Some connections are felt, not spoken
“You didn’t tell me, where’s their father?” Xavier asked again.He noticed a look in Leila’s eyes—something deeper than the words she was saying. It was as if the pain she carried wasn’t just from a stranger’s story. It felt personal and intimate, and it pulled at him in a way he couldn’t explain.“He’s living his life, unaware of his two children,” Leila replied, her answer vague.Xavier could tell she didn’t want to talk about the man, so he said, “He must be pretty irresponsible.”“I think so too,” Leila said, nodding.“You must love Zane and Alana a lot,” Xavier said.“I’ve raised them with love,” Leila continued, her voice soft but filled with emotion. “Everything I do, I do for them. They’re my whole life.”Xavier felt a strange admiration for her in that moment. Here was a woman who had taken on the responsibility of two lives, with no one to share that weight. He looked down, feeling an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.“I have a sister too,” Xavier said, breaking the silence
Xavier paced back and forth in his cabin, the weight of anxiety pressing down on him. Stuck on the cruise, with no way to reach Calla directly, an idea suddenly hit him.“I’ll call Dad. He’d know where she is,” Xavier thought, grabbing his phone. Despite their complicated relationship, his father, Thomas Donovan, had always been closer to Calla. Unlike him, Dad actually showed her love—though that affection never seemed to extend to Xavier. Their relationship was nothing but rocky, strained by years of bitterness and neglect.He dialed his father’s number, anxiety making his fingers move faster than his thoughts. The phone rang… and rang… and rang. No answer.“Come on, pick up,” Xavier muttered under his breath, frustration starting to build. He tried again, gripping his phone so hard his knuckles turned white.On the fifth attempt, Thomas finally picked up, his voice rough and annoyed. “What do you want, Xavier?” His words were slightly slurred—no surprise there.Xavier didn’t waste
“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
Bella walked through the hospital entrance with a steady, purposeful stride, though the unease gnawing at her stomach was undeniable. She had been to many doctors, seen many specialists during her pregnancy, but nothing about this felt routine anymore. This time, it felt different. And despite trying to push that feeling away, the anxiety was still there.The driver had dropped her off, and she had insisted on walking inside alone. She didn't want Xavier anywhere near her today. She didn't need him. Not now. Not when she still didn’t understand what was happening between them. The whole situation with their contract marriage, her pregnancy, and his lingering relationship with Ember—everything felt tangled and suffocating. She needed space. She needed control.As she stepped into the waiting area, her eyes landed on a familiar face—Xavier.She froze. Her heart skipped, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure how to react. Why was he here?"Xavier?" Her voice came out sharp, betraying the con
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