Chapter 17 Mia's point of view. I'd been hiding in the comfort of my room, avoiding the world outside, and especially Andreas. The memory of our almost-kiss still lingered, making my skin prickle with unease. I can't believe I almost kissed him. Thankfully, the shoot had come to an end today and I wouldn't have to see him anymore. But for the dinner party organized to signify the end of the shoot tonight, which I was not going to attend. But Susan had other plans. She burst into my room, a determined glint in her eye, followed by a trail of crew members. "Mia, what do you think you're doing?" she asked, her voice laced with exasperation. "Why are you still in those distasteful clothes?" Her eyes scanned my outfit, her nose wrinkling in distaste. I sighed, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. I'd been unfair to Susan, especially after the Lucas issue. But she didn't seem to hold it against me, her determination to get me to the dinner party unwavering. "Suzy, I've told
Chapter 18 Andrea's point of view The night had started on a high note, with Mia's enchanting presence. And I found myself drawn to her the entire time. my eyes never leaving her. And her performance was magical, mesmerizing the entire room. But it was a magical moment that turned sour, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. As she scanned the phone screen, her face paled with shock, and I felt my heart sink. While she performed one of her songs which I loved, suddenly everyone's phone blipped with the notifications. The headline screamed at me, making my blood boil with anger. Who could have done this to her? My heart raced with the implications. As Mia rushed out of the hall, her pain and anguish evident. I quickly followed, my concern for her overwhelming. I pushed through the crowds, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of her. But she was already gone. The cool night air hit me like a slap in the face as I burst out of the hall, my eyes scanning the gardens for any sign
Chapter 19 Mia's point of view. I returned to my room that night with a lot of mixed emotions. What was I thinking? Was it because of the drink I had on my way out of the hall. I'd gulped a few glasses of wine earlier. It had dulled my senses, making my thoughts hazy. I tried to push aside the guilt, but it only seemed to intensify as the night wore on. My heart had leapt in shock as I turned around, to find Andreas had followed me to the garden. The memories of Andreas's lips on mine still lingered, making my skin prickle with a mix of shame and desire. I shouldn't be doing this, I thought, not with him. He's so young, and I don't want to hurt him. Pushing aside my thoughts, I hurried to the bathroom ignoring the knocking sound on my door. I knew it was Susan trying to see if I was okay, but I didn't want to see anyone this night. Not now. As I stepped into the shower, I turned it on as I stepped in without taking off my clothes, I let the water wash down my pain and anxie
Chapter 20 Mia returned back to her life of fame and prioritized her daughprioritizedndal with Lucas, and her cousin April seemed to die down after the media found another Juicy showbiz gossip to be obsessed about. But the sting of her sister's betrayal still lingered in her memory but she pushed it aside. Overshadowing her thoughts now was the memory of Andreas and their few times together. She had made sure to avoid him since their passionate kiss, not wanting to complicate her life further. She made sure Andreas couldn't reach her. Especially now that he had lots of international competition games to play due to the upcoming World Football Championship Cup games. But still, the memory of him never left her. Everything seemed to remind her of him. Especially now as Sofia and Nick, Susan's son, forced them to watch the football game between Andreas' team and a rival team, Athletic Soccer stars. Mia had intended to drop Sofia off for a sleepover with other kids when Sofia ove
Chapter 21 Mia's point of view. Despite my internal turmoil that threatened to overwhelm me, I still continued working unabated. The reviews for the foundation’s campaign that'd we'd done a week ago were in. It was mostly positive which made me so happy and fulfilled. The workload was something else but I was grateful for it. As I sorted through the bulky paperwork on my desk, I was grateful for the distraction. I hid behind my work to avoid letting my mind wander to Andreas, to worrying about if he was okay. The news about his injury had spread like wildfire. Being one of the most valuable players in the world, a lot of people were becoming anxious about his career. But up until now, there hasn't been an official statement on his wellbeing, which bothered me. Though I tried to pretend it didn't. I simply pushed those thoughts aside, using work as an escape. I was focused on my laptop, typing away as I sorted through paperwork work when my door suddenly slid open. I d
Chapter 22 Andrea's point of view. The pain was the least of my concerns. I flexed my wrist, feeling the sharp pain shoot up my arm, but I barely registered it. The stadium lights had dimmed hours ago, the roar of the crowd fading into a distant memory, yet my thoughts weren’t on the game or the injury that had the world buzzing. They were on Mia. The team’s medical staff had fussed over me, their voices blending into one another as they debated whether my wrist was sprained or fractured. Fans, investors, the club, everyone wanted answers. The press hounded my PR team, desperate to know if this was a season-ending blow or just another fleeting setback. But I didn’t care. I had one objective; finding Mia. I ignored the messages flooding my phone and evaded my PR personnel, slipping away before they could shove a scripted response down my throat. They could spin the story however they wanted—I had something far more important to handle. Mia had been avoiding me. Or maybe sh
Chapter 23 Mia’s car rolled smoothly up the familiar driveway, the gravel crunching softly beneath the tires. The house stood just as she remembered. A cozy, warm-toned abode nestled between two towering oak trees, their bare branches swaying in the early summer breeze. The white picket fence, slightly worn with age, still stood proud, enclosing the small front yard where she had spent countless summers playing as a child. A soft glow spilled from the windows, promising warmth and safety; things she hadn’t felt in a long time. And she understood why her mother had refused to leave this place even after her father's death years ago. Love lives here. Before the car had even fully stopped, Sofia was already unbuckling her seatbelt. Her excitement was a tangible thing, buzzing in the air. “Grandma!” she squealed, barely waiting for Mia to turn off the ignition before flinging the car door open. Mrs. Angela stepped onto the porch, her silver-streaked hair tied into a loose bun,
Chapter 24 Mia's point of view The moment the suite door slid open, a jolt ran through me, sharp and electric, like lightning striking a steel rod buried deep in my veins. There he was. Andreas. Leaning into the dim light, the shadows curling around his features, making it hard to read his expression. But for a fleeting second, I swore I saw something flash across his face. Like Anger. No. Surprise. And just as quickly, it melted into something else, something darker. Something hungry. He rose from the grey-colored couch slowly, like a lion awakened and launching at his prey, his eyes never leaving mine. Those stormy irises traced the outline of my body with a deliberate intensity that made my skin prickle beneath the coat I wore. I didn't blame him. I had dressed with a purpose to seduce, to haunt him for whatever time we were going to spend here. The brown winter trench coat that clung to me like a second skin was only a veil. Beneath it, I wore a cream-colored lace jumps
Chapter 62The door slammed shut behind her like a final verdict.Tania’s heels clicked with frantic rhythm on the battered laminate floor as she stormed into the apartment, a raging storm of anger bubbling in her very being. She barely registered her environment as arms tightened around Brian, who was starting to squirm, and with a huff of frustration, she dropped him onto the lumpy old couch.He fussed immediately, whimpering, kicking, and rubbing his eyes with tiny balled fists, but she was already pacing, clawed hands dragging through her sweat-damp blonde hair. Her skin prickled. Her teeth ground together. Her ears buzzed with the echo of Andreas’s voice, still rattling around her skull like shrapnel.“Full custody,” she spat, venom thick on her tongue. “He said he wants full custody. He's crazy if he thinks, even for one second that I'll agree to give up my child without a fight!”Brian’s cries grew louder as he heard Tania's a
Chapter 61The words settled like a rock in Mia's chest."I'm fighting to get full custody of my son, Brian" Andreas whispered into the quiet of her room, his breath still warm against her collarbone.Mia stiffened in his arms, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. The air between them crackled but not with the heat from moments before, but with the weight of something heavier, denser. Her lips parted, but the question came out as barely more than a breath."What?"Andreas’s hands slid to her waist, grounding her, steadying her as though he could sense the shift happening inside her. He didn’t repeat himself. He didn’t have to.The room felt suddenly colder, shadows stretching longer against the walls, and the humming silence that followed was almost unbearable.Mia stepped back, folding her arms over her chest as if she could shield herself from the storm that was gathering within. "You want to take him away f
Chapter 60The late afternoon sun bled golden streaks across the sky, casting long shadows over the city park. Laughter rang in the air with children squealing in delight, parents chatting, and the occasional bark of a dog as it chased after a ball. To any outsider, it looked like a perfect family outing. But for Tania, every cheerful note in the air grated against her nerves. As her eyes landed on Andreas, she noticed the tension emanating from his body and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. She watched from the bench as Andreas stood by the side of the play area, his hands in the pockets of his charcoal hoodie, eyes fixed on the small boy laughing inside the ball pit. Brian’s curls bounced as he flailed through the rainbow-colored plastic, his face lit up in wonder and glee. Occasionally, he’d look up, searching for his mother or Andreas. Whenever his gaze landed on Andreas, he’d wave shyly. And Andreas, sweetly and patiently, would
Chapter 59 Mia's night had shifted. It was no longer a hollow echo of Andreas's silence, but now something alive, something burning. The moment she ran into his arms, her body responded before her mind could catch up. His warmth swallowed her, strong arms lifting her as her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. Her breath caught in her throat as he kissed the side of her neck, his hands firm beneath her thighs. "Shh... quiet," she whispered against his ear, her voice low and teasing. "Sofia's asleep." "Then I guess we better keep our voices down," he murmured, his grin pressed against her skin. He carried her inside like she weighed nothing, and Mia giggled softly, burying her face in his shoulder. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing their world off from everything outside. He set her down in the living room, but Mia didn’t let go of his hand. She held it tightly, eyes sparkling with intention.
Chapter 58The moonlight draped the streets in silver shadows as Mia pulled into her driveway, the quiet hum of the engine the only sound breaking the stillness of the night. She turned off the ignition and glanced at the passenger seat where Sofia, bundled in her favorite pink hoodie, dozed with her head tilted against the window. A soft smile curled on Mia’s lips. The day had been long, filled with laughter, running feet, spilled juice, and the warmth of old friendship. But it had also left a familiar ache in her chest. One she couldn't shake.Inside the house, she carried Sofia upstairs, her daughter’s weight warm and limp in her arms. She laid her gently on the bed, pulling the soccer field-patterned blanket up to her chin and brushing a curl from her forehead. The little girl murmured in her sleep, turning slightly, and Mia kissed her on the temple. “Goodnight, my love,” she whispered.The night air hung heavy with the scent of jas
Chapter 57The late afternoon sun bled gold through the gauzy curtains of Susan’s living room, casting soft patterns on the cream carpet beneath Mia’s feet. She stood by the large window, cradling her own silence as she watched the world outside it. Susan’s home. The smell of fresh coffee drifted from the open kitchen, blending with the faint scent of lavender from a nearby diffuser.Her eyes wandered to the lush, perfectly mowed lawn that stretched like a soft green painting outside the glass. On it, laughter danced freely. Shawn, Susan’s husband, barefoot and grinning, was tossing a worn-out soccer ball between Sofia and Nick, both children squealing with joy as they ran after it, arms flailing, giggles unrestrained. The kind of joy that belonged to a life untainted.“Susan!” Shawn called, turning slightly as the ball skidded past him. “Make that two cups, will you?”“I already am, you clown!” came Susan’s voice from the kitchen,
Chapter 56 Mia woke to the shrill ring of her phone before the sun had even risen, pale light filtering through her bedroom curtains. Her heart thudded in her chest when she saw Andreas’s name on the screen. “I… wanted to let you know,” his voice was gentle but strained, “Brian’s stable. He’s out of the ICU. They’re moving him to a regular pediatric ward this morning.” Mia exhaled, relief and guilt twinning in her throat. “Thank God,” she whispered. She'd been concerned since he told her last night about the child's condition. She was going to go to him, but it was already late in the night. “Do you want me to come?” she asked. Silence lengthened on the other end. Then he said, “Yes. Please…” “Okay…” Mia replied. “Sofia’s coming too,” she added before they ended the call. A few minutes later, Mia roused Sofia with sleepy kisses. “Come on, Sofia. W
Chapter 55 The fluorescent lights of Health Wise General Hospital stretched in an endless grid overhead, humming like a swarm of bees trapped behind a glass ceiling. Andreas burst through the revolving doors, his pulse thrumming so loudly he feared the echoes might give him away. Every polished tile underfoot gleamed with sterility and antiseptic scents that clashed with the knot of dread tightening in his gut. He scanned the reception desk. A weary nurse looked up, blinking at the late hour. He spoke first, “I'm here for a Brian Costa..” He said guessing the child's last name to be the same as Tania's. “Brian Costa?” The nurse asked as she browsed through the computer in front of her, taking longer than usual. Andreas then, cut straight to the point, voice rough with urgency. “Where is he?” The nurse pointed down a corridor lined with pediatric wards. “Room 312…” Her eyes, sympat
Chapter 54 The air was cool, heavy with the earthy scent of night blooming jasmine that curled around the edges of Mia’s elegant home like a whispered lullaby. Crickets played their song somewhere in the distance as Andreas stood by the side of the house, surrounded by glass and stillness, peering through the transparent walls into a home that he now felt comfortable in. Inside, warm amber light spilled over the polished wooden floors, catching the reflection of Sofia’s toys scattered near the couch and the empty wine glasses from dinner. The echo of laughter still danced in his ears, soft, innocent, and untainted. For the first time in what felt like forever, his chest wasn’t tight with anxiety or guilt. His pulse had slowed. His breath moved easy. This was what peace tasted like. He was still smiling when he heard the soft pad of bare feet approaching. Mia stepped out onto the stone pathway, her silhouette glow