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’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 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
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 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 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
“I don’t know how I’ll manage ten days without my laptop and the internet,” Xavier muttered to himself, stepping onto the cruise ship. His custom-made Italian leather shoes, polished to a high gloss, clicked against the gleaming deck.'But you’ve got to do this, Xavier. For your health. No more sleeping pills.' He kept up a steady stream of self-talk as he walked, eyes scanning the horizon. 'You can handle this. Just ten days. No screens, no stress. Focus on the here and now.'Xavier had argued with his psychiatrist and childhood friend, Dr. Logan Pierce, suggesting he’d be better off on a private yacht where he could stay isolated. But Dr. Pierce had insisted that Xavier needed the social environment of a cruise. Xavier couldn’t understand why. To him, isolation was a luxury all its own, and he could afford the best—Ferraris, personal jets, everything money could buy.The ship’s deck stretched out before him in a stunning sweep of blue. The sky was a wide, clear canvas, with only a f
Another girl giggled, “Guess we’ve got ourselves a new pool toy.”Xavier’s eyes narrowed as he shot a glare at the girl who’d spoken. He then looked down at his drenched, perfectly tailored suit, frustration etched clearly on his face. The fabric clung uncomfortably to him, and he felt the chill of the water seeping through.One of the bikini-clad girls swam closer, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and amusement."Are you... okay?" she asked, biting her lip to keep from laughing. Her concern was undercut by the playful sparkle in her eyes.Another girl added from behind, "You know, you wear wet really well." Her tone was teasing, adding to Xavier’s growing irritation.Xavier gritted his teeth, ignoring the playful comments as he focused on getting out of the pool. "Fantastic," he muttered under his breath, clearly unimpressed by the spectacle he’d become.Xavier’s jaw tightened. His first instinct was to snap back, but as he glanced around, he saw the boy standing at the edge of t
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