“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
“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
"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
When Elena arrived home, she led Hailey to her room, assisting her with a bath and helping her change into fresh clothes. Afterward, Elena stood up with the intention of preparing dinner. But just as she was about to leave, Hailey's small hands gently grasped her index finger."Mom..." Hailey called softly. Elena turned and knelt down to meet her gaze."What's the matter, sweetheart?" Elena asked in a soothing tone, gently brushing a strand of hair from Hailey's face."Is Dad really my dad?" Hailey asked quietly. Elena smiled warmly, cupping her daughter’s face and nodding reassuringly."Of course he is, honey. He’s just..." "Then why did he hurt you?" Hailey interrupted, her voice trembling as her eyes filled with tears. Elena noticed the tears and smiled again, tenderly touching Hailey’s neck before placing a soft kiss on her forehead."It doesn’t hurt, sweetie. And you shouldn’t blame your dad for it. He..." Elena paused, looking down at the child before gently sitting in front of
"Marianne...""It's okay, Alex," she interrupted. "I was expecting this. It would have been stranger if you both didn’t have a child together."Alexander frowned, confused. Why wasn’t she trying to reason with him?Before he could respond, his phone rang. It was a video call from his mom. Without saying anything to Marianne, he answered the call and held the phone out toward her.Marianne looked at the screen, her eyes widening when she saw Mrs. Skarsgard’s face."Mom?" she whispered. Mrs. Skarsgard immediately brought her hands to her mouth in shock, tears welling in her eyes."My poor baby..." she sobbed. Marianne’s own eyes started to sting with tears at the sight."You didn’t even want to call me, huh? Have you really come to hate me that much?" Mrs. Skarsgard asked, and Marianne shook her head."I miss you, Mom. I miss you so much, I just... I just didn’t have the courage to face you yet..." Marianne’s voice softened, the words fading with emotion."You look so thin—are you eatin
Alexander attempted to push Elena away when his gaze fell on Marianne’s shocked expression, but he found his strength waning. The drugs coursing through his system left him physically weak and mentally clouded.His hands, gripping Elena’s hips, held her firmly as he tried to muster the little strength he had left to push her away. However, to Marianne, it looked entirely different; she saw an Alexander who seemed to be enjoying having sex with his ex-girlfriend.As if to complicate things further, Elena pressed her ass against his d*ck, eliciting an involuntary groan from him."That's it, honey, moan for me," Elena muttered, increasing her pace.The intensity of the sensation was overwhelming, heightened by the drugs' potent effects.Marianne stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide with disbelief. She couldn’t comprehend what was unfolding before her. How could Alexander allow this to happen?Elena chuckled softly, enjoying the reaction on Marianne's face as she continued her relen
Marianne stood still as Jayson kissed her. The unexpected gesture from Jayson had caught her off guard, shattering the carefully constructed barriers. She didn’t move, couldn’t react. Her body froze, her arms limp at her sides. Her mind, however, was a storm of chaos. She was barely processing what was happening before her tears began to fall. It wasn’t Jayson she was thinking about, not his lips on hers or his hands cupping her face. Her thoughts were with Alexander. The bitter replay of what she had seen moment ago. Why didn’t he push Elena away? Why had he held her waist, his hands lingering as though they belonged there? The memory played over and over in her mind like a cruel movie reel, and every time she thought of it, her heart cracked a little more. Alexander didn’t look drunk when she saw him. There had been no signs of clumsiness, no glassy eyes to suggest he wasn’t in control. He had seemed fine...completely fine.Her tears kept falling, hot and relentless, blurring
Dylan watched Michael sleep, a soft smile playing on his lips. Michael had looked completely worn out earlier, saying he desperately needed to rest. Yet, when Dylan had asked to keep the video call going, Michael didn’t object. Now, Dylan couldn’t take his eyes off him."He's so adorable..." Dylan whispered, his gaze fixed on the screen. He traced the shape of Michael's thick eyebrows with his finger, his heart swelling with affection."I’ll go talk to her tomorrow," he murmured, even though he knew Michael was fast asleep and couldn’t hear him. Earlier, Michael had asked him to visit Marianne and deliver an important message and he had agreed without hesitation.Leaving the phone propped up, he headed to the bathroom to take another quick shower, all while keeping the video call running.When he returned, he dressed quietly, glancing at his phone every few moments to check on Michael. He didn’t have the heart to end the call.Finally, Dylan climbed into bed, settling in under the cov
The next day, Marianne and the others were at the hospital, except for Dylan and Michael, who had prior commitments but promised to visit later that evening. Grandma Emma arrived at the hospital, her warm presence immediately filling the room. She gently picked up Emilio and held him in her arms before turning to Jake. “Once again, I’m so proud of you,” she said, reaching out to ruffle Jake’s hair affectionately. Jake swatted her hand away with a playful grin. “I’m not a baby, Grandma!” he whined, eliciting laughter from everyone in the room. Marianne smiled faintly at the heartwarming scene, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Her mind lingered on Alexander, still lying unconscious in his hospital bed. Suddenly, Romeo burst into the room, a bag of ice cream in hand and urgency written all over his face. “Something’s going on,” he announced, hurrying to grab the remote. The TV flickered on, and the image of a news anchor appeared. “This just in,” the reporter began. “A ship
An ambulance was called immediately. Marianne, Jake and Emilio were carefully placed inside as the sirens wailed into the night, and the vehicle sped toward the hospital. Meanwhile, Vincent and the other officers stayed behind to survey the area, but there was no sign of Jayson. He had escaped. "What now? If he gets out of here, gets another surgery… we’ll have a much bigger problem on our hands," one officer muttered, glancing nervously at Vincent, who ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Meaning Sophia and Elena would have died for nothing? No," Vincent growled, his eyes hardening. "We finish this. He doesn’t walk away." Determined, Vincent moved away from the group, scanning the area for any sign of the fugitive. Still, Jayson was nowhere to be found. "We should issue an announcement," another officer suggested. Without hesitation, the team dispersed to their vehicles to alert the public and organize a citywide manhunt. The head of the police approached Vinc
Vincent tore the small plastic seal open, revealing the flash drive hidden inside. He stared at it for a moment, his mind racing with curiosity. "Where can I plug this in?" he asked, his tone calm but urgent. The officer pointed him toward a desk with a computer. Vincent inserted the drive, his fingers steady, but his heart pounded as the files loaded onto the screen. Rows of folders appeared...documents, images, and most notably, a series of videos. One caught his attention immediately..."Confession by Sophia Latino."He clicked play. The screen flickered to life, showing a young woman with sharp eyes and a determined expression. Her voice was firm, but there was a trace of fear behind her words. "I, Sophia Latino, documented all of this because I don’t trust Desmond Howard..." Vincent froze as the name struck a chord deep within him. His brow furrowed as he whispered it aloud. "Desmond Howard? Why does the name sounds familiar?"The officer beside him, Sergeant Miller, narr
"Elena," Jayson whispered, his voice sharp with bitterness. His eyes darkened as he stared at the screen, the tension in his jaw tightening with every second. Rage blurred his vision, making it hard to focus on the task at hand. He wanted to smash the screen, but a sudden knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. With a sigh, he set the food aside and walked to the door. When he opened the door, one of his men stood waiting. "Boss," the man greeted him, bowing slightly. Jayson nodded in acknowledgment. His expression remained cold "I have a job for you," he said, pulling out his phone, tapped a few times, and handed it over. "This is her number. Track her down." His gaze hardened, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. "Silence her." The man gave a nod, his eyes glinting with understanding, before turning to leave. Jayson closed the door quietly behind him. His mind raced, but there was no time for hesitation. Instead of returning to Marianne, he moved swiftly to his bed
Across from her, Jayson found a seat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes a dark, endless abyss. "You deserve the truth," he began, his tone eerily soft, like a lover sharing a secret. "You always did."Marianne felt her heart thudding painfully in her chest. "What are you talking about?"He smiled, but it wasn’t warm. It was hollow, devoid of humanity. "Who I really am," he said slowly. "You’ve known pieces of me...the parts I’ve let you see. But that’s not the whole story. It never was."She sniffed but he sighed, a sound filled with false regret. "I grew up in a house where pain was currency, where love was a weapon. My parents… they weren’t just abusive. They were the kind of monsters that lived behind closed doors with smiling faces for the world. They crushed me until there was nothing left. But one night, I heard someone say, ‘If you can’t escape your suffering, end it.’ I took those words to heart. I went home, and I ended it." He met her gaze, unbli
The sirens of the police car blared in the distance, growing faint as Vincent watched it disappear down the street. He exhaled slowly, his eyes filled with determination. The officers had taken over the scene just as planned. Now, there was only one place left to be. The hospital "Let’s go," he muttered to the others before slipping into his car as they drove off.The minute he arrived, he rushed through the sterile corridors, searching. His eyes found Charlotte standing near the waiting area. She looked small and fragile, her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold herself together. "Where’s Jake? And what about Alexander? Is he not out yet?" Vincent asked as he strode toward her. Without answering, Charlotte threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly like a scared child. Her grip was so firm it surprised him. Vincent sighed heavily, patting her back with gentle impatience. "You’re an expectant mother. Cut the child act and start acting like a woman.?" Vincent c
“I’m sorry, Marianne,” Jayson muttered under his breath as he drove away.In a matter of minutes, Jayson reached his apartment, the tires of his car screeching to a halt. He stepped out swiftly, lifting Emilio from his mother's side. The child stirred lightly, leaning against Jayson’s chest as he carried him inside and settled him in a room.Without a moment's pause, he returned for Marianne’s unconscious form, and also carried her. Just as he turned toward the house, Elena appeared, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her. "Well, I’m not here for this," she said, drawing his attention. "Why the hell did you get Alexander involved in an accident?" Jayson said nothing. He kept his expression blank as he carried Marianne past her as if he wasn't the one being questioned.Elena chuckled softly, trailing after him. "Are you ignoring me now?" she asked. "Did you forget I have evidence that could destroy you? Ruin everything you’ve built? And maybe... Lead to your death?"
Elena stepped into the house, her eyes immediately landing on Hailey sitting at the dining table, chattering away with her nanny. The little girl was so absorbed in their conversation that she didn’t even notice her mother’s arrival. The nanny, amused, chuckled softly at whatever Hailey was saying. "Ma’am... you’re back," the nanny murmured, rising to her feet. Hailey turned her head just in time to see her mother fully enter the house. Her eyes lit up. "Mom!" she beamed, abandoning her food as she jumped off her chair and ran toward Elena. Elena knelt down, gently ruffling her daughter’s hair. "How have you been, my love?" she asked, cupping Hailey’s small face before kissing her forehead. "I’m fine, Mom. But I missed you so much last night," Hailey muttered, her lips forming a small pout. "Where did you go? You’ve never slept outside unless you were traveling." Elena smiled, brushing a stray curl away from Hailey’s face. "I had to look for a job yesterday. Since we moved
Charlotte left Jake’s place that morning, her mind already set on collecting her belongings. Not that she’d be moving in with Jake...no, Grandma Emma had graciously offered her one of her mansions to stay in until the case with her mother was resolved. Charlotte had been overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking Emma profusely for her kindness. Jake had offered to accompany her, but she declined. "You’re expecting Alexander, remember? It wouldn’t be nice if he came by and found the house empty," she reminded him. Still, Jake had made her promise to be careful. She assured him she would. Now, as she sat in the cab, her head rested against the window, lost in thought. The city blurred past, but her mind was miles away. She knew her family loved her dearly...there was no question of that...but her mother… Her mother would be a whole different story. To her, Charlotte was still a baby, and the idea of her own baby carrying another child would be a shock. "I hope Mom doesn’t scold me,"