I’m allowed to go home the evening of the surgery and Jason insists on staying in the house with me and the kids. I try to make him leave but he blatantly ignores me and proceeds to make himself at home. He even chases me into my room and gives me strict instructions to rest. I follow his orders because I feel exhausted from the whole procedure. Emilio will have to get an engraftment before he can come home. The doctor said it will depend on his healing process. It was safe to say that dinner that evening was a tense affair. I was sure that by now Jason would have been wondering why I haven’t come to him, asking about Jared. It seems the kids also noticed that I wasn’t in the mood to entertain them, that or the fact that they were also terribly exhausted. They ate fairly quickly and without any mishaps and soon they were off to bed. Valentina could put herself to bed and I only had to come in and wish her a good night. While I was tucking Enzo in bed, I couldn’t help but be annoyed b
Jason’s POVI can’t believe that I’m not the kid’s father. He looks so much like me and I just assumed that he was mine. I was kind of hoping that she’ll tell me he was mine.I walk into the guest room next to Skylar’s room and take off my jacket. I make myself comfortable on the bed, but it seems as though I’m laying in bricks.After a while of tossing and turning in bed, I get up and move in the direction of the stairs. If I can’t sleep, I might as well just have some coffee and start on some work I’ve left piled up. I go through my phone as I move down the hallway, noting how several of the missed calls I have are from Alexandra. 'I really have to break things off with her.’ I think to my self, groaning deeply at the reminder.A whimper bring me back to focus. I look in the direction of the sound and notice it’s coming from Lorenzo’s room. I don’t waste any time in opening the door and rushing to the tiny figure, curled up on the bed. The red, puffy eyes that peek up out of the
Skylar’s POVThe next morning’s events are awkward to say the least. Firstly, we happen to sleep in for an extra hour and we both wake up to Jason’s phone ringing. Twice. The first call is from his work. The second call happens to come from his parents. I get to listen to him and Jared talk while he gets ready for school and even until he gets into the car, to head to school. I burst in tears after the call again and while Jason tries to console me, Valentina walks into the room, frantically yelling something along the lines of ‘Aunty Skylar and Uncle Jay, have been eaten by the monster’. In a bid to pull away from each other quickly, Jason ends up hitting Lorenzo with his hand, effectively scaring him awake.Lorenzo promptly burst into tears from being disturbed. When he spots me, he motions for me to pick him up. I reach out for him but when he takes note of the tear tracks on my face, he turns to Jason and starts to hit him for ‘making his mommy cry’. Its a hassle to calm him d
Jason’s POVI spend some time talking with Skylar. She seemed sceptical when I told her of my plan to work on us. I couldn’t out rightly tell her that I have come to the realization that I’m so madly in love though. Yes. I am in fact in love with my ex wife. After the divorce, I noticed that I kept subconsciously thinking of her. I could be working in the office and she would randomly pop into my brain. I thought at first that it could be because I’d spent a lot of time with her, but then I’d start to hear her voice when Alex and I talk or when we’re being intimate. And then I tried to find her, because Jared wasn’t in the best condition health wise, and because I needed to quench this itch to know where she was and what she was up to. It’s safe to say that I went crazy when I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t work. I couldn’t think properly and it made me mad. I couldn’t find the same feelings in my relationship with Alexandra, and I started to wonder. Once, I had ar
Alexandra’s POVI ran straight to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. I stared into my reflection, mascara melting into my face. My hair was in a mess, my face was red. Damn, I can’t believe what could transpire in such a short amount of time, ‘how did I do so much damage in trying to keep my relationship?’I remember the first time I saw Jason. It was in college. I was a new kid, I just moved here and we had one class together, social sciences. He was sitting there, with his earpiece in, typing on the phone. I don’t know why but I was instantly drawn to him, I saw a free seat behind his chair and I ran to it. I spent an hour if the class, staring holes in the back of his head. Things went that way all through college days. I basically stalked him, but he never took notice of me.Then one day, after he had graduated, I saw him walking through the central park. It seemed as though his thoughts were elsewhere, because he barely noticed the road in front of him. He kept
Emilio’s POVThe journey home went quickly thankfully. It was just over 90 minutes. When I got home I needed to lay down, but I was too weak to go upstairs after the journey. Plus my body was starting to ache, since the painkillers were wearing off. I headed for the sofa but they are SO low to the ground it’s ridiculous. Skylar tried to stack all of the cushion up so it was high, but it just wasn’t happening. I ended up laying there for a little while and then fought my way upstairs. It felt so good to be home, in my own bed with good TV and my family close by; but at the same time I missed having all of the specialised support and care there for me, round the clock.I’m not going to lie, I was a nightmare to be around for a few weeks. I was in pain, had trouble sleeping and was completely exhausted all of the time. Everything was a strain. I wasn’t allowed to go up or down the stairs without someone there for example, I felt trapped and fed up of it. I just wanted to get back to
Jason’s POVEmilio has fully recovered and has started taking part in meetings and site inspections and our projects together is finally finished. We’ll be launching in a couple of days and he took the workers out to celebrate, after which, he asked to speak with me in his car. The atmosphere in the car is odd to put it simply. It’s quite for a few minutes and I know he wants to talk about Skylar. I’m nervous though. ‘Does he want to tell me to stay away from his sister?’ I’m just about to go off in my head on reasons he would want to talk to me, when he clears his throat.“Jason, you’ve been a wonderful partner and I’m thankful I could do this with your help..” I give him a tight smile in acknowledgement, trying to not give away how nervous I am. “However, that is not why I’ve called to speak with you. You see, four years ago, when Sky first came to me, I didn’t know she was newly divorced or that she was even a mother. She was really attached to Valentina, and at first I thoug
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Skylar stirred in her bed, slowly awakening to the gentle sounds of birds chirping outside her window. It was Saturday, her one day to sleep in and relax after a long week of work. She stretched lazily, enjoying the comfort of her cosy bed for a few more moments. But just as she was about to drift back into sleep, she heard a faint giggle coming from the next room. Skylar smiled to herself, recognizing the sound immediately. It was her three-year-old son, Lorenzo. He must have woken up early, as he often did on weekends, full of energy and excitement for the day ahead. With a soft sigh, Skylar reluctantly pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and padded across the hallway to Lorenzo’s room. As she pushed open the door, she was greeted by the sight of her son bouncing on his bed, a wide grin plastered across his face. “Good morning,
It had been ten years since Jason’s death, and life had moved forward for everyone. Pietro and Skylar, married for nine years now, had another child in addition to Aurelia. Their lives, once marked by turmoil, were now filled with love and growth. Sophia, their eldest at 27, was a successful businesswoman recently engaged to the renowned doctor Lucian Kings. She rivalled the dominant men in her field with ease and confidence. Jared, now 17, was on the brink of graduating high school, having grown into a smart, handsome young man with a heart of gold. Lorenzo, at 13, was the family’s biggest troublemaker. Skylar and Pietro had lost count of the times they’d been called to his school due to his mischievous antics. Yet, beneath his rebellious exterior, Lorenzo was a sweetheart, and fiercely protective of his siblings. Aurelia, at nine— almost ten years old, was the princess of the house. An absolute daddy’s girl, she possessed a level of sass and confidence that often left everyon
The Edge of Redemption Jason had been drifting in and out of consciousness for days. His condition had gradually been improving, and the doctors were hopeful. One afternoon, he finally opened his eyes, groggy and disoriented. The room was dimly lit, the hum of the machines a constant reminder of his fragile state. As reality hit him, Jason felt a surge of panic. He remembered the chaos, the gunshot, the pain. He realized he was still alive, and in his frantic state, he started gasping for air, his breaths coming in short, rapid bursts. His right hand instinctively went to his chest, clawing at the stitches that held his wound together. He tried to lift his left hand too, but the realisation that he had been cuffed, added to his panic. The pain was excruciating, but the emotional torment was even worse. He had survived, and he couldn’t handle the reality of his situation. He didn’t want to live anymore. Why was he still alive? A nurse entered the room to check his vitals, her c
Initially, Skylar had thought it would take time for the children to get used to her attention being divided with the new baby, especially since her kidnapping. She was prepared for tantrums, jealousy, and all the difficulties that often come with a new sibling. However, it came as a shock and a relief when the children seemed to adapt seamlessly to the new routine.Skylar woke up early one morning to the soft cries of baby Aurelia. As she picked her up from the crib, she felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. They were home, safe, and together. Pietro was still asleep beside her, and she smiled as she watched him, knowing how hard he had worked to bring them to this point.Downstairs, the children were already awake and playing quietly. Sophia, was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea and reading a book. Jared, and Lorenzo, were building an elaborate Lego castle on the living room floor.Skylar walked in with Aurelia in her arms. “Good morning, everyone,” she said
James and Catherine Reynolds approached Pietro’s home with heavy hearts. Since her discharge , Skylar has moved in with him. Although, they had already seen her at the hospital, this was the first time they would be visiting her at home. The past few months had been a whirlwind of emotions, and now, standing at Skylar’s doorstep, they felt a profound sense of guilt and sorrow. They had always hoped for a better future for their son, Jason, but his actions had shattered their dreams.Skylar greeted them with a warm, albeit tired, smile. “Come in, please,” she said, stepping aside to let them enter. James and Catherine stepped inside, looking around the home that had once housed a sombre mood, but was now filled with an air of healing and resilience.“We’re so sorry, Skylar,” Catherine began, her voice trembling. “We can’t express how deeply we regret what Jason has done.”Skylar shook her head, leading them to the living room. “Please, sit down. You don’t need to apologize. I k
Skylar and Pietro finally had a moment alone, a brief respite from the whirlwind of emotions and visitors that had surrounded them since her rescue. The hospital room was quiet, with only the gentle beeping of monitors filling the space. Pietro pulled a chair close to Skylar’s bed, taking her hand in his.“I’m so sorry, Pietro,” Skylar began, her voice trembling. “I should have listened to everyone. I should have stayed inside and rested, especially knowing the danger I was in. But I didn’t, and look what happened.”Pietro shook his head, his eyes softening with love. “No, Skylar. You don’t need to apologize. What happened wasn’t your fault. Jason’s actions were unpredictable. The important thing is that you’re safe now.”Skylar looked down, tears pooling in her eyes. “But I feel so guilty. I put our baby at risk. I- I didn’t even know I was pregnant. And I wasn’t there for our family.”Pietro gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Skylar, stop. None of this is yo
After the initial shock of the entire situation, Pietro and Emilio began to process the reality that Skylar had been pregnant and had just given birth. The weight of this revelation hit them as they stood in the hospital nursery, staring at the tiny incubator where Skylar’s premature daughter was squirming around. Emilio approached Pietro, who was leaning against the glass, his eyes fixed on the little one. “She’s so tiny,” Emilio whispered, awe and sadness mingling in his voice.Pietro nodded, his gaze never leaving his daughter. “Yeah, she is. I can’t believe she went through all of this alone.”Emilio placed a comforting hand on Pietro’s shoulder. “None of us knew. If we had, we would have been there for her.”“I know,” Pietro said softly, his voice breaking. “I just wish I could’ve been there. I should’ve protected her.”“We all feel that way,” Emilio replied. “But right now, Skylar needs us to be strong for her and the baby.”Pietro turned to face his friend and hopefully,
When the police received Elena’s call and address, they immediately set out to arrest Jason. Detective Harrison, leading the operation, instructed Emilio and Pietro to stay inside the car while they attempted to communicate with Jason. The sirens blared, causing Jason to panic. His fear intensified as the police called out to him with their megaphone, ordering him to surrender. Pietro’s impatience got the best of him. Elena had informed the police that Jason was armed, but as time dragged on, Pietro’s worry for Skylar overwhelmed his caution. Ignoring Detective Harrison’s orders, he made his way into the house. The security alarm and locks had been disengaged by Elena, allowing Pietro easy entry. As he stepped into the living room, he was met with a horrifying sight. Elena and Skylar were covered in blood. Pietro’s heart sank, fearing the worst, until Skylar let out a groan. His eyes landed on the very obvious bump she was sporting. At the same time, her eyes found his, and Pietro
Skylar doubled over as another contraction rippled through her body. She had tried to keep calm, telling herself that these were just Braxton Hicks contractions. Her baby wasn’t due for another month, but the pain was increasing, and panic was setting in. She clutched her stomach, her breathing ragged. When Jason stormed into the house, Skylar’s pained groans stopped him in his tracks. He frowned, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded. “I’m having contractions,” Skylar gasped. “I think the baby’s coming.” Jason’s suspicion deepened. “Nice try. You think I’m stupid? Trying to distract me while the cops get closer? You called them, didn’t you?” He grabbed a bag, shoving clothes and essentials into it. “We’re leaving.” “No, Jason, please! I’m not lying. The baby’s coming!” Her voice was frantic, tears streaming down her face. She completely disregarded the last of his words. “Shut up!” he barked, dragging her to the car. He threw the b
Skylar reclined on the worn-out couch in the small cabin, her hands gently resting on her swollen belly. Each kick, each flutter of her baby provided her with a glimmer of hope. Despite the dire circumstances, the signs of life within her reassured her that her child was still fighting, just as she was.Jason had become more attentive as her pregnancy progressed. His paranoia seemed to have ebbed, replaced by a strange kind of domesticity. He cooked for her, brought her water, and insisted she rest more often. It was a disconcerting shift, but Skylar took advantage of his softened demeanour to conserve her strength and protect her baby.One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Skylar sat on the porch, gently rocking back and forth. Jason had gone into town to get supplies, leaving her alone for the first time in weeks. She closed her eyes, listening to the rustle of the leaves and the distant call of birds.A sharp kick jolted h