She barely had time to process it before her instincts kicked in. With a quick shove, she sent her fist flying toward his face. His head jerked to the side, and she saw his eyes widen in shock as he staggered back, rubbing his jaw. Her punch had landed harder than she thought, and she couldn't help but wonder if she'd loosened one of his molars.“Where did you learn to punch like that?” Alexander groaned, rubbing his sore jaw.Sienna stood tense, her body shaking with a mixture of anger and adrenaline. She glanced nervously toward the entrance of the restaurant, afraid her son might have seen him kiss her. She couldn’t risk explaining this madness to him, not now.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed between gritted teeth. Her voice was just above a whisper to ensure Emilio wouldn’t overhear. “Have you completely lost your mind?”"I’m sorry but… not entirely sorry," Alexander muttered. "I couldn’t kiss you at the altar five years ago, so I figured—"“Are you brainless
Alexander stood in shock, immobilized by the sight before him. Why did Marianne seem to despise him so much? He couldn’t shake the thought that her actions were far worse than how he had treated her in the past. Through the transparent glass, he saw Emilio smiling up at Jayson, his innocent face lighting up with joy. Meanwhile, Marianne watched them with a gaze full of affection, her expression soft and warm—so unlike how she looked at him. Was there really no chance left for them to reconcile? Would he truly let Jayson steal the woman he still loved?As these torturous thoughts swirled in his mind, the package he had been holding slipped from his hands, hitting the ground unnoticed. His legs felt heavy, like he was a lost sheep, wandering aimlessly. Without much thought, he staggered toward his car, his mind consumed by the haunting possibility that he had lost Marianne for good.Once inside his car, he started the engine and sped off without direction, his grip on the steering wheel
Alexander sat in silence next to the police officer, who was pressing him about allegations of stalking. He didn’t respond. He wasn't the type to cause a scene, and keeping his reputation untarnished was paramount. That was why he had calmly complied with the officers when they arrived—no arguments, no resistance. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he’d end up at a police station, yet here he was: the mighty Alexander Skarsgard, sitting in an interrogation room. How had it come to this?“I’m not a stalker,” Alexander finally said, his voice calm. “But explaining my side of the story... I doubt it would make sense to you.”He hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Still, if you’re curious, I could tell you the whole thing.” He leaned forward slightly. “Though I should warn you, once I start, I might end up staying here overnight.”The officer regarded him with a stern expression. “You weren’t getting released tonight anyway,” he replied. “Your story’s all that stands between
Sienna was exhausted. Every encounter with Alexander drained her emotionally, and now, as she stood at the edge of her decision, she glanced at him once more, contemplating. She knew she couldn’t let him drop her off—he didn't know where she lived, and she intended to keep it that way. Swiftly moving around the restaurant, she switched off the lights, grabbed her son in her arms before Alexander could, and walked outside.As they exited the building, Alexander watched her, clearly frustrated as she tried to flag down a taxi. His eyes bore into her, and after a brief silence, he finally spoke, his voice laced with disbelief. "Do you hate me so much that I can't even give you a ride home?" Sienna ignored him, her attention focused on finding a taxi. Her son, Emilio, spoke up instead. "Mom, why don't we just go with him? You know how hard it is to get a taxi at this hour. We could be waiting for twenty minutes."She hesitated, her gaze moving from her son to Alexander, who was motioni
Sienna couldn't find sleep, no matter how hard she tried. Tossing and turning on her bed, she stared at the dark ceiling, unable to sleep. It was past midnight, but her mind refused to rest. Memories of five years ago haunted her, blending with the confusion of her current situation. How could Alexander Skarsgard still have such a hold on her after all this time? She had tried, really tried, to keep him out of her heart. From their middle school days to high school and even university, Sienna fought the feelings she had for him. She had even dated other guys, hoping someone would replace him in her mind, but Alexander remained—a constant, unwanted presence. No matter what she did, he was always there, an impossible shadow she couldn't shake.The last five years had been different. She had finally managed to build a life where he didn't exist, and she was fine—until he showed up again. His sudden reappearance disrupted everything. Her heart, which had been steady for so long, began to
Sienna grabbed an umbrella and stepped outside. Through the curtain of rain, she saw Alexander standing in the downpour, drenched from head to toe. His hair clung to his face, and he was visibly shivering. A surge of frustration ran through her. Why was he always so determined to make things difficult? She knew this wouldn't be resolved in a single day.With a heavy sigh, she walked up to him. Instead of the familiar way she used to hold his hands years ago, she grabbed him by the ears, dragging him toward the house like a misbehaving child. His entire body trembled as though he were a sick lamb.“Are you out of your mind? You’re thirty years old! Act like it, stop behaving like a child,” she scolded, shaking her head in disbelief.His teeth chattered as he stammered through his reply. “O-our…our son will wake up if you keep shouting.”Sienna groaned in frustration, running a hand through her dampened hair. Her fingers twitched, and for a moment, she almost wished she could strangle h
Sienna gently patted him until she felt his grip on her loosen slightly. When she shifted to sit up properly, his eyes fluttered open, confirming that she wasn’t a figment of his dream. She was actually there. Sitting upright, Alexander reached out, cupping her cheeks in disbelief.“Is this really you, Anne?” he asked softly. But she responded by slapping his hands away, her expression stern. He chuckled, ignoring her reaction, and pulled her into a warm embrace.“You’re running a fever,” she remarked, her voice devoid of sympathy.“How did you even find my place?” he questioned, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his tone. He hadn't expected her to show up unannounced. But Sienna, unwilling to engage in his questions, pushed herself away and stood up, as if preparing to leave.“If my presence is such a surprise, maybe I should just leave,” she replied with a roll of her eyes, taking a step toward the door. But before she could take another step, he quickly grabbed her arm, stopping h
Jayson exited the office, feeling a growing sense of anticipation. His destination was the restaurant where Sienna worked, and he had plans to surprise her with an evening out together, something they hadn’t done in a long time. His work had consumed most of his time lately, but tonight was meant to be different. When he arrived, confusion filled his mind as he spotted Michael locking the restaurant’s doors. It was only 6 p.m., far too early for the place to be closing. Furrowing his brow, Jayson approached Michael.“Hey, Michael,” Jayson greeted as he reached him. “Where’s Sienna?”Michael hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. He recalled someone arriving earlier and telling Sienna to check on someone who was ill. After a brief pause, Michael explained, “Someone came by earlier, said someone was sick. Ma'am Sienna left to check on them, and she asked me to close up the restaurant.”Jayson nodded thoughtfully. Though the explanation was plausible, an unsettling feeli
"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