Xavier sat alone at the outdoor café, his fingers idly tracing the rim of his coffee cup. The late afternoon sun bathed the bustling street in a warm, golden light, while a light breeze tugged at the hem of his coat. Despite the postcard-perfect scene, his mind was anything but calm.He took a sip of his coffee, the bitterness doing little to drown out the storm of thoughts swirling in his head.Why did I ever think bringing them with me was a good idea? he thought, his jaw tightening.Zane and Alana… God knows what they’re up to back home.For what felt like the hundredth time since they’d moved in, he asked himself, Why did I think they'd be easy to handle? His life had been nothing but chaos ever since.Images of the two wreaking havoc at his estate flashed through his mind—shattering antiques, scaring the staff half to death. He ran a hand down his face and sighed."Calla was right," he muttered under his breath. "I should get them admitted to school. I’ll take them for admission
The dining hall of the hotel radiated elegance, its soft golden lights reflecting off the polished surfaces. Xavier swirled the last sip of red wine in his glass before draining it, the rich aroma of their meal still lingering in the air. He pushed his chair back deliberately and stood.“We should head out,” he said, his tone neutral but firm.“Yeah… we should,” Ember replied, standing gracefully. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she followed him toward the exit. The evening had been smooth, almost perfect, but Xavier’s thoughts churned beneath the surface, a storm of tension and unspoken worries.Outside, the crisp night air greeted them. Ember stepped closer, her perfume—a subtle, intoxicating blend of jasmine and vanilla—wafting between them. Her voice dipped into a softer, more seductive register.“Don’t you think we owe ourselves a little more time together?” she murmured, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. “I could see it in your eyes tonight—you were enjo
“Sir, you need to come home immediately!” The voice on the other end of the line was frantic and trembling, bursting into the room like a gale-force wind. It was his housekeeper, but Xavier barely recognized her in her panic.“What’s going on?” he asked sharply, his brows knitting as he sat up straight, every muscle in his body instantly tense.“It’s the kids!” she exclaimed, her voice wobbling as though she were on the verge of tears. “They’ve locked us in a room, and they’re not letting us out!”Xavier’s confusion hardened into a frown. “What do you mean they’ve locked you in a room? How is that even possible?”“They tricked us into the study!” she explained in a rush, her words tumbling over each other. “They said they needed help with something. Then they slammed the door behind us and locked it! And now—” Her voice hitched, the next words coming out in a breathless gasp. “They’re pumping some kind of gas into the room. We can’t breathe! Please, sir, hurry!”For a moment, Xavier w
Xavier stormed into the house, his mind racing from the urgency of the call. The moment he crossed the threshold, the sound of laughter hit him like a tidal wave, echoing through the hallways.He followed the noise with quick strides, his chest tightening as he braced for whatever new disaster awaited him.Turning a corner, he found Zane and Alana standing outside the guest room, their young faces hidden behind masks, holding small spray bottles. As he got closer, a sharp, pungent smell hit his nostrils, stinging his eyes and burning his sinuses.“What are you two doing?” he demanded, his voice deep and authoritative, reverberating through the corridor.Zane and Alana froze for a moment, then exchanged mischievous glances. Xavier didn’t waste any time.He reached out, snatched the bottles from their hands, and tossed them aside. The smell was overpowering, and a sudden itch spread across his face.“What is this? What did you spray in here?” he barked, his tone firm and commanding.“No
The sun hung high in the sky as Xavier pulled into the expansive parking lot of Kingsway Academy, an elite school known for its rigorous academic standards and its reputation for shaping the brightest minds. He glanced at the two children sitting quietly in the back seat, Zane and Alana.“Let’s keep them busy, so I can focus on Calla and convince her to leave for a while,” Xavier thought as he parked the car.He got out of the car and called out, “Come on, get out.”Zane nodded eagerly, while Alana remained quiet, her fingers absently tracing the hem of her dress.“Let’s go,” Xavier said, heading toward the entrance. The twins followed behind, their hands entwined as they navigated through the crowd of parents and students milling around.Inside, the school exuded sophistication, with gleaming marble floors and elegant decor that screamed wealth. Xavier approached the reception desk, where a woman in a sharp blazer greeted him with a warm smile.“Good morning! How can I help you?”“Hi
The words hung in the air like a bombshell, the shock of them rattling Xavier to his core. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his frustration building with each passing second. He wanted to scream, to grab Zane and Alana by the shoulders and shake some sense into them.What the hell had they been thinking, blurting out the truth—no, their version of the truth—in front of Mrs. Jennifer Mason? He could feel the weight of their careless words pressing down on him, the panic rising in his chest.But no matter how much he wanted to lash out, Xavier knew it was too late. The damage was done. His lips curled into a tight, forced smile, the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and that he hoped would mask the storm brewing inside him.“Right,” Mrs. Jennifer Mason said, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.“Your dad? How wonderful! But I’m curious... how did you suddenly become the father of two older kids?” Her voice was sweet, but there was a sharp edge to it, as though she was
Xavier parked the car in front of his building, the imposing structure looming over him as he stepped out. He didn’t want to attend, but he had made a commitment—and he was a man of his word. He had to keep moving forward, no matter how chaotic everything felt.His mind was a whirlwind of frustration, guilt, and uncertainty. He couldn’t shake the weight of the past few months—the sudden arrival of the twins in his life and the constant strain of trying to protect Calla from Drake, along with the pressure to maintain control as everything seemed to be falling apart around him.The seminar was held in a sleek conference center downtown, buzzing with energy as attendees milled about, exchanging business cards and engaging in light conversation. For most, it was a routine networking event—a chance to meet and make deals. The polished exterior of the seminar was a stark contrast to the chaos brewing within him. He felt disconnected, like an actor in someone else’s play, trying to hold it t
Calla wandered through the bustling shopping mall, the vibrant colors and sounds of laughter surrounding her. It was supposed to be a fun outing, a chance to escape the heaviness of her life for a few hours. She came out today to clear her head and get out of the passiveness that had wrapped around her since finding out that Drake was back.But as she moved from store to store, a growing sense of unease settled in her stomach. She felt eyes on her, a sensation that prickled at the back of her neck, making her constantly look over her shoulder.“Get a grip, Calla,” she murmured to herself, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. “You’re just being paranoid.”But the feeling didn’t go away. She quickened her pace, her heart racing as she glanced around. The mall was crowded, people milling about, but no one seemed familiar. With every step, the feeling of being followed intensified, and she made her way toward the parking area,
Xavier sat at the head of the long conference table, his hands clasped tightly in front of him, but his knuckles were white from the pressure.He nodded occasionally at the vendors as they droned on about product specs and timelines, but their words slid past him like background noise. His jaw clenched.The polished oak table, the sharp suits, the air-conditioned room—all of it felt worlds apart from the storm in his head.Leila.Her name throbbed like a dull ache in his chest, her absence a wound that wouldn’t close. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, about Zane’s temper tantrums, Alana’s defiance, and the life she had shoved onto his shoulders without a word. The weight of it all crushed him like a vice, yet he sat there, stone-faced, giving the illusion of control.His phone buzzed on the table. The sound jolted him, breaking the monotony.A glance at the screen revealed his manager’s name. His pulse quickened, his fingers itching to answer. He pushed back his chair, its legs scr
Xavier sat in the sleek, black car, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. He stared out at the imposing school gates, his jaw tight. The familiar knot in his stomach twisted harder than ever. For weeks now, the principal had been pestering him—calls, emails, voicemails—each one sharper than the last. And every time, he’d found an excuse to delay. But today, he couldn’t escape.He let out a long, frustrated sigh, muttering under his breath.“This is not how it was supposed to go. School was supposed to help, not—” He cut himself off, gripping the steering wheel tighter.Finally, he pushed the door open and stepped out. His leather shoes crunched against the gravel as he made his way toward the office. Each step felt heavier, weighted down by exhaustion and frustration.The principal’s office smelled faintly of disinfectant and paper. Principal Carter, sharp-eyed and no-nonsense, sat behind her desk, her hands resting on a file so thick it looked ready to burst. She didn’t wast
Xavier sat at his sleek, modern desk in his office, his hands steepled together as he stared out the window. The city below was a blur, its lights flickering like stars, but his mind was elsewhere.He had spent the entire day in meetings and dealing with business matters, yet his thoughts kept drifting back to Leila—the woman who had stormed into his life, mysterious and elusive, with a past as hard to pin down as smoke.A soft knock at the door broke his train of thought. Xavier looked up, his sharp gaze meeting his manager, Steve, who stepped inside.“Come in,” Xavier said, motioning for him to take a seat. Steve closed the door quietly and sat across from him, his expression serious. There was tension in the air—a heaviness that only came with the revelation of secrets.“Sir,” Steve began, his tone measured but firm, “I’ve been looking into Lady Leila’s background, and I’ve uncovered a few things.”Xavier straightened in his chair, his interest immediately piqued.“Go on,” he urged
The evening was fading into dusk, the soft chill of the air biting at their cheeks as Calla and Betty strolled down the cobblestone street just outside the café. The birthday celebration’s warmth still lingered in their footsteps—the laughter, the clinking glasses, and the glow of candles were now a memory as the last guests trickled out.Betty was radiant, her signature charm glowing from the evening’s events, but Calla noticed something shift in her demeanor. Betty stopped mid-sentence, her gaze catching on a woman crossing the street.Without thinking, she murmured, “Hey… she resembles…” and then abruptly stopped, her words trailing into silence.Calla tilted her head, following Betty’s line of sight.Betty cleared her throat, awkwardly shifting her gaze to Calla.“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her voice apologetic. “I shouldn’t have—”“Jessica,” Calla filled in the blank for her, her tone steady.The sadness flickering in Calla’s eyes was impossible to miss. Betty bit her lip and
Xavier’s car rolled to a stop in front of his sprawling villa. The sleek lines of the building, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and carefully manicured gardens, exuded a quiet opulence.The hum of the engine faded into the soft rustling of palm trees swaying in the breeze. Ember’s gaze swept over the villa, her eyes lingering on the intricate details—the perfectly symmetrical fountains flanking the entrance, the soft golden lighting that gave the property an almost ethereal glow.Xavier glanced at her, catching the faint flicker of awe in her expression before she masked it. His chest tightened. He didn’t bring people here often—this place was more than just a status symbol; it was his sanctuary. But seeing it through Ember’s eyes made him view it differently.“You ready?” he asked, keeping his tone casual despite the warmth spreading through him.Ember turned to him, a slow, almost teasing smile curling her lips. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”Xavier stepped out first, walking around to
The sun poured through the windows of Room 103, casting a warm glow on the eager faces of Mrs. Henderson’s first-grade class.At the front of the room, Mrs. Henderson stood at the whiteboard, drawing a picture of the water cycle—fluffy clouds, a smiling sun, and raindrops that looked more like confetti than actual rain."Alright, class," she said in her bright, encouraging voice, "who can tell me what happens after the sun heats the water?"Josh's hand shot up instantly.Zane, sitting next to him, groaned quietly, muttering, "Show-off," just loud enough for Josh to hear. Alana, not to be outdone, stuck her tongue out at him."Yes, Josh?" Mrs. Henderson called, smiling."Evaporation!" Josh piped up, his voice a little high."Excellent, Josh! That’s right," Mrs. Henderson praised. "The sun heats water in lakes, rivers, and oceans, turning it into water vapor. This is called evaporation."Zane leaned back in his chair, half-paying attention. The school had been dragging lately—endless wo
Xavier sat at his polished walnut desk, buried in paperwork, but the weight of everything happening in his life—the kids, the mystery surrounding their origins—kept tugging at his thoughts. The late morning sunlight poured in, casting a golden hue across the room, but it did little to ease the mounting tension in his mind.Ember stormed in, her heels clicking on the floor like she had something to prove. Xavier looked up, caught off guard by the look in her eyes. Her dark hair was a little wild, her jaw tight with anger, and it was clear something was off.“You surprised me,” he said, trying to break the tension with a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.“You surprised me too,” Ember shot back, her voice cold and sharper than he’d ever heard it.Xavier frowned, sitting up straighter. "What happened?"She crossed her arms and stood there, giving him a look that made him feel like she was ready to rip him apart."Why didn’t you tell me you have two kids? And when exactly did you get
Drake sat cross-legged on the floor of his dimly lit room, the stale air around him heavy with the acrid scent of cigarette smoke. The blinds hung askew, casting slanted shadows across his hunched figure.In one trembling hand, he held a cigarette; in the other, a small vial of white powder. He sniffed sharply, his head snapping back as the powder burned through his senses, momentarily dulling the chaos in his mind.The door creaked open, interrupting his reprieve. Jessica stepped inside, her silhouette outlined by the dim light spilling in from the hallway. She paused in the doorway, her face a mixture of grief and disappointment as she took in the scene.“Drake,” she said softly, her voice trembling.He didn’t look at her, his focus fixed on the cigarette glowing between his fingers.Jessica moved further into the room, her heels clicking softly against the wooden floor. She lowered herself to her knees in front of him, ignoring the discomfort of the hard ground.For a moment, she s
Xavier stepped out of his room, his shirt still damps from his shower, and headed toward Calla’s.Outside, the faint light of dawn was creeping into the sky, the stars still faintly visible but beginning to fade.Last night’s events played on a loop in his mind—the kids’ endless antics, the mountain of responsibilities, and the heated confrontation with Harold. Yet through it all, one thought stayed crystal clear: Calla’s safety.Stopping at her door, he knocked softly.“Calla?” he called, his voice calm but firm.Nothing.He frowned, knocking again before carefully turning the knob. The room was dim, lit by the soft amber glow of a bedside lamp.His gaze swept the space until he spotted her out on the balcony. Calla sat still, her slender figure outlined by the fading moonlight, her head resting against the back of the chair as she gazed up at the retreating stars.Xavier stepped onto the terrace, his movements deliberate but unintrusive.“What’s on your mind, Calla?” he asked, his v