ScarlettI stared quietly at my phone. My hand trembled slightly as I saw the name on the screen."What does he want? Why is he calling me now?" I muttered to myself. It had been ages—no, it felt like centuries—since the last time I’d received a call or even a message from him.I hesitated, unsure whether I should answer. But in the end, I decided to pick it up.And the moment I did, his words cut through me like a knife."Where are you? Who let you out?" His voice was sharp, demanding answers.I didn’t respond right away.“Scarlett! I’m talking to you right now! I know it’s you who answered the call!” he barked, his tone furious. It wasn’t hard to imagine the look on his face—red with anger, his jaw clenched tight, his eyes burning with frustration.“I went to the prison, and damn it, you and Renata were gone! Answer me! Where are you? Who’s the idiot that set you both free while you’re still on record as prisoners?”I kept my expression neutral, my voice calm, but the annoyance was
Katniss“Ughhh...”The nausea hit me again. This week had been nothing short of a nightmare, my mornings spent hunched over the bathroom sink, emptying the contents of my stomach.“Are you absolutely sure you’re okay?” James asked, his tone heavy with concern.I exhaled deeply, steadying myself against the doorframe as the room seemed to spin around me.“My head... It feels like the world’s tilting,” I murmured, trying to sound more composed than I felt.“I’m calling the family doctor,” James declared firmly, already turning toward the bedroom to grab his phone.“No, James. Don’t,” I insisted, grabbing his wrist to stop him. “It’s not serious. I just need something for the nausea and dizziness. I’ll be fine by tomorrow—trust me.”He frowned, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a mixture of disbelief and worry. “You said the same thing two days ago, Katniss. Look at yourself—your face is pale as a ghost.”His hands cupped my face gently, his warmth grounding me. “I’m worried about you
James“We talked about nothing,” she said, a nervous edge in her voice.I narrowed my eyes at her, suspicion brewing in my chest. I was about to press her further, but Katniss quickly cut in, her tone deliberately cheerful. “I’m starving! Look, I brought so much food for our lunch!” she exclaimed, holding up the bags like a peace offering.Something was different about her. She looked a little pale, but her expression radiated happiness. I knew Katniss too well—there was something she was hiding.With a soft sigh, I nodded and addressed my secretary. “You can step out. I’d like some time alone with them.”My secretary nodded silently, casting a quick, curious glance at Katniss before squeezing her hand. Her face lit up with a soft smile, as if sharing some unspoken joy that only heightened my curiosity.“Congratulations,” she murmured before leaving.Katniss smiled graciously and gave a polite nod as I closed the door behind her. Turning back to Katniss, I watched her with a scrutiniz
JamesThis should have been one of the happiest days of my life. Katniss had finally told me she was pregnant—on the very day she was throwing a surprise birthday celebration for me.But then, a message came in. It was from one of my trusted informants at Kent Corporation, someone I’d tasked with keeping an eye on things over there. The news? My stepbrother—Henry, the son of Emma—had somehow been granted a position at the company. By my father, no less.“Helping Liam, is that it? Hah! What nonsense!” I hissed, slamming the phone onto the table. My blood boiled. “I know this is one of Emma’s vile schemes! She’s influenced my father again. That woman knows exactly how to manipulate him!”“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Katniss’s gentle voice cut through my rising anger.I looked over at her and Giselle, who both wore bright smiles. God, the guilt gnawed at me. They’d gone through so much trouble to make this day special, and now I was bringing my dark mood into it.I took a deep b
Renata“What? How could you do this to me?” I snapped, my voice trembling with both anger and disbelief.“You promised to work with me until Katniss was utterly destroyed! This wasn’t the plan!” I glared at her, frustration surging through me.But Scarlett didn’t seem the least bit remorseful. Instead, a smug smile played on her lips.“Did you really think I’d just stand aside and let everything I told you about Katniss disappear into thin air? Of course not,” Scarlett said with an edge of defiance.I raised an eyebrow, suspicion brewing in my mind. “What do you mean by that?”“If I date Ethan,” she began, her tone dripping with calculated intent, “I’ll have even closer access to Katniss. I can gather information effortlessly. And with that, wouldn’t it be even more advantageous for us to exact our revenge and destroy her completely?”Her words hung in the air like a twisted promise. I tried to process the depths of her cunning.“You’re serious?” I asked, my voice tinged with both cur
Ethan"Darling," a voice called from behind me, startling me slightly."Scarlett," I greeted her, trying to stay composed.I felt a pang of panic. Her expression looked cold and distant—had she overheard my conversation with my secretary?I forced a calm demeanor as I spoke again, "Sweetheart," the word felt awkward on my tongue, unfamiliar. I wasn’t used to addressing her that way.I wrapped her in a gentle embrace and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Why do you look so upset, hmm?" I asked softly.Scarlett didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her eyes narrowed. "Is Katniss pregnant?"My heart sank. Of course, she had overheard.Damn it!I should’ve been more careful. Even though Scarlett got what she wanted—me—I knew deep down she still harbored resentment toward Katniss. Her hatred could be dangerous, not just to Katniss, but to her unborn child."And you went out of your way to find something rare and expensive for her?" Scarlett pressed, her voice sharp. "Why? Do you still have fee
Katniss“She and I will visit your house. To congratulate you on your pregnancy,” Ethan said.I didn’t know how to respond. James was beside me, and it was already late, nearing bedtime. But out of nowhere, I received a message from Ethan, informing me that he would come by next week. What truly shocked me wasn’t just his visit—it was the fact that Scarlett would accompany him.“Katniss? Are you okay? Is it alright?”I hadn’t realized that Ethan and Scarlett were now together. The last I knew, Scarlett was behind bars. James had told me himself. My heart shattered when I found out Scarlett had been one of the orchestrators of my pain.Beep.I ended the call abruptly, my mind reeling. I turned to face my boyfriend, my expression riddled with confusion and pain.“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, my voice tight.“Because I knew this would be your reaction,” James replied, his tone calm yet remorseful.“Do you forgive her already?” James pressed gently.Every time I asked myself that que
Scarlett:After finishing the call I stood before the hotel suite window smiling slightly. During nighttime Paris became a breathtaking spectacle as the Seine river reflected the golden lights from the city's buildings. The excitement from my current game surpassed every external beauty surrounding me.I took a controlled breath while collecting my thoughts. After waking up I initiated a conversation with Ethan who served as a central component of my tactical plan.A slight lift formed on his eyebrows when I described my plans to stay in Paris.His uninflected voice matched his unwavering gaze which studied me intensely.I responded with remorse in my voice to say I needed time with Katniss. My expression turned remorseful as I lightly nibbled my lip while making it appear like I felt slightly guilty about my actions. "The time has come for me to show Katniss that I have transformed into a new person Ethan. She’s beginning to forgive me. I don't want to waste the opportunity that is
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