Katniss James stood in front of me. But after a moment he stopped doing so and got tired. He then proceeded to walk away with sorrow weighing his every move. The sounds of his footsteps reverberated along the corridor that was eerily silent. Mr. Corleone’s employees who had been observing us, stared in disbelief, wondering how the ruthless boss like James would demean himself just for a woman. And I don't understant either.I remained silent, unable to argue. I couldn’t explain myself to James, even though that was what he wanted. No words could express the truth, because everything was already written in the contract that bound me. This marriage was just to fulfill an agreement made behind closed doors.Pain filled my chest as I watched James leave. I touched my chest. I couldn’t lie. I still loved James. And doing this—acting this way—felt like I was betraying him.***RenataI stared at my phone screen, burning with anger as Katniss's wedding flooded every media platform. I couldn
KatnissI parked the car farther from Scarlett’s house than usual. Not in my usual spot—this time, I deliberately stayed back. A knot tightened in my stomach, the kind of foreboding that signaled something significant was about to happen. This wasn’t my car; I had borrowed Mr. Corleone’s, hoping its anonymity might shield me somehow.Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, my feet feeling leaden as I stepped out. The weight of everything—the lies, the betrayal, the endless misunderstandings—pressed down on me. But I knew if I didn’t move now, I might never summon the courage again. After hearing about the wedding, even the thought of meeting her felt like walking into a storm.Yet, avoiding Scarlett forever wasn’t an option. I had to face her.Before I could take more than a step forward, I froze. A familiar figure emerged from Scarlett’s yard. Renata. My breath hitched, my heart momentarily stopping. What was she doing here? Scarlett despised her—or so I thought.Quickly, I ducked b
JamesBy now, I wasn’t quite sure how many glasses of the drink I had consumed. The world continued to rotate, only a whirl of darkness and glowing sources. It was a tumultuous hurricane inside me and no one can even predict when a storm will hit. Katniss… the marriage… or rather the destruction it brought with it. There was no escape. Nowhere to turn. I was a sinking ship and no one was coming to my rescue.“James?” The voice that came was as soft as the fog.I slowly moved my head around and my vision was becoming wavy and dim.She was dressed in a black dress that fitted her perfectly, and she stood still. Her hair was long and free falling in loose ringlets and they highlighted by the soft warm lighting of the bar. But it was not her looks that made me uncomfortable, it was the smell. It is the unmistakable, familiar, yet infuriating nice smell.Katniss.“Katniss?” The name blurted out of my mouth before I could even think to stop it. My voice cracked, uncertain.The woman smiled,
JamesI opened my eyes to a throbbing pain in my head, a headache that seemed to make breathing difficult. I felt tired, like the whole world had decided to fall on me at this time. I tried to open my eyes but the room was spinning and I had to shut them immediately.Everything was a blur. I began to see shapes and shadows and for a while I was unable to differentiate between real life and whatever hell I was placed in. I attempted to recall the events of the previous night and what I got were nothing but the blackness of the unknown-a blank which only served to increase my anxiety.I swallowed hard, and tried to steady my breathing before I could finally open them and sit up. My muscles rebelled and an aroma enveloped me, sugary, alluring, and rather disturbingly recognisable. Katniss?This idea came to me in a flash. The perfume, the atmosphere… it is somewhat like her… My chest was constricted as I turned my head, trying to clear the fog.And then, I saw her.Beneath the tangled sh
JamesSince that terrible night, it had been a month for me. What I really desired was to erase the memory of the largest blunder I have ever committed. Renata tried to reach out to me, but I turned her down each time we met. Today, however, was planned to be the last day of it all.I strode into the courthouse with my feet moving in a slow and steady rhythm, even though my mind and my heart were racing. I just wanted this to be over. No more Renata, no more drama in my life.But as soon as I was near the courtroom, I realized she was in the corner. She fidgeted a bit and seemed to be a woman with something to conceal. She glare at me with tears in her eyes. It was too quick for me to even open my mouth to say anything, she was on the move towards me and within a short distance, she was grabbing my arm with a tight but tender hold.“James,” she raised her voice but it was weak and shaky, “I’m not going to make it. Hey, let’s have a word first before we get in.”I scowled, hesitating f
KatnissI was tidying up some documents when Mr. Corleone’s voice suddenly broke the silence of the room. “James and Renata are officially divorced today,” he said bluntly, sitting in the chair with an unreadable expression.I froze for a moment, my fingers pausing over the paper. I tried not to react, but my heart began to beat faster than usual. There was something inside me that felt unexpectedly light, as if a weight I hadn’t even realized was there had been lifted.However, I knew better than to show what I was feeling. I lifted my gaze, making sure my expression remained neutral. “Oh,” I murmured briefly, as if it were just another piece of news. “That’s their business. It has nothing to do with me.”Mr. Corleone raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on me as if it could pierce through my thoughts. “Really? Nothing at all, Katniss?”I sighed, lowering my head back to the documents. “I’m just your secretary, Mr. Corleone. James’s personal life has nothing to do with me.”He chuckled
JamesThis morning, the atmosphere felt more peaceful than usual. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow on the breakfast table. I sat across from Mr. Corleone, while Giselle sat beside me, staring at her plate with a frown.I tried to focus on my breakfast, but my mind kept drifting back to the divorce between James and Renata. The decision, though relieving, left me with a mix of emotions I couldn’t easily ignore.“Aren’t you going to eat, Giselle?” Mr. Corleone’s deep voice broke the silence.Giselle looked up, her face clouded with a grim expression. “I’m not hungry,” she replied shortly.Mr. Corleone and I exchanged a glance. Usually, Giselle was a cheerful child, especially when her favorite foods were on the table. But today, something was different.“Is something bothering you?” I asked gently, trying to understand what was going on.She shook her head slightly, but her eyes didn’t meet mine. “Nothing.”“Giselle,” Mr. Corleone’s voice was firm, yet filled wi
JamesThat day, like usual, I stood watch at the guard post of Mr. Corleone's mansion. It felt odd, standing there, observing every person who came and went. But deep down, there was only one person I wanted to see: Katniss. I still couldn't believe I had managed to get this job, but somehow, I felt like this was the only way I could stay close to her—even if only for a brief moment.The area outside was quiet, so I was given the task of checking a few sections of the mansion. I walked through the halls, my heart pounding, restless with every step. A few minutes ago, Katniss and Giselle had left, so I figured now was the perfect time to check something my friend had left for me at the guard post. But as I passed through the living room door, I froze.There, in the front room, something made my heart leap into my throat—Katniss. She had just entered the same room as Mr. Corleone.I stood still, struggling to remain calm as a wave of jealousy surged within me. I knew, I knew, she was ma
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
James: Rip!“James?!”I was utterly shocked when my fake mustache was suddenly ripped off, and Katniss, who had been slightly dazed from the alcohol and the intensity of our earlier moment, seemed to regain her senses.She furrowed her brows, blinking repeatedly as if trying to confirm whether what she was seeing was real.“James?” she said again, her voice trembling.Katniss covered her mouth with one hand, then touched her lips with her fingers. Her cheeks flushed red once more.“I-I…”Katniss stuttered, as if struggling to find words to explain what had just happened—the kiss.I never thought my disguise would be exposed this quickly.“Katniss,” I called her name softly, attempting to reach for her hand.Her eyes widened even more. “Your voice! It wasn’t like that earlier!” she exclaimed, her voice growing sharper.“James… this can’t be! So, all this time, you… you were Jack in disguise?”Katniss took a step back, retreating further from me.“Careful!” I warned, knowing she was ti
KatnissI can’t stop.I didn’t know how many glasses I’d downed. My head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, and I was certain the moment I tried to stand, the world would spin violently out of control. But I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. I just wanted to drown out the memory of what had happened hours ago.“It’s enough, Katniss,” a voice cut through the haze.I squinted, my vision too blurry to make out who had spoken.“You’re completely wasted. Look at you—your face is as red as a boiled lobster. We need to get back to the inn. You can’t leave Giselle alone for too long, even if she’s sound asleep.”The voice sounded closer now, steadier, filled with concern.I blinked slowly, raising a hand toward his face. “You... You look so much like him,” I murmured.Jack.My fingers brushed his cheek, tracing the sharp planes of his face. His pupils dilated slightly, his body tensing under my touch. And before I could stop myself, the words slipped out of my mouth.“The man I loved... Mayb
JamesI tried to hold back my smile. Katniss looked adorable when she blushed.She was rummaging around, looking for my shirt. I hadn’t brought many clothes—just one spare shirt, planning to buy more at the local souvenir shop. The shirt she was looking for was in the bathroom, where I’d intentionally left it. I’d planned all this—anything to make her spend more time with me.I sighed softly, trying to get her attention. I moved closer, standing directly behind her. The scent of her shampoo was intoxicating. I wanted so badly to lean in closer and take in more of it, but I held myself back. After all, it wasn’t appropriate, especially with a child nearby.I could see Katniss stiffen at my presence. Taking a deliberate step closer, I leaned down until my face was beside her ear. I made sure she could feel the warmth of my breath.“I don’t think it’s here anymore,” I said in a low, deep tone. “It’s fine. I have a jacket. I’ll just wear that.”As I expected, Katniss immediately turned to
KatnissFor a while I wondered if something happened to Jack. Especially after listening to my daughter shout “Daddy” Loudly from inside his room. I almost did not budge for a few moments but then adrenaline coursed through me and I entered the room with apprehension in my heart.But Giselle’s explanation eliminates my doubt. I had only been assuming.I glanced once more toward the bathroom door, unsure of what Jack could be doing in there. The sound of the shower, which had been running earlier, was now off. It seemed Jack was done.Just as I was about to take Giselle back to our room to wait for him, the bathroom door creaked open.The fresh scent of soap filled the air, crisp and clean, and there stood Jack, his expression startled to find the two of us in his room."Uh… Katniss?"I turned around sharply, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. My cheeks burned, heat creeping up to my ears. My tongue felt tied, and my lips refused to form words. I was completely frozen.Focus, K
JamesI hadn't put on my dentures yet, and I was still dealing with my discomfort. I had just finished showering and was getting ready.Katniss had already sent me a message, and I was in a rush. My heart was beating fast. I thought everything was fine, as I remembered locking the door to this hotel room. But then I stopped."Did I lock it?"Damn it! I couldn't remember if I had locked the door or not. I tried to push the uneasy feeling aside and went back to finishing my appearance.My face still looked like James, not Jack. I hadn’t put on the dentures, fake mole, or mustache yet. I kept staring into the mirror, carefully placing each detail.I was so focused that I didn’t hear the footsteps approaching until I heard the familiar voice of a child.“Daddy?!”I jumped and quickly turned my head to the side.“Huh?” I froze for a moment. But when I looked in the mirror, I realized why Giselle had called me "Daddy."I stared, wide-eyed.“Shhh!” I quickly approached her and crouched down.
KatnissJack’s smile was so bright that I couldn’t help but laugh freely alongside Giselle. That rare feeling of connection felt so pure, so genuine.As Jack glanced at his phone, Giselle ran toward him, her little feet kicking up sand.“Uncle Guard! Show me the photo!” she chirped excitedly.Jack chuckled warmly. He knelt down, holding out his phone to show her the screen. On it, he had recorded a video of us laughing, playing with the ocean waves and the soft sand."See this," he offered softly. "You two look so happy. It’s such a lovely moment, and I simply couldn’t help myself—I had to capture it." After a brief pause, he added, "I think this might be my favorite video from now on."His words made my heart skip. Did he really mean it? Did he like me and Giselle that much?Jack suddenly looked up at me, his expression slightly startled, as if he had realized something he wasn’t supposed to say out loud.“I mean—” He cleared his throat nervously. “I’ve told you before, haven’t I?
JamesI couldn’t help but smile as I watched her cheeks flush a soft pink. Katniss had always been terrible at hiding her emotions. Everything she felt played out so vividly on her face, in the way her hands fluttered nervously, and in her body language. It was the same as before, an adorable trait that she used to have every time we were still in a relationship.Still the same, I thought, amused yet aching. The way she fidgeted, the flushed look on her face—they were so recognisable.“You know…” I said."Um.."I could see the tension in her shoulders, the confusion in her eyes. Every part of me wanted to tell her the truth, to see the realization dawn on her that it was me. But I couldn’t. Not yet. If I did, she’d pull further away, and I couldn’t let that happen. I needed to trap her in this moment, to let the feelings she’d buried resurface. Only then could I ensure she wouldn’t run.“No, ma’am. This is the first time we’ve met,” I said, keeping my tone steady, my gaze locked on he
KatnissI stared at his car. Ethan told me I didn’t need to go to work today. He said it was my right to take a break since I had complained earlier about a headache. He insisted I stay home and pamper myself.I touched my forehead. Ethan had just kissed it—his kiss was soft and full of love, but somehow, I didn’t like it. The uncomfortable feeling was so strong. What bothered me most, though, was the disappointed look on James's face that kept playing in my mind.“Katniss, what do you even want from that man? He’s the one who put you in this difficult situation. You should stop thinking about him.”But the heart wants what it wants.“Mommy.” I snapped out of my thoughts when Giselle called me.“Ah, yes, sweetheart?” I replied.“I want to play,” she said, her face scrunched up. Giselle hadn’t been outside for a long time. Poor thing, she must feel trapped.I looked at the situation. Is it okay for Giselle and me to go out in public now? The news about James and my wedding with Ethan h