Jenna's POVJust beside her, I spotted Brandon, his broad shoulders filling out his tuxedo as he chatted with a group of men I didn't recognize.Here we are, Ms. McDonald," the usher said, stopping beside a seat with a silver nameplate that read "Jenna McDonald" in elegant script. "Your seat awaits.""Thank you," I murmured, offering him a grateful smile. He gave a short bow before melting back into the crowd, leaving me alone with my pounding heart and the sea of expectant faces. Taking a deep breath, I smoothed out the emerald folds of my dress and slid into the plush chair.The seat was surprisingly comfortable, the velvet providing a luxurious embrace. I glanced around, taking in the scene in more detail. Directly in front of me, a group of young actors, clearly new to the awards circuit, were nervously fidgeting and whispering amongst themselves. To my left, a seasoned actress with a reputation for being difficult was engrossed in a heated conversation on her phone, her face cont
Jenna's POVSarah nudged me excitedly, a wide smile plastered on her face.But I felt numb. My body moved on autopilot, a practiced smile gracing my lips as I rose from my seat and made my way towards the stage. The climb felt like an eternity, each step echoing the hollowness within me.As I reached the stage, the host beamed at me, offering his congratulations. I mumbled a thank you, my voice barely audible. Taking the golden statuette from his hands, I gripped it tightly, the cold metal a stark contrast to the burning turmoil inside.The blinding lights of the stage reflected in my eyes, blurring the faces in the audience. Just then, I had a brilliant idea and my lips spread into a smile. Taking a deep breath, I adjusted the microphone and a resolute smile bloomed on my face."Wow," I began, my voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor in my heart. "Thank you. This is... incredible. Thank you to the Academy for this immense honor. I am truly humbled." A beat of silence followed
Eddie's POVLetting Amelia go was one of the hardest things I had ever done. When she kissed Chloe and told her she would be back soon, my heart nearly broke. At that moment, I nearly called out for her to beg her to not leave. But I held in the urge. Remember Eddie. She's just your nanny and chef. Nothing else.And so I stayed silent until the door closed with a resounding click. Chloe who watched Amelia leave turned back to me with a pout. "Daddy, why didn't you stop Amelia from leaving?"I cast my face down and focused on the chocolate milk I was preparing for her. Chloe's question hung in the air, a blunt edge to the childish innocence in her voice. I fumbled with the carton of milk, the plastic crinkling under my tightening grip."She just needed some time alone, sweetheart," I finally managed, my voice strained."But why?" Chloe persisted, her big blue eyes full of concern. "Did I do something wrong?"The guilt gnawed at me. How could I explain the tangled mess of emotions th
Eddie's POVChloe's face broke into a wide grin. "Excellent work, Daddy! You deserve a slice for your efforts."I couldn't help but smile back. The weight of the situation with Amelia still sat heavy in my chest, but for a moment, the simple joy of ordering pizza with my daughter brought a lightness back to my heart.The scent of oregano and melted mozzarella filled the air, making my stomach rumble."Here you go," I said, placing a generous slice on her plate. "Be careful, it's hot."She blew on the pizza tentatively before taking a cautious bite. Her eyes widened in delight."Mmm, Daddy," she mumbled through a mouthful of cheesy goodness, "this is the best pizza ever!"A genuine smile spread across my face. In that moment, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just me, my daughter, and a delicious pizza shared between giggles and stolen bites.As we ate, the conversation, thankfully, shifted to Chloe's day at daycare and the new boy who apparently wouldn't share his blue crayons
Eddie's POVJenna continued to document everything on social media – Chloe's first bath, her first smile, her first outfit change (a designer onesie, naturally). Yet, in real life, her interactions with Chloe were minimal.One evening, as I sat rocking a colicky Chloe, tears streaming down my face, Jenna breezed through the room, phone glued to her ear, mid-conversation about an upcoming photoshoot."Can you believe it?" she said, her voice laced with frustration. "The brand wants to reschedule the shoot for next week! Do they have any idea how much I rearranged my schedule for this?"The dam broke."Jenna!" I shouted, startling both myself and Chloe."What is it?" she snapped, finally turning her attention to me.I ranted, my voice thick with sleep deprivation and pent-up emotions. I spoke about my exhaustion, my fear of not being a good father, and my deep loneliness at the lack of a real connection between us.Jenna listened, her face unreadable. When I finished, a long silence str
Eddie's POVI kissed Chloe on the forehead and went back into the living room to clean up our mess. I was nearly finished with cleaning up when my phone rang. I picked it up and frowned when I saw the caller I. D. It was Sarah, Jenna's assistant. "Hello?""Hello, Sir. It's Jenna," she was whispering and there was an echo as she spoke, as though she was in a deserted area. "Where are you and why are you whispering?""I'm at… Never mind about that Sir. I was calling to inform you… to inform you that…""Spit it out, Sarah. Does this have to do with Jenna?"The urgency in my voice seemed to steady Sarah. "Yes," she said, her voice a little firmer now. "It's about the awards ceremony tonight. Jenna… well, she has a plan."My stomach lurched. "What plan?"Plans with Jenna rarely boded well for me."She wants to… announce that the two of you are back together."My jaw clenched. "Back together? That's ludicrous! We haven't spoken cordially in weeks, let alone gotten back together.""I know
Eddie's POVI was sitting down with a glass of my favourite whiskey when James' call came in. I groaned, knowing that he would berate me for going onto my social media without at least letting him know, or consulting my PR team. With a sigh, I picked up the call. "James," I answered, already bracing myself for the onslaught."Eddie," his voice boomed through the phone, "what in the world were you thinking?"I winced at the volume, but held my ground. "Let me explain," I said, trying to keep my voice calm."There's nothing to explain," he interrupted, his tone sharp. "You just threw a grenade into a perfectly orchestrated PR campaign for Jenna, and dragged yourself and Chloe into the middle of it."He had a point. Jenna's team would have a field day with this, spinning it to make me look like the bad guy. But I couldn't let her manipulate the narrative."James," I countered, "there was no plan. Jenna's the one who blindsided me with a public lie. I had to set the record straight.""An
Eddie's POVThe events of the night had taken their toll, leaving me emotionally drained and physically weary.Crawling into bed, I pulled the covers over my shoulders, the familiar scent of Chloe's discarded stuffed bunny a small comfort in the face of the chaos.Sleep, however, remained elusive. My mind replayed the events of the night in a relentless loop: Jenna's deception, my impulsive tweet, the conversation with James, and finally, the unanswered text to Amelia.With a frustrated sigh, I reached for my phone again, the screen still devoid of any notification from Amelia. Maybe a call would be more effective?With a sigh, I decided not to.The rhythmic hum of the air conditioner lulled me into a restless sleep. A few minutes later, the creak of my door woke me up. A sliver of panic sliced through my sleep fog. It was too early for Amelia to be back, and the security team wouldn't be arriving until morning. My heart hammered against my ribs as I sat up, straining to hear any oth