HAWK:My body was screaming in pain, especially my jaw and the lower part of my body. I had a hard time reaching my room. Plus my head. It felt like it would split open. Removing my clothes and leaving only my boxer shorts, I fell on the bed. I stared at the ceiling and smirked, reminiscing about what happened at the bar. This was the first time in a long time I had fought like that and it was one of the best feelings. Hearing the bones crack and their cries of pain was like a drug to my ears. My hands, although hurting, were itching to fight again. I smirked as memories of my teenage life resurfaced. Just like the old time. It was all worth it. If no one stopped me, I would have killed them by now, especially if I brought with me my gun. If Miss Winter was not around, she always forbade me from bringing my gun saying she was worried that I might kill my enemies. No harm will befall them as long as nothing happens to them if they won't hurt the strands of Miss Winter's hair. No
WINTER:This was supposed to be a family photo shoot, but the atmosphere was heavy. It was difficult to smile in front of the camera seeing how your Dad's body shivered because of the pain. His weight dropped even more. And even Liam could sense that his grandfather was sick.“Eyes on the camera, please,” the photographer ordered. “This is tiring, Winter,” Dad declared, trying to show his smile.Putting my hand on Liam's shoulder, I retorted, “This will be quick before you know it, Dad. Please hold on.”For the first photo, we wore a white sleeve paired with jeans. It was only with Dad, Liam, and me. The next shoot was with Cali, Dad, Liam, and me and we wore neutral colors. The makeup stylists had done a great job of covering the bruises that started to show on Cali and Hawk's bodies. Hawk was already part of the third photoshoot.“Are we good now?” I asked, seeing the tiredness in Dad’s eyes. He was only forcing himself to attend this photoshoot for me and Liam.“Yes, Miss Winter.
WINTER:Fuck. I mentally scolded myself.What did I just say? How could I give in like that despite knowing the consequences of my decision? It was already too late to take back my words, didn't I? Why did I even say them?Cali pulled me into a tight embrace and thanked me endlessly. I could not take back my words, right even if I wanted to take them back? But seeing the pure happiness on his face, I could not fathom removing his joy. "You won't regret it, Pumpkin. I will be the best housemate that you could have. I could even cook for you."I laughed. “You will cook? Do you know who's our cook? It's Hawk. He knows the taste that we like even if he is not our chef.”Besides, back then, he was not that good. Most of the time, the foods that he cooked tasted bland or even tasted like seawater for being too salty. You have to admit you had a good time back then. You liked his presence. You loved the bond you made. “Hawk. He liked to cook, huh?”“Yes. He asked me if I wanted to eat
WINTER:My heart hammered against my chest. I was not good at confrontations and if I had the chance, I always avoided it. Just like what was happening now. “What do you mean by that?” I asked even if I already knew what it was. A lot has been going on lately that I forgot some people in my life. I admit there were times when my focus was on Calcifer. “You don't know, Miss Winter?”“Y-you can enlighten me, Hawk.”He smiled sadly. "Is it just me, Miss Winter or you already forgot that I am still your bodyguard? Because right now, I don't feel it. I already feel that I am useless in our life. Guarding you. Protecting you is the only thing that I am good at, but when your ex-husband enters the equation in your life, I no longer feel that I am important.""Of course, you're still my bodyguard, Hawk. You're the best bodyguard I could ever have. I will always want your protection. I want you to work with me until Liam is capable of protecting himself.""Am I?""Yes, you are.”My heart br
WINTER: Next month? “T-That soon?” I asked. Why so soon? Why was he in a hurry as if someone was after his life in this mansion? What else? He did not want to see you and Calcifer being happy together. It hurt him so much.“Hawk…is it something about…” Calcifer? Are you jealous? What do you want me to do? I did not want to ruin whatever we have right now, Hawk. It hurt so much. He shook his head multiple times, giving much emphasis to his words. “It’s not, Miss Winter. Free yourself of any burden,” he said. “It’s not about him. There is another reason for this resignation. It’s not about you.”Liar! I screamed inside my head. How could it be not Cali’s fault and mine? He was only making this easier for the three of us. He was sacrificing his happiness for me. Think about it, Winter. If you choose this man, will you be happy? Will Liam be happy, too? The happiness that a father would bring to his son was much different from what Hawk could offer to Liam. If I choose Calcifer, Haw
WINTER:I was staring at the empty wall when Hawk stepped out of the room. My heart continued to bleed like crazy. He was still here, but the pain was tremendous. Where was Cali? I hoped he was here so that my mind would divert into something else. After Hawk’s visit, I lost the energy to go out to have a family dinner. A couple of minutes passed when another knock resounded. Finally. I was certain it was Cali. When I opened the door, I was already expecting that it was him. However, I still could not help but smile seeing how smoking hot he looked. He looked so dashing wearing his polo and trousers. He smelt good, too. He smelt expensive. Seeing his face made me temporarily forget my worries about Hawk. “Calcifer. You looked good. You should be thankful that you’re this handsome. If not, I would be scolding you right now for being late.” His eyes widened upon seeing me. Dang it. “Pumpkin.”I shifted my weight from foot to foot. Did he see my puffy eyes? I should have checked
WINTER:The room full of people suddenly went silent. If a needle would drop, all of us could hear us. The deafening silence felt like there was an ongoing funeral.They gawked at us as if we were complete individuals who trespassed their houses. I clenched my fist and put them in the back. This felt like meeting his parents for the first time. I had already forgotten their names as well as some of their faces. I was right. I should have never come to this house. Cali grabbed my hand and squeezed them tight as if giving me assurance that he would never leave me. That he was at my back, willing to back me up. Open your mouth, Winter. Say something. Don't look like a fool there.Why would I be the first one to talk? Am I the one who was at fault in the past? It was not me. It was their son who left me. When their son divorced me, they did not say anything at all. But now that I am here, they should talk now. Why are you bringing the past again?Why not?For all these years, I kept
WINTER:My blood was boiling as we left the dining room. I could still remember how their eyes widened when I just left like that. Huh. They did not know that I could be rude to people I don't even like. I mean why would I stay in the same place with people who did not even know me to begin with?And let's not start with Calcifer. How dare he lie to me? He put me in a tight situation. It was a wise decision that I did not prepare that much. Or else, I would be a laughing stock in that family. "Mommy, why did we leave early?" Liam asked right away. "We haven't said our goodbyes to them, yet."What I was thankful for right now was Liam was oblivious. "I'm sorry, Liam. It's just that I am not feeling well right now."Liam stopped, went to my front and stared at me with wide eyes. "Let's ask for medicine, Mommy. Why is Daddy not with us?""He is talking to his family, first." I hoped he would take his time talking to his family. I was also mad at him. “He will be with us in a minute
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