I walked towards the hallway kitchen with Max, who was not awake in my apartment, feeling the weight of responsibility as I prepared to start the day with a young child in my care. Max looked up at me with sleepy eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile at his innocence and trust in me to guide him through the day ahead.“Good morning, Hailey...” Summer ran up to hug my leg, a smile on her face.“Good morning, baby,” I replied, ruffling her hair affectionately before turning my attention back to Max.I turn my head to Hollis, who is sitting in the kitchen, his head buried in some paperwork, a look of concentration on his face. “Good morning, Hollis.” I greeted him with a warm smile, grateful for the support of my family as we faced the day together.“Good morning,” he said without even looking at me, his focus fully on the task at hand.I shook my head slightly, amused by his intense concentration, before turning back to Max and Summer.“So, what’s for breakfast?” I asked, staring at her ti
I feel something tugging on my dress, causing me to turn around in surprise. It was Max, looking up at me with his big, trusting eyes. Maybe this new chapter in my life won’t be so bad after all.“At least I have a cute little companion to keep me company,” I said, kissing both cheeks. My kiss made Max smile as he finished his milk before snuggling up against me.Maybe everything is not going as planned, but Max and Summer are the constants that bring me comfort and joy in this chaotic world. In just two days, they have already made me feel more at ease and loved than I ever thought possible.“You know... Max, I always wanted to have a family of my own, but I have always made the wrong decisions when it comes to relationships,” I admitted, feeling vulnerable. Max nuzzled closer to me, as if understanding and offering silent support in return.I brush his hair back, feeling grateful for his presence in my life. “I don’t know what is happening in life; at one point I was running away fr
“You are not my mother!” Summer shouted, her voice filled with shock and confusion. The woman’s eyes widened as she pulled Summer’s hand closer to her, a sinister smile playing on her lips. “Oh, soon I will be, my dear,” she whispered, her grip tightening even more than Summer struggled to break free.I pushed her away, my heart racing with fear and confusion. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice shaking. As fast as Summer’s hand got free from that woman’s grasp, he ran towards me, hiding behind my back, seeking protection from the unknown woman.The woman’s smile turned into a menacing grin as she took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with malice. “How dare you push me away?” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.“You were hurting her,” I said, my voice firm as I stood protectively in front of Summer.She steps closer to me. Her eyes were glaring with rage, and her fists were clenched at her sides. “She is mine to discipline as I see fit,” she spat, her voice full of contempt.Su
“God…” I groaned in frustration as I stepped out of my car.Fuck that old man. How dare he force me to do something that I am so against? I clenched my fists, feeling the anger boiling inside me. I knew I had to find a way to stand up for myself and not let him control me any longer.I don’t want to lose the inheritance that my father worked so hard to earn. Only I know how hard my father worked to gain all the wealth and success that he left behind for his family, but now that he is not here, my grandfather is using blackmail to claim what is rightfully mine. It is a difficult situation to navigate.I walked to the door, brushing my hair out of my face, determined to find a way to protect what was rightfully mine and assert my independence from my controlling grandfather.The door was open just a crack, and voices coming out of the room inside caught my attention. I paused, listening intently to the conversation unfolding inside. “Are you mad?” I heard Hailey’s voice shouting from wi
My head was throbbing, and as I tried to open my eyes, I could feel the pulsating pain behind my temples, making it difficult to focus on anything else. The bright light filtering through my closed eyelids only intensified the pounding sensation.“You are awake,” a soothing voice said, causing me to slowly open my eyes and squint against the brightness. My vision slowly adjusted as I took in my surroundings, realizing I was in a hospital room.A stranger was standing next to my bed, holding a syringe filled with medication. “You must be feeling pain,” the stranger said, gently injecting the medication into my IV. “Your head hurt, but more than that, you were very malnourished. You should take care of yourself better, especially when you are carrying a new life.”I nodded, not being about to grasp the full extent of what they were saying, but wait, did he just say carrying a new life?“What do you mean by carrying a new life?” I asked, my heart racing with confusion and fear.“That mea
“Marry me.” I pulled away in shock, unsure of how to respond to his unexpected proposal. Marry him; is he out of his mind? Is this some kind of sick joke? My mind raced with questions as I tried to make sense of his sudden request.“Yes, I want you to marry me.” Hollis repeated it as if reading my mind filled with questions. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to find the right words to respond to his surprising proposal. “You must want to know why I’m asking you to marry me,” he continued, his eyes searching mine for a reaction.I nodded my head, not finding the words to express my shock and confusion.“Don’t think otherwise; this marriage will be for my convenience,” he added with a smirk, causing my confusion to deepen even further. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions as I tried to process what was happening. “You will be my wife, but only for the world show,” he stated, his tone becoming more serious.“But why?” I finally found my voice, my head throbbing from the sudden
A week had passed since then, and Hollis kept his distance from me; the conversation of marriage never came up again. But I can’t shake the feeling that something is brewing beneath the surface, and I can only hope it’s not a storm waiting to break. Life coexisted, and I was happy with my life. My room was situated next to Max’s room, flanked by Hollis and Summer on either side. I couldn’t quite shake a lingering sense of unease, despite the days being filled with laughter and love. It felt like the calm before the storm, and I couldn’t help but wonder when it would finally break. But, as a whole, I didn’t dare step out of the house, afraid of what might be waiting for me beyond its walls. The thought of Ben finding my whereabouts made my skin claw with fear. Despite my contentment within the safety of Hollis House, the thought of being discovered by Ben sent shivers down my spine. I knew I couldn’t stay hidden forever, but for now, I was grateful for the refuge Hollis provided. It
“GO….. Get yourself ready now,” I ordered as I watched Hailey flinch, holding on to Max tight. She nodded, her eyes burning as if, at any moment now, the tears would start flowing down her cheeks. “We need to leave before it’s too late,” I added, urgency in my voice as I motioned for Hailey to hurry up. But before Hailey could move, Max started crying uncontrollably, his small body shaking with fear. “Max, shhhh… don’t cry,” Hailey soothed, trying to calm him down as she wiped away his tears. As I stared at Hailey soothing Max, I felt a pang of guilt for shouting at her, but I didn’t. Whenever she was close to me, my body started to act on its own, my heart started pounding in my chest, and her tears, her gentle touch on Max’s back—all of it made me feel something that I didn’t want to accept. Hailey’s presence always seemed to have that effect on me, even when I tried to resist it. It was as if she had a way of breaking down my walls without even trying. “Give him to me and go ge
Hailey***The night air was sharp against my skin as I stepped out of the hospital’s back entrance, Kevin following closely behind me. The city felt oppressive, its streetlights casting long, distorted shadows that seemed to mirror the darkness creeping into my soul.Everything felt wrong. The security footage had left me with a sinking suspicion, a feeling that gnawed at my insides. The figure who took Summer—whoever it was—knew me. They knew my weaknesses, my family, and they used it against me."You think it’s him, don’t you?" Kevin’s voice cut through my thoughts, low and tense.I didn’t answer right away. The weight of the truth pressed on my chest, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. “I don’t know,” I muttered. “But I’m going to find out.”We reached the car, and I slammed the door with a force that matched the storm raging inside me. Kevin slid into the passenger seat, and without another word, I floored the gas pedal. The streets blurred in my peripheral vision, but my mind
Hollis***The weight of Hailey's words, the tenderness in her touch, lingered in the air long after she whispered her love. I held her tight, my arms wrapped around her like a lifeline, the steady beat of her heart against mine grounding me. In that moment, I almost felt like I could make everything right, as if we could finally face everything and start over.But I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.Her trust was fragile, shattered by lies and half-truths. I could feel her fear, and I knew I had to earn it back before we could move forward.I pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. There was so much I wanted to say, so many apologies that felt inadequate, but I knew there was only one thing I could do right now."I'll take care of it," I said softly, my voice hoarse, the weight of my promise pressing heavily on me. "I'll fix this, Hailey. I'll get the answers we need. I'll make sure Max and Summer are safe."She nodded, her eyes filled with pain and doubt, but there was
Hollis***The weight of Hailey's words, the tenderness in her touch, lingered in the air long after she whispered her love. I held her tight, my arms wrapped around her like a lifeline, the steady beat of her heart against mine grounding me. In that moment, I almost felt like I could make everything right, as if we could finally face everything and start over.But I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.Her trust was fragile, shattered by lies and half-truths. I could feel her fear, and I knew I had to earn it back before we could move forward.I pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. There was so much I wanted to say, so many apologies that felt inadequate, but I knew there was only one thing I could do right now."I'll take care of it," I said softly, my voice hoarse, the weight of my promise pressing heavily on me. "I'll fix this, Hailey. I'll get the answers we need. I'll make sure Max and Summer are safe."She nodded, her eyes filled with pain and doubt, but there was s
Hailey***"Kevin…" we both said at the same time, seeing Kevin standing by the door. God’s expression twisted in anger. I could feel the tension in Hollis's body as he braced himself for what was to come next."What are you doing here?" Hollis demanded, his voice low, but Kevin ignored the question. His eyes locked onto mine with a look of pure malice."I'm here to expose the truth about what really happened that night," he said, his voice dripping with venom. I could feel the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air, the silence stretching as the reality of what he was about to reveal seemed to settle over the room like a storm cloud. Whatever he was about to say would change everything."Tell me if you know anything," I urged, my heart pounding in anticipation, barely able to stand the suffocating tension that filled the space between us.Kevin’s eyes met Max’s, who was lying motionless on the bed with tubes protruding from his arms, and I saw a flicker of guilt flash across Kevi
Hailey*****The sterile hospital walls felt suffocating, their coldness pressing against me as my thoughts swirled in a haze. The pounding of my heart was the only sound I could focus on, as though it was the only thing keeping me tethered to reality. But everything around me seemed so distant, so blurry. Was this real? Or was I trapped in a nightmare?"Hailey…" Hollis’s voice sliced through the fog, trembling as it reached me. His hands, shaking, gripped my shoulders, pulling me back from the abyss. "Wake up… wake up," he begged, desperation lacing his words. I wanted to respond, to assure him I was still here, but my throat felt constricted, and I couldn’t seem to find the words.Max’s lifeless body. The flatline. The images, so vivid, played on an endless loop in my mind, searing themselves into my soul. How could I keep going when I had lost him?“Max’s death, I lost him...” The words barely escaped, raw and broken. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. My heart was shattered, the w
Hailey**** The sterile hospital walls closed in. Hollis’s words repeated: "I’ll always fight for us." But how? How could we survive in this chaos? Max—he’s barely hanging on. And me? I’m just... waiting. Waiting for the bottom to fall out. Max’s condition had stabilized, but the doctors warned us it wouldn’t be easy. He had barely clung to life after the first round of shock, and even though he was breathing on his own again, there was a chilling uncertainty about his recovery. The small victory of his heart beating once more felt fleeting—just a glimmer of hope in an ocean of dread. I stood by the window, staring out at the night, trying to find some solace in the vast, empty sky. The stars above were distant, indifferent, just like the world outside this hospital—cold, uncaring, and relentless. My fingers gripped the sill tightly, a feeble attempt to steady myself. Each breath felt like it carried the unbearable weight of what was happening. Behind me, Hollis’s footsteps echoed
Hailey***The doctors moved with precision, shouting orders as they surrounded Max's bed. "Get the paddles! Charge it to 200!" one of the doctors called out.I felt frozen, trapped in the nightmare I’d always feared. Max, my little boy, was slipping away right before my eyes, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.Hollis’s hands were on my shoulders, trying to hold me together, but even his grip felt like a distant echo of the strength I once found in him. The room spun, the chaos around us nothing but a blur as I focused solely on the lifeless figure of Max."Come on, Max," I whispered through the tears, my voice barely audible above the frantic noises of the ER. "Fight, baby, fight. Please don't leave me."The shock paddles were placed against Max’s chest, and I flinched, my heart sinking as the charge buzzed through the air. The doctors worked quickly, their faces set with determination, but I could feel the heavy weight of hopelessness sinking deep within me.I couldn’t lose
Hailey****The emergency room was a blur of activity, the beeping of machines and the hurried footsteps of medical staff echoing in my ears. My heart raced in time with the chaotic rhythm of the hospital, thoughts scattered and tangled in my head. Every part of me wanted to break down, but I couldn’t. Max needed me.I followed the nurse through the double doors, the sterile smell of antiseptic hitting me like a slap. Hollis was right behind me, his hand gripping mine like a lifeline. The sight of Max lying in a bed, wires and tubes attached to his small body, sent a fresh wave of panic crashing over me. His little face was pale, his body twitching with the involuntary fits the nurse had mentioned.I rushed to his side, my breath catching in my throat as I tried to steady myself. "Max," I whispered, bending over him, my fingers brushing his damp forehead. "Max, baby, can you hear me?"His eyelids fluttered, and for a brief moment, I thought he might wake up. But then, his body jerked a
Hailey***Hollis's grip on me tightened, his body stiffening as he took a shaky breath. The words he was about to say hung in the air like a storm, and I could feel the weight of his confession pressing on me, pulling me into a place I wasn’t ready for."It’s my uncle," he said, his voice strained, barely above a whisper. His eyes were dark, a mix of guilt and anger flashing through them, and I could see the battle inside him. "He’s the one who did this."My stomach dropped. My pulse skipped. The air between us thickened, suffocating me. I shook my head in disbelief, my breath catching. "Your uncle? Why? Why would he do this?"Hollis’s expression hardened, his jaw clenched. For a moment, I could almost hear the pain breaking through his voice. "He’s been trying to destroy me for years," he said, his words weighed down by years of betrayal. "But after Justin’s death… this was the line he crossed his limits."The shock hit me like a punch to the chest. I staggered back, my hands trembli