The hospital bustled with activity as medical staff tended to patients who had been brought in urgently. Elena sat beside Sophia, who had been receiving treatment for some time.A small smile spread across Elena’s face, satisfied that everything had gone according to her plan. She had submitted a report urging the police not to release Marianne unless Sophia, the victim, chose to do so. Her joy knew no bounds as the cops complied with her false plea.“Let’s see how you expect to get Alex while stuck behind bars... I’ll make sure that even Jayson can’t bail you out, no matter what you try. I’ll ensure you regret starting this love rivalry with me,” Elena murmured, oblivious to the fact that Sophia had already opened her eyes.Sophia smirked as she turned to face Elena, clearing her throat as she prepared to sit upright.“Come closer,” Sophia said, her right hand attached to an IV drip as she gestured for Elena to lean in. However, Elena furrowed her brows in concern, helping her to sit
Jayson stood still, staring at Vincent as he explained the situation. He didn’t fully believe the nonsense Vincent had said, but at this point, he had nothing to lose. Just as he was about to speak, the news broadcast shifted to an interview featuring Alexander and Marianne. "He's really taking the blame?" Jayson thought, his brows knitting together. "Does he seriously want to destroy both his reputation and his company?" he murmured under his breath. His frown gradually shifted into a smirk when a question from one of the reporters caught his ear—people were still talking about Marianne being his fiancée. He couldn't believe they still remembered that detail. Without saying another word, Jayson turned on his heel and made his way toward the exit, with Vincent following closely behind. "So, are you going to save Marianne?" Vincent asked, but Jayson didn’t even glance back. “That’s none of your business. We're not close enough to share that kind of information,” Jayson replied as h
Jayson picked up his phone, hesitating before dialing Sophia's number. He knew that dealing with her never came without a price. In her world, everything was a transaction—give and take.Still, he decided to give it a shot. If she demanded something he could handle, he would agree, even if it meant indulging her for a day. He was fairly certain, though, that she wouldn’t ask for that. What happened that morning had felt more like her attempt to know whether he still had feelings for her.With a deep breath, he dialed her number. She answered immediately, as if she had been expecting his call for years."Look who finally called... So, what do you need me to do?" she asked, skipping any pretense of small talk."Are you still in San Diego?" Jayson asked. There was a brief pause, as if she were deciding how to answer."Technically, yes. But I’m at the airport, and my flight leaves in about ten minutes," she said. "Should I cancel it? Are you reconsidering? Do you want me to come over?" sh
Elena clenched her fists tightly as she stormed out of the house, her anger intensifying with every step. She cursed herself for being so naïve and foolish, rushing to San Diego without fully considering her plan. She grabbed her phone, attempting once again to call the mysterious person who had informed her about Alexander and Marianne and insisted she come to San Diego. But, as before, the number was no longer in service.Frustrated, she groaned and raked her fingers through her hair."Why is it always him calling me, and why can't I ever call back?" she muttered, biting down on her lip in anger. Her eyes landed on Jake's car, and as she moved closer, she spotted Emilio inside, fast asleep."Let’s hope you’re not Alexander’s child," she murmured to herself, opening the car door. With a swift motion, she cut a strand of Emilio's hair."I hope you won't hate me too much for this, little one, but your mother has to pay for everything she’s done to me... including just being alive," she
Marianne set the phone down after watching the video, a frown crossing her face. "That's illegal, Michael. Installing a camera without the owner's consent is a serious crime," she said firmly. Michael opened his mouth to respond but struggled to find the right words. He hadn’t expected her to scold him—he thought she would accept it without much fuss."I'm sorry," he finally mumbled, casting a cautious glance at her."You’re saying you have recordings of everything that happened in the kitchen?" Marianne asked, her mind flashing back to the moments Alexander had stolen kisses from her in there."I think... probably," Michael answered hesitantly. Marianne’s eyes widened as she blinked rapidly."Did you watch them? All of them?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. He shook his head. "No.""Good. I’ll delete some of it myself," she said, half-joking. "You better not watch it, or I’ll have to castrate you," she added with a smirk, making Michael chuckle."How do you stay so strong through
Jake glanced back to see if the person held captive by the police was indicating someone behind him. As he turned, he locked eyes with Alexander, who looked confused before shifting his focus to the suspect. "Me?" Jake inquired, and the handcuffed guy nodded, prompting Jake to laugh. "Are you pulling some kind of joke or something?" he asked as the officers approached. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, an attorney will be provided for you," one of the officers stated, reaching out to touch Jake. Jake raised a hand, signaling them to stop. "Do you even have an arrest warrant? I don’t know who this motherfucker is, and I have no clue why you barged in here claiming I'm being arrested for a crime I didn’t commit. Something I know nothing about," Jake said. "I knew something about you wasn't right. How can your punch be that powerful when you don’t kn
Michael reached for the buttons on Dylan's shirt, unfastening them hastily and sliding the shirt off without breaking their kiss. His hands roamed over Dylan’s bare skin as their lips fought for dominance.Dylan broke away, trailing his lips to Michael's neck and sucking gently, drawing a soft moan. Their eyes met, searching each other for unspoken answers. Then, with a sudden pull, Dylan drew Michael close again, kissing his eyelids, brows, and the bridge of his nose."How are you so irresistibly cute?" he whispered, smiling as they resumed kissing. Dylan’s hands slid down to Michael’s waistband, starting to unbuckle his belt—when suddenly…*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*A knock at the door interrupted them immediately.Michael bit his lip, mentally cursing himself for forgetting they were still at the restaurant. He looked at Dylan, who chuckled at his expression. With a slight smile, Michael climbed off the bed, and they both began putting their shirts back on before Michael moved to answer t
The restaurant was filled with young girls who couldn’t help but smile at Dylan. Some repeatedly called him over, asking questions about the menu despite already having looked at it.Others tossed flirtatious comments his way, and Dylan responded with a charming smile. A few took out their phones to capture the moment, posting about it right away, and he didn’t mind one bit.Those who recognized him as a public figure asked for pictures, and Dylan was busy obliging them. Meanwhile, Michael stood by the corner, watching as Dylan smiled and attended to the fangirling crowd. He scoffed quietly to himself, feeling a wave of jealousy wash over him.When the last group finally left, Dylan breathed a sigh of relief, leaving just him and Michael in the now-quiet restaurant.He walked over to Michael, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Dylan smiled and reached out to touch him, but Michael stepped back.“Why don’t you keep touching your fans and pretend I don’t exist?” he
"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