Katniss“I... I don’t want to talk about it. But he’s the one who destroyed my life, Scarlett. Both emotionally and financially,” I confessed, my voice trembling.Scarlett’s gaze was soft, filled with concern. “Oh, Katniss, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”I continued, struggling to keep my composure. “After the divorce, I felt like I lost everything. He betrayed me, and I’ve never really recovered. Even now, every time I see him, all the pain rushes back.”Scarlett reached for my hand, her grip warm and reassuring. “You’re not alone. I’m here for you,” she said sincerely. “Maybe we can find a way to help you feel better. Have you considered speaking to a professional?”I shook my head. “I know I should, but I’ve never felt ready. It feels too heavy.”She held my gaze, her concern deepening. “Don’t feel pressured to share everything now. I just want you to know that whatever you're feeling, it’s valid. You have every right to feel hurt.”Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded. “Thank you
James I stood in front of Katniss's apartment door, my heart pounding. Giselle, Katniss's five-year-old daughter, opened the door, her curiosity shining through her bright smile. There was no awkwardness in her expression at all. Where was Katniss?“Hello!” I greeted, trying to sound friendly.“Do you still remember me?” I asked, unsure if she had forgotten our previous encounter. My smile faltered as Giselle nodded eagerly.“Of course, Uncle! I remember you!” she replied, her voice bright.I crouched down to her level, extending my hand to ruffle the top of her head. “Can I come in?” I asked, seeking her permission.Giselle paused for a moment, then nodded, opening the door wider. “Mommy’s in the shower,” she said without hesitation.Ah, so Katniss was in the shower. That explained why it was Giselle who answered the door. My daughter? The thought warmed my heart. I yearned to hear her call me “Daddy.” It would bring me immense joy. I couldn’t wait for that moment to arrive. But… wo
KatnissI had tried everything to divert Giselle’s attention, but nothing worked. She was relentless in her inquiries about James. Tension hung thick in our apartment like an unwelcome guest. I had just finished a heated conversation with Giselle, unable to restrain myself any longer. “Giselle, you mustn’t talk to strangers!” I snapped, my voice low but sharp. Yet, with each word I uttered, her curiosity seemed to swell.She gazed at me, bewildered, as if struggling to grasp why her mother was so angry. “But Mom, I just want to make friends!” she pleaded, her small voice tinged with confusion.I could see the unsettling calm behind her inquisitiveness. Giselle probably sensed that there was something larger lurking behind my fury, and that made my anxiety spike. How could I explain this perilous situation without instilling fear in her?***After a grueling day at work, I returned home, yearning to find Giselle waiting for me. Instead, as I opened the door, silence enveloped the space
James I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before stepping into the conference room. The atmosphere in the office today felt tenser than usual, and I knew the reason. The meeting led by Mr. Corleone wasn’t just a routine gathering; it was a battleground for the egos between him and me. This time, I wasn’t planning to back down.As I entered the room, every gaze shifted toward me. I seized their attention for a moment before heading to a chair in the corner. Mr. Corleone sat at the head of the table, his face calm, but I could feel the tension pulsing in the air surrounding us. He had prepared something, and I needed to be ready for his counterattack.“Welcome, Mr. James Kent,” Mr. Corleone greeted with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “We’ve been waiting for you.”“Sorry, I had a few pressing matters to attend to,” I replied as I took my seat. “But it looks like we’re ready to start.”Mr. Corleone nodded, but his eyes never left my face. He knew this wasn’t just a business
James That day, the atmosphere at home felt more oppressive than usual. I had plenty on my mind after coming back from the office, but what I found in Renata's vanity drawer was something I never saw coming. With steady steps, I approached the drawer, not really thinking about what I might discover. Yet, when I opened it, I was stunned to find several photos of Giselle, Katniss's daughter, hidden inside. A place she had no business being.“What the hell is this?” I muttered under my breath as I stared at the pictures. Giselle was smiling in every single one, her face beaming as though nothing was wrong. But deep down, a knot of unease began to tighten in my chest. Why did Renata have these photos? What was she planning?One by one, I pulled the pictures out, my mind racing with disturbing possibilities. I took a deep breath. I knew I couldn’t ignore this. I had to confront her.When Renata entered the room, I didn’t waste a second. “Renata, we need to talk.” My voice was firm, laced
James With my head full of strategies, I nodded. "What if we confront them and make sure they know they're being watched? I don’t want to involve the police, but we need to make them understand."After finalizing the plan, Alex helped me locate the spies Renata had hired. They looked like lost street kids, which only fueled my irritation. How could they dare to target an innocent child without any shame?We caught up with them at a small café on the outskirts of the city. They looked startled when we approached, but I didn’t give them a chance to run. "You’re working for Renata, aren’t you? Watching Giselle," I said, my voice dripping with contempt.They exchanged uneasy glances, and one of them, a scruffy-looking young man, finally muttered, "We’re just doing what we were told."“Told by Renata, not by God!” I snapped, stepping closer. “If you don’t stop this right now, I won’t hesitate to take more severe action.”One of the others, visibly shaken, tried to defend himself. “We’re j
James I had just finished a meeting at Ethan’s office when I overheard a conversation between Katniss and one of her colleagues. They were talking about how Giselle had finally started school. The mention of her name stirred something deep inside me, igniting a curiosity about how my niece was adjusting to her new environment. Without hesitation, I set out to find out where she was enrolled.After gathering the information I needed, I decided to visit the school. As I drove, my emotions churned—a mixture of pride that Giselle was finally able to experience school and anxiety about how she would fit in with her peers.When I arrived, the school grounds buzzed with the laughter and chatter of children. But as I scanned the area, my heart froze. A group of kids had surrounded Giselle. They were laughing, and I could see the discomfort in her expression. I stopped in my tracks, hiding behind a large tree, observing from a distance.Giselle stood in the middle of the circle, her eyes glis
KatnissI decided to pick up my daughter early today. I left work ahead of schedule, eager to spend more time with Giselle. Her nanny had taken the day off for personal reasons, so it was my responsibility as her mother to take care of her.Giselle had recently confided in me about being bullied by some of her classmates. I had hoped that sending her to an elite school would protect her from such experiences, but clearly, I had miscalculated. I reported the bullying to the school administration, hoping they would address the issue and educate the children who were targeting her.Over the past few days, Giselle had seemed withdrawn, the weight of those hurtful experiences dulling her usual brightness. I wanted to do something special for her, to lift her spirits and help her feel better.As the school day neared its end, I glanced at my phone, trying to pass the last few minutes. When I saw the children starting to trickle out, I stepped outside, scanning the sea of faces. My eyes narr
James"I can’t find them!"Frustrated, I attempted to call Renata. On the third ring, she answered, her voice silky but laced with amusement.“James?”“Where are you?” I demanded, not bothering with pleasantries.“Why?” she teased. “Do you miss me?”“This isn’t a game, Renata. Just tell me where you are!”She chuckled lightly, savoring her power. “I’m not in the city.”“Send me your location. I’ll come to you,” I said firmly, not allowing her to derail the conversation.***I glanced at the parked car in the basement of the hotel. My jaw tightened as I recognized it—the criminals’ vehicle. Cleaned up, spotless. Not a single trace of blood or dirt remained.‘Are they here, too? Or just their car?’Snapping a photo, I quickly sent it to the local authorities, my message brief but urgent:/I found them./Taking a deep breath, I made my way to Renata’s room. I wasn’t sure if Scarlett was with her, but I wasn’t leaving without answers.The door swung open, and there she was, wearing a sly
James“What happened, Daddy?” Giselle asked.“It’s nothing, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it,” I replied, my tone as calm as I could manage.Giselle nodded, though the truth was, I was far more worried than she was. My eyes kept drifting to the door, waiting anxiously for them to return.Minutes later, Katniss and Ethan walked back into the room. Katniss looked even more exhausted than before, her face pale and blank. Something was seriously wrong.I glanced at Katniss, silently asking for answers. But the emptiness in her eyes spoke volumes. This wasn’t just bad news—it was something far worse.“You should leave,” Ethan said sharply, breaking the silence.“Your presence here isn’t needed,” he added, his tone dripping with finality.I glared at Ethan, my anger rising. “I’m her father!” I declared firmly.“And so am I!” Ethan snapped back.“There’s absolutely no proof you’re Giselle’s father,” he continued, his voice colder than ever. “Meanwhile, I’m Katniss’s husband, Giselle’s legiti
JamesGiselle had been moved to her own private room, no longer in the ER. Katniss was fast asleep on the couch, and Giselle remained unconscious.I decided to step out of the room to grab something for Katniss, but as soon as I exited, I came face-to-face with Ethan. He’d been waiting outside, probably for quite a while.I wasn’t sure why he didn’t just come in—perhaps he was afraid of another confrontation like the last one.His eyes immediately locked onto my face, cleaned and tended to by Katniss. He scoffed, the disdain evident. “You really have no shame, huh?” he sneered.“Ruining someone’s relationship? Shamelessly vying for attention from someone else’s wife?” he continued, his voice dripping with venom.I slid my hands into my pockets casually.“So what? You want me to apologize to you?” I replied, my tone deliberately provocative.Ethan’s attempt to stay calm unraveled quickly. Without warning, he lunged at me, grabbing the collar of my shirt with both hands.“I know it’s yo
JamesNot for a second did I loosen my embrace, even as Ethan stormed in, his hawk-like eyes glaring at me. His stare was a warning—demanding that I release Katniss immediately. He punctuated the word “my wife” with venom, as if staking a claim on her, but it only fueled my defiance.My woman.Yes, Katniss belongs to me. Only me. And I’ll make sure the whole world knows it, no matter the cost.Katniss looked up at me, her eyes wide, silently pleading for me to stop, as though she could read the reckless determination in my mind. She shook her head, desperate to halt my next move.“I said—take your filthy hands off my wife.” Ethan’s words lashed out like a whip, his voice cold enough to chill anyone’s blood.Anyone but me.I wasn’t intimidated. Not one bit.“Let go,” Katniss whispered, her voice trembling. Her hands slid between us, forming a weak barrier as she pushed against my chest. Her effort was small, hesitant. Still, I refused to let go.I turned to her, losing sight of Ethan i
KatnissI received a call from an unknown number. Without hesitation, I answered it.“Hello?”“Katniss, it’s me, Ethan,” said the voice on the other end.I shot up from where I was sitting, my heart pounding. “Ethan! Tell me—did you find Giselle? Is she safe?” My voice trembled as a surge of fear and worry overtook me. My grip on the phone tightened, my teeth sinking into my lip as if the pain could suppress the growing anxiety.It felt like my heart was being shocked with electricity every passing second.“Giselle... We found her. Jack and I got her to safety,” Ethan replied.A heavy breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped my lips. Relief rushed through me like a tidal wave.“Thank God. Thank you, God,” I whispered over and over, tears welling up in my eyes as gratitude flooded my heart.“But she’s unconscious,” Ethan continued. “She’s been admitted to the nearest hospital, in the emergency ward. The doctors are checking her now. I’ve sent someone to pick you up. Wait there, o
James I looked at them as they sat in the car, making sure to flash them the most disgusting look I could muster. I offended the driver’s privacy and I saw the reaction straight on its pupils, which were shrinking with panic as soon as our eyes met.My body reciprocated with the violent bouncing of what I guessed was a deliberate attempt to unbalance me. But they underestimated me. With a lot of force, I managed to kick the car window and it made a faint crack. I aimed at the same area near the driver which distracted him from the way forward. My gaze remained focused on the road in front that way if things turned ugly the car wouldn’t stray too far off course.‘But I need to be cautious now,’ I told myself. ”I can’t risk my daughter getting hurt.”Where I was standing I could see that Giselle was seated next to two men, and there were two more men in the back row. As I thought all along—there are six men in total.CRASH!I landed another solid kick, deepening the cracks in the windo
James: I sprinted down the dimly lit street, stealing a quick glance behind me to ensure Ethan was still on my heels. He was. My focus snapped forward, eyes adjusting to the oppressive darkness as I pushed myself harder. Most of the streetlights were out, leaving the path shadowed and treacherous.Damn it. Why were all the lights turned off tonight of all nights?I didn’t have time to dwell on it. My heartbeat quickened as I spotted them—those bastards. The kidnappers. Two men dragging Giselle toward a waiting black car. Cold sweat dripped down my temple.I didn’t think twice. “Ethan! They’re using a car!” My voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding, nearly a shout.Ethan nodded grimly, his expression darkening as we watched the car start moving—quickly, too quickly—already a good distance away and fading into the shadows.“Your car! Where’s your car?” I snapped at him, desperation lacing my tone.“Shit! It’s too far from here!” he replied through gritted teeth.“Damn it!”
JamesThe feast was in progress, there was an eerie feeling there that I could feel– not a joyous one, but something wrong. "Strange. Why now is there a festive air? I looked into the schedule before we got here, and nowhere was this indicated. Or… could this be one of Renata and Scarlett’s plans?”I just observed Katniss, Ethan, and Giselle while hiding behind the shadows. Some of them were laughing and chatting carelessly which struck the ears of the dancing crowds. Giselle who did not see anything wrong continued spinning around while music and dancers flooded the beach. It was beautiful and Giselle with her bubbly spirited character who never for a moment was worried about anything spun around in joy as the music and dancers illuminated the night. Then, Katniss looked unsure, her forehead was creased with worry.“Are you sure this is safe, Ethan? It feels… too sudden, doesn’t it? A celebration like this and no one said anything before?” she muttered to Ethan. She was standing wa
JamesI still remember their conversation at the restaurant—Scarlett and Renata scheming, plotting. They made it clear Giselle would become a problem for them again.“You’re right. Giselle is their weakness. That’s what I know for sure,” Scarlett had said, her tone dripping with malice.I decided to follow them, careful not to be noticed. But as luck would have it, I saw their attention shift abruptly—they had spotted Katniss and Giselle in the distance.Renata grabbed Scarlett’s arm, pulling her behind a pillar. Scarlett looked startled at first, but then her composure returned, her sharp gaze following where Renata’s finger pointed. Ethan, Katniss, and Giselle stood not too far away, walking together like a picture-perfect family.I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling inside. I was too far to hear their conversation. Quietly, I moved closer, pressing my back against the wall of a nearby building, peeking just enough to keep my eyes on them.“Ethan wasn’t supposed to be here,” Sc