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they would address the issue and educate the children who were targeting her.Over the past few days, Giselle had seemed withdrawn, the weight of those hurtful experiences dulling her usual brightness.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
Katniss“Mommy! Let’s go!” Giselle was bursting with excitement. It had been a week since her mood about school had changed so drastically for the better.‘I’m not getting bullied anymore!’That’s what she’d told me, and of course, I was thrilled to hear it.‘I guess the school finally addressed my complaint,’ I thought. They seemed to handle the issue swiftly and thoroughly, rooting out the problem.“Mommy’s so happy to see you this excited,” I said as we drove towards Giselle’s school. She turned her head to me with a wide, radiant smile.“Of course! It’s all because I get to see—“But she cut herself off suddenly. “See who?” I asked, glancing over at her, curious to see her reaction. Her expression was a little panicked, as she nervously bit her lower lip, her eyes slightly widened as they stared straight ahead.My brow furrowed, a clear line forming on my forehead. “Giselle?” I called her name again when she didn’t respond right away.“Who are you excited to see?” I repeated, tryi
James “It’s impossible that Giselle just disappeared. Someone must be looking for her,” I muttered to myself, and only one name crossed my mind—Renata. Was she at it again? I rushed around the school where Giselle was last seen, but there was no sign of her. Without hesitation, I called Renata. A video call, to be exact. She wouldn’t be able to lie if I saw her face. After two attempts went unanswered, I kept calling relentlessly. Finally, on the fifth ring, Renata picked up. “Where are you?” I asked, straight to the point. “What’s with your tone? It’s really unpleasant,” she responded sharply, her eyes narrowing. “Where are you?” I repeated, ignoring her complaints. “That’s none of your business!” she snapped, her voice laced with anger. Her gaze was so sharp it felt like a knife. We had argued again this morning, after all. “Stop bothering me! I’m out with my friends!” she continued. I squinted, noticing she wasn’t in our apartment. Just as she was about to end the
James “Where are you? What the hell are you doing at the hospital?” I said, cutting straight to the point.Suddenly, a voice broke through, panicked and desperate. “Who are you people? I want to go home! No! I’m not going with you again! You can’t make me!”My heart nearly stopped when I heard it.“I want to go back to Mommy! Don’t take me away again! Mommy must be worried because I’m gone! She’s going to be mad at you! Just wait and see!”I knew that voice too well. Instantly, my gaze shot to Renata, sharp and furious.“I warned you, Renata! She’s just a child! Have you completely lost your mind? Don’t you dare mess with her! Where are you? I’m coming for her, now!” My voice rose, unable to contain the surge of anger boiling inside me.I didn’t care about the stares I was getting from people nearby, their disapproving looks didn’t matter. My footsteps quickened with every second.“Tell me where you are, now!” I pressed, my tone commanding, not taking no for an answer.“What are you
James“Uncle?”Giselle’s voice pulled me out of my deep thoughts, my mind racing with how to handle everything.“Yes, sweetheart?” I replied, glancing at her.“You’re worried about how Mommy will react, aren’t you?” she asked, her gaze sharp.Ah, just as I thought—my daughter was incredibly perceptive. She could read the situation so well. But I didn’t want her burdened with my worries, so I shook my head, offering her a soft smile.“No, Giselle. Don’t worry about it, okay? I’ll take care of everything. You just rest for now. I’ll wake you when we arrive,” I assured her.But she shook her head, determination flashing in her eyes. “I have a plan, Uncle!” she announced with confidence.“A plan? What kind of plan?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.Giselle winked at me, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Trust me!” she said.I could only stare at her in confusion. What could my clever little girl possibly be planning?******Katniss"So what now? Where's the responsibility? She's just a kid! H
James I kept my eyes on the apartment building, waiting for Katniss' car to arrive, but what caught my attention instead was Mr. Corleone’s car pulling up. As soon as it stopped in front of the building, Katniss rushed out and dashed inside.I understood why she reacted like that. I felt the same panic earlier when I couldn’t find Giselle. If I, who wasn’t even part of Giselle’s life before this, could feel like my world was collapsing, I could only imagine what Katniss was going through. She’s been with Giselle since the moment she was in her womb.Then, three more people stepped out of the car—Mr. Corleone, of course, along with Giselle’s nanny, and someone I recognized as one of her teachers. I’d seen that face a few times at the school.A wave of heat surged through me as I watched how effortlessly Mr. Corleone managed Katniss’ personal matters. But right now, it wasn’t the time for me to get involved.With the certainty that Giselle was safe, I turned my focus to another issue t
James“SHE’S NOT!” Renata screamed, pointing her finger at me, radiating pure confidence in her words.“I already did the DNA test, and the results will be out tomorrow. We’ll see whether she’s your child or not. But I’m certain—that brat is NOT yours! So stop acting like she is! I’m sick of watching you play house with her!” She spat the words with venom.I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger surging through me. “I don’t understand your logic, Renata. I’ve already told you—"“Don’t be stupid! You need undeniable proof if you want to claim her as yours! I know your father is breathing down your neck for an heir, but just because she looks like you doesn’t mean anything. You need solid evidence!” she cut me off, her voice laced with frustration.I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “You know I need Giselle, Renata. Don’t be like this. You’re being unreasonable. You know the threats my father made. Why are you constantly sabotaging everything?”“If I lose my
James"Because you were sleeping with another man, weren’t you?" Renata brought it up again, her voice sharp and accusing.I instantly turned my gaze to Katniss, waiting to see how she would react. Her expression was furious, but her lips were sealed tight. She looked like she had no idea how to respond to Renata’s words, and that only made me more curious about what she would say next.I could sense the internal battle raging inside Katniss—the struggle to find the right words was all too obvious."See? You can’t answer, right?" Renata sneered, her arrogance cutting through the tension like a blade.Katniss finally snapped. "What does it matter to you if Giselle is his child?" she shot back, venom in her voice. "You have no shame. After ruining my life, you come barging back in when you see Giselle."She stormed toward me, her eyes blazing with fury. "You’re the one who refused to believe I was pregnant with your child. Remember how you threw me away like trash?" Her finger jabbed to
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