Katniss“Hurry up. Do what you’re supposed to do,” Renata said, her eyes boring into me, forcing me to kneel before her.My hands were balled into fists, shaking with anger that threatened to consume me. The ache in my body, especially in my knees, was nothing compared to the deep hurt in my chest. I was crushed under her rule, even though every part of me cried out for justice.Thud!I dropped on the hard, chilly floor. My pride felt broken, laying in pieces in front of her, but the pain didn't resonate. I swallowed what little dignity I still had and bent my head."Renata, I beg you... I begged for pity," I said in a tremulous voice then continued, "Please, stop this."It felt horrible to hear Renata's silence. She enjoyed her control over me as she stood there motionless. Seconds felt like hours before she finally spoke, her voice tinged with an eerie calmness."How about we add some more fun to this?"Confusion flooded my mind. “What do you mean?” I asked, my heart racing as I tri
JamesI pressed down on the gas pedal, driving faster and faster. My chest felt heavy, a storm brewing inside me as Renata’s words echoed in my mind. I hadn’t believed her when she claimed Katniss would come to her and beg. I thought it was just one of her cruel games, another lie meant to provoke me.But seeing Katniss—my Katniss—lower herself like that broke something in me.She did it all for Giselle. For the sake of her daughter, she endured that humiliation. And here I was, completely powerless to stop it.I gripped the steering wheel tighter, iff only I had stopped myself that night at the bar—if only I hadn’t let my emotions take over and touched Katniss—none of this would have happened.“Idiot! You’re such an idiot, James!” I growled, slamming my hand against the steering wheel. Of all the mistakes I’d made in my life—and there were plenty—this one was by far the worst.The car screeched to a halt as I reached Renata’s apartment building. I exited my car and ran towards the en
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
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
KatnissEthan looked at James suspiciously.“Him? What about him?” Ethan asked, his tone sharp, clearly forcing the answer he desperately wanted.“He’s actually—”“Daddy!”I froze, my words caught in my throat as a familiar small voice interrupted me. I turned my head quickly, looking down to see Giselle, her face lit up with a bright, beaming smile.Then I looked at Ethan. His face mirrored my surprise, his expression caught between shock and confusion after hearing Giselle call him ‘daddy.’“You’re here, Daddy? Ah, I missed you so much! I’m so happy to see you!” Giselle squealed, rushing forward to hug Ethan’s legs tightly.Ethan and I locked eyes briefly, both of us stunned, speechless. But despite the awkwardness, there was no mistaking the small, triumphant smile creeping onto Ethan’s handsome face.Slowly, he crouched down until he was level with Giselle, their faces now inches apart.“Daddy?” he echoed softly, his smile widening into something more tender as his large hands cra