Katniss"How could the result be negative? That's impossible! She’s your biological daughter!"I wasn't seeking validation from James, but it felt like a slap in the face. The lie would make them think their accusations from the past were true—that it was never slander.For heaven’s sake!I could swear on anyone's name that I never, not once, slept with another man. I never even stepped foot in a nightclub, or any sinful place to get drunk and lose myself in such a way that I’d end up with a stranger. I avoided all of that at every cost.I was a good wife, a good daughter-in-law. I stayed home, helping with everything my mother-in-law and husband needed. I only ever left the house if they ordered me to.So how could the result be negative now? Why was I getting those accusatory glares again? It was just like before—Renata’s smug satisfaction written all over her face, thrilled that the result aligned with her twisted desires.And James—God, I stared at him for what felt like forever.
JamesRenata kept pulling at my arm, trying to rush me out of the hospital. Her face was tense, like she was trying to escape something—or someone. I knew exactly who it was—Katniss.Her words kept spinning in my head. Loving each other? We both love hard? Waiting for the baby for so long? And the lies from my family?I stopped dead in my tracks, forcing Renata to stop with me. I carefully peeled her hand off my arm.“What is it? Why are you stopping?” she asked, panic flashing in her eyes.“What Katniss said back there... It doesn’t line up with what you and Mom told me when I came out of the coma.”Renata froze. Her silence said it all.“You’ve been lying to me,” I said, my voice sharp, cutting through the tension.“We’re still at the hospital, James. Let’s talk about this at home,” she insisted, but I could hear the tremor in her voice.She linked her arm around mine again, pulling me forward. But the questions kept burning inside, refusing to be silenced.Once we were in the car,
James"You really don't remember?" Emma asked again, clearly shocked by my earlier response.I nodded. "Can you explain this to me? Stop beating around the bush." I was too tired to deal with their drawn-out explanations. My patience was thin, and I wasn’t in the mood for pointless conversation.Emma exchanged a glance with Renata. That look—what the hell were they trying to say to each other with just their eyes? It felt like they were sharing some secret I wasn’t privy to.Emma turned back to me and reached out, stroking my hair. The gesture was supposed to be comforting, but it felt staged, artificial. Still, I didn’t argue. My head was pounding, and I had no energy for a fight. All I wanted was answers. Something told me I’d missed out on a lot, and I needed to know what."Just explain it," I demanded again, my voice edged with frustration.But Emma shook her head gently. "No. You’ve just regained consciousness, my son. You need to rest first. I need to speak with the doctor, find
James“Hm,” Emma nodded slowly, her eyes dark and serious.“I don’t know what spell she’s cast on you to make you so obsessed with her, James. But… she’s been using you this whole time,” Emma’s voice was sharp, filled with tension.“What are you talking about, Emma?” I asked, confused, but a growing unease churned in my gut.“I want to explain… but maybe it’s not my place. I’m just your stepmother, after all. I have no right to interfere in your marriage,” Emma looked down, guilt shadowing her expression like she regretted opening Pandora’s box.“I want you to tell me. Now,” I demanded, my patience running thin. I couldn’t take the suspense any longer.“Are you sure?” Emma asked, her tone uncertain as she searched my face. I nodded firmly.“Say it.”She took a deep breath, then said, “She’s been using you, James. She only wants your wealth, and she’s been planning to take it from you. She’s been having an affair and secretly funneling money to her lover.”The words hung heavy in the a
James"After everything I’ve shown you? Come on, James! You still don’t believe me?" Renata’s voice was sharp, frustration laced in every word.I stayed quiet, but my eyes made it clear—I wasn’t here for excuses. I wanted answers.She let out an exasperated sigh, shrugging her shoulders as if I was being ridiculous. "Is this really all it takes for you to fall back into her trap? That child you think is yours—I’ve already proven he’s not!"I sat there, unmoving, waiting for her to continue. I wasn’t buying it, not this time.Renata's lips curled into a sneer. "And yet here you are, doubting me again because of her. What spell does she have over you, James? How can you still be so gullible? I don’t care what you say—you still love her, don’t you? Even after losing your memory, that pathetic excuse for love is still buried deep inside you, like some primal instinct you can’t shake!" Her voice cracked, anger and hurt seeping through her calm façade.She was furious now, trying to twist e
JamesI furrowed my brow as I watched Katniss, noticing her odd behavior. Her body shifted uncomfortably, restless, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, the tip of her nose, and even her upper lip. It was strange, considering the place was fairly cool, nowhere near stifling.I reached into the back pocket of my jeans, pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to her. She had been so adamant about not wanting me to touch her, I made sure to be extra careful, not daring to get too close. The last thing I wanted was to make her angry again.It was a small miracle that she even agreed to meet me, to sit down and talk. I never expected she’d finally say yes.Her gaze flickered briefly to the handkerchief I held out, hesitation clear in her eyes. "To wipe your sweat. You’re, um, really sweating... Sorry for making you come to a place like this," I explained, trying not to let her misunderstand. God knows what she’s thinking right now.Finally, she took it, dabbing her face. Her skin pra
JamesI rushed out of the room and headed straight for the top floor. That bastard bartender had taken Katniss up using the elevator. The fifth floor above housed private suites. I knew the room number—it was at the far end.“Damn it! How dare that scumbag take Katniss up there in her state!”I was sure his intentions weren’t good. The sleazy grin on his face and the way he looked at her gave it all away."He must’ve drugged her drink!" It was impossible for such a small amount of alcohol to make her that out of control, that quickly.Ding!The elevator doors slid open, and I bolted out, sprinting down the hall toward the room that creep had dragged Katniss into.Bang! Bang! Bang!I pounded on the door, hard.Bang! Bang! Bang!Again and again, but there was no answer.“YOU SICK BASTARD, OPEN UP!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.THUD!I rammed my shoulder into the door with all my strength. But the door didn’t budge—it was too solid to break down with just one hit. My heart raced, bu
James“Hot…” she groaned.“My body is so hot. Please…” she pleaded, her voice desperate.I could barely swallow.Damn it! What the hell did that bartender put in Katniss’s drink?My body froze, every muscle tense, as Katniss kept pulling me closer.“It hurts… I can’t stand it,” she whimpered.“James, please help me…”“Katniss… calm down. I’m going to call a doctor.”I shot to my feet, but one glance down at my crotch and damn! It just kept getting harder. How did Katniss have this much of an effect on me? My mind was clouding over, losing any shred of rational thought.My hand, still gripping my phone, began to tremble. I should’ve called a doctor like I said I would, to ease whatever strange sensations were flooding her body. But I couldn’t even type a single word.Something had already taken over me. Sweat began dripping down my forehead. My heart pounded out of control, and I paced back and forth across the room, desperately trying to shake off the lust creeping in, taking over.Co
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