After landing in Silverton, Alexander found the car he had arranged waiting for him. As he settled into the back seat, he instructed the driver to head to Marianne's house. When they arrived, Alexander stepped out while his driver, Paul, stayed behind in the car. He had asked Paul to pick him up from the airport without notifying his mother—he wanted to surprise her after so many years away.Entering the house, he spotted Mrs. Corelle sitting on the couch, her glasses perched on her nose as she skimmed through the newspaper. She looked as beautiful as ever, and Alexander couldn’t help but notice how much Marianne had inherited from her. He quietly approached and sat beside her, waiting for her to notice him. When she finally lifted her gaze from the newspaper, her eyes widened in surprise."Oh my goodness, Alexander!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. It had been so long since she last saw him, and she had missed him deeply. But her excitement quickly gave way to confu
Sienna was deep in conversation with her son, hoping to lift her mood and keep her mind occupied with something other than Alexander. He didn’t care about her, so she was determined not to care about him either. She had managed to do it for the past five years, and she believed she could do it again."So, tell me, there was a test today, right? How did it go?" she asked with a smile as Emilio puffed out his cheeks in mock disappointment."Mom, seriously? That’s not even supposed to be a question. I’m disappointed in you," Emilio teased, pouting playfully, which made Sienna smile even more. She already knew he had aced it, being the top student in his class."It must be hard pretending you don’t miss him, huh?" Emilio said, catching her off guard. Before Sienna could fully process his words, Emilio glanced up and noticed Michael approaching. He smiled and waved at him, having just now seen him for the first time that day. Maybe he hadn’t noticed Michael earlier because his mom was acti
Mrs. Skarsgard followed her son into his room. Alexander was already shirtless when she entered, and his face was a picture of frustration. He was annoyed that his mother had pretended not to know who he was referring to as "wife" earlier."You should stop barging into my room like that. What if I were naked?" he snapped, his irritation clear. His mother responded with a hard smack to his head."Look who’s talking. Do you remember when you used to run around naked? I threatened to cut off those ‘balls’ if you didn’t stop. I’m sure the maids have seen more than enough of your toothpick" she said, rolling her eyes. Alexander blinked in surprise."Toothpick? Really?" he asked incredulously, grabbing a shirt from his wardrobe. His mother shrugged and settled onto the couch, ready to continue their earlier conversation."But Xander, did you get remarried? You left to find Marianne and promised not to leave until you did. Now you’re telling me you’re married? What’s going on?" she asked. Al
It felt as though the blood in Sienna’s veins had dried up. For a moment, she lost all sense of reality—her mind shut down, unable to process what she’d just heard. Her son meant everything to her. How could she possibly go on living if her precious child was missing? Still struggling to clear her thoughts, her phone rang again. Her hands trembled as she answered, seeing it was Jayson calling. The moment she picked up, she broke into sobs. "Sienna, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice full of worry, but she was unable to form words through her tears. "You're scaring me, Sienna. What happened?" he pressed, sounding even more anxious. "Jayson… Emilio… Emilio’s not at school," she finally choked out between sobs. Her voice wavered, every word stifled by the overwhelming grief catching in her throat. “What do you mean?" he asked, his heart pounding, hoping he had misunderstood her. But when she confirmed it with louder cries, his stomach dropped. “What?!” Jayson ex
Sienna lay on her bed, silent tears falling after what seemed like an eternity of emptiness. Her heart was heavy, weighed down by the anguish of a mother separated from her child. She felt utterly lost, unable to find any comfort. The night stretched on endlessly, and she knew that sleep would not come easily.In the quiet stillness, she rose from the bed and wandered into the kitchen for a glass of water. She didn’t return to her room. Instead, she made her way to her son Emilio’s bedroom, standing in the doorway for a long time. The room felt empty, yet she imagined him there, smiling at her, telling her everything would be okay.“You need to come back to me, Emilio,” she whispered, a faint smile flickering across her tear-streaked face as though she could hear his voice reassuring her.Unable to stay there any longer, Sienna walked back to the living room. She glanced at the clock—it was already 2 a.m. She hadn’t even closed her eyes, let alone slept. How could any mother sleep in
The drive was marked by an uneasy silence that made Jayson uncomfortable. He knew he should give her space to process her thoughts, but he also didn’t want her to be consumed by her worries."Are you alright?" Jayson asked gently. She nodded in response but didn’t say anything. The ensuing silence made him feel like he was forcing the conversation, which he didn’t like. Deciding it might be best to stay quiet, he let her be. Marianne, noticing his change in demeanor, looked over at him."I’m feeling better now, although I didn’t get much sleep. I managed to rest after I had something to eat," she said. Jayson nodded in understanding."And...""Are you wondering if Alex stayed the night at my place?" Marianne inquired. Jayson hesitated for a moment before answering.“That wasn’t exactly what I meant to ask,” he said softly, causing her to chuckle quietly."Well, he did. I couldn’t send him away at 2 a.m., so he ended up sleeping in the sitting room," she explained. Jayson smiled, noddi
The hospital room was quiet, except for the steady hum of the machines and the occasional beep from the heart monitor. The cold, sterile light filled the space, making everything seem distant and surreal—especially to Marianne, who felt her breath catch in her throat. Dr. Reynolds stood over the bed, working quickly to keep the patient alive. His hands moved with skill, but there was a tension in his face. He knew how critical the situation was. “We're losing him!” a nurse exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear as the heart monitor's beeping grew irregular. “Increase the dopamine!” Dr. Reynolds commanded urgently. “We need to get his blood pressure up!” His movements were precise, but there was a trace of desperation in his voice. He couldn't afford to lose this patient—not if there was anything he could do to stop it. In the corner of the room, Marianne stood with her hands tightly clasped, her knuckles white. Jayson stood beside her, powerless to help, watching her in silenc
When Jake arrived at the mansion, he found Grandma Emma anxiously pacing, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The moment she saw him, she rushed over and gave him a swift smack on the back before holding her phone up for him to see."Twenty missed calls! Where on earth was your phone?" she scolded."Calm down," Jake muttered, rolling his eyes. He knew she was worried something had happened to him, and despite her nagging, he appreciated her concern. It had always been like this with her—fierce, protective, and relentless. As she opened her mouth to scold him further for his attitude, her attention shifted to the boy he was carrying."Whose child is this?" she asked, moving around him to get a better look. When she saw the boy’s face, she gasped, quickly covering her mouth so as not to wake him. "Why does he look so much like Alexander?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Is he...?" She trailed off, her eyes wide with shock, waiting for Jake to confirm her suspicion. But Jak
"Well, I've been away for almost an hour. I think I need to get back to my baby," Elena said, standing up. Sophia rose as well, leaning in close to whisper something into Elena's ear. Whatever she said made Elena smile. "Alright, I can't wait for tomorrow then. See you at Jayson's birthday party," Elena said with a wave before leaving. Sophia watched her go, her smile sharp and calculating. "Sorry, Marianne, but you don't deserve my man," she muttered under her breath. Picking up her phone, she dialed a number. When the person answered, her smile deepened as she spoke softly. ******Elena arrived home to the sound of laughter. Stepping inside, she found Hailey engrossed in a game on her tablet while Alexander sat cross-legged on the floor with Emilio between his legs. Both of them were intensely focused on a game displayed on the TV, acting like a pair of kids. Elena’s irritation flared. How could Alexander leave her child unattended to bond with Marianne’s son? "Baby…" El
Jake grabbed Alexander’s hand, leading him out of the basement and back to his room. After shutting the basement door, Jake sat on the bed, gesturing for Alexander to join him. "Sit down," Jake said, pulling the still-standing Alexander to sit beside him. "I was expecting you to throw a punch when you found out," Jake joked, trying to lighten the tension. Alexander frowned. "I don’t remember saying I needed a comedian," he replied coldly. Jake raised an eyebrow. "Did you forget Hailey is home alone?" "I didn’t forget for a second," Alexander shot back. "So, can we skip the jokes and get to the part where you explain why you have a secret basement, a gun, and all those terrifying things down there?" Jake exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples. "It’s... a long story," he said finally. Alexander crossed his arms, glaring at Jake. "Well, I’m all ears." Jake nodded slowly, leaning back against the headboard. "It happened a long time ago..." he began, his voice tinged with rel
After finishing breakfast, Alexander headed to the bathroom, leaving Elena and Hailey behind in the sitting room. He couldn't help but scoff at how happy Elena seemed. The thought of her being in tears soon actually gave him a sense of satisfaction.Even if Marianne never forgave him, he owed her the truth. No matter the consequences, the truth had to come out. As he emerged from the bathroom, Elena walked in. She smiled at the sight of him, and Alexander sighed inwardly. He wasn’t in the mood for whatever she had planned, but he knew he had to play along. He watched as Elena approached him."Where’s Hailey?" Alexander asked casually as Elena reached for the towel secured around his waist. Her fingers lingered briefly before she leaned in, pressing a delicate kiss to his lips. "She’s asleep," Elena murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck."I've really missed you, Alex. You shouldn’t have left like that—I was furious," she muttered. Alexander pulled her closer by the waist, for
Dylan’s eyes slowly opened, and he was greeted by the sight of Michael still peacefully asleep in his arms. He stared at Michael’s face, a small smile curling on his lips.This was the one guy he had come to love so deeply—a guy he couldn’t imagine living without if anything went wrong. Just having him here, in his arms, was the best thing that could ever happen to him.His smile grew as he puckered his lips. He couldn’t resist Michael’s tempting lips. Leaning closer, he pressed a soft kiss to Michael’s lips. He did it again a second time, but Michael didn’t wake up.This time, he kissed him longer before pulling back to watch Michael’s reaction.Michael stirred slightly, his brows furrowing before his lips curved into a sleepy smile. "Mmm," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. "Good morning, baby," he muttered, still half asleep.Dylan kissed his eyes, then his nose, before kissing his lips again."Will you stop doing that?" Michael asked, his voice thick with sleep, as Dylan gri
The next morning, after calling Elena to come by his place with Hailey, Alexander found himself pacing the living room, his mind restless. "They’ll be here soon. What should I do next?" he wondered aloud, running a hand through his hair. His gaze shifted to the kitchen. "Breakfast," he muttered, a sudden thought sparking. He strode into the kitchen, pulling out ingredients. Cooking wasn’t something he’d ever done for her—not even once. Maybe this gesture would make his plan work. A good pretense, he thought, was the key. As he moved around the kitchen, his eyes kept darting toward the boiling pot on the stove. The scent of rosemary and garlic filled the air, but his focus wasn’t on the food—it was on the outcome. His thoughts raced as he glanced at the clock, his jaw tightening. This wasn’t something he wanted to do, but it had to be done. The sharp buzz of his phone broke through his thoughts. Alexander grabbed it from the counter and read the message: 'We’re here.' He took
Alexander sat on the cold floor in his apartment, his back against the wall. Two empty beer bottles lay beside him, their contents long gone, but the pain in his chest still lingered. His eyes were red and puffy, tears streaking his face as quiet sobs shook his body. The sound of his phone vibrating cut through the silence. It vibrated against the floor, its screen lighting up repeatedly. At first, Alexander didn’t even glance at it. He didn’t have the energy. But when the call persisted, he sighed and reached for it. He blinked at the screen, when he saw the name 'Mom' displaying on it.For a moment, he debated letting it ring out. But something inside him told him to answer. Slowly, he swiped to pick up the call and brought the phone to his ear. "Hello?" he muttered softly."Alex?" His mom’s voice was calm, but there was concern behind it. "What’s going on? You sound terrible."The sound of her voice was too much for him. Before he knew it, he began to cry openly, holding the
Michael’s return to San Diego was a big event. The moment he walked out of the airport, cameras started flashing everywhere. Reporters rushed forward, shouting questions at him, but he didn’t answer any of them. Fans crowded behind barriers, screaming his name and waving signs. Some of them had their phones out, trying to take pictures or record videos. "You’ve gotten slimmer, MLD!" one fan shouted. Michael stopped and turned toward the crowd, chuckling. "Really?" he said with a playful smile, making the fans scream even louder. He waved at them again before getting into the black car waiting for him outside. As the car drove off, Michael leaned back in his seat and let out a quiet sigh, looking out the window at the familiar city. It felt good to be home. ***** Brian stood by the windowside, scrolling through the news about Michael’s return. A sly smile appeared on his face as he picked up his phone and made a call. "Michael is back, from tomorrow, tail him. I want updat
"Make me like you..." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Jayson blinked, his mind racing, unsure if he’d heard her correctly."What?""I said, make me like you," she repeated, her tone more desperate this time."Anne, do you..." he began.“Please, Jayson," she pleaded, her gaze filled with anguish. "I can’t... I can’t keep feeling like this. I need to move on." A single tear slipped down her cheek. She didn't want this, but she felt she had no choice. Her heart couldn’t be made only for Alexander, could it? She needed to at least feel something for someone else.She was going to give it a try, even though she knew how difficult it would be.Jayson's jaw tightened as he searched her face, his gaze lingering on hers for a long moment. Then, without a word, he stepped closer and cupped her face in his hands."Anne..." he murmured, but before he could say more, she pulled him toward her by his shirt, crashing her lips onto his, tears flowing from her eyes, the memory of Alexander
The soft chime of a notification woke Dylan, but what truly caught his attention was the faint glow of his phone screen. Michael’s face was still there, watching him with a gentle smile. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” Michael teased, his voice tender. Dylan blinked and groaned, realizing he’d fallen asleep on their video call as well. "You were watching me sleep? For how long?" He asked, rubbing his eyes slightly.Michael chuckled, his eyes sparkling through the screen. "An hour ago?" Michael replied. "You could have woke me up..." Dylan pouted."I couldn’t help it. You looked peaceful… and you know, so cute that I could watch you sleep all day..." Michael said with a light smile before leaning closer to the camera, pressing an exaggerated kiss to the screen. "Missed you," he murmured softly. Dylan blushed, trying to hide it by adjusting his pillow. He leaned toward his phone and blew a kiss back. "There, now we're even," he said with a playful smile. Michael laughed, his face