Third-person POVThe lady walked into the kitchen that morning, getting a glass of wine from the cabinet where she always put it, and she poured a glass for herself from the bottle of wine she had gotten earlier.She was in a good mood as things were going her way."Where are you going?" She asked her husband when he ran down the stairs from his study where she knew he had been, and he turned to her."S-somewhere. I'll be back.""Okay."He hurried out, and she picked up her phone to go through the pictures her agent had sent to her.Two men kissing.She never would have thought that her husband was into that, but she had suspected things.It was all for the best, though.Just an avenue to find more fun, right?She chuckled lightly to herself and sipped her wine, adjusting her robe properly around her.****RayaThe place that Mr. Michael Sterling had invited me to was one of those private bars that had a personal server and closed doors, and I was nervous when he walked in alone, clos
RayaThe anxiety was back once we drove through the gates of Columbia University. In the car, Maxwell had managed to keep me calm with his hands on my thigh and small talk, but on driving through those gates, I recognized the expensive cars and luxurious dresses and felt my heart skyrocket through my throat again."Are you okay? We can still turn back if you want..." He said when he noticed my sweaty palm, and I shook my head, chuckling nervously."That would be ridiculous; besides, I want everyone to know you're mine."Okay, that had come out without warning, but it put a smile on his face, and when the driver stopped behind one of the many cars in the parking lot, he hurried to the other side of the car to open the door for me.I was over the moon. "Thank you," I said, and he smiled."You deserve it."I hooked my arm around his arm, and he led us into the hall that was to be used amidst the stares of everybody."F*ck, everyone is staring.""Well, you're looking really beautiful."
Maxwell"What the f*ck, Michael?!" I found my voice after almost a minute of staring at the photo that was on my phone, and some lady tried to stop Diane from looking at the picture.It wasn't even a lady he had been cheating with but a guy.A guy.Michael was gay.I couldn't believe it even though I was saying it and looking at the evidence.My brother was gay."Seriously?" He said in response, looking at Raya, not me, and she raised her hands."I didn't do it. I swear I didn't...""Wait, you knew about it?"She turned to me, a guilty expression on my face.She did.She had known about it but chose to keep it away from me.I wasn't even sure how to feel about it.At this point, everyone was staring at us, and it took all but a minute before Michael cursed and walked out of the hall."F*ck it!""What? No, Micheal"I hurried after him, pulling his arm when I got to him outside the hall, and he flung my arms away."What is it? You must be finally happy to have something to use against m
RayaThe bar was how I remembered it.Loud, dingy, and nice.Spanish music was playing on the speakers when I walked in.It was strange.Did that mean there was someone else who had seen them?Paparazzi?A random person?I wasn't sure who it was, but it definitely wasn't me.I hadn't taken a picture, or had I?I just hoped Mr. Sterling wasn't suspecting me, but who would he suspect if not me?"Ugh!" I groaned sitting at the counter, and I ordered a glass of whiskey for myself. Similar to the one that was in the glass beside me, but no one was there.Maybe the person already left.Or so I thought before the appearance of Mr. Sterling graced my presence.I nearly choked on my drink."M-mr. Sterling...""Did you come to... I don't know, rub it in my face too?"He seemed defeated."What? No. I didn't do it though. I would never...""I know.""What?"I stopped in the sermon I was about to deliver to him."You're not the type of person that would do that. I guess we were not just careful en
MaxwellThe rest of the trip to the airport was chaotic, with the kids running around and being loud as we got them strapped for takeoff, but it helped me get my mind off things so."Are you ready?" I asked Raya, who was seated beside me, and she nodded, hooking her fingers between mine. I squeezed her.What could Michael have told her though?I was genuinely curious and couldn't wait for the plane to be in the air, and when it did, I turned to face her and said, "So..."She stared at me for a while before understanding, "Oh...""So you know how I'm trying to figure out who Kyle's father is, right?" I nodded, "Michael suggested that I go for hypnosis. It could help me remember the things I'm forgetting.""What?" I was thrown aback by that."Hypnosis?""Yes"I pondered on that. It was true that it could work, but there could be side effects."Have you researched it?"She nodded. "It seems doable.""Then let's do it."I was all for what she wanted as long as it benefited her, and she
Raya"Are you sure I don't need to come?" I asked Maxwell as he prepared to go back to New York the same day we had arrived.Kendall was playing with the children in the house, and I walked into his embrace, wrapping my hand around his waist."No. No, I'm fine. Stay with Kyle. He shouldn't miss out on his birthday just because of my family problems."He tried to play it off with a chuckle, but I could tell he was worried."Fine, but we'll be there soon.""Enjoy your time, okay?"He nodded, and I kissed him lightly on the lips before watching him drive away in a black SUV."Why is Uncle Max leaving?" Kyle asked the minute I walked back in and I put on a smile for him."He had something to take care of.""So he won't be around?"I nodded, "Sorry about that.""Is that why he gave me this?" He raised up a black card, which made Kendall, who was whipping up something in the kitchen, gasp, and I glanced at her startled."What is it?""He gave you his card.""His card?"I collected the card
MaxwellThe hospital was busy as usual, with one patient coming in after another, and even though it was a private hospital, it was still a busy one.I stopped abruptly when I saw a person outside my dad's hospital room, "Mac."My sister turned to me, her expression shocked at first but immediately smiling when she saw me, and I moved closer to hug her."What? How are you here?" I hadn't even given her a chance to react properly, and she smiled."Mom called, surprisingly.""Oh wow, then why are you not in there?"She shrugged, fidgeting with her fingers even though it was unlike her. "I don't know. I'm not just sure they'll be so happy to see me after so many years."Okay, it was surprising seeing her this bothered when she had always been the unbothered type.I'm talking the type to cut herself off from her family all because her dad didn't support her dream of being a sex artist.Yes, she drew sensual images both of men and women, and she was popular in Italy for that."Uhm... I don
RayaI was surprised to see Mr. Sterling at the airport when we came back the next day. Maxwell, I mean, and I went into his embrace, taking in his scent when he kissed my forehead lightly.He smelt good."Shouldn't you be with your dad though?" I asked after he pulled away, and he ignored my question, carrying an enthusiastic Kyle, who jumped into his arms beside me. Michael was also eager to greet him, and Leah kept stretching her arms to where he was from Kendall's arm where she was.He finally carried her and faced the whole lot, "Did you have a good time?"They all nodded, beaming, including Kendall, who was not a child, and he smiled."I would have expected you all to spend a bit more. Three thousand dollars was nothing.""You left it in the hands of your girlfriend, not me." Kendall responded, and I glared playfully at her."Why did you even leave your credit card with him? Thank you, though."He smiled, and we all moved to his car, where he kept our luggage, then we got in.I