POV: LAUREN“No! Don’t do that; it’s dangerous!” I shouted, running toward him as he started thrashing in the water, swallowing large gulps and sinking. “Hold on, I’m coming to save you!”Without thinking twice, I dove into the lake and swam with all my strength until I reached him. His small arms wrapped tightly around my neck, his sobs loud, his body trembling with fear.“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe now,” I murmured softly, trying to calm him as I held him firmly. “I’m going to get you back to dry land, alright? Just trust me.”Carefully, I swam back to the shore, keeping the boy close, feeling his desperation gradually ease. Once I reached the land, I gently laid him on the ground, making sure he was alright.“I’m scared,” he whimpered, clutching onto me even tighter, his voice trembling. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”“Oh, my sweet boy…” my eyes filled with tears, and I pulled him into a tight embrace, trying to offer him comfort. “Your parents need you to say goodby
POV: HENRYA single second was enough for him to disappear. In the distance, I heard his screams. The sound of his panicked voice calling for me made my chest tighten and my breathing falter.“Help, Uncle Henry, please!” Theodor screamed, his voice filled with desperation. “She’s going to die!”“Theodor!” I shouted back, my heart racing. A chill ran down my spine, and sweat dripped from my forehead as I sprinted through the cemetery, ignoring everything around me. I followed his voice until I reached the lake.There he was, standing at the edge of the water, pointing frantically at something I couldn’t yet see.“You have to save her!” he cried, his voice trembling, his wide eyes brimming with tears.I hurried over, frowning as I tried to process his words.“What are you talking about, Theodor? Who?” I asked, trying to make sense of it all while gasping for air from the run.“The fairy is drowning!” he shouted, his innocence evident in the urgency of his tone.I stopped for a moment, co
POV: LAURENWater was still dripping from my hair and clothes, leaving a wet trail behind me as I walked toward the gates of my family’s mansion. I frowned when I noticed a moving truck parked at the main entrance, with several men loading furniture, paintings, and boxes into the vehicle as if they were mere disposable items. My chest tightened as I ran toward one of the men carrying the old grandfather clock my father had cherished so much.“What’s going on here? Who authorized this?” My voice came out louder than I expected, filled with desperation.“Ma’am, please remain calm,” the man said, avoiding my gaze and quickening his pace toward the truck.Not satisfied with his vague response, I rushed to stop the next mover, grabbing his arm firmly.“These things belong to my father!” I shouted nervously. “You can’t just come into our home and take everything like this!”A man in a pristine suit and thick glasses approached slowly, holding a clipboard in his hands. Adjusting his glasses,
POV: LAURENI was washing dishes in the back of the restaurant, the smell of food and detergent clinging to my already worn-out uniform. Kate had recommended me for the job, hoping to help me rebuild my life. There wasn’t much to learn here—clean, wash, repeat. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a way to make some money. There was no room for pride, not with debts piling up and my mother needing care.“Lauren!” The impatient voice of the manager made me look up. “Table four, now!”I sighed, wiping my hands on my apron before leaving the kitchen. I knew I shouldn’t take too long, but as I glanced at the indicated table, my stomach churned. Sitting there, with smug smiles, were Ethan and Violet.My ex-husband was as impeccable as ever, wearing a suit that probably cost more than everything I had in the bank. Violet, sitting beside him, looked like a model in a tight dress, her expression radiating superiority. My feet nearly froze on the spot, but I knew I had no choice.Swallowing hard, I
POV: HENRYWe were having lunch at a pleasant restaurant Lucian had suggested—something more casual to meet the new nanny who might help me with Theo. According to my friend, “Someone who understands the boy better,” as Lucian had put it. “A female figure who might fill the void he feels.”I could barely focus on the food while Theodor played with the juice in front of him, clearly uninterested in everything. I was already growing frustrated with the lack of progress in our relationship.Lucian, as always, seemed relaxed, observing quietly. He finally spoke, breaking the silence.“Henry, maybe you’re looking at this the wrong way.”I sighed, dropping my utensils onto the plate harder than I intended.“And what would the right way be, Lucian? Please, enlighten me with your wisdom.”He just laughed.“Theodor needs this. You’re not failing because you require a little help with the boy. It’ll be good to have someone who understands him, who knows how to handle the pain he’s going through
POV: LAURENI watched that arrogant, imposing man in his impeccable suit walk away, hand in hand with the adorable boy with bright eyes. The boy, however, kept looking back, his sad expression mirroring what I felt inside.“I understand your pain,” I thought, feeling the tightness in my chest. He was so young, facing something so difficult.Suddenly, the boy let go of his hand and ran back to me, gripping the fabric of my clothes with determination.“Please, fairy, you like me, don’t you?” he asked with captivating sweetness, blinking his eyelashes innocently. “I promise I’ll behave. Stay with me!”I held his small hands, surprised and thoughtful.“Of course I like you, my brave little one,” I replied with a smile, watching relief light up his face.“Then you’ll take care of me?” he asked hopefully, bouncing with excitement as he swung my hands.“And? Will you accept?” That firm, commanding voice interrupted, drawing my attention. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, radiating the
POV: LAURENWe stopped in front of the imposing mansion gates, and I couldn’t help but glance around in admiration. It was larger and more grand than the house I grew up in. I felt small, warm hands clutching mine. Looking down, I was met with Theodor’s sweetest and most innocent smile.Was this what it felt like to have a child by your side? My heart tightened at the thought that soon I’d be holding my own child’s tiny hands.“Come on, Fairy!” Theo exclaimed with the typical excitement of a child. “I want to show you the house. There are so many places to play!”Before I could say anything, he was already tugging at my hand, leading me inside. The entrance was just as impressive as the exterior. We moved toward the staircase when we heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat behind us.“Did you forget about me?” Henry’s firm, commanding voice filled the space, cutting through Theo’s enthusiasm. He stood in the hallway, casually yet dominantly poised, one hand in his po
POV: LAURENAfter my conversation with Henry Carter and under his ever-skeptical gaze, I left the office feeling drained. One of the housemaids guided me to the room adjacent to Theodor’s. After a quick shower, I noticed a tray of fruits and juice placed strategically on the small table next to the bed. Besides, it was a piece of letterhead titled “House Schedule” and, just below, “Theodor Carter’s Agenda.”Sitting on the bed, I picked up the paper curiously. The schedule was meticulous, detailing times for almost every imaginable activity. I had the distinct feeling that if I looked closely enough, there might even be a scheduled time for bathroom breaks.“Henry Carter doesn’t mess around when it comes to control,” I murmured, taking a sip of juice as I flipped through the pages.When I reached Theodor’s agenda, my expression shifted to something between disbelief and concern. The routine was exhausting, even for an adult. It included language lessons, traditional school curriculum s
POV: LAURENTheodor walked in through the door, quieter than usual. His shoulders were slightly slumped, his eyes unfocused, and the oversized headphones covering his ears made him look even smaller than his seven years. He gave me a quick half-hug—weak, almost mechanical, the kind you give out of politeness or obligation—not the warm kind he used to give out of affection. Then he went straight to the kitchen, where he knew my mother would be. Lately, he seemed to seek her arms more than mine. It was as if the two of them were clinging to each other just to breathe.“Did something happen when you picked him up?” I asked Kate, not even trying to hide my concern as I watched my son disappear down the hallway.She looked uneasy, biting her nail and avoiding my eyes. A clear sign that she’d done something.“I think Theo is more perceptive than we give him credit for,” she said
POV: HENRYI took a step closer and saw fear return to her eyes.“The only woman I’ve ever loved, still love, and will always love is Lauren Becker. And I don’t give a damn if our marriage is over. My feelings for her didn’t die. And they never will,” I declared.Lucian watched me as if he’d just heard something he hadn’t expected. Mia, on the other hand, snapped. Clenching her fists, she lunged forward like a raging wild animal.“Lie!” she screamed, trying to hit me. “Liar!”But Lucian moved fast and grabbed her, pinning her arms down as she thrashed like a tantrum-throwing child.“Let me go, you piece of shit!” she yelled. “This is between him and me! Get out of my way, or I swear I’ll destroy that second-rate nanny’s life!”Second-rate nanny.
POV: HENRY“Mia, darling…” I whispered, sliding one hand gently across her face, as if there was tenderness in my touch. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking she was winning. That’s when my hand slipped down to her neck—firm. And then I squeezed.“H-Henry…” she gasped, her breath faltering, her eyes going wide as I forced her back against the table. Her arms pushed weakly against my chest, but she had no strength. “You’re hurting me!”I leaned in closer, pressing my lips near her ear. My voice came out low, cold as ice.“This… is nowhere near what you and that bastard James deserve.” My fingers tightened. “You drugged me. Exposed me. I tried to destroy what I have with Lauren. Dragged my name through the mud, thinking I’d just stay quiet? Did you really think you’d get away with it?”She squirmed, stammering, her eyes brimming with tears.“H-How… how do you know?” she mumbled, shocked.She tried to kick me, but I raised my knee, pressing it hard against her legs, pinning her in
POV: HENRY“Seriously,” she went on, running a hand through her hair in frustration, “is it really that hard to accept her completely? Is that what’s stopping you? One detail that doesn’t change who she is?”“Your friend lied to me,” I said more to myself than to her, trying to justify a pain I couldn’t even explain anymore. I was tired—exhausted from repeating it to myself and from hearing Lucian try to get me to see the other side.“Send my regards,” I added, bitterness lacing my voice, about to close the door.Kate stepped closer, her eyes blazing with indignation.“Grow up, Mr. Carter. You’re a businessman, right? Someone used to seeing the big picture? So why now can you only see what hurts you?” She took a deep breath, her voice shaking, but still steady. “Lauren wanted to tell you the truth. It was my idea that she didn’t. I begged her. I was afraid you’d throw her away like Ethan did—afraid I’d watch her fall apart again… because she already loved you.”Her words hit me like a
POV: HENRY“But I saw it in the paper… I saw the pictures,” he huffed, frustrated, crossing his arms tightly. “The fairy owned up to her mistake… You should own yours too.”“And I will,” I sighed, biting the inside of my cheek. “But not right now. I need to clear my head. For real.” I paused and swallowed hard. “But I swear to you, Theo, I didn’t cheat on her. I was set up, and now I have proof.”“So… can we go after the fairy?” His eyes lit up with hope.A tightness gripped my chest at the purity of that request. But the answer wasn’t simple.“No, Theo. I might not have cheated, but Lauren betrayed me differently. She kept things from me… lied. Made me believe in a dream without telling me the whole story.” My voice broke, but I still pulled him closer. “Don’
POV: HENRYI stood there for a long time, watching the car disappear into the distance, in complete silence. The sound of the tires on the road felt too far away, muffled by the pressure in my chest. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think about anything except the image of her leaving. Lauren. My Lauren.My hands were cold, yet I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to contain the chaos inside me. I slipped my hand into my pocket and touched something that made me freeze for a moment. I pulled out the little pink baby shoes. Those tiny pieces of fabric felt like they weighed a ton in my hand. I sat on the steps of the mansion’s staircase, staring at the shoes as if they were the only thing left of the family I almost had.I was ready to be a father. Something I never thought I’d want, but she changed me. Lauren came in and turned all my certainties upside down. She made me see a future I didn’t know existed,
POV: LAURENHe then turned to Carter, pointing a finger at him with indignation; his voice choked but filled with a courage that seemed bigger than him.“I thought you’d protect our family! That you’d take care of the fairy and my sister the way you take care of me!” His voice cracked in a sob, but he kept going. “But just because they don’t have your blood, you think you can throw them away?! I hate you for that!”Before any of us could react, Theodor turned and ran off, slamming the bedroom door hard before locking himself inside. The sound echoed through the entire house.I stood frozen, as if my body had shut down. My hands were shaking, my chest was burning, and the silence that followed was deafening. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do. All I could feel was the weight of the world crushing my shoulders while the heart of a child shattered
POV: LAURENI lifted my head immediately, not sure if I had heard him right. My lips parted, unable to process what he had just said.“Theo, you’re too young to understand,” I said with difficulty, trying to stay calm. “This baby doesn’t have your uncle’s blood and—”“So what?” he cut me off, his voice choked, eyes brimming with tears as he stared at me. “Uncle Henry raises me like a son, and he’s not my dad. But he loves me like he is!”“It’s different, little man. You have my blood—you’re my nephew,” Henry sighed heavily, standing up and pulling Theo into a hug.But Theodor shoved him away forcefully.“Then take my blood out!” he shouted, angrily stretching out his arm. “Take it out and put it in the baby; that way you’ll accept her as your
POV: LAURENI took a step forward, arms outstretched, but he stepped back, his eyes shining with pain and fear. My chest tightened from his rejection.“I love you. You will always be my son,” I continued, my voice faltering. “And of course you’ll be able to see your sister. That won’t change.”“It’s a girl?” He stopped retreating. His eyes widened in surprise, then slowly dropped to my belly. He stared at it like he was only just now realizing the truth. “I want to see her every day. I want to play with her, sing her to sleep, give her baths, and tell her stories. You can’t leave. I won’t let you. I want Grandma here too!”“Theodor, please, listen to me.” I tried once again, my whole body trembling.“No!” he shouted in anger, and in a sudden burst, he threw his backpack hard to the floor. The sharp thud echoed through the room. “I won’t lose my family again!” His eyes filled with tears, and his breathing was ragged. “Where’s Uncle Henry? Why is he letting this happen?”“Theo…” I tried