and openness that he had rarely experienced recently. But routine called, and he soon stood, moving toward the bathroom to start his day.The hot water from the shower fully awakened him, removing any remaining hints of sleep. He took his time, running his fingers through his hair, shutting his eyes while the wa
Jason’s expression darkened. “Send her in.”While he anticipated her arrival, the comforting warmth he had felt earlier was suddenly replaced by a chilling sensation. He could feel the approaching storm that would soon disturb the fragile peace he had worked tirelessly to establish. However, Kendall's messages stayed on his screen for the time being, untouched, providing reassurance of the world he was working on creating with her, despite another aspect of his life posing a threat to it. Isabella entered the office with her typical grace, her heels making a clicking sound on the shiny floor as the door opened. She stopped at the entrance, looking around the room with a slight, mysterious grin before focusing on him. “Isabella,” Jason’s voice was clipped, his jaw tight. “I wasn’t expecting you.”"Obviously," she responded, closing the door with a relaxed flick of her wrist, acting like she belonged there and disregarding his boundaries. "What is it that you desire?" he inquired, hi
After the door closed with a click, Jason sank into his seat and gazed emptily at the scattered papers on his desk. The typically consistent pace of work, a safe haven he could consistently depend on, now seemed unfamiliar, spoiled by the discussion that had just occurred. He couldn't stop thinking about Isabella's threats, with each word causing more pain and increasing the anger inside him. He took a deep breath before opening his phone to see Kendall's name illuminated on the screen as he scrolled through recent messages. Her response from earlier was simple, cheerful, but it hit him harder than he’d expected: *Miss you too. Can’t wait to see you tonight.*He paused, fingers poised over the keyboard, before quickly typing a message. *Awaiting the hours,* he responded nervously, feeling his heart race as he sent it. The hollow words were said in a desperate attempt to reassure her, and maybe himself, that everything was okay. That he could keep this under control.However, as he pu
Jason hadn’t expected much from lunch today, just a brief escape from the mounting pressures at the office and the situation Isabella had imposed on him. Yet, even as he settled into his usual corner at the upscale restaurant, his nerves were frayed, and he found it difficult to fully immerse himself in the brief quiet of the meal. The sounds of muted laughter, the clinking of silverware around him—everything felt oddly distant, almost surreal.He pushed the food around his plate, glancing at his phone every few moments as if he were anticipating something. Right on time, a fresh message popped up. He could tell who it was without needing to read the name. The words were teasingly straightforward, steeped in her typical air of superiority: “Have you come to a decision yet?” Jason inhaled sharply, the familiar rush of irritation washing over him. *Of course, she couldn’t just let things be,* he thought. With a controlled sigh, he quickly tapped out a response: *Conference room after l
Every footfall he made along the peaceful corridor weighed more than the previous one, showing the heavy load he now bore. Upon his return to his office, the fading light of the late afternoon created shadows on his desk, providing a moment of peace as he briefly ignored all that had happened. However, when he gazed at the stack of papers in front of him, he could hardly process the content written on them. His thoughts were too loud, drowning out the text with echoes of Isabella's voice and the threat veiled behind her sickly-sweet tone.Pushing back his frustration, he forced himself to focus, skimming through figures and contracts, initialing where necessary, his hand moving in practiced motions. Isabella’s claims echoed in the back of his mind, her accusations mixing with the slight pang of guilt he felt when he thought of Kendall.After an hour of numbing paperwork, Jason leaned back, his hand rubbing his temple as he tried to shake off the fatigue settling into his bones. He g
Kendall’s eyes softened, and she reached up, brushing her hand over his cheek. For a moment, Jason forgot everything—Isabella, the complications, the secrets he was keeping. Right now, there was only Kendall, and the connection that seemed to be growing stronger each day, filling the empty spaces in his life.“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice almost a whisper. “For letting me in.”He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his heart tugging with emotions he wasn’t quite ready to name. But he knew one thing for sure—whatever challenges lay ahead, he would do everything in his power to keep this, to protect her.As the evening grew later, and the weight of the day began to settle once more, Jason couldn’t shake the feeling that this was where he belonged. And no matter the secrets he kept, or the lies he had to maintain, he would hold onto this—hold onto Kendall—because she was worth every sacrifice he would have to make.---Jason felt the weight of secrets pressing in on him more heavily w
A YEAR LATERJason stood on the soft carpet, lifting Liam in the air, his hearty laughter echoing in the warm room. Liam let out a joyful cry, extending his small hands towards his father's face. "Do you find that amusing, eh?" Jason grinned and delicately lowered Liam, placing a kiss on his round cheek. Kendall lounged on the sofa with her legs tucked beneath her, sipping tea as she observed. Her smile was soft but filled with pride. “He loves when you do that. It’s his favorite game now.” Jason looked over at her, his expression tender. Certainly, it is. "He's already seeking thrills, just like his father." “Thrill-seeker?” Kendall arched her eyebrow, placing her cup onto the coffee table. "Do you actually mean stubborn?" He’s definitely inherited that from you.” Jason chuckled, settling Liam into his lap. “I prefer to think of it as determination.” He leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered to Liam, “Don’t let your mom fool you. You get that charm from me too.” Liam
Kendall sensed her muscles were sore and smelled antiseptic about her. A faint discomfort in her stomach was a reminder of the procedures she had undergone. The warm, subdued light of the setting sun illuminated the room, but her vision was cloudy and her thoughts was foggy.A well-known voice called out Kendall's name, filled with relief and a touch of remorse. She blinked, forcing her eyes to focus. Jason was next to her, his usual sharp attitude mellowed by tiredness. His shirt looked wrinkled, his tie was untied, and his face showed signs of countless restless nights. "Jason?" she rasped, her parched throat feeling rough. “What… where am I?” He gently informed her that she was in the hospital, moving closer in the process. You underwent a cesarean section, and the physicians performed surgery for your cervical cancer. You’ve been unconscious for days.” His concerned was evident in the wavering of his voice. She instinctively reached towards her stomach, but he intercepted her
Jason walked back and forth in the clean waiting room of the hospital, his hands tightly clenched by his sides. The remote sound of machines beeping, the soft whispers of doctors in the corridor, and the tap of shoes against the linoleum surface felt excessively clear and intense. The rhythm of his own heart drowned out his thinking.“Why? Why did she wait to tell me?”His thoughts continued to rush, but it was futile. The doctors had rushed Kendall into surgery, explaining everything so quickly that their words became a blur. Cervical cancer. Emergency cesarean. Save both her and the baby. Jason wanted to scream, to tear at something, but instead, he stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the closed doors where Kendall had been taken. He had failed her. How could he not have seen that? For weeks and months on end, he failed to realize that something was amiss. His thoughts constantly went back to their disputes, to the times when she appeared delicate yet remained silent. “Mr. Carter?”J
Kendall stood on Jason's mansion doorstep, holding her coat tightly as her hands shook. The chill of the evening air nipped at her skin, yet it paled in comparison to the frostiness within her. She had to do this. There wasn't any alternative available. Jason had an unreadable expression on his face when the door opened, his eyes looking at her as if she was unfamiliar."Jason..." she said with a voice that cracked, her eyes begging for empathy. He stood silently, observing her, not responding right away, as though anticipating her to say something."I have to speak with you," Kendall murmured, moving closer, feeling her legs wobble beneath her. Jason moved out of the way, allowing her to enter silently, but he still stood rigidly, as if ready for combat. The door closed with a click.Kendall stopped in the foyer, trying to regain her balance. She momentarily lost focus, but quickly blinked to clear her vision. "Jason, I have been foolish," she started softly, her voice now filled
Isabella stood at the entrance to Thane's estate, holding her luggage tightly, afraid she might drop it. The large house stood in front of her, its impressive exterior highlighting the void she felt within. She had no other place to go, but she was determined not to give up. Not now. Not after everything.With fingers trembling, she pressed the doorbell, fighting to stay standing despite her overwhelming desperation. Before too much time had passed, the door swung open and Thane appeared, his expression devoid of any warmth. He hesitated before inviting her in, staring at her for a moment too long. Isabella swallowed, attempting to maintain her composure. "I—Thane," she began, her voice faltering, "I—I don’t know where else to go. Jason... he left me. He—he doesn’t care about me. "I have no one else to go to but you." She began to cry as her voice broke, allowing the tears to fill her eyes. She wished they appeared authentic; she wished he would trust her. Thane didn’t budge. His
Jason sat at his desk, gazing at the mountains of paperwork that had grown over the previous few days. The workstation was buzzing with activity, from phone calls to hushed chats, yet he remained calm and composed. His mind was elsewhere—on her. On Kendall."Mr. Carter?" A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.Jason looked over and saw Jane, his assistant, standing at the doorway with a pile of papers. She paused, observing the absent-minded expression in his eyes. She mentioned that you requested to be informed once the DNA test results are received. Jason’s pulse quickened. He stood up, walking briskly toward her. "Hand them over to me." Passing him the envelope, he impatiently tore it open. As he opened the papers, his heart raced while he quickly looked over the results. He breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the confirmation that Isabella is not expecting. "He whispered, relieved as the tension he had been holding onto for days finally lifted." However, the feeling of reli
Tension grew in his jaw as he tightly gripped the doorframe with his hand. "Why on earth are you here?" Isabella stood at the entrance, her lips curling into a smug grin. She entered with a sense of ownership, her heels making a sharp clicking noise on the tiled floor. Jason remained still, obstructing her way deeper into the house. "Wow, that's not a very hospitable greeting," she remarked, but still pushed past him. "Is that how you say hello to the mother of your soon-to-be-born baby?" Jason's expression turned menacing, his hands tightening at his sides. “Cut the act, Isabella. What do you want?” "Regarding what is owed to me," she answered calmly, pivoting to confront him with a self-assured lift of her chin. With Kendall conveniently gone, I am ready to take my rightful position. For our child’s sake, of course.” He let out a cold, humorless laugh, his eyes narrowing. “Rightful place? You mean as a liar and manipulator? Spare me your theatrics.” Her smile faltered brief
Jason was positioned at the top of the lengthy meeting table, sitting with perfect posture in his crisp suit, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The board members' voices became a blur as he focused on the charts and projections on the screen. Jason’s gaze lingered on his tablet, his jaw tight. “Mr. Carter, do you agree?” His head snapped up, piercing eyes scanning the room. A beat passed as he composed himself, erasing any trace of distraction. “Yes,” he replied curtly, his voice steady, though he had no idea what they had asked. “Proceed as outlined.” An approving murmur spread through the room, but Jason paid little attention. He couldn't stop thinking about Kendall, remembering her tearful face and the vulnerability in her voice when she said his name. He moved around in his chair, tightening his jaw. “Concentrate, for crying out loud. This isn’t the time to be weak.” But no matter how much he willed himself to concentrate, the image lingered, seared into his thoughts. "
Jason was in his study with a half-empty decanter of whiskey providing him with some bitter comfort on the table. Thane's words echoed in his mind like a disturbing tune, preventing him from finding peace. His teeth gritted and his hand gripped the crystal glass tightly, causing the liquid inside to shake. He whispered to himself, pondering, his tone a mix of anger and hopelessness. "What happens if the child is not mine?" His mother's unwavering belief in him reverberated in his thoughts, her defense against his father and Thane's relentless pressure lingering in his memory. Catherine Carter always saw the best in Jason, even when he couldn't see it himself. But was he worthy of that faith now? He finished the remaining drink, the sensation of burning in his throat a harsh diversion from the pain in his chest. Kendall's tear-streaked face and trembling voice, pleading for his understanding, came back to his memory once more, but he couldn't find the empathy. Jason slammed the g