JamesI carefully lay Katniss down on the bed, making sure that her skin is not touched in the least. being gentle, considerate, and mindful of her every breath, treating her as though she were a queen. I hesitate for a second as her arms come apart from our embrace. "May I?" I inquire quietly as I keep my gaze on her still-perfectly-fitting clothing. Despite our intense yearning for one another, I couldn't take action without her consent.Katniss didn't respond directly. Instead, eager, urgent, her lips speaking a language of their own, she drew me in with her arm and brought me back into her kiss. "Katniss had no control over herself because the drug was taking hold of her more strongly than I had anticipated."I wondered for a moment if I should be happy or worried. What if she believed I was using her weakness, grabbing hold of a moment when her body and mind were no longer within her control? That was the dread that kept coming back to me. Damn it, though, I was also losing con
Katniss "Hmmm..." I groaned as the sunlight touched my face. Oddly, my alarm didn’t go off this morning—usually, it rings before the sunlight has a chance to sneak in, signaling the start of my morning routine. Luckily, I remembered today was a holiday, so I didn’t have to rush out of bed or race to the office. I rubbed my forehead; a throbbing ache pulsed in my head. What happened last night? Why does my head hurt so much? I tried to piece together memories, my eyes still closed, still drowsy, not ready to face the morning yet. But as I was trying to recall, something suddenly landed on my waist—a weight, warm and unmistakable. And then, I felt the gentle warmth of someone’s breath behind me. "Erhhmmm..." A deep sound, resonating—definitely not a woman’s voice. It was a man’s. My eyes shot open, wide and unblinking, my entire body freezing in place. My heart pounded furiously in my chest, a quick rhythm of confusion and panic. "L-Last night..." All the memories from
JamesI had a feeling Katniss would completely forget what had happened. It was disappointing because I genuinely wanted her to remember our night together.“Are you out of your mind? Why would you do that?! You have a wife, James!”“And our relationship is anything but okay! I came to hear you out, and you decided to use that against me?! You’re insane! Absolutely insane!”Katniss looked both embarrassed and furious at the same time. She quickly scrambled out of bed, the blanket twisting around her.“Ah! Ugh!”I jumped off the bed and rushed to her side as she stumbled.“Are you okay?” I asked, concern edging my voice.“It hurts,” she said, wincing.Her brow was knitted tight. “My... it hurts. My body feels like it’s been through a war,” she muttered, more to herself than to me.When she realized I was in front of her, she shoved me away again. Her face, which had calmed down, now flared with embarrassment. I knew what she meant by “it hurts.”“Sorry, I might’ve gotten a bit carried a
KatnissEven now, I still can’t forget what happened. My car is parked in the basement, and I’m driving again, lost in thought.“What did I say? Why does everything between us keep running through my head?”I check the rearview mirror, embarrassed when I see a red mark on my neck. I can’t go home like this. If Giselle sees, she’ll ask too many questions with that curious look of hers.“My phone! Where is it?!”I search around the dashboard, but it’s not here. Did I leave it in the hotel room? If so, James probably has it now.“Damn it,” I mutter under my breath.Being around James is already frustrating enough. We still have work to finish, and his jealous, crazy wife makes things worse.Then, a new worry hits me. 'Did he use protection?' I wasn’t using anything. 'What if I…?' My heart races. I can’t think straight the entire way home.When I finally get to my apartment, feeling exhausted, I open the door—and freeze.“Katniss, I’ve been waiting for you.”“Oh, God!” I gasp, my wide ey
Katniss“What? Is that true, Katniss?” Mr. Corleone’s voice was sharp, and his eyes were locked on me.My face burned with anger. James was lying. And he was enjoying every second. How could he do this? I had told him to forget everything. He was a married man, for heaven's sake! And now he was hinting that we’d shared a hotel room?“Katniss?” Mr. Corleone’s intense gaze dug into me, waiting for answers I didn’t know how to give.“It’s true,” James said, his voice smug. “Why ask again? Isn’t it obvious? I even have her phone.”“You two…” Mr. Corleone’s voice was cold, careful. “Are you in a secret relationship?”My breath caught, and I choked, barely able to respond.“You okay?” James reached out, touching my arm softly, his face pretending to look worried. I yanked my arm back, glaring at him, my eyes warning him to stop. But he didn’t care. Just as I tried to explain to Mr. Corleone, James jumped in.“No, sir. You’re just misunderstanding. James and I—”“And is that really any of yo
JamesNo. That’s my only answer.I refuse to let Mr. Corleone's words sway me. I’m sticking to my decision, and I won’t let what he wants happen.I’ll fight to get my family back.“Too bad,” I say, my voice cold. “What you’re saying means nothing to me.” He stops walking. I’m sure his hands, still in his pockets, are clenched into fists.I stroll over to him casually, and once I’m close, I lean toward his ear and whisper, “If you think you can have her, keep dreaming, sir. She’s mine. Remember that.”I start walking away, but he speaks up again.“All right, if that’s what you want,” he says, his tone sharp and solid as steel. “You’re declaring war, and I’ll gladly accept it.”A small smirk pulls at my lips.“Good. At least I know my rival isn’t a coward. You’re a worthy opponent.”And with that, I keep walking.“Well, this is going to be an interesting fight. But I don’t lose.”***Renata kept calling, so I decided not to go home. Now, I’m at the airport, ready to head back to my fath
KatnissI opened the drawer in my bedroom, the one where I kept pieces of my past locked away. I hadn't touched it in ages because every time I did, tears would come. A longing that I couldn't express, a kind of heartache that only tears could understand.Inside, I pulled out an old photo album, my hands trembling as I shut the drawer again. With a slow breath, I opened the first page, and there she was—the beautiful face I’d almost forgotten. She had the same hazel eyes as mine, full of warmth, and her long, slightly wavy brown hair framed her smile. She held me on her lap, and I was beaming, the joyful grin of a three-year-old who knew nothing but happiness.Those were the days. My childhood was truly beautiful. “Why did something so perfect have to end so soon, God?” The question echoed in my mind, knowing there was no way to turn back time.“Mama, I miss you. I really, really miss you.” That was my mother’s face in the photo, and these pages held so many memories of us together. Th
KatnissWith hands still wet from tears, I turned page after page. The photos seemed alive, pulling me back to the moments when Mom was still here. It was as if I could feel her beside me, even though reality kept hitting me hard.When I finally closed the album, exhaustion washed over me. Sadness had drained my energy, and the tears wouldn’t stop. Falling asleep with a head full of memories, I could no longer tell what was real and what was just a dream.Unconsciously, I lay down on the bed, the photo album resting beside me. My eyes slowly closed, and just before sleep completely claimed me, I felt a faint glimmer of hope in my heart. Maybe, in my dreams, I’d see Mom again, hear her voice, feel the warmth of her embrace that always made me feel safe.In a half-awake state, a soft voice echoed in my dream, "Katniss, my love. Don’t be sad; I am always here, in your heart." Her words felt like a promise, soothing me even though the sorrow still lingered.Finally, I drifted off, wrapped
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