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LXXIII : Present : Stay Away, Stay Close
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-08 01:55:58
Bab terkait
His 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-13His Son, Her Secret LXXIX : One Step Too Close
I found Ben standing by the living room window, his phone pressed to his ear, his jaw set, and his eyes staring into the rainy night outside."I'll be home later," his voice was cold and measured but clearly laden with suppressed emotions. "Yes, I understand... I said I'd take care of it."I stopped in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt immediately, but his expression made my chest heavy. Ben looked... angry. No, more than that. Frustrated.He was silent for a few seconds, then snorted sharply. "Whatever. Do what you want."Click.The call ended.Ben lowered his phone, then rubbed his face roughly before putting his phone in his pocket.I took a step closer. "Who?"Ben turned his head briefly, his expression sharp, but his eyes softened slightly as soon as he saw me. "Papa."That one word was enough to make my body stiffen.Ben grunted, walked over to the sofa, and heavily flung himself down on it. "There's a problem at the office. He wants me back to Bogota now."I watched his mov
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-14His Son, Her Secret LXXX : Maxime, Maximus, and Mischief
"Why does the water get cold first and then become hot?""Because water takes time to change temperature.""Why does it take time?""Because the water pipe is long.""Why is the pipe long?"Pascha let out a long breath. "Max, please... focus on your bath.""Okay. But after this, you'll have to explain how the pipe can carry water.""Oh God...Max, come on, don't make this tough."I could imagine Pascha starting to rub his face in resignation. I knew precisely how complicated it was to bathe Max."But... if I take a bath, my brain will get wet and my intelligence will decrease!""Max..." Pascha started to sound like he was losing his temper. "That's not how the brain works."Max groaned. "But—""God, this kid..." I could hear the water gurgling as Pascha started the shower.Max's little squeal made me giggle. "Dad, this soap smells weird.""That's the soap Mommy uses.""Oh, then why does Mommy use weird soap?""It's not weird, Max. It's lavender.""What's lavender?""It's a flower.""Wh
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-15His Son, Her Secret LXXXI : Watching. Waiting. Why?
I walked out of the meeting room. The glass doors automatically closed behind me, letting the faint sounds of my team's conversation fade away as I moved away.The meeting had just finished, and for the first time since this project began, I felt that the big wheels we were pushing were slowly starting to move. Romanov Corporation and Lantum Mining have finally agreed on the specifications for the artificial intelligence-based automation system we will implement at their main mine. Next week, the first phase of testing will begin.I let out a long breath. With all the complex technology, predictive systems, and real-time analytics my team and I had built, this project was the result of months of hard work. And now, everything was finally coming together.My fingers automatically opened my phone. When the screen lights up, my first reflex is to open the messaging app.Me: How's Max? Have you found the Autobot he wants?I sent the message to Pascha and stared at the screen, waiting. The
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-15
Bab terbaru
His Son, Her Secret CXI : Whispers of the Past
I came down the stairs at seven a.m., my steps slow on the oak wood that felt too expensive—and far too quiet—for the storm inside my chest. The sound of waves drifted in from afar through a slightly cracked window, filling the air with sea salt and cool mist. Morning light slipped softly into the living room, brushing over thick rugs and cream velvet couches that looked like they belonged in an architecture magazine.The Romanov villa in Carmel… was too perfect.Too still.And for the first time since last night, I was thankful for that.No heavy footsteps on the floor.No clinking glasses.No low voice saying my name in that way that short-circuited my entire nervous system.No Pascha.I let out a quiet sigh—half relief, half disbelief. I wasn’t ready this morning. Not for his stare. Too honest. Too lit. Too full of history.I made my way to the kitchen. The interior looked like something out of another world—gray marble counters veined with white like paintings, dark wood cabinets
His Son, Her Secret CXC : Warmth, Ruin & Tart Guardian
His embrace felt like the world I almost left behind—warm, stubborn, and heavy with the shadows of our past.But I couldn’t breathe.Not because he was holding me too tightly, but because my mind was too full. Too loud. Too much to process all at once.I pressed my hand gently against his chest. One small push. Then another, firmer.Pascha let go slowly, but his gray eyes stayed locked on me like he was afraid I’d vanish if he blinked.I took two steps back, holding in a breath that burned like embers in my chest.“I need some time alone,” I said softly.Pascha frowned but didn’t speak.“Another room. In this villa. I know this place is huge—too huge. You can sleep wherever you want. But I need space. I need… somewhere that isn’t you.”My voice nearly cracked, but I forced it to hold.He didn’t answer right away. He just looked at me, and I could see something stirring inside him. Not anger. Not guilt.But love—raw and unsure of what shape to take in a moment like this.Then he steppe
His Son, Her Secret CLXXXIX : the page i didn’t read
I fell silent.The only sound was the faucet still running, water hitting the metal sink like a downpour in the middle of silence.That sentence echoed in my head."You're my wife, Bee."I blinked.Once.Twice.Then the world started to spin.Not the usual kind of dizziness, not a migraine from lack of sleep or too much caffeine. This was... like my logic was twisted, crushed, and thrown off the highest cliff without warning.My heart started pounding—not from emotion, but because my brain couldn’t process something this big… this absurd… this Pascha.I took a step back.Then another.My hand reached for the cold edge of the kitchen counter, gripping it just to stay upright.“What... did you just say?” I whispered, even though I’d heard him. Too clearly.He just looked at me, eyes steady, shoulders still slightly leaning forward like a man who just dropped a bomb in the middle of a city and was waiting to see if there’d be an explosion.I laughed.It was dry. Empty. The laugh of someo
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
