The sun was setting as Calla walked through the house, her mind set on one thing: she needed to get away from the suffocating atmosphere that surrounded her every day. The house felt smaller with each passing moment, and the tension was unbearable. She had been living in this nightmare for far too long, and today, she was determined to take a step for herself.She found Drake sitting in the living room, a scowl etched across his face. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was sniffing some white powder—cocaine. It was a sight she had seen far too many times, and it disgusted her to her core. Her body tensed as she approached him, but she kept her voice steady, despite the anger building up inside her.“Drake,” she said, her voice tight with emotion. “I need to go shopping. Take me.”Drake looked at her, a sneer on his face as he casually dropped the bag of powder onto the table. His hands were shaking, but his words were colder than ever.“No,” he spat, his voice rough. “I’m not taking yo
The sun was setting as Calla walked through the house, her mind set on one thing: she needed to get away from the suffocating atmosphere that surrounded her every day. The house felt smaller with each passing moment, and the tension was unbearable. She had been living in this nightmare for far too long, and today, she was determined to take a step for herself.She found Drake sitting in the living room, a scowl etched across his face. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was sniffing some white powder—cocaine. It was a sight she had seen far too many times, and it disgusted her to her core. Her body tensed as she approached him, but she kept her voice steady, despite the anger building up inside her.“Drake,” she said, her voice tight with emotion. “I need to go shopping. Take me.”Drake looked at her, a sneer on his face as he casually dropped the bag of powder onto the table. His hands were shaking, but his words were colder than ever.“No,” he spat, his voice rough. “I’m not taking yo
The atmosphere in Xavier’s mansion was tense, as it often was. Zane and Alana, Xavier’s young twins, had come to his room with pleading faces. They had been asking to go to a funland with their classmates, their excitement barely contained as they stood in front of him."Xavier, please! We want to go!" Zane’s voice was full of youthful enthusiasm, while Alana, standing beside him, nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with expectation. The two were inseparable, and when they wanted something, it was hard to resist their pleading faces.Xavier, however, wasn’t feeling so generous. His brow furrowed as he looked down at them. They were young, impulsive, and mischievous, always causing trouble wherever they went.“No,” Xavier said firmly, crossing his arms. “I’m not letting you go alone. You two can’t be trusted to behave, and I’m not going to risk it. Funland or not, it’s not happening.”Zane immediately scowled, his bottom lip jutting out in a way that made Xavier’s irritation flare. “But Xa
Xavier stood outside Ember's lavish apartment building, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He had come here intentionally, hoping that the familiar surroundings of Ember’s world would bring him back to himself. Although he had asked her to leave him alone that night, but now he wanted her to make him get out of charm of Bella. He needed to shake off the thoughts of Bella that had been plaguing him ever since that unsettling encounter in his room. The memory of her body so close to his, the warmth of her breath, and the look in her eyes still lingered, refusing to leave him.With a deep breath, Xavier pushed through the door and entered the building. The moment he stepped inside, the familiar scent of Ember’s perfume hit him, mixed with the soft, rich ambiance of her home. He made his way to her penthouse, his steps heavy with the burden of his thoughts.Ember was already waiting for him by the door, her radiant smile lighting up the room as she greeted him. She was dressed
The waiting room of the hospital was sterile and quiet, save for the muffled sounds of footsteps echoing from the hallway. Xavier sat in a chair across from his father, Thomas, who was sitting in a wheelchair. His leg was still in recovery, and the cast that encased his leg reminded Xavier of how frail his father had become. The strong, reckless man who had once towered over him now looked old, and diminished. The weight of their complicated history hung heavy in the air, but today, there was something else—an unspoken tension that neither of them could escape.Xavier looked at his father, who stared straight ahead, his hands resting on the armrests of the wheelchair. For a brief moment, Xavier felt a flicker of sympathy. He never thought he’d be in a place where he felt sorry for Thomas, the man who had never once made him feel seen, heard, or valued. But today was different. Today, everything has changed."Dad," Xavier began, his voice surprisingly gentle, "There's something we nee
Xavier stood before the mirror in his room, adjusting his tie with meticulous care. His mind was already at the office, but his body lingered in the quiet, momentary stillness of the morning. He took a moment to appreciate the soft hum of the mansion, the scent of coffee in the air from downstairs. For a fleeting second, everything felt… ordinary. But just as quickly, his thoughts were interrupted by the shrill sound of his phone ringing.He glanced down at the screen. It was his manager.With a sigh, he answered,"Xavier here.""Mr. Xavier, I’ve found her," the manager's voice came through the phone, clear but laced with an unspoken tension.Xavier froze. His breath hitched as his heart skipped a beat."Do you mean Leila?""Yes, Leila," his manager responded, and the world seemed to shift around Xavier. He gripped the phone tighter, a mix of disbelief and sudden urgency surging through him."I’ve been tracking visitors to Dr. Priya Verma’s clinic, and I spotted her. Leila was there—s
Xavier stepped out of his room, the weight of the call still heavy in his chest. The news he had just received was monumental, but his mind was far from settled. He needed answers—answers that could only come from Leila. His every step was charged with a singular focus. As he passed down the hallway, the soft hum of the house was broken by the sound of voices from the living room.He turned the corner and found Bella sitting on the couch, a book in her hands. Her expression was serene, though her eyes seemed distant, lost in thought. When she heard the soft click of the door, she looked up."Good morning," Bella greeted him with a gentle smile, her voice warm as always. .Xavier came closer to her and broke the news,"I’ve found her," he said suddenly, his voice steady but filled with something deeper—relief, anticipation, perhaps even a touch of fear.Bella's eyes widened slightly, though her face remained composed. She set the book down and stood, crossing the room toward him."You
Xavier sat at the corner table of the bustling restaurant, his friends laughing and talking around him. The warmth of the afternoon sun poured through the windows, casting a golden hue over the scene. Despite the laughter and the lighthearted conversations, Xavier felt a heaviness in his chest. His mind kept drifting back to Leila. He wasn’t sure how things would unfold when he finally met her again. What would he say? What questions would he ask?His thoughts were interrupted by the waitress offering the bill. Xavier nodded and reached for his wallet, standing up to leave. As he turned to exit, something caught his eye—something unexpected.There, across the room, in the far corner of the restaurant, was Calla.She was sitting alone, a mug of coffee in front of her. Her face looked pale, her body slightly hunched, as though the weight of the world was resting on her shoulders. Xavier’s heart skipped a beat, an unfamiliar pang of concern rising within him. He hadn’t expected to see he
The evening sky was painted in breathtaking hues of orange, pink, and soft gold as the sun dipped lower toward the horizon, casting a warm glow across the tranquil beach. The vast canvas above them looked like something out of a dream—streaks of color melting into each other as if the heavens themselves were sighing in contentment. The ocean responded with grace, its waves dancing rhythmically to the quiet lullaby of the wind, their foam-tipped crests glowing beneath the fading light.A gentle, salty breeze rolled off the water, brushing against Bella’s skin like a whispered caress, tousling her hair and kissing her cheeks. She stood barefoot, toes curled slightly into the cool, soft sand, her heart full and yet still not quite ready to believe the peace that now wrapped itself around her like a blanket. It felt surreal—like standing inside a moment suspended in time, one she never wanted to end.She glanced to her side and found Xavier there, his tall frame motionless yet somehow anc
The journey back home from the hospital felt surreal for Bella. Everything she’d been through—the pain, the fear, the moments when hope felt like a fragile thread—lingered in her chest like shadows. But now, as she stepped through the familiar doorway of her home, the scent of lavender and vanilla greeted her like a long-lost friend. A wave of warmth and safety wrapped around her like a soft blanket, and for the first time in weeks, her shoulders relaxed.She was finally home.Before she could take another step, two small bodies rushed toward her, wrapping her in tight, desperate embraces."Mommy!" Zane cried, his voice trembling with joy as he buried his face against her stomach. His little arms clung to her as though he was afraid she might disappear again."We missed you so much!" Alana added, her voice catching with emotion as she clung to Bella’s arm, her cheek pressed tightly against her mother's sleeve.Tears spilled freely from Bella’s eyes. She knelt slowly, her body still te
A soft beeping echoed in the hospital room. The first thing Bella felt was warmth—her body felt light, her mind hazy as if she had been floating in darkness for a long time. She blinked slowly, her eyelashes fluttering as the world came back into focus. The sterile white walls, the dim glow of the bedside lamp, the faint scent of antiseptic… she was still in the hospital.Her throat was dry, and her body ached, but when she shifted slightly, she realized—she was awake.A soft gasp escaped her lips as she registered the sound of footsteps rushing toward her. The next second, she felt a warm, strong hand grasping hers.“Bella…?”She turned her head toward the familiar voice, and her gaze met Xavier’s. He was standing beside her bed, his dark eyes filled with a storm of emotions—relief, joy, pain, and something deeper, something raw and unguarded.Tears welled in Bella’s eyes as she whispered, “Xavier…?”He exhaled a shaky breath, his hand squeezing hers tightly as if afraid she would di
The hospital room was shrouded in a heavy silence, broken only by the steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor that echoed like a soft heartbeat in the otherwise lifeless space. The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the air, mixing with the sterile chill that only hospitals seemed to possess. Outside the window, the city lights flickered like distant stars, indifferent to the quiet war of emotions unfolding inside.Xavier sat slumped in the chair beside the bed, his broad frame hunched forward as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. His fingers trembled slightly as they traced slow, tender circles on the back of Bella’s hand, which felt cold and fragile in his grasp. Her skin, once warm and full of life, now looked ghostly against the clinical white sheets. Her chest rose and fell in small, barely noticeable breaths—each one a silent thread tethering her to life.He stared at her face for a long time, memorizing every detail—the gentle curve of her cheek, the wa
Calla lay in the hospital bed, her body still sore from the wounds Drake had inflicted upon her. The sterile scent of antiseptics filled the air, and the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor echoed softly in the quiet room. Though her body ached, her heart felt lighter. She was safe now.Harold admitted her here. She knew he saved her—not out of love or guilt, but to prevent yet another crime from being added to Drake’s list. Although he wanted to take her to Xavier, Calla's rough condition and rotting wounds forced him to take her to a hospital for first aid.After getting admitted in hospital, Harold asked her where she wanted to go and to whom he should call. As he had to leave. Then Calla called Xavier and the staff at the mansion told her that he was already in the hospital.The staff also told her that Bella underwent a cesarean and she was in a coma.She knew it wasn't the right time to Calla Xavier. So, she called Logan instead and asked Harold to leave and let Logan take car
The cold hospital walls closed in on Xavier as he stood outside the operation theater, his heart pounding violently in his chest. The long, agonizing wait made every second stretch endlessly, filling the air with suffocating dread. His fists clenched as he paced the hallway, his mind racing with prayers and fears.Finally, the door swung open, and Bella’s gynecologist stepped out, her expression heavy with exhaustion and concern. She removed her surgical mask and exhaled before speaking.“Mr. Xavier, the surgery was complicated.” Her voice was calm yet filled with an underlying gravity that made Xavier’s stomach drop.He swallowed hard. “Is Bella…?” His voice cracked, unable to finish the question.The doctor gave him a reassuring yet solemn look. “She has given birth to a baby boy.”For a moment, the world stood still. A son. His son. The weight of those words pressed down on his chest like an invisible force.But before relief could settle, the doctor continued.“However, there were
The heavy sound of boots stomping across the marble floor sent a chill down Jessica’s spine. She turned around sharply, her breath catching in her throat as she saw him—Drake.He stood in the doorway, his clothes disheveled, his hair a mess, and his face twisted with rage. His eyes were bloodshot, and his grip on the gun in his hand was firm.Jessica felt the blood drain from her face. "Drake, what are you doing here? The police are looking for you!"Drake ignored her. His furious gaze was locked on Harold. His father stood in the center of the living room, his expression tense but composed."You let her go!" Drake snarled, stepping closer, his hands trembling around the gun. "You betrayed me, Dad! You helped that traitor escape!"Harold exhaled slowly, his heart pounding. "I did what I had to do, Drake."Drake let out a bitter laugh. "You HAD to do it? You HAD to betray your own son?" His voice cracked with hysteria. "Do you even realize what you've done? That woman ruined everything
The apartment reeked of stale alcohol and the acrid sting of cigarette smoke, a suffocating blend that clung to the peeling wallpaper and worn carpet. Dim, flickering light from the streetlamp outside seeped in through the dusty blinds, casting long, distorted shadows across the cramped room like silent ghosts. The air was thick—heavy with despair.Harold stepped in cautiously, the floorboards creaking beneath his weight. His chest tightened, every breath catching like a stone lodged in his throat. A gnawing dread coiled in his stomach.There, sprawled out on the tattered, sweat-stained sofa, lay Drake—motionless but alive. His chest rose and fell in shallow, erratic breaths. One arm dangled limply over the edge, fingers barely touching the half-empty bottle of whiskey resting against the floor. His eyes were open but glazed over, pupils dilated like black holes, and his pale face was slick with sweat. The stench of vomit and intoxication clung to him like a second skin.Harold’s eyes
Xavier burst into the hospital, shouting for a doctor, his voice hoarse with desperation and fear. His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest, his breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps as he clutched Bella tightly in his arms.A team of nurses immediately rushed to them, urgency etched into every movement. They swiftly guided him toward a gurney, gently easing Bella from his arms. The moment his hands let go of her, a hollow ache opened in his chest. He hated the distance, even if it was just a few feet.“Please—please help her,” he whispered, but the nurses were already at work, checking her vitals, lifting her limp body with clinical precision. Her face was pale as snow, lips tinged with blue, blood staining her nightgown like a warning.He stood frozen as they wheeled her away, the sound of squeaking wheels echoing in the sterile corridor like gunshots. The air around him felt too bright, too white, too loud. Everything blurred at the edges.The gynecologist, Dr. Hayes, arrived