Charlotte left Jake’s place that morning, her mind already set on collecting her belongings. Not that she’d be moving in with Jake...no, Grandma Emma had graciously offered her one of her mansions to stay in until the case with her mother was resolved. Charlotte had been overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking Emma profusely for her kindness. Jake had offered to accompany her, but she declined. "You’re expecting Alexander, remember? It wouldn’t be nice if he came by and found the house empty," she reminded him. Still, Jake had made her promise to be careful. She assured him she would. Now, as she sat in the cab, her head rested against the window, lost in thought. The city blurred past, but her mind was miles away. She knew her family loved her dearly...there was no question of that...but her mother… Her mother would be a whole different story. To her, Charlotte was still a baby, and the idea of her own baby carrying another child would be a shock. "I hope Mom doesn’t scold me,"
“You’re not a baby that I’ll always have to put to bed after you’re drunk,” Marianne scolded Alexander—her childhood sweetheart, but he only smiled at her.“I’m your baby, aren’t I, Anne?” Alexander said with a playful smile. Despite his drunken state, she found him irresistibly charming, and his words made her heart race. Although he often said things like this when he was drunk, she couldn’t quite get used to it. Maybe he wasn’t aware of the effect he had on her. How would he react if he knew he was the guy she had always had her eyes on?“No, you're not! Now, let's move to your room” Marianne stood up and went to help him. With his arm draped over her shoulder, she led him to his room. They had just gotten back from a party with their friends, and she had decided to take him home because he was drunk. Jake, his friend hadn't agreed to do it, so she volunteered.As they got to his room, she pushed him onto the bed, momentarily forgetting he was holding onto her, causing her to fall
Marianne took a deep breath as she sat beside her sister. Today was undeniably the happiest day of her life, as it was her dream to walk down the aisle with the man she loved. But at the same time, she was sad, unsure if the same was true for Alexander, her groom.She was about to marry Alexander, who hadn’t spoken to her for a week since the incident. He had been avoiding her completely, ignoring her messages and refusing to give her a chance to address the issue.“You didn’t tell me how it’s possible that you’re marrying Alex. Did something happen?” Winter asked, confusion on her face. Marianne sighed softly and bit her lip.Marianne had intended to keep everything to herself, planning to tell Winter only when the time felt right, as she didn’t want to add more worries to herself. Despite Winter’s understanding nature, she was always curious about why her sister was suddenly marrying Alexander.Winter couldn’t understand why her sister was wasting her time secretly loving Alexander
5 YEARS LATER.Five years had passed since Marianne left Silverton on their wedding night. That night, after their misunderstanding, Alexander had thought it was mere words when she said she would do her best to hide from his sight, but it took him a while to realize she meant those words.Only now could he grasp the gravity of the hurtful things he had said to her. He wouldn’t blame his immaturity for his decisions back then.In the years that followed, he had employed his influence as the head of San Diego’s most prosperous conglomerate and used his extensive network to search for her. Yet, it was as if she had vanished from the earth, leaving no trace of her whereabouts.A year after her disappearance, he relocated from Silverton to San Diego, seeking distance from his old life in hopes of continuing his search.What he couldn’t deny was that her disappearance had shattered him entirely. Winter, Marianne’s younger sister, continued to harbor resentment towards him, blaming him for
A WEEK LATER.As Sienna prepared little Emilio for school, Jayson sat nearby, watching them in silence. He was waiting, as usual, to drop them off before heading to work.Once Sienna had finished dressing Emilio and helping him with his backpack, she turned to Jayson, her face lit with a smile. "All set," she said.Emilio approached Jayson, who gladly lifted him up as he always did and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.“You’re looking great today. I bet the girls at school are already swooning,” Jayson joked, causing Emilio to smile and flash his perfect white teeth. Sienna shot a disapproving glare at Jayson in response.“Could you stop with that? He’s still a kid and doesn’t need to hear things like that,” Sienna reprimanded. Jayson just laughed.“Alright, alright. Can we head out now?” he asked. Sienna rolled her eyes playfully and nodded. They left the house as usual, heading straight for Hearst Elementary School this time. Once they arrived, Sienna gently stroked Emilio’s hair
Sienna turned slowly to face her son after he spoke. She examined him intently for a moment, then took a deep breath and knelt in front of him."You should avoid people like that, especially this man who said you look like him. He’s likely a bad person" she advised, and little Emilio nodded in agreement."Don’t worry, Mom. I told him I’d be even more handsome than he is, so I don’t really look like him," Emilio replied. Sienna lifted him up and they got into the taxi, which took them to their destination.During the drive, her mind wandered back to her son's comment about the man who claimed Emilio looked like him. She tried not to overthink it, reminding herself that many people can look alike.As they stepped out of the taxi, a young man in his twenties approached them with a smile. Emilio beamed and gave him a cheerful hug. The man ruffled Emilio’s hair playfully before turning to Sienna."Welcome, ma'am," he greeted Sienna, who responded with a smile."You can head home now. Your
Alexander paused, taken aback by Marianne’s words. Was she seriously asking him who he was? Although he knew he had wronged her, her pretense of not recognizing him felt like a crushing blow.“Anne…” he murmured softly, hoping he had misheard. Jayson, watching from the sidelines, appeared confused by what was happening. Sienna glanced at Jayson with a puzzled look. “Babe, who is he?” she inquired.Hearing Sienna address Jayson as ‘babe’ was like a knife to Alexander’s heart. Had she remarried? But had she even been married to him in the first place? On their wedding night, she had made it clear that their marriage was invalid and had even discarded her wedding ring.“I’ve always considered you quite arrogant, Alexander, but barging in here and disrupting my fiancée’s life—our life—is not something I’ll tolerate.” Jayson stated firmly.But Alexander was not ready to back down. Without thinking, he reached for Sienna’s hand, desperate to make her acknowledge him, to remember what they
The morning was still early when Jayson knocked on Sienna’s door, his anxiety growing when there was no answer. Worried, he quickly entered the password and let himself into the house. Heading straight to her room, he found the door locked. Knocking once more, he waited. When Sienna finally opened the door, relief washed over him. Her sleepy face greeted him, a small smile on her lips as if she could sense his worry.“Everything alright?” she asked softly, her voice still thick with sleep.“You scared me,” Jayson admitted, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Sienna smiled gently, knowing he’d been worried. It wasn’t like her to sleep in so late.“You should rest a little longer,” he told her, noticing the fatigue in her eyes. “It seems like you didn’t sleep well last night.”“I need to get Emilio ready for school and make him some breakfast,” she replied, turning as if on cue when little Emilio shuffled toward them, rubbing his eyes.“My baby’s awake,” Sienna co
Charlotte left Jake’s place that morning, her mind already set on collecting her belongings. Not that she’d be moving in with Jake...no, Grandma Emma had graciously offered her one of her mansions to stay in until the case with her mother was resolved. Charlotte had been overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking Emma profusely for her kindness. Jake had offered to accompany her, but she declined. "You’re expecting Alexander, remember? It wouldn’t be nice if he came by and found the house empty," she reminded him. Still, Jake had made her promise to be careful. She assured him she would. Now, as she sat in the cab, her head rested against the window, lost in thought. The city blurred past, but her mind was miles away. She knew her family loved her dearly...there was no question of that...but her mother… Her mother would be a whole different story. To her, Charlotte was still a baby, and the idea of her own baby carrying another child would be a shock. "I hope Mom doesn’t scold me,"
The next morning, ringing phones jolted Michael and Dylan awake. Both groaned in unison, fumbling clumsily for their devices. "You’ve got a couple’s shoot. Get your asses out of bed and be here in less than ten minutes," barked Josh, Michael’s manager, on the other end of the line. At the same time, Dylan’s father, Mr. Smith, was giving a similarly stern order. Lowering their phones, Dylan flopped back onto the bed while Michael came on top, straddling him. "We should hurry," Michael said, leaning closer, but Dylan, still half-asleep, shook his head. "What about a round after the photoshoot?" Michael teased with a playful smirk. Dylan cracked an eye open. "You're just gonna back out later, so, no, It’s not going to work," he muttered groggily. Michael chuckled. "You’re awake now, though." He pulled back, leaving Dylan’s side with a giggle. "Time to get busy." Reluctantly, Dylan sat up, grumbling, "Can’t believe we slept at five a.m. only to be up by seven. That’s barely
Jayson chuckled darkly at Elena’s words, his eyes sharp and calculating. He didn’t bother to argue as she circled him like a predator. Her confidence amused him. If only she realized how dangerous it was to toy with him. "You said you had a video of Sophia’s death," he said, his voice calm, almost bored. Elena laughed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I don’t," she admitted with a smirk. "But I was a witness. I even know where you dumped her body. I thought about bringing it up as proof, but I don’t need to… not yet. That’s why you’re still safe." She paused, her eyes locking with his. "What if we partner up? You get Anne, and I get Alex. Simple as that." In a flash, Jayson grabbed her by the neck, slamming her against the wall. His eyes burned with a cold fire, his grip firm around her neck while her eyes widen in surprise."I wouldn’t push your luck," he growled. Elena laughed softly, unafraid, even as his hand tightened. Her defiance only stirred his temper further, but
Jake had been watching Charlotte closely, his concern growing as she sat silently, her emotions hidden behind a blank expression. He finally pulled her gently onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her. "Talk to me," he murmured, his voice almost inaudible. "What’s wrong?" Charlotte sighed deeply, inhaling his scent before speaking in a low voice. "I got into an argument with Vincent." Jake raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Why? What happened?" She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "He’s mad at me. And he’s blaming you, too." "Blaming me?" Jake asked, turning her slightly so he could see her face. "Did I do something wrong?" Her eyes welled with tears as she looked up at him, her lower lip trembling. Jake frowned in confusion. "Hey, talk to me…" He paused, his tone playful as he tried to ease her tension. "Wait...are you pregnant?" Charlotte sniffled like a child, and Jake chuckled softly. "Will you get mad if I say you’re acting like a kid right now?"
Charlotte returned to the sitting room, her face pale and her steps unsteady. She looked up to see Vincent standing in the middle of the sitting room, arms crossed, with Romeo and Kingsley flanking him on either side like bodyguard. Their gazes followed her like a spotlight, waiting, questioning. "What happened to you?" Vincent asked, taking a few steps forward, his eyes narrowing. Charlotte avoided his gaze, brushing past him as if he hadn’t spoken. "Hey, I just asked you a question!" he repeated, louder this time. "Nothing… I’m fine," she muttered, waving him off as she headed for her room. Vincent’s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist before she could escape. His grip was firm but careful not to hurt her. "Not so fast. I need to know what’s wrong before I kill someone," he said through gritted teeth, his concern masked by his sharp tone. "You’re coming with me to the hospital."Charlotte groaned, yanking her arm but Vincent grip was form. "I’m not going anywhere. Let me g
"Bingo!" he whispered, his voice low and smooth. He tilted his head, one brow raised as he winked playfully.Jayson’s smirk deepened as the figure before him froze, the sound of his phone’s ringtone still lingering in the air. The person lowered their phone slowly, the movement deliberate, hesitant, as if hoping for some miraculous escape. Jayson stepped forward, closing the space between them with measured strides. His eyes never wavered, glinting with some kind of coldness. "Surprised?" he asked softly, his voice filled with quiet confidence. The figure remained silent, their hood shadowing most of their features. Jayson tilted his head, observing them with predatory calm. He felt the rush of victory tingling at his fingertips, but something gnawed at the edge of his thoughts...Was this too easy?"You’ve been having fun with your little messages," Jayson began, his voice smooth. "I admire the effort. Really, I do. But you made one mistake."He raised his phone slightly. "You und
Jayson turned away from the bathroom without a second thought, his feet moving with quiet precision. He strode down the hall and entered a room tucked away at the end. The door clicked shut behind him as he stepped into the darkness. He didn’t bother switching on the lights... the familiarity of the space were enough. He moved to the desk, settling into the chair like a man who had done this many times before. His fingers brushed the cool surface of the keyboard as he retrieved his phone. With practiced ease, he connected it to the computer. The screen hummed to life, and the faint blue light cast shadows across his face. Jayson leaned forward, his eyes sharp, focused. His jaw clenched as he opened the message again. The words still lingered, daring him to react."Are you going to turn yourself in, or are you giving me the pleasure of doing it?"A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He wasn’t amused...no, this was something darker, a satisfaction born from the thrill of a cha
Jayson forced a small smile, but the irritation in his eyes betrayed him. He moved to a seat, leaned back in it, and crossed his arms as he watched Marianne move around the place with calm ease. His silence didn’t last long. "Are you afraid of me now?" he asked, his voice low.Marianne paused briefly, giving him a curious glance before returning her attention to the tray of food she was setting on the table."Why would I be afraid of you?" she replied with a shrug. "I’m still the same Marianne who’s spent countless nights here. Nothing’s changed." Alexander, standing near the window scoffed loudly. He turned to face Jayson with a pointed glare. "She’s not your maid, you know. You could try showing a little appreciation. It’s hard enough watching her act like one without so much as a thank you." Jayson’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to Alexander’s bait. Instead, he met his gaze with thinly veiled irritation. "If you weren’t here, she’d be with me," he muttered under his brea
"I don’t know who you are, but if you think you can outplay me, watch your back, you’re mistaken. I'll find you if I want and send you to hell."He hit send without hesitation, his words simmered with a threat, but it wasn’t fear that coursed through him...it was amusement. He ran a hand through his hair, the corners of his mouth lifting into a dangerous smirk. A moment later, his phone vibrated in his hand. A reply came in from the unknown."I dare you."The response made his smirk grew to an even widen grin...one filled with dark amusement. He chuckled under his breath, a low, dangerous sound that built into a full laugh. He didn’t just find the message entertaining; he found it pathetic."Is that all you’ve got?" he whispered to the empty room. His laugh echoed off the walls as he ran a hand through his hair, tossing the phone onto the desk like it was no more than a toy. His eyes gleamed with something far more dangerous than mere anger. This wasn’t a game to him. What if someo