I stood at the base of the stairs, calling out to my son. "Philip, come here, buddy!" My voice echoed through the spacious house, but there was no response. Suddenly, the pitter-patter of small feet resounded, and I spotted Philip darting around the corner, a blur of energy in his Spider-Man pajamas. "I don't want to go to school! I don't want to go to school!" Philip's voice was high-pitched and insistent, matching his determined expression. I sighed but couldn't help smiling. I started after my son, navigating the maze of furniture with ease. "Philip, stop running around. Come here," I called out again, my tone a mix of patience and authority. Philip giggled and zigzagged away, his small frame darting behind the couch. "Catch me if you can, Papa!" he challenged, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Finally, My husband Richard cornered Philip in the living room, scooping him up and rubbing his belly playfully. Philip burst into a fit of giggles, wriggling in Richard's arms. "Gotcha!
"Babe, look at what you’ve done to my shirt. Now everyone’s going to know we did something before coming here," I said, trying to smooth out the wrinkles on my shirt. Richard just looked at me with that teasing glint in his eye, smirking. "Well, I wanted you and I had you. is that so bad. You are my husband, so I have every right to," if anyone has a problem with that they can resign, he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Stop it," I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Stop looking at me like that." I turned my eyes to the window, trying to hide my smile. Richard chuckled, reaching out to touch my shoulder. "I'm sorry, babe. I'm sorry. Forgive this love of yours." I would think about forgiving you I say as I glanced at the dashboard clock and felt a jolt of panic. "Shit, we’re ten minutes late!" I exclaimed, hurriedly opening the car door and making a run for the office entrance. Behind me, I could hear Richard laughing as he followed. "Babe, calm down," he called aft
When we got home, I took Philip by the hand and led him to the living room. Richard followed closely behind, a concerned look etched on his face. I sat down on the couch and gently pulled Philip onto my lap, wiping the remnants of tears from his cheeks. "Hey, buddy," I said softly, trying to catch his gaze. "What’s wrong? Why were you crying today? You know you can talk to me." Philip looked up at me, his eyes still watery, and whimpered. "My classmate said... his father said that... people who have two dads are disgusting." His voice wavering as he spoke, and my heart broke at his words. I felt a surge of protective anger but pushed it down, focusing on comforting my son. "Oh, Philip," I said, pulling him close. "I'm so sorry you had to hear that." Philip continued, his small voice trembling. "I didn’t like the way he was talking about you and Daddy. But you always says not to fight, so I didn’t want to fight him." I hugged him tightly, trying to shield him from the hurt. "Y
Ina Carter stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of her high-rise Manhattan apartment, watching the city that never sleeps. Below, the streets buzzed with activity, a constant reminder of the ceaseless march of time and progress. It was an intoxicating view, one that had always filled her with a sense of accomplishment. Today, however, it filled her with an unnameable dread.Ina had built her life on precision and control. As the only daughter of a business magnate, she had grown up in boardrooms and learned to navigate corporate waters from an early age. Now, at twenty-five, she was poised to take the reins of her father's empire, Carter Enterprises. Her personal life seemed just as flawless; she was engaged to Martin Hayes, a charismatic entrepreneur who had swept her off her feet with his charm and vision.But today, as she stared out at the glittering city, Ina felt a tremor of uncertainty. She turned away from the window, trying to shake off the feeling. Her father's health
Billionaire Adam Caven sat in the dimly lit private lounge of his upscale bar, The Raven's Nest, a glass of bourbon in his hand. This was his sanctuary, a retreat from the ceaseless demands of his business empire. Known for his strict, stern demeanor and his lack of interest in women, Adam valued his solitude and guarded it fiercely, despite been known as the most eligible bachelor in the whole of new city he was not interested at al in all the publicity. The Raven's Nest was his creation, a place where he could observe the world from a distance, shielded by the walls of his private room. The bar was bustling with its usual weekend crowd, the sounds of laughter and music filtering through the heavy door. Adam preferred this sanctum, a refuge from the noise and chaos. Tonight, however, a nagging restlessness gnawed at him, a sense of unease he couldn’t quite place. He took a long sip of his bourbon, savoring the warmth as it slid down his throat. Deciding he needed to clear
Ina's eyes fluttered open to the unfamiliar surroundings of a dimly lit room. Her head pounded, a dull, persistent throb that matched the disorientation clouding her thoughts. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, and slowly, fragments of the previous night started to piece themselves together. The room was unfamiliar, a small hotel room with a single bed, and her body was tangled in the sheets. As she shifted, she felt a dull ache between her legs, a sensation both strange and uncomfortable. Panic started to set in, and she turned her head to see a man lying next to her, his back turned. He had dark hair, tousled from sleep, and his muscular shoulders rose and fell with each steady breath. A quick scan of the room showed clothes strewn carelessly around, a stark contrast to her usual neatness. It hit her like a tidal wave—she had just lost her virginity to a stranger. And she had no memory of the events that had led to this moment.The bar, the laughter, the drinks—all of th
Ina jolted awake to the harsh ringing of her phone, her heart pounding as she fumbled to answer it. "Hello?" she managed, her voice thick with sleep and lingering anxiety. "Ina Carter?" a calm, professional voice asked. "Yes, this is she," Ina replied, sitting up and trying to clear the fog from her mind. "This is Dr. Patel from St. Mary’s Hospital. I’m sorry to inform you that your father, Robert Carter, passed away early this morning. We were unable to reach your stepmother, Karen, and we need you to come in to sign the necessary documents to move his body to the mortuary." The words hit her like a physical blow. "No, no, this can't be happening," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I... I'll be there as soon as I can." As she ended the call, tears streamed down her face. The grief she had been holding at bay surged forward, consuming her. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. The last few days had been a nightmare, and now it felt like the final, cruel twis
Three months had passed since Ina's world began to unravel. Her life, once marked by routine and predictability, had become a series of relentless challenges. Today had added yet another burden to her already heavy load.Ina walked slowly through the dimly lit streets, her footsteps echoing softly against the pavement. The air was heavy with impending rain, the sky overcast and mirroring her somber mood. Earlier that day, a visit to the hospital had confirmed her worst fear: she was pregnant. The news had hit her like a punch to the gut, leaving her dazed and overwhelmed. The baby was the result of an unplanned one-night stand, a fleeting attempt to escape her troubles that had only compounded. Now, faced with the reality of her situation, she felt a mix of fear and deep sadness.As she neared her apartment building, the sight of its familiar, worn facade usually brought her a small measure of comfort. But today, something was different. A bright red notice was taped to the fron