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
Vincent’s eyes fluttered open, his head throbbing painfully. He instinctively reach up to cradle his head, only to find his wrist tethered to a rope.He glanced down at his hands and noticed he was hooked up to an IV drip.“You’re awake?” Marianne’s voice broke the silence. Vincent turned towards the sound, a faint smile forming at the sight of her. But his smile quickly faded when Alexander entered the room, carrying Emilio in his arms.“Since you’re up, we’re leaving now. The hospital bill is all taken care of,” Alexander said, holding Emilio a little closer as he spoke.“That’s it? Are you just going to ignore the fact that your so-called friend knocked me out? What if I decide to file a lawsuit? Don’t think I can’t do it,” Vincent shot back, pulling out the IV needle from his arm as he rose unsteadily to his feet.Alexander let out a dry chuckle, casting Vincent a disdainful look.“Go ahead. I could use the entertainment,” he replied simply, heading towards the door with Emilio.“
Alexander stayed silent for almost two minutes. When Jake noticed his friend’s silence, he felt a bit alone.How could someone he thought of as a friend doubt him, just because someone accused him of what had happened weeks ago?"Well…" Jake started, taking a steadying breath. "Thanks for…""I believe you," Alexander interrupted. "I trust you. The Jake I know wouldn’t do anything to hurt me."Jake sighed and kept staring at the sky before taking another lick of his ice cream. His thoughts shifted to Vincent, and anger began to simmer within him."That guy’ll be the first one I have to kill..." he thought, his grip tightening on the ice cream cone until it started melting over his hand."Uh, your clothes, dude," Alexander said, tapping him, pulling Jake out of his thoughts."Oh, crap!" Jake muttered, letting out an awkward laugh. "Thanks, man," he added, while Alexander just nodded, watching him act strangely."Sorry for all the trouble I’ve put you through. If your mom finds out, I’m
"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