SELENA "Pedro, stop!" I yelled, my voice shrill with panic. I ran after him, watching in horror as he dragged my son, who was sobbing and struggling to get free. I was terrified, my heart racing as I saw them heading towards a car parked on the street. I had to stop him before it was too late. I sprinted as fast as I could, my lungs burning, and my legs aching. I wasn't sure if I could catch up to them, but I had to try. I couldn't let him take my son. No never. “I’m begging you, please,” Tears streamed down my face as I ran after Pedro, my vision blurred by my tears. I begged and pleaded with him to stop, but he just kept running, my son's cries echoing in my ears. I was desperate, willing my legs to move faster, to catch up to him. But he was too far ahead, and I was losing ground. The panic was rising in my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I couldn't lose him, I couldn't lose my son. I had to keep going, no matter what. "Mommy!" Liam's cries were high-pitched and panick
SELENA “Fuck. The living room?!” I scrambled to my feet, running towards the door.I ran to the living room, my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes fell on Pedro, who was sitting at the dining table, feeding Liam. I stopped short, my breath catching in my throat. I felt like I was going to lose my mind."Good job, buddy!" Pedro exclaimed, high-fiving Liam as he took another bite of spaghetti. The little boy giggled, his face covered in sauce. I watched the scene play out in front of me, my mind still reeling from the strange turn of events."That bastard!" I muttered under my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I stormed into the dining room. I was so angry, I could barely see straight. My mind was spinning, and I wasn't sure what I was going to do next. But I knew I had to confront Pedro, to get some answers.Pedro sensed my footsteps, he stopped feeding Liam and turned to stare at me.As he spoke, I noticed the charming curve of his smile, but my anger was too strong to let me
SELENA "You scoundrel!" I yelled, my hands clutching his neck in a death grip. He let out a surprised grunt, his eyes wide with shock. I was beyond angry, and I couldn't control my fury. I wanted to hurt him, to make him feel the pain he had caused me. But then I remembered my son, who was watching this all unfold. I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me, not in front of him. It was like Pedro had stripped away my carefully constructed armour, leaving me exposed and vulnerable. My secrets, my pain, and my deepest fears were all laid bare before him. I trembled with the weight of it all, my hands shaking against his neck. I was suddenly hyper-aware of my heart, pounding wildly in my chest. I could feel it in my ears, my throat, my head. It felt like it might burst out of my body at any moment. I took another deep breath, trying to centre myself. But it was difficult, with Pedro lying beneath me, watching me
PEDRO My palms rested on the steering wheel as I stared warmly at Selena. Her cheeks flushed and cleared her throat when she caught me staring back at her, but heck, I didn't move my gaze away from her. I couldn't bring myself to do that.“Thank you,” she smiled, her hands went to the button and was about to unlock the door. “Don’t,” I grunted, grabbed her hand and pulled her gaze back at me. Slightly shaking my head for her to stop.“Don’t go yet.” my lips parted into a short smile. “Hmm?” she tilted her head, glaring playfully at me. “This weekend?” I asked, stick out my tongue and licked the corner of my lips. Selena's brows furrowed, face lit up in a bright smile. “Yeah?” “Will you be available this weekend? For um, our date?” I asked, my heart beating at a slow pace. Not knowing what she was going to say.I watched her lips pressed into a thin line as she slowly shook her head. Her gaze moved to the sweet little boy at the backseat. Shaking her head as if the little boy was
SELENAMy smile faltered when I opened the door and saw Christopher standing in the middle of the living room with his phone pressed to his ear. A sly smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he slowly dropped his hand down to his side.I swallowed hard, watching his Adam's apple move up and down in a gulp. “Hi, Chrissy—”“Uncle!” Liam beamed, giggling happily as he jumped up and down in my arms. That seemed to calm Christopher down a little. The frown between his eyebrows disappeared as he plastered a fake smile on his face.He moved closer, his body inches from mine. He seemed to be oblivious to my presence as he reached out to Liam, who was clearly overjoyed to see him. The smile on my son's face was enough to break my heart. He looked at Christopher with such adoration, such love. It was as if he was the most important person in the world to him. I felt a lump forming in my throat, and a bitter taste in my mouth.“Come here, my boy.” Christopher let out a smile that didn't reach
SELENA Christopher's grip on my neck tightened, his fingers digging into my flesh like talons. My eyes widened in shock and horror as he shoved me against the wall. The impact sent a wave of pain through my body. I struggled to breathe, my vision starting to blur. I clawed at his hands, trying to break free, but his grip was like iron. I felt trapped, completely trapped at his mercy. Christopher growled and pushed my hands away, pinning them above my head with one hand. I felt trapped, helpless. I could barely breathe, my heart racing in my chest. I tried to look into his eyes, to find some trace of the man I had known, but all I saw was a stranger. His face was contorted with anger, his eyes cold and hard. I felt a wave of terror wash over me, knowing that I was completely at his mercy. "Chris—" I tried to say, but the words were caught in my throat, choked off by the pain in my neck. I trembled under his grip, my body shaking with fear. I wanted to scream, to fight back, but I c
SELENA"I'm sorry," Christopher whispered, his breath hot against my hair. I felt my stomach churn, my throat tightening as I struggled to hold back the bile rising in my throat. I had believed his apology the first time, accepting that it was a mistake. But now, hearing him say those words again, I couldn't help but feel sick. I could no longer bring myself to believe him."Sorry" had become a dirty word to me, one that left a bitter taste in my mouth. Every time I heard it, I felt a stab of pain in my heart. It was a word that had lost all meaning, a hollow gesture that couldn't fix what was broken. I wished I could erase it from my vocabulary, erase it from my life. I wish I could lose my hearing so I would stopped hearing that word."I swear, I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. But I wasn't having it. I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him away from me, unable to stomach his excuses any longer. I couldn't let him off the hook, couldn't let him
SELENA“See,” I sniffed, pulled away from him and flashed him a sad smile. “Mommy is okay now.”Liam nodded once, a lone tear dropped from his left eye and I chuckled, wiping his face with my thumb.“It’s okay, baby, stop crying.” I leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.“Mommy,” Liam yawned, rubbing his eyes lazily. “I want to sleep.”“Alright,” I stood up from the floor, hissed when I felt a throb in the cut on my jaw. I grabbed my baby's hand and pulled him up from the floor and took him in my arms.Liam wrapped his hands around my arm and rested his head on my chest as I carried him to my bed and placed him on the mattress.“Sleep here in mommy's room, okay?” I whispered, pulled the duvet and rolled it up to his middle.Liam nodded and shut his lids. “I love you, mommy.”“I love you too, baby.” a warm smile found its way to my face as I watched my baby drifted off to sleep.I strolled towards my dresser and pulled out the stool. Grabbed the first-aid kit to dress my
SELENA "Selena, repeat after me," the officiant said, his voice clear and steady. My eyes darted from the diamond ring in my hand to the beaming face of Pedro, who never seemed to stop smiling. “I, Selena Leah Empress, take you, Pedro Joshua Lopez…” “I, Selena Leah Empress, take you, Pedro Joshua Lopez…” the words felt so foreign on my lips. “To be my husband, through the good times and bad. Through successes and struggles…” A lone tear rolled down my eyes as I stared at the ring on my finger. “To be my husband, through the good times and bad. Through successes and struggles…” my lips parted in a smile. I didn't realized he meant it when he was asking about marriage the previous night. It's happening. I would be officially married to Pedro Lopez, in a matter of minutes. I would be married to the first and the only man I had ever been in love with. “Through richer and poorer, and in sickness and health, I will treasure you for as long as we both shall live.” As I recited the vo
PEDRO‘Liam... Selena's baby boy, Liam. He's my son, and they're coming home with me. I'm coming back to the city with my family.’I remembered my words to Roy, my best friend over the phone when I packed little Liam's bags earlier. I still couldn't believe it that the sweet little boy was mine. Selena had a son for me. She loved me, she cherished what we had years ago and decided to keep my baby.“Hey, good to see you too.” I grinned, then stepped out of the car to fetch my son from the backseat."Hey there, Papa Liam," Roy taunted, walking out of my apartment with two glasses of booze in his hands."How did you get in?" I asked, cradling my son gently on my shoulder as I reached for the glass of booze from Roy's hand. He seemed more interested in looking at my son than handing me the drink."I still can't believe we're both fathers now," Roy chuckled, raising his glass in a toast. I clinked my glass against his, and for a moment, it all felt like a dream."Cheers to fatherhood," I
SELENA“I’m going to miss you.” Margaret whispered into my ear as she hugged me tightly to herself.I never would have thought a day would come where I would be saying goodbye to the Andre. They were like a family to me, not until moment ago when I returned to the Villa and Christopher asked me to pack up and leave with Pedro.I had thought it was all a joke until Pedro told me that was why he came; because Christopher asked him to come get me out of his life.“Don’t blame yourself for his recent attitude, I swear, I also have my own share of his sudden change of character.” Margaret further said as she squeezed my shoulders gently.I didn't know what to say to this. Everything happened so fast and I couldn't believe I wasn't the one to be blame.“He used to be good to me, at least I'm going to hold on to that.” I smiled as I pulled away from Margaret.I looked around, making sure I wasn't forgetting anything. It felt awkward to think that I was been chased out of the Villa because I
CHRISTOPHER “Is that really a good idea?” my hands clenched and my shoulders heaved as I walked down the hallway. My heart broke into a million pieces as the thought of giving Selena up flooded my brain. “I own her. I fucking own her. She's living the life she wants all thanks to me.” a single sweat rolled down my temple as I took the hallway that led to my room. I couldn't help but feel like an actual loser as I saw my mother, standing in front of my door. Her back was on me, but I could already tell what she was imagining. I hated to be seen as a loser. Selena of all people should have known better than anyone. I had always strived to win whatever I set my hands on. My mother might have sensed my presence. She made to turn and I halted on my track, making sure to put as much distance between us as possible. “Chris…” she gasped, her face held worry but I knew better than anyone not to read much into her expression. She didn't care. She used to care for me but that was in the
PEDROMy hands clenched to my sides as I recalled how my father explained the incident to me. Maybe if my father hadn't told me, I wouldn't have to be in a close wall to have to tell Selena.She deserved to know the truth behind her parents’ death. Even if it would cost me my future with her, she still deserved to know.That was the promised I made to Edward. If I wanted to earn her trust, and want her to tell me her secret I should tell her mine. Letting her know she could trust me.“My mother was engaged in money laundering which my father, nor any other person known of. She was very careful not to let it get out, even to my father. My father would never support that act so she kept it a secret.” I stared at Selena, it was a surprise she wasn't throwing a fist. She only sat down and let me talk.“Your father was my father's driver, my father admired him a lot. I believed your mother worked for my mother, I never knew what her work was but I knew she worked for my mother. Your father
SELENA"You need to go," I said, struggling to free myself from his embrace. I grabbed his hand, my intention to guide him to the car, but he suddenly grabbed my elbows, his grip firm as he held me in place. His eyes searched my face, pleading with me to stay still.I could feel myself melting under the gaze of his deep purple eyes. I longed to be wrapped in his arms, just like he'd done so many times before. But I couldn't give in to that desire. I had to get him out of here, before Christopher arrived."Please, you have to go," I pleaded, my voice breaking as I rested my head on his chest. I tried to control my breathing, to calm my racing heart, before pulling away. "It would be... It would be bad if Chrissy found you here." I couldn't say the words. I couldn't tell him he was in danger. Not like this.The last thing I wanted was to tarnish Christopher's reputation, to damage his good name and possibly his career. I cared about him too much to do anything to hurt him, no matter how
PEDRO“Tomorrow is the boy's birthday. Come to the address I mailed to you, Selena has something to say to you.” Christopher Andre’s voice erupted from the other end.I stared at my phone in shock, making sure I wasn't imaging things. But it was real, he was really calling me.“You… you know who this is, right?” I stuttered, pinching myself to keep myself from crashing to the floor.“Just do what I said.” he groaned and the call went off before I could get my thought straight.Christopher Andre was really the one who called me. After he walked out of the conference hall that night, I bet my life on it that he would never let her see me again.I was right, he terminated the contract the following day and that prove my assumption right. They never come back to the company. He took Selena away and I was so sure he would never let me see her again.“But this?” I stared at the phone, still doubting if the person who had just called was truly who I thought it was.“Why is he having a change
SELENAI watched from the corner as the maids dressed my son in a crisp white tuxedo. His hair was carefully curled, with a few soft strands falling across his forehead.His smile was blinding. I chuckled from my I stood, watching him pouted his round lips at his nanny.“I want to go to uncle.” he whined, shaking his head to mess up with his hair.Huh? I gulped down nothing before moving away from the door.“Uncle is not here yet.” I cleared my throat once I got behind them, grabbing their attention. “Uncle went to get you a gift.”That seemed to got to him. His purple eyes widened, a glint of pure joy shone brighter in his eyes.“Really?” he asked in his sweet little voice, turning on his seat to stare at me. “What’s the gift?”I shook my head, kneeling beside him and took his hand in mine. “It is a surprise gift uncle is planning. Of course, mommy don't know what it is.” I smiled, squeezing his hand.He pouted and nodded slowly. “What about mommy?” he asked, his lips parted, exposin
PEDRO"I'll take a look around, and let you know if it meets my expectations," I said to the realtor, who gave a slow nod of agreement.Turning away from me, he looked around the living room, before turning back to face me. "If you don't like this one, I can find you another one in any location you'd like," he said, flashing a smile that was missing two front teeth."It's fine, I'm sure I'll like this one," I said, waving him off and turning my attention to the stairs."I'm at your service, Mr. Lopez," he said, a broad smile spreading across his face. He offered his hand for a handshake, and I took it, feeling a little more at ease.“Alright.” I retrieved my hand and turned away from him.As his footsteps faded away and the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding."This is insane," I said aloud, chuckling mirthlessly as I took in the apartment that had once been home to Selena and baby Liam. A week ago, they had been living here, but now t