"Okay, umm..." I began, glancing at Ethan and Aunt Linda before looking back at Robbin. "So, the company is sending me to New York for a fashion contest and also a project. It's a really big opportunity. The project could take almost a year to complete."
"Really?" Robbin asked, his eyes wide with surprise. "That's... that's huge, Tash. I'm so proud of you." Aunt Linda beamed. "This is a wonderful opportunity for you, love. You’ve worked so hard for this." "Well," Robbin said, a hint of a smile on his lips, "I guess we'll be heading in the same direction, but at different times." I looked at him, curious. "What do you mean?" He took a breath. "I’ve got some news of my own. I've been offered a chance to expand my business to New York as well. It's not immediate, but it’s in the works."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 sat on the edge of the couch, her eyes unfocused, staring at the walls of their living room as if willing time to move faster, to hurry through this painful stretch of silence. The whole day had passed in a blur, Robbin had given her the space she needed, but it didn’t change the fact that her heart was heavy, weighed down by the quiet storm brewing in her home. Ethan hadn’t come out of his room since their conversation. She couldn’t blame him, but it didn’t make the ache any easier to bear. The clock on the wall ticked away relentlessly, the sound sharp in the quiet house, reminding her of just how much time had passed since Ethan had stormed off. She couldn’t imagine what he was feeling right now, he had always been so full of life, so full of questions, yet now he was silent. The silence was suffocating. Tasha’s gaze moved from the clock to the door leading to the hallway, her thoughts clouded with worry. She knew it wasn’t easy for Ethan. She knew he was hurting. But wha
Tasha sat in the living room, her heart pounding in her chest. It had been a long time coming this conversation, this moment. She had been avoiding it, hoping it would somehow sort itself out, but she knew deep down that it couldn’t be avoided forever. Robbin and she had been together for a while now, and their relationship was moving forward. It was time to let Ethan know. She glanced toward the kitchen where Robbin was cleaning up, his movements calm and steady, like he was already mentally preparing himself for what was coming. He had been so patient, so understanding with her and Ethan. But even he couldn’t help her avoid the inevitable. Ethan had to know. Tasha’s heart ached at the thought of her son’s reaction. She had already seen the worry and confusion in his eyes in recent weeks. He had been asking questions, small ones at first. The thought of seeing the sadness and confusion in Ethan’s face broke her every time. But she knew t
The next morning arrived in a blur for Daniel. He barely remembered falling asleep, but when his eyes opened, the harsh light of day pierced through his apartment. The room was a mess, a reflection of his state of mind. Empty bottles, a broken glass on the floor, and remnants of the night before scattered around him like the fallout of a battle he didn’t want to fight. He dragged himself out of bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion, both physical and emotional, pressing down on him. But sleep hadn’t given him respite. It had only brought him restless dreams of Tasha, her smile, her voice, her warmth only for them to dissolve into nothingness every time he reached out. He stumbled to the kitchen, the air thick with the smell of stale alcohol. He had no appetite, but he poured himself a cup of black coffee anyway, needing the bitter warmth to shake off the fog in his mind. As the liquid slid down his throat, he leaned against the counter, staring at nothing, his thought
Daniel’s apartment was eerily quiet when he returned. The faint hum of the city outside, the low murmur of distant traffic, seemed to only emphasize the emptiness inside. He didn’t bother turning on the lights, instead letting the dim glow of the streetlights filter through the windows as he made his way to the kitchen. It was the same routine now coming back to this cold, lifeless space after a day full of fake smiles, forced interactions, and the constant undercurrent of pain that he couldn’t shake. He opened the cabinet, his hands moving almost automatically, grabbing a bottle of whiskey. It was the same bottle he’d been nursing for the last few weeks, ever since everything had spiraled out of control. He didn’t know why he kept drinking, it didn’t numb the pain; it didn’t make things better, but it was the only thing that seemed to dull the sharp edges of his thoughts, even if just for a little while. The glass was filled quickly, the amber liquid s
Daniel had always been a man of control. From the moment he’d made the decision to step back from Tasha’s life after the accident, the fallout, the memories lost, he had tried to maintain his distance. He told himself it was for the best, for her sake, for Ethan’s. But nothing could have prepared him for the slow, torturous pain of watching from the sidelines as Tasha moved forward without him. And yet, there he was, still in Ethan’s life, still seeing his son, even if he no longer had a place beside Tasha. The gala had been on his mind for days. The invitation had come through Belvoir Couture, of course the company he was still very much involved with, even though his heart was no longer in the glamorous world of high fashion. It wasn’t his place, not anymore. Still, there were business matters to attend to. And so, there he was, standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his tuxedo. The reflection staring back at him was someone he barely recognized eyes tired, jaw clenched, the
One evening, the soft hum of the city outside barely noticeable as Tasha stood by the window, looking out into the night. The past few weeks had felt like an emotional rollercoaster. The amnesia, the painful fractures in her relationships, the uncertainty that had filled her life. But standing here now, the air around her felt different less heavy, more certain. Her eyes drifted to Robbin, sitting at the small kitchen table. Ethan was in bed, and they were finally alone. The house, once too silent, now held a different kind of peace, a peace that Tasha hadn’t realized she longed for until this moment. Robbin had been there for her in ways she couldn’t have imagined. When she needed space, he gave it to her; when she needed support, he was always there, not demanding answers or explanations but offering comfort in silence. Robbin cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. “Tasha,” he began, his voice low, “I know this has been diff
Daniel sat in his car outside the house, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. He had promised he wouldn’t overstep. He had promised he would only come for Ethan. But damn it, walking away from Tasha like that, hearing her say she didn’t want him around, hurt more than he thought it would. He raked a hand through his hair, frustration and helplessness twisting inside him. How will she remember. She didn’t remember what they had built, what they had gone through, what they had recently meant to each other. And now, she didn’t even want to try. His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen, Stanley. With a heavy sigh, Daniel picked up. “How did it go?” St
Tasha glanced at the clock again, tapping her fingers against her arm. They should be back by now. She paced slightly, trying to shake off the strange unease creeping in. Maybe traffic was bad. Maybe Ethan had asked Daniel to stop somewhere. She walked to the window, peering outside. Still nothing. With a sigh, she turned away, only for the sound of a car pulling into the driveway to grab her attention. She moved back toward the door just as it opened, and the first thing she heard was Ethan’s excited voice. “Mom! We got ice cream!” Tasha barely had time to react before Ethan ran up to her, his face bright with excitement. “It was soooo good! Dad let me pick any flavor I wanted, and I got chocolate and cookies and cream! And I added M&Ms, and whipped cream, and even caramel drizzle!” He bounced on his feet as she smoothed his curls, trying not to let her gaze drift to Daniel, who
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