He stood up, unable to sit still any longer.“This isn’t enough,” he muttered under his breath.“I can’t do this. I can’t raise them alone. I don’t have what it takes.”The manager didn’t say anything, but Xavier could tell he understood the weight of the situation. Xavier’s hands trembled as he ran them through his hair, the exhaustion of the past few months finally catching up to him.“I need her back,” Xavier whispered, his voice cracking.“I need Leila to come back, or I don’t know how I’m gonna make it through this.”The manager gave him a sympathetic look but stayed quiet. Xavier’s mind spun as the reality of his situation hit him—he was on his own now, with Zane and Alana, and no way to find the woman who had walked out on all of them.A dead end. A cold, empty road. That’s what it felt like now. No matter how hard he tried, there was no way to go back.**********The night was thick with silence as Xavier finally made his way home. The weight of the day, the culmination of his
Xavier sat on the edge of his bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows across the room. He rubbed his temples, trying to push away the exhaustion that clung to him, but his mind wouldn’t stop racing.Tonight wasn’t about the mess of his present—it was the past creeping back in. That night, everything changed. The night Maya entered his life.He hadn’t thought about her much over the years. She was just a blurry memory from a wild vacation—a fleeting encounter on a cruise ship, drowned in too many drinks and bad decisions.But now, as he sat there alone, it felt different. It was like that night wasn’t just some random blip. It was the key to everything that had been unraveling around him.It had been his third night on the ship, back when he and Logan, along with a few friends, had decided to escape their day-to-day grind for a week of partying and freedom.They’d gone hard-drinking, laughing, living like there wasn’t a care in the world. But that night wasn’t about them
Her lips were soft but demanding, moving against his with a desperation that made his head spin. He tasted something sweet—maybe the faint remnants of whatever she’d been drinking or something else entirely—and it only pulled him deeper into the kiss, further into the intensity of the moment.He could feel her urgency, her need, and in that moment, his own desires twisted into something raw and consuming. It wasn’t just about the heat between them—it was something more.Someone knocked on the door, the sound sharp and insistent, but Xavier couldn’t respond. His attention was completely consumed by the girl in his arms. Her hands were tangled in his hair, her body pressing into his with an intensity that left him breathless.The knocking continued, but it seemed like a distant noise, a faint intrusion against the heat of the moment. He couldn’t think about anything but the way she felt, the way her body seemed to burn against his, the way she kissed him with such abandon as if this was
Maya woke with a start, the sunlight streaming through the curtains making her squint. For a moment, her mind was blank—a hazy fog of fragmented memories and the dull throb of a headache clouding her thoughts. Then, as she moved, the warm, unfamiliar weight of an arm draped over her waist made her freeze.Her breath caught, panic rising in her chest. Slowly, she turned her head and saw him—a stranger. Dark hair tousled, his face peaceful in sleep, the kind of handsomeness that seemed almost unfair. And then it hit her like a freight train: the night before. The drinks. The kiss. The bed.“Oh, God,” she whispered, her voice shaky.She shot upright, clutching the sheet to her chest as her eyes darted around the room. It was unfamiliar, definitely not hers. She was in his space, surrounded by a mix of masculine chaos—discarded clothes, an unmade bed, and the faint smell of cologne and alcohol lingering in the air. Her stomach twisted in knots as she realized the implications of where she
Maya stepped out of the bathroom, her steps hurried but unsure, her expression a mix of confusion and frustration. She rubbed her temples, her headache pounding in rhythm with her spiraling thoughts.Her clothes were thrown on hastily, her shirt slightly misbuttoned, and her hair was still a tangled mess.Her gaze darted around the unfamiliar room, the stark reminder of the night before making her stomach twist. She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, her fingers trembling as she avoided looking at the man sitting on the edge of the bed.“Hey,” he called softly, his voice low and hesitant. “You okay?”Maya’s head snapped toward him, her jaw tightening. “Am I okay?” she echoed, her tone sharp with disbelief. “I just woke up in a stranger’s bed with no clear memory of how I got here. So no, I’m not okay.”Xavier frowned, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His dark hair was tousled, his shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of toned muscle, but his expression wa
After a few hours, the ship docked. Passengers were already starting to disembark, their chatter and hurried footsteps filling the air.Xavier scanned the crowd, searching for her, but Maya was nowhere to be found. She had slipped away just as quietly as she’d appeared.He never saw her again. No phone call, no note, no way to reach her. Maya had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the memory of that night.At first, Xavier hadn’t thought much of it. It was just another one-night stand—a drunken mistake made during a vacation he barely remembered. He hadn’t even asked for her last name, let alone her number. Maya had been a face in the crowd, a fleeting moment of passion he assumed would fade with time.But now, years later, the truth was staring him in the face, and his mind couldn’t stop racing. That night—the night with Maya—hadn’t just been a careless fling. It had consequences. Consequences he never could have imagined.Zane and Alana.His kids.The realization hit him
Both Zane and Alana turned to the picture with interest. Alana took it first, her fingers brushing against the fragile corners. She stared at it for a long moment before realization settled across her face.“She’s our mom,” Alana said softly like saying it out loud would make it more real.The words hung in the air, heavy and unshakable. Zane looked over her shoulder at the photo, his expression more skeptical than surprised.“Where did you get this?” Zane asked, reaching for the picture. His tone was sharp, more demanding now.Xavier’s face darkened. He exhaled sharply, looking away for a moment as if their question alone had hit him like a punch to the gut. His mind was a blur of frustration, disappointment, and tension he couldn’t untangle.“I asked you where you got it,” Zane repeated, more insistent this time.Xavier ignored the question and reached for the photo again. “Give me that,” he said, his voice rough. His hand trembled as though the picture itself burned him.Alana hesi
The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the low hum of quiet conversations filled the café. Calla sat by the window, absently stirring her cappuccino, watching the rain streak down the glass. This was her sanctuary—a little corner of peace where she could tune out the world and lose herself in the steady rhythm of the raindrops outside. The rich aroma of coffee mixed with the faint scent of pastries from the counter, and the soft chatter of other patrons blended with the gentle patter of rain, creating a cocoon of calm.She took a sip of her coffee, savoring its warmth as it spread through her chest. Moments like this were rare, and she held onto them tightly. But then, a shadow fell across her table, disrupting her brief escape.She glanced up—and froze.“Jessica?” The name tumbled out of her mouth, her voice a mix of shock and disbelief.Standing there was Drake’s mother, her face a little softer than Calla remembered, but still wearing that polished, composed look she always carried
Xavier stepped out of the car, his feet meeting the cold pavement of the court building's exterior. The air was heavy, charged with tension. Calla, Logan, and his team of lawyers followed closely behind, their expressions tense but determined. It was the first hearing of the case filed by James Tyler, the man who had somehow become entangled with Xavier’s life through Drake’s twisted plans.Xavier adjusted his tie, his jaw clenched as he scanned the crowd. He knew this would be a long and painful process, but what bothered him most was the prospect of public humiliation. The fact that his family—his children—were being dragged into this mess made his stomach churn with anger."Stay close," Logan murmured to him, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of James or Drake.Xavier nodded and took a deep breath, attempting to calm his rising frustration. But before they could enter the building, Xavier spotted a familiar figure in the crowd—Drake. He was standing near the entrance, a smug
Xavier sat in his office, his fingers lightly tapping the desk as he stared at the stack of papers before him. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts—about Bella, about the twins, about the court case that loomed ever closer. The weight of everything seemed too much to bear in that moment, and he was struggling to focus, to breathe even.Just as the silence in the room became suffocating, there was a knock at the door. Xavier looked up, grateful for the interruption."Come in," he called, his voice hoarse.The door opened, and Logan stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He had been investigating James Tyler, and Xavier had been waiting for some news, though he wasn’t sure what kind of news he wanted to hear. He only knew that this man—this stranger—was somehow linked to Drake, and that meant nothing good.Logan closed the door behind him and approached Xavier's desk, sitting down without waiting for an invitation. His eyes met Xavier's with a quiet seriousness."I’ve found
The evening was quiet as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the mansion. The air in the house felt heavy, as if it too was holding its breath, waiting for something to give. Inside Xavier’s room, the soft rustling of papers and the occasional sound of a distant voice filled the silence. Xavier sat at his desk, his eyes scanning over documents, but his mind was elsewhere. It had been a long day—too many worries piling on top of each other—and still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped in a maze he couldn’t escape.The soft knock on the door broke him from his thoughts. He turned to see Calla standing in the doorway, her expression serious but caring. She had been quiet for the past few days, perhaps sensing the weight of everything that had been happening."Xavier," Calla began, her voice low yet steady, "I need to talk to you."Xavier sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "What is it, Calla?"She stepped inside and closed
The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains of the guest bedroom, casting a warm glow on the delicate features of Bella’s face. Yet, despite the peaceful scene, she felt anything but peaceful. Her body ached more than it used to, and her once vibrant energy had begun to wane. Her pregnancy had become to feel like a burden. Complications had started to arise, and Bella knew she couldn't ignore them much longer.She sat up in bed, holding her stomach with both hands as if trying to protect the tiny life inside her, yet it felt more like an anchor, weighing her down. She could feel the pressure of uncertainty mounting inside her. The emotional turmoil was nearly as consuming as the physical exhaustion.The door creaked open, and Bella's gaze lifted to see Calla standing in the doorway. "How are you feeling today?" Calla asked gently, her eyes scanning Bella’s face. There was no judgment in her gaze—just concern. Calla knew about her pregnancy since beginning and she also knew th
The phone call hung heavily in the air as Xavier stared at the device in his hand, his jaw clenched tight. The reality of the situation had sunk in, but it only made the questions multiply. Who was this James Tyler? What did he want? Why was he claiming Zane and Alana as his children when Xavier knew, without a shadow of a doubt, they were his?Logan sat across from Xavier in his office, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Xavier’s every move."Are you going to call him?" Logan asked, his voice low but firm. "You can’t let this linger. The sooner you get to the bottom of it, the better."Xavier sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair. He had just received the phone number of James Tyler from his lawyer. It felt like a final step before confronting the chaos that was beginning to unravel his life. His thoughts lingered on Zane and Alana. They were his children—no one could take that from him."I'm calling him," Xavier muttered under his breath, determination setting in. He grab
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