A week had passed and not a single word had been heard from Cathleen, which was highly unusual for the girl who was known for her constant phone calls to check up on others. Mr. Knight, feeling increasingly concerned and anxious, couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong with his dear daughter-in-law. Each time he tried to reach out to Xavier for an update on his wife's whereabouts, he was met with silence. Growing more and more determined to find answers, the old man summoned his driver and made his way to Xavier and Cathleen's lavish home, hoping to uncover the truth behind her sudden disappearance.As the old man arrived, he was welcomed with open arms by Olivia. Her wide grin stretched from ear to ear as she swung the door open for him. The moment his eyes fell on her, he knew without a doubt that Cathleen and Olivia would not get along. She exuded a different kind of energy—one that did not match Cathleen's refined tastes."Good morning, Father." As Olivia stepped i
Olivia's heart raced with joy and excitement, causing her to jump up and down like a carefree child. Her jubilation was short-lived, however, as Xavier's words struck her like a massive boulder, driving her to the edge of a cliff."I will not divorce my wife, Father! I love her, and I'm getting to know her." This single statement was enough to make Olivia run and throw herself into the sea. The weight of his words threatened to push her over the edge into a dark abyss of uncertainty and fear. She felt herself teetering on the precipice, unsure if she had the strength to pull herself back from the brink.A wave of paleness washed over Olivia's face, the color draining from her cheeks as she realized that all hope of ever being with the man she loved was lost. Her posture slouched, her shoulders drooping in defeat as she fought back tears that refused to come. The heaviness in her chest made it hard to breathe, and she felt like she was suffocating on her own emotions. All the blood in
Xavier's gaze lingered on William Jackson, a storm of confusion brewing behind his eyes. The older man returned the look with an intensity that bordered on desperation and motioned silently, urging Xavier to follow him out into the crisp evening air. With a stiff nod, Xavier acquiesced, his footsteps echoing William's across the threshold.The chill of the outside world wrapped around them, but it was the frost in William's confession that cut deeper. "Cathy is a fragile girl," he began, voice low, laced with a regret that seemed to ache in the growing dusk. "She puts on a chilly facade because she thinks I do not care about her."A heavy pause settled between them, the gravity of the words hanging like a guillotine blade ready to fall."Her mother was my life," William continued, his voice rough as gravel, "and when she passed, Cathy... She lost more than a mother. I had to find someone to take care of her, being swallowed by work, ensuring food was always on our table."William hesi
"I'm sorry, I won't be able to say anything to you." The doctor said, and Xavier's jaw clenched as the doctor met his glower with an apologetic shrug. The sterile white of the room seemed to close in, a mocking contrast to the dark thoughts clouding his mind. The doctor went on, oblivious to the storm brewing within Xavier. "Cathleen seems like a married woman, and I can only talk to her husband or her family, not friends."The words hung heavy in the air while Xavier’s icy stare bore into the man who was daring to stand between him and his wife—not that he cared about Cathleen, but he needed answers. His temper, a live wire sparking dangerously close to detonation, threatened to break his facade of control. Time was slipping through his fingers, each second pounding against his skull like a drumbeat, heralding his fury."Time is money, Doctor," Xavier spat out, each word laced with venom. He could feel the familiar urge to command and dominate the situation, as he did in the boardroo
As Xavier walked out of the clean white room, the smell of the hospital lingered on his well-tailored suit. He had a rare grin with the corners of his mouth turned up. The harsh hospital lights cast sharp shadows over his chiseled features. "At least she's up," he thought to himself, enjoying the thought of Cathleen's strength. For a while now, his world had become dull and boring because he had so much power over it. "No one dares stand up to me... except for that prostitute wife of mine."He talked to himself in a quiet growl, recognizing that Cathleen had a strong personality. It was a spirit that was like him, a dance of rebellion and power that interested him more than it should have.The sight of his mouth moving in a faint smile made his cold blue eyes flinch. Caleb, who was always on the lookout, saw the strange face."Boss, are you okay?" Caleb couldn't quite get the question out, and there was doubt in every word. Xavier didn't smile very often, and this one was the only one
The untouched plate of food sat on the table, a silent accusation between them. Cathleen's eyes, sharp as the knives she wielded in court, cut towards it and then away. She wouldn't touch anything Xavier had touched—not after his venomous words had burned her trust to ashes."Are you going to starve yourself to death, then?" Xavier's voice, cold and flat, betrayed none of the anxiety that knotted his insides."Better than risking whatever spite you've cooked into that meal," she spat back, her tongue a whip he'd felt many times before, though never like this—never when she was so vulnerable, confined to the confines of her wheelchair.Her eyes fell to her own hands, useless for the moment, and her legs were a betrayal beneath her. The thought of needing help with something as intimate as bathing twisted her stomach with humiliation. In her mind, she saw herself as strong and indomitable, not this... husk. A tear betrayed her, carving a path down her cheek—a silent cry of new-found hel
Xavier rose to his feet, the lines of his body taut with control, as he wheeled Cathleen into their bedroom. As he stripped off his shirt, sharp light filtered through the half-drawn curtains, painting stripes across his bare chest. The swelling of his muscles made Cathleen's breath catch, and her cheeks burned with a flush that belied her composure."Wha-what are you doing?" She stammered, her eyes wide and unguarded.He shot her a look that was as sharp as a cut piece of glass. "What does it look like I'm doing?" His voice was a low growl, rumbling with impatience.On the outside, Xavier had been the picture of a devoted husband and wife. On the inside, he was like a caged lion, with power simmering beneath every move he made. He disappeared into the walk-in closet and emerged in a pair of gray jogging pants and a vest that did little to hide his formidable physique.Cathleen's brow furrowed, and the furrows on her forehead were a sign of her concern. "You do know that we are not al
The clock struck midnight, its chiming a solemn whisper against the stillness of the night. Cathleen's eyelids fluttered open in the dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the gauzy curtains. Xavier's rhythmic breathing was the gentle counterpoint to the stillness—an anchor in the great sea of stillness.She watched him. The rise and fall of his chest were steady and calm. Sleep had softened his features and peeled away the layers of frost that had enveloped Xavier Knight during the day. In his rest, he was a boy once more, untouched by the harsh demands of the world and untainted by the cutthroat nature of his reality. The kind of boy who'd trade anything for the simple pleasures of the candy shop.Cathleen's heart swelled, a feeling similar to that of warmth and belonging wrapped around her. Here, with the sleeping man beside her, she could almost forget the biting edge of his waking hours—the relentless drive that left him cold, the ruthless streak that kept him dominant.But