The heavy mansion doors opened with a soft creak, and Logan stepped inside, his tall frame casting a shadow across the marble floor. He had a determined look in his eyes, but underneath, there was a hint of concern. His steps echoed through the vast entryway as he made his way toward the living room, where Zane and Alana were waiting.Zane, always the one to speak his mind, jumped up from the couch the moment Logan entered. "Logan, do you know Dad has married Bella?”Logan heard this and became stunned, as he didn't know Zane and Alana had become aware of marriage contract.“Who told you this?” Logan asked.“We overhear dad while he was talking to Ember.” Alana said and then she added,“And she was asking dad to divorce Bella.” Logan was silent. He was trying to process the whole thing.“Logan, you have to talk to our dad," Zane said urgently, his eyes wide with worry. "He’s going to divorce Bella. Please, make him stop!"Alana, sitting beside her brother, nodded, her expression soft
The night was silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves outside Xavier’s mansion. The moonlight shone through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. Xavier sat in a leather chair by the window, his eyes fixed on the dark horizon. His mind was a storm, a whirlwind of thoughts that refused to settle. He had tried to sleep, tried to escape the turmoil in his chest, but his thoughts kept racing, dragging him back to the same questions over and over again.Bella. Ember. Bella. Ember.His mind was caught in a loop, each name pulling at his heartstrings in different ways. Ember had been in his life for so long, they had a history, a connection that he had honored. He had made promises to her, commitments that he had intended to keep, despite how little he truly felt for her. Ember had always been the glamorous, socialite type—the one who fit perfectly in his world of wealth and status. She was beautiful, poised, and elegant. But there was something missing. She didn’t se
Xavier sat in his study, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. The world outside seemed to fade, consumed by the storm of confusion swirling inside him. He had always prided himself on making calculated decisions, living by reason and logic. But now, every thought was muddled, every choice seemed impossible.He loved Bella—there was no denying that. She had become a constant in his life, her kindness, strength, and selflessness touching him in ways he had never imagined. But then, there was Ember. He had made a commitment to her. His life had been a series of obligations and expectations, shaped by family, society, and duty. What would they say if he chose Bella? What would they think of her? She had no background, no family to speak of. She wasn’t part of his world, the world he had always known and been a part of. Could he really walk away from everything for her?Xavier rubbed his temples, his head aching from the internal battle. The silence in the room was deafening. H
Xavier walked through the mansion’s hallway, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. The weight of the events from the previous night still pressed down on him, suffocating him with their intensity. The kiss, the closeness, the unspoken promises that lingered between him and Bella—it was all too much to process.He wasn’t ready to face Bella, not yet. He couldn’t face Zane and Alana either, not with everything that had happened. They’d witnessed the soft moments between him and Bella, and though Xavier had never been one to avoid responsibility, this felt different. The realization of what he was possibly choosing, what he was possibly about to lose, was gnawing at him.As he moved through the house, he heard Zane and Alana’s voices coming from the breakfast nook. They were laughing, their voices high with the energy of children starting their day. Bella’s laughter echoed in response, and it tugged at Xavier’s heart. His heart ached with a bittersweet longing, yet there was somethin
Xavier’s heart raced as he hurried down the hospital corridor, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the sterile walls. The phone call had come just moments ago, and it was all he didn't want to hear: Thomas’s condition was worsening. Come now. Panic gripped his chest, pushing him to run faster. He never expected this—he didn’t expect to feel anything, but now, as he neared the ICU, an overwhelming wave of emotion surged through him.He reached the doors of the ICU, the cold, sterile air enveloping him as he stepped inside. The first thing he saw was the array of machines surrounding his father’s bed—machines that beeped and hummed in a way that felt far too clinical for the life they were supposed to preserve. There, in the center, lay Thomas, his once proud frame reduced to a mere shell. The oxygen mask covered his face, his body pale and frail. His chest rose and fell with each shallow breath, a reminder that his body was fighting a losing battle.“Xavier,” came the doctor’s voice
It had been a week since Thomas's death, and the mansion felt emptier than ever. The air was thick with grief, but there was something else—something Xavier couldn’t shake off. The loss of his father had left him in turmoil, and it seemed like he couldn’t find peace in his own mind. He had spent the days locked away in his thoughts, questioning everything, trying to understand why he had never been able to love his father the way he should have.That morning, Xavier had woken up to an unspoken heaviness. He still hadn’t figured it out, and he wasn’t sure when he would. He had thought that once Thomas was gone, things would clear up, but now that he was gone, all the emotions had resurfaced—the anger, the regret, the longing for something he never got.As Xavier sat in the study, the door creaked open, and Ember walked in. She was dressed in a tailored suit, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor as she moved toward him. She was as beautiful and composed as ever, but today
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."
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 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