Water drummed against Xavier's skin, the heat searing away the remnants of sleep. His thoughts churned as he thought of Cathleen’s cooking. She was creative and good at it. The thought of her butternut soup made him hasten his movements in the shower. With swift efficiency, he dried off, dressed in tailored attire, and descended the staircase with purpose.As he reached the bottom, his gaze cut through the morning light toward Olivia. Draped across an armchair, she was a disheveled vision of lace—yesterday's lingerie clinging to her like a second skin. His frown was immediate, a silent condemnation. She might as well have hoisted a flag, declaring war on Cathleen's dignity—an affront he couldn't ignore despite the void where love should reside.Without a word, he took his place at the head of the dining table, the chair scraping the floor with a harsh sound that echoed his mood. The helpers entered a ballet of practiced motions delivering breakfast—a feast that underlined the absence
The front door swung open with the kind of urgency that only came with bad news. Dr. Martin, a man whose existence seemed to balance perpetually between life's precipices, stepped through the threshold, his medical bag clutched with reverence. Behind him, Old Mr. Knight entered, his posture a testament to years of carrying the weight of wisdom and silent judgments.Xavier's jaw clenched, teeth grinding, in anticipation of the familiar reprimand. The look on his father's face was enough to confirm it; another lecture brewed just beneath the surface. There was no escaping the paternal storm."Xavier," Old Mr. Knight began, the disappointment heavy in his voice. "We need to talk."Oblivious—or indifferent—to the gravity settling over the room, Olivia stretched like a cat that had claimed the dining table as her own personal sunspot. Her limbs moved with an elegance that belied the chaos, and her gaze never once flitted toward the newcomers. She stood there, unmoving and expressionless, h
Cathleen's eyelids fluttered against the sterile white light that invaded her vision. Agony pulsed through her skull, a relentless drumbeat that seemed to echo off the walls of the hospital room. She tried to piece together the events that led to this moment but found only fragments in the void."Let me call your husband," the doctor's voice cut through the fog in her mind, his silhouette blurred as he pivoted on his heel and hurried out.Downstairs, Xavier was jolted from his brooding by the doctor's announcement. "Mr. Knight, your wife is awake." The words propelled him upward, each step a march toward confrontation.But as he ascended, Olivia descended, her presence an unwanted obstacle. "Xavier, can you please give me some cash? I didn't drive here. I used Uber," she pleaded, her voice a blend of hope and desperation.Xavier halted, the air between them crackling with tension. "Where were you going without money?" His tone was icy and accusatory. "Don't you think you should not ha
"Doctor West, I have the results that you asked for." The voice cut through the sterile silence of the office. Dr. West looked up, his piercing gaze landing on the younger doctor, who hesitated at the threshold, an envelope clutched in his hand."Come in, put it down here," Dr. West commanded, his tone allowing no room for argument as he gestured to the clutter-free expanse of his mahogany desk. The other doctor complied, laying the envelope down as if it were fragile cargo."Though, why did you ask me to run the test without the other party?" The inquiry was tentative, almost fearful of breaching some unspoken protocol.Dr. West's fingers grazed the envelope, his expression unreadable. "Well, I didn't want the young lady to have hopes."The words hung heavy in the air, like a thick fog that refused to dissipate. They were sentences that passed with the finality of a guillotine's blade, leaving behind an oppressive silence. As Dr. West tore open the envelope, his hands steady despite
Cathleen's grip slackened, her resolve wavering in the gilded foyer of their grandiose home. The weighty click of her luggage clasped shut echoed, a symbol of her intent to depart. Doctor West, stern as ever, approached with outstretched hands, firm and sure, seizing the handles that she couldn't bear. His arms tensed as he lifted, his eyes not unkind, guiding the heavy burdens away from her trembling form."Nothing that belongs to my wife will leave this premises. Including her," Xavier's voice sliced through the air, a razor-edged decree that halted everyone in their tracks. It was laced with an authority that bordered on the primitive, a claim staked deep into the ground of his estate.Doctor West's movement ceased, his spine stiffening and the wheels of the suitcase coming to a standstill against the marble floor. He turned, searching Xavier's eyes for any trace of Jest, only to find none. Even Old Mr. Knight, who stood a silent sentinel by the doorway, furrowed his brow in ponder
Dr. West's stern expression was the final image etched into Cathleen's mind as he exited the room. She sighed heavily and turned her weary gaze toward the laptop sitting on the desk in front of her. As if on cue, a new email notification popped up, jolting her back to reality. The weight of her pain seemed to intensify as she realized that life went on, no matter how much she wished for it to pause for just a moment longer.Cathleen's fingers trembled slightly as she clicked open the message. Glow Girl's logo—a radiant face encircled by stars—filled the screen, and with it, an offer that made her heart skip a beat. The photoshoot offer landed in Cathleen's inbox like a golden ticket. The brand, known for celebrating flawless skin, coveted her natural beauty that needed no enhancement. The payment promised was extravagant, a sum that couldn't be dismissed lightly.This was a great escape from her marriage and from her husband, who thinks he can boss her around. When Cathleen was abroad
Cathleen's presence in the room drew Xavier's gaze like a magnet, her confident stride contrasting with the delicate morning light that enveloped her. The subtle hues of dawn played on her features, accentuating the faint scars that adorned her skin—a testament to battles fought and hidden pains endured. Xavier longed to offer her sustenance, a silent plea echoing in his mind to nourish her resilience. Yet the echoes of their heated exchange lingered, stifling any words he might have spoken. Thus, he remained a silent observer, a veil of remorse shrouding his emotions as she paused at the door, sensing the weight of his unspoken sentiments lingering in the space between them.The door clicked shut behind her, and the room seemed to hold its breath before Olivia's presence pierced the silence. Her frown was a wrinkle etched between perfectly plucked brows, but she knew questioning Xavier about his lingering stare at Cathleen—that would be crossing an unseen line."Xa—" she ventured, on
The crystal chandeliers of Le Lumière d'Or cast prisms across Avery Jackson's discontented face as she twirled the stem of her untouched martini. Her friends, a cadre of New York glitterati, clinked glasses and laughed with a practiced air of nonchalance. Yet amidst the opulence, Avery's facade cracked."Avy, are you okay?" Concern laced her friend's voice, slicing through the murmur of elite conversations like a scalpel. Avery's eyes flickered, a momentary pause betraying her internal cacophony before the floodgates opened."You remember, I was supposed to be married, right?" She spat out the words, her manicured fingers tightening around the glass."Yeah, I've been wanting to ask about your marriage to Finn for a while. What happened?" The query hung heavy, ripe with the scent of scandal.Avery's laugh was a bitter crescendo. "Finn was useless," she declared, flinging the words like daggers. "He is not the owner of Knight Group; can you imagine? Not even the CEO; he was the assistan