I glare at him before stepping forward.Harvey lifts a hand. I hesitate—only for a second—before placing mine in his.The moment he pulls me in, it’s over.His grip is firm, his other hand landing on the small of my back, drawing me just close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off him. We move in sync, slow at first, testing, measuring. The air between us turns thick, charged, every shift of our bodies pushing against the tension neither of us wants to acknowledge.“This is a game, Rosita,” he says lowly, his breath grazing my cheek. “Try not to take it too seriously.”I let out a laugh—sharp, bitter. “Right. Because you never do.”His fingers flex against my waist. His jaw tightens.The music swells, and before I can react, he pulls me closer, his grip turning possessive, commanding. My breath catches.For a man who doesn’t do emotions, he’s holding me like he never wants to let go.And I have no idea what the hell to do about it.Unfortunately, the song changes again, and he
[Vivienne]I wake up the next day only to find myself searching for my phone.Why? Because the first thought that rushes to my mind as soon as I open my eyes is how the night went for Rosita and Harvey.Strangely, I want all the details, and I know Rosita won’t be the one to give them to me.Mostly because if things went the way I think they did, I don’t want her to feel flustered or awkward.I mean, we’re talking about my brother here, and no matter how open-minded I try to be about his love life, there’s still a kind of ick factor I’d rather not let myself suffer through.I call the only person who was supposed to keep an eye on them while I was gone.Theo.He picks up on the second ring.“Hey, my very smart, very beautiful, and very pregnant cuz. How are you doing this fine morning?”He chirps over the phone, as if he had saved all that morning buzz just for me.I roll my eyes, ignoring his desire to waste precious time. “What happened after I left? Did Harvey even show up?”“Oh, h
[Vivienne]The moment I step into the drawing room, I know. Even with his back turned to me, there’s no mistaking him. Caden Lawrence.The audacity of this man.I can’t believe he followed me here—to Harvey’s home—like it’s the most natural thing in the world, like he has no concept of boundaries anymore.What a jerk.“Well, look who’s shown up in the last place he’s supposed to be.” I cross my arms, my glare sharp, making no effort to be courteous.Why should I? I made it very clear that I have no interest in meeting with him, seeing him, or having anything to do with him. And yet, here we are—again—back to square one, where no matter how many ways I spell it out, I can’t seem to get this simple fact through his thick, thick skull.Caden turns to me, looking far fresher and more put together than he did last time.Last time, he looked tired—probably because he’d come straight from work.But today… today feels different. He even smells different.What the fuck?Am I even supposed to n
[Vivienne]His jaw tics, but his voice stays maddeningly even. “You think you know everything, don’t you?”“I know enough.”“No.” He shakes his head slowly. “You think you do. But you never asked why she was there. You never stopped long enough to listen.”“Oh my God.” I throw my hands up. “Do you even hear yourself? What possible explanation could you have that makes this not cheating?”His stare doesn’t waver. If anything, it hardens.“You don’t want the truth, Vivienne. You just want to be right.”A bitter laugh rips from my throat. “I was right.”“No. You weren’t.”And there’s something in the way he says it—like he’s certain of it—that makes my stomach twist in a way I don’t like.“You know what? I don’t want to hear any more of your lies. I don’t even know why I brought it up.”I turn to walk away—to get away, maybe even to run—because this is all the crap I can take in a day.But then he says something that stops me dead in my tracks.“See? That’s how it always is with you. You
[Vivienne]For the next five minutes, neither of us says anything.Caden keeps his gaze locked on me while I continue to pretend that nothing he said has affected me in any way.But I’d be lying if I said his version of that night doesn’t make sense.It does. I just don’t know if it changes anything.Even if I admit that Sasha might have played me—made a fool out of me—that doesn’t explain his indifference toward me during our entire marriage. It doesn’t explain why he chose to stay away not just for days but for weeks, sometimes even months. Or why he spent the majority of his time with his family and assistant but not a single meaningful moment with his own damn wife.And it certainly doesn’t explain all the media buzz about him and Sasha—rumors of them being secretly engaged, enjoying vacations on exotic islands, and so on.“You should leave,” I tell him after a while, unsure if there’s anything left between us to discuss.No matter how innocent he claims to be, it doesn’t change t
[Caden]I walk out of the mansion and reach my car, already parked in the driveway.But I don’t get inside and move on with my day.No. I stop just before getting in and slam my fist against the roof of the car.Damn it! So close. I was so damn close to telling her everything. If only she had given me a chance.But can I really blame her? Is it really her fault for not giving me a chance now?The answer is no. I can’t blame her, and she isn’t at fault. I’ve wronged her in too many ways for her to believe that this time, when I speak to her, it comes straight from my heart. My words. My effort. My care.But does that mean I should just… give up?Absolutely not.I turn to face the mansion I just walked out of and mumble to myself,“You think I don’t want the child. But you couldn’t be more wrong. I have never wanted anything more in my life. But I have my reasons for holding back. I have a reason for not wanting to pass on my disabilities to our child—to keep them from suffering the sam
[Rosita]I don’t like surprises.Not when they keep me this on edge.Ever since we left my office, Harvey has been as silent as ever. He insisted on driving himself, and when I asked where he was taking me, he told me to have some patience.Well, it seems I don’t have the energy for patience either.“Are you sure you’re not about to push me off a cliff or something?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and gazing at the scenery passing by outside the window.I hear him scoff out a small chuckle, the corner of his lips curving ever so slightly. “You have a bizarre sense of humor, you know that?”“You say that like it’s news to you,” I steal a glance at him—his hands gripping the wheel, his gaze steady on the road ahead. He’s always so composed, so frustratingly unreadable.I huff and lean back in my seat. “Are you planning to keep me in suspense forever, or are you actually going to tell me where the hell we’re going?”“Relax, Rosita. We’re almost there.”I don’t like that answer. I
[Vivienne]When I reach the office building—invited by none other than Theo—I take the elevator to his office.His assistant meets me halfway and leads me inside.Surprisingly, the room is empty.“Sir is stuck in a meeting, but he assured me he’ll be joining you soon. Can I get you anything in the meantime? Juice, coffee, or something to eat?” the assistant asks courteously, a gentle smile on her pretty face.“Just water. Thanks.”She nods and steps out, leaving me alone.I take a deep breath and sink onto the sofa across the room—the only spot where my aching back might find some relief.Just then, I feel a small kick against the side of my swollen belly—a gentle reminder that my little one has started to move.I smile.It’s a feeling I can’t quite put into words.The baby kicks started a few days ago, and God knows I’ve been dying to talk to someone about it. Maybe that’s why I wanted to invite Rosita over or visit Mom—just to share this beautiful news with her.But then Caden showe
[Caden]“So, what would you like to order?” I ask, gazing into her deep brown eyes as she looks at me with a slightly shy smile on her face.Ever since we walked into this restaurant, not far from the hotel, she has been oddly quiet. Not quiet in the sense that she looks unhappy or uncomfortable, but definitely not quite herself either.Something still seems to be bothering her, and I intend to find out what it is.But first, “Have you tried Japanese cuisine before?” I ask.“A bit, here and there. Never thought about it much.”“Then you should know the difference between sake, shochu, and umeshu,” I say, watching as she looks at me in confusion. “Have you tried them?”“No? I mean, I don't know. I haven't been much of an explorer when it comes to... foreign cuisines.”I smile. “Well, since you're already in Japan, why don't we do that tonight? I'm sure you'll love them. Besides, they taste very different from wine or whiskey.”I glance over the menu.“We have plenty to choose from,” I
I swallow hard, his words sinking into my chest like heavy stones dragging me down.Is this really how it’s going to end? Is this really the fate waiting for Axel? To see his father not as a hero, not even as a villain, but as a stranger?The thought alone feels like a knife twisting in my gut.I glance at Caden again, at the hard set of his jaw, the empty look in his eyes. He believes every word he just said. Maybe he’s even accepted it already, as if there’s no point in fighting it.But me? I can’t accept that.I won’t.Axel deserves better. He deserves a family that doesn’t shatter at the first sign of trouble. He deserves parents who at least try—who don’t just give up and call it fate."Maybe... maybe it doesn't have to be like that," I whisper, surprising even myself.Caden finally looks at me, really looks at me, with an expression I can't quite read. Sadness? Hope? Or maybe just pity because he thinks I'm naive enough to think I can save my son from something as broken as us.
[Vivienne]After Caden revealed another grand truth of his life, he stormed out of my room as if he couldn’t bear to stand in the same room as me.I, on the other hand, drop my ass on the edge of the bed and cover my face with my hands.Shit.Why does everything have to be so messed up? So complicated? So damn… annoying?Just when I think everything between us is starting to calm down and maybe there’s a chance we can have a peaceful, platonic relationship for the sake of Axel, something like this happens, and I’m forced to wonder if all these efforts are even worth it. If letting Caden back into our lives is going to make our lives easier or even more complicated.The truth is, I don’t have answers to any of these questions.Not yet.But I need to find them, or it will be too late to fix anything at all.I stare at the ring on my finger, the generous diamond ring Xander made me wear after his proposal.God knows, I still don’t know what I feel for that man, or if I even feel anything
[Astrid]I stare at the mess in my room.The shattered vase. The broken laptop. The pieces of other furniture overturned and out of place.But even with all this destruction, I feel nothing but rage.Pure, white rage. The kind that makes me want to rip someone’s throat out. Especially that of Vivienne. And her fucking son.I ball my fists, the veins in my hands popping as I fight to keep my control. But it's slipping, fast. I want to scream, to break every damn thing in sight until there’s nothing left. Until I feel something other than this boiling fury that’s choking me from the inside out.How dare she? How dare she take what’s mine? How dare she get so close to Caden? And go on that vacation with him?Did she learn nothing from the past? Is she not afraid that the way she’s going, she’s making an enemy out of me? Out of Astrid? Does she even know whom she’s messing with?I curl my fingers around the glass of water on the table, before tossing it away against the wall too.It shatt
[Vivienne]I have to say, Caden has a way of doing things that not only gets his work done, but also leaves the other party too confused yet satisfied for their own good.Now, I’m not saying that being shoved against the door and having his face so ridiculously close to mine is satisfying in some weird kind of way, but it surely is leaving me confused for sure.“What are you doing, Caden?” I cannot help but ask, finally able to find my voice after a minute of intimate staring and a confusingly beating heart.I know being jealous has always been Caden’s strongest streak, but I never thought he was jealous because of me. Not that I have deliberately tried to make him feel that way. Ever. It was always him, surrounded by Sasha and her dramatic ways, making me feel like a third wheel of sorts.I try to push him away, but he doesn’t dare budge. His dark eyes remain stuck on mine, his hands clasped around my waist.“Whatever you think.”I sigh, reminding myself once again how wrong everythi
[Caden]After spending almost the entire day at the clinic, when we return to our hotel suite, Ben and Axel drop dead the second their heads hit the pillow.Vivienne, on the other hand, excuses herself for a quick shower and a change of clothes, while I decide to do the same.However, before I pick out my clothes from the wardrobe, my phone starts to ring.Astrid’s name flashes on the screen, and I almost roll my eyes.Almost. Instead, I answer. “Speak.”"Are you serious, Caden?" she asks, so loudly that I have to pull the phone away from my ear a little."What's the matter?""What's the matter?" she repeats, as if she can't quite believe I asked her something so boldly. "What isn't the matter? When the hell were you going to tell me that you were going to Japan with that ex of yours? When, huh? Is this how you treat me now? Keeping me in the dark while having a vacation at some royal hotel suite?"I pinch the bridge of my nose, already feeling a headache brewing. "It's not a vacation
[Vivienne]Caden was right when he told me that Dr. Kaito is not just another doctor in a lab coat with a stethoscope looped around his neck.Oh, no. He’s so much more than that.To be honest, I have never seen a professional doctor quite like him.First of all, he’s not dressed like one.Secondly, he doesn’t talk like one either. No complicated medical words with him. No unnecessary attempt to appease us or assure us. And certainly not interested in the fact that Caden and I are among the richest people in the world.The moment we stepped into his cabin, his entire attention has been on Axel only.Which, of course, I’m glad for, but still. He really asked us nothing. Not his medical history. Not his symptoms. Not even his age, or how long he has been like this.The only thing I have done since we took seats on the couch across from his long desk is hold my breath and keep my mouth shut.Now, almost an hour has passed, and Dr. Kaito and Axel finally return their attention to us.Dr. K
[Vivienne]“Dr. Kaito will see you now,” the receptionist announced.I look up from my lap and glance around for the hundredth time.Ever since we walked into the building, I have been nervous as hell—and for all the right reasons, I would like to say.For the first time, Dr. Kaito will see Axel, and my son will get to know if he’ll ever get to see like normal kids out there. And that thought alone makes me feel all kinds of anxious. Never in my life have I been this nervous. My palms are sweating, my legs are shaking, and my throat feels dry beyond rationality. My brain is a complex mishmash of positivity and negativity. It’s not like I want to think of the worst, but my heart doesn’t know how to handle this situation without taking everything into account.I need to know how this meeting can go. I need to know so I will be ready for whatever the outcome might be.“Are you alright?” Caden’s familiar deep voice arrives from next to me. He’s probably wondering why I haven’t moved from
[Vivienne]Caden’s about to press his lips to mine, and I’m about to allow it, when something growls so loudly in the room, we both pause, turn stiff, and stare at each other for one long moment.Then, we both burst into laughter.Caden’s face dips into the crook of my neck while I feel embarrassed and giddy at the same time.The thing that growled?My stomach.Caden finally lifts his head, dark eyes crinkling with all the lightheartedness in the world. “You’re hungry.”“Yup,” I mumble, trying to look away but can’t. It’s as if I’m still in some kind of trance, and looking away will break it. “Did I forget to mention?”He shakes his head, and then, thankfully, gets up. Back on his feet, he helps me sit up and then runs a hand through his dark hair. “I’ll order something for you.”“It’s okay.” I try to stand up too, but he grabs me by the shoulders and gently pushes me back on the couch.“No. I’ll order. Just tell me what you need.”I could easily argue with him there, but something in