Tasha's phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see Robbin’s name on the screen. She hadn’t heard from him in so long especially with everything that had happened lately, his absence had been puzzling.
She stepped aside, answering with a cautious “Hello?” “Tasha, hey… it’s been a while.” “Robbin,” she replied, her tone mixed with relief and curiosity. “Where are you? I thought you’d be in London by now, you said you’d be here last week.” A slight hesitation filled the line before he spoke. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ve been tied up with some… kinda family issues in Paris. Something came up last minute, and I couldn’t get away like I’d planned.” “Family?” Tasha questioned, surprised. “You’ve never mentioned any family in Paris.” Robbin’s voice sAfter the Visit to Mr Belvoir's house, Tasha relaxed in her room as her phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see Claire’s name flashing on the screen. She smiled, picking up as she walked back inside. “Hey, Tasha!” Claire greeted, her face filling the screen with a warm smile. “I’ve missed you! How are things over there in London?” Tasha relaxed, her smile widening. “It’s been a lot, Claire. But good, I think. Mr. Belvoir, 'Daddd' wants me to step into this big role in his company. Can you believe it?” Claire's eyebrows shot up. “Belvoir Couture’s queen in the making, makes total sense to me! You’ll handle it beautifully.” Tasha laughed softly, shaking her head. “I don’t know, Claire. It’s a lot. But hey, how’s New York treating you?” “Oh, New York is... well, it’s never dull, that’s for sure.” Claire hesitated, her tone shifting. “There’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about. It’s… odd.” “Odd?” Tasha’s curiosity piqued. “Go on.” Claire leaned closer to the
“Hey, Claire, I need you to set up an apartment for me,” Tasha said, her tone low. There was a pause on the other end before Claire replied, “Alright, but… you really don’t want to be here?” Tasha sighed, glancing at Ethan, who was happily playing with his toy. “No, I don’t want to be there, Claire.” “Is it because of…?” “He owns the building,” Tasha replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Claire took a breath, choosing her words carefully. “Well, why not stay in one of the Belvoir estates here? It’d be private, and there are plenty of security options.” But Tasha shook her head, even though Claire couldn’t see her. “I don’t need attention, not yet. I need everything off the media in the best way I can. It’s what’s best for Ethan,” she said firmly. “I don’t want his life disrupted more than it already has been.” Claire was quiet for a moment. “Alright. I’ll set something up. A nice, quiet place. Low profile.” “Thank you, Claire,” Tasha replied, relief flooding her v
The next evening, Tasha dressed simply yet elegantly for the dinner with Vivienne. She was both curious and cautious about meeting Vivienne, woman who had such close ties to Mr. Belvoir and, as she recently learned, to Venessa as well. Would this dinner bring an ally or another layer of complexity? “Mom, do you think Aunt Vivienne will like me?” Ethan asked, adjusting his small tie in the mirror. Tasha knelt beside him, smiling. “She’s going to love you sweetheart. Just be good, okay?” Ethan nodded, but there was a little sign of nervousness in his eyes. He was still adjusting to all these new faces and places, and the dinner added a layer of importance that even he could sense. As they arrived at the upscale restaurant, Vivienne was already waiting at a cozy corner table. Her presence was commanding, and she gave Tasha and Ethan a warm smil
Claire, holding back a smirk, shrugged. “I guess you’ll find out soon enough.” Venessa rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “I just hope they don’t waste everyone’s time with the whole pomp and circumstance thing. Anyway,” she added, turning her gaze toward Tasha, “Well Tasha. Try to keep up, The current Belvoir Couture, it’s not for everyone.” Tasha nodded politely. “Thanks Venessa. I’ll do my best.” Venessa gave a brief nod and continued on, entirely unaware. Tasha exchanged an amused glance with Claire, who gave a subtle thumbs-up. Once Venessa was out of earshot, Tasha chuckled. “Looks like it’s going to be an interesting first day.” Claire laughed. “You don’t even know the half of it. Let’s get you settled in.” As they settled into the
Tasha read Daniel's message one more time, feeling somewhat okay with it but choosing not to reply just yet. She slipped her phone into her bag and continued with her day, balancing meetings and planning sessions with Claire. The work felt steady and purposeful, grounding her as she set her sights on her future here. Later, back at her apartment, Tasha was setting dishes on the table for herself and Ethan. The warm aroma of the meal filled the cozy space as she plated the food and called Ethan over. He hopped up onto his chair with a big grin, digging in eagerly. As they ate, she looked at him with a soft smile. "Sweetheart, would you like to see your dad tomorrow?" Ethan's eyes lit up. “I get to see Dad?” he asked, a bit of surprise mixed with excitement in his voice. “Of course,” Tasha replied gently. “He misses you, and I thought it might be nice for the two of you to spend some time together.” Ethan nodded enthusiastically, “I miss him too, Mom! Can we go somewhere fun?”
"Ethan wants to hang out with you," Tasha said, glancing at Daniel with a gentle but hopeful expression, her eyes searching his. Daniel's face softened as he looked at Ethan, who was practically bouncing in anticipation. "Yes, Dad, can we?" Ethan asked eagerly, his face lighting up. Tasha, noticing the moment, quickly added, "But if you’re too busy, we can just..." "No, it's fine. I'm all free," Daniel cut in, giving Stanley a side-eye as he added, "Stanley was just leaving." Stanley raised his hands in a mock surrender, grinning. "Alright, alright. I can take a hint." He turned to Tasha with a warm smile. "Guess we’ll all head out together." As they walked toward the door, Stanley leaned closer to Tasha. "Oh, before I forget," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice, "I wanted to let you know... well, I’m getting married!" Tasha’s face lit up. “That’s amazing, Stanley! Congratulations!” “Thanks! And I expect you both to be there,” he added, nudging her playfully. “N
Tasha straightened, maintaining her composure as Venessa's gaze settled on her. Claire, sensing the tension, glanced between them, choosing her words carefully. “Good morning, Venessa,” Tasha said with a polite smile, her voice calm yet assertive. “Anything urgent on your desk today?” Venessa raised an eyebrow, her smile more of a smirk. “Just making sure all the loose ends are tied up. It’s easy for things to slip through when people are… away from the office.” Tasha noted the implication, but she remained unfazed. “Well, it’s good to know things stayed on track. Let’s keep up that momentum, shall we?” Claire stifled a laugh, caught between amusement and nervousness. Venessa’s expression hardened, as if looking for something in Tasha that would crack. But when nothing came, she finally turned on her heel. “By the way,” Venessa said, pausing, “I hope you’re aware of the upcoming presentation. There’s a lot riding on it. Wouldn’t want anyone underprepared.” With that, she st
Tasha returned to her office, a space she was slowly reacquainting herself with. The desk was neat, but the folders she had been reviewing were beginning to pile up. With her laptop open, she started typing up notes on the mismanagement issues she had observed earlier in the day. Later on the sound of her phone vibrating on the desk broke her concentration. She glanced at the caller ID: Daniel. Answering, she placed the phone to her ear. “Hello?” “Hey, Mom!” a small, cheerful voice replied. Tasha smiled instantly, leaning back in her chair. “Hey, sweetheart. Are you having fun?” “Yes, Mom!” Ethan’s voice was brimming with excitement. “Dad and I went to this huge toy store, and I got to build my own model car!” “That sounds amazing, Ethan. Did you let Dad pick the colors, or did you choose them all yourself?” Ethan giggled. “I chose them! But Dad said my car’s design was better than his.” Tasha laughed softly, imagining the scene. “Well, of course it is. You’ve always
Tasha stared at the message for what felt like an eternity, her fingers hovering over the screen. Her heart raced, unsure of the words she had just typed. 'Let’s talk tomorrow' It was a simple message, but it carried so much weight, so many layers of emotions she couldn’t yet understand. She bit her lip, debating whether she should send it. What if it triggered something else or something she wasn’t ready to face? But then again, the words were already there. She couldn’t take them back, could she? A deep breath escaped her as she pressed her thumb on the screen and clicked send. The phone buzzed softly in her hand, the message now sent into the ether. She waited. For what? She wasn’t sure. A response, perhaps? Some kind of acknowledgment that she hadn’t completely lost herself or the person she used to be? Minutes passed. Nothing. Tasha let out a shaky breath and put the phone d
Ethan had always been an observant child. He wasn’t the type to ask too many questions, but he noticed everything. And lately, things felt... off. His mom was home now. She was healthy again. That should’ve made everything better, but it didn’t. Because something was missing. Or rather, someone. Ethan sat on the couch, hugging his knees as he watched his mom laughing softly at something Robbin said. She looked happy, but it wasn’t the kind of happiness Ethan was used to seeing. Though, not like she often smile at his dad. Not like when his family felt whole to him at some point. His little heart twisted. “Mom?” he finally spoke up.
Daniel stood outside the estate long after the doors had shut. The weight of Tasha’s words crushed him. "I don’t trust you." How had it come to this? He clenched his fists, inhaling deeply. He could feel Robbin watching from inside, probably smug, thinking he had won. But Daniel wasn’t giving up. Not this time. With one last glance at the estate, he turned, heading to his car. His mind was already working. If he couldn’t force his way in, he needed another way to reach Tasha. And he knew exactly where to start. Tasha lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her head ached. Her body was exhausted. But her mind wouldn’t stop spinning. Seeing Daniel had unsettled her in ways she hadn’t expected. His presence had stirred something deep inside, something familiar, something
Daniel sat across from Stanley in his dimly lit apartment. The room was still in shambles, glass shards on the floor, the remnants of his drunken rage evident in the broken furniture and toppled whiskey bottle. His head throbbed, and his heart ached even more. Stanley handed him another bottle of water. “You need to get a grip, Daniel.” Daniel scoffed, taking a sip. “A grip? hmm... Tasha doesn’t even want me around. My own son looks at me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear again. And on top of that, Vanessa is still out there. What exactly am I supposed to get a grip on?” Stanley leaned back in the chair, sighing. “You want Tasha back, right?” Daniel shot him a glare. “What kind of question is that?” “Then act like it,” Stanley snapped. “Drinking yourself into a stupor won’t fix anything. If you’re going to win her back, you need a plan. Right now, all she know
The hours dragged by, each minute stretching into what felt like eternity. Daniel lay there on the floor, his mind a jumbled mess of regret, anger, and sorrow. The apartment felt colder now, the silence almost suffocating, pressing down on him from all sides. He didn’t want to move, didn’t want to face the reality of it all. The world outside could go on, but he was stuck, paralyzed by his own thoughts, unable to find a way out. The sound of the doorbell rang through the stillness, but Daniel didn’t even flinch. His eyes were heavy, his body unmoving, as if he had become a part of the room itself. The ringing continued, insistent, but he ignored it. Let them come. He wasn’t in the mood for company. He didn’t want to see anyone—especially not now. But the door clicked open, and soon enough, the sound of footsteps approached. Stanley’s voice broke through the fog in Daniel’s mind. “What the hell? Daniel?” The words were sharp, filled with concern, but Daniel didn’t react. He didn’t
Tasha’s words hung heavily in the air, slicing through the tense silence. "I see no one is going to tell me," Tasha continued, her voice firm despite the exhaustion in her frame. She took a step back, the IV stand rattling slightly as she steadied herself. Her eyes were sharp, filled with a mixture of confusion and coldness that hurt Daniel to the core. Daniel’s chest tightened as he opened his mouth to speak, but Tasha held up a hand to stop him. “I don’t want you coming here like you have the rights,” she said, her tone cold and final. It wasn’t the tone of the woman he once knew weeks ago. This was a stranger, a woman who, for the moment, couldn’t remember the sincerity they had shared for the past weeks. Daniel wanted to argue, wanted to explain everything, but when she cut him off again, the words stuck in his throat. “I don’
Outside the Room… Robbin stepped into the hallway, exhaling sharply as he ran a hand through his hair. His mind was still spinning from everything that had happened, Tasha waking up, her memory loss, the way she had looked at Daniel like he was a stranger. He should have felt relief that she was alive, but all he could focus on was the uncertainty of what came next. The sound of measured footsteps drew his attention, and when he turned, Mr. Belvoir was standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. The older man regarded him in silence for a moment before finally speaking. “I see how much you care for my daughter.” Robbin straightened, swallowing the emotions that had been simmering inside him. “I do,” he said simply. “Everyone knows that.” Mr. Belvoir gave a slow nod. “And you’ve been there for her, protected her, even when I couldn’t.” Robbi
Tasha’s confusion deepened, but her instincts told her that there was more to the story. She tried to piece together the fragments of memory. “A truck? But I don’t... I don’t remember it.” Claire gave her a reassuring smile, though her own expression was tinged with concern. “Don’t worry, Tasha. It’s normal not to remember everything right away. The shock, the trauma, it can make things hard to recall. But you’ll get there. You just need time.” Tasha’s heart ached with the gaps in her memory. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something or someone was missing from the story. “Ethan... he was in the car with me, wasn’t he?” she asked, her voice soft, almost fearful of what she might hear next. Claire nodded, her expression softening. “Yes, sweetheart, Ethan was with you and he’s safe now. You don’t have to worry about him.” But as Claire spoke, Tasha couldn’t ignore the nagging se
The drive to the precinct was tense, every second ticking by like a countdown to something bigger. Daniel’s mind raced, replaying every detail of the accident, the threats, the calculated attack. When Daniel arrived at the station, the officer led him through to the interrogation room. Behind the glass, a man sat hunched over, his face hidden beneath his hands. The officer motioned toward him. “This is the guy,” the officer said. Daniel nodded but said nothing, studying the man carefully. He didn’t recognize him. There was no familiar face. Just another man who had been caught up in whatever game Vanessa was playing. The officer turned to Daniel. “We’ve traced everything back to this guy. He was hired to take Ms Belvoir, but his story’s all over the place.” Daniel stepped forward as the officer unlocked the door and en