As Alexander noticed her staring at him with something like hurt in her eyes, he knew he needed to say something—anything."It seems like you know me," he started, his voice a bit hoarse. "I guess I’m Alexander," he added, taking a quick look around to absorb his surroundings. Then it hit him—he was in a hospital. But why? What was he doing here?At that moment, the door to the room swung open, and Jake walked in. The instant he saw Alexander sitting up, his eyes widened in shock. He rushed over, grabbing hold of Alexander and inspecting him closely, not even noticing Marianne in the room."Damn it, man, you almost scared me to death!" Jake exclaimed with a sigh of relief. "Do you have any idea how long you’ve been out? You’ve been out cold for almost a month! Marianne and I have been worried sick." He smiled, but Alexander didn’t return it, simply staring at him with a puzzled expression. Slowly, Jake’s smile faded as confusion set in. He glanced over at Marianne, who simply shook he
Marianne had closed the restaurant for the day and was at home watching a documentary when Jayson walked in. She wasn't as lost in thought as she used to be when Alexander was still unconscious, and Jayson was grateful for that. He smiled, holding the small gift bag he brought with him as he approached her."How are you feeling?" Jayson asked gently. Marianne responded with a soft smile and a nod. He proceeded to inquire about Alexander’s condition, and she informed him that he had regained consciousness. Jayson was genuinely pleased by the news, happy that this meant he might have more of her attention, even if only for a short while.He handed her the gift bag, which contained chocolates, and began glancing around the room as if searching for something specific. Marianne noticed and couldn’t help but smile."He's in the bedroom. I think he’s already asleep," she said with a knowing look. Jayson smiled back, gave a small nod, and gently brushed her hair."I’ll see you tomorrow then.
Vincent carried a small bag as he made his way to the sitting room, his men trailing behind him. He was heading back home for an important reason—his only sister’s college graduation. There was no way he could miss it; she meant more to him than his own life. “I won’t be gone for long. Make sure to keep me informed about everything that happens while I’m away. I’ll return once I’ve finished my business,” he said, and Kingsley responded with a nod. “Don’t worry, we’ll keep you in the loop,” Kingsley assured him. Vincent gave them both a reassuring tap on the shoulder before heading out. He had considered visiting Marianne but decided against it, knowing she was likely with Alexander, who was still recovering. With Alexander suffering from memory loss, Vincent knew that Marianne’s attention would be focused on him. He would have to wait his turn. His phone rang, and when he saw his sister’s name flash on the screen, he sighed. “I already told her I’m on my way. It’s not like the gra
Marianne approached them and snapped her fingers gently, pulling them back to reality. Michael instinctively stepped away from Dylan, his nervousness clear, which didn’t escape Marianne’s notice as she smiled."Your shirt is soaked. Come on, if you stay like this much longer, you'll catch a cold," Marianne said softly, guiding Dylan to a small apartment connected to her restaurant. Once there, she handed him a towel to dry his hair and then turned to Michael."Why don’t you stay with your guest? I’ll find something else for him to wear, alright?" she offered."My place is close, and I came on my motorcycle," Dylan replied, unaware that Marianne wasn’t one to take no for an answer.Marianne simply shook her head, smiled, and walked out, leaving Michael and Dylan alone in the room. Michael sat at a distance from Dylan, fidgeting slightly and clasping his hands together, his eyes wandering around the room as if he'd never been there before. Maybe being alone with Dylan made him feel nerv
Marianne bit her lip, trying to stifle her laughter at Michael’s wide-eyed expression. She enjoyed these moments with him; they distracted her from her own thoughts."Don’t worry," she teased, "I won’t tell anyone about your little kiss with your crush in the storage room." She smiled, but Michael’s expression darkened as he bit his lip nervously. The thought of others discovering his feelings for Dylan made him uneasy.Sensing his discomfort, Marianne's smile softened, and she gently stroked his hair. "It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, Michael. What really counts is how you feel about yourself. But I get it. You’re about to debut in a group, and the industry is tough. Keeping things private might be best for now, but the decision is entirely yours. If you want to keep it a secret, that’s fine. If you decide to tell Dylan, well, who knows what could happen? He might feel the same, and who knows, you two could be together when you're famous." She smiled reassuringly. "I’ll sup
Dylan lay on his bed, his fingers brushing absentmindedly against his lips. His thoughts kept circling back to the unexpected moment in the storage room earlier today. He knew he should be angry at Michael for kissing him out of the blue, but oddly enough, he wasn’t. Maybe it was because his own reaction had been so extreme, anyone would think he’d been asking for it."Will he start avoiding me now?" Dylan wondered, nibbling at his lower lip. The idea of Michael avoiding him didn't sit well. Pushing the thought aside, he sat up and fixed his gaze on his laptop. Practice was tomorrow, and he had a feeling something big was about to go down at the agency. Whatever happened, though, he was determined to make sure Michael didn’t get caught in Brian’s trap—he could already see Brian’s intentions."Is he okay?" he murmured, his mind drifting back to Michael once again.Sleep had long since left his eyes, and whenever that happened, Dylan usually found himself heading to the mini studio his
Marianne was rendered completely speechless by his sudden questions. She carefully released herself from his grip, preparing to speak when Alexander interrupted her again."Please don't lie to me. It's frustrating enough not remembering anything about myself," he muttered. She nodded slowly, stepping a few paces away from him."We... we attended the same high school and went to the same university. You could say we were sort of friends, but that’s all in the past now," she replied, carefully choosing her words to avoid letting her emotions seep through."Nothing more than that?" he pressed. She glanced up, noticing a fleeting glint in his eyes that vanished as quickly as it appeared."What do you want me to say?" she asked quietly. "That we were lovers when we weren’t?" She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Alexander smirked, and before she could react, he swiftly pulled her close with a teasing, seductive smile. Her heart raced, and she stared at him in shock, her eyes wide. His sudden mo
When Michael stepped out of the building, he gently wiped his tears away and paused to look back at the building. Was his dream really falling apart? Could he ever reach the level of fame and success he had always yearned for? His tears began to fall freely once again as he turned to leave, but someone grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him around.Michael found himself face-to-face with Dylan, who was gasping for breath. He couldn't help but wonder if Dylan had run all the way here just for him? There was a moment of silence as Michael waited for Dylan to catch his breath.When Dylan noticed the tears in Michael’s eyes, his heart broke even more. As Michael opened his mouth to speak, Dylan pulled him into a firm hug, holding him close. Unable to contain his emotions, Michael broke into loud sobs, clutching Dylan's shirt tightly. Maybe a shoulder to cry on was all he really needed. Everything he had ever dreamed of—his ambitions, his hopes—felt shattered. Although he wanted to appear
"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