James I immediately turned my head, staring at Renata. I didn’t expect her to say something like that. But there she was, completely unbothered, even proud of herself. Her eyes locked on Katniss with a challenging glare, a wicked smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.Katniss, who had been trying to remain calm, couldn’t hide the surge of emotion that flared within her. Her eyes narrowed, sharp as daggers, as she stared Renata down, clutching Giselle tightly in her arms.She shot a glance at Mr. Corleone, forcing a smile—though it was barely there. "Mr. Corleone, can we leave? I don’t enjoy conversations with shameless fools,” she said, her voice laced with venom.Renata, who had been leaning in with a smug grin, immediately recoiled. She was ready to confront Katniss, but I stopped her, gripping her arm. A public scene would be humiliating. Too many eyes were already on us, and I didn’t want our private matters becoming everyone’s business."Renata," I said, my tone low, hoping sh
James"Why? Why are you just standing there, huh?! Oh, oh, oh! Look at you, your face is turning red! Why, my dear husband? Are you angry because I insulted your oh-so-cheap ex-wife?!"I’ve kept this buried for so long. This feeling. That everything they said about Katniss, my ex-wife, was a lie. But the evidence they handed me proved that my gut feeling was wrong.I tried to bury it again, deep down. Tried to convince myself that Katniss was at fault, that divorcing her was the right choice. Marrying Renata was supposed to be the right move too. I've known Renata since we were kids. She was my childhood friend, and choosing her as my wife shouldn’t feel wrong. She’s loved me since forever—her love seemed genuine. At least, that’s what I wanted to believe.So why does everything feel so wrong? Why does this guilt still cling to me like a shadow, whispering that I shouldn’t have divorced Katniss? The bond we had... it feels like it’s still there, pulling at me, making me feel her emoti
Katniss“It’s not something I wish to share with anyone, sir. Do you mind if I keep that part of my life to myself? What happened in my past is buried deep, and that’s where I intend to leave it. I’ve started a new life, and I’d prefer not to look back. Apologies if this seems blunt,” I said, my voice steady and unwavering. I met his gaze with a fierce clarity, signaling my seriousness. There was no hesitation, no deference, even though he was my boss. This was outside of work, and I had every right to establish my boundaries.Mr. Corleone didn’t appear offended in the slightest. In fact, I caught the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. “I understand,” he said quietly, fastening his seatbelt.“Put on your seatbelt, Katniss,” he instructed, his tone unusually soft. Too soft, even.He looked at me again, his eyes searching mine. “May I call you that? Katniss? It sounds more... personal.”I hadn’t expected Mr. Corleone to ask to call me by my first name, but I nodded. “Of
Katniss"Surpriiiise!!!"“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?!” The worry and anxiety that had gripped me vanished instantly when I saw the owner of those expensive high heels. Scarlett Collins. My best friend. She had been away for nearly a year, returning to her hometown to expand her businesses. And now, finally, she was back.I ran straight into her arms, hugging her tight. "Idiot! You should’ve given me a heads up!” I scolded, half-annoyed. If I’d known she was coming, I would’ve prepared something special.Scarlett had mentioned she was coming back to LA, which is how she knew the passcode to my apartment, but she never told me when. And now here she was, unannounced.She hugged me back, just as tight. “I missed you too, Katniss.” Scarlett knew me too well. She could tell my scolding was pure sarcasm. I didn’t really mean to call her an idiot.We stayed locked in the embrace for a long moment."Aunt Scarlett?"I turned to see Giselle peeking from behind me.Scarlett’s eyes l
Katniss“Yup! A party!”“I got invited, and I’m bringing you with me! Come on, Katniss, it’s time you found yourself a man!”I’m not the type to enjoy parties like that. I’m an introvert, while Scarlett is the complete opposite—she thrives in crowds. I was about to refuse, but Scarlett shook her head, waving her finger from side to side.“No, no, no. You’re not turning this down, Katniss. Look at Giselle over there.” Scarlett pointed toward my daughter, her voice softening. “She’s growing up fast. She needs a father figure. I know you’re a strong woman, and you’ve done an amazing job raising her on your own. But deep down,” she placed her finger gently over my heart, “you know she needs more.”Her words cut through me, striking a nerve I wasn’t prepared to deal with. Scarlett knew me too well, and she wasn’t wrong. Giselle had been vocal about it.“I want a daddy, Mommy.”The words Giselle often repeated echoed in my mind. I looked over at her, playing with her Barbies, completely obl
Katniss“Enjoy yourself, Katniss,” Scarlett whispered in my ear, her voice laced with excitement.She had told me this was a birthday party for one of her business acquaintances. Everything around us screamed luxury—shimmering chandeliers, sparkling champagne, and the soft hum of classical music filling the air. I recognized a few faces in the crowd, though most of them were business partners of Mr. Corleone. They are here, too? It had been so long since I’d attended an event like this—so grand, so elegant. The sensation of being surrounded by wealth and power again felt almost foreign, and my steps were hesitant, my presence still a little uncertain.The man of the hour, Ryan Carter—his name just recently mentioned by Scarlett—was now standing in front of the crowd, giving a speech. His voice was deep, commanding attention as he welcomed his guests. My gaze followed him, intrigued by his presence.“Psst! Katniss,” Scarlett leaned in closer, her whisper playful yet urgent.“Hm?” I gl
Katniss"He's my boss!" I whispered, my voice tight with disbelief."So, he’s the one you’ve been talking about, the man who changed your life?!" Scarlett’s shock mirrored my own. I hadn’t even told her which company I worked for or who my mysterious boss was that I always mentioned in passing."Oh my God! I can’t believe Ethan is such a good guy!" Scarlett gasped.“You said he was cold? From the moment I met him, he wasn’t cold at all. In fact, he was warm... a bit charming, even,” I said, watching Scarlett freeze, her surprise palpable.“Warm?” she repeated.I nodded. “Yes, he’s very warm. But with other people, especially women, Mr. Corleone can be... distant. Cold, even.”Scarlett went quiet after that, like something was running through her mind that she didn’t dare speak aloud."Katniss?" A familiar voice called from behind, and suddenly Mr. Corleone was standing right next to us.Scarlett jolted, her wide eyes locking onto him, completely caught off guard. She smiled, shy and f
KatnissI was done with my business in the bathroom. I wasn’t sure if she was still out there. I hadn’t heard her voice in a while, probably because I had taken my time in the stall."God, please. Get this woman out of my way. I really don’t want to deal with her drama." I silently prayed.But hope was just hope. When I stepped out, she was still there, arms crossed over her chest, staring at me from head to toe with disgust."Ugh, what’s with that look? Who does she think she is? Does she even look that good?" I bit my tongue, keeping my thoughts to myself. She’s a total narcissist. Ignoring her would be the smartest move, avoiding any unnecessary drama.I quickly glanced at the mirror to fix my makeup, hoping to pass by her, but—damn it—she blocked my path with her foot.“You think you can just walk away?” she sneered.I tried to ignore her. "It’s not worth your energy, Katniss. Totally not worth it!" I reminded myself.But this woman was a master at pushing my buttons."So cocky. D
JamesAnother period of months passed since that night until a new piece of information altered everything in our lives.Katniss was pregnant.The pregnancy test revealed itself to me as she held it while her hands shook and tears formed in her eyes. “James… I’m pregnant again.”I stood motionless while staring at the bright pink lines that clearly appeared on the test. Inside me a whirlwind of emotions boiled as joy, shock and fear combined. The thought of losing Katniss and our baby the way we lost our second baby consumed me.I instantly hugged her close while feeling her body tremor against me. “I’m here, Katniss. The pregnancy and both of you remain completely safe and protected. I whispered an oath while caressing her hair because she required my reassurance at that moment.“I’m scared, James…” Her voice cracked. “I’m scared of losing again… The fear of losing her again repeated itself in her mind as she said "I don't know if I can handle it…"I cupped her face with both hands,
KatnissAfter Scarlett departed I stood motionless staring at the doorway while my eyes desperately sought something which did not exist because I wished to reverse all the destruction that had occurred.At every heartbeat my heart experienced torn fragments that pierced my chest with intense pain.I had forgiven her before. I had chosen to believe in her. But now? Could I still do it?My hand instinctively went to my flat stomach, the emptiness there consuming me.I used to feel the tiny flutter of life inside me, the hope of something pure. Now, there was nothing. Just hollow, aching emptiness. The pain was unbearable. Tears blurred my vision, but I was too exhausted to cry anymore.James was still holding my hand tightly, his grip like a lifeline, as if he feared I would crumble if he let go. Maybe he was right. Maybe I would."Do I have to forgive her?" My voice was barely a whisper, more of a fragile confession to myself than a question to him.James lifted his gaze, his eyes ful
James Hours pass. I don’t know if it’s still the same day or if thousands of years have gone by since I made that decision. I stand here, staring at the white walls of the recovery room, unable to stop replaying every warning from the doctor over and over in my mind. Each word echoes like a broken record:If we save her, the baby won’t survive.If we save the baby, Katniss may not make it.Those words—those gut-wrenching words—keep pounding in my head. I want to escape this reality, but all I can think about is Katniss. Was I right? Was this the right thing to do?"Mr. Kent," the nurse whispers as she exits the room where I’ve been pacing for hours. My throat is dry, my chest tight with anxiety. I can barely bring myself to ask. But I have to.“How is she?” My voice is hoarse, fragile, heavy with the dread that suffocates me.Her eyes are filled with sorrow, too much sorrow to prepare me for what I’m about to hear. She speaks softly, like she knows each word will tear me apart.“Her
JamesI couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Katniss was dying, barely holding on, and she was still thinking about someone else."Don’t think about her," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. But I needed her focused—she needed to fight. She had to pull through.But she was insistent. "Save… Scarlett… please, James."I didn’t fully understand it—Scarlett was tangled up in all of this. She was with Emma and Renata. But still… Katniss was asking me to save Scarlett.I stepped back, my eyes frantic as they scanned the smoke-filled chaos. My heart pounded so loudly, it felt like it might tear through my chest. Panic spread like wildfire as I realized Scarlett was missing. Nowhere in sight. “Where is she?” I asked, my voice cracking, barely audible over the madness. Before anyone could respond, I saw her.Ethan, his face tight with tension, emerged from the thick fog of smoke. In his arms, Scarlett hung limply, almost lifeless. It was like the smoke had drained her very soul. Her face
Renata"You think you'll win? That all of you will win?" Katniss glares at us, defiant as ever. Damn it! Even in this situation, she refuses to be afraid. Instead, she’s getting cockier.SLAAP!"Ah!" Katniss cries out as my palm smashes against her cheek.She bites her lip, holding back her tears, trying to keep control. But I know she wants to cry. She’s just too stubborn to let it show."Tch! I hate that arrogance of yours. Do you even realize that you're about to die?" I sneer.Katniss stays silent. I assume she’s finally scared—until she opens her mouth, and her response makes both Emma and me freeze."I won’t. You’ll see. I won’t.""Tch! Damn brat!""Emma, I need to talk to you. Alone."Emma nods, and we step aside to discuss Katniss—how to break her. Fear. That’s what I want to see in her eyes. That’s what will truly satisfy me. But before we can continue, my phone rings.It’s from one of my men stationed at a distance outside."Yeah? What is it?""Boss, we’ve got trouble! A con
Katniss: I stood by the hotel window, gazing at the city skyline that never seemed to rest. The world outside continued moving as if nothing had changed, yet for us, everything was different.We had chosen this hotel for a reason—it directly faced Renata’s company.From here, we could witness the empire she built crumble in real-time.My fingertips brushed against the cold glass. Below, chaos unfolded. Employees flooded the building’s lobby, confusion etched onto their faces as the news spread like wildfire.I could already picture Renata’s expression—panic, disbelief, rage.She would be scrambling for a way out, searching for an escape route. But this time, there was none.She was trapped.The image of Renata behind bars played vividly in my mind. The realization that she was nothing more than a pawn in a much bigger game would soon hit her like a tidal wave.It was satisfying—deliciously so. Yet beneath that satisfaction lurked something bitter. The road to this moment had been lon
KatnissThe waves at Malibu gently swept the shore as I stood on the balcony of Charles’s bungalow, staring out at the horizon. The soft breeze carried the scent of salt and the promise of a new day. After everything that had happened, we could finally breathe easy.The sound of James' voice broke through the air as he addressed me from behind. I exchanged a gentle smile in his direction when I faced him. His determination was present while his eyes showed he still carried affection.“What’s up?” I rested against the balcony rail while I asked the question. James drew near as he disclosed that their meeting with their dad had recently finished. "Our decision is to get back everything that belongs to us." The fighting spirit of James which I admired so much emerged during this moment because he refused to surrender despite mounting challenges. “And what’s the plan?” I asked the question with a mixture of curiosity combined with a slight sense of apprehension. He sighed. "I understa
JamesThe cold Malibu breeze brushed against my face as Katniss and I drove along the quiet coastal road. My chest felt tight—a mix of anticipation and fear so overwhelming that I could barely breathe.My father was here.Multiple people claimed this to be the truth.What condition would we discover him in? Did his condition match the image I retained from the past? My brother Liam was nowhere to be seen in the midst of this turmoil.An emotional tempest controlled the last couple of days between anger and betrayal and fear ruled everything. A single feeling took control of my mindset when we approached the isolated resort that my father claimed as his destination.Hope.***We reached the beachfront resort at sunset as the sky turned gold. It didn’t look like the kind of place where a man who once ruled the business world would hide.Yet, here I was.Desperately hoping for a miracle.Katniss placed a reassuring hand on my arm as we stepped out of the car.She answered with absolute c
James:I focused on my phone's screen which displayed rapidly-changing headlines that raced through corporate networks. The words burned into my mind: Charles Kent, Founder of Kent Industries, Overthrown. Emma Kent and Henry Take Control.My pulse thundered in my ears, a mixture of shock and disbelief flooding me. How could something this massive happen overnight? How had Henry—my stepbrother—pulled off such an audacious coup? And my step mother… she…I should have known! This was bound to happen sooner or later!Damn it, Father really has no idea how dangerous it is to let Emma and Henry get involved in the family's business affairs.Damn it!The betrayal hit me like a freight train.I glanced up at Katniss, who sat on the couch across from me, her own phone gripped tightly in her hands. Her sharp eyes flicked toward me, and I could see the same anger brewing in her expression."James," she said evenly, though I could tell her temper was barely in check, "have you talked to your fath