The sudden patter of small footsteps made everyone freeze. A tiny figure appeared in the doorway, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.Miguel stood there clutching his teddy bear, Mr. Growls, to his chest. His small face crumpled at the sight before him—blood, guns, and the adults who were supposed to keep him safe all looking broken and desperate."Mommy?" His voice was small and scared when he noticed his mom being held at gunpoint.Selena's face drained of color. "Miguel! No!" she whispered.Xavier's attention snapped to the boy, his eyes lighting up with sudden calculation. The gun in his hand wavered, then slowly turned toward the child."Come here, boy," Xavier called, his voice honey-sweet despite the madness in his eyes.Victor noticed the shift, saw the way Xavier's body language changed. For all his cruelty, Xavier must have grown fond of the boy who had once called him uncle. It was there in the slight softening around his eyes, the hesitation in his trigger finger.Migue
The helicopter blades slowed as they landed at Victor's estate. The night had been long. Too long. Bodies had been cleaned up, loose ends tied, and wounds patched. Victor carried a sleeping Miguel in his arms, the boy's small head resting against his shoulder. Each breath from his son felt like a miracle—a child he hadn't known existed just weeks ago. Behind him, Selena limped up the marble steps of the mansion, her face still bearing the marks of Xavier's cruelty. Thomas helped her walk, his own shoulder bandaged where the bullet had torn through. "Put her in the east wing," Victor told Gerald without looking at Selena. "She'll have everything she needs there." Something flashed across Selena's face—pain, understanding, resignation. She said nothing as Gerald led her away, her eyes lingering on Miguel's sleeping form. Victor stood in the grand foyer, his son in his arms, watching her disappear down the hallway. The space between them felt like miles. --- Three days passed in st
"No! Mommy! NO!"The scream tore through the quiet mansion, jolting Victor from sleep. He was moving before his mind fully registered what was happening, feet hitting the cold floor as he ran toward his son's room.Miguel was thrashing in bed, tears streaming down his small face, fighting some invisible enemy in his dreams."Miguel." Victor sat on the edge of the bed, gathering the boy into his arms. "Wake up, mijo. It's just a dream."Miguel's eyes flew open, wild with terror. For a moment, he didn't seem to recognize Victor."You're safe," Victor murmured, rubbing small circles on the boy's back. "No one can hurt you here."Miguel's small body was hot with fear, his heart racing against Victor's chest. "The bad men were taking Mommy away again," he whispered.Victor closed his eyes, feeling his son's pain like a physical thing. "Your mommy is safe too. She's just down the hall.""Can I see her?" Miguel pleaded, his voice small and lost.Victor hesitated. It was past midnight. The ru
Maria's fingers trembled as she held Jordan's limp hand. The steady beep of hospital machines filled the sterile room. She hadn't left his side in three days. "You idiot," she whispered, her thumb tracing circles on his bruised knuckles. "You just had to play the hero." Jordan lay still, his face swollen and discolored. Tubes ran into his arms. A breathing mask covered his nose and mouth. The doctors had been clear—his chances weren't good. Broken ribs. Internal bleeding. Severe dehydration. His body had finally given out the moment they'd reached safety. Maria closed her eyes, the memory washing over her again. That second kiss. The way his arms had wrapped around her, pulling her close like she was his anchor in a storm. Then his eyes rolling back, his body crumpling to the ground. "Don't you dare die on me," she said. "Not after everything." A knock on the door made her look up. Gerald stood there, his side bandaged beneath his shirt. "How's our boy?" he asked, moving slowly i
The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of monitors. Maria sat beside Jordan's bed, her fingers gently wrapped around his limp hand. Four days had passed, and still he hadn't opened his eyes."You know," Maria whispered, thinking he couldn't hear her, "I never told you this, but that night in Barcelona... when you took that bullet for me?" She swallowed hard. "That's when I knew."She traced the outline of his bruised knuckles. "I've spent so long pushing people away. Especially you. God, I was so stupid."A tear slipped down her cheek. "Just wake up, Jordan. Wake up so I can tell you that I-""That you what?"Maria froze. Jordan's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, but his eyes were open—those familiar blue eyes watching her with a hint of their usual mischief."You jerk!" Maria gasped, nearly knocking over her chair as she jumped up. "How long have you been awake?"Jordan's split lip curved into a painful smile. "Long enough to hear you being all mushy. Didn
Selena traced her finger along the small apartment's living room window. It wasn't much—two bedrooms, a tiny kitchen, plain walls that needed painting. But it was hers. A place Xavier had never known about. A place Victor couldn't find.She signed the lease with shaking hands."You can move in next week," the landlord told her, handing over the keys.Next week. Seven days to say goodbye to her son.The drive back to Victor's mansion felt endless. Each mile bringing her closer to the hardest decision of her life. But there was no other way. Miguel needed peace. He needed his father. And Victor would never heal with her there, a constant reminder of betrayal and lost years.The next morning, Selena woke Miguel with kisses on his forehead."Let's have an adventure today, just you and me," she whispered.Miguel's sleepy eyes brightened. "What kind of adventure?""A special one. Our secret."She dressed him in his favorite blue shirt and packed a small backpack with snacks and his toy bear
The morning sun filtered through Miguel's curtains, painting warm shapes on his bedroom floor. His eyes fluttered open, small fists rubbing away sleep. For one peaceful moment, everything was normal.Then he remembered yesterday's adventure with Mommy. Her extra tight hugs. The way she kept touching his face like she was trying to remember every little part of him."Mommy?" he called, climbing out of bed.When no answer came, Miguel padded down the hallway in his dinosaur pajamas, his small feet silent against the marble floor. He pushed open the door to his mother's room.Empty.The bed was made, perfect and untouched. No clothes in the closet. No brush on the dresser. Nothing to show his mother had ever been there at all.A cold feeling spread through Miguel's chest. He ran to the kitchen, to the garden, to all their special places."Mommy?" His voice grew more frantic with each call.He found his father in the study, talking in a low voice with Gerald."Where's Mommy?" Miguel deman
Miguel's question echoed in Victor's mind long after he'd tucked his son into bed. Don't you want Mommy to come home? The truth was, Victor didn't know what he wanted anymore. For five years, anger had been his compass, pointing him forward when nothing else could. But now that compass was spinning wildly, unable to find true north. The next morning, after checking on Miguel who was still sleeping with the gold locket clutched in his small fist, Victor found himself standing in the doorway of Selena's empty room. He hadn't been inside since she left. Hadn't wanted to. Now he stepped in, the door clicking shut behind him. The space still smelled faintly of her jasmine perfume. Victor ran his fingers along the dresser top, expecting dust, but the servants had kept the room cleaned. As if expecting her return. He opened a drawer, not sure what he was looking for. Empty. She had taken almost everything, leaving behind only what she had arrived with—nothing. In the closet, a s
Victor sat alone in his study, the lights off, only the moon casting silver shadows across the room. Selena's diary lay open on his desk, her words like ghosts haunting the space between heartbeats.He reached for his glass of whiskey, but his hand shook so badly that it slipped from his fingers, shattering against the hardwood floor. Just like everything else in his life—broken, sharp, dangerous to touch.Five years of hatred. Five years of plotting revenge against Xavier, believing Selena had willingly betrayed him. All while she had been protecting their son, enduring God knows what horrors to keep Miguel safe."I didn't know," he whispered to the empty room, his voice cracking. "I didn't know."Something hot and wet slid down his cheek. Victor touched it, surprised. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried. Not when his mother died. Not when he was sent to prison. Not even when he believed Selena had chosen his enemy over him.But now, alone in the dark, the tears came like
Miguel's question echoed in Victor's mind long after he'd tucked his son into bed. Don't you want Mommy to come home? The truth was, Victor didn't know what he wanted anymore. For five years, anger had been his compass, pointing him forward when nothing else could. But now that compass was spinning wildly, unable to find true north. The next morning, after checking on Miguel who was still sleeping with the gold locket clutched in his small fist, Victor found himself standing in the doorway of Selena's empty room. He hadn't been inside since she left. Hadn't wanted to. Now he stepped in, the door clicking shut behind him. The space still smelled faintly of her jasmine perfume. Victor ran his fingers along the dresser top, expecting dust, but the servants had kept the room cleaned. As if expecting her return. He opened a drawer, not sure what he was looking for. Empty. She had taken almost everything, leaving behind only what she had arrived with—nothing. In the closet, a s
The morning sun filtered through Miguel's curtains, painting warm shapes on his bedroom floor. His eyes fluttered open, small fists rubbing away sleep. For one peaceful moment, everything was normal.Then he remembered yesterday's adventure with Mommy. Her extra tight hugs. The way she kept touching his face like she was trying to remember every little part of him."Mommy?" he called, climbing out of bed.When no answer came, Miguel padded down the hallway in his dinosaur pajamas, his small feet silent against the marble floor. He pushed open the door to his mother's room.Empty.The bed was made, perfect and untouched. No clothes in the closet. No brush on the dresser. Nothing to show his mother had ever been there at all.A cold feeling spread through Miguel's chest. He ran to the kitchen, to the garden, to all their special places."Mommy?" His voice grew more frantic with each call.He found his father in the study, talking in a low voice with Gerald."Where's Mommy?" Miguel deman
Selena traced her finger along the small apartment's living room window. It wasn't much—two bedrooms, a tiny kitchen, plain walls that needed painting. But it was hers. A place Xavier had never known about. A place Victor couldn't find.She signed the lease with shaking hands."You can move in next week," the landlord told her, handing over the keys.Next week. Seven days to say goodbye to her son.The drive back to Victor's mansion felt endless. Each mile bringing her closer to the hardest decision of her life. But there was no other way. Miguel needed peace. He needed his father. And Victor would never heal with her there, a constant reminder of betrayal and lost years.The next morning, Selena woke Miguel with kisses on his forehead."Let's have an adventure today, just you and me," she whispered.Miguel's sleepy eyes brightened. "What kind of adventure?""A special one. Our secret."She dressed him in his favorite blue shirt and packed a small backpack with snacks and his toy bear
The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of monitors. Maria sat beside Jordan's bed, her fingers gently wrapped around his limp hand. Four days had passed, and still he hadn't opened his eyes."You know," Maria whispered, thinking he couldn't hear her, "I never told you this, but that night in Barcelona... when you took that bullet for me?" She swallowed hard. "That's when I knew."She traced the outline of his bruised knuckles. "I've spent so long pushing people away. Especially you. God, I was so stupid."A tear slipped down her cheek. "Just wake up, Jordan. Wake up so I can tell you that I-""That you what?"Maria froze. Jordan's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, but his eyes were open—those familiar blue eyes watching her with a hint of their usual mischief."You jerk!" Maria gasped, nearly knocking over her chair as she jumped up. "How long have you been awake?"Jordan's split lip curved into a painful smile. "Long enough to hear you being all mushy. Didn
Maria's fingers trembled as she held Jordan's limp hand. The steady beep of hospital machines filled the sterile room. She hadn't left his side in three days. "You idiot," she whispered, her thumb tracing circles on his bruised knuckles. "You just had to play the hero." Jordan lay still, his face swollen and discolored. Tubes ran into his arms. A breathing mask covered his nose and mouth. The doctors had been clear—his chances weren't good. Broken ribs. Internal bleeding. Severe dehydration. His body had finally given out the moment they'd reached safety. Maria closed her eyes, the memory washing over her again. That second kiss. The way his arms had wrapped around her, pulling her close like she was his anchor in a storm. Then his eyes rolling back, his body crumpling to the ground. "Don't you dare die on me," she said. "Not after everything." A knock on the door made her look up. Gerald stood there, his side bandaged beneath his shirt. "How's our boy?" he asked, moving slowly i
"No! Mommy! NO!"The scream tore through the quiet mansion, jolting Victor from sleep. He was moving before his mind fully registered what was happening, feet hitting the cold floor as he ran toward his son's room.Miguel was thrashing in bed, tears streaming down his small face, fighting some invisible enemy in his dreams."Miguel." Victor sat on the edge of the bed, gathering the boy into his arms. "Wake up, mijo. It's just a dream."Miguel's eyes flew open, wild with terror. For a moment, he didn't seem to recognize Victor."You're safe," Victor murmured, rubbing small circles on the boy's back. "No one can hurt you here."Miguel's small body was hot with fear, his heart racing against Victor's chest. "The bad men were taking Mommy away again," he whispered.Victor closed his eyes, feeling his son's pain like a physical thing. "Your mommy is safe too. She's just down the hall.""Can I see her?" Miguel pleaded, his voice small and lost.Victor hesitated. It was past midnight. The ru
The helicopter blades slowed as they landed at Victor's estate. The night had been long. Too long. Bodies had been cleaned up, loose ends tied, and wounds patched. Victor carried a sleeping Miguel in his arms, the boy's small head resting against his shoulder. Each breath from his son felt like a miracle—a child he hadn't known existed just weeks ago. Behind him, Selena limped up the marble steps of the mansion, her face still bearing the marks of Xavier's cruelty. Thomas helped her walk, his own shoulder bandaged where the bullet had torn through. "Put her in the east wing," Victor told Gerald without looking at Selena. "She'll have everything she needs there." Something flashed across Selena's face—pain, understanding, resignation. She said nothing as Gerald led her away, her eyes lingering on Miguel's sleeping form. Victor stood in the grand foyer, his son in his arms, watching her disappear down the hallway. The space between them felt like miles. --- Three days passed in st
The sudden patter of small footsteps made everyone freeze. A tiny figure appeared in the doorway, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.Miguel stood there clutching his teddy bear, Mr. Growls, to his chest. His small face crumpled at the sight before him—blood, guns, and the adults who were supposed to keep him safe all looking broken and desperate."Mommy?" His voice was small and scared when he noticed his mom being held at gunpoint.Selena's face drained of color. "Miguel! No!" she whispered.Xavier's attention snapped to the boy, his eyes lighting up with sudden calculation. The gun in his hand wavered, then slowly turned toward the child."Come here, boy," Xavier called, his voice honey-sweet despite the madness in his eyes.Victor noticed the shift, saw the way Xavier's body language changed. For all his cruelty, Xavier must have grown fond of the boy who had once called him uncle. It was there in the slight softening around his eyes, the hesitation in his trigger finger.Migue