Dinner at home was always something I always looked forward to, especially now that we were back in the country. Despite the uncertainty that loomed over our return, sitting at the table with Hayden and Blake made me feel happy, even if it is just for a while.Blake, as usual, was the liveliest at the table, swinging his legs back and forth on his booster seat while poking at his food with fascination. “Mama,” he said, looking up at me with those big, inquisitive eyes. “Why does uncle always look at you like that?”I blinked, glancing at Hayden, who raised an amused brow. “And how exactly does he look at me, honey?”Blake pursed his lips and squinted his eyes dramatically. “Like this!” He tilted his head slightly, furrowed his brows, and puffed his cheeks, trying to mimic Hayden’s usual expression when he gazed at me.Hayden let out a soft chuckle, reaching over to ruffle Blake’s hair. “Is that so? And what do you think that look means, buddy?”
The morning started earlier than usual. I walked into my office. Hayden had reassured me that I’d do fine, that I just needed time to adjust, but time wasn’t something I had the luxury of wasting. The company was in a fragile state, and I needed to prove—both to myself and everyone else—that I was more than just my father’s daughter.If I won’t be able to show my worth, then everyone would turn against me. So I have one goal in my mind right now, and that is to gain everybody’s respect. As I settled behind my desk, flipping through documents, my door swung open. I sighed, already anticipating an interruption.“What is it?” I asked, not looking up. “You seem stressed,” a familiar deep voice greeted, laced with amusement.I tilted my head up to see Dominic standing there. He was dressed impeccably as always, a dark suit fitted to perfection, his piercing gaze locked on me as if I were some puzzle he was determined to solve.“What
After weeks of endless meetings, Hayden and I decided it was time to take a break. A real one. And I for one believe that we deserve this!The resort we chose was nestled on a secluded island, surrounded by nothing but the endless blue ocean and swaying palm trees. It was a place meant for relaxation, far away from the bustling city and its unrelenting chaos. And for the first time in a while, I could finally breathe.Sigh. This is the life.Blake, of course, was beyond excited. He practically bounced in his seat on the flight over, barely able to contain his excitement. And to make the trip even better, we had invited Aiden and Asher to join us. The moment we arrived, we were greeted with refreshing drinks and a warm island breeze. The resort was breathtaking—white sandy beaches stretched endlessly, crystal-clear waters lapped gently at the shore, and the villas were perched perfectly to give us a full view of the horizon. It was exactly what we
The sun was dipping lower, casting golden hues over the clearing when Hayden finally found us. I was mid-sentence, trying to explain something to Blake when Lianna spoke again, her voice insistent.“Will you really not be joining us? I’m sure Cassian will be happy if Blake is there.” she said, smiling while looking at our sons playing. “It’s just close friends, and I’m quite sure that Dominic won’t show up. He always come with us but always skips the celebration.” Before I could respond, Hayden’s voice cut through the air. “What celebration?”I turned to see him walking toward us, his sharp gaze flickering between Lianna and me. His presence shifted the energy between us, making the atmosphere a little tenser. Lianna’s expression wavered briefly before she regained her composure.Hayden upon getting closer, chuckled, as his gaze flickered to Lianna, who stood a little straighter. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”Lianna’s expression remai
The morning sun cast golden streaks across the sky as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the simple yet elegant dress I had chosen for the day. Blake could hardly contain himself, though he doesn’t show it on his face, but the way he kept looking outside suggests that he was beyond excited.And the fact that he wore his favorite button down shirt—surely he wanted to impress Cassian."Blake, come on, I’ll fix your hair for you Bud,” Hayden sighed, shaking his head with a smile. “No thank you, my hair is fine,””You can’t go to the party looking like you just wrestled a bear.”“I don’t want gel on my hair, it’s itchy,” Blake pouted, fidgeting as Hayden walked to him.I chuckled at their little exchange, kneeling in front of my son to smooth out his collar. "You look so handsome, sweetheart. Cassian will be happy to see you. But he’ll be more happy if you keep your hair clean.”Blake’s pout disappeared in an in
The day had been so long, I had to attend countless meetings and work on endless stack of paperwork that seemed to multiply no matter how quickly I worked through them. By the time I wrapped up at the office, the sky had begun setting.Stretching my arms, I glanced at my phone and saw a message from Hayden:Hayden: We’re picking up Blake from preschool. Are you heading home soon?I smiled at the thought of my little family, but instead of heading home immediately, an idea popped into my mind.Me: Not yet. Thinking of stopping by the mall for a bit. I want to pick up a few things—and maybe some presents for Blake.Hayden: Spoiling him again?Me: Obviously.Hayden: Just don’t buy out the whole store. See you later, love.Shaking my head at his teasing, I grabbed my bag and made my way toward the mall.It had been a while since I’d taken the time to shop for myself. Ever since I started getting more involv
I hadn’t planned on having dinner with Fiona. In fact, if someone had told me years ago that I’d be sitting across from her at a quiet restaurant, chatting as if we were old acquaintances rather than former rivals, I would have laughed in their face thinking that they were trying to say something that’s never gonna happen. But jokes on me, cause here we were.The soft hum of the restaurant’s background music filled the air as I watched Fiona carefully slice her steak. There was something so different about her now—gone was the fiery, impulsive woman who had once made it clear that she despised me. In her place was someone calm, composed, and strangely... warm?“You’re staring,” Fiona noted, not looking up from her plate. “Is there something on my face?”I blinked, realizing I had been lost in thought. “Sorry,” I said, giving her a sheepish smile. “It’s just... you’ve changed a lot.”She finally met my gaze, a small knowing smile playing
I adjusted the hem of my dress, exhaling as I glanced at myself in the mirror. Tonight was going to be a long night. The city’s governor was hosting a grand event, and almost every major family in the city had been invited. It wasn’t the type of gathering I looked forward to, but it was necessary. Networking, keeping up appearances, and maintaining the family’s influence were all part of this charade.Blake suddenly ran into the room, his tiny footsteps echoing against the marble floor. "Mama, I want to go with you!"I sighed, turning to face him. He was already dressed in a small tuxedo, his hair neatly combed. "Blake, there will be a lot of adults. It’s not really a place for kids.”"But I want to go!" he pouted, his big eyes pleading. "Please, Mama?""Blake—"“Uncle Hayden!" Blake called out suddenly, running towards the hallway.I groaned. He knew exactly how to get what he wanted. A few seconds later, Hayden entered the room with an amused smirk, arms cr
We were on our way home after unintentionally spending the night outside. I glanced down at my hand, the ring on my finger glistening even in the soft daylight.I looked down at my hand, at the ring that now sat on my finger. It was simple but beautiful. A smooth white gold band with a single diamond in the middle. But what really got me was the engraving on the inside. “My first and last”It was so Hayden. Refined, meaningful, and intentional. “My fiancée’s staring at her hand a lot,” Hayden’s voice broke through my thoughts.I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide the smile playing on my lips. “I mean, it’s so pretty. Who wouldn’t stare?”Hayden smirked. “Should I get jealous of the ring?”I turned my hand slightly, admiring the way the sunlight made it shimmer. “Mmm. Maybe.”He scoffed, reaching over to take my left hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a brief, lingering kiss. “There. Now it’s touched by me. That should make it hundred times better.”
The night felt like something straight out of a dream. I leaned back on my hands, staring up at the vast sky, a content sigh escaping my lips. “Time flies too fast, doesn’t it?”Hayden hummed in agreement beside me. “Yeah. Feels like just yesterday we were here, and I was making a fool out of myself, trying to confess to you.”I turned my head to look at him, smirking. “Oh, you mean when you stuttered through half your confession and nearly tripped over a rock?”He raised his brow at me, “Now you’re just making things up?”I grinned. “What do you mean? That’s exactly how I remember it.” I said, teasing him.Hayden shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m marrying a woman who takes pleasure in my suffering.”I gasped, playfully shoving his arm. “Excuse me! First of all, I never agreed to marry you—”He raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Yet.”I squinted at him, suddenly suspicious. “Why do you sound so confident?”He shrugged, looking way too smug. “Ju
After dinner, Hayden leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms like a lazy cat. He had that look—the one that meant he was up to something.“We’re going somewhere,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t just blindsided me with the announcement.I raised an eyebrow. “Now? It’s late.”He smirked. “That’s the point.”I groaned, already feeling the exhaustion creeping in. “Can’t we do whatever this is tomorrow? My bed is calling me.”Hayden shook his head, standing up. “Nope. You’ll love it, I promise.”I sighed, rubbing my temples. “At least tell me where we’re going.”“Nope,” he repeated, grinning as he took my hand and pulled me up. “You can just take a nap on our way there.”I grumbled the entire way to the car. And the moment I settled inside. I was out like a blown candle.—When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the gentle hum of the car.The second thing? The eerie darkness outside.I blinked groggily, sitting up. “Where… ar
It had been way too long since Hayden and I spent time together just the two of us. And with what has been happening. I decided to clear my schedule and dedicated a whole day for the two of us. We at least deserve this needed break.The moment we stepped into the mall, he was already in full spoiling mode.“Pick whatever you want,” he said, flashing me that signature grin of his.I raised an eyebrow. “You do realize I have money now, right? I can treat you for once.”Hayden scoffed, draping an arm around my shoulders as we walked. “And deprive me of the joy of spoiling my lover? Absolutely not.”I rolled my eyes. “You’re so dramatic.”“And yet, you love it.”I sighed. “Why do you everyone keep saying that?”He just smirked and led me straight into a boutique, where I barely even had a say in what was happening.“Try this one.”“Ooh, this color will look great on you.”“We’re getting this.”Before I knew it, we were loaded wit
The car ride home was suffocating.Hayden hadn’t said a single word since we left the school. He just kept his hands on the wheel, eyes straight ahead, his jaw locked in silent restraint.I wanted to say something.Anything.But the air between us was so thick, I could barely breathe.Blake was in the backseat hugging his massive teddy bear, Mr. Fluffington, as he had proudly named it.And the second we arrived home, he bolted inside.“Uncle Hayden! Look at this!” he beamed, holding up the plush toy as soon as we stepped through the door. “Isn’t he cool?”Hayden forced a small smile, ruffling Blake’s hair. “Yeah, buddy. He’s awesome.”“And guess what?” Blake continued excitedly. “Papa and I won him! We played lots of games together, and it was so much fun!”I flinched.I knew the moment that word left his mouth, it was like twisting a knife into Hayden’s heart. His face scrunched a little for a moment bu tasked it off quickly.He didn’
The Family Day games were finally over.Blake had the time of his life, laughing and playing like he didn’t have a care in the world. His energy was still high even after playing a bunch of game already.It was time for food, and the people started flocking to the inner hall where the foods were placed.But Hayden?He still wasn’t here.I stood near the entrance of the school, my eyes scanning the crowd, phone gripped tightly in my hand. He hadn’t sent another message. No calls. No texts.Just… nothing.I chewed on my lower lip, feeling a strange mix of worry and frustration.Did something happen? Or did he just decide not to come? Just where is he?!Before I could spiral too deep into my thoughts, I caught movement from the corner of my eye.Blake, clutching a huge teddy bear in his tiny arms as he was practically skipping toward me.And walking beside him, hands shoved in his pockets while a lazy smirk played on his face was Dominic.
It had been nearly a week since that night—and Hayden has been giving me cold shoulder all week since he thought I was keeping something from him. Because, well… I was.And things hadn’t been the same since.He still spoke to me. Still kissed me goodbye before leaving for work. Still acted like everything was normal in front of Blake. But I felt the difference. The distance.And I hated it.He was being civil, but he wasn’t being himself. No teasing remarks. No playful back-and-forth. Just quiet smiles that didn’t quite reach his eyes. And worst of all? He didn’t hug me in his sleep anymore.So tonight, I decided to bring up something that might help lighten things between us.“Blake’s school is hosting Family Day tomorrow,” I said while setting the plates for dinner. “There’ll be games and activities, and all the kids are supposed to have both their parents or guardians with them.”Hayden, who was scrolling through his phone and barely reacted. “Hmm.”
The flashing red and blue lights were the first things I saw as we pulled up to the entrance of our home.My heart dropped.Police cars were everywhere. Officers stood around, their radios crackling as they spoke to each other. The entire scene looked like a crime scene, and I had no idea what was happening.What was exactly going on here? Where is Hayden?I then heard Blake gasp beside me.“Whoa! Mommy, look! It’s like a scene from a villain movie!” His eyes practically sparkled with excitement. “Do you think they’re chasing bad guys? Maybe ninjas? Or—oh! Maybe it’s a secret spy mission?!”I stared at him, my anxiety skyrocketing. How could he be excited right now? What movies does Hayden let him watch when I’m not around?!“Blake, this isn’t a game,” I said, forcing myself to stay calm. “Stay close to me, okay?”He nodded, still grinning like this was the best thing ever.The second I stepped out of the car, I spotted Hayden moving through the c
I sat in the living room, fingers lightly tapping my knee as I waited. Dominic had taken Blake upstairs for a shower, leaving me alone in this unfamiliar house. It felt strange being here—like I was intruding on a life I had no place in. The silence continued, broken only by the faint sound of the water running upstairs. I released a heavy breathe, leaning back into the couch. My eyes drifted toward the glass doors leading to the pool, where Blake had been laughing and playing just minutes ago. He had so much fun that he pouted and tried to argue when I told him it was time to go home. I was happy that he enjoyed himself, but at the same time, I couldn’t ignore the uneasiness gnawing at me. He shouldn’t be here…but…why do I feel like I’m restricting him of something that he should be actually experiencing. I was deep in thought when I heard footsteps approaching. I turned and saw Fiona walking toward me, carrying a tray. She placed i