"Who the hell are you?" The man shouted, holding Max in his arms and pulling Summer away from me.
Staring at me in anger. "And how dare you brainwash my kids against me?"All my senses went numb at the sudden interruption of the man standing in front of me. His eyes burned with fury as he clutched Max tightly, and his voice was filled with a mix of desperation and rage.Who the hell is he, and why the hell is he shouting at me? I thought as I looked at both Max and Summer struggling to get out of his grasp. I could see the fear in Max and Summer's eyes, their innocence tainted by the tension in the air."Leave me alone..." Summer cried, trying to get away from the man, her voice trembling with fear. The man's grip tightened, his anger escalating as he ignored her pleas. I could feel my heart racing and adrenaline coursing through my veins as I desperately searched for a way to intervene and protect them from this unknown threat."Shut up, and why the hell are you here alone?" He shouted at Summer. And upon his reaction, a few people around the airport started staring at us.Damn, this man does not even care that he is talking to a child. I watched as Summer shouted and cried, trying to free herself from the man's grasp. Even Max started crying, copying his sister's distress. The situation was becoming increasingly chaotic, with the man's anger only intensifying. I knew I had to act quickly before things spiraled completely out of control."Can't you see that the kids don't want to get close to you?" I said after a while, not being able to control my anger."And who the hell are you to teach me? How should I treat my kids?" He said angrily. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm despite his aggressive response.I sighed. "No one. I'm no one, but I know better than you that these kids don't want to be treated like this." I could see the man's face contorting with anger; his fists clenched tightly, and he smiled in anger. "Care to teach me how I should treat my kids."I nodded, holding a similar smile to his. "Talk to them sweetly; don't just shout. They want love; it's not long before they start to hate you.""Hate," he mumbled, freeing Summer from his grasp and taking a step back.And as soon as Summer gets free from his grasp, she runs, hiding behind me."Summer," I said, shocked by her sudden act of fear."I don't want to go home," she cried, wrapping her hands around my legs and burying her face in my thigh. I looked at the man; his anger was now replaced with confusion and guilt.The man who was just shouting seconds ago stood silently watching me talk to Summer as Max too, tried to bounce in my arms. And, to my surprise, his father let him bounce over me. I could sense a shift in the man's demeanor as he observed the interaction between Summer and me. His hardened expression softened, revealing a flicker of remorse in his eyes. It seemed as though he was starting to understand the impact of his actions on his child.The second Max came into my arms, he put his head on my shoulder and stopped crying.I was both shocked and surprised by it. Why are these kids so attached to me? I thought. For God's sake, I have known them for less than an hour, and they trust me more than their father. I couldn't help but wonder what had led to this level of trust between the children and me in such a short amount of time."Summer, let's go home." Summer's dad called her far more softly than before, but Summer still shook her head.He sighed loudly. "What can I do for you to go home?" He asked, patiently waiting for her answer.Summer stood silently, with arms still wrapped around my legs, as she stared at me and then at her father.I sighed loudly, not understanding what was happening in my life.All I wanted was a new start. Not a man with his kids hogging me.But things turned bad when I heard the announcement at the airport. "Shit." I cursed under my breath. The announcement stated that the flight was about to depart soon and that all passengers should proceed to their designated gates immediately.I need to run fast, or I might miss my fight and the chance of my life.I sighed loudly, turning my head to Summer. But before I could say anything, Summer surprised me with her words."I will go if she comes with us." She said this to her dad, pointing her finger at me."NO..." I shouted out in desperation. Then I shook my head, trying to control my emotions. "Summer, I can't come with you," I said, handing Max to her before kneeling in front of her. "I'm sorry, but I have a fight to catch," I said as I planted a gentle kiss on her and Max's forehead. Summer looked at me with a mix of disappointment and understanding in her eyes."But..." Summer tried to say something but then stopped."I'm sorry," I said, hugging them one last time before turning my head to leave. But why the hell does it hurt that I'm leaving the kids? If I had only known them there for an hour or so, then why do I feel sad, as if I'm leaving something precious behind?I shook my head as I grabbed my bag. Perhaps I felt all this emotion because I always wanted a family of my own, and seeing these two kids unhappy made me think of my childhood, which was also filled with nothing but sorrow and loneliness.I sighed. 'These kids are not like me; they do have their dad with them. Perhaps he is good; he is just worried about finding his kids alone in an airport. That's all,' I thought before turning my head to take one last glance at the kids. They look sad. I hope I can do something for them; I can't. I am just a stranger passing by.With a heavy heart, I turned to leave but was stopped when a hand grabbed me, stopping me from leaving."You can't leave," he said, pulling me along with him out of the airport. I looked at him, confused and startled.What the fuck is happening in my life? All I want is peace, but all I get is problems as a reward.“You can’t leave,” he said, pulling me along with him out of the airport. My heart raced as his grip tightened, and I struggled to break free. “What the fuck?” I creaked, trying to free myself from his grasp. “Let me go." My mind raced with fear and confusion as I desperately searched for an escape route. “I said you can’t leave,” I shouted again, trying to push him away, but this man was as stiff as a giant brick wall. He doesn’t move an inch. I realized that I was trapped in his grasp. “Come with me." He said he was pulling him along with him outside the airport. “What do you want?" I questioned him as he pushed me inside a giant, expensive car. My heart pounded in my chest as the car door slammed shut, leaving me feeling even more trapped. The man's cold, calculating eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, and I knew that whatever he wanted, it wouldn't be easy to escape. "Now, are you talking?" I said, my voice trembling with fear. The man's devilish smile only grew wider, s
“I need you to take care of my kids,” he said, pausing for a bit. “I want you to work as a live-in nanny for my kids.” I went silent for a minute after listening to his words. “Are you crazy or not?" I couldn't help but feel a mixture of shock and disbelief at his request. The thought of being responsible for someone else's children on a live-in basis seemed overwhelming and daunting. He shook his head at my words. “I’m just stating the facts. I want you to take care of my kids, and for that, I can pay any amount you wish.” I sighed loudly, trying to calm my mind. “For the last time, I didn’t care about money. You are a piece of sh*t, and I don’t want to work for you.” Hollis smiled while listening to my words. “Why don’t you care about money? Are you that rich?" I chuckled at his assumption. Rich, and me... What a joke! “I’m anything but rich." “Then you are a fool to let go of such a great deal," he said, his eyes not leaving mine. "Maybe..." I replied with a hint of sad
I don’t know how many minutes, seconds, or hours have passed since I lost consciousness, but I couldn't make myself open my eyes; my head is starting to throb badly, and I can feel a dull ache spreading throughout my entire body. The darkness surrounding me feels suffocating, making it even more difficult to gather the strength to regain consciousness. I also heard random voices from around: “She seems to be sleep-deprived and also malnourished. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be any problem with her.” The voices seemed distant, as if they were discussing my condition from afar. “Is there anything I need to take care of?" I heard someone say something, but I couldn’t make out who the person was. “Nothing much; just feed her some healthy food, fruits, and vegetables, and let her get enough sleep. She will be fine.” The other voice said reassuringly. As the conversation continued, my mind lost consciousness again as I was lulled into deep slumber once again, unaware of the dis
“If you wanna know that, follow me.” He stepped out of the room. God... I hate him. But still decided to follow him. Walking behind him, we reached the kitchen, where I see Summer having her supper sitting on the kitchen stool by the kitchen counter. “Hailey….,” she shouted, jumping out of the stool and wrapping her arms around my waist. “Are you fine now…,” She might be worried about me. God, this is the first someone cared about how I am. “I’m fine…how are you?” I said with a smile, ruffling her hair playfully. “I’m happy that you’re fine…,” she said, staring at my face. “Are you now going to stay with us? Right?” “Well….,” I don’t know how to answer her question. “Summer…you should finish eating your food first.” Hollis interrupted, saving me from answering the unknown question. “Okay Daddy..,” she said, returning to eat her food. “Sit…” Hollis said this time to me, as he pointed his finger to a stool next to Summer. “Okay…,” I sat beside Summer, as Hollis walked to the m
“I won’t force you if you don’t want to work here, but I will do anything in my power to change your mind,” he said, then paused. “Not because I want you, but because my kids want you." I sighed, shaking away the unnecessary thoughts from my mind. I understood the weight of his words and realized that my decision would not only impact my future but also the lives of his children. Why the hell, Hollis' words kept repeating in my mind. The same scene kept repeating in my mind. The image of his pleading eyes and the sound of his desperate voice echoed in my thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else. I knew that I couldn't ignore the significance of this opportunity and the potential impact it could have on all of our lives. No, why should I care? It's none of my business. But deep down, I couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility that weighed heavily on me. The thought of turning my back on Hollis and his children felt like abandoning them in their time of need.
"So help me build that bond with them," Hollis said with determination in his voice as he looked directly into my eyes. "Help me, please." I sighed, feeling the weight of his request. I don't know what I can do for this guy when I have so many problems of my own to deal with. Ben is after me; I don't have any money; I missed my flight and the job that was about to change my life; but here I am with billionaire Hollis, asking for my help. Great! What a drama is unfolding in my life. "Are you listening to me?" Hollis asked, his eyes searching mine for a response. "Ask me anything; I can give it to you, but help me connect with my children before it's too late," he pleaded. "Anything," I whispered, feeling the weight of his words. Connecting a billionaire with his estranged children seemed like an impossible task, but I knew I had to try. This could be my chance to make a real difference in someone's life and change my life in the process. "Just ask for cash, a house, cars, private
"I will when the time is right," I said, staring at Hollis, who nodded his head in response, understanding the weight of my words.An awkward silence surrounds us as we finish our conversation, both lost in our own thoughts. The tension in the air was palpable, making it clear that there was much left unsaid between us.A yawn escaped from my lips, breaking the heavy atmosphere as my eyes got heavy from exhaustion. Today was filled with odd surprises and unexpected emotions, leaving me drained and in need of rest."It's getting late; you should go to sleep," Hollis suggested, breaking the silence.I nodded my head but lingered a moment longer. "Where should I sleep tonight?" I asked, suddenly unsure of where I belonged in this unfamiliar place.Hollis smiled warmly. "You can take my bed. I will be sleeping in the living room ." I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me at his kindness, feeling a sense of comfort in this moment of vulnerability.But sleeping on a completely strange bed t
“Sorry… I just took a shower to wake myself up,” Hollis replied, grabbing a towel to dry off. “No problem, just be careful next time,” I said with a smile, trying to hide my embarrassment as I tried to walk away from the tempting sight in front of me, but to my worst luck, I slipped on the water covering the floor, with my body falling on top of Hollis and our lips accidentally meeting in a brief, unexpected kiss.The soft touch of Hollis’s lips sent a jolt of electricity through me, leaving me momentarily stunned by the unexpected sensation. His eyes stared at me as if he felt the same intense connection, making my heart race with a mix of excitement and confusion.I tried to separate myself from him but found myself unable to move as we both remained frozen at that moment, unsure of what to do next. The awkward silence that followed was deafening; our eyes locked in a silent exchange of emotions that neither of us could quite decipher. We might have only touched each other for a few
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
Hailey****My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed to Max's side. There he was, his small, bloodied body lying motionless on the floor. His face was pale, his forehead marked with a deep gash, and his shirt soaked in crimson. The world around me seemed to blur as my breath hitched, and a sob tore through my chest. I dropped to my knees beside him, my fingers trembling as I brushed against his cold skin. Too cold. Too still."Max... Max!" I cried, desperately shaking him, my voice cracking. My mind was a whirl of frantic thoughts that made no sense. How could this happen? What happened to my baby?Terror gripped me, my pulse roaring in my ears. The room, once just dark and unsettling, felt like it was closing in on me. I could barely breathe. My body screamed at me to do something, anything, but I felt frozen, paralyzed by fear."Max, please... Don’t do this," I whispered through my tears. "Please don’t leave me."I pressed my hand to his neck, desperate for any sign that he was still