I walked down the hallway, trying to shake off the heaviness left behind from my confrontation with Derek. My pulse was still racing, a mix of anger and frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. I hated how easily he could pull those emotions out of me, even after all this time. But I wouldn’t let him win. Not today.As I approached my office, I noticed something unsettling, people were staring at me. It wasn’t the direct kind of stare, but more the subtle glances exchanged between coworkers as I passed. A few of them pretended to be working, tapping away at their keyboards or pretending to organize files, but their eyes would shift to me the moment they thought I wasn’t looking. It wasn’t the kind of stare that meant I had done something wrong, but it was a stare.“Good morning Ma’am” Nikolai greeted me smiling“Hey!” I say, not realizing how distracting my thoughts were.“Congratulations” he smiles“Well, that’s new, why? And why am I getting so many stares?” I ask him“I think
The flight back to New York felt like it was taking an eternity. I kept staring at my phone, willing it to buzz with an update, praying that the next call or message would tell me everything was fine. But the silence only made the anxiety gnaw deeper at my gut. Beside me, Andrew kept glancing over, his face calm but his hand gripping mine tightly. His thumb moved in soothing circles against my skin, but no amount of gentle touches could slow the frantic beating of my heart. I could feel the pressure building in my chest, the worry expanding until it was hard to breathe.“He’s going to be okay, Ava,” Andrew said quietly, his voice steady, though I could hear the strain in it. “The school said it was minor. Just a fainting spell. He’s probably just dehydrated or something.”I nodded, but the knot of fear in my stomach refused to loosen. I kept thinking about Tristan’s small body crumpling to the floor, about him lying unconscious while no one could reach me. I should have been there. I
The living room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of Andrew flipping through the pages of a magazine. I was curled up on the couch, sipping tea, letting the warmth of the moment soothe the remnants of the anxiety that had plagued me all day. Tristan was resting upstairs, and it felt like, for the first time in what seemed like forever, things were finally calming down.“You know,” Andrew said, breaking the silence, “we should take Tristan on a trip once he’s feeling better. Somewhere peaceful, away from all this chaos.”I smiled at the thought. “I think he’d love that. He’s been asking about visiting the mountains for a while now.”Andrew nodded, his eyes soft as he glanced over at me. “We could make it happen. Just the three of us.”I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, a loud, heart-stopping thud echoed from upstairs, followed immediately by a cry of pain; Tristan’s cry. My heart dropped. In an instant, Andrew and I were both on our feet, rushing to
As Andrew and I made our way back to Tristan’s room, I felt a mix of anxiety and hope battling within me. Each step felt heavy, but I was determined to see my son and reassure him that everything would be okay. I pushed open the door, and my heart sank at the sight of Tristan lying on the hospital bed, his face pale but slightly more relaxed than when we had left. “Mom! Uncle Andrew!” His voice was a mixture of relief and pain, a sight that sent a fresh wave of worry through me.“Hey, buddy,” I said, moving closer. “How are you feeling?”Tristan looked at us with wide eyes, and I could see the remnants of tears in his lashes. “The nurse gave me some drugs, and the pain is... better now,” he admitted, trying to sound brave. “That’s good to hear,” Andrew replied, giving Tristan a gentle smile as he pulled a chair closer to the bed. “Just focus on resting. You did great getting through all this.”“Can I go home soon?” Tristan’s voice was small, his fingers clutching the edge of the bl
The fluorescent lights of the hospital room were now a fading memory, replaced by the comforting chaos of home. I stood in the kitchen, the familiar scent of coffee mingling with the soft sounds of Tristan’s laughter echoing from the living room. Andrew had stayed home with him, and I could hear their playful banter drifting through the open doorway, a much-needed balm for my worn out nerves.Tristan was feeling better after his hospital stay; he had regained his energy and was back to his spirited self. But I couldn’t shake the anxiety that had settled in my chest ever since we received the news about his condition. I had refused to let a random person be a potential donor. The thought of some stranger being responsible for my son’s health was unbearable. So when the doctor had called to inform me that my bone marrow didn’t match Tristan’s, nor did Andrew’s, I felt a new wave of hopelessness wash over me. “Mom, come play!” Tristan’s voice rang out, pulling me from my thoughts. “Ju
Andrew PovA few days had passed since Ava confronted Derek about Tristan, and the tension that had hung over us had transformed into a fragile optimism. The doctor had just confirmed that Derek was a match for Tristan’s bone marrow transplant, and while there was still a long road ahead, it felt like we were finally moving in the right direction.I sat at the kitchen island, absently stirring my coffee as I glanced at Ava. She was scrolling through her phone, likely looking for updates or appointments for the transplant. The morning light streamed through the window, casting a warm glow around her, but I could see the lines of worry etched on her face.“Any word from the hospital?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light.Ava looked up, her eyes brightening. “Yes! They want to schedule the procedure for next week. I just need to confirm with Derek that he’s ready.”“Great. And Tristan?” I leaned forward, eager to hear how our son was handling the news.“He’s excited,” she replied, a s
Andrew’s POVLater that week, we gathered at the hospital for the procedure. The waiting room buzzed with activity, a mixture of anxious parents and cheerful children. I sat beside Ava, holding her hand tightly. The fear of the unknown gnawed at me as I watched Tristan playing on his tablet, seemingly unfazed by the situation.“Are you okay?” Ava asked, her voice soft as she leaned closer to me.“I will be,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I just want him to be alright.”“Me too,” she sighed, her eyes darting to Tristan. “But he’s in good hands. At least Derek has offered to help, I just hope it doesn’t yield to anything more.”“Yeah, I hope so too” I agreed, watching as Derek interacted with Tristan, his demeanor surprisingly gentle and encouraging. Eventually, the nurse came out, calling for Tristan. “It’s time, buddy,” I said, kneeling beside him. “Are you ready?”Tristan nodded, his face a mix of excitement and nervousness. “I think so!”“Remember, we’re right here with you,” Ava as
Ava POVWhoever said being the CEO of a company has the best experience is a great liar. I mean I am just handling My husband's second company and I were already stressed out.Sometimes I wonder how my husband coped. He had managed to handle two companies with each one having a revenue of hundreds of dollars every year and here I was trying to handle just one and was already burnt out.Although it was a stressful life, I enjoyed it a lot. Especially travelling, I just concluded a business deal in California. I am flying back to London to meet my lovely husband and maybe spend time with Annabel, my best friend.Immediately after the plane landed at the airport my husband’s driver came to pick me up. I noticed a change in his usual demeanour but decided to brush it off maybe he was having a bad day at work“We arrived safely at Derek's mansion. My face with a smile at the thought of seeing him after staying away for a week. Gosh, I missed him a lot.Bailey, one of our housemaids rushed