Xavier sat in his room, his mind still swirling with the events of the day, an unrelenting storm of thoughts and emotions that refused to settle. His frustration had been steadily mounting, each passing hour adding to the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him like a crushing load.He had tried—tried to accept, tried to be patient with Zane and Alana—but the constant chaos they brought into his life was starting to wear him thin. The noise, the mess, the endless string of antics that demanded his attention—it was all unraveling him from the inside out. How much longer could he keep up this façade of calm, this pretense of control, when every fiber of his being felt like it was fraying?Suddenly, a scream shattered the stillness of the house, the sound piercing the quiet like a dagger and sending a cold jolt down his spine. It wasn’t just any scream; it was a chilling, desperate cry that carried with it an unmistakable note of terror. His heart leaped into a frantic rhythm
Xavier exhaled deeply, the weight of his frustration bearing down on him as he rubbed a hand over his face. His fingers lingered for a moment, as though trying to physically wipe away the tension that had settled there. The events of the night had pushed him to his limits, and he could feel his patience thinning to the point of snapping. When he finally spoke, his voice was measured but laced with weariness."I’m not going to sugarcoat this, Clara," he began, his tone firm yet tinged with a hint of regret. "You have to be strong for them. They need stability and structure—someone who can manage their energy and their... behavior. But if you can’t do it, then I’ll find someone else." His gaze softened slightly as he added, "I won’t have you put yourself at risk like this. It’s not fair to you, and it’s not sustainable."Clara’s face betrayed a flicker of emotion—relief, perhaps, or frustration. She didn’t say anything, simply nodding before stepping away. Xavier turned his attention ba
Calla stood among her friends, their laughter weaving through the air like a familiar song. They were chatting about their lives, about the little things that didn’t matter much but seemed to fill the gaps in their days.On the surface, everything felt lighthearted and carefree, their voices blending into the hum of the bustling café. But while Calla smiled and nodded along, only half-listening, a part of her mind wandered elsewhere, unable to fully engage with the moment.Her thoughts were tangled up in the storm waiting for her at home. She couldn’t stop thinking about the growing distance between her and Xavier—the unspoken tension that seemed to hang in the air whenever they were together. Then there was the chaos caused by Zane and Alana, who always seemed to bring disorder wherever they went, stirring up trouble like it was second nature. And, of course, there was Drake.The thought of him made her stomach twist into knots. She couldn’t shake the image of him sitting alone in th
Xavier had walked for several blocks, his mind consumed with thoughts of Zane and Alana’s troublesome behavior, the uncertainty of their future, and the overwhelming responsibility that weighed heavily on his shoulders.His visit to the school had been unfruitful, and the confrontation with Bella Abram earlier had only reinforced his belief that she wasn’t going to help him with his children.Still, the idea of her—her calming presence, the connection she had forged with his children, and the promise of her wisdom—lingered in his mind. He needed someone like her. He couldn’t manage it on his own, and if she would just agree to be there for Zane and Alana, perhaps they could finally find some peace.So, he decided to go to her apartment, to give it one last shot.Xavier stood in front of the apartment door, knocking with a firm but respectful rap. The door swung open, and Bella's face immediately softened with surprise, though a hint of irritation flickered in her eyes. Before she coul
The hum of the busy café enveloped Xavier and Logan, the cacophony of conversations blending with the clinking of cups and plates. It was the kind of place where people gathered to catch up, to share stories, or simply to escape the demands of their day-to-day lives. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung thick in the air, mingling with the faint scent of baked goods.Xavier sat stiffly in his chair, his hands wrapped around a steaming cup of black coffee. His posture was uncharacteristically tense, and his eyes remained fixed on the swirling liquid inside the ceramic mug.Around them, the café bustled with activity—baristas called out drink orders, groups of friends laughed loudly at a corner table, and couples leaned in close, lost in private conversations. But none of it seemed to register with Xavier. His thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by a woman who had unexpectedly—and irrevocably—woven herself into his life.Logan, seated across the table, observed the scene with his usual
“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
Xavier stepped out onto the deck, the morning air crisp against his skin as the horizon stretched before him, bathed in shades of gold and pink. The soft light danced on the waves, creating a serene, picture-perfect morning.Yet, despite the beauty of the scene, Xavier remained unmoved.‘I shouldn’t have listened to Logan,’ Xavier thought bitterly as he gripped the railing, inhaling the fresh sea breeze. He wasn’t expecting much from this trip—it was a forced break, thrust upon him by his well-meaning friend. But already, it felt like a prison, surrounded by everything he loathed—families, kids, noise."What am I even doing here?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head.But as much as he hated to admit it, last night had been the first real sleep he’d had in weeks. Without the sleeping pills he’d grown dependent on, he’d slept through the night. ‘Maybe it was the spa,’ he thought, his mind wandering.“Hey… how’s it going?” A warm, inviting voice broke through his thoughts.He turned
The hum of the busy café enveloped Xavier and Logan, the cacophony of conversations blending with the clinking of cups and plates. It was the kind of place where people gathered to catch up, to share stories, or simply to escape the demands of their day-to-day lives. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung thick in the air, mingling with the faint scent of baked goods.Xavier sat stiffly in his chair, his hands wrapped around a steaming cup of black coffee. His posture was uncharacteristically tense, and his eyes remained fixed on the swirling liquid inside the ceramic mug.Around them, the café bustled with activity—baristas called out drink orders, groups of friends laughed loudly at a corner table, and couples leaned in close, lost in private conversations. But none of it seemed to register with Xavier. His thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by a woman who had unexpectedly—and irrevocably—woven herself into his life.Logan, seated across the table, observed the scene with his usual
Xavier had walked for several blocks, his mind consumed with thoughts of Zane and Alana’s troublesome behavior, the uncertainty of their future, and the overwhelming responsibility that weighed heavily on his shoulders.His visit to the school had been unfruitful, and the confrontation with Bella Abram earlier had only reinforced his belief that she wasn’t going to help him with his children.Still, the idea of her—her calming presence, the connection she had forged with his children, and the promise of her wisdom—lingered in his mind. He needed someone like her. He couldn’t manage it on his own, and if she would just agree to be there for Zane and Alana, perhaps they could finally find some peace.So, he decided to go to her apartment, to give it one last shot.Xavier stood in front of the apartment door, knocking with a firm but respectful rap. The door swung open, and Bella's face immediately softened with surprise, though a hint of irritation flickered in her eyes. Before she coul
Calla stood among her friends, their laughter weaving through the air like a familiar song. They were chatting about their lives, about the little things that didn’t matter much but seemed to fill the gaps in their days.On the surface, everything felt lighthearted and carefree, their voices blending into the hum of the bustling café. But while Calla smiled and nodded along, only half-listening, a part of her mind wandered elsewhere, unable to fully engage with the moment.Her thoughts were tangled up in the storm waiting for her at home. She couldn’t stop thinking about the growing distance between her and Xavier—the unspoken tension that seemed to hang in the air whenever they were together. Then there was the chaos caused by Zane and Alana, who always seemed to bring disorder wherever they went, stirring up trouble like it was second nature. And, of course, there was Drake.The thought of him made her stomach twist into knots. She couldn’t shake the image of him sitting alone in th
Xavier exhaled deeply, the weight of his frustration bearing down on him as he rubbed a hand over his face. His fingers lingered for a moment, as though trying to physically wipe away the tension that had settled there. The events of the night had pushed him to his limits, and he could feel his patience thinning to the point of snapping. When he finally spoke, his voice was measured but laced with weariness."I’m not going to sugarcoat this, Clara," he began, his tone firm yet tinged with a hint of regret. "You have to be strong for them. They need stability and structure—someone who can manage their energy and their... behavior. But if you can’t do it, then I’ll find someone else." His gaze softened slightly as he added, "I won’t have you put yourself at risk like this. It’s not fair to you, and it’s not sustainable."Clara’s face betrayed a flicker of emotion—relief, perhaps, or frustration. She didn’t say anything, simply nodding before stepping away. Xavier turned his attention ba
Xavier sat in his room, his mind still swirling with the events of the day, an unrelenting storm of thoughts and emotions that refused to settle. His frustration had been steadily mounting, each passing hour adding to the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him like a crushing load.He had tried—tried to accept, tried to be patient with Zane and Alana—but the constant chaos they brought into his life was starting to wear him thin. The noise, the mess, the endless string of antics that demanded his attention—it was all unraveling him from the inside out. How much longer could he keep up this façade of calm, this pretense of control, when every fiber of his being felt like it was fraying?Suddenly, a scream shattered the stillness of the house, the sound piercing the quiet like a dagger and sending a cold jolt down his spine. It wasn’t just any scream; it was a chilling, desperate cry that carried with it an unmistakable note of terror. His heart leaped into a frantic rhythm
Xavier’s footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway as he walked into the house, his briefcase still clutched tightly in his hand. It had been a grueling day at the office, filled with back-to-back meetings and relentless attempts to solve yet another financial crisis. But despite the chaos at work, his mind hadn’t been able to stay focused. His thoughts had kept drifting, circling around one person: Calla.He hadn’t seen much of her today, and that fact alone had weighed on him. Work had consumed his time, and his family’s constant demands had drained the rest of his energy. Now, as he entered the living room, the sight before him made his chest tighten.Calla was sitting on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, with Zane and Alana on either side of her. The three of them were leaning in toward her phone, their heads close together as they spoke animatedly, laughing and chatting over something on the screen. For a moment, Xavier stood still, just watching them, his presence unnotic
Xavier’s footsteps echoed loudly down the polished school hallway, the sound bouncing off the cream-colored walls lined with student artwork and motivational posters. His thoughts churned with frustration and uncertainty as he approached the principal’s office.It had been months of trying—trying to discipline, understand, connect—but none of it seemed to make a difference. Zane and Alana were spiraling, their rebellious behavior showing no signs of stopping. Their bond with him, fragile at best, threatened to break entirely.He clenched his fists at his sides, feeling the familiar mix of anger and guilt rise in his chest. He wasn’t enough for them—he could admit that to himself, even if it stung. They needed more than he could give, and he was desperate enough to ask for help. That’s why he was here.Principal Carter had suggested meeting Bella Abram, a teacher who had managed, against all odds, to reach Zane and Alana. Her reputation for patience and understanding had made her the t
Calla sat on the edge of her bed, her legs crossed beneath her, a book lying open in her lap. She’d been staring at the same page for what felt like forever, the words swimming in front of her eyes. Normally, reading was her refuge, the one place she could retreat when everything else felt too chaotic, too overwhelming. But not today. Today, her mind wouldn’t let her focus.It had been days since she last heard from Drake. Their last conversation hadn’t gone well—well, none of their conversations ever really did. He had a way of making her feel small, guilty, like she owed him something, even now. She should’ve felt relieved that he was keeping his distance. And she did. Mostly. But the silence? It felt strange, unsettling, like a storm brewing just beyond the horizon.Then there was the mess at home. Tension had wrapped itself around the house like a suffocating blanket. Thomas’s presence didn’t help. Having their father there was like living with a ghost of bad decisions and broken
The sunlight was just beginning to pour through the blinds of Xavier’s bedroom, casting long golden streaks across the floor, when the chaos started. He’d barely stirred from bed when the unmistakable sound of small, hurried footsteps pounding down the hallway reached his ears.It was a sound he had come to dread over the past few weeks. He had hoped—prayed—for a quiet morning to gather his thoughts, but with Zane and Alana in the house, moments of peace were as rare as snowfall in summer.Xavier exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples as he sat down at his desk. He had barely pulled out his chair when the door creaked open with an all-too-familiar hesitance, as if the culprits behind it knew they were trespassing but didn’t care.Sure enough, Zane and Alana sneaked in, their faces plastered with mischievous grins that could only mean one thing: trouble was brewing. The gleam in their eyes was the kind that made Xavier’s heart sink. It was that glint of pure, unfiltered mischief that onl