Mimi sat in the bustling café, her hands trembling around her coffee cup. The steady murmur of voices around her faded into the background as her mind raced. James’s call earlier had left her rattled, but now, another blow awaited her.As she lifted her cup to her lips, a conversation caught her attention from a nearby table. Two women, chatting casually, leaned in close. One of them mentioned her name, and Mimi froze, her heartbeat quickening.“Did you hear about Mimi?” one of the women whispered, barely audible above the din of the café.Mimi’s stomach dropped.“The custody battle is taking a toll on her. I heard she’s unstable, you know, mentally. She’s not fit to take care of Simeon. It’s probably for the best if he stays with James.” The other woman nodded in agreement, unaware of Mimi’s presence.Mimi clenched her fists, her coffee forgotten as the words from James’s earlier call echoed in her mind. He was playing dirty, using everything in his power to destroy her, including he
Mimi sat on the edge of the couch, her fingers nervously tapping the armrest. The television was on, muted for background noise, until the headline flashed across the screen: Local Businesswoman’s Custody Battle Turns Ugly: Mimi's Past Under Scrutiny. Her heart skipped a beat as the image of Scarlett filled the screen.Mimi leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the television. Scarlett’s face, as polished as ever, was staring back at her. The words that followed felt like ice water poured over her.“She abandoned her husband, and now she’s trying to take Simeon from a family who can give him everything he needs,” Scarlett’s voice echoed through the room, each word sharper than the last. “Mimi’s not fit to be a mother. She’s unstable, unfit, and she’ll stop at nothing to drag Simeon into her chaos. She doesn’t deserve him.”The screen cut back to the news anchor, whose expression was stiff, as though unsure whether to comment on the bombshell just dropped.Mimi’s breath hitched, her hands
Mimi sat at her kitchen table, her hands trembling as she stared down at the papers spread before her. The custody battle had consumed her life, but now, with James and Scarlett’s relentless attacks, it felt like she was suffocating. The weight of everything, Simeon’s future, her own sanity, pressed down on her like a suffocating fog. Her phone buzzed once again, another reminder from her lawyer, but she barely had the energy to look at it. She felt defeated.“Why can’t they just leave me alone?” she muttered under her breath, her voice cracking with emotion. She was so tired, tired of the constant fight, tired of the lies, and tired of the endless manipulations. The thought of facing James in court, knowing how far he would go to ruin her, was almost too much to bear.A knock on the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts. She wiped her eyes quickly and opened it to find Jaxon standing there, his expression serious but soft with concern.“Mimi, you don’t have to do this alone,” he sa
The statement on the screen was straightforward, almost overly basic. A terrifying warning on a number she didn't recognize:"Don’t go to CrossCorp today."Her heart skipped a beat, and she froze, staring at the mysterious lettering with narrowed eyes. The message felt too weird to reply to, yet her hand lingered over the reply. After all, even in the digital realm, living in Las Vegas means putting up with a lot of noise and mayhem, so it might be spam or a practical joke.Mimi shook her head, pushed the phone away, and concentrated on the plans she and Simeon had made. It was meant to be different today. Despite everything that had slipped through their fingers in recent months, today was meant to remind James of what really mattered—the family they had created together. It would be just the two of them, a low-key meal, and perhaps a bit too much champagne. An ideal approach to honor the man who had once given her a sense of importance.She sighed and flung the phone onto the bed, i
Simeon cheered from the backseat, his little hands pressed against the window, his eyes gleaming, still clutching his crumpled birthday card. "Look, Mom! It resembles a castle. The fog of Mimi's thoughts was broken by his words.Mimi looked in the rearview mirror at him. A tiny smile came to her lips, but it was forced, a slender thread of tension in the air. Her chest felt heavy as they drew nearer. The building's weight wasn't the only factor. It was the weight of the promises broken between the walls of the house she had once called home, the memories it held.She tightened her grasp on the steering wheel, forcing herself to focus. This day was meant to be fantastic. a birthday. An opportunity to remind James of their family. Nevertheless, the excitement that accompanied her visits to CrossCorp seemed like a thing of the past.Simeon's naive enthusiasm just made her discomfort worse. Was this the right decision? What was it she had hoped for? James would alter all of a sudden? That
The applause started as soon as she entered the lobby; it was gradual at first, but it seemed to be planned. It was a deafening sound. The intense light from the rapidly flashing cameras was blinding, reflecting off the glass walls and gleaming floors.the woman's chest constricted. In a manner she was unable to describe, she felt vulnerable and exposed, as if every eye in the room was on her, observing, assessing. They weren't waiting for her, though. Simeon's tiny voice was hardly audible as he pulled at her sleeve.“What’s going on, Mom?”Her fingers trembled a little as she tightened her grip on his. She glanced around, but for a brief time, the crowd appeared to thin out, and there he was—James, standing in the middle of the room, his arms out wide as though to greet her, a smile on his face.However, it wasn't James who left her speechless. It was the woman next to him, her palm lightly resting on his breast, her smile premeditated and sly.Mimi's throat tightened each breath. T
Mimi's heart hammered in her chest as she watched Simeon charge toward the front of the room, his small fists shaking furiously. Before she could even notice the movement, he threw the cake box forward, causing its contents to tumble out with a horrible splash. The once-perfect, silky frosting splattered across the glass divider, the crimson icing streaming down in blood-like jagged patterns.There was a startled stillness in the room. As Mimi watched the mess unfold in slow time, her breath stopped in her throat as the cake slid down the surface. Every second felt like it was dragging on as the insanity of the moment took hold. The smooth, immaculate walls of the boardroom suddenly appeared to be a harsh parody of the reality that was collapsing.Simeon stood motionless, his little face twisted with the unfiltered emotion of a child who had just seen something innocent destroyed. His chest ached as he gazed at the devastation he had caused—the remains of a party transformed into an u
"Mimi! Mimi! Are you really leaving James? Will your marriage end because of this? With piercing and accusatory comments, the reporters yelled.Mimi remained silent. She was unable to. She was limited to walking, one step at a time, her gaze focused on the road ahead, the elevator doors getting closer by the second. The security officers stood on either side of them, their bulk forming a barrier between them and the onlookers. However, the incessant, blazing questions persisted even after that.Simeon's face was white and marked with bewilderment as he glanced up at her. "Mom? Why are they posing those questions to you?The knot in her throat grew as she swallowed forcefully. Her voice was tight as she murmured, "Just keep walking, sweetheart." She didn't know the answers. Not for him. Not for herself. All she had to do was get them out. Get out of this nightmare.The doors of the elevator slid silently shut with a final shove, and they were inside. Mimi let out a breath, but it was sh
Mimi sat at her kitchen table, her hands trembling as she stared down at the papers spread before her. The custody battle had consumed her life, but now, with James and Scarlett’s relentless attacks, it felt like she was suffocating. The weight of everything, Simeon’s future, her own sanity, pressed down on her like a suffocating fog. Her phone buzzed once again, another reminder from her lawyer, but she barely had the energy to look at it. She felt defeated.“Why can’t they just leave me alone?” she muttered under her breath, her voice cracking with emotion. She was so tired, tired of the constant fight, tired of the lies, and tired of the endless manipulations. The thought of facing James in court, knowing how far he would go to ruin her, was almost too much to bear.A knock on the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts. She wiped her eyes quickly and opened it to find Jaxon standing there, his expression serious but soft with concern.“Mimi, you don’t have to do this alone,” he sa
Mimi sat on the edge of the couch, her fingers nervously tapping the armrest. The television was on, muted for background noise, until the headline flashed across the screen: Local Businesswoman’s Custody Battle Turns Ugly: Mimi's Past Under Scrutiny. Her heart skipped a beat as the image of Scarlett filled the screen.Mimi leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the television. Scarlett’s face, as polished as ever, was staring back at her. The words that followed felt like ice water poured over her.“She abandoned her husband, and now she’s trying to take Simeon from a family who can give him everything he needs,” Scarlett’s voice echoed through the room, each word sharper than the last. “Mimi’s not fit to be a mother. She’s unstable, unfit, and she’ll stop at nothing to drag Simeon into her chaos. She doesn’t deserve him.”The screen cut back to the news anchor, whose expression was stiff, as though unsure whether to comment on the bombshell just dropped.Mimi’s breath hitched, her hands
Mimi sat in the bustling café, her hands trembling around her coffee cup. The steady murmur of voices around her faded into the background as her mind raced. James’s call earlier had left her rattled, but now, another blow awaited her.As she lifted her cup to her lips, a conversation caught her attention from a nearby table. Two women, chatting casually, leaned in close. One of them mentioned her name, and Mimi froze, her heartbeat quickening.“Did you hear about Mimi?” one of the women whispered, barely audible above the din of the café.Mimi’s stomach dropped.“The custody battle is taking a toll on her. I heard she’s unstable, you know, mentally. She’s not fit to take care of Simeon. It’s probably for the best if he stays with James.” The other woman nodded in agreement, unaware of Mimi’s presence.Mimi clenched her fists, her coffee forgotten as the words from James’s earlier call echoed in her mind. He was playing dirty, using everything in his power to destroy her, including he
Simeon’s sobs broke through the quiet of the apartment, each sound like a desperate plea for help. Mimi rushed to him, her heart pounding as she knelt beside him. His small body was shaking with fear, his face streaked with tears. She reached out, pulling him close, but his trembling only grew stronger. “I don’t want to go with them, Mommy,” he whispered, his voice choked with fear. “I don’t want them to take me.” Mimi’s breath hitched. Her throat tightened as she hugged him, trying to calm him, but a cold knot of dread formed in the pit of her stomach. James was relentless, this wasn’t just a custody battle anymore. This was a war. And she was losing. “Simeon,” she whispered, running her hand through his hair. “No one is going to take you. I won’t let them.” She repeated the words, trying to convince both him and herself. But the uncertainty gnawed at her. She could already hear the wheels of the system turning, and she wasn’t sure she had the strength to stop them. Simeon looked
Mimi sat across from Lyra at their favorite café, the soft hum of quiet chatter in the background. Her fingers twisted the edge of her napkin, her stomach a tight knot of anxiety. The weight of the upcoming custody battle was pressing on her chest, suffocating her. She couldn’t breathe without feeling the strain of it all.“Lyra,” she said, her voice a whisper of fear, “I don’t know how to do this. How do I fight someone like James? He’ll do anything to win.”Lyra, ever calm, met her gaze with understanding. She had always been the steady rock in Mimi’s life, the friend who knew when to push and when to simply listen. “You’re stronger than you think, Mimi. You’ve always been. And you have something he doesn’t, Simeon’s love. Don’t let him play you into thinking otherwise.”Mimi’s eyes filled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, unwilling to let her vulnerability show any further. “I can’t afford to lose him, Lyra. If I do, I... I don’t know what I’ll do.”Lyra reached across
"This is for Mrs. Cross," the courier continued, his voice cold and his eyes distant. "Thank you," Mimi said, removing the envelope from him. She closed the door, her fingers shaking as she flipped the manila envelope over in her palms. It didn't seem appropriate. It was unsettling in its weight. She gingerly sliced the package open and went down onto the couch. Her eyes skimmed the contents fast as she drew out the papers. Then her heart stopped beating. The first line struck her like a gut strike. James Cross wants Simeon in complete custody. The words blurred as she attempted to comprehend them, her thoughts racing. Total custody? It could not be real. The legalese, the seal, the formal phrasing all shouted authenticity, though. The words on the page danced in her head. Complete custody. She could nearly hear James's arrogant voice reverberating in her mind. Anger shot up in her chest. She had to reach Jaxon. Her breath shallow, Mimi picked up her phone and called him. The
"We have to strike back," Jaxon remarked quietly but firmly breaking the stillness between them. Mimi's throat constricted. Arms crossed in front of her, she looked back and forth between him and the screen's figures. "Hit back? What even is that, Jaxon? You want me to make this chaos public? Dark with determination, he turned in his seat to face her. "Not at all." Not only go public. We're going to reclaim everything. Mimi, your efforts developed this firm. Your vision, your effort. They cannot simply wipe you off. Mimi gulped. His comments ignited a dangerous spark in her that she didn't want to admit. He was correct. All she had laboured for, all she had battled for, had been stolen from her. The business, the existence she had created... all of it, gone. But it sounded so risky to take it back, to fight back. It seemed... impossible. Rising in her voice, she remarked, "I can't just walk back into CrossCorp and take control." You have no idea how far this goes. I don't even kn
"Damon Cole," Jaxon muttered, his voice sombre as though he were tasting poison on his tongue. He's the cause of my father's name buried in falsehoods. Agitated, he paced in front of her, hands running over his hair. Damon Cole was the one who framed my father for corporate fraud. Mimi's thoughts rushed to understand it. Damon Cole The name rang out like a curse, the same guy who had tormented Jaxon for years. But there was extra. Not until today has Jaxon ever truly discussed his past. Once the floodgates opened, there was no turning back. "Damon disappeared after CrossCorp went public," Jaxon said, his eyes blazing with rage and bewilderment. But now I understand he was never truly gone. Hiding in the shadows, tugging threads, waiting for the proper time. Standing stationary in the centre of the room, his back to her, he halted. That time is now. Mimi rested her hands on her knees and leaned forward. But why at this time? What does he desire? Jaxon didn't spin around right away.
She grabbed her phone and typed fast, the words flowing more easily now. I don't know who I am any more. Mimi's daydream was pierced by the doorbell, surprising her. Trembling, she put the phone down and got up to answer it. Opening the door, she found Lyra there, her face fixed in a worried expression. Lyra walked over the threshold without saying anything; Mimi didn't even have to invite her inside. Worried, Lyra said, "I've been thinking about you." You are carrying something really weighty. Mimi agreed but remained mum. She took Lyra into the living room, where the table still held scattered pictures. Lyra saw them right away; her eyes darkened as she absorbed them. "Is this about James?" she enquired quietly. Staring at the pictures that had wrecked her world, Mimi's tongue was parched and she nodded once again. Lyra sat down next to her, her expression softening. "I'm sorry, Mimi," she whispered softly. You have to look at this for what it is, though. Scarlett's playing mind