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Chapter 22
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My secret lover Chapter 23
23 - Apollo CastielloWe will only be memories to each other.The Bright Side of LifeMy dad and I had just stepped back inside after a long day of Christmas shopping. My dad called me minutes after I left Joy's house, asking me to go to the mall with him since we hadn’t finished our shopping yet. If Mom had been with us, we would have had everything sorted out since December began. But she wasn’t. Instead, my dad and I were trying to keep up the facade that everything was fine, even when it clearly wasn’t.I thought about how the pain seemed to grow when we tried to talk about it. My dad had lost the love of his life, and I had lost Mom and the woman I loved without even realizing how much she meant to me. Now, she was completely distant, and I didn’t have the courage to call her.Joy’s voice still echoed in my mind, reminding me that she had chosen Bradley. I tried to avoid thinking about all of this, tried not to think about Mia.As my dad and I navigated the mall’s aisles, a part o
My secret lover Chapter 24
24- Mia Lauren Hudson Love distorts things.NymphomaniacWe were gathered in the Hudsons' living room. Bradley's entire family was gathered, and I felt at peace there. I felt almost relieved to be away from everything. I was far from London, far from how Bradley treated me in that city. I simply loved Dublin because there I could be the Mia I always wanted to be. A fun, funny, fearless Mia, and even if it was just a little bit, I felt loved.But this relief was not complete because my heart still seemed to be in pieces. And I struggled a lot not to think about him. Or about everything I had left behind.At that moment, I was sitting in one of the armchairs in that large, well-furnished living room with my mother-in-law beside me and my sister-in-law, who was trying in every way not to remain the center of attention there."Please, Mia. You need to have a serious conversation with Phoebe. She hasn't introduced this new boyfriend to me," Eleanor insisted on the matter with Phoebe, who
My secret lover Chapter 25
25 - Apollo CastielloI will find her. I promise. Even if I have to endure two hundred years of purgatory, two hundred years without you, that will be my punishment, which I deserve for my crimes.OutlanderI had felt like the most useless person in the last few days. Boredom filled my days, as did the unanswered questions. I had nothing to do during those year-end parties. I wasn't working, I didn't have Mia to kill time with, I didn't have my mother for us to marathon her favorite series.My father and I had been completely silent in the last few days. Now and then, he would help me memorize the new film script, and most of the time, we just lay on the couches and watched unbearable TV shows.But what was even worse than that whole depressing situation was the reason behind it. I had lived for twenty-eight years without knowing Mia existed, but now, going six days without her was completely unbearable. I was still hoping she would call me or answer my calls, hoping she would come ba
My secret lover Chapter 26
26 - Mia Lauren HudsonI miss you so much.- A Safe HarborDecember thirty-first. I loved this date. I loved knowing that all the wounds, pains, and disappointments were being left behind. I always liked the feeling of being cleansed when the clock struck midnight. It was something that relieved me, and deep down, I deluded myself a lot with all of this. Because nothing ever changed for me, never. Not even my haircut.And nothing changed during the past six days we spent in Dublin either. I made a point of keeping myself busy at all times, chatting with Phoebe, enjoying Bryan and Paul's insults, or when Eleanor kept asking about her daughter's feelings. And that was exactly what was happening at that moment while we eagerly awaited the arrival of the new year.“Do you think he’ll ever stop being so serious?” Sara stopped beside me and pointed at Bradley, who had his arms crossed and an impassive face while his father tried and failed to have a lively conversation with him.“I’ve grown
My secret lover Chapter 27
27 - Mia Lauren HudsonMarriages aren’t fireproof. Sometimes, you get burned. — The FireproofI was back in London. After days away, distant from everything, I returned. I was fine, even anxious. I missed Kayla, I missed my own home.I was excited about the idea of a new year and absurdly eager for the start of filming. I would be the lead! It was still hard to believe, which is why I eagerly awaited the next meeting at NewScene. Actually, I wasn’t waiting that eagerly because I didn’t want to see Apollo again.It had been days since I’d heard from him, and I was used to his absence, to his lack of presence. He occupied my thoughts for days, but I was determined to leave him behind. What we had was a mistake, a sweet mistake with a bitter aftertaste. I accepted it—he never loved me, and that was okay. Apollo would be just a colleague, a stranger with something in common. I could handle that.Now, sitting in the car, I looked at London through the window, watching winter fade away and
My secret lover Chapter 28
28 - Apollo Castiello"I won’t let anything happen to you."“Death congratulates you”It was a new year, but to me, it felt like the clock had stopped. Nothing was new. The countdown, the sparks in the sky, the promises of renewal... everything seemed empty, like a rerun of a movie where the ending never changes. I found myself surrounded by the same faces, the same challenges, the same uncomfortable silences echoing inside me. And yet, the world around me continued to see me as someone fulfilled, a successful man, as if all the pieces of my puzzle were in place.Everything remained exactly the same, and in a way, I knew nothing would change. Not while I remained trapped in the same version of myself, unable to break the invisible chains holding me back. On the outside, I appeared to be at peace, accepting the life I had. After all, why should I complain? Anyone in my position would give anything to live what I lived. I was a recognized actor, someone whose performances moved crowds.
My secret lover Chapter 29
29 - Apollo CastielloYou're a weakling. You have no value. And I won’t let you ruin other people’s lives the way you tried to ruin mine.— The Best of MeThe door opened slowly, creaking a little, as if even the house's structure hesitated to welcome me. I forced a smile, one of those I use when I know it's necessary, but with no real emotion behind it."Ah, Apollo Castiello!" The lively voice of Bradley’s housekeeper echoed through the hall.She seemed genuinely surprised, but she clearly recognized me from previous encounters. Her eyes sparkled, perhaps out of loyalty or just respect for my name."Duart, right?" I greeted her, extending my hand in a friendly manner. “Can I come in? I need to talk to Bradley, maybe because I’m returning to the series.” The lie slid off my lips with the smoothness of someone who’s told many before. My smile, however, kept its façade."Oh, that’s great news!" Duart exclaimed, without the slightest suspicion of my true intentions. She stepped aside, in
My secret lover Chapter 30
30 - Mia Lauren HudsonHaving someone helping doesn't mean you've failed. It just means you're not alone.- Together by ChanceI walked through the doors of that house, and I didn't know how I felt.It was the second time I had returned to the house where I grew up since Mom and Dad were gone, and I couldn’t help but wish I would find them there, that they would hug me and say all of this was just part of a test. But none of that happened.The small, comfortable, and safe house was exactly the way I remembered, except for the dust on some of the furniture. That was my home, and I never should have left. I allowed myself to take a few more steps until I stopped again in the middle of the living room and looked at the photo frame on the desk. It was the three of us, at my high school graduation, and I would give anything to go back.I just wanted to lie on that couch and spend the rest of the day crying, being consumed by memories, but I couldn't, because I wasn’t alone. Apollo, Kayla,
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My secret lover Chapter 48
48 – Mia Lauren CastielloSometimes, it’s the people no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine._ – The Imitation GameThe ballroom had descended into absolute chaos. The projector burned in furious flames, casting restless shadows across the gilded walls of the hall. Screams echoed through the space as guests, clad in their finest evening attire, scrambled like scattered chess pieces. Panic and confusion reigned, and amidst it all, Jamie stood still, as if watching the climax of a film he had directed himself. Smoke began to fill the air, mingling with the expensive perfume of the guests and the suffocating tension that hovered around us. My heart pounded violently in my chest, as if it was trying to remind me I was alive—at least for now. Apollo stood beside me, his eyes fixed on Jamie. I watched anger build on his face, transforming his features into a mask of controlled fury. “He did this,” Apollo whispered, his voice sharp like a blade, enough to make my
My secret lover Chapter 47
Chapter 47 – Mia Lauren CastielloLife is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. - Forrest Gump: The StorytellerThe California sunset looked like a painting, but that day, no landscape could divert my attention from the letter I held in my trembling hands. The paper had the texture of something expensive, heavy. But nothing was heavier than the carefully chosen words that filled the invitation. "A night to celebrate the icons of cinema. The untold story." It was from Jamie. The same Jamie I thought I had left behind when I moved across the ocean, carrying with me the pains he helped fuel. His words sounded more like a challenge than an invitation. A silent, calculated provocation that made every nerve in my body vibrate in alert. Apollo stood beside me, staring at the letter as if it could transform into something alive and dangerous at any moment. His intense gaze and tense posture betrayed the same foreboding feeling that gripped me. "Do you think i
My secret lover Chapter 46
46 - Mia Lauren Castiello"I came here without expectations, just to profess, now that I’m free to do so, that my heart is and always will be yours." Sense and SensibilityA lot had changed since last year. Many wounds had finally healed. Tears were shed, but, as always, they also dried up, giving way to what could no longer be ignored: life went on. I watched Apollo while preparing dinner for myself in the backyard of our new home. He was shirtless, wearing only an apron, and with his usual skill, he was tending to the grill, where the burgers were slowly roasting, releasing a delicious aroma into the air. The warm summer of America called for that—heat, simplicity, and the feeling of a fresh start. “Taste this,” Apollo said, bringing a spoonful of mashed potatoes to my mouth with a playful smile. “Delicious,” I confirmed, letting the smooth taste of the mash linger on my palate, and he smiled with satisfaction, proud of his little culinary victory. Six months ago, we began this
My secret lover Chapter 45
Chapter 45"Yes, the past can hurt. But, as I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it." — The Lion KingIt took me many long years to wake up from a long, dark night. I had to fall, all the way to the bottom, feel pain like never before, so that I could wake up. React.And it was with my mind sharp, just like the pain, that I was planning my encounter with Bradley. The conclusion of this cruel and painful story he painted on my heart. Since Eros Castiello told me everything he had taken from me, I had been planning it. Alone. I wouldn’t drag Apollo into this. Not when everything started between Bradley and me.After downloading and saving all the files Eros had emailed me onto a flash drive, I went to Bradley’s house. Duart opened the door, looking so happy and surprised to see me. I hugged her quickly and asked where Bradley was.“Mrs. Hudson, he…”“I’m no longer a Hudson.” I interrupted, disgusted.“Sorry.” She blinked rapidly. “Mr. Hudson is in his office.”“May I come
My secret lover Chapter 44
Chapter 44 - Apollo CastielloWhatever happens, let us survive togetherThe last love letterMia was discharged two days later. She was fine, physically she was well. The medical procedures performed as soon as we arrived at the hospital, shortly after the explosion, were the reason that it didn’t mark her skin too deeply. I had broken my arm, but honestly, if I could, I would have walked into the fire for her. The news my father revealed still lingered in my head, and I simply couldn’t believe that, even before we had a relationship, Joy had such a cruel and dark past with Bradley. It was surreal how, in this life, we don't really know anyone. Nothing more than the version the other person presents to you. I was still trying to rationalize it and avoid bringing up the subject with Mia, especially after the terrible news my father brought, which had affected her deeply. Something had changed in Mia, and that scared the hell out of me because I was afraid she would lose herself, tha
My secret lover Chapter 43
Chapter 43 - Mia Lauren"Nobody hits you as hard as life, but not as hard as you can hit yourself. It doesn't matter how hard you hit, but how much you can take and keep fighting; how much you can endure and keep moving forward. That's what victory is made of." - Rocky BalboaMy eyes felt like they weighed tons. I could feel my body burning. A supernatural heat filled me. It felt like I couldn't breathe, but I forced myself, and my lungs, unwillingly, received the stimulus and helped the air escape. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and all I could see was white space. "What?" I whispered, but at the same moment, my throat ached. What was happening? I looked around, realizing I was in a hospital room. The smell of ether, the beeping of machines, and that intense white of the walls that I hated. What was happening? I looked at my body, and in that moment, I wanted to scream. But the words were stuck in my throat. My leg was bandaged, wrapped in some kind of dressing, and my arm as well. I
My secret lover Chapter 42
42 – Apollo Castiello I didn’t agree with you before, but at least I respected you. — Friends“Apollo, you need to lose that look on your face.” Mia stopped in front of me, arms crossed.“I’m fine.” I shrugged, looking away.I heard Mia’s laughter ring in my ears as she knelt in front of me, searching my eyes.“Deep down, you know I need to do this alone. You coming along wouldn’t help much.” She told me with patience.“I don’t trust Bradley, Mia. I can’t stand the thought of leaving you alone with him.” I confessed.Mia smiled, holding the back of my neck, her wild blue eyes locked on mine.“That’s why Paul’s going with me.” She smiled, then kissed me. “No need to worry.”I looked at the woman who could break me so easily, seeing just how she always got what she wanted, because I’d always let her. And once again, I gave in. The woman beside me was one of the strongest people I knew, and I knew she could handle this without needing a protector.“All right,” I finally said, and we bo
My secret lover Chapter 41
41 - Mia Lauren HudsonIt was you. You made it happen.— Brooklyn Nine-NineThe day had finally arrived! I was picking up the stones thrown in my path and building a huge castle with a sign that said: I DID IT. Even though there had been people along the way who almost made me give up, I persevered. I went all the way. And there I was, in a hall full of people finishing getting me ready for my movie premiere. I would be there that night because of my work, not just to accompany a man. I was there for myself because I did it.At that moment, I knew the whole media outside was digging into my life, speculating why I was premiering at NewScene and they could assert the reason for the end of my marriage. I had left Bradley because I was too selfish and needed to premiere in cinema alongside my lover. And well, I wasn't making any effort to deny any of that. If it was on the internet, it was true, right?Sometimes, rumors could be cruel, but well, they were almost always truths. And yes, I
My secret lover Chapter 40
40- Mia Lauren Hudson"Even to be a flower, you need luck. Some are born to beautify life, others, death."MatildaMy heart was pounding, and I could hear its beats in my ears. I didn’t know how I should feel at that moment. I was just too confused, too scared, and too disappointed.Seeing those photos made me remember every moment I spent with my mother. Beyond any mother-daughter relationship, we were friends. And she had never told me about Apollo's father. She had never mentioned the intimate relationship they obviously had. I wondered if my father knew too, if it lasted for a long time.Damn, I was nauseous.Apollo and I drove the whole way to his house in silence, lost in our thoughts. Now we had just arrived, and he was opening the door. I stepped into his home and faced a bright, comfortable living room. There were two sofas and two armchairs in front of a TV that was on, and his father was watching."Should I be expecting you?" Eros Castiello got up from the armchair and appr
