The warm evening air wrapped around Xavier and Bella as they sat together at the outdoor seating area of the restaurant, the sounds of laughter and conversation floating from the dining hall where Zane and Alana were with Leila. Their joy was palpable, and Xavier couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his children enjoying themselves with their aunt. But as his gaze shifted, he couldn’t ignore the tension he felt in the air between himself and Bella.He looked at her, the soft glow of the setting sun catching her features, making her look more beautiful than ever. Her eyes, though, seemed distant, lost in thought. He could see the way she clenched her hands on the table, as though bracing herself for something."You know," Xavier began, his voice hesitant,"you’ve got your U.S. residency visa now. No one can deport you."Bella's face softened, and a small, genuine smile appeared on her lips.“Thank you, Xavier,” she said quietly, her voice full of gratitude. It was a simple acknowled
The gentle hum of conversation filled the restaurant, mingling with the clinking of glass and silverware. The warm light of the late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the outdoor seating area, where Xavier and Bella sat together, enjoying a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos of their lives. Zane and Alana had finished their ice creams and were happily talking about their plans for the rest of the day. It was a tranquil moment, one Xavier hadn't realized how badly he needed—until Ember walked in.Ember entered with her friends, her laughter ringing through the restaurant, but it quickly fell silent as her gaze landed on the table where Xavier and Bella sat with Zane and Alana. For a split second, her face tightened, and an unsettling feeling crept up her spine. She hadn’t expected to see them together, especially not in this setting, so open and public. Ember’s steps faltered, and her friends noticed the sudden shift in her demeanor.“Oh my God, Ember, look,” one of her friends
The atmosphere in Ember's grand ballroom was vibrant, almost electric with energy. The hall gleamed with golden chandeliers hanging above, reflecting the soft light onto the guests below. The room was filled with high society members, dressed in their finest designer clothes, creating a sea of shimmering fabrics and tailored suits. Music played softly in the background, the hum of conversation mixing with laughter and the clinking of champagne glasses.Bella entered the hall, her simple, modest dress standing in stark contrast to the opulence around her. She felt out of place for a brief moment, but she reminded herself why she was here—Ember had invited her, and although it felt like a trap, there was a part of Bella that hoped this could be a step toward reconciliation. Ember had called her earlier, apologizing profusely for her past behavior and asking her to come as a guest of honor to her birthday party."I just want to make things right, Bella," Ember had said."I want to start
The sun shone brightly on the mansion as its grand facade cast long shadows over the perfectly manicured lawn. Inside, there was an unsettling quiet in the air, the kind that often precedes a storm. Xavier was sitting in the large living room, staring out of the window, his thoughts tangled and heavy. The events of the past few days—the dance at Ember’s party, the strange discomfort he felt seeing David so close to Bella—had left him disoriented. He couldn’t make sense of it, and every time he tried to, a knot of unease tightened in his chest.The doorbell rang, and Xavier’s pulse quickened. He didn’t have to look to know who it was. It had to be Ember. The sound of her high heels on the marble floors was unmistakable. A moment later, Ember walked into the living room, her expression fierce, her body radiating a quiet anger. And with her, stood David Miller.David, as usual, wore his cocky grin, the kind that never seemed to reach his eyes. But his eyes, as always, were glued to Bella
The warm afternoon sun filtered through the tall trees lining the golf course, casting long shadows over the green grass. The sound of distant chatter, the sharp crack of golf balls being hit, and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze filled the air. Xavier sat on a low chair in the golf club’s outdoor seating area, a half-drunk glass of whiskey in front of him. His fingers drummed nervously on the glass, the ice cubes clinking together in a constant rhythm as if reflecting his inner turmoil.Logan sat across from him, arms casually crossed, his gaze fixed on Xavier. He had been quietly observing his friend, knowing that something was weighing heavily on him. Xavier had been distant lately, withdrawn, and Logan could tell that today, something had snapped.Xavier leaned back in the chair, letting out a heavy sigh as he looked up at the cloudless sky.“I just don’t get it, Logan,” he muttered, his voice laced with frustration.“It’s like Ember just... doesn’t get it. She keeps push
The air inside the villa was thick with the familiar tension that had lingered for days, a constant reminder of the chaos her life had become. Calla sat on the couch, her knees pulled close to her chest, a warm cup of tea resting forgotten in her hands. The soft buzz of her phone broke the stillness, and she picked it up without a second thought, her heart lightening as she saw the name on the screen.It was Xavier. The sound of his voice always had a calming effect on her, and after the events of the past few days, she desperately needed that calm.“Hey, Xavier,” she said softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she answered the call.“Hey, Calla,” Xavier’s voice came through, warm and comforting.“How are you doing? I’ve been thinking about you.”“I’m okay, just… tired,” Calla replied, sinking back into the cushions, her voice quieter now.“Why you didn't come home to see dad.. he was asking about you.” Xavier asked.“I was busy with other stuff here with Drake,”
“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 air inside the villa was thick with the familiar tension that had lingered for days, a constant reminder of the chaos her life had become. Calla sat on the couch, her knees pulled close to her chest, a warm cup of tea resting forgotten in her hands. The soft buzz of her phone broke the stillness, and she picked it up without a second thought, her heart lightening as she saw the name on the screen.It was Xavier. The sound of his voice always had a calming effect on her, and after the events of the past few days, she desperately needed that calm.“Hey, Xavier,” she said softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she answered the call.“Hey, Calla,” Xavier’s voice came through, warm and comforting.“How are you doing? I’ve been thinking about you.”“I’m okay, just… tired,” Calla replied, sinking back into the cushions, her voice quieter now.“Why you didn't come home to see dad.. he was asking about you.” Xavier asked.“I was busy with other stuff here with Drake,”
The warm afternoon sun filtered through the tall trees lining the golf course, casting long shadows over the green grass. The sound of distant chatter, the sharp crack of golf balls being hit, and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze filled the air. Xavier sat on a low chair in the golf club’s outdoor seating area, a half-drunk glass of whiskey in front of him. His fingers drummed nervously on the glass, the ice cubes clinking together in a constant rhythm as if reflecting his inner turmoil.Logan sat across from him, arms casually crossed, his gaze fixed on Xavier. He had been quietly observing his friend, knowing that something was weighing heavily on him. Xavier had been distant lately, withdrawn, and Logan could tell that today, something had snapped.Xavier leaned back in the chair, letting out a heavy sigh as he looked up at the cloudless sky.“I just don’t get it, Logan,” he muttered, his voice laced with frustration.“It’s like Ember just... doesn’t get it. She keeps push
The sun shone brightly on the mansion as its grand facade cast long shadows over the perfectly manicured lawn. Inside, there was an unsettling quiet in the air, the kind that often precedes a storm. Xavier was sitting in the large living room, staring out of the window, his thoughts tangled and heavy. The events of the past few days—the dance at Ember’s party, the strange discomfort he felt seeing David so close to Bella—had left him disoriented. He couldn’t make sense of it, and every time he tried to, a knot of unease tightened in his chest.The doorbell rang, and Xavier’s pulse quickened. He didn’t have to look to know who it was. It had to be Ember. The sound of her high heels on the marble floors was unmistakable. A moment later, Ember walked into the living room, her expression fierce, her body radiating a quiet anger. And with her, stood David Miller.David, as usual, wore his cocky grin, the kind that never seemed to reach his eyes. But his eyes, as always, were glued to Bella
The atmosphere in Ember's grand ballroom was vibrant, almost electric with energy. The hall gleamed with golden chandeliers hanging above, reflecting the soft light onto the guests below. The room was filled with high society members, dressed in their finest designer clothes, creating a sea of shimmering fabrics and tailored suits. Music played softly in the background, the hum of conversation mixing with laughter and the clinking of champagne glasses.Bella entered the hall, her simple, modest dress standing in stark contrast to the opulence around her. She felt out of place for a brief moment, but she reminded herself why she was here—Ember had invited her, and although it felt like a trap, there was a part of Bella that hoped this could be a step toward reconciliation. Ember had called her earlier, apologizing profusely for her past behavior and asking her to come as a guest of honor to her birthday party."I just want to make things right, Bella," Ember had said."I want to start
The gentle hum of conversation filled the restaurant, mingling with the clinking of glass and silverware. The warm light of the late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the outdoor seating area, where Xavier and Bella sat together, enjoying a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos of their lives. Zane and Alana had finished their ice creams and were happily talking about their plans for the rest of the day. It was a tranquil moment, one Xavier hadn't realized how badly he needed—until Ember walked in.Ember entered with her friends, her laughter ringing through the restaurant, but it quickly fell silent as her gaze landed on the table where Xavier and Bella sat with Zane and Alana. For a split second, her face tightened, and an unsettling feeling crept up her spine. She hadn’t expected to see them together, especially not in this setting, so open and public. Ember’s steps faltered, and her friends noticed the sudden shift in her demeanor.“Oh my God, Ember, look,” one of her friends
The warm evening air wrapped around Xavier and Bella as they sat together at the outdoor seating area of the restaurant, the sounds of laughter and conversation floating from the dining hall where Zane and Alana were with Leila. Their joy was palpable, and Xavier couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his children enjoying themselves with their aunt. But as his gaze shifted, he couldn’t ignore the tension he felt in the air between himself and Bella.He looked at her, the soft glow of the setting sun catching her features, making her look more beautiful than ever. Her eyes, though, seemed distant, lost in thought. He could see the way she clenched her hands on the table, as though bracing herself for something."You know," Xavier began, his voice hesitant,"you’ve got your U.S. residency visa now. No one can deport you."Bella's face softened, and a small, genuine smile appeared on her lips.“Thank you, Xavier,” she said quietly, her voice full of gratitude. It was a simple acknowled
The atmosphere in the car was electric with excitement. Zane and Alana sat in the backseat, both of them chattering non-stop as Xavier drove, with Bella sitting beside him, her eyes occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror to catch glimpses of their children’s eager faces. They didn’t know what the surprise was, but Xavier and Bella had promised it would be something special, and the kids’ curiosity was piqued.“I bet it’s a new game!” Zane said, his voice filled with anticipation.“Or maybe a trip to the amusement park!” Alana chimed in, her eyes wide with excitement.“I hope it’s a giant ice cream sundae!”Xavier chuckled softly, glancing at Bella, who offered a gentle smile in return. “You’ll see soon enough,” he said, his voice carrying an air of mystery that only added to their excitement.“We’ll see when we get there,” Bella added, her hand resting on the dashboard, her gaze distant for a moment as she thought about the surprise that awaited.The restaurant they arrived at w
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow across the garden outside the mansion. The air was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the trees. Inside the house, the living room felt unusually quiet. The sounds of the children’s laughter and playful energy had vanished when Logan had taken Zane and Alana out for the promised outing. Bella, for the first time in what felt like a long while, was alone.Jacob had gone back and Bella couldn’t shake the unease in her heart. The conversation she had had with Jacob lingered in her mind, the cruel words he had spoken still echoing in the back of her mind. His presence was like a dark shadow, and even though he was gone, Bella knew it wouldn’t be the last time he tried to make his way back into their lives.Calla came out of Thomas room and sat down on a sofa. She looked over at Bella, her young face still carrying a mix of confusion and concern.“Bella,” Calla began softly, her voice hesitant.“How did you gather so m
The grand mansion stood quietly, with the faint hum of the heating system and the soft creak of wooden floors underfoot. The house was at peace, at least on the surface. The staff was diligently going about their duties, and Xavier was still at work, locked away in his study, as usual. But in the grand living room, the usual peace was disturbed by the mischievous energy of Zane and Alana, who were deep into a game of tag, laughing and running circles around the furniture.Meanwhile, a shadow appeared at the front door. It was Jacob and his eyes scanning the space. He caught sight of the house help and waved her off, muttering a dismissive“I’ll take care of things from here.” He watched the staff member nod and leave, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she made her way out of sight.As the house fell silent again, Jacob’s eyes quickly shifted toward Zane and Alana. He could feel the anger simmering beneath his skin, the bitterness that had been building since his last failed at