JamesOnce again, I found myself at her apartment. As soon as Katniss saw my face, her expression shifted to one of disgust. Pure disgust.“Can you just go?” she said, her voice sharp.“I really don’t want to see you here, James,” she added, her frustration evident.Just as she was about to slam the door shut, I caught it with my hand, stopping her. “Is Renata cheating on me?” I asked, the weight of the question hanging heavily in the air.Katniss froze, her eyes widening in shock. She hadn’t expected me to know. For a moment, she was silent, confusion etched on her face.“I don’t want any trouble. Just leave, please. I have enough problems as it is, James,” she replied, her voice softer but still filled with urgency.“I’ve found a lot of evidence, Katniss. I know for sure that Renata is cheating. Please, can we talk—just the two of us?”Katniss seemed to be contemplating my presence. After a long silence, she finally opened the door again, allowing me to step inside. I offered her a
JamesRenata was still crying, clutching my legs tightly, unwilling to let go. I could feel my pants growing damp from her tears and the clear mucus from her nose.Her face tilted up, a complete mess. I had never seen Renata like this before. If she weren’t so deceitful, maybe I would have forgiven her—not to go back to her, but at least as a friend, like before. But unfortunately, I couldn’t even bear that thought.“I-I... I just...” she stammered, struggling to respond to what I’d said.“Let go, Renata,” my voice came out low and full of warning, hoping she’d understand. But instead, her grip tightened even more.“I did it because I love you, James. There was no other way. You know I’ve been trying for years—over a decade—to make you see me, but you never did! Your eyes were always only for Katniss, and then you married her. You fell for her again the moment you two met after all those years apart, just because her mother got fired and they left your house!” Her voice, initially wea
KatnissI was in Mr. Corleone's office, waiting for him to finish signing the stack of documents I’d reviewed. The TV, playing in the background, suddenly shifted to a story I had no desire to see.“A shocking update! The iconic couple, once seen as a relationship goal by many young people, seems to be facing turbulence. Rumors are swirling that the Corleone family’s own James Corleone and his wife, Renata, are on the brink of divorce.”I stared at the screen with thinly veiled annoyance. If I could, I would block out the sound altogether—hearing any updates about them was the last thing I wanted.“A divorce?” Mr. Corleone’s voice cut through the silence, making me jump slightly. He hadn’t spoken in ages, engrossed in the documents before him.I turned to him quickly. “I wouldn’t know, sir. I’m just hearing about it now from the news,” I replied, my tone calm, concealing the truth.“But maybe it’s just a rumor, sir. You know how the media loves to exaggerate. It doesn’t necessarily me
KatnissI kept asking myself, would I take him back?I tried to picture what would happen if I did. Would the pain still linger? Or would the weight of our past fall away? Yet, as I imagined it, there was no trace of the hurt I thought would be there. Instead, I saw flashes of laughter—memories of James, our daughter, and me together, sharing happy moments that felt almost unreal now. But there was no bitterness in those images. Only a gentle warmth, a feeling I hadn’t allowed myself to experience in a long time.What is this? Why doesn’t it hurt at all? Could this really be what I wanted all along? Or was it just a dream, a flicker of hope I hadn’t let go of?“Katniss?” The deep, steady voice of Mr. Corleone pulled me out of my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. I blinked, startled, realizing just how close he was to me, his face mere inches from mine. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest, my pulse quickening with each passing second.“Y-You’re too close, Sir,” I stammered, desp
KatnissWas it truly that genuine?"Sir," I attempted to push him away once more, but his hold on both my shoulders was unyielding, his hands firm, as though he wouldn’t release me until I gave him the answer he was seeking."Is it Giselle? Or... do you still have feelings for her?" he asked again, pressing for a response. His voice had a hint of desperation, something I hadn’t heard from him before, and it only intensified the knot in my stomach."Katniss, I would never let you down. You’ve seen who I am all along. I know you recognize that I am a man of my word, a man who takes responsibility for his choices. I would do anything for you and Giselle—whatever it takes to see both of you happy." His gaze was unwavering, as though this declaration was his truth, his unwavering belief. "If I have to risk my power, become penniless, or... if I must give up my life, I’ll do it."Who wouldn’t be shaken to hear a man, one who had only recently entered my life, professing something so sacred?
KatnissAs I walked past Scarlett, I gave her a warm smile, but she only glanced at me with a slightly cold look, saying nothing.Now I was outside, waiting patiently for what felt like ages, not wanting to leave. I needed to clear things up with Scarlett immediately.My legs still felt weak. God, I don’t want her to misunderstand what happened in there.But I couldn’t deny that something had drawn me in about Mr. Corleone. There was a mesmerizing quality in his gaze, and I couldn’t lie—his strikingly good looks were beyond the ordinary, and it was impossible not to admire him. But it wasn’t only his looks; his kindness left an impression on me, making it hard to ignore that a small part of me felt drawn to him. It’s just admiration, I told myself.From the way Mr. Corleone looked at me, the way he openly expressed his feelings, saying he cared about me and was willing to do anything to be with me—it was clear that, in another world where things were different, my admiration for him c
JamesI’m heading to Mr. Corleone’s office to go over a few things. Not with Mr. Corleone himself, though—a representative. Since it’s nearly lunchtime, I decide to grab something for Katniss too. I stop by a café near Corleone’s building. But just as I step out of my car, I spot something familiar.“Renata?”I know this car. It’s hers. Even though Renata and I aren’t living together anymore—she stayed at my apartment, and I moved out—we haven’t spoken in ages. Mostly because she’s unreachable. There are still things I wanted to discuss with her, but… nothing.Then something catches my eye: Scarlett’s car, parked close by. How can I tell? It’s rare, plus the license plate gives a clear hint that it’s hers.“They’re at the same café?”Could this be a coincidence? My initial calm is quickly replaced by suspicion. I inch closer to the café to get a better view inside. And just as I thought—Scarlett and Renata, seated at the same table.Scarlett looks shaken. Dark circles under her eyes,
Katniss“We need to meet."I stared at my phone, feeling my annoyance rise. A message from James. What does he want now? Just seeing his name made my blood boil.“You look troubled,” Mr. Corleone’s voice cut through my thoughts. We were in the car, close to our destination.“Who’s the message from?” he asked, his tone casual yet somehow pressing.I hesitated but eventually replied, “James.”His eyebrow arched slightly, and he gave a short, dry laugh. “Ah, so you’re still in regular contact.”“Can I ask what he said?” he probed further.“Nothing much. He just wants to meet.”“I see.” He went quiet, and I assumed he’d lost interest in the conversation. But then, he spoke up again.“I overheard what some of my employees have been saying.”I turned to face him completely. “Excuse me?”“Everyone in the office, nearly the whole staff, has been talking about you,” he said, his gaze fixed straight ahead, unreadable.“So you heard that, sir?”“When everyone’s talking and looking at you like th
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