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
Marianne had been with Alexander ever since Vincent dropped her off. Emilio had just gotten back from school and was with her as well. Alexander couldn't take his eyes off her, which made her feel a bit uncomfortable. She figured it was due to his memory loss, so she refrained from scolding him for staring.As evening approached, Marianne realized she needed to prepare something for them to eat. She walked over to Alexander to ask what he’d like for dinner, but he remained silent, only continuing to gaze at her.“What? You’ve been staring for a long time…” she muttered, glancing at his face intermittently."How are you so pretty?" he asked, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes or glare at him.“I think I’ll just go with what’s already on my mind,” she mumbled, heading toward the kitchen. Alexander stood up and followed her. Emilio, meanwhile, was absorbed in his video game in the living room, paying little attention to what was happening around him. He felt relaxed here, sensing t
Alexander left a love bite on her neck while Marianne kept her fist tightly clenched, trying to steady herself. It was more than she could resist. He pulled back from her neck, his lips finding hers again with a fierce hunger, like a lion claiming its prey. This was the first time they had shared a kiss this deep, and it felt incredible. Marianne's hands instinctively slid up to the back of his neck, holding him close as their lips moved in a passionate exchange.The feeling was overwhelming, and Alexander had no desire to stop. With ease, he scooped her up and carried her toward the bed, laying her down carefully before moving on top of her. He gazed into her eyes, then leaned in for another kiss, while Marianne's heart raced as she waited in anticipation. His hands intertwined with hers as the kiss deepened, both knowing where this was leading.As Marianne felt Alexander's growing bulge against her thigh, she paused, turning her face to the side. Alexander noticed and lifted his hea
UNKNOWN WAREHOUSESeveral young men were busy hauling boxes and organizing them when the sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears. Instantly alert, they each moved toward their designated hiding spots, weapons concealed on their bodies. But as they turned, guns raised and ready, their arms quickly lowered when they saw who had entered."Boss," they greeted at once, their voices filled with respect and fear.The man took slow, deliberate steps, his eyes scanning the room with a smug expression. He approached a nearby gun, picked it up, and examined it. After blowing a cold breath across the barrel, he chuckled."Who handled the job with the kid Emilio?" he asked, his voice calm but dangerous. Three men hesitantly raised their hands. The boss settled into a chair, crossing his legs as he stared at them with an amused smirk."I told you to kidnap the boy to lure Alexander Skarsgard to his death. I was supposed to swoop in, save the kid, and get closer to the boy's mother. But wh
Jake opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. It had been a long time since he’d been this speechless. He watched as Alexander stood up from his swivel chair and began pacing the room."The last time I was this speechless was back in high school when our math teacher threw an equation at me. I never thought I’d find myself this stunned at thirty," he remarked, still struggling to believe the situation. He turned to Alexander, who had his hands shoved deep into his pockets."Can you do me a favor?" Alexander asked."What kind of favor can you ask when you’re already doing yourself a favor?" Jake replied with a chuckle. He was surprised that Alexander would go to such lengths just for Marianne, a girl he had always cared less about throughout their lives."Could you please keep this a secret? It’ll only be for a short while... If I can’t win her back with this plan, I’ll leave San Diego for good and won’t look for her again," Alexander stated. Jake let out a laugh, but Alexande
"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