The days following the attack were tumultuous, to say the least. Every passing moment felt like a battle against the fear that had taken root in my mind. But I was determined not to let it consume me. I had to remain strong, not just for myself, but for Sean as well. As I sat at my desk, attempting to focus on work, my phone rang, disrupting the uneasy calm that had settled over me. Glancing at the caller ID, I saw it was Marcus, my lawyer. I answered with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, unsure of what news he might have for me. "Hello, Marcus. What's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the apprehension that churned in my stomach. "Carmen, I have some news for you," Marcus said, his tone grave and serious. "I've been doing some digging into Sean's past, and I've uncovered something that I think you should know about." My heart skipped a beat, dread settling heavily in the pit of my stomach. What could Marcus have found that was so urgent, so sign
I waited for Carmen to come home, but I couldn't help but feel anxious. I couldn't understand why her mood had been off for days. Was it work? Was it us? I needed answers, and I was going to get them tonight.When she finally walked through the door, I could tell right away that something was wrong. Her eyes were tired, and there was a deep sadness etched on her face. She looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders."Hey," I said, trying to sound casual as I set down my book and stood up to greet her. "Rough day?"She nodded, barely glancing at me as she hung up her coat. "You could say that."I bit my lip, trying to decide how to approach the topic. We had been drifting apart lately, and I didn't want to push her away further. But I couldn't just ignore the tension between us."Do you want to talk about it?" I asked gently, hoping she would open up to me.She shook her head, avoiding my gaze. "Not really. Just need some time to think."I felt a pang of frust
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Sean had been spending so much time with Fiona and Lily. It was supposed to be just weekends, but now it was spilling into weekdays too. I tried to tell myself that it was important for Sean to bond with his daughter, but deep down, I couldn't ignore the growing unease.One evening, Sean came home late again. I watched him quietly as he entered the house, hung up his coat, and joined me in the living room."Long day?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral."Yeah," Sean replied, his voice distant. "Spent some time with Lily. She wanted to show me her new drawing."I forced a smile. "That's sweet. She's a talented little girl."Sean nodded, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere. Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time to confront the thoughts that had been eating away at me."Sean, can we talk?"He looked at me, sensing the seriousness in my voice. "Sure, what's on your mind?"I hesitated, searching for the right words. "I'v
Things had been better than I could have ever hoped for. Carmen and I were slowly finding our way back to each other, and Lily was becoming a joyful part of our lives. Every day, the love and we shared made each hurdle seem surmountable.This morning, I woke up to the sound of Lily's laughter echoing through the house. It was a sound that filled me with a profound sense of peace and happiness. I got out of bed, stretched, and headed downstairs to find Carmen and Lily in the kitchen, making breakfast together."Morning, Daddy!" Lily greeted me with a bright smile, her face smeared with flour."Morning, princess," I replied, ruffling her curly hair."Sean, we're making pancakes," Carmen said, looking up at me with a smile that warmed my heart. "Care to join us?""Absolutely," I said, stepping up to the counter. "Let's see if I can make the best pancakes in town."As we cooked and laughed together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of completeness. This was what I had always wanted—family
Our lives had settled into a comfortable rhythm. The specter of Fiona had faded into the background, and we were enjoying the peace that had come after so much turmoil. Carmen and I were closer than ever, and Lily was thriving. One crisp autumn morning, I received a message that shattered it.Meet me at the café at noon. We need to talk. It’s urgent.The words on the screen made my stomach churn. Fiona had been quiet for a while, and I hoped she had finally accepted our boundaries. But the tone of her message was different this time-insistent and ominous. I knew I couldn't ignore it.That morning, I told Carmen that I had to run an errand and headed to the café, my mind racing.I approached the familiar spot, and the memories of our last conversation came flooding back. When I walked in, Fiona was already there, sitting in a corner booth, her expression unreadable. I took a deep breath and approached her."Fiona," I greeted her, my voice as neutral as I could manage."Sean," she repl
I had been planning this moment for weeks, but the nerves were hitting me hard. I paced around my office, fiddling with the small velvet box in my pocket. Inside was the ring I had chosen for Carmen, a symbol of the new beginning I wanted to create with her. Our marriage had started as an arranged one, a business deal rather than a love story. But over time, she had become my everything.After all we had been through—the arranged marriage. I wanted to re-propose to Carmen. I wanted to marry her again, this time for love, and renew our vows. I wanted her to know how much she meant to me and that this time, it was all about choice.The plan was simple: a romantic dinner where I’d surprise her with the proposal. But life seemed to have other ideas. We couldn’t find a babysitter for Lily, and the closer the date came, the more desperate I became.Fiona was our last resort. It was a risk, I knew that, but we were out of options. Since our encounter at the grocery store, Fiona had been tryi
When we arrived at her apartment building, the lights were off. I knocked on the door, hoping to hear her voice from inside. But there was nothing. I tried calling again, but the call went straight to voicemail.“Sean, maybe she’s just sleeping,” Carmen suggested, trying to reassure me. But I could hear the hesistation in her voice.“Maybe,” I replied, though I didn’t quite believe it myself.Just as we were about to leave, the door to the neighboring apartment opened, and an elderly woman peered out.“Are you looking for Fiona?” she asked, her voice curious.“Yes, we are. Have you seen her tonight?” I asked, hoping for some clue.The woman shook her head. “I heard her leave earlier, but she hasn’t come back. I thought it was strange since she usually comes back by now.”A cold knot tightened in my stomach. Fiona was out there somewhere, and we had no idea where or in what condition.Carmen and I decided to check a few of Fiona’s usual haunts—the places she might go when she needed to
The sun streamed through the windows, a warm glow over the living room. The air was filled with laughter. Lily had set up a pretend tea party in the middle of the floor, her stuffed animals arranged in a circle with Fiona and Carmen sitting beside her.“Here’s your tea, Mr. Bear,” Lily said, pouring imaginary tea into a tiny plastic cup. “And some cookies for you, Miss Bunny.”Fiona watched Lily with a gentle smile, her eyes following every move as she helped pour more imaginary tea. Watching them play, I felt a sense of peace. Fiona seemed to be adjusting well, and Lily was overjoyed to have her mom close.Carmen caught my eye, and we shared a smile. It seemed like things were finally falling into place. Fiona was attending her therapy sessions and working part-time at the local bookstore. Her energy was positive, and she seemed genuinely committed to making things work this time.“Would you like some tea, Daddy?” Lily asked, looking up at me with her big, bright eyes.“Of course, I’