KatnissBeep. Beep. Beep.The shrill sound of my phone tore through the fragile silence of the morning. My heart sank—today was supposed to be my day off.Giselle stirred in my arms, her sleepy eyes fluttering open. “Mommy?” she mumbled, her soft voice tugging at my already fragile resolve. I kissed her forehead gently.“Shh, sweetheart. I’m sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep. Mommy will make breakfast soon,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady.These past few nights, I hadn’t let Giselle sleep in her room. She had stayed by my side, her tiny frame curled into mine, grounding me amidst the chaos of my life. Holding her close gave me the illusion of safety—an escape from the nightmare that refused to end.For a brief moment, life seemed to stabilize. Renata had kept her promise, or so I thought. Three days had passed since I was humiliated—forced to kneel and kiss the tip of her heel. The office scandal hadn’t spread, thanks to Mr. Corleone’s intervention. No whispers, no gossi
KatnissAs I was about to throw my phone in frustration, overwhelmed by stress, a name caught my eye—James.My heart pounded in panic as I hesitated, then finally decided to answer his call. He must have seen the news by now.“Katniss...” James’s voice was filled with concern, trembling slightly and unusually firm.“R-Renata… she broke her promise! She leaked a video of my daughter to the media, James! She called me a homewrecker! She lied!” My voice cracked as raw anger and helplessness spilled out.“Mommy?”Startled, I realized I’d raised my voice. Giselle, lying beside me, stirred awake, her sleepy eyes fluttering open.“Shh… shhh... I’m sorry, baby. Mommy didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep,” I whispered, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead.“Why is Mommy crying?” Giselle asked, her little voice filled with worry.“It’s nothing, sweetheart. Mommy’s just... it’s cold. So my eyes got teary,” I lied, wiping my tears away quickly and roughly.“Katniss, are you crying?” Ja
KatnissA moment of silence hung in the air before Mr. Corleone finally spoke.“My driver will come to your apartment to pick you up. Be ready,” he said, his tone firm and commanding.I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me, and refused his offer.“No need, sir,” I replied, trying to sound polite but firm.“I’ll come to your house myself. It doesn’t feel right for you to go out of your way when I’m the one asking for your help. You don’t need to send a driver,” I added, hoping he’d agree.“Katniss,” he said, his voice sharpening, “just do as I say. You have no idea how desperate those reporters are to get information from you. Do you think none of them are waiting for you in the parking basement? Or right in front of your apartment building? They’re like wolves, hungry and ready to pounce the moment they see you.”The seriousness in his tone made my stomach twist. I hadn’t thought about it. Was it really that bad?He was probably right. Mr. Corleone had clearly thought this th
KatnissKNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!The noise was extremely loud, and continuous, as if the sound of drums were being pounded into my head. My racing heart seemed to beat out all other sensations. As soon as the door closedd, a group of reporters rushed like a wave, and their bodies leaned against the car. They didn’t care about the danger—some stood directly in our path, some even dared me to run, dared me to try and get past them.“Katniss, don’t run! Answer our questions!” a voice shouted out, the tone of the words clear and demanding.“If you keep running, then it can only be true what people are saying! Are you and Mr. Kent having an affair? Did you and him betray his wife?”Their words lashed at me like a whip.“Katniss! Katniss, is it true? Are you and James done? Did he leave you?” another voice yelled, louder this time, cutting through the chaos like a blade.They kept saying the worst things and each word they said made me feel like I was drowning. I started breathing rapidly and m
James "What the hell are you doing?!’ How could you involve Giselle into this sick game of yours? Are you not satisfied with all the lies that you have told?” Renata remained silent with her head slightly down and her eyes shifted away from mine but there was a sarcastic twist on her lips. She knew that we were going to have this showdown and she was fully prepared for it, but instead of looking remorseful she had the nerve to look defiant and practically dared me to be as angry as I was. “You don’t understand James,” she replied threateningly, her eyes hard and without a hint of regret. Those words hung in the air for a moment and a tension descended over the room. "All I’m doing is what I have to do. You can’t pin this all on me. And let me tell you this is going to escalate into a disaster that you cannot even begin to contemplate.” I moved closer, the anger burning me from the inside like an inferno. My eyes were apparently as threatening, but I could not mask my internal tur
James Corleone put the pen aside and leaned back on his chair. His face was impassive, and I got the feeling he knew I was coming. “That is none of your business, James,” he replied in a rather unpleasant manner. “It is advisable that you stay away from it, really, it's not even your concern anymore,” he continued.His dismissal only made me even more frustrated. “None of my concern? Are you kidding me? Of course, it’s my concern! I need to talk to her. This is important.”Corleone looked at me with hatred and spoke with menace. “Well as I said, let’s each mind our own business. Katniss... she's not your problem anymore."I tightened my hands into fists and my fingers itched to bang them on his desk. “Don’t give me that. You know something and you are concealing it. What are you trying to put over on me, Corleone? What kind of game is this? Suddenly, there's news about your wedding? You, marrying one of your employees? Who is she? Tell me now!"He didn’t flinch. He didn’t say a word
KatnissAfter some time, I managed to calm Giselle down, though I didn't know why she panicked when she heard that Mr. Corleone would be her "daddy." I had to reassure her. She was playing with her nanny in her room, lost in a world of Barbies, while I sat quietly in the living room. Mr. Corleone was busy with something involving the villa guards. I had no idea what they were discussing. Minutes later, a knock at the door broke my thoughts. Of course, it was him."Katniss," Mr. Corleone's voice was calm, as usual, when he entered. "We need to talk."I glanced up with a hard and unblinking gaze straight into his eyes. "Yes, of course. “You can speak to me directly Mr. Corleone,” I told him.“We have to go get the wedding dress fitted.”I stood still for a while trying to understand him. A wedding dress fitting? That was like a sharp knife which pierced my heart. "Now?" I asked, my voice almost inaudible."Yes. “The sooner, the better,” he said. As usual, his tone did not allow for any
JamesI looked at the screen of my phone and my heartbeat increased. The photos were evident all over, the front pages of almost all the media houses were filled with the images. Though indistinct, there was no doubt that the woman standing beside Pak Corleone was recognizable to me. Too familiar. I tried to shake the thoughts that were running through my mind. This had to be a coincidence. There was no way it was her. But the more I stared at the photo, the more the truth hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew that body shape. The way she stood. That was Katniss. “What the hell is this…” I muttered, my voice tight as I tried to calm the storm building inside me. I grabbed my phone and immediately dialed Pak Corleone’s number. The dial tone rang, but there was no answer. I tried again. And again. Still, no response. Damn it! I squeezed my phone in frustration, glaring at the photo on the screen once more. Why was she with him? Why were they at a bridal shop? The questions swirle
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