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After what felt like an eternity in the washroom, Thalassa finally emerged. Her eyes were red, and though the tears had long dried, a deep ache still sat in her chest. Walking on, she came to a stop as she saw Kris and Alex sitting and playing together on the floor. Kris was in front of their son, gently rolling a toy car back and forth between them. Alex, who had been so wary of him earlier, was now giggling with unrestrained joy, his tiny hands clutching the car as they played. The sight brought tears to her eyes again, but Thalassa swallowed them back. Her heart clenched painfully as she realized how much she had kept from him. She had robbed him of this joy, of these little moments. It had been for a reason, but that reason felt so small in comparison to the reality of what was happening now. Suddenly, Kris looked up, his eyes meeting hers. For a moment, neither of them moved. His smile faltered, the warmth in his eyes flickering as something unreadable crossed his f
Kris couldn't take his eyes off Alex, mesmerized by every giggle, every smile. His heart swelled as he played with his son, savoring the simple joy of pushing toy cars back and forth. For hours, they sat there, Kris losing himself in the world of his child. He cherished each small moment as Alex’s childish laughter rang out, bright and innocent. It made him forget, even if briefly, the storm raging inside him. Betty’s voice broke the peaceful bubble. “Time for dinner,” she said softly, her tone almost apologetic for interrupting the moment. Kris looked up, blinking as reality returned. "Good," he said, standing up with Alex in his arms. “I want to feed him.” Betty raised a brow. “Have you done this before?” Kris smiled, the sadness behind his eyes briefly masked. "I have a daughter... she's only two months younger than Alex. I used to feed her all the time." Betty’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I didn’t know that.” “It’s a long story.” “Well, Alex usually likes to
Hours later, Thalassa lay in her bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, unable to sleep. After dinner, Kris had continued playing with Alex until their son grew tired. Betty had taken over, putting Alex to bed and showing Kris his room. The evening had passed in a strange haze, leaving Thalassa feeling like a stranger in the house she'd lived in for years. She hadn't spent much time with Alex since she arrived because interrupting his time with Kris always felt like a crime. Maybe that’s why she couldn't sleep. She needed to spend some time with her son, even if he was asleep now. With a sigh, she slipped out of bed, heading toward Alex’s room. Quietly, she opened the door and stepped inside, only to come to a stop. There, beside the small toddler bed, was Kris. He was crouched low, his hand gently resting on Alex’s blanket as their son slept peacefully. Kris turned at the sound of the door, his eyes meeting hers. "I’m sorry," Thalassa whispered, her voice barely audible. "I di
The collision of their lips felt as magical as it always dif. At least to Thalassa. It took her some seconds of moving her lips against Kris’s to realize that he wasn’t responding to her kiss.She broke the kiss and slowly moved her head back to look at his face. He looked stunned, but other than that, she couldn’t guess what was going through his head.“I’m sorry,” she whispered, stepping away from him.Shame burned her face. What had she expected? That he would just agree to be with her again after she deceived him twice?“I’m sorry.” She repeated, turning to leave to save herself from further embarrassment, but Kris held her back by the arm.“Kris, I said I’m sorry.” Thalassa said pleadingly while still facing away from him.“Why are you apologizing?” Kris questioned, confusion mirrored in his voice.“Because you probably didn’t want me to kiss you and—”“Didn’t want you to kiss me?” Kris let out an incredulous chuckle before slowly turning her to face him once again. “Lassa, there
It didn’t take long before an earth shattering orgasm tore through Thalassa.“Kris.” She screamed his name just as he’d promised, her knees shaking due to the intensity of the pleasure.It was too much. Thalassa could barely stand. Kris pulled his fingers out of her and swept her off her feet again. And while her body still trembled from her orgasm, he slowly walked and laid her on her back on the bed.He kissed her again, soft at first, then hard. Then he broke the kiss, his lips beginning to travel down her body again when Thalassa grabbed his head.“No,” she shook her head, staring down at him. The ache inside her was too intense. It couldn’t be soothed by just his tongue. “I need you. I can’t stand it anymore.”Looking into her eyes, Kris was almost taken aback at the point to which her desire had flared. Dick twitching painfully, he crawled his lips back up and pulled his boxer briefs down, tossing them aside. Grabbing her by one of her thighs, he hoisted the mound up and poised
The light streaming through the blinds slowly woke Kris up. Groaning from all the delicious aches in his body, he stretched blissfully, reaching out to wrap his arm around the woman beside him—until his hand landed on a pillow instead.His eyes snapped open, panic zinging through him as he realized Thalassa wasn’t in bed. She was standing at the foot of the bed, one of the sheets wrapped around her body.A sense of déjà vu washed over him. This was exactly how things had played out the last time they made love, when she told him that what happened between them meant nothing and would never happen again.Dread coiled tight in his stomach. He braced himself on his elbows, raising his body, his desperate eyes taking her in. He held his breath, waiting for her to tell him to get dressed and leave, but those words never came.Instead, a slow, sexy smile curved her lips as she sauntered toward him, crawling across the bed.“I thought you’d never wake up.”Relief rolled through Kris. She was
After taking her to heaven and beyond, Kris prepared a bath in the bathroom, where they washed and cleaned off the sweat and grime from their countless rounds of lovemaking.Of course, Kris didn't miss the opportunity to give her another orgasm with his fingers.Once they were freshened up and dry, Thalassa went to her room to get dressed, while Kris headed to the guest room he'd been given to change into one of the outfits he had ordered and received the night before.They met up in the hallway and went together into Alex's room, but finding it empty, they made their way downstairs.As soon as Betty laid eyes on them, the older woman broke into a knowing smile. She was sitting on one of the couches in the living room while Alex sat in front of her, using crayons in a coloring book.“Good morning, Betty,” Kris greeted.Betty scoffed. “It's already some minutes past twelve. Not that you two would know, being so busy up there.”Thalassa flushed, narrowing her eyes at her. “Betty!”Betty
While he was still hugging his son, Kris's phone rang. Annoyed by the interruption at such an important moment, Kris reluctantly released Alex and pulled out his phone. Seeing that it was his lawyer, he excused himself, stood up, and walked a short distance away to answer the call.Thalassa also noticed the caller ID, and her eyes followed him. She could see the tension building in his expression as he spoke to his lawyer.When the call ended, she stood and met him halfway, concern etched on her face. "Is something wrong?"Kris sighed. "It's my mother. My lawyer has been trying to arrange for her transfer to prison and to push her cases to court, but he's been meeting resistance. I have to go back to Baltimore to sort it out."Though his voice was emotionless, Thalassa wasn’t fooled. She could see the pain in his eyes. This was affecting him more than he wanted to admit.She gently cupped his face in her hands, looking into his eyes. "Kris, I can have my lawyers handle it, or I can g
SEVEN YEARS LATERThe warm, salty air of Jamaica greeted Tessa as she stepped off the plane, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor of the airport.She adjusted her sunglasses and smoothed down her sleek blazer. On the outside, her aura exuded confidence, but on the inside, her nerves were all over the place.She'd come to Jamaica for her best friend Maya's destination wedding, so she was supposed to feel nothing but excitement, right?Of course, she was happy for her best friend, but there was nothing remotely exciting about having to spend a whole week with him in the same house.Tessa balled her hands into fists. Seven years later, and the thought of him—or the sight of his face—never failed to fray her nerves.If it were up to her, she would never have to deal with him again, but of course, it was just her luck that out of all the people Maya could've fallen in love with and decided to marry, she'd settled on Jace, Gendry's best friend.Yes. Gendry Graham.And since Gen
Inside her room, Tessa was pacing anxiously. It was already past seven, and Gendry hadn't come yet to pick her up.By 8 PM, Tessa stopped pacing. Gendry was supposed to have picked her up an hour ago, so why wasn’t he here yet? Maybe he was running late for some reason.She immediately grabbed her phone from the dining table and dialed Gendry's number. It rang for a few seconds before the loud beep indicated that he’d hung up on her.Tessa swallowed the lump in her throat, her excitement fading. The blue dress that had made her feel special now felt like it was mocking her.At 8:30 PM, her bedroom door finally opened. Tessa shot to her feet, hope welling inside her. Surely, Gendry had finally arrived, and her mother was here to take her downstairs.However, it wasn’t only her mother who entered the room. She was followed by her father and brother.“It’s obvious that the bastard isn’t going to come,” Alex said, as if it wasn’t already clear enough.Tears stung Tessa’s eyes. Her brother
Tessa Miller stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her usually straight hair was curled at the ends, framing her face in a way that made her feel quite pretty. She smoothed the soft fabric of her light blue prom dress for the hundredth time, feeling both excited and nervous. "Relax, Tessa," Maya, her best friend, said. She was perched on the edge of the bed with a makeup brush in hand after doing Tessa's makeup. "You look perfect. Gendry Graham is going to lose his mind when he sees you." Tessa glanced at her best friend. Maya’s bold red dress and confident smile were the opposite of Tessa’s nervousness. "I just… I can’t believe he asked me," she admitted. She'd decided to skip prom altogether because no one had asked her to be their date. Most of the boys in school saw her as a boring, nerdy girl, while the others didn't want to get close to her because of her overprotective brother, Alexander. But two days ago, Gendry, the only boy Tessa had had a crush
Dear readers, Oh wow, it has been quite a while, haha. I want to thank everyone once again for getting this far. If you read to the end, then I appreciate you so much. I said I would update you guys on my next story, and so here I am. The next story is going to center around Tessa! Here's a little plot. **** PLOT Tessa Miller doesn't like holding a grudge. Except when it comes to Gendry Graham. How can she not hold a grudge against him after he asked her to be his date on prom, only for her to find out it was all a cruel joke meant to humiliate her? Years later, Tessa still wants nothing to do with Gendry. But fate has other plans. As the maid of honor at their mutual friends’ destination wedding, she finds herself stuck with Gendry, who just happens to be the best man. Worse, their meddling friends are determined to play matchmaker, pairing them up at every opportunity for wedding preparation responsibilities. But what's worse than being constantly paired with the man you ha
“What’s wrong with my wife, doctor? Is she okay?” Kris questioned at the hospital after the doctor was done examining Thalassa. The doctor offered a reassuring smile. “Mr. Miller, please calm down. Your wife is perfectly fine.” Kris’s heart slowed just a little. “Then why did she faint?” Thalassa was sitting up on the hospital bed. Her brow furrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line. “Doctor, it’s probably menopause,” she said matter-of-factly. “I haven’t had my period in two months. I know it happens earlier for some women.” She wasn't exactly pleased that she was having her menopause at 40 years old, but she had been expecting it. The doctor shook his head gently, a knowing smile on his face. “Mrs. Miller, it’s not menopause, I assure you.” That didn't help to assuage Kris's worry. “Then…what is it?” The doctor looked between them, savoring the moment before delivering the news. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. You’re three months pregnant.” For a long second, sile
THIRTEEN YEARS LATERIt was the thirteenth anniversary of Kris and Thalassa’s remarriage, and as had become their tradition, it was a time for celebration with loved ones.The familiar hum of laughter and clinking silverware filled the air, creating a cozy, joyful atmosphere.At the adults’ table, Thalassa sat with her chin resting on her hand, her smile gentle as her gaze lingered on the people who had become their family. Alden and Luisa were seated across from her.Their three children—Andrew, the 12-year-old charmer; Matthew, the mischievous 9-year-old; and Emma, their 5-year-old firecracker—were occupying their seats at the kids’ table.Beside Alden and Luisa were Zeke and Millie, who had flown in from New York with their boisterous 10-year-old triplets, Max, Mia, and Miles.Alex and Tessa were sitting at the adults' table. No longer children, they'd blossomed into young adults. Alex had grown into a tall, broad-shouldered, and cool-headed teenager, much like his father. While Te
The car pulled into a luxurious beachfront resort, its white walls gleaming against the backdrop of the turquoise ocean.Thalassa blinked, the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore stirring something deep in her memory.They were in Cabo San Lucas.The moment it clicked in her mind, her breath hitched. She glanced out at the golden sands stretching endlessly before her, the rugged cliffs towering in the distance, and the sparkling waters that seemed to stretch into infinity. This wasn’t just any place.It was the place she'd thought she and Kris would be going for their first honeymoon while getting married five years ago. But of course, right after their wedding, Kris had cancelled their honeymoon.Her chest tightened as a surge of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She turned to Kris, her voice barely above a whisper. “You remembered.”Kris’s lips curved into a soft smile as he reached for her hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles.“Of course I remembered,” he said
After his aunt disappeared from sight, Kris made his way back to Thalassa on the dance floor. She stood there, her eyes soft and grateful, watching him approach. Her expression said everything—how much his unwavering defense against Cynthia meant to her. When he reached her, she tilted her head and whispered, "Thank you."Kris cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb against her skin. “You don’t have to thank me, love,” he murmured.Straightening, Kris raised his voice to the room, announcing, “Alright, everyone! Let’s get back to celebrating!” The guests cheered, and almost immediately, the jovial atmosphere returned, laughter and clinking glasses echoing in the air.As the music played on, Kris slid his arms around Thalassa’s waist, pulling her close. Before she could react, he dipped his head, nuzzling her neck with deliberate passion. The soft tickle of his lips against her skin sent a shiver down her spine, and she let out a surprised laugh.“Kris,” she whispered, her laughter bub
Kris’s fingers trembled slightly as he slid the delicate band onto Thalassa's finger, his gaze locked onto hers.Her lips quivered, tears glistening in her eyes, and when she looked down at her hand adorned with his promise, she sniffled and quipped through her tears,“Now how am I supposed to top that vow?”A ripple of laughter echoed through the guests, softening the intensity of the moment. Kris chuckled along with them, his own eyes wet as he mouthed, I love you.Zeke stepped forward with the second ring, offering it to Thalassa with a small nod of encouragement. She took a deep breath, steadying her emotions as she began her vows.“Kris,” she started, her voice trembling but firm. “We’ve been through more than a lot of couples ever have since we fell in love. We've experienced more heartaches than a lot of couples have. We've cried more tears than a lot of couples have. But we’ve also survived more than most couples could ever dream of surviving. Despite everything, every obstacl