WINTER: I played with my hands on my lap. “M-Miss Winter, we never talked about that.” Hawk’s face went red. He was not used to this kind of thing. “I’m only your bodyguard. Not your pretend fiancé.” “I’m so sorry, Hawk. But please bear with me. Until my ex-husband stopped pestering me.” He shook his head. “He will never stop, Miss Winter. He still wants you.” “Why would he do that when he already has a child?” “I don’t know. But I cannot promise anything to you, Miss Winter. Pretending to be your fiancé might be a little difficult, but if it’s what you want, I will try.” “Thank you,” I said. A couple of minutes passed and Hawk finally pulled over in Dad’s mansion. He hurried outside and opened the door beside me and opened it. “I’ll carry Liam for you.” I nodded, stepped out of the car, and waited for Hawk. In a matter of seconds, he was already carrying my son, and together we entered the mansion. Daddy was already waiting for the three of us. Given his old age, he was s
WINTER:Why are all of my loved ones either going to die or dead? It made me think that I did not deserve to be loved. That sooner or later, they will be taken away from me. Am I that bad?Dad's expression froze seeing the tears that were trying to come out in my eyes.“Winter…I should have kept silent about this. Taking care of Liam is already hard enough. I don't want to be a burden to you.”“A burden? Stop that! You will never be a burden to me.”Why did it have to be Dad? He was the best Dad. He had given me all the love that he could give and protected me from everything. “I will take care of you like how I take care of Liam.”My heart continued to bleed like crazy, stood and closed the distance between us and engulfed him with a hug. Now that I realized it, Dad was already losing a lot of weight. I was so focused on Liam that I never realized he was also in pain too. That he was suffering from cancer. Guilt washed over me and felt like I was the worst daughter. “I don't expe
WINTER:The first thing that entered my mind when Dad asked me to give my ex-husband a chance was a blatant refusal in my head. I meant why would he do that? He knew firsthand how I suffered. I did not understand at first why he would ask such things when he knew for a fact that my ex-husband had hurt me.You did not listen to what he said? He wanted you to have someone when he died. But before I could blurt them out loud, I saw how he was expecting this.It was a dying man's old wish, my mind softly said. Can you say no to your Dad's wish?“What if I don't want him to give me a chance?” I asked quietly. Can I be civil with my ex-husband and not kill him in my mind? Seeing him always reminded me of his betrayal. And there was his daughter. The child had nothing to do with the sin…but still, I could not help but feel the pain mixed with anguish. How could Calcifer betray me like this?Hawk was about to say something but stopped himself. What could it be? Dad's face fell. “If that'
WINTER:My heart bled hearing my son beg for me. I did not like hearing any of it. It was painful on my part since I was not looking for someone's love. “Liam…that's not love. When you live with someone, you don't beg them to stay in your life. you set them free,” I explain. Just like what I did to your dad, I wanted to say but stopped myself otherwise.“I don't understand, Mommy.”I smiled at him and ruffled his hair. It was better that he could not yet understand right now. If he did, he would ask me a lot of questions about his real Dad and why we got separated, and many more. It was not the right time to tell him what happened. Calcifer might have left me, but I did not want Liam to hate his Dad. So you're the only one who is allowed to hate your ex-husband? the other part of my mind asked. “You might not understand for now, but you will someday. “How come Uncle Hawk doesn't love you? I love you, Mommy. Aunt Ynes loves you. Papi loves you and Uncle Hawk did not? He is bad.”Le
WINTER:I get that not everyone liked the idea of me talking back to Calcifer, but I also did not expect the same words to come from Hawk. For a couple of three years, he never involved himself in my personal life since there was a clear boundary between work and my private life. But now...it seemed that there was a shift in him. What made him change? What made him involved?I crossed my legs and leaned on my seat. "And why is that?"He averted his gaze. "Your ex-husband...he does not deserve you and Liam."And who deserved us?I raised my eyebrows. "Do you hear what you said, Hawk?"He shook his head. "I...I ... don't like him for you."I stared at him in disbelief and laughed. "You don't like him? Since when did you care?""Miss Winter...I...I can act as Liam's Dad if you want. The kid wanted me. I can pretend that I am your finance for real if it’s for the sake of you and Liam. I don’t want that man after what he did to you."I did not regret hiring him. He was one of the best dec
WINTER:Dad was super excited. He was whistling while watering the plants in his garden. Something was going on and it seemed that it was his turn to be happy right now.Whatever it was, I was happy that he was enjoying life despite the cancer that was stealing his life. He whistled the tune of some familiar song. It was his and Mom's favorite song. I wondered what was the good news?Leaning on the wall, I inquired, “Excuse me, Dad? Why are you super happy today? Don’t take it negatively. I love it when you are like this…but did something happen that would make you act like this?”Smiling, he faced me and retorted, “Guess who is coming here?”My brows formed a straight line. Something was telling me that I wouldn't like what he was going to say. “Who?”He rarely invited his business partners to his house. Only a few individuals whom he trusted so much. “Calcifer. My son-in-law. He is coming here maybe this evening and I want you to honor your promise. You've got to talk to your ex-
WINTER:The child was not Calcifer’s. How? It was impossible. And if it wasn't him, why did she call him Daddy? Where was Carmela now? What happened to her? I mentally shook my head. Calcifer was good at telling lies and now, he was saying it so that I would trust him and give him a chance. My eyes narrowed while folding my arms in my chest. “You’re lying until now. Let's drop this act, Calcifer, and tell us the truth.”“What child are you talking about, Cali?” Dad said it seemed that he did not have any idea about the child. Even after talking for three years? Why did he hide it from my father? Maybe because he got scared that Dad would be mad at him again. “Calcifer has a child, Dad. The same age as Liam,” I answered for my ex-husband when he did not say anything.“Jett-Jett is four years old. She is older than my son.”Four years old? So he had been cheating on me on our first wedding anniversary?I clenched my fist. How could he do that to me? “I’m not buying it. The child
CALCIFER:Winter already belonged to him?A strong wave of jealousy hit me hard as I watched the bastard's hand on my wife. No. Ex-wife. Winter would be mad at me if he heard me calling her wife.If I did not divorce her, I would be sitting beside her by now. If I did not leave her, would we be happy together with the child? Would I understand her more? I want her to be mine. Again, I thought. They haven’t married yet and I still have a chance to win her again. I have to win her. I will be the one who will be taking care of my child. Not another man. Take a deep breath, Calcifer. You don't want to scare Winter. You will get her back. You’ve got to show her that she needs you more than her boyfriend. Be true to your words and never lie to her. Again. "If you say so," I replied coolly. I crossed my legs, leaned back, and eyed the bastard. He was handsome. I could say, but I could provide well more than him. And my son will have everything that money could buy. If he wants it. I wa
WINTER: One week later… Just like what I wanted, it was a small wedding only, attended by some important people. The wedding only happened in the mansion, something Calcifer did not approve of, but agreed to in the end. Did he have a choice? He did not. In the end, he had no choice but to give in. My wedding dress was nothing fancy. It was a simple one which I bought at the mall. Cali wanted to hire someone to make the dress for me, but I declined. I didn't want anything extravagant. It was better to donate the money to some charities. After all, what was more important was the marriage. Our marriage life after the wedding. We only invited the pastor to come into the mansion. The press found out about our wedding. It was all over the news, but I told Cali not to give any statement about it. I will do it when I want. Despite the venue, Cali was still able to ask the wedding planner to transform the hall into something beautiful, with a lot of flowers on each side. The servan
HAWK: The door burst open and saw Miss Nathalia’s angry look. I stopped drinking and looked at the newcomer. The alcohol did not even make me drunk. I need more. “Miss Nathalia. Cheers.” I offered a bottle of beer, but her expression told me she was not a bit happy. “Is this all your plans, right now, sulking in the corner? Smoke. Drink?” Nathalia asked. She put her hands on both of her lips as she looked at me with disappointment. Almost a week of staying in this apartment which she had helped me get. In the meantime. I was supposed to start working on her, to be her bodyguard, but I did not have the strength to work at the moment.It still hurts.Miss Winter was my ultimate love and there was no other woman beside her.The alcohol made me numb the pain, but when I got sober, it was back again. When will this end? "I am only giving you this week to fix yourself. If you will not, I will kick your butt and let someone drag you to my condo and stay there."She had been pestering
WINTER: The crowd was expecting my answer while all I could do was stare at Cali kneeling down, holding an opened box where the ring was waiting for me. “I know this is not the kind of proposal that you’re expecting. This is simple, but I thought that you also did not like anything fancy. This is not like what you see on social media platforms, but there is one thing that I wanted to assure you. My feelings are real. My promises will remain the same. It's the feelings that matter, right?”Cali was expecting my answer, and the more I was silent, the more he grew nervous. My eyes went to Dad. He was already wiping the tears from his eyes while Nathalia was silently cheering for his brother. The servants seemed like they could no longer breathe because of the fast beating of their hearts. “Cali…I…” I bit the inside of my cheeks. Was I ready now? “May I talk to you for a moment?”His mouth fell but was able to get hold of his emotions. Clearing his throat, he said, “Yes, Pumpkin. Wh
WINTER: ONE MONTH LATER...“Mommy? Why is Uncle Hawk leaving us?” Liam asked, watching Hawk bringing his bag outside. Not only Liam and I were sending him, but Calcifer was also with us and the rest of the maids. None of us wanted him to go. “He is just visiting his parents, Liam. He does not know when he will be back, that's why he resigned.”He looked at me with pure innocence. “Daddy? I don't understand why he needs to leave us while he visits his parents,” Liam continued. Cali patted Liam. “You will understand when you become an adult.”He pouted. “I don't want to become an adult, Daddy. I want to be your baby forever.”“You will be our baby forever.”A month had passed since I accepted Cali's love. A month of always showing me how much I meant to him and our son. He never failed to show us how much he loved us, by cooking and traveling abroad. Above all, Liam was the happiest. He constantly brags to his classmates that his Daddy is already with us and he constantly wants Ca
WINTER:I rubbed my hands together as I waited for Hawk. Craning my neck, I stared at the gate, waiting for a car to enter— the car I let Hawk lend.My heart continued to hammer against my ribcage. Damn it. Why was he making me this worried? Was he punishing me? It was already six o’clock and he was not here yet. I wonder what happened to him. He was not this late. He also never was the type who never texted me where he was right now.I bit my fingernails while pacing back and forth on our porch.That man. I will give him a scolding for making me worry this much. This was so unlike him. Did he want me to die because of worrying?Cut him some slack, Winter. That man is hurting after you told him the truth. Do you think it is easy for him?But he went out to have some check right? It was nothing to do with me and Cali?I stopped and checked my phone again for the nth time. Still, no messages coming from him. Damn it. What seemed to be wrong?What if I call his number? Why haven't I
HAWK:Nathalia was pretty easy to talk with.The moment I asked for her pin code, she gave it to me without hesitation. Was she always like this to other men? [Don’t be shy to order something online, Sweetie.][Are you there, yet? Your silence is making me nervous.][Hawk! You have to answer me, or I will call the police and declare you missing.]I shook my head while reading the last message.Answer her. She does not joke when it comes to you. Again, left with no choice, I texted some replies and hit the word send.[Yes? Yes? Is that the only thing you could answer me, Sweetie? I’m putting all my efforts into giving you a reply and you’re going to answer short ones? You are seriously hurting my feelings.]I pocketed my phone after telling her that I was going to enter her condo.She was not the one who I was expecting to text. It was Miss Winter. But I did not receive anything from her.I stopped at Room 703 after double-checking it. This was the room Nathalia had given me.I was a
HAWK:I stared at the ceiling like a fool. Now what? Where would you go now? Why did you lie to Miss Winter saying you’re sick? Now, you’re forced to go out and spend the rest of your day there. Now, you’re forced to go out and spend the rest of your day outside while your guilt is eating you away. You never lied to Miss Winter like this. I smiled bitterly. Could I be blamed? When I heard Liam and that bastard’s laughter, I gave in to the temptation and I went to the pool and saw them myself. The bonding of the real father and Dad. Something which I will never be able to achieve. My chest felt like it was being wrung. I held my breath as the pain became too much seeing how they looked good together. The three of them. Liam was happy. Miss Winter was happy with the bastard’s presence in the mansion. When he failed to sleep in this room, something might happen between them.I closed my eyes tightly as images of them being together entered my mind. Something already happened betwee
WINTER:Hawk's silence was not helping at all. “Hawk? I'm waiting.”"May I use this day as my day off? That's the reason why I approached you.”“Day off? Where would you go? You did not usually use your day off, right?”“I'm not feeling well right now. It started last night."Worry flashed over me and touched his forehead. “You don't have any fever at all.” But sometimes, you felt hot inside your body but on the surface, it was not hot. "Do you want me to call our family doctor to check on you?""No, Miss Winter. I already called someone. A friend of mine. I will visit his clinic so that he will know the diagnosis."“Don't you think it's better to stop smoking? It's not good for you.”“I will think about it, Miss Winter. It's not easy to quit.”“If there's a way, there is a will. Do you have a friend who is also a doctor? No offense, Hawk. But I don't see you hanging out with anyone.""I met him on social media.""Oh, I see. Is that person to be trusted? Hawk. Please be careful. Ther
WINTER: I was dreaming. You know the feeling that you were aware that you were inside your dream? That's what I'm feeling right now despite facing Cali in a fine dining restaurant. He wore a suit while I was wearing a red dress. He looked so handsome.“Why are we here?” I asked. “You don't remember, Pumpkin?”“What?”“We are celebrating because we are having our second child. So don't drink any alcoholic drinks from now on.My eyes bulged. “I'm with a child?”He chuckled and grabbed the wine glass from my hand. “This is supposed to be mine.” He emptied the contents. “We're going to have a baby?” I asked.“We are. I'm so happy, Pumpkin.”I looked down and saw that there was indeed a baby bump. Tears simmered down my eyes when I felt the kick of my baby inside. “We are going to have a baby?” I whispered while caressing the bulge on my stomach. “Thank you for approving to have another baby,” he whispered and kissed my hand. “Calcifer!” a woman's voice suddenly shouted. We all lo