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LXX : Flashback : One More Step and I Might Fall
Last Updated:
2025-02-06 23:12:14
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His Son, Her Secret LXXI: [Still Flashback] Into the Deep
"Come in. You won't regret it."My toes gripping the grassy ground as I considered his invitation. The clear water reflected the sunlight beginning to lean to the west, its surface sparkling like crystal. I could see the bottom of the lake. Small grayish rocks were scattered underneath, creating a beautiful natural expanse.I bit my lip, considering Pascha's invitation. I wanted to go in, but...My eyes caught a glimpse of him. His black hair was wet, and a few drops of water ran down his tanned skin.I let out a long breath."Alright." I turned towards the car, taking a deep breath as I got into it and closed the door. I removed my pants, leaving only the short boxers I always wore as underwear, while my black T-shirt remained attached to my body.As I returned to the lakeside, Pascha looked at me.I ignored him.I stepped into the water slowly, my body immediately feeling a piercing but refreshing cold sensation. I sighed softly, letting the water surround my skin, then walked deepe
Last Updated : 2025-02-07His Son, Her Secret LXXII : [Still Flashback] Too Close, Too Late
I don't know how this happened.How could I just let Pascha into my life?From that day at the lake, everything changed.Pascha was no longer just someone who frequently appeared, now he was everywhere.He would wait for me outside of class without being asked, offering me coffee that somehow always suited my taste. He would pull me to sit with him in the library under the pretext that he needed someone to "keep him company while he reads"—when, in the end, it was me who was busy with the assignment while he was just silent, watching me with that annoying grin.Sometimes, I still try to avoid him. Not because I want to, but because I don't know what is going on between us. But Pascha always found a way to drag me back to him.And I let him. I couldn't stay away from him anymore.Yet, on the other hand, I was already moving away from Jacob. I was never really with him, but we both knew that something could have been something that never really grew.So, I decided to end it before anyth
Last Updated : 2025-02-08His Son, Her Secret LXXIII : Present : Stay Away, Stay Close
Present The morning slipped through the gap in the curtains, refracting golden light into Max's room.I opened my eyes slowly, letting consciousness return to fill my heavy mind. My body still felt tired, not from lack of sleep but from the burden of thoughts that haunted me even in my dreams.Max was still asleep beside me. His face was peaceful, his lips slightly pursed like he were dreaming. His blanket was half uncovered, and one small hand was still hugging his favourite Superman doll.I gently stroked his hair, letting my fingers brush the fine black strands. My son. The only part of my life I never regretted.But everything leading up to this point? I can't say the same.I took a deep breath and looked out the window. The beach in front of the house was still quiet, and the waves were rolling in with a calm rhythm.I shouldn't feel like this.But as I sleep next to my son on what should be a peaceful morning, Aurora's words from five years ago come back to haunt me."You have
Last Updated : 2025-02-08His Son, Her Secret LXXIV : Max’s Cookie Chronicles
After lunch, I stood on the sill of the dividing wall that separated the kitchen and living room, staring at Pascha, who was putting the car keys into his pants pocket. He was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his hair was slightly messy, typical of him.Sitting on the living room floor arranging Lego toys, Max turned his head when he heard his Dad footsteps."Are you leaving, Daddy?" he asked innocently.Pascha paused for a moment, then lowered his body to Max's level. "Yes, sweetheart. Daddy have some work to do."Max nodded with understanding. "You won't be long, right?"Pascha smiles a little, ruffling Max's hair. "I'll be home as soon as I finish work, Maxie."Max looked thoughtful for a moment, then his face lit up like he had just remembered something. "It's okay, Daddy, you don't have to worry."Pascha raised an eyebrow. "Why I don’t need to worry?""Because Uncle Ben is coming! So I won't be bored." Max casually replied.I froze in place.Pas
Last Updated : 2025-02-09His Son, Her Secret LXXV : Max’s Favorite Person
Max was still sitting on the sofa with an unreceptive expression, his mouth continuing to chew his hard homemade cookies with extra effort.Beside him, Clara laughed without pity, eating my cookies with a look of complete satisfaction."Wow, Bel, these cookies are perfect," she said dramatically, chewing slowly, wanting to taunt Max further. "Soft, just the right amount of sweetness, and they don't require any extra effort to bite into."Max gave her a sharp look. "My cookies are good too!"Clara suppressed a smile, then took one from Max's pile of cookies, tapping it against the table with a loud 'tock' sound.Max widened his eyes, then glared at her. "That's just because they're too dense! If I dipped them in milk, they'd be even better!"I laughed while Clara pretended to think. "Hmm... well, I'll try."She reached for Max's glass of milk, dipped the cookies into the milk for two seconds, then took a bite.Silence.Max waited expectantly.Clara blinked. Then...She rolled her eyes
Last Updated : 2025-02-10His Son, Her Secret LXXVI : Lines We Cannot Cross
I stood in the kitchen, my fingers typing a message quickly on my phone before I could think twice.Don't come.I stare at the screen for a moment, then add,I don't want Max to see you and Ben fighting. He loves you both, and I don't want him to be sad.I hit the send button and let out a long sigh, leaning back against the kitchen counter.A few seconds passed.Two ticks. Read.But no reply.I snorted softly, putting the phone down on the table. Pascha was probably thinking, or maybe he just didn't care. That doesn't surprise me.In the living room, the sound of explosions from the Transformers movie echoed, followed by Max giving a small cheer. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes glued to the television screen, too engrossed in the giant robot battle scene.I rubbed my face, feeling a little tired despite not having done anything yet.Then, I heard footsteps.I knew who it was before I turned my head.Ben stopped in the kitchen doorway, leaning his broad shoulders against th
Last Updated : 2025-02-11His Son, Her Secret LXXVII : Brother’s Wrath
Max was still standing between them, his innocent eyes staring left and right, clearly not understanding why the atmosphere around him had suddenly changed."Max," I looked down, making my voice as soft as possible, "why don't you come with Cece to the kitchen? It looks like she needs help preparing your favorite drink."Clara, who had been quietly observing, immediately caught my code. "Oh yes!" she chirped. "Maxie, I just bought your favorite strawberry syrup! Would you like to try making a special milkshake with me?"Max immediately beamed.Without thinking, he ran towards Clara, forgetting about the two stubborn men staring at each other behind him.I waited until the sound of Max's steps disappeared in the direction of the kitchen before exhaling softly and looking at the two men warily.Pascha just shrugged casually, like Ben's presence in the house was no big deal. "I just want to have dinner with my son."My son.He emphasized the word deliberately, his gaze never leaving Ben,
Last Updated : 2025-02-12His Son, Her Secret LXXVIII : Little Boy, Big Questions
The rain beats against the bedroom window in a steady beat. I sat on the edge of the bed, a storybook open in my hand, while Max snuggled under a blanket with a picture of his favorite Superman and his stuffed superman too . His brown hair was messy, and his cheeks flushed warm after a full day of play.But... this boy, as always, never ran out of energy.“Come on, Max,” I flipped through the book's pages. “It's getting late. You should go to bed. Mommy have to work tomorrow.”He just squirmed while hugging his doll. “But I'm not sleepy yet!” he protested. “I still want to talk about dinosaurs!”I let out a long sigh, looking at my little boy whose eyes still sparkled despite the late night. “You've been talking about dinosaurs all day, sweetie. Now, I know more about velociraptors than I've ever learned in my life.”Max giggles. “But you don't know this one yet, Mommy! You know what? That T-Rex can bite with eight thousand pounds of force! That's as strong as... hmmm...” he paused, t
Last Updated : 2025-02-13
Latest chapter
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXVIII : What Remains of Us
The cold air hit my skin like a slap of reality.I stared at my reflection in the villa’s bathroom mirror—cream marble walls too smooth to be real, warm lighting that made my swollen eyes look softer, and a wide sink with a bottle of liquid soap that probably cost more than my shoes.But my face... was still the same.Tired eyes. Cracked lips. Unsteady breath.I wiped my cheek with a white towel—clean, lavender-scented—then looked at myself again.“This is the end,” I said quietly.My own voice sounded unfamiliar. But steady.“It has to end. Tonight.”I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling the front pieces back and tying them at the back of my head with a small band I found in my bag. The rest of my short hair fell around my neck—light, out of the way. Practical. Sharp. Just like my intention for tonight.I looked down at my wrinkled sweater—sage green, a color I used to love, now feeling like a burden. My jeans itched too, dusty from the car ride and too much heat from earlier ang
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXVII : how dare the sun still set
“I hate you.”That was the first thing I said after the car crossed the gate and turned onto the main road. My voice cracked. My breathing was still uneven. One hand clutched the seatbelt, the other trembled in my lap.“You think this is funny? Bringing her into your house? Around Max?!”Pascha stayed silent. His left hand rested calmly on the wheel, the right on the gearshift. His eyes were locked on the road like there wasn’t a storm sitting right next to him.“You really don’t realize what a bastard you are, do you?”Still no response.“You’re insane. You’re.....you’re the most selfish person I’ve ever met! You showed up at my house bleeding, crawled into my bed. MY BED, and the next day you brought her to your house?!”Still nothing. The car kept rolling forward, eating up pavement in a steady rhythm.“And you let Max laugh with her? Sit next to her? What.....what’s next, he calls her ‘Mommy’? Is that it? That your plan? To replace me? Hand her the title?”No answer.I turned to h
His Son, Her Secret CLX : Mirrorball Shattered Mid-Spin
The car hadn’t even come to a full stop in the carport when I opened the door."Bell—"I heard Kyara’s voice from behind me, but I didn’t look back. My steps were fast. Hot. Loud.Every heel strike against the stone path between my house and Pascha’s mansion felt like a tiny hammer, fueling my anger higher and higher. I knew he was there. I knew Max was there. And I knew that snake of a woman was there too, sitting pretty in the living room, playing a role so well even the devil would applaud her performance.Aurora was close behind me, her steps quick but cautious. I could feel her breath. Short and startled. But nothing could stop me now.The mansion door opened. Clara stood in the doorway, her expression confused and wary when she saw me. But I didn’t stop.“Where’s Max?” I asked flatly.“In the back room… playing with synthetic sand and Mischa,” Clara whispered.I didn’t say anything else. No need. I walked inside.And there she was.Her.Mikaela.Sitting on Pascha’s way-too-soft,
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXV : I Saw Red
I tapped the green button on my phone and held it to my ear.Three rings.Four.No answer.I frowned, pulled the phone away, and stared at the name on the screen: Ben (my favorite idiot twin). I called again.Ringing.Still no answer. No message.He usually lets me know if there’s a change of plans. Even when he's stuck in a board meeting in L.A., he still manages to send me a photo of a whiteboard covered in scribbles with a caption like, “Does anyone understand this? 'Cause I don't.”But now?Silence.I sighed, slipped the phone into my bag, and pushed the office door open with my shoulder. My actual office—not Romanov International. I’d had enough of Russians playing dress-up as CEOs.This office lobby was nothing fancy. Modern, but human. No marble, no echoing high heels that felt like judgment. Just the smell of fresh coffee, soft lighting, and polite smiles from Ellie the receptionist who talked way too much about her cats.“Good morning, Ms. Belva,” Ellie greeted.I gave a quic
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXIV : hit the pedal, heavy metal, show me your cares [Pascha]
The digital clock beside the bed read 4:12 AM.I opened my eyes slowly, and for a moment, the world felt still.Moonlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting soft lines across the wooden floor and the white bedsheet I was lying on. The sheet Belva said she’d just washed yesterday.I turned my head slightly, feeling the dull throb in my left shoulder.And I just... smiled a little.Still fresh in my memory: her panicked voice, her trembling hands, her frustrated muttering while cleaning up my blood last night. Belva in her panic-anger mode was honestly one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.I reached for my phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up, too bright at first. I opened the messaging app and typed quickly to Jacob.Pascha: Clean my wound again later.Barely two seconds and it showed a blue check.Then I switched to another contact and hit call without hesitation.Ronan.The dial tone rang.Once. Twice.“I swear on my wife and my dog, if this isn’t an emergen
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXIII : Dying, But Still Hot [Pascha]
The pain came in lazy pulses.Not the kind that made you scream or tear up a pillow, but more like a harsh whisper gnawing at the edges of your consciousness.I sat on a black leather chair in the back room of the mansion, my shirt torn, blood dripping onto the kind of expensive floor that would probably make my company accountant faint if he knew how much the carpet cost.Jacob was kneeling beside me, face tight, gloved hands steady, eyes filled with his usual annoyance. Christian stood in the corner, holding a basin of water and a clean towel, looking like he’d just seen a zombie walk into the living room.“Holy shit…” Christian muttered in panic, eyes wide. “Boss, we have to go to a hospital! This is serious! This is insane! This is—”I lazily raised an eyebrow. “If you can’t shut up, Christian, I’ll have Jacob stitch your mouth closed before he does my shoulder.”Christian froze. Literally.Jacob snorted, lifting a shiny pair of tweezers into the air, inspecting them under the des
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXII : Bleed on Your Own Time
I dragged Pascha’s body into the house as best as I could. His breathing was heavy in my ear, his footsteps shuffling behind me. When we reached the short two-step stairway into the living room, he collapsed a little, his knees buckling like all his strength had drained away."Shit, Pascha!" I cried out. "You can’t just sit here—"But he already had, dropping himself down onto the bottom step with a heavy breath, his shoulders slumping forward. Blood was still dripping slowly from the tear in his shirt, seeping down and staining the fabric.I panicked.I bolted into the kitchen, yanking open the big drawer where I always kept the first aid kit—because living with Max had taught me that surviving without antiseptics and bandages was basically suicide.I hurried back, dropping the kit onto the floor with a loud thud, my hands shaking as I pulled out medical gloves, a bottle of antiseptic, and some gauze."I need to call a doctor," I said frantically, cutting away the remains of his shir
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXI : aching laughter, restless monsters
"Why do humans even watch horror movies if they end up too scared to use the bathroom?" Max's voice rang out loud and clear, laced with heavy sarcasm."Because humans are stupid and sometimes like to create problems for themselves." Mischa added with an eerily calm tone, completely emotionless,I choked a little on my tea, trying not to laugh.At the dining table, Kyara and Aurora sat looking like zombies freshly risen from the grave. Kyara's hair was a mess, she was wearing my hoodie with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, while Aurora was still in my house dress, sleepily munching on breakfast. They were both sluggishly shoving pieces of toast into their mouths."Don’t tease Auntie Kyara and Auntie Aurora, Max," I warned him."But Mommy," Max protested, pointing at Kyara, "Auntie Kyara slept on the couch hugging my bike helmet! And she was mumbling in her sleep!""And she said 'don’t open that door, it’s a trap' three times," Mischa added flatly, staring at Kyara’s toast like it w
His Son, Her Secret CLXXX : Karma Never Knocks, It Breaks In
The dinner table was packed with small dishes. Lasagna, garlic bread, spinach salad, and a big bowl of mashed potatoes that Aurora had prepared with scientific precision. In the middle of it all, Max and Mischa sat side by side, both wearing plastic aprons with robots and unicorns on them.“So...,” Aurora muttered, “you have two kids now?”“It’s... an emergency situation.”Kyara, sitting beside Aurora, immediately jumped in. “Emergency? Emergency? From where I'm sitting, that mini-Russian has already claimed territory in your house.”Max, his mouth full of cheese, pointed at Mischa. "She's cool! She’s teaching me Russian! Now I can say ‘robot’ in a badass voice! Robot." Max said, with an accent that was... highly questionable.Mischa just kept chewing her bread, unfazed. Her gaze was blank yet sharp, like a tiny Wednesday Addams who had wandered into a happy family dinner."I don't need an invitation," Mischa said casually, shrugged. "I'm already here."Aurora raised an eyebrow. "You
