-- Alexander --The afternoon light poured into my office and radiated off the polished wood of my desk. The financial report I’d been working on untouched for the past hour on my computer screen stared back at me. My head was in another dimension. I kept thinking of my argument with my mother.Grizelda’s supposed betrayal with Jax Grey still played in my head.It was a story I believed to be true all those years ago. Lucy showed me the so called evidence of Grizelda's infidelity. She cried and consoled me, telling me I deserved better. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be logical then.But now? All I could think of was if there must be more to the stor I should know about.I leaned back in my chair as I stared at the ceiling deep in my thoughts. My head was completely filled with doubt. Could it really be that something did go on between Jax and Grizelda, or could those photos have been entirely fake, purposely made to look that way? Probably edited too.Those photos always felt
-- Grizelda --The front door being slammed shut echoed through the house. I soon heard Leo's footsteps followed by his lovely voice."Mommy!" he called out in a shrill voice.I stepped out of the kitchen to meet him. I dried my hands on a dish towel as I met him in the hallway. His face was red from the cold, his blond hair pointed in all directions and his bag almost slipped off one shoulder.The paper he held commanded my attention."Look!" he said excitedly as he stretched the paper toward me. "Something new I made at school today!"I collected the drawing from him. My breath got caught in my throat as I realized what he drew this time.It was a picture of himself, unmistakably and Alexander. It was drawn in vibrant crayon colors. Leo had drawn himself in his favorite red shirt as he held hands with a tall man who looked unmistakably like Alexander.The man had the same blond and hazel eyes. The title was written very boldly. Me and the man who looks like me!I forced a smile. "My
-- Alexander --I leaned back in my leather chair, steering myself slowly to the left and slowly to the right, lost in the turmoil in my head. It felt like the wrong time to remember Grizelda's painful words to me at the hospital but I did and clearly."I've decided to give Jax a chance in my life..." She had said.The words were like tiny needles pricking against my skin.Jax Grey. He was finally successful in taking Grizelda from me.Apart from that, there was a lingering pain in my chest. I felt deeply broken inside because it felt like everyone was suddenly against me. I felt alone with no one to turn to.I stared once again at the crumpled drawing Leo had given me last time I picked Spencer up from school. I'd been the one to crumple it, squeezing it tightly in my hand while emotions welled up inside of me. It was a picture of a family, properly colored with crayons.No matter how many times I stared at the drawing, I felt the same amount of emotions brewing inside of me. It was
-- Grizelda --Back at my parent's mansion to spend some time with them while I also brought Leo along, I settled in front of the television in the living room as I poured myself a drink. A breaking news alert caught my attention and shock had me in its hold as I saw Margaret standing at a podium, her face calm and composed.“As a grandmother, it is well obvious that I would want what's best for my grandson. Not just because I love him with all my heart and want him by my side, but because I want to ensure he's raised in an environment that prioritizes his well-being,” she said, her voice steady. “It’s clear to me that certain environments can be bad for a child's growth and upbringing.” My grip on the glass tightened. She was making this public. She was declaring war.“If you will not turn that off, I'll turn it off myself.” My father came out of nowhere, breaking through my concentration and before I had time to object, he went ahead and disconnected the tv plug from the sockets.
-- Alexander --My jaw hung loose when I saw Grizelda live on the TV screen. She sat composed, but like a queen appearing with a deadly look on her face like she had come to announce the presuction of those that had dared to go against her.“I have been a single mother for years, caring and nurturing my son till this very stage." She said smoothly, her voice calm yet laced with fire and authority. "Therefore, I believe if there should be anyone willing to claim him from under my care, they should be ready to prove more capable of catering for him better than I have. But that isn't the case now, is it?” She continued.“All I sense is family legacy being placed as a priority, as well as a struggle for control being brought to my face. The people I've seen are people who refuse to accept that I have built my own life, independent of them, and I refuse to be bullied. I refuse to allow my son to be used as a pawn in their game.” Her words sounded final.I clenched my fists. This had to be
-- Grizelda --I watched Leo fall asleep on his bed while I was just almost done with reading his bedtime stories to him. His tiny body curled against the pillows, his golden hair shimmering in the glow of the nightlight and the peaceful rise and fall of his chest indicating how probably deep he was in the world of his dreams.Hopefully, it was a good dream.I brushed a stray strand from his forehead and kissed him there. My love for him only grew more everyday and the will to protect him and keep him safe grew stronger day by day as well.I remembered how my blood boiled with simmering rage during the interview earlier today.Alexander Kingston had promised me, given me his word while we stood face to face, agreeing that there would be no dragging over Leo, yet what if it was all a lie?In the blink of an eye a custody battle was placed on my table? All for what?! It was exactly what I'd wanted us to avoid, yet he brought upon a damn legal war over Leo!Jax had to be right! It would
-- Alexander --I drove away in my car and they didn't hesitate to shut the gates behind me, the sharp clang of the metal gates symbolizing the superior power of the Williams Estate. And to think that years ago I always saw them as gods and never would have thought for once that one day I'd have the audacity to stand in front of their gates and plead to speak with their daughter.That was the kind of influence the Williams had in the entire country.But unfortunately, I'd once been married to that 'daughter' without knowing she was connected to the Williams family.I slammed my palm against the steering wheel, feeling the weight of my frustration pressed heavier on my chest.Damn you, Grizelda!I was trying my best to fix things, to prove that I was on her side in every way, yet I felt her shutting me out without any aid to it. Even audacity couldn't help me out.Her sliceful words repeated endlessly in my mind. "Then show it. Don't just fucking come and spell it out to my face."I ex
-- Grizelda --I stopped by my favorite restaurant to have a meal alone. It was an expensive restaurant. It was such a great news that I could finally use my husband's money to pay for the food I ate.I missed the restaurant, anyways. I was always at home unlike before I got married. I had to quit my job just to become a housewife, but all for the sake of my husband. My Alexander. The one and only person that managed to keep my heart from being snatched from any other man. It was like I was under a trance. I loved him so much that I was willing to do anything for him.Recently, he broke the news to me that his ex girlfriend would be staying with us in our mansion for a while since she just got discharged from the hospital. I hadn't thought twice before I agreed to the decision. I had turned deaf ears to everyone, including my best friend, Jax Grey, who claimed that it wasn't normal that my husband was very willing to pay his ex girlfriend's medical bills, not to talk of wanting her to
-- Alexander --I drove away in my car and they didn't hesitate to shut the gates behind me, the sharp clang of the metal gates symbolizing the superior power of the Williams Estate. And to think that years ago I always saw them as gods and never would have thought for once that one day I'd have the audacity to stand in front of their gates and plead to speak with their daughter.That was the kind of influence the Williams had in the entire country.But unfortunately, I'd once been married to that 'daughter' without knowing she was connected to the Williams family.I slammed my palm against the steering wheel, feeling the weight of my frustration pressed heavier on my chest.Damn you, Grizelda!I was trying my best to fix things, to prove that I was on her side in every way, yet I felt her shutting me out without any aid to it. Even audacity couldn't help me out.Her sliceful words repeated endlessly in my mind. "Then show it. Don't just fucking come and spell it out to my face."I ex
-- Grizelda --I watched Leo fall asleep on his bed while I was just almost done with reading his bedtime stories to him. His tiny body curled against the pillows, his golden hair shimmering in the glow of the nightlight and the peaceful rise and fall of his chest indicating how probably deep he was in the world of his dreams.Hopefully, it was a good dream.I brushed a stray strand from his forehead and kissed him there. My love for him only grew more everyday and the will to protect him and keep him safe grew stronger day by day as well.I remembered how my blood boiled with simmering rage during the interview earlier today.Alexander Kingston had promised me, given me his word while we stood face to face, agreeing that there would be no dragging over Leo, yet what if it was all a lie?In the blink of an eye a custody battle was placed on my table? All for what?! It was exactly what I'd wanted us to avoid, yet he brought upon a damn legal war over Leo!Jax had to be right! It would
-- Alexander --My jaw hung loose when I saw Grizelda live on the TV screen. She sat composed, but like a queen appearing with a deadly look on her face like she had come to announce the presuction of those that had dared to go against her.“I have been a single mother for years, caring and nurturing my son till this very stage." She said smoothly, her voice calm yet laced with fire and authority. "Therefore, I believe if there should be anyone willing to claim him from under my care, they should be ready to prove more capable of catering for him better than I have. But that isn't the case now, is it?” She continued.“All I sense is family legacy being placed as a priority, as well as a struggle for control being brought to my face. The people I've seen are people who refuse to accept that I have built my own life, independent of them, and I refuse to be bullied. I refuse to allow my son to be used as a pawn in their game.” Her words sounded final.I clenched my fists. This had to be
-- Grizelda --Back at my parent's mansion to spend some time with them while I also brought Leo along, I settled in front of the television in the living room as I poured myself a drink. A breaking news alert caught my attention and shock had me in its hold as I saw Margaret standing at a podium, her face calm and composed.“As a grandmother, it is well obvious that I would want what's best for my grandson. Not just because I love him with all my heart and want him by my side, but because I want to ensure he's raised in an environment that prioritizes his well-being,” she said, her voice steady. “It’s clear to me that certain environments can be bad for a child's growth and upbringing.” My grip on the glass tightened. She was making this public. She was declaring war.“If you will not turn that off, I'll turn it off myself.” My father came out of nowhere, breaking through my concentration and before I had time to object, he went ahead and disconnected the tv plug from the sockets.
-- Alexander --I leaned back in my leather chair, steering myself slowly to the left and slowly to the right, lost in the turmoil in my head. It felt like the wrong time to remember Grizelda's painful words to me at the hospital but I did and clearly."I've decided to give Jax a chance in my life..." She had said.The words were like tiny needles pricking against my skin.Jax Grey. He was finally successful in taking Grizelda from me.Apart from that, there was a lingering pain in my chest. I felt deeply broken inside because it felt like everyone was suddenly against me. I felt alone with no one to turn to.I stared once again at the crumpled drawing Leo had given me last time I picked Spencer up from school. I'd been the one to crumple it, squeezing it tightly in my hand while emotions welled up inside of me. It was a picture of a family, properly colored with crayons.No matter how many times I stared at the drawing, I felt the same amount of emotions brewing inside of me. It was
-- Grizelda --The front door being slammed shut echoed through the house. I soon heard Leo's footsteps followed by his lovely voice."Mommy!" he called out in a shrill voice.I stepped out of the kitchen to meet him. I dried my hands on a dish towel as I met him in the hallway. His face was red from the cold, his blond hair pointed in all directions and his bag almost slipped off one shoulder.The paper he held commanded my attention."Look!" he said excitedly as he stretched the paper toward me. "Something new I made at school today!"I collected the drawing from him. My breath got caught in my throat as I realized what he drew this time.It was a picture of himself, unmistakably and Alexander. It was drawn in vibrant crayon colors. Leo had drawn himself in his favorite red shirt as he held hands with a tall man who looked unmistakably like Alexander.The man had the same blond and hazel eyes. The title was written very boldly. Me and the man who looks like me!I forced a smile. "My
-- Alexander --The afternoon light poured into my office and radiated off the polished wood of my desk. The financial report I’d been working on untouched for the past hour on my computer screen stared back at me. My head was in another dimension. I kept thinking of my argument with my mother.Grizelda’s supposed betrayal with Jax Grey still played in my head.It was a story I believed to be true all those years ago. Lucy showed me the so called evidence of Grizelda's infidelity. She cried and consoled me, telling me I deserved better. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be logical then.But now? All I could think of was if there must be more to the stor I should know about.I leaned back in my chair as I stared at the ceiling deep in my thoughts. My head was completely filled with doubt. Could it really be that something did go on between Jax and Grizelda, or could those photos have been entirely fake, purposely made to look that way? Probably edited too.Those photos always felt
-- Grizelda --The custody fight hanged over me like a dark and unrelenting storm. Even in my leisure time, I was unable to relax because of the heaviness I felt when I thought about it. Margaret not only wanted to take away Leo from me but my identity. I didn’t know what else I was asides being a mother.I decided to bury myself in work but little good did that do. The numbers and quotations just blurred into one huge mess of gibberish before my eyes. I leaned back in my chair as I rubbed my temples. I needed to keep busy otherwise my mind would spiral into places I didn’t want it to go. I couldn’t afford to fall apart now.A soft knock on the door startled me.“Come in,” I called. I bent over the papers scattered on my table. I needed to appear or give the impression I was busy.Vicky stepped inside, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She had always been proactive, sorting my needs before I even knew. I gave her a grateful look, my eyes twinkling with delight as it expressed the r
-- Alexander --"You have crossed a line." I said as my voice trembled with anger.My mother who stood in the centre of my office didn’t flinch at my tone, she didn’t even blink. She just stood there, arms folded with a rigid posture as the cold matriarch she has always been."Leo is my grandson," Her words were measured and deliberate. "He belongs in the Kingston family."Her words sent my mind reeling. I glared as I launched myself to my full height. "Leo stays with his mother," I snapped. "And you had no right to serve Grizelda custody papers without my blessing. What were you thinking?""I was thinking about Leo’s future. Your son's future." she said with an icy tone "The Kingston's name. The legacy you seem so fixated on ruining."I could barely restrain my anger as my hands were clenched into fists. "This has nothing to do with legacy. This is about Leo. He’s a child, not some object to be added to the Kingston's collection. No matter what the case may be."Her lips curled into