The silence filling Jessica's room was thick as she stared at the number on her phone, her thumb hovering around Ethan's number. She'd been fighting the decision to reach out to him for hours, her mind was tangled in doubt and fear. Yet, somewhere, deep down, she knew the truth was going to out. The longer she continued to keep Avery away from him, the worse it was going to be when it finally occurred.Taking one deep breath, she hit the call button on her phone. The line rang immediately, causing her heart to pound in her chest with each second that passed. Finally, she heard his familiar voice pick up the phone."Jessica?" Ethan's voice called out, bracing himself for whatever she had to say to him."Hey, Ethan.." she began, swallowing a huge lump of fear in her throat. "I need us to talk and it has to be somewhere private."There was a pause on the other side of the call, and then his voice returned. "This is all I've wanted, Jess. Just pick a time and a place, I'll be there."
Ethan couldn't help but let out a big smile on his face as he watched his daughter, Avery, dig into her ice cream cone, her eyes firing up with every bite that she took. They were sitting on a bench a few steps away from a small ice cream shop in the city, spending quality time together sd father and daughter. For the first time, he was looking at his daughter and having her by his side since she was born five years ago."Do you always order strawberries?" he asked curiously as she tried to get to know more about her, noticing the ice cream smudge on her chin.Avery nodded with much enthusiasm, licking her cone to show him how much she liked it. "Uh-huh! Strawberries are my favorite." She looked up at him, meeting his curious gaze. "Mum says I should always be polite, so what's your favorite flavor?""I'm more of a chocolate person," Ethan replied, smiling from ear to ear. "I like mine extra dark, just like this right here." He held up his cone, sniffing it dramatically before taking
Jessica pushed open the door leading into her parent's house, releasing a small sigh as she set down her bag and slipped out of her shoes. She had been at the office, longer than she had planned, but the meeting was crucial as she was preparing to open another branch of her company in Los Angeles. Still, she felt some guilt knowing that her daughter must have waited for her the whole day.She walked gently down the hallway, passing the large living room where she spotted Ricky, his feet were on the coffee table, the soft glow from the lamp casting its shadows across the room. He looked, finally taking notice of her, and welcomed her with a gentle smile."She's asleep?" Jessica wondered, her voice as low as a whisper, pointing towards Avery's room which was down the hall.Ricky nodded, dropping his feet down to the floor and sitting straight. "Yeah. But she tried her best to stay awake for you. Asked me at least three times when you'd be back from work."Jessica closed her eyes tig
“Jessica, the next LA expansion for the company is going very well.” Mark, her new project manager began, his voice strong and confident. “Good, but let’s try to focus on our brand’s consistency no matter what.” Jessica responded, shaking her head as she encouraged the team. “We can’t let our LA branch feel left out from our core values and mission.”“Right.,” Lisa chimed in, a new member to the team. “I’ve created a list of potential influencers that can help solidify our online presence. This is one of the smartest way for reaching out to the LA crowd.”Jessica let out a big smile, preparing to reply, when the glass door of her office suddenly swung open, and she froze in her seat. Ethan stood there, hair scattered and visibly drunk, leaning heavily on the door frame so he wouldn’t fall to the ground. His eyes were red, and the smell of alcohol reeked from his body.“Ethan?” Jessica’s voice returned to her, feeling surprised and shocked, while the various members of her teams excha
Jessica's parents' home where she lived with Avery and Ricky was quiet as the evening began to settle in, a soft glow from the moon casting a warm light across her daughter's room. Jessica sat right on the edge of her daughter's bed, watching her prepare her blankets so she could snuggle into them. After a long, especially with her ex-husband, Ethan's unexpected visit to her office, this was what she considered a peaceful moment.Avery's room was a girly mix of pinks and some purples here and there, decorated with fairy lights that glittered all day, some stuffed animals on the bed, and a shelf that contained all her favorite books that she loved to read before going to bed. Jessica stretched out her hand to pull the covers to her daughter's chin, smiling at her as she prepared Avery for bed."Mommy, will you tell that story where the princess gets to build her castle?" Avery asked politely, her eyes still sparkling with excitement.Jessica laughed softly. This story had gradually bec
Jessica sighed deeply as she walked right into the door, the weight of the previous week still heavy on her shoulder. Ethan's visit to her office had just found its way back to her mind, and the more she tried to let of it, the more she found herself haunted by the thought. Returning to work would always give her a temporary place to escape from everything, but every moment since she found her office, has always been one that brought her the same unease.She placed her Gucci bag on the countertop and walked into the kitchen, hoping to get something to eat and retire to bed without much conversation. But Ricky was already staring at her from across the room, his eyes narrowed in on her, and concern filled in his eyes."Hey," he said quietly, trying not to startle to her. "Long day?"Jessica hugged him, managing to reply with a smile on her face as she let go immediately. "Ueaj, something like that."Ricky watched, his gaze searching her entire countenance. "Jess, are you okay? Late
Jessica buttoned her little girl's thick coat and adjusted the scarf on her neck, the frosty air coming through their breaths as they stepped out into the noisy and bustling streets in their car. The sidewalk was packed with snow, festive lights adored the windows of every shop they could see. It had been months since had given herself time to relax, and Avery's excitement was just too contagious."Mommy, please can we go to the toy store first?" Avery begged her gloves hand pulling on Jessica's coat.Jessica smiled, blowing away a strand of hair from her face. "We're for clothes, Avery. But I promise, if we finish early, then we can go look at toys that you like."Avery's face lit up with excitement, and she skipped along beside her mother as they entered a chic boutique filled with winter wear for the season. Jessica let her daughter wander ahead of her, her eyes glowing as she saw the colorful display while she inspected the racks of coats.Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling a
Jessica gently unfastened her daughter’s coat, her hands shaking slightly as her thoughts continued to cause chaos in her mind. The boutique encounter with Olivia had thrown her off balance more than she wanted to admit.“Mommy, can I have my hot chocolate now?” Avery asked, her voice cutting through Jessica’s clouded mind.Jessica managed to smile at her, brushing back the strand of hair on Avery’s face. “Of course, sweetheart. But first, go wash your hands and I’ll go in and make it extra sweet for you.”As Avery skipped towards the direction of the bathroom, Jess exhaled for a moment, her chest tightening up.Ricky stepped into the room, his sharp blue-coloured suit, which was wrinkled from a long day of work. “You’re late.” He said with a playful tone before he noticed the look on her face. “What’s wrong?”Jessica hesitated, glancing towards the bathroom to make sure that Avery would be unable to hear anything. “You wouldn’t believe that I ran into Olivia today.”Ricky’s jaw dropp
The screen on Ricky’s phone dimmed, but the words from the text had been seared into his mind; Jessica curled up against Ethan, her hand resting on his; the intimacy he saw was impossible to ignore.He had come to the hospital with his heart racing, fear on every step he took, worried about Avery even though he and Jessica had just had an argument.Now, all he could feel was cold.The burn of betrayal wasn’t loud or fiery. It was still, quiet and creeping. Like a crack beneath the surface of something he’d convinced himself to forget. Deep down, he’d always known. But tonight made it real to him.His feet moved before he made the conscious decision to step back into the hospital.The door stood slightly ajar. Beyond it, the soft sound from Avery’s heart monitor pulsed like a clock to king down.Jessica stirred when the door creaked. Her eyes opened up slowly, then they widened as they landed on Ricky. She sat up fast, pushing herself out of the chair. “Ricky,” she whispered, alr
The rhythmic beep of the monitor was the only sound coming from the hospital room for a long while. Jessica sat next to Avery, her fingers brushing back the damp strands of her hair. She’d been humming, soft, quiet, just enough to soothe her little girl. The tune wavered here and there like her voice was on the edge of breaking forever.Ethan stood near the window, arms folded, watching both women.“She’s holding steady,” the doctor said to both parents, stepping into the room. “Her fever’s under control for now, but we want to keep her for observation. Her blood work shows signs of a viral infection, most likely the flu, but we won’t know more until the test results come back.”Jessica nodded, barely looking up at the doctor. “How many days?”“Two to three, minimum. She’ll need rest and fluids going into her. We’ll monitor for any secondary infections, just to be safe, so she doesn’t have to come back here.”“She’s going to be okay?” Ethan asked, his voice sounding tight.The
“Come on, Jess,” Ethan’s voice was tight with panic as he yanked open the car door. Jessica didn’t need to be told twice. Her heels barely even hit the floor before she was inside his car, slamming the door behind her. Ethan was already behind the wheel, his jaw locked, eyes cold and focused like a missile locked on a target as he reversed with a sharp turn.Her heart was already racing, but it slipped entirely when he blew through a stop sign on the road without slowing down.“Ethan!” She gaped, grabbing the dashboard.“Sorry, I’ve got this.” He said voice clipped. “I’m not wasting a damn second of our time.”Jessica twisted in her seat, fingers brushing Avery’s cheek. Her daughter’s head lolled in her arms like a doll, her skin flushed, her breath shallow and fast. Just as fast as they had returned to the house to get Avery.“Avery, baby, can you hear me?” she whispered, moving a strand of her daughter’s hair behind her ear. “It’s Mommy. I’m here for you, sweetheart.”Avery’
FEW WEEKS LATER“You can’t be serious.”Jessica sighed, placing the phone on her other ear. “Dad, I know this looks right, but Avery wants me to be there.”She heard her father’s disapproving silence stretched for a moment before he finally spoke up. “Jessica, this is Ethan’s family we are talking about here. They will use every opportunity to remind you that you lost custody of your daughter. Even though it’s only temporary.”“I know,” she admitted, rubbing her eyes. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about Avery.”“She’s an only child. She doesn’t understand what this is doing to you.”Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat. She understood what her father was talking about. Every moment spent around Ethan, his world, and his family took something away from her, leaving her exposed.But her little girl wanted her to be present. That was all that mattered.A soft knock at her apartment door made her come back to reality. “I have to go, Dad. I’ll call you soon.”She hung up and pulled op
“No, no, no...” Jessica’s voice trembled as she read through the words again, her fingers holding on tightly around the document as if she would squeeze enough and the ruling would change. Her vision began to blur with tears, her entire body going numb from the shock.“Jessica?” Ricky’s voice came but cautious this time around, the argument between them had been forgotten temporarily. She took a step closer, but she shut it down.“Sorry, but I need to be alone.” She whispered, her voice barely audible to him.“What? Jessica what’s going...”“I said I need to be alone, Ricky!” she snapped at him, her grief and frustration boiling over. Without waiting for him to leave, she grabbed a coat from the rack and stormed out of the house, slamming her door behind him. When he was ready he would leave and lock up.The cold night air hit her cheeks harshly as she walked aimlessly down the street. Her mind was a field of chaos. They had finally taken her. They hadn’t finally taken Avery. The cour
“I hope you haven’t come here to waste my time, Ethan. You know I am really busy.”Ethan exhaled sharply, running his right hand down his face as he chose to sit just across from his grandfather in his office in the Mitchell building. The old man’s piercing grey eyes watched Ethan from his mahogany desk, the weight of his grandfather’s expectations pressing on him like a chain, causing him to keep drowning in a river.“I wouldn’t be here if this wasn’t important,” Ethan replied, his voice controlled but tight as he composed himself in front of his grandfather.His grandfather leaned back in his chair, giving his grandson a listening ear. “Then get straight to the point.”Ethan hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “I would like you to meet Avery.”His grandfather’s expression remained the same when he heard that statement, his eyes gave off no sign of emotions in them. “And why would I do that?”Ethan clenched his fists in disbelief that he was hearing a question like this. “Beca
Ricky waited until the door clicked shut behind Ethan before turning around to face Jessica fully. Hisneus, usually filled with charm and warmth, was cold for the first time. He tossed the bouquet of white lilies onto the kitchen counter, the flowers landing with a loud thud.“You’re sure, huh?” Ricky’s voice was low, edged with something darker than jealousy, something very possessive.Jessica crossed her arms, leaning against the door as she steadied her breath. “What exactly are you trying to imply here, Ricky?.Ricky took a step closer, his jaw closing. “I’m not implying anything, Jessica. I’m just asking why was he here?”Jessica exhaled sharply, her patience thinning. “Because he’s Avery’s father. She’s been through enough today with the court hearing, and he wanted to check on her. That’s all.”Ricky’s laugh was bitter, nothing like the easy charm she’d grown used to. “Right. Just like that? No other reason?”She moved to the living room, putting space between them as she picke
Jessica sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the darkened window. The echoes of the courtroom still replayed in her mind. Avery’s eyes ran over with tears, Lois’s sharp words, and Ethan’s fixed gaze on her. She rubbed her eyes together, trying to push it all away, but the ache was relentless, carving deep into her chest.The apartment was painfully quiet, except for the humming coming from the city beyond her window. Avery had fallen asleep hours ago, holding on tightly to her stuffed bunny with a grip that mirrored Jessica’s own desperation. She thought about pouring herself a glass of wine but couldn’t summon the strength to do so. Instead, she sat in the silence, letting it swallow her whole.A soft knock broke through the stillness of the moment, pulling her from her own thoughts. She frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was past eight. Who would be here by a time like this?She walked barefoot to the door and peered through the peephole to see Ethan standing there. He
The courtroom emptied, leaving behind an air of tension that seemed to live out with Jessica as she hastily made her way through the heavy double doors. Her heels hit against the cold marble floor, each step echoing the desperation screaming in her heart.Avery’s cries still rang in her ears, fueling the urgency that she felt. She spotted her daughter in the hallway, her tiny body forced against her grandmother’s tight embrace, hiccupping as the leftover tears ran down her eyes. Jessica rushed forward, her voice filled with regret.“Avery,” she whispered, kneeling. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry anymore.”Avery lifted her face ruined by tears, her cheeks red from the continuous crying. “Mummy...mummy, you were yelling? Did daddy do something?”Jessica’s heart clenched when she heard her daughter’s words. “No, no, my love. Not at all. Mummy wasn’t angry at Daddy. I was...I was upset at something that was happening in there.”Avery sniffled, clinging to her mother’s arm this time