The sun hung high in the sky as Xavier pulled into the expansive parking lot of Kingsway Academy, an elite school known for its rigorous academic standards and its reputation for shaping the brightest minds. He glanced at the two children sitting quietly in the back seat, Zane and Alana.“Let’s keep them busy, so I can focus on Calla and convince her to leave for a while,” Xavier thought as he parked the car.He got out of the car and called out, “Come on, get out.”Zane nodded eagerly, while Alana remained quiet, her fingers absently tracing the hem of her dress.“Let’s go,” Xavier said, heading toward the entrance. The twins followed behind, their hands entwined as they navigated through the crowd of parents and students milling around.Inside, the school exuded sophistication, with gleaming marble floors and elegant decor that screamed wealth. Xavier approached the reception desk, where a woman in a sharp blazer greeted him with a warm smile.“Good morning! How can I help you?”“Hi
The words hung in the air like a bombshell, the shock of them rattling Xavier to his core. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his frustration building with each passing second. He wanted to scream, to grab Zane and Alana by the shoulders and shake some sense into them.What the hell had they been thinking, blurting out the truth—no, their version of the truth—in front of Mrs. Jennifer Mason? He could feel the weight of their careless words pressing down on him, the panic rising in his chest.But no matter how much he wanted to lash out, Xavier knew it was too late. The damage was done. His lips curled into a tight, forced smile, the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and that he hoped would mask the storm brewing inside him.“Right,” Mrs. Jennifer Mason said, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.“Your dad? How wonderful! But I’m curious... how did you suddenly become the father of two older kids?” Her voice was sweet, but there was a sharp edge to it, as though she was
Xavier parked the car in front of his building, the imposing structure looming over him as he stepped out. He didn’t want to attend, but he had made a commitment—and he was a man of his word. He had to keep moving forward, no matter how chaotic everything felt.His mind was a whirlwind of frustration, guilt, and uncertainty. He couldn’t shake the weight of the past few months—the sudden arrival of the twins in his life and the constant strain of trying to protect Calla from Drake, along with the pressure to maintain control as everything seemed to be falling apart around him.The seminar was held in a sleek conference center downtown, buzzing with energy as attendees milled about, exchanging business cards and engaging in light conversation. For most, it was a routine networking event—a chance to meet and make deals. The polished exterior of the seminar was a stark contrast to the chaos brewing within him. He felt disconnected, like an actor in someone else’s play, trying to hold it t
Calla wandered through the bustling shopping mall, the vibrant colors and sounds of laughter surrounding her. It was supposed to be a fun outing, a chance to escape the heaviness of her life for a few hours. She came out today to clear her head and get out of the passiveness that had wrapped around her since finding out that Drake was back.But as she moved from store to store, a growing sense of unease settled in her stomach. She felt eyes on her, a sensation that prickled at the back of her neck, making her constantly look over her shoulder.“Get a grip, Calla,” she murmured to herself, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. “You’re just being paranoid.”But the feeling didn’t go away. She quickened her pace, her heart racing as she glanced around. The mall was crowded, people milling about, but no one seemed familiar. With every step, the feeling of being followed intensified, and she made her way toward the parking area,
Drake shoved open the heavy oak doors of the family mansion, the faint smell of lemon polish and fresh-cut roses doing little to cool the fire burning in his chest. The living room was drenched in the golden light of sunset, where Harold Maverick sat in his usual spot, a leather armchair that practically screamed authority.Jessica Maverick, his mother, perched nervously on the sofa beside him, her hands clasped tight like she was holding onto something fragile.Drake barely spared them a glance, mumbling a half-hearted “hey” as he headed for the stairs.“Drake,” Harold barked, his tone sharp and unyielding. “Get over here. We need to talk.”Drake froze mid-step, his shoulders stiffening. With a deep sigh, he turned around, his patience already worn thin.“What now, Dad? I’ve had a hell of a day.”Harold leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, eyes cutting through Drake like a blade.“Did you send those texts to Xavier?”Drake’s chest tightened for a beat, but he kept his face steady
Xavier stepped out of his room, his shirt still damps from his shower, and headed toward Calla’s.Outside, the faint light of dawn was creeping into the sky, the stars still faintly visible but beginning to fade.Last night’s events played on a loop in his mind—the kids’ endless antics, the mountain of responsibilities, and the heated confrontation with Harold. Yet through it all, one thought stayed crystal clear: Calla’s safety.Stopping at her door, he knocked softly.“Calla?” he called, his voice calm but firm.Nothing.He frowned, knocking again before carefully turning the knob. The room was dim, lit by the soft amber glow of a bedside lamp.His gaze swept the space until he spotted her out on the balcony. Calla sat still, her slender figure outlined by the fading moonlight, her head resting against the back of the chair as she gazed up at the retreating stars.Xavier stepped onto the terrace, his movements deliberate but unintrusive.“What’s on your mind, Calla?” he asked, his v
Drake sat cross-legged on the floor of his dimly lit room, the stale air around him heavy with the acrid scent of cigarette smoke. The blinds hung askew, casting slanted shadows across his hunched figure.In one trembling hand, he held a cigarette; in the other, a small vial of white powder. He sniffed sharply, his head snapping back as the powder burned through his senses, momentarily dulling the chaos in his mind.The door creaked open, interrupting his reprieve. Jessica stepped inside, her silhouette outlined by the dim light spilling in from the hallway. She paused in the doorway, her face a mixture of grief and disappointment as she took in the scene.“Drake,” she said softly, her voice trembling.He didn’t look at her, his focus fixed on the cigarette glowing between his fingers.Jessica moved further into the room, her heels clicking softly against the wooden floor. She lowered herself to her knees in front of him, ignoring the discomfort of the hard ground.For a moment, she s
Xavier sat at his polished walnut desk, buried in paperwork, but the weight of everything happening in his life—the kids, the mystery surrounding their origins—kept tugging at his thoughts. The late morning sunlight poured in, casting a golden hue across the room, but it did little to ease the mounting tension in his mind.Ember stormed in, her heels clicking on the floor like she had something to prove. Xavier looked up, caught off guard by the look in her eyes. Her dark hair was a little wild, her jaw tight with anger, and it was clear something was off.“You surprised me,” he said, trying to break the tension with a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.“You surprised me too,” Ember shot back, her voice cold and sharper than he’d ever heard it.Xavier frowned, sitting up straighter. "What happened?"She crossed her arms and stood there, giving him a look that made him feel like she was ready to rip him apart."Why didn’t you tell me you have two kids? And when exactly did you get
The night was still, the city lights casting a soft glow through the windows of Xavier’s apartment. The air in the room felt thick with unspoken words, and yet Ember felt completely at ease as she sat on the couch, her legs crossed, sipping her wine with a casual grace. Her eyes remained on Xavier, who had just finished explaining the entire ordeal with Zane and Alana’s disappearance.Xavier had gone through every detail, recounting the moment he received the news of their vanishing, the fear and terror that had gripped him, and the eventual relief when they were found. But as he spoke, Ember’s gaze drifted away from him, her thoughts clearly somewhere else.Xavier paused mid-sentence, his voice faltering when he realized she hadn’t been listening.“Ember,” he said softly, his brow furrowing.“Are you even listening to me?”Ember’s eyes flickered toward him for a brief moment, her lips curling into a seductive smile. She set her wineglass down, her fingers tracing the rim as if the co
The sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore was soothing, almost hypnotic, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside Ember. She sat on a plush towel, basking under the afternoon sun, surrounded by her group of friends. The warmth of the sun kissed her skin, yet a coldness gnawed at her heart as she watched the carefree laughter of her friends. Each of them was dressed in designer bikinis, their expensive swimwear glistening in the sun, the epitome of wealth and status. Yet, despite the luxury and beauty surrounding her, Ember couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. Or rather, someone.One of her friends, a tall blonde woman named Chloe, lounged beside her, a glass of champagne in hand."Ember, where's Xavier? He’s usually here by now," she asked, her tone casual, but her eyes were sharp with curiosity.Ember’s fingers traced the rim of her glass as she stared out at the horizon."He’s probably busy with his wild children or dying father," she mutte
The air was thick with tension, the weight of the unknown pressing down on Xavier’s chest. Every minute that passed without any sign of Zane and Alana made his worry grow exponentially. The school had been searched from top to bottom, every hallway, every classroom, every corner. The guards, both of the school and Xavier’s, had been dispatched to search the surrounding areas. Still, there was no sign of his children.Xavier’s mind raced, unable to focus on anything other than the image of his kids, missing and alone. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks—he loved them. He loved them in a way that he had never fully recognized before. He thought of the times they had come to him, seeking comfort after a nightmare or needing his help with their schoolwork. He thought of their laughter, their energy, their constant chatter. Now he couldn’t imagine a life without them, but he had never fully allowed himself to admit how deeply they had become a part of his world.He clenched his fi
The drive home felt longer than usual. Xavier’s mind was racing as he tried to process everything that had happened. Thomas was quietly resting in the passenger seat, the therapy session having drained him. His father had barely spoken a word since they left the clinic, and Xavier had allowed the silence to stretch on. It was a rare moment of peace, a chance for Xavier to reflect on the complicated web of emotions that had unfolded between them in recent weeks.When they finally arrived home, Xavier stepped out of the car, his mind still heavy. He was about to head inside when Bella appeared in the doorway, her face pale and strained.“Xavier,” she called, her voice tight with worry.“Zane and Alana haven’t come home yet. It’s already late.”Xavier’s heart skipped a beat. The familiar sense of unease began to settle in his stomach.“What do you mean, they haven’t come home?”Bella stepped forward, glancing nervously down the driveway.“I called their school, but they told me all the s
Xavier’s hand tightened on the steering wheel as he drove through the streets, the familiar hum of the car’s engine a backdrop to the silence in the vehicle. Thomas sat beside him, his frail figure slumped in the passenger seat, his eyes hollow with exhaustion. It was his third round of chemotherapy, and the weight of it was clearly starting to take a toll on him. The physical changes were evident—his once broad frame had thinned considerably, his skin was pale, and his eyes seemed permanently tired. The chemo was slowly breaking him down, but it wasn’t just the disease; it was the emotional strain, the battle that had taken a toll on his spirit.Xavier could feel the tension in the air, the weight of what lay ahead hanging over them both. It had been a long, difficult road, but today felt especially heavy. He was exhausted, not just from the demands of work and family, but from the emotional toll that his strained relationship with Thomas had put on him.When they arrived at the hosp
The soft click of the door opening was barely audible as Bella stepped into Xavier’s study. She had been avoiding him for the past few days, needing space to clear her mind, to understand what was happening in her heart. But today, something in her had snapped. She couldn’t pretend anymore.Xavier was sitting at his desk, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of a lamp. The papers in front of him seemed like an endless blur, each one a reminder of the responsibilities that weighed heavily on his shoulders. He didn’t hear Bella’s footsteps at first, too consumed by the work in front of him.“Xavier,” Bella said quietly, her voice trembling ever so slightly.He looked up, his dark eyes meeting hers, a quiet understanding passing between them as if he had known she was standing there all along.“Bella,” he said, his voice softer than usual.“What’s wrong?”She stepped closer, the words almost stuck in her throat, but she forced them out, her voice breaking with emotion.“I want to leave. I
Xavier sat in the expansive living room of his mansion, the silence enveloping him as he stared out at the manicured gardens outside. The soft hum of the house was a comforting contrast to the chaos he had just returned from in Washington. His mind was still processing the conversation he’d had with Leila, the revelations that had shaken him to his core.As the door to the living room opened, Xavier looked up and found Jacob coming towards him.“Xavier,” Jacob greeted, his tone forced casual as he approached the couch. He sat down across from Xavier, his posture tense, as though he had something important on his mind.Xavier raised an eyebrow, not in the mood for pleasantries.“What’s going on, Jacob? What do you want?”Jacob’s eyes flickered briefly to the side before meeting Xavier’s gaze.“I need your help,” he said, his voice lower now, tinged with an urgency that immediately piqued Xavier’s interest, though not in a good way.“I’m in a tight spot, and I need a loan. A big one.”X
The small café in Washington had a cozy atmosphere, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the soft hum of background chatter. Xavier and Leila sat across from each other, two mugs of coffee placed on the wooden table between them, the steam rising from their cups as an unspoken tension lingered in the air.Xavier took a deep breath, his fingers curling around the mug, seeking warmth as much as solace.Xavier and Leila had left Dr. Priya’s clinic for a while and came to Cafe to have some coffee and discuss few more things while they had a chance."How are you now, Leila?" Xavier asked quietly, his voice uncharacteristically gentle."What does your doctor say?"Leila looked at him for a moment, as if weighing the truth of her response. She glanced down at her hands, fingers resting on the edge of the mug, before lifting her eyes to meet his."Alzheimer’s never cures," she said, her voice tinged with a sense of finality."But the medicine can help control its symptoms. So
Xavier's mind raced as he stepped off the plane in Washington, the weight of the upcoming conversation with Leila heavy on his shoulders. It had been weeks since he last heard her name, and now, after all his searching, he was finally going to face her.His manager, ever efficient, was waiting for him at the airport, greeting him with a slight nod."Mr. Xavier," his manager said, gesturing toward the car."I’ve arranged everything. Dr. Verma’s clinic is just a short drive away."Xavier nodded silently, his thoughts still spinning. There was a knot in his stomach, a mixture of frustration, confusion, and, oddly, anticipation. He had so many questions for Leila. The woman who had vanished from his life, leaving him with Zane and Alana, only to disrupt his world with her sudden disappearance, was finally within reach.The drive felt long, despite the distance being short. Xavier's mind kept circling back to the same question: Why had she disappeared? What had driven her to leave her niec