“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 soft glow of the morning sun filtered through the windows of Xavier’s office as he sat behind his desk, reviewing documents. The silence of the room felt oddly suffocating today, as if the weight of something unspoken lingered in the air. Just as he leaned back in his chair to clear his mind, the sound of a knock at his door startled him."Come in," Xavier called out, his voice strained, tired.The door creaked open and his lawyer, Mr. Curtis, stepped in with a stern expression. "Xavier, I have something important for you," he said, holding up a letter, its edges slightly crinkled, as though it had been through a lot.Xavier's brow furrowed as he took the letter. "What is this?" he asked, eyeing the envelope, his fingers already starting to feel a twinge of anxiety.Mr. Curtis handed him the letter, his tone serious. "It’s a court summons," he said, taking a seat in front of Xavier's desk. "It claims that a man named James Tyler is asserting that Zane and Alana are his biological
The car pulled into the long driveway of Xavier’s mansion, its tires crunching against the gravel. Bella sat in the passenger seat, her hands resting over her stomach protectively. Her heart pounded against her ribs, yet her lips remained pressed together in silence. She was home. Or at least, she was back in the place she left to save her dignity.Xavier glanced at her from the driver’s seat, his usual stoic expression giving nothing away. “We’re here,” he said, but his voice lacked warmth.Bella didn’t respond. She simply opened the door and stepped out. The cold evening air brushed against her skin, making her shiver. This house held too many memories—some she wanted to cling to and others she wished she could forget.Before she could take another step, the front doors burst open. Two small figures ran toward her, their cries echoing through the night.“Bella!” Zane’s voice cracked as he threw himself into her arms.“Bella, you came back!” Alana sobbed, clinging to Bella’s dress as
The heavy sound of the front door slamming echoed through the quiet mansion, and Calla barely glanced up from the book she was reading in the living room. She knew exactly who it was—Drake, stumbling in with the unmistakable scent of alcohol on his breath. He had been drinking again, and she could already feel the tension building in the air.Drake wobbled into the room, his eyes bloodshot, his movements unsteady as he leaned against the doorframe for support. He let out a low laugh, clearly intoxicated. “Calla,” he slurred, his voice rough. “Come to bed with me.”Calla didn’t flinch. She had seen this scene too many times before. His drunken advances, his attempt to control her, to drag her into his world of manipulation and pain. But not tonight. Not anymore.“No, Drake,” she said quietly, her voice firm, unwavering. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”Drake’s face twisted into a scowl. He staggered forward, trying to close the distance between them, but Calla stood up and stepped ba
The sterile smell of the hospital room mixed with the dull hum of machines, creating an atmosphere that felt too suffocating for Bella to bear. She lay on the hospital bed, a drip running through the vein in her hand, her body still weak from the sudden collapse earlier. Her eyelids fluttered open, and her vision was blurry for a moment before it cleared. As she took in her surroundings, the reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks.She left Xavier's home, because he couldn't defend her. She thought that after the night of intimacy something had changed and she had gained some importance in Xavier's life. But the way Ember insulted her and Xavier remained silent, it made her realize she was wrong. She had no place and value in Xavier's life. So she left his house to safeguard her dignity. But even after leaving that place, she couldn't get peace. As Jacob didn't let her do so. He kept on pinching her ego and self respect so badly that her body and mind couldn't bear it an
When Xavier finally arrived at the apartment complex, he parked his car hastily, barely taking the time to straighten it. His breath was shallow with anticipation as he jogged up to the door of Jacob’s apartment. He knocked sharply, his mind already running through the words he would say.Jacob opened the door, a lazy smile on his face that quickly turned into a frown when he saw Xavier standing there, looking serious and determined."Xavier?" Jacob said, his tone cautious. "What are you doing here?""I’m here to take Bella back," Xavier said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Alana’s sick. She won’t take her medicine unless Bella’s here. I need her to come back."Jacob raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "You’re here for Bella, huh?" He stepped aside and let Xavier in. "I thought you were done with her."Xavier didn’t respond. He couldn’t. Not when the sight of Bella standing in the living room—looking weak, pale, and thinner than he remembered—stole his breath away.
The house felt like a hollow shell without her.Xavier’s footsteps echoed through the empty halls as he made his way into the living room. The sharp sound of his shoes clicking against the polished marble floor only served to deepen the silence that had settled over the mansion since Bella left. He had been trying to keep himself busy, trying to focus on anything other than the aching void left by her departure, but it was impossible.Everything around him reminded him of her. The warmth she brought to the house, her laughter, the way she had taken care of Zane and Alana with such tenderness—it all felt so far away now.He sighed heavily, dragging a hand down his face. But it wasn’t just the house that felt empty. It was his heart. He had tried to ignore it, tried to bury it under layers of responsibility and guilt, but the truth was undeniable. He missed Bella—more than he cared to admit.As he entered the kitchen, he found Zane sitting at the table, looking distracted, his eyes vaca
Bella walked out of the small bedroom in Jacob's apartment, feeling the emptiness in her stomach grow with each step. She had barely eaten all day, too consumed by the whirlwind of emotions surrounding her to care about anything else. But now, hunger was gnawing at her, and she hoped to find something simple to prepare for dinner. Her mind was heavy with thoughts of Xavier, Zane and Alana, and the life she had left behind. It was all too much to bear, but she had no other choice than to press on.As she stepped into the living room, she saw Jacob lounging on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV. The sight of him made her stomach twist in a way that had nothing to do with hunger. She knew Jacob wasn’t the kind of person she could trust, but she had no other options. He was family, and she had come to him for help.The moment he laid eyes on her, though, his expression hardened. He immediately turned off the TV and stood up, his voice laced with anger. "Look at you, Bella," he
Xavier sat at the edge of his bed, the room dimly lit by the fading afternoon light. He had been spiraling for days now—caught in a tug-of-war between duty and desire, between family expectations and the life he truly wanted. Ember's presence, her insistent demands, had made everything worse. But it wasn't just Ember that consumed his thoughts. It was Bella.The way she had walked out of his life, her tear-filled eyes haunting him, had left a gaping hole in his heart. And now, Zane and Alana's distress only compounded the ache. He wanted her back, but the guilt of his commitment to Ember gnawed at him relentlessly.There was a knock on his door. He didn’t need to guess who it was."Come in," he muttered, his voice tinged with weariness.The door creaked open, and Calla entered. She closed the door behind her and stood still for a moment, her eyes studying him. "Xavier," she began softly, "I need to know something."He didn’t look up at her, but he already knew where this conversation
The house felt unusually quiet after Bella left. It was as if the air had thickened, the weight of her absence pressing down on everyone. Ember, on the other hand, seemed to breathe a little easier. She had gotten what she wanted—or so she thought. She walked around the house with a confident, almost smug air, knowing that the storm she had caused had left a ripple in Xavier’s life.She thought now was the time. The time to make Xavier see that she was the one who belonged in his life. She approached him in the living room, her eyes filled with something between desire and determination."Xavier," Ember purred, stepping closer. "Now that Bella’s gone, we can finally have things the way they were meant to be."Xavier barely looked up from his thoughts. His mind was still consumed with the image of Bella walking away. He was reeling from the argument, from Ember’s cruel words, and from Bella’s decision to leave. He wasn’t ready for Ember’s advances. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted."