It was getting late, but Max and Clara's laughter filled the dining room, keeping the atmosphere warm. Nearly empty plates lay on the table while Max swung his legs, his face content after a dinner that was quite a lot for a little boy."I thought you said you didn't want to eat vegetables," Clara teased, pointing to the cabbage left on Max's plate."Mommy said I should try," Max replied, his voice full of defense. "And it was... not bad. Not great, but not bad either."Clara chuckled while I just shook my head with a faint smile. "Next time, you'll say you liked it," I replied lightly as I set the plates on the table.Max suddenly stood up, his eyes sparkling. "OKAY! After this, we can play cards again!""Gosh, this kid doesn't run out of energy," Clara said dramatically.But, just as I opened my mouth to reply, a knock on the front door broke our attention.Max jumped up from his chair towards the door. "I'll open it!""Max!" I called, but he had already disappeared behind the living
It's getting late, and the sound of Max laughing with Clara is in the background as I lie on the sofa, holding my phone with shaking hands. The screen light shines on my face as I type something into the social media search bar.Jacob Hernandes.I tapped on his profile icon, and the page opened, revealing photos featuring Jacob in various situations. There were photos of him in white suit in the hospital, at a medical conference, and some casual shots on the beach or at an expensive restaurant. But what caught my eye the most were his portraits with Pascha.There was a photo of them at a formal event, perhaps a charity gala or a business meeting. The two of them stood side by side, Jacob with his warm smile and Pascha with his signature cold expression. I swallowed, my heart beating a little faster. Seeing them together reminded me how close they were, and it was enough to make my head full of worry.Did Jacob really keep his promise?I returned to Jacob's homepage, trying to ignore th
That morning at Romanov Corp's new office, the atmosphere was quieter than usual. I sat in my team's workspace, focused on the final report of the initial phase of the Lantum Mining project. Diagrams and data were displayed on the large screen before me while my team was busy fiddling with their respective computers."We need to make sure the satellite data analysis is complete before the end of the week," I said, pointing at one of the charts that mapped out the mining area. "Ryan, make sure all the information from HymnosTech is integrated into our system before Friday."Ryan nodded from his desk, his fingers constantly moving over the keyboard. "Okay, boss."I turned my attention to Ivy, who was examining the design of the application interface that the operational team in the field would use. "How's the interface progressing?"Ivy looked up at me from her monitor, her smile broadening. "Fifty percent. I need to fine-tune a few minor features. I'm sure we can test it next week.""Go
As the elevator doors opened with a soft thud, Pascha immediately grabbed my hand, leading me out without giving me a chance to rebel.My high heels clashed with the shiny marble floor, and I had to half-run to keep up with his long strides. The room was part of the VVIP hotel, the highest floor in the building, with a glass wall that provided a view of the city of San Francisco and the beach in the distance.However, I didn't have time to notice the beauty."Let. Me. Go!" I tried to stop my steps, but he only tightened his grip on my wrist, forcing me to follow his steps."What do you want from me?" I shouted, my breathing heavy with emotion mixed with exhaustion. My body stiffened as he stopped in front of a large door, took a key card from his pocket, and opened the door with a swift motion.He didn't answer. Instead, he pulled me into a spacious room with modern interiors and elegant neutral colors. The door closed with a click behind me, trapping us both inside the space.I twiste
The night sky is dark as I park my car in front of Clara parent’s house, which has a large yard filled with ornamental plants. The light from the house's windows illuminates the night with a warmth that beckons anyone to enter. The house has a classic atmosphere, with wooden walls that give it a nostalgic touch.I got out of the car and walked towards the front door, only to see Max running out enthusiastically, wearing his little blue sweater that was too cute to ignore."Mommy!" he exclaims, his face shining as bright as the moon tonight. He jumped towards me, his hand grabbing mine tightly. "Come on in quickly! Cece said dinner's ready, and it has my favorite food!"I chuckled, letting Max pull me into the house. As the door opened, the warm aroma of spices immediately greeted me, mixing with the sounds of chatter and laughter from the dining room."Belva! You're here!" Ciara, or Grandma Ciara, as Max calls her, stood up from her chair with a big smile. The old woman with her silver
The coconut stand looks exactly like it did the last time we came. It is a small place by the beach with dimly lit chandeliers, and the scent of the sea mixes with the cool night air. A few wooden tables are scattered around the area, and only a handful of customers are enjoying their drinks.Julian was already sitting at one of the tables, wearing a simple black T-shirt that made him look more chill than usual.He raised his hand when he saw me, his smile wide as always. "You came," he said cheerfully as I approached. "I was worried you'd think I was crazy for asking you out at night just for coconut water.""I guess I did think that," I answered, sitting opposite him.He chuckled, handing me a young coconut ready with a straw. "But you came anyway."I accepted the coconut without another word, taking a small sip of the water. It was fresh, sweet, and soothing. Perfect for the summer heat that doesn't even subside at night."I think you're obsessed with this place," I said, breaking t
It's getting late, and the coastal breeze feels cooler as Julian and I leave the shop. My house isn't far from here, just a few minutes' walk, so I decided to walk instead."I can handle walking, you know," I shoot him a quick look.He shoved his hands into his pockets, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Guess that makes me your chaperone tonight. Gotta keep the tradition alive, right?"I snorted softly, stepping down the sandy path that led to the beach. The sound of the waves was a constant backdrop, completing the cozy silence between us."You don't have to do this," I said again, though inwardly, I didn't mind his presence."I know," he replied casually. "But I want it."We walked in silence for a while, our steps matching the sound of the occasionally louder waves as the water reached the shore. The moonlight reflected off the surface of the water, giving it an almost magical atmosphere."I think you misunderstood me."I turned to him, slightly surprised by his serio
No alarm was going off, and I was not complaining about Max having to get up early for school. Instead, Max laughing and playing in the living room signifies that summer vacation has officially begun.I’m in the kitchen, rocking a work cardigan and high-waisted, wide-leg pants, casually spreading butter on toast. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, mingling with the sound of Clara humming softly while washing dishes in the sink. Everything seemed peaceful. "Mommy! Look at this!" Max's loud voice broke the silence.At least for a few seconds...I turned to him, seeing him sitting on the floor with his black Porsche electric mini car—an expensive gift from Clara’s uncle, Ricky—parked next to him. Max was excitedly holding the remote control while twirling the car's wheels."Max, you haven't had breakfast yet," I reminded him, placing a plate of toast on the table. "Please go to the dining table now."Max just mumbled, his gaze not moving from his car. "I'm not hungry, Mo
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of roast chicken starting to cook in the oven. I stood in front of the stove, stirring the sauce.I’m pouring the sauce into the pot but my phone vibrated on the kitchen counter. The name on the screen makes me pause for a moment before I swipe the green icon to answer.“Ben?” My voice trembles slightly.“Hey, Bell.” Ben's voice sounded softer than the last time he spoke.I bit my lip, waiting for what he would say next.“I...” Ben breathed across the phone. “I want to apologize.”I closed my eyes for a moment. “Ben, you don't have to—”“I do,” he cut in quickly. “I know I was so rude that time. I panicked, I was angry... but that's no reason to blame you for something that wasn't entirely your fault.”I stirred the sauce again, trying to calm myself down. “You were just worried. I understand.”“And so do you,” he added, his voice softer. “I just don't want you to get hurt again, Bell.”I swallowed, feeling something stir in my chest. Ben was alwa
The supermarket wasn't too crowded this early in the afternoon, just a few customers leisurely strolling the aisles with their trolleys. I pushed my trolley towards the fresh meat section, still remembering Max's dramatic request this morning—the chickens in his dream that ran away and left him hungry.What I hadn't counted on was who was walking beside me now.In a casual suit that still looks too expensive for a regular supermarket, Pascha walks casually beside me with an annoyingly casual expression. His hands were stuffed into his pants pockets while his eyes scanned the shelves as if this was his first time setting foot in a place like this.Well, I didn't know that it still stuck with him. Five years ago, he was a prince who had everything in his luxury penthouse—a personal chef and maids—and I'm guessing that he's still a stranger to supermarkets until now.I took a whole chicken from the cooling rack and put it in the trolley.“Is this chicken enough to fulfill Max's dream?” P
I glanced at Max's bed in the corner of his room. His little body was wrapped in a blanket, a Superman doll was lying beside him, and his breathing sounded soft. He was utterly exhausted after playing around all day yesterday with his grandparents. I decided not to wake him up and let him enjoy his rest.Walking into the kitchen with lazy steps, I tied my hair up. I opened the fridge, looking for simple ingredients for breakfast. There was no rush today.I make pancakes with maple syrup, Max's favourite, and some fresh fruit on the side.As I'm pouring the pancake batter onto the griddle, footsteps come from behind me. Clara appears in a loose T-shirt and shorts, her hair tied up carelessly. Her face is a little wrinkled, but she still gives me a smile."I'm cleaning out Max's toy shed," she said as she grabbed a glass of water. "You know, Bel, that boy has more toys than he can play with in a whole month."I snorted, flipping the pancakes in the skillet. "Blame Ben for that. He alway
Our algorithms are being tested in a virtual environment that simulates fundamental mining operations. I scan the data, looking for anomalies or errors that could interfere with the final results.My mind is focused on this report until Ryan's voice comes. "I need confirmation on the second stage simulation. The output energy parameters don't seem to be consistent with the input data."I nodded. "Put your report here," I said, pointing at the table. "What did you find?"Ryan placed his tablet before me, pointing to a graph showing energy fluctuations. "The values drop drastically at certain intervals. I think it has something to do with the automatic control algorithm adjustments, but I'm not sure yet."I sifted through the graph, realizing that the fluctuations occurred every time the system tried to predict an increase in fuel efficiency."This is an error in the predictive module. We need to adjust the threshold to be more tolerant of real-time data variations. Give me a few hours
Dinner finally ended, with the conversation slowing down and the atmosphere getting quieter. The candle in the center of the table was almost gone, leaving a soft glow illuminating the room. Max, whose energy seemed endless throughout the night, now looked sleepy. He yawned widely while hugging his Superman doll tightly."Are you tired, Max?" asked Alexandr, looking at Max with a warm smile.Max just nodded, his eyes half closed. "I'm sleepy," he murmured.Gently, Aleksandr took Max's tiny body from Pascha's arms. Max didn't protest, resting his head comfortably on his grandfather's shoulder. Aleksandr gently patted Max's back, letting the boy drift off."He's a wonderful boy," Aleksandr said, looking at me. "You've done a great job, Belva. Thank you and I’m sorry for everything.""You don't have to apologize," I said finally, my voice softer than I wanted it to be. "What happened five years ago... that's in the past."He gave a slight nod, but his eyes remained on me. "Even so, as a
Fancy food was served: foie-gras, grilled lobster, and other dishes whose names I couldn't even pronounce. But everyone's attention at the table was not on the food but on Max, who was sitting comfortably on Pascha's lap."So, Max," Igor broke the silence with a big smile, "what do you like most about San Francisco and living on the beach?"Max turned to Igor, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I love the beach! Mommy, I and Aunt Clara always play at the beach, and I love looking for shells."I tried to smile, although it felt strange to hear him speak so confidently in front of the Romanovs.Igor chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. "The beach, huh? You should try coming to Moscow in winter. There's snow, ice, and you can skiing."Max frowned, then shrugged dramatically. "I know about snow from movies. But skiing seems hard. I prefer surfing!"I almost choked on my breath. Where did he learn to talk like that? Before I could say anything, Trisha chuckled from the right side of the t
The luxurious restaurant, with its glittering crystal chandelier, was filled with a warm atmosphere from the conversations of the guests. I stepped inside, following Pascha, who was still carrying Max in his arms, and Max hugging his Superman doll.My heart was beating faster than usual, but I tried to stay calm, even though this wasn't the first meeting with Romanov family.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Natalia Romanova, Pascha's mother, standing up from her chair at the large table in the corner. She wore an elegant dark green dress, her neat blonde hair tied back."Belva," she greeted me in a warm voice. Before I could say anything, she grabbed me into a gentle hug. "It's so good to see you again."I froze for a moment before awkwardly returning her hug.She slipped away from our embrace but she didn't let go of her embrace in both my hands. She looked at me softly. "Why didn't you tell me about my grandson when we were at the restaurant that time... Belva?"I swallowed, my th
I stood before my bedroom mirror, staring at my reflection uneasily. Trembling hands fixed my simple pale blue dress while my mind spun endlessly. My hair, which I usually let down, was tied up in a neat bun this time, but somehow, I felt it still wasn't enough.Since the incident five years ago, this wasn't the first time I had met Pascha's parents. I can still vividly remember my meeting with his mother in that fancy restaurant, and she was so kind and accepting of all my decisions five years ago.But this time was different. I met them as the mother of their grandson. Max. One fact that makes my throat dry up every time I think about it.What if they didn't accept Max? Or worse, what if they accepted him too well and tried to take him away from me?I clenched my fists, feeling my chest grow heavy with anxiety.A slight knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Before I could say, come in, Pascha had already stepped in, wearing a black sweater that clung perfectly to his body, pair
Max sat in his chair with a small plate of nuggets, his hands busy dipping into the sauce as he hummed happily."So, Bell," Aurora began in a soft voice. "You said there was nothing between you and Pascha. I remember you once saying you wanted him to stay away. And now, you're letting him be Max's father. How do you explain that?"I let out a sigh. "It's not something that's easy to explain. I did it for Max. He needs his father. I can't keep avoiding Pascha, especially if it means depriving Max of a father figure."Kyara cut in immediately. "Isn't that too dramatic?""It's about Max, Ky."Aurora smiled a little. She grabbed a small note her pocket and started jotting something down seriously.I looked at her in confusion. "What are you doing?""Observation notes," Aurora replied without turning around. "It's part of my job as a psychologist. I'm trying to understand your thought patterns. You say it's for Max, but there's another emotional tone whenever you heard Pascha's name."A sa