NoahThe man’s heavy arms draped across my shoulders, his grip tight and suffocating. His breath reeked of alcohol as he leaned in closer. The stench mixed with the smell of sweat and the sticky humidity of the small bathroom. “I knew you wanted me the second you walked in here, beautiful,” he slurred, his words oozing with drunken arrogance. “In fact, you need me.”My heart raced in my chest. The terror of the situation froze me in place for a split second before my instincts kicked in. “Leave me alone!” I cried out, struggling against his grip, trying desperately to break free. But his arms tightened around me like a vise. His hands were rough and intrusive as they roamed my body.“Help! Somebody help me!” I screamed, the sound reverberating off the tiled walls.It felt like the words barely left my throat before his greasy hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my cries. Panic surged through me. My breaths came in short, desperate gasps as I twisted and squirmed, trying to free mysel
NoahClara's face paled as I marched toward her, fury radiating off me in waves. She’d been caught off guard. For a moment, her confident facade faltered. Neil’s innocent, wide eyes darted between us. His confusion was evident as he clung to his floaty, unaware of the emotional storm brewing between the adults.I could feel the anger pulsing through me, making my hands shake. But then, as I looked down at Neil, my heart clenched. His innocent gaze locked onto mine. His small face was scrunched in worry, as if he barely recognized me.“Mommy?” he asked, his voice small and uncertain. “What did Auntie Clara do?”His innocence, so pure and untouched by the chaos surrounding him, jolted me back to reality. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the tempest within me. This was my son—my little boy who didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess.“Sorry, buddy,” I said, my voice softening as I knelt down at the poolside. “Auntie Clara made Mommy very angry, but it’s not something you need to w
NoahNeil’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. I hadn’t realized how much he’d been absorbing, how deeply this was affecting him. My sweet, innocent boy—he shouldn’t have to carry the weight of our problems.I reached out, pulling him into my lap. I wrapped my arms around him tightly. “Oh, sweetheart,” I whispered, my voice choking with emotion. “Mommy just needs some time to think. I promise, we will always love you and take care of you. No matter what happens.”Neil snuggled closer. “I love you, Mommy,” he whispered.“I love you too, baby,” I replied, kissing the top of his head. I wanted to hold him like this forever, to kee
RaymondI sat alone on the beach, my hands buried in my hair, staring out at the endless ocean. The waves crashed against the shore with a relentless force that mirrored the chaos inside my mind.I felt like I was being pulled under. Drowning in the silence that had settled between Noah and me. It had been days since we last spoke, and every passing minute without her felt like another piece of my heart being chipped away.Noah hadn’t let me near her since that day. She wouldn’t even let me explain. She’d built walls around herself, shutting me out completely. And I got it—I really did.After everything she went through with Owen and Josie, how those betrayals had nearly destroyed her… It made sense that she couldn&rsqu
NoahFacing Raymond’s concern, I couldn’t help letting my guard down. I told him what happened.“Clara made us breakfast and told me to give you a chance. She said that it really had been an accident. She sounded really sincere. And then she suddenly left,” I explained. “Did I treat her too harshly?” I asked, looking into Raymond’s concerned eyes.“No worries, she is an adult and knows how to be responsible for herself.” Raymond comforted me. He smiled warmly, a hint of longing and sadness in his handsome eyes.Raymond, Neil and I sat down for breakfast. He made a few sweet jokes, trying to lighten the mood, and despite myself, I found my lips curving into a smile. Neil giggled at his father’s ant
NoahRaymond and I rushed into the living room. Our hearts were pounding, each beat echoing with the fear of what we might find. The sound of a strange man's voice talking to our son had sent a jolt of panic through us.But when we entered the room, it was empty. Raymond looked at me with a puzzled expression, silently gesturing for me to stay quiet. He grabbed a baseball bat from the corner, holding it tightly as he moved towards the next room. I followed close behind, my breath held in anticipation.The stranger's voice drifted through the house again. “Look what I have for you, boy.” The voice came from the kitchen. Raymond’s grip on the bat tightened, and he quickened his pace. I stayed close, fear twisting in my gut as we approached the kitchen door.
NoahAlejandro’s words left me in stunned silence. My mind scrambled to make sense of what he had just asked. Did he really want to know what I found attractive about him? Was this some kind of sick joke, or was he testing me?“Uh… Wh-what?” I stammered, hoping I had misunderstood his thick Hispanic accent.“What would you say is my most attractive body part, Miss Noah?” he repeated. His smile was unfaltering, calm, almost as if he had asked me about the weather.The absurdity of the situation made my skin prickle with discomfort. “Why would you ask me such an inappropriate question?” I demanded. My voice was rising slightly, betraying the alarm I felt. My eyes narrowed as I studied his face, searching for any hint of ulterior motives.“Oh…” Alejandro hesitated, his expression shifting slightly. He looked as if he genuinely didn’t understand why I was upset. Was he really that clueless, or was he just pretending? Then, as if a lightbulb went off in his head, he suddenly chuckled. “No,
NoahWhen Alejandro arrived at the villa to pick up Clara, I was still helping her get ready. She was fussing over her dress, and adjusting her hair for the third time. “Oh, will you get the door, please, Noah?” she asked. “There are still a few things I need to do.”“Of course, no problem,” I replied, heading downstairs toward the entrance.As I opened the door, I was greeted by Alejandro, holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers. A smile of recognition spread across my face—he had taken my advice to heart. But then, to my surprise, he extended the bouquet toward me.“For you, Miss Noah. Because you have been so kind to me.”“Oh… Uh… Thank you,” I stammered, momentarily at a loss for words. His gaze lingered on me, intense and unwavering, making me feel oddly self-conscious. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, I managed to say, “Why don’t you come in?”Alejandro followed me inside, his stride confident and deliberate. “Clara is still getting ready,” I explained, trying to fill