I hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. “Well, um… your dad is a very busy man,” I started, trying to keep my voice steady. “He has a lot of important work to do.”“Is that why he never comes to see us?” James asked, her eyes wide and searching. “Does he not want to see us?”“No, sw
Chapter 48: Sara's Point of ViewI can't sleep again tonight. My head's pounding from all the crying, and the wine isn't helping anymore. The clock on my phone says it's 3:27 AM. Another sleepless night, thinking about Max. Always about Max.The bathroom light feels too bright as I stare at myself
"You deserve so much better than this," Mom said, smoothing my hair like she used to when I was little. "You're young, beautiful, smart. You could have any man you want.""I don't want any man," I said. "I want Max.""The Max you want doesn't exist anymore," she said. "He died with Eva. You're in lo
Chapter 49Eva's Point of ViewI couldn't sleep again. Not that anyone could blame me today was the big day. Standing by the window, I watched the early morning sun peek through our faded curtains, painting the room in soft gold. Six years. It had been six whole years since I left the state to Londo
Chapter 50: Eva's Point of ViewMy hands were shaking a little as we drove up to Grandmother Helena's estate. Even after all these years, the place still took my breath away. The iron gates slowly opened, and I heard the kids gasp from the backseat."Oh my gosh, Mom! Look at how huge it is!" Sam pr
Chapter 51Sara's Point of ViewThe evening sky was turning dark as I waited for Max in his study. My heart beat fast, nerves curling in my stomach, but I pushed them down. Tonight, I’d say what I’d held back for so long. Tonight, I’d make him see that I was ready to be everything for him, if only h
“Yes, Sara,” he bit out, anger flickering in his eyes. “I hate her for what she did, for what she took from me. From us.” He paused, voice quieter, filled with a bitterness that sent shivers down my spine. “And yet, even hating her doesn’t erase what we had. It doesn’t change the fact that I can’t f
Chapter 52Max’s Point of ViewThe ring of my phone shattered the quiet in my office. I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus on the endless paperwork in front of me. It was late, and all I wanted was to clear my mind, but as soon as I saw the caller ID, I knew that wouldn’t happen. Emily. Sara’s mother.
Eva's point of view The next morning after breakfast, I found my children huddled in Leo's room. Leo sat rigid on his bed, Sam clutched his dinosaur toy like a shield, James stared out the window, and Mia twisted her blue dress in nervous fingers. "Can we talk?" I asked softly, sitting on Leo's b
Max paced his study, his heavy footsteps echoing in the empty room. His head throbbed, the pain pressing against his skull like a vise. He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. The house was too quiet. Not the peaceful kind of quiet, but the heavy, suffocating kind that filled the air wi
The room was dimly lit, the scent of aged whiskey and cigar smoke lingering in the air. Heavy curtains blocked out the outside world, making the space feel like a cocoon of secrets and whispered conspiracies. Martha leaned back in the leather armchair, crossing her legs elegantly as she swirled the
Max’s Point of View It was the first time in weeks that we had something close to peace. Eva actually smiled, really smiled, as the kids worked on their fort, a chaotic masterpiece of pillows, sheets, and blankets piled high in the living room. It was the kind of moment I had been desperate for, t
Chapter 254 Sara’s Point of View I spread the financial documents across my desk, my gut twisting with unease. Something wasn’t right. Something about Martha Taylor’s spending habits gnawed at me, like an itch just beneath the surface of my skin. "Look at this," I said, pushing the credit card st
*** *** *** ***** I woke at dawn, Josh's words from last night echoing in my head. Time to prove to my family they came first. Starting with breakfast, real breakfast, like we used to have before everything fell apart. The kitchen was quiet as I pulled out ingredients. Pancake batter mixed with ch
Max point of view The bar was quiet at midnight, just me, Josh, and a bottle of scotch between us. The same drink that had started this whole mess five years ago. "Eva's right," I said, staring into my glass. "I'm destroying everything. My kids asked about divorce today, Josh. Divorce. They're fi
"Daddy?" Mia's voice trembled. "Are you leaving us?" And in that moment, looking between my wife's tears and my children's fear, I realized exactly what my one night's mistake had cost. Because sometimes the hardest wounds come from the ones we love most. And sometimes there are no right choices,
Max point of view I found Eva in our bedroom, packing my remaining clothes into a suitcase with violent movements. "Martha told me what you said," I started, anger boiling beneath my calm. "Threatening her, calling Nathan illegitimate, acting like some queen on her throne." "Oh, did your mistres