Calla’s hands trembled as memories surged unbidden, and she felt the rush of emotion from that day with Drake, a thrilling yet dread-filled flood that blinded her to everything else.That first kiss had been electric, sparking a relationship that quickly became all-consuming. After that day, they started meeting constantly, regularly slipping away together whenever they could. He’d made her feel wanted in a way she hadn’t thought possible as if he needed her to breathe.Days bled into nights, and her world grew smaller, each heartbeat echoing his name. When she wasn’t with him, she was thinking about him. Drake’s presence consumed every corner of her life—his intensity was a fire she both craved and feared. She could still recall how restless he would get if she didn’t answer his calls. His voice would sharpen, an edge creeping into his tone whenever he felt ignored or neglected. And if she couldn’t be there when he wanted, she’d find him pacing, his hands clenched into fists, his jaw
Calla paced back and forth in her room, her mind racing. Xavier’s words kept echoing in her head, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled deep in her chest. The image of Xavier’s angry face, his eyes filled with accusation, kept haunting her. “You’re making a mistake with him, Calla. He’s not who you think he is.”Her phone buzzed, breaking the cycle of her thoughts. It was Drake.She stared at his name for a moment, uncertainty gnawing at her. She didn’t want to talk to him, not now, but she couldn’t ignore him either. She slid her finger across the screen and answered the call.Hello?” Calla answered, her voice a little softer than usual.“Hey, darling,” Drake’s voice came through the phone, warm and teasing. “What are you up to?”Calla let out a small sigh. “Nothing much,” she replied, her tone flat.Drake, with a playful excitement in his voice, teased, “I thought you must be thinking about me.”Calla paused for a second, her lips curving slightly but her res
At night, Calla stood in front of her full-length mirror, adjusting her outfit as the time drew near, her heart pounding in her chest. She was torn between excitement and nerves, not entirely sure what to expect. She reached for the dress she had set out earlier—a sleek black number with a deep neckline and soft fabric that clung to her body like a second skin. It wasn’t too revealing, but it was just enough to make her feel like a woman on the edge of something.Her fingers brushed over the fabric as she took one last look at herself. She knew she looked good, but part of her still felt unsure. She was walking into the unknown with Drake, a man whose past was still a question mark in her mind. Yet, she felt this undeniable pull toward him, something she couldn’t explain.She pulled the dress on, feeling the fabric settle around her curves, and then carefully applied a touch of makeup—just enough to highlight her eyes and lips. She checked her phone one more time. The message from Dra
He held it out to her, his eyes soft, almost vulnerable. “Calla,” he began, his voice barely a whisper, “I want you in my life… every day, every moment. I want to marry you, to give you everything I am.”For a second, Calla’s heart stopped, her thoughts colliding. She felt the weight of her brother’s warnings echo in her mind, the cautionary words he’d spoken about Drake’s past, his temper. But here, in this soft, intoxicating moment, she couldn’t reconcile those warnings with the man before her, the man who held her like she was something precious.Drake sensed her hesitation and placed the ring box on the table. He took her hand in both of his, leaning in closer, his gaze searching hers.“Hey,” he said softly, his voice gentle and reassuring. “You’re safe with me, Calla. I’d never let anything hurt you. Everything I do is because of you. You’re my everything.”The vulnerability in his voice, the way he looked at her, made her heart ache. She wanted to believe him, to surrender to th
She gave a slight nod, feeling herself surrendering to the warmth of his touch, to the safety he promised. Slowly, he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles one by one, each touch soft and deliberate. His other hand brushed her shoulder, slipping the fabric of her dress down her arm in a gentle, lingering motion. She shivered, caught between nerves and desire, her pulse racing as he continued his slow, measured seduction.With every touch, every whisper, he reassured her, his words a soft lullaby in the dimly lit room."You're perfect," he murmured, his fingers tracing the delicate lines of her collarbone as he let the dress slip a little further. "And I'll take care of you, always."As the music played, his movements mirrored its rhythm, slow and deliberate, guiding her deeper into his embrace. His lips found her neck, pressing soft kisses along her skin, each one igniting a warmth that spread through her, melting her resistance. He pulled her close again, their bodies swa
Calla closed the door behind her quietly, as if even the sound of it might shatter whatever fragile control she was holding onto. The villa was silent, but the pounding of her heartbeat filled the space around her, heavy and relentless.She took a step forward, but her legs felt weak, almost shaky, and she wrapped her arms around herself instinctively, as if holding herself together might keep her from coming undone.She could still feel Drake’s touch lingering on her skin, like invisible fingerprints she couldn’t wash away. The ache in her body was a constant reminder, a mixture of discomfort and something else she couldn’t quite put into words.She had crossed a line, and there was no going back now. She sank onto the edge of the couch, her gaze unfocused, replaying pieces of the night over and over in her mind.“God, Calla… what have you done?” she whispered to herself, pressing her hands against her temples as if she could press out the swirling chaos of thoughts.The things he’d
Calla was sitting in her room, looking out of the window. The sunlight streamed through the glass, bright and unforgiving as if it were trying to peel away the walls she’d built around her heart. Her fingers trembled as they brushed away the last traces of tears clinging to her lashes. She could still feel the weight of the memories pressing down on her, sharp and relentless. She closed her eyes as if shutting them would hold the past at bay.But the memory fought its way in, clear as the day it happened.The nausea hit her like a punch to the gut—out of nowhere, sudden and sharp. It crawled up her throat, heavy and sickening, forcing her to clutch the bathroom sink just to stay upright. She stared at her pale reflection in the mirror, her face a little too thin, eyes a little too wide, as the world tilted beneath her feet.She shook her head, trying to push it away. It’s just a stomach bug. Probably something I ate. But it wasn’t going away. The queasiness lingered, and it wasn’t jus
The villa was quiet as Calla and Xavier stepped inside, the grand entryway echoing their footsteps. The silence felt heavy, and oppressive, as if even the walls sensed the tension between them. Xavier stopped abruptly in the hallway, turning to face her, his face a mask of barely contained frustration.“Calla,” he began, his voice controlled but laced with anger, “you’re not thinking clearly. This attachment to Drake… it’s reckless. Dangerous. You know how that kind of dependency can ruin lives. You of all people know.”Calla’s eyes dropped to the polished marble floor, her fingers trembling as she held them together. She’d heard this before. Xavier had been there for her through so much—her struggles with a broken family, the nights she’d cried about her father’s drinking, her mother’s distance. But this… he didn’t know about this.She forced herself to look up, keeping her voice steady. “I know you’re worried about me, Xavier. But this isn’t just about my past. I have my reasons.”X
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