Sienna gently patted him until she felt his grip on her loosen slightly. When she shifted to sit up properly, his eyes fluttered open, confirming that she wasn’t a figment of his dream. She was actually there. Sitting upright, Alexander reached out, cupping her cheeks in disbelief.“Is this really you, Anne?” he asked softly. But she responded by slapping his hands away, her expression stern. He chuckled, ignoring her reaction, and pulled her into a warm embrace.“You’re running a fever,” she remarked, her voice devoid of sympathy.“How did you even find my place?” he questioned, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his tone. He hadn't expected her to show up unannounced. But Sienna, unwilling to engage in his questions, pushed herself away and stood up, as if preparing to leave.“If my presence is such a surprise, maybe I should just leave,” she replied with a roll of her eyes, taking a step toward the door. But before she could take another step, he quickly grabbed her arm, stopping h
Jayson exited the office, feeling a growing sense of anticipation. His destination was the restaurant where Sienna worked, and he had plans to surprise her with an evening out together, something they hadn’t done in a long time. His work had consumed most of his time lately, but tonight was meant to be different. When he arrived, confusion filled his mind as he spotted Michael locking the restaurant’s doors. It was only 6 p.m., far too early for the place to be closing. Furrowing his brow, Jayson approached Michael.“Hey, Michael,” Jayson greeted as he reached him. “Where’s Sienna?”Michael hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. He recalled someone arriving earlier and telling Sienna to check on someone who was ill. After a brief pause, Michael explained, “Someone came by earlier, said someone was sick. Ma'am Sienna left to check on them, and she asked me to close up the restaurant.”Jayson nodded thoughtfully. Though the explanation was plausible, an unsettling feeli
“Do best friends kiss each other?” he asked suddenly, catching her off guard. Sienna blinked, startled by his innocent but pointed question..She wasn't prepared for such a conversation, especially not with her five-year-old. For a moment, she tried to deflect with a brief laugh, unsure of how to respond. "What do you mean by kiss?" she asked, hoping to buy some time.Emilio frowned slightly, his curiosity unrelenting. "Well, you've never kissed Dad. Does that mean you don't like him and like your best friend instead?" His question was simple, but it hit Sienna with the force of a wave. She wasn’t ready to explain the complexities of her past relationships, especially not now.Gently stroking his hair, Sienna attempted to change the subject. "Baby, it's late. You should get some sleep, okay? You need to be ready for school tomorrow.""But tomorrow is Saturday," Emilio reminded her, his innocent persistence making her smile tighten."Right," she said, forcing a chuckle, but she could s
Without breaking the eye contact, she used her other hand to gently pry his hand away. " I'm sorry, I can't" she whispered, her voice filled with resolve. Sienna made a conscious decision to ignore Alexander this time. Her loyalty belonged to Jayson, the person who had been there for her when she had no one else. Now, he needed her, and there was no way she would stay behind just to please Alexander. She gently took her son's hand and led him out of the house without looking back. As they left, Emilio waved at Alexander, who forced a smile in return. Alexander watched them go, feeling a sense of emptiness as Sienna left without even asking if he could drop her off. He sank into his couch, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He had been enjoying Sienna's company again, allowing himself to foolishly hope that they might return to how things used to be. But deep down, he knew he was being selfish for wanting that. Outside, Sienna’s thoughts were a whirlwind of worry and guilt. Why had
The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room as Sienna made a difficult decision. She knew staying beside Jayson tonight wouldn’t hurt—after all, he had always been there for her during her darkest times. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on him, wondering what kind of pain he was hiding. But the question would have to wait until tomorrow. She smiled gently, and nodded. Instead of retreating to another room, she carefully settled on the bed next to Jayson, pulling her son close between them. The warmth of their presence surrounded her, offering a sense of comfort and safety.Jayson couldn’t help but smile when he realized Sienna was sharing the same bed with him. To him, it felt as if they were already married. A wishful thought crept into his mind—what if this wasn’t the last time they slept together? Should he feign sickness occasionally to get more of her attention? Yet, he quickly dismissed the idea, knowing she might not always h
Alexander inhaled deeply, his breath shaky as he prepared to face what he had come for. He had troubled Marianne enough already; his constant presence in her life might be suffocating her, and he could feel the strain it was causing him as well. Perhaps giving her some space would also ease his pain, though he wasn't sure if he could actually let go.After getting what he came for, he headed towards his car, the weight of his emotions pressed heavily on him, making every step toward the car feel like an uphill climb. He briefly stopped walking as he met someone he wasn't familiar with resting casually on his car. He started to walk again to his car, attempting to enter when the person spoke up.“It must be hard” the person remarked. Already in a sour mood, Alexander chose to ignore the comment, slipping into his car and driving away without a word. Watching him leave, Vincent chuckled, clearly entertained by Alexander’s reaction.“He hasn’t changed at all,” Vincent murmured to himself
Vincent watched Marianne closely as she bustled around the kitchen, preparing a meal for him. It was clear that she felt a sense of obligation since she had nothing to offer him except a meal. When she finally set the plate in front of him and took a seat opposite, she smiled warmly, visibly pleased to see him."You look so happy to see me," Vincent remarked, taking a bite of the food she had prepared. There was a playful tone in his voice, and he couldn’t help but notice her genuine warmth.Marianne’s smile broadened. "Of course, I’ve been wanting to thank you for a long time. But I heard you traveled even before the final exams," she explained, her voice carrying a hint of regret for the lost time.Vincent’s gaze remained fixed on her as he asked, "Does that mean you missed me all this while?" His question was teasing, yet there was an underlying sincerity as he stirred his food absentmindedly."Of course," Marianne admitted, her eyes sparkling with honesty. "I even waited for you d
Carine couldn't make sense of what her friend was saying, but she didn't want to risk saying anything that might upset Sophia. It wasn’t the idea of visiting Jayson that concerned her—what worried her was the possibility that Jayson might already be in a relationship."How about we visit him together for his thirty-second birthday? It's only a few months away," Carine suggested. Sophia stopped, gave her a thoughtful look, and then nodded. "I could make 'myself' his birthday present," she said, grinning as thoughts of what she could do at Jayson's party filled her mind."Thanks, cupcake, that’s a brilliant idea," Sophia winked at Carine before getting to her feet. It had been a long day, and she needed some time to unwind.****Alexander exhaled deeply as he removed his glasses, rubbing his temples in an attempt to ease his tiredness. He glanced over at Jake’s desk, noticing his friend still immersed in work, showing no signs of taking a break. Alexander, on the other hand, felt comp
"Mhm... Jake..."Charlotte’s breathy moan pulled Jake out of the moment, and he broke the kiss, his mind snapping back to reality. He silently cursed himself, frustrated at how close he’d come to losing control.“No... this isn’t right. We can’t do this,” he murmured, his breathing still ragged as he tried to pull away. But Charlotte held onto him, shaking her head in quiet refusal.“I want you, Jake. I know you want this, too… don’t hold back… please.” She cradled his face in her hand, leaning in to kiss him again, but he turned his face away.He moved to stand up from the bed, but Charlotte pulled him back, this time straddling him. Without warning, she claimed his lips again, kissing it hungrily as her hips grinded yearningly on his hard member, igniting the desire he’d tried so hard to restrain.That was it—that was all it took for the last of his self-control to vanish.Jake grabbed one of her ass cheeks, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. Charlotte’s fingers worked quic
“Alex… you’re hurting me!” Elena gasped, her voice strained and shaky. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled against his grip, but her efforts were in vain.Her face turned an alarming shade of red as she felt herself slipping towards unconsciousness—until a small, frightened voice broke through the tense silence.“Mommy!” Hailey cried, her eyes wide with fear and brimming with tears as she took in the upsetting scene.The sound jolted Alexander back to reality, and he immediately released Elena. She collapsed onto the floor, coughing as she struggled to catch her breath. Alexander stared at his own trembling hands, his chest tight with shock and shame at what he’d done.“Mommy!” Hailey’s voice was thick with worry as she rushed to Elena’s side.Elena forced a smile, steadying her breathing. “I'm okay,” she assured her, reaching out and gently stroking Hailey’s hair, though Hailey didn’t look convinced.Turning to Alexander with tear-filled eyes, Hailey spoke in a trembling
“Daddy?” Alexander called in disbelief, turning to look at Elena with a questioning gaze. "What is the meaning of all this, Elena?"He glanced briefly at the little girl, squatting down before her and gently patting her hair, a smile tugging at his lips. She was truly the same age as Emilio, but it made no sense that Elena had been pregnant with him and had even given birth to his child without him knowing.Elena shrugged. “I just wanted my daughter to finally meet her father. It’s always been one of her wishes.” She smiled, looking at Hailey, who was beaming.Alexander’s gaze shifted from the little girl to Elena, his frown deepening. “What are you talking about?”“I knew you’d act this way.” Elena began, rummaging through her bag before pulling out a piece of paper. “This proves that Hailey is your daughter.” She tossed the paper at Alexander’s face.Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as guests exchanged disappointed looks with Alexander.“How could Alexander do something l
Marianne returned home alone since Jayson had taken Emilio out for a bit. She wanted to get ready.It was her birthday, and though she didn’t have any extravagant plans, she still wanted to make an effort. She’d likely spend the evening with her son or maybe with Alexander. Tonight, she intended to look her absolute best, revealing a side of her beauty she usually kept hidden. Her goal was to leave Alexander breathless, to make him regret ever leaving and wish he’d come back sooner.After a relaxing bath, she carefully selected a beautiful outfit and applied a light touch of makeup—just enough to enhance her natural features, as she wasn’t one for heavy makeup.When she finished, she took a moment to look at herself in the mirror and chuckled softly.“Look at the beauty Alex let go of five years ago… He must have been blind,” she murmured, with a smile.She picked up her phone and dialed Jayson’s number, wanting to make sure Emilio was dressed up for the evening, too.The phone rang,
“Mom will listen to you, all right?” Marianne whispered as she wrapped her son in a warm hug, gently running her fingers through his hair. She was determined to follow his instincts. Beyond wanting to make him happy by fulfilling his wish, she trusted that Emilio wouldn’t say such a thing unless he truly meant it. “Don’t worry, he won’t work here,” Marianne reassured Emilio before pulling away from the hug. She cupped his face tenderly, bringing it close to hers before planting a kiss on his forehead. "Does that make you happy now?" she added. He nodded, blinking away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. Marianne stood up and approached Jayson and Donovan, a small, apologetic smile playing on her lips. Donovan watched her expectantly as he waited for her to speak. “Van, I’m really sorry, but I can’t—” “You’re not giving me the job because a kid said so?” Donovan interrupted, his expression sincere but filled with disbelief. Marianne felt a spark of annoyance at the way he re
"I bet you're missing Michael, Jake, and Alex," Vincent said as he walked into the restaurant with Charlotte, catching Marianne’s attention.It had been nearly a month since they all left. Alexander had accompanied Jake to China for a business meeting as promised, while Michael had been busy with his music career, reaching out only when his schedule allowed."Charlotte, you're here," Marianne said warmly, waving as Charlotte returned a faint smile and searched for a seat. Marianne moved to the counter to grab a drink for her."I'm afraid all I can offer right now is milk," Marianne said apologetically. Charlotte waved it off with a smile, indicating it was fine. Marianne sat down across from her, watching in silence as Charlotte took a sip."So..." Marianne began, hesitating. "Are you still not over Jake?" The question made Charlotte choke on her drink, causing her to cough. Marianne quickly leaned forward, gently patting her back."You noticed that too?" Vincent interjected, and Mari
After dropping Marianne off at her apartment, Alexander, who initially planned to head straight to Jake’s, decided instead to make a stop at the hospital where he had taken a test earlier that day.Once there, he exchanged a polite greeting with the doctor and collected the physical copy of his results. Without saying a word or listening to what the doctor had to say, he left the hospital and returned to his car, now heading to Jake's house.Arriving at Jake’s, he keyed in the access code and stepped inside. He spotted Grandma Emma preparing to head to bed and offered her a warm goodnight.“Xander…” Grandma Emma called out, just as Alexander was about to enter Jake’s room. He paused and walked over to hear what she wanted to share.“Aren’t you going to be honest with Jake? You’re close friends, but the two of you couldn’t be more different. He never takes anything seriously,” she said.“Grandma, you know how Jake is. He hates being pushed into things. If you don’t pressure him, he’ll
Alexander released a deep sigh, shutting his eyes momentarily as if to control his anger. Just then, Elena’s call came through, and he picked up without delay.“What’s this nonsense you sent me?” Alexander asked, his voice composed, though Elena only responded with a laugh.“Still so calm after everything? Don’t you realize Marianne is just trying to manipulate you by claiming the boy is yours? Why can’t you see that?” she said, her voice growing sharper.“You’ve been acting incredibly foolish, Lena,” he replied, massaging his temples slowly. “I didn’t know you were taking extra lessons in stupidity,” he added, prompting a grin from Elena on the other end.“Well, the girl who majored in stupidity and even got a master’s took Emilio’s hair sample to confirm if he’s really yours. And guess what? Don’t get too excited, darling. The kid might look like you, but he’s not yours. And just so you know, your daughter will be coming to visit as soon as her school break starts,” Elena said, maki
Winter stood in the kitchen, watching Marianne move effortlessly as she prepared dinner. The party had ended about an hour ago, and now they wanted to eat something before going to bed.The aroma of simmering sauce filled the air, but Winter’s thoughts were elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about Michael and the other guy she had seen him with.“Anne…” she called softly.“Hmm?” Marianne replied, not taking her eyes off the task at hand.“You and that guy... I mean, the celebrant. You both seem close,” Winter said, trying to sound casual, though her words came out more pointed than she intended.Marianne’s hands paused briefly, the knife hovering over the cutting board. She turned her gaze toward Winter, not surprised, just tired, as if this conversation had been inevitable.“Michael’s with Dylan,” Marianne said quietly.“It’s not like I didn’t notice. They seem close, sure. But that’s not what I’m asking,” Winter replied.“If you’re thinking anything stupid, you should drop it. He