After taking a cold shower and putting on her pajamas, Aurora turned on her laptop and started the latest episode of a series she had been watching in recent days. When she was halfway through the episode, the ringtone of her phone echoed in the room.Who dares to interrupt me at a moment like this? - thought the redhead.She paused the drama, sat on the bed with her legs crossed, and picked up the phone from the dresser. It was Tristan. Her subconscious waged a battle between answering and not answering."What does he want now? We already put an end to our argument."Without much thought, she answered the call and tried to sound as cold as possible."What do you want?" she said with a stern voice."Where are you?" Tristan asked."None of your business," she replied coldly."Are you at home?""Why do you want to know?""Look out the window."She furrowed her brow in confusion but did as he said. She went to the window and pulled back the curtain. Her chest warmed when she saw the blac
POV - (Point of View) Tristan CallahanThe phone kept ringing even after Aurora left. On the screen, Xavier's name was flashing, but I decided not to answer. Surely, he wanted to remind me of tonight's dinner; he always did that, as if I could forget my own commitments.My head throbbed due to the hangover and worsened even more by the argument with Aurora. Why was she so stubborn? She had promised to listen to me, but she was constantly interrupted by her or the world around her. The incessant ringing of the phone and the taxi's honking seemed like evidence of this conspiracy.The fact is that convincing her was a tough task. She had firmly set in her mind that I was meant to marry Genevieve, and persuading her to change her mind seemed nearly impossible. Aurora had her reasons and was willing to rub them in my face forever.When Genevieve provocatively approached me, I gently placed my hands on her waist to keep her at bay, avoiding any abruptness. She was pregnant, and the possibil
Griffin entered his office, almost letting the coffee-filled mug fall to the floor in surprise."Announcing your visits is always a good idea, you know? You should try it," Griffin said with a touch of sarcasm."I came to schedule an urgent test," Tristan replied, ignoring the previous sarcasm. The doctor sat down, looking concerned."What happened? Are you not feeling well?""It's nothing related to my health. I want to do a paternity test.""For what purpose?""You're not stupid, you know what it's for.""Oh my God!" Griffin exclaimed. "I knew this day would come, but I didn't think it would be so soon!" He placed the mug on the table and picked up a pen. "Who is it?""Genevieve.""Your ex-secretary?" Tristan nodded. Griffin rolled his eyes. "How long ago?""Does that matter?""The sample can only be collected when the pregnant woman is at least in the twelfth week of pregnancy."He calculated mentally. It hadn't been three months since the night of the fashion show."For now, I wan
Tristan would have accompanied Genevieve to her first appointment if he hadn't been absorbed by the demands of the company. He worked tirelessly until late afternoon and then returned to the mansion. Upon arriving, the first thing he did was send a message to Aurora, informing her that he would pick her up at eight. A notification also blinked on the screen, from Genevieve, reassuring him about the baby's condition.After a refreshing shower, Tristan chose a gray button-up shirt, paired with black pants and sneakers. It was hard for him to believe he was in this situation. He had seen many colleagues dive into relationships, doing everything to please their partners. He never imagined his turn would come. Now, with undeniable reality before him, he had decided to take on the challenge of winning her over the right way. He knew it would be a tough task, requiring considerable effort.When the time came, he drove to Aurora's residence and minutes later parked in front of the building. H
"I'm sorry for making you wait," Aurora said as she joined Frederick at the café table."No problem. I've already placed our orders," he replied with a smile.It didn't take long for the orders to arrive: two Americanos and two slices of pie. As they ate, their conversation covered various topics, including college subjects. Frederick praised the photos he had seen of Aurora's work and asked if she was the photographer. She confirmed and received many compliments. Whenever she had the chance, she didn't joke around with her favorite hobby."You're truly amazing," Frederick said, admiring her photos on the camera."Thank you. I've always been interested and I've been practicing since I was a child," Aurora replied."I was interested in photography too. I even bought a professional camera," Frederick shared."Really?" she was surprised."Yes, that was before I became a professor," Frederick explained."And now? Do you still do photography?" Aurora asked."No, I stopped about two years a
Upon awakening the next day, Aurora felt a weight on her body. She slowly opened her eyes and directed her gaze downward. Tristan was sleeping, his head resting on her belly, while his arms wrapped around her waist.A smile formed on her lips at the adorable sight. Tenderly, she ran her hand through his hair until he shifted and raised his head."Hi," he greeted, propping himself up on the bed and leaning towards her, staring at her face up close."Hey...""Are you okay?" he asked, and she imagined he might be referring to the possibility of her regretting what happened the previous night, but that wasn't the case."Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, resuming the gentle caress in his hair. "Your hair is all messed up!" she added with a smile.Tristan laughed at the observation. "That's because a certain someone pulled it a lot last night," he teased, making Aurora blush. "I don't blame you. I know I do it well."Aurora laughed and scolded him. "Don't start!""Alright," he agreed, rolling h
It was night, and Klaus found himself in a park, leaning against a bench, head lowered, his face hidden under the brim of a cap. The silence was broken by the insistent ringing of his phone in his pants pocket, and he promptly answered the call."Has she arrived?" asked the voice on the other end of the line, belonging to Nicholas, who was hiding in some bushes nearby. The subject was Violet."Not yet!" Klaus replied."I don't think this is going to work.""Your pessimism is quite charming!" Klaus retorted sarcastically. "By the way, did you tell her that I... or you... it doesn't matter, would be wearing a pink shirt?""Yes," confirmed Nicholas. "Are you wearing blue pants?""Yes.""And sunglasses?""I'm the only one in this park dressed like this! Do you want me to put a bucket on my head to attract more attention?" Klaus taunted."My fear is that she might recognize you before even getting close. She's seen you with Aurora. What if she figures out that this is all a setup?" express
In the Callahan's cafeteria, Tristan and Xavier were sharing a lunch. The Big Eared guy wouldn't stop talking about his unborn child. He went into detail about plans, from preparing the baby's room to buying a crib and a ton of toys."And Genevieve?" Tristan questioned."What about her?" Xavier replied."She's the mother, after all. Have you come to an agreement?""Not yet. I tried to talk to her yesterday, but she's still very upset about what happened at the party.""And do you plan to marry her?""No." Xavier promptly denied. "I don't love her. My plan is to share custody.""Hm." Tristan took a sip of his coffee and automatically thought of Aurora. She would've made a face and criticized the taste. "Why didn't you tell me you were involved with her?""It was just once." Xavier shrugged nonchalantly. "She sort of came to me seeking comfort after you turned her down for the second time.""You should've told me.""Do you want me to tell you about all my hookups? Let's see..." Xavier p
Six years later...Tristan, Aurora, and Adelaide now formed a close-knit family, brimming with love and joy. The room with the world map wallpaper looked a bit different, adorned with soft colors and children's toys, reflecting the happiness that had filled that space. However, the image of the map still adorned the wall because the little girl had a deep fondness for that decoration.Adelaide, now six years old, lay on the bed with her Corgi dog, Toby, by her side. She was engrossed in a book of pony stories, her latest passion. Tristan approached and gently stroked his daughter's red hair as she read."Still in love with ponies, my dear?" he asked with a smile.Adelaide nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Daddy! They're so cute and magical!"Tristan smiled, reminiscing about the time she used to call him 'pony.' "Maybe one day, when you grow a bit more, you can ride a real one."Adelaide's eyes lit up at the idea. "That would be amazing, Daddy!"Meanwhile, Aurora stood in the doorway, wa
Five years later...Aurora felt every heartbeat quicken as the contractions intensified. Her breath was deep and irregular, and her hand was firmly clasped in her husband Tristan's, who remained by her side, providing strength and support. The delivery room was immersed in a silence heavy with anxiety and anticipation.The soft candlelight spread throughout the room, creating a warm and tranquil atmosphere. The scent of lavender hung in the air, mixed with the electric tension that enveloped the couple. The walls were lined with white tiles, reflecting the serenity of the moment that was about to unfold.The obstetrician, Rose, moved with a comforting calmness as she prepared for the baby's arrival. She smiled, instilling confidence in Aurora, whose eyes welled up with tears. Aurora knew that she would soon cradle the fruit of her love with Tristan in her arms.The contractions now came with an almost rhythmic regularity, causing Aurora to focus even more on her breathing. She took de
It took only a matter of weeks for Xavier to gain full custody of Christian, following Genevieve's sentencing to decades in prison. Soon after, he announced Amelie's pregnancy and their engagement.It wasn't easy for Violet to cope with what had happened to her older sister. Despite always finding Genevieve's behavior towards Tristan and Aurora strange, she never imagined that her uncontrollable way of loving would lead her to that point. Aurora stayed by her side in the first few days until Violet decided to spend some time at her parents' house in another city. However, she promised to return for her friend's wedding.And she kept her promise.Aurora sneaked out of the room where she was getting ready, and since she already knew the way - the ceremony was taking place at Mr. Callahan's mansion, which he had lent for the event - she hid behind a wall where she could observe the beautifully decorated hall. She saw Violet among the guests, looking stunning in her purple dress, talking
A suffocating panic crawled through Aurora's body as she was pushed through the corridors of the mansion, not knowing exactly where she was going; where Genevieve wanted to take her."Move faster!" Genevieve ordered, pressing the barrel of the gun against her head.Aurora swallowed hard and quickened her pace. She was terrified, her chest felt tight, and her mouth bitter, but she tried to think of a way to change things. She wouldn't surrender, let alone die there."Here. Go in," Genevieve indicated a door, and even though Aurora was confused, she obeyed. It was Tristan's office."Genevieve..." Aurora spoke softly, even though she was in complete agony at the sight of the brunette pointing a gun at her with an empty expression. "Please, think carefully about what you're about to do...""I should have done this a long time ago! It's the only way this hell will end," Genevieve replied."No, it won't." Aurora shook her head. "Genevieve, killing me won't make Tristan love you...""I don't
If news reached Thomas's ears, it would take only a few days for him to share it with the entire United States. Aurora called Klaus, who wasn't even in America at that moment, wanting to tell him before someone else did, but it was too late. He already knew, thanks to Thomas, of course. Klaus still made her swear over the phone that she wouldn't plan anything related to the ceremony until he and Frederick returned from their honeymoon.Tristan planned to tell his father when they visited him on Sunday. Mr. Callahan wasn't very connected to gossip, so it was quite likely that he didn't know the news yet. And even if he did find out, he wouldn't be the type of person to care about such things.Despite the immense joy, Aurora's heart ached every time she imagined her sister helping her with the wedding details. She imagined that Adelaide would cry all the time, from the first dress fitting to the end of the party.Aurora continued with her treatment and medications. She still woke up in
Many hours later, they were still on the couch, holding hands. Aurora rested her head on Tristan's shoulder, and he also rested his head on hers."I had an idea," she said."Here it comes," Tristan replied with a smile."Hey!" Aurora pulled away from him, indignant. "My ideas are always brilliant.""And what's this one?""Well..." Aurora moved to sit on his lap, with one leg on each side of his body and her hands on his broad shoulders. "I thought we could invite our friends and have a non-traditional ceremony. It could happen here, or maybe in a hall. You would wear a suit, and I'd wear a beautiful dress... and some sexy lingerie for later."He watched her closely."Aurora, are you asking me to marry you?" Tristan asked.She blushed but managed to nod."Have you ever noticed that every time we go in opposite directions, and that's been happening since the day we met, we end up finding each other again without intending to?" Aurora began to explain. "I don't want to rely on luck again
"What are you doing here?" Tristan's question burst into that tension-filled space, unleashing a torrent of long-held emotions."I came to lay it all on the line!" the redhead declared, adjusting her tone to convey determination. "And just so you know, no, I'm not drunk, and I'm fully aware of what I'm about to say, so pay close attention." Tristan, relaxed with his arms crossed and leaning against the door frame, kept his gaze focused as he listened attentively. "This whole 'being friends' thing isn't going to work. Sure, I agreed to it at first, but I also said we should let our hearts go where they wanted. And that's the point. My heart only goes to you... even if you are a Mr. Arrogant, cheeky, proud, masochistic, and thick-headed jerk!"A glimmer of amusement appeared in Tristan's eyes as he commented, "That was the longest one yet."Aurora scolded him, "Don't interrupt me, or I'll lose my train of thought."Tristan, with a touch of sarcasm, teased, "Are you sure you haven't had
Aurora decided to go to Luna's house."Sorry for showing up without giving you a heads up, Luna."Luna laughed and replied, "I appreciate it, actually! The men in the house are all out right now, and when that happens, I'm stuck here, bored out of my mind." Observing the younger woman's distressed face, she realized something was wrong. "What's going on? You seem nervous."Aurora explained, "I need to talk to you."Luna nodded, concerned, and promptly settled down on the living room couch with the young woman."Go ahead, speak.""After I went to New York, did Tristan... did he say anything to you? I mean, did he ask about me?"Luna chuckled, but her mood faded when she saw Aurora's worried expression. "Seriously? Oh yes, he asked about you all the time."Aurora's heart raced, a good feeling she hadn't experienced in a while."Really?""Klaus told me that you two got back together at his wedding. I thought he had already told you."Aurora laughed at her friend's gossip, but then her ex
An hour of comfortable silence stretched, during which Aurora briefly dozed off, and Tristan contemplated his life while gently caressing her hand."Whose room is this?" Aurora asked, noticing the miniature cartoon character figurines on top of a dresser on the other side."Mine. Well, it used to be mine," Tristan replied."Really?" Aurora got up, full of curiosity, and went to the other side of the room to examine closely."My father said he didn't touch anything after I left, except for the clothes I left behind," explained Tristan."What happened to them?""They were donated. Besides that, everything's the same."Aurora noticed that the miniatures were the only decoration with a personal touch. There was nothing else. No photos or CDs of any bands he used to like. Since childhood, he had a rather minimalist taste."Your father must have missed you," she commented, hearing his incredulous grunt. "Seriously. After all, you're still his son. I can't think of any other reason he wouldn