Daniel's POV
I stared out of the window of my office, watching as the city moved around me, a blur of motion that I couldn't quite bring myself to focus on. The skyline of New York City was supposed to represent everything I had worked so hard to achieve—power, success, the pinnacle of my career. But as the days passed, it felt more like a prison, a constant reminder of what I'd lost. I rubbed my temples, trying to push away the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. Memories of her. Tasha. Even thinking her name sent a wave of pain through me. It had been five years, but the wound felt as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. I never thought I would miss someone this much. Suddenly, my phone buzzed, pulling me back to the present. I glanced at the screen Vanessa's name flashed up, along with her message. "My love, don't forget the designer shoes I told you about. They're a must-have!"Daniel's POV I sighed, leaning back in my chair. Stanley and I used to hang out all the time, grabbing drinks, catching a game, or just shooting the breeze about life. But ever since the divorce with Tasha, he had been angry with me, not that he'd ever say it outright. It was in the way he looked at me, the way his voice got tight whenever her name came up. He blamed me for it, I knew. Hell, I blamed myself too, most days. But none of us were prepared for what happened after. After Tasha left, it was like she vanished off the face of the earth. Every line of contact we had for her was disabled. No phone number, no email, nothing. I had my people try to track her down, but she was always... not found, leaving no trace behind. Stanley and I even tried some old friends, mutual acquaintances, but no one knew. It was like she didn’t want to be found. And maybe that was for the best. She deserved her freedom, her space
Tasha's POV As the plane began its descent, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The flight attendant's voice came over the intercom, a calming and professional tone that broke through my thoughts. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now beginning our descent into New York City. We hope you’ve had a pleasant flight with us today. Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your seats are in the upright position as we prepare for landing. The local time is approximately 3 PM, and the weather in New York is clear and pleasant. We hope you’ve enjoyed your flight and have a great time in the city." I looked out of the window as the skyline of New York began to come into view. The city's iconic landmarks and bustling streets were spread out below. Ethan, sitting beside me, looked out the window with wide eyes. “Mum, is that New York?” he asked, his exciteme
Panic surged through me as i rushed to the elevator, my hands trembling as i pressed the button. The elevator seemed to take forever, each second stretching into an eternity. when the doors finally opened, i bolted out and ran to the building’s security desk. "Excuse me, please," i panted, barely able to catch my breath. "my son, he's missing. did you see a five-year-old boy come through here?" The security guard looked up, his face calm but serious. "no, ma'am. we haven't had any children come through today." My heart sank, and i fought to keep my voice steady. "are you sure? he’s only five, dark hair..." The guard nodded, checking the logs. "i’m sorry, but no one matching that description has been seen leaving or entering the building." My vision blurred with tears as i turned to leave, desperately trying to calm myself. i neede
Daniel's POVI woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand. My head throbbed from last night’s drinks, but it wasn’t the hangover that had me feeling uneasy. It was the fact that I’d completely forgotten to pick up the designer shoes Venessa had asked for. My eyes drifted over to her sleeping form beside me, her back turned toward me. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath. Venessa had been talking about those shoes for weeks, reminding me at every possible opportunity. And yet, here I was, waking up next to her with empty hands. I knew I was in for it. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I needed to fix this before she woke up and realized. Maybe I could get them first thing Monday morning, or maybe I could find a way to make it up to her right now. Carefully, I slid out of bed and made my way around to her side. She was still asleep, her hair fanned out over the pillow. I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder. "V
Daniel's POVI stared at the text, my heart pounding in my chest. I got up quickly, throwing on a shirt and a pair of shorts before dialing Mike's number. I slipped out of the bedroom and quietly made my way to the main door, hoping not to wake Venessa. As the call connected, I couldn't keep the urgency out of my voice. "What's the news, Mike?" I demanded. Mike had been the only one still actively searching for Tasha, even after all this time. I'd instructed him to keep looking, but so far, every lead had turned up empty. "Sir," he began hesitantly, "she left the country." I froze, my mind racing. "What do you mean she left the country? You said you found her!" My voice rose, anger and frustration bubbling up. I was on the verge of losing it, ready to unleash my fury on him for giving me false hope. But just then, the elevator chimed open, pulling my attention away. I was caught off guard by the sight of a small figure stepping out of the elevator. My initial frustrat
Tasha's POV I rushed out of the elevator, headed for the door Just when I opened the door, my eyes met Ethan playing with his toys, I dropped to my knees and pulled Ethan into my arms, holding him tight as relief washed over me. "Ethan, you scared me so much," I said, my voice trembling. "Where did you go? I was so worried." "I'm sorry, Mommy," he murmured into my shoulder. "I got lost. I know I should have stayed put, but the man on the upper floor brought me home." He pulled back just enough to look up at me, his eyes wide and earnest. "He'll be my new friend." I felt a mix of emotions relief, frustration, and a twinge of curiosity. "What man, sweetheart?" I asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "The man on the up floor," Ethan repeated. "He found me and helped me get back here." My heart skipped a beat. Who was this man? And why was he helping Ethan? I hadn't seen anyone in the hallway when I rushed out, but then again, I was too panicked to notice muc
"Ethan?" I called out, trying to keep my voice calm despite the sudden rush of panic. "Who are you talking to, sweetheart?" He glanced up at me, a little guilty smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, hi, Mum," he said cheerfully. "I'm talking to my new friend." "Your new friend?" I repeated, confused. "Ethan, who gave you the phone?" He pointed toward the coffee table where the phone had been resting. "The man from upstairs told me to call him if you weren't back. So I did." I walked over quickly, gently taking the phone from his hand. "Ethan, you shouldn't be using the phone without asking me first," I said softly, not wanting to scare him but needing him to understand. "It's important to let Mommy know before you call anyone, okay?" "Okay, Mum," he replied, looking down at his feet. "I just wanted to say hi." I put the phone to my ear, wondering who exactly was on the other end. "Hello? This is Ethan's mother," I said cautiously, not sure what to expect. But the call had a
Tasha's POV The meeting had barely started when Venessa began to challenge every decision I proposed. It was almost as if she had come prepared to undermine me at every turn. Her posture was rigid, her gaze cold and calculating as she interrupted me during my presentation. “Hold on a second, Tasha,” Venessa said, raising her hand to stop me mid-sentence. The rest of the team shifted in their seats, sensing the tension between us. “I don’t quite understand the rationale behind that strategy. It seems a bit…rushed, don’t you think?” I looked up from my notes, locking eyes with her. There it was, the subtle yet condescending tone I remembered so well. But I wasn’t the same person I had been all those years ago. I wasn’t going to let her rattle me. “With all due respect, Venessa,” I began, keeping my voice steady and professional, “this strategy has been carefully planned and takes into account the current market conditions. The timeline is designed to capitalize on a unique window
Daniel stood at the back of the room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He didn’t say a word. Tasha frowned, her brows knitting together as she tried to piece together the fragments of her memory. “I remember meeting Mr. Belvoir… Dad,” she corrected, looking up at him. “I was in his house. With Ethan.” She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the blanket. “Then I went back home.” Claire shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the others before asking cautiously, “You mean… in London?” Tasha nodded slowly. “Yes.” The room went still. Robbin’s gaze flickered toward Daniel, but Daniel didn’t react. His jaw was set, his eyes locked onto Tasha, but he remained silent. Mr. Belvoir, standing near the door, exhaled softly. “That was nearly two years ago.” Tasha’s eyes widened. “What?” Claire sat beside her, gently taking her hand. “Tasha… you’ve been here for a while. You left London.” Tasha shook her head, confusion flashing across her face. “No. I— I would remember
Daniel felt his stomach tighten at the way she looked at him, like he was a stranger. Tasha’s breathing grew uneven as her gaze flickered around the room, taking in the medical equipment, the soft beeping of the monitors, the IV in her arm. Her fingers curled into the bedsheets as if grounding herself. "Why are you here, Daniel?" she asked again, sharper this time, her voice laced with confusion and something else, something distant. "Where I'm I?" Claire and Robbin exchanged uneasy glances, but neither spoke. Ethan, sensing the shift in his mother’s demeanor, clung to her arm. “Mom?” he whispered. “You’re home now.” Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide, panic creeping into her expression. "Home?" she echoed. Ethan nodded eagerly, trying to reassure her. "Right, Dad?" Tasha froze. Her gaze snapped back to Daniel, and for the first time since waking up, there was something else in her eyes, uncertainty. “Dad?” she repeated slowly, as if the word itself didn’t make s
Claire, who had gone back to check on Tasha, suddenly let out a startled gasp. “Tasha? Tasha… Oh my God!” Her voice rang through the quiet estate, filled with shock and relief. Daniel and Robbin barely had time to process her words before she came running out of the room, her expression frantic but hopeful. “She’s awake! Tasha’s awake!” Robbin reacted first. “Call the doctor,” he ordered, already moving toward the room. Daniel didn’t wait, he rushed past them, pushing open the door to Tasha’s room. His heart pounded as he stepped inside. Tasha was lying in bed, her eyes fluttering open, blinking as if trying to adjust to the light. Her breathing was uneven, her body weak from days of being unconscious. But she was awake. She was awake. Daniel exhaled a shaky breath, stepping closer, almost afraid that if he blinked, she would disappear. “Tasha…” Her eyes moved slowly, searching, until they landed on him. Confusion flickered across her face, followed by exhaustion. He
Claire was already there, sitting beside Tasha’s bed, adjusting the blanket carefully. The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of medical equipment filling the space. When she looked up and saw Daniel standing in the doorway, she let out a quiet sigh. “Daniel, I’m sorry…” she said, standing up. Daniel’s gaze moved from Claire to Tasha, who lay still, her breathing steady but weak. His chest tightened at the sight of her like this. He swallowed hard before looking back at Claire. “You should’ve called me,” he said, his voice rough with frustration. Claire nodded, guilt written all over her face. “I wanted to, but I had to settle Ethan in first. He was already upset, and Mr. Belvoir made it clear that he didn’t want any more chaos.” Daniel let out a slow, controlled breath, running a hand through his hair. “And you just went along with it?” Claire frowned. “I didn’t have a choice, Daniel. Mr. Belvoir arranged everything before anyone could tell what was going on. She’s being mo
The next morning, Daniel gripped his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white. His pulse pounded in his ears as he stalked through the hospital hallway, barely keeping his composure. He had only been gone for a few hours. How the hell had they moved her without his knowledge? He reached the nurses’ station, his voice dangerously low. “Where is Tasha?” The nurse hesitated, glancing nervously at his tense posture. “She was discharged early this morning under private medical care. Arrangements were made by her family.” Daniel clenched his jaw, his mind spinning. He barely heard the rest of what she said before he stormed outside, dialing Claire. She picked up after a few rings, her voice cautious. “Daniel—” “Where the hell is Tasha?” he demanded. Claire sighed. “Daniel, calm down.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed in his pocket, the caller ID displaying Stanley’s name. He answered quickly, his voice tight with exhaustion. “Stanley,” Daniel began, his tone calm but heavy, “I'm glad you called back.” “I’m sorry about the accident,” Stanley’s voice came through, filled with concern. “Is everyone okay?” Daniel leaned back against the wall, his eyes closing for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. “We lost Mike,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “He didn’t make it. Tasha’s in a coma, but the doctors are hopeful. Ethan… he’s okay. Just shaken up.” There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Stanley’s voice spoke again, softer. “I’m sorry, Daniel. Mike was a good man. His wife and kid… they’ll be well taken care of, won’t they?” Daniel’s expression hardened as he replied, his words
The doctor raised a hand to calm them. "If Mr. Sterling agrees, we can temporarily assign guardianship to Mr. Robbin while Ms. Tasha is recovering. But this has to be a joint decision." Daniel looked away, clenching his jaw. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Fine. But I’m not stepping back. I’m still his father." Robbin nodded. "I never said you weren’t." The doctor scribbled something on the file. "Alright. We’ll get the paperwork started." Daniel ran a hand down his face, exhausted but resigned. "Can we see her now?" The doctor nodded. "I’ll have a nurse take you in." Robbin exhaled, glancing toward the door. As they stepped out of the doctor’s office, the tension between Daniel and Robbin was thick. The
The car skidded to a halt, smoke rising from the hood. For a moment, there was only silence, the world eerily still. Tasha’s head spun. She tried to focus, but everything was blurred around her. Ethan’s small, trembling hand was still in hers, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Darkness threatened to take over her senses as her body felt weightless, and her mind began to slip away. “Mom? Mom?” Ethan’s voice, faint but full of panic, echoed in the distance. But it was fading, the edges of his voice muffled as everything slipped into blackness. The sterile white lights were too bright, the machines too loud. The sound of beeping filled Tasha’s ears, the rhythm a constant reminder that she was still here, still alive. But she wasn’t truly awake. Not yet.
Tasha’s grip on her phone tightened as Vanessa’s words echoed in her ears. “I’m outside. Don’t keep me waiting.” Her breath came in short gasps, but she forced herself to stay calm. She turned back, scanning the aisles for Mike, but he was nowhere to be seen. “Mike?” she called out sharply, but there was no response. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she knew she didn’t have time to lose. Her fingers trembled as she quickly dialed Daniel’s number. Daniel answered almost immediately, his voice laced with concern. “Tasha? What’s wrong?” “It’s Vanessa,” she whispered, stepping out of the toy store and onto the busy mall walkway. “She has Ethan.” “What?” Daniel’s voice rose in alarm. “Where are you? Where’s Mike?” “I don’t know,