“Calla, you’ll stay with Dad until I get back,” Xavier said as he stepped into the dining hall of the cruise ship.“But what’s going on?” Calla asked, her curiosity piqued.“I’ll explain when I’m back,” he replied, scanning the room.“Don’t leave me in suspense,” Calla tried, hoping to persuade him to spill the reason he was so insistent that she stay at her dad’s place.“Calla, I’ve told you—you’re not leaving Dad’s. I’m not asking you to stay long. I’ll be back in a day, and we’ll talk then.” Xavier’s tone grew serious. Before she could argue, he ended the call.He set the phone down on the table, the soft murmur of voices and the scent of fresh croissants and coffee filling the air. After talking to Calla, the tension and frustration that had been weighing him down eased. Knowing she was safe made him feel lighter.Now, he just wanted to savor these last few hours before the ship docked tomorrow. It was his final day of peace before diving back into the chaos of work. As he headed
Xavier Donovan stirred awake to the distant sound of the cruise ship’s horn, signaling they were approaching land.'Guess the vacation’s over,' he muttered to himself, staying in bed a moment longer.He glanced toward the small round window, where rays of sunlight streamed through. 'What time is it?' he wondered, reaching for his phone—10:30 a.m. 'Great, I overslept.'Running a hand through his messy hair, Xavier sighed. The cruise would be docking soon, and with it came the end of his brief escape. He sat up, taking in the sight of his half-packed luggage. The realization hit him hard: the lazy mornings, the laughter, and the blissful quiet of being away from constant meetings and phone calls were over. He’d be back to his hectic life as a billionaire businessman in no time.He dragged himself to the bathroom, splashed water on his face, and got ready to leave the ship. “Alright, I guess I’m ready,” he said, eyeing his reflection in the mirror before stepping out.Xavier stared at hi
Zane looked up at Xavier, red-rimmed eyes filled with tears, his lip trembling.“Aunt Leila… she packed our things this morning and told us to be ready,” he started, his voice cracking slightly.“Then she got mad at us. She never gets mad at us.”Alana, clinging tightly to her brother’s arm, nodded in agreement, her tear-streaked face pale.“She never yells, even when we make trouble,” she whispered, barely audible.“But today, she was different—really upset. She started talking to us about all these things we didn’t understand, then asked about the letter she gave Zane yesterday.”Xavier’s heart began to pound, a strange unease settling over him. He didn’t like where this conversation was heading. His mind flashed back to last night when he overheard Leila speaking to the twins and saw her handing Zane a piece of paper.“She gave me this letter yesterday and told me to keep it safe.” Zane reached into his small backpack and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.“This morning, after p
“Sir, the situation’s complicated,” Steffen said tensely, glancing at Zane and Alana, who had become a burden to everyone around.Xavier Donovan heard the cruise manager’s words but stood frozen, tension thick in the air. His eyes darted between the tear-streaked faces of Zane and Alana and Steffen, who was wringing his hands. Disbelief and fury simmered beneath Xavier’s calm exterior, threatening to break free.“I don’t care… These aren’t my kids, so I’m not responsible for them,” Xavier said, his voice low and dangerous, barely containing his anger. “Someone must’ve played a prank on all of us.”The twins, clutching each other’s hands, stared up at him, wide-eyed and trembling. Zane, wiping away a tear, opened his mouth to say something, but no words came. Alana buried her face in her brother’s shoulder, her lower lip quivering. They were too young to understand everything, but they knew one thing: this man, who their aunt had claimed was their father, was rejecting them just like s
Xavier sat in the back seat of a cab, instructing the driver to head to the airport. Zane and Alana were beside him, looking visibly terrified. He glanced at their faces, and every instinct screamed at him to leave them behind, to walk away and pretend this strange, unwelcome responsibility had never landed in his lap.As he wondered how he got dragged into this mess, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He reached for it, curious about the unknown number flashing on the screen.“What now?” he thought as he opened the message.His heart raced, and blood drained from his face as he read it:“You think she’s safe with your drunken dad? You cannot keep her protected anymore.”Xavier’s grip tightened around the phone as he stared at the message, his mind going blank for a moment. He knew Calla was in danger, and he had to reach her as quickly as possible.“Dammit,” he muttered, closing his eyes briefly. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not when he was stuck here with someone else’s kids an
“So, I’m finally back,” Xavier muttered under his breath, standing at the front door of his father’s house in Texas. His jaw was clenched, tension radiating off him.“This place needs some serious work,” he thought as he looked over the weathered, worn-out house.Behind him, Zane and Alana stood quietly, beginning to shake off the shock of being dropped off by their Aunt Leila. Alana, curious as always, was trying to peer inside a large, dusty wooden planter that had once been used for flowers.Out of the corner of his eye, Xavier caught her small act of exploration, and his frustration bubbled over.“Alana!” he snapped, his tone sharp. “Don’t touch anything. Just stand still and be quiet.”Alana jumped back, quickly clutching Zane’s hand and standing close.Just then, the door creaked open, and Calla appeared in the doorway. Her face lit up the moment she saw Xavier. Without a second thought, she rushed forward and hugged him tight.“I missed you,” she said softly, though her voice h
Xavier stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, waiting for Calla to grab her things.“You can sit down,” Thomas said, looking over at him.“I don’t need to,” Xavier snapped.“Fine, go to hell with all your pride and arrogance,” Thomas muttered, taking a big gulp of his drink.Xavier jerked his head at the words. The air in the house felt thick, weighed down by years of unresolved tension. The place hadn’t changed much—the old furniture, the faint smell of cigars, the creak of the wooden floorboards—it all felt like a time capsule he’d long since tried to escape. Once built by Thomas’s parents, this house now felt more like a tomb of forgotten memories than a home.Suddenly, Thomas started coughing, catching Xavier’s attention. He looked over, unable to resist saying, “You should quit for your own good.”Thomas took another swig and, recovering from his cough, replied, “Don’t lecture me.”Xavier knew better than to press further. Instead, he glanced at his watch. “Calla,
Xavier’s car glided into the driveway of his mansion, a modern masterpiece of glass and steel that shimmered under the warm glow of the setting sun. The stark contrast between this luxurious abode and the crumbling house he had just left felt jarring, like stepping from a faded past into a vibrant present. As he stepped onto the cold polished stone, a sense of emptiness washed over him, despite the manicured garden overflowing with vibrant blooms and the heavy scent of jasmine that usually soothed him but now twisted in his stomach.The imposing double doors of the grand entrance loomed ahead, leading into a foyer drenched in soft light from an opulent chandelier, where the echoes of his footsteps amplified his growing isolation. Inside, the extravagant decor—gleaming marble floors and contemporary art—felt distant and suffocating, a gilded cage that reminded him of the relentless battles he fought daily, leaving him yearning for something he couldn’t quite grasp.“Come outside,” Xavi
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