AdrianI watched Kelly from a distance as she sat by the shore, her laughter rising above the gentle crash of the waves. It was the kind of laugh I hadn’t heard from her in a long time, genuine, carefree, and full of life. I could feel my chest tighten, the sight of her so open and unguarded made something dark stir within me. She looked so... happy. I hadn’t seen her genuinely laugh like that in months, maybe longer. I wondered who she was with, who had made her laugh like that, and if they were close.I had to admit, the man beside her had an easy familiarity, like they’d known each other for years. I didn’t like it. A part of me felt irrationally jealous. But why? He was just a guy, just someone she might’ve met during her time here. But something about the way she laughed, something about how she didn’t seem to have a care in the world, unsettled me.I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much. Maybe because I never thought of Kelly as someone who had close friends, at least, not the
AndersonI stared at the screen of my laptop, my eyes fixed on the email I had sent to Mr. Davis nearly a week ago. No response. Not even a polite acknowledgment. My fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk as frustration struck in my chest. How could someone ignore an offer like mine?The demand for my latest collection was already faltering, and the clock was ticking. I couldn't afford to lose momentum now, not when so much was riding on this deal.My phone buzzed on the desk beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen: Mom.The frustration in me spiked. I let the call ring out, ignoring it completely. She called again, her name flashing insistently."Not now," I muttered, shoving the phone into my pocket as I grabbed my keys and stormed out of the house.The drive to the office was frustrating. Every second of silence in the car seemed to echo the ticking time bomb that was my business. When I finally reached the building, I made way to my office, the space of
AndersonAiden was stubborn, yes. But in all his stubbornness, he had never broken the rule about being home before 7 PM. Now it was nearing 9 PM, and there was no sign of him. My flight was in 40 minutes, and the weight of uncertainty pressed down on my chest like a vice.Ava stood in the living room, pacing nervously. “Anderson, I think we should call the police. He’s just a kid. What if something happened to him?”I rubbed my temple, trying to keep my composure. The last thing I wanted was to start an investigation with all the problem and back-and-forths. But Ava was right. Aiden missing called for immediate action.“Let’s hold off on that for now,” I said, grabbing my car keys. “He has one friend, Theo, who lives at the end of the estate. I’ll drive there and check first. Maybe Aiden’s there and just lost track of time.”Ava hesitated but nodded, her face etched with worry.I walked out the door, the cold night air hitting me as I climbed into my car and sped off toward Theo’s h
AidenFor the past few days, the house felt quieter than usual. The kind of silence that made my skin crawl and my chest tighten. Grandma and Aunt Kate or should I say my stepmother were gone, off to Italy for some event I didn’t care about. At first, I thought their absence might be a relief, but it wasn’t. It made everything worse.The silence wasn’t peaceful; it was oppressive. There was no one around to cook a fresh meal, no comforting smells coming from the kitchen. Instead, I had to heat up leftovers from the fridge and eat alone at the table. I tried to pretend it didn’t bother me, but it did.I missed Mom.Not that I hadn’t always missed her, I did. But today, the weight of her absence pressed harder on my chest. Why didn’t she care? Why did she leave me behind? Maybe she was happy wherever she was, living her life while I was stuck here, miserable and forgotten.Or was it Dad’s fault?Dad wasn’t cruel, not really. He didn’t yell about my grades, always saying it didn’t matter
AndersonStepping out of the house, I took a deep breath, savoring the cold night air. My phone buzzed in my pocket for the tenth time, but I ignored it. David was already waiting in the car, and my nerves were on edge. I was running late. I glanced at my watch as I walked toward the driveway. 9:30 PM. My flight was at 9:40, and the airport wasn’t far, but in this city, traffic had a mind of its own.“Good evening sir,” David greeted, stepping out of the car and opening the passenger door for me. “We should hurry if you want to make it on time.”“Tell me something I don’t know, David,” I muttered, sliding into the seat. “Did you double-check the itinerary?”David nodded, holding up his tablet. “Yes, sir. Everything’s ready. You just need to relax.”Relax? Not likely. Between Aiden’s stunt earlier, coupled with Ava’s endless nagging, and the pressure of this deal, I was anything but calm. I leaned back in my seat as David drive onto the highway, the light sound of the engine doing li
AndersonHow could David make such a mistake? Forgetting my suitcase on a business trip this important? The man was reliable 99% of the time, but of course, it was the 1% that always seemed to matter the most.I sighed, staring out of the window of the taxi that had picked me up from the airport in Rome. As if leaving the suitcase behind wasn’t bad enough, I’d just realized that the main event wasn’t even in Rome. It was in Florence.Fluorescence? No, Florence. Whatever.I pinched the bridge of my nose, groaning softly. “This is why I should have double-checked the details myself,” I muttered.The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror, clearly confused by my outburst. I waved him off and leaned back in my seat..I wasted no time booking the fastest flight to Florence. The whole ordeal was frustrating, but at least it was giving me a crash course in Italian domestic travel. By the time I landed in Florence, my patience was thinner than the thread count on budget hotel she
KellyAdrian always had a way of making me melt, whether I wanted him to or not. It was his deep sweet voice, his persistence, or maybe that disarming smile that made it hard to say no.I didn’t want to go out today, but he insisted. He didn’t say much about why, only that it was important. I resisted at first but eventually gave in. Harper was thrilled, of course, she loved any outing with her dad, no matter the destination.We stopped in front of Francesca’s restaurant, and my mood immediately changed.Francesca. Why here, of all places?This place brought back memories I wasn’t keen to revisit. The lack of gelato wasn’t even the problem, it was what this place represented.Childhood crush, Whatever.The knots in my stomach tightened as Adrian parked and led us inside.The moment we stepped in, I hesitated. Adrian, noticing my hesitation, looked at me. His brow furrowed, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he gestured to the table he had clearly reserved for us. Harper skipped ahead,
KellyThe ride back to the villa was quiet, except for the sound of the car engine and Harper's soft snores. Adrian had suggested we head back early to continue the celebration in private since Harper was getting sleepy. He’d said it so casually, but something about the way he’d looked at me during dinner made me suspicious. Adrian had always been full of surprises, especially on my birthday. He had a way of turning ordinary moments into memories, even when I thought he’d forgotten.As the car pulled up to the villa, my heart betrayed me with a sense of anticipation. My logical mind argued against it. Don’t expect anything. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment. But my hopeful heart whispered otherwise.When we stepped out, I hesitated. My hand lingered on the car door as Harper clung sleepily to my arm. Adrian glanced back at me with a quizzical look, but I forced a smile and followed him inside.Everything was the same as we’d left it. No surprise banners, no sound of soft music
Anderson I couldn’t let her do this. The moment Kelly hung up, I was already on the move. The little call time with her was enough to track her location. My heart raced as I drove toward the dockyard, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned red. She thought she had to face Davis alone, but she was wrong. This wasn’t just about Aiden anymore. It was about her, too. She was the best thing I’d ever had, and I’d let her slip away because of my cowardice and blind loyalty to the wrong people. I’d let them poison everything good in my life, including my marriage. Not this time. When I arrived, I parked my car far enough to avoid being seen. The dockyard was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made every sound feel amplified. My eyes scanned the area until I spotted them…..Kelly and Davis, standing near the entrance of an old warehouse. I crept closer, careful to stay in the shadows. “Promise me that my son will be safe and I will come with you,” Kelly was s
Kelly I stared at the message, my fingers trembling. The words blurred together as my mind raced, imagining every horrible scenario Aiden could be enduring. I could almost hear his small voice calling for me. ‘Meet me alone. Tonight. If you want your son to live’ A message popped up as I wiped my tears that was already streaming. Every inch of me screamed to act, but the fear of making the wrong decision paralyzed me. Aiden was counting on me. This was my chance to bring him home, and I couldn’t fail him. “Kelly, no,” Adrian’s voice broke through my thoughts. He had read the message over my shoulder, his face pale. “You can’t go alone. It’s too dangerous.” I stepped back, away from him. “This isn’t your decision to make, Adrian. I’m his mother. I’ll do whatever it takes.” “You don’t have to do it alone,” Anderson interjected, his tone firmer than I’d heard in years. “We can handle this together. Let me come with you.” I turned to him, my anger flaring. “Together? Like w
Anderson Kelly was pacing every inch of the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her determination burned through the chaos like wildfire, her focus entirely on Aiden. Even now, with everything crumbling around us, she was still the same woman I’d fallen in love with—tenacious, selfless, and extremely beautiful. And I had destroyed her. I sat on the edge of a worn leather chair, my hands clasped in front of me as guilt and regret consumed me. Evelyn, my mother had betrayed me. Kate, the woman I thought I could trust, had used me. But Kelly… she had never betrayed me. The realization hit me like a blow to the chest. Kelly had been the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’d thrown it all away. I chose loyalty to my mother, blind faith in Kate, and a web of lies over the one person who had stood by me. I’d failed her as a husband, as a protector, and now as a father. I swallowed hard, my voice barely audible. “Kelly…” She stopped pacing and turned to me, her
KellyI followed Adrian through the dark streets, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and dread. His earlier phone call had been short, but the urgency in his tone was unmistakable. He thought I was asleep, but I wasn’t about to sit back while Aiden’s life was in danger. He turned towards an alley and disappeared through an unmarked door. I hesitated for a moment, swallowing my fear, before slipping inside after him. The air was heavy with the scent of damp concrete and stale cigarettes, and muffled voices echoed from somewhere below. Keeping to the shadows, I crept down a narrow staircase, my steps careful. Adrian’s voice filtered through the air, sharp and desperate. “Give me more time,” he pleaded. “I’ll resign after this is done, I swear. But I need to get my son back first.” A deep, gravelly voice responded, dripping with condescension. “Time? You think Boss is the kind of man who waits? You’re either in, or you’re out. And if you’re out, you’re as good as dead.” I f
AndersonI followed my mom into the dimly lit restaurant, staying far enough behind to avoid suspicion. The private dining room she entered was shielded by frosted glass, but I could see her silhouette as she sat across from a man I recognized immediately: Davis. The man who had turned my life into chaos. There was no doubt Davis took Aiden. I clenched my fists, my pulse racing as I debated my next move. Every instinct screamed at me to storm in, to demand answers, but I couldn’t risk tipping myself off. Not without knowing what my mom had to do with all Aiden disappearance.I slipped into a booth near the back, my line of sight angled to catch glimpses of their conversation through the glass. My mom leaned forward, her voice just loud enough to carry over the low murmur of the restaurant. “You shouldn’t have taken the boy,” she said, her tone sharp and accusatory. Davis shrugged, his lips curling into a smirk. “You made this mess, Evelyn. I’m just cleaning it up.” She slamme
Kelly “Who is he?” I asked, my voice cracked as I stared at the grainy image Olivia had handed me. Her expression was cold and unyielding, her lips twisting. “I don’t know, but I think he’s the key to finding Aiden.” The photograph trembled in my hands, my vision blurring as fear tightened its grip on my chest. Aiden’s face, pale and tear-streaked, was in the background of the photo, and the man standing in front of him was a stranger. A tall figure, his face partially scarred, but the malice in his posture was unmistakable. “Where do we find him?” My voice barely audible. Olivia glanced at me, then to Lucian, who stood a few steps away, watching us intently. “I don’t know yet,” she admitted, but her tone carried the weight of determination. “Kelly,” Lucian said, stepping closer. His voice was calm, but his eyes were firm. “We’re going to get him back.” I wanted to believe him, to hold on to the small hope his words offered. But the heart wrenching guilt in my chest wou
KellyThe call from Anderson had shattered the little thread I was holding onto. Aiden, my sweet, innocent Aiden, was missing. Panic clawed at my chest as I paced around the house, unsure of what to do. Adrian was making calls, organizing a search, but I couldn’t stand still. I needed to act. “Kelly, stop,” Adrian said, his hand on my palm. “We’re doing everything we can. Just stay here.” I shook him off, unable to contain my panic. “You don’t understand. I can’t just sit here! What if something’s happened to him? What if—”“Kelly, I know. I’m scared too,” Adrian said, his voice strained. “But we can’t make any rash decisions. We need to think this through.” I looked at him, eyes wild with fear, and then I bolted for the door. I didn’t care what Adrian thought; I had to find Aiden. I needed help. .The police station was busy when I arrived. Officers were running in and out, but none of them seemed to take much notice of the frantic woman pacing back and forth in front of the
KellyThe tension in the house was suffocating. Adrian had been distant ever since Olivia’s arrival, and I couldn’t take it anymore. Every word Olivia said seemed to carry a hidden meaning, like she wanted me to know something but she wouldn’t just say it.I found him in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with his phone in hand. He looked up as I walked in, his face guarded. “Adrian,” I said, crossing my arms. “We need to talk. Now.” He sighed, setting his phone down. “I figured this was coming.” I stepped closer, my voice low but firm. “Why does Olivia seem to know more about your past than I do? What is this connection to Davis that she keeps hinting at?” Adrian stiffened, his jaw tightening. “Kelly, it’s... complicated.” “No,” I snapped, cutting him off. “It’s not complicated. It’s your family. It’s your life. And it’s my life too, Adrian. I deserve to know what’s going on.” He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. “You’re right. You do. But it’s not some
OliviaThe weight of everything pressed heavily on my chest as I walked into the police station. Every step felt like a declaration of defiance. I had promised myself I would get answers, no matter the cost, and now I was here, ready to put my cards on the table. The station was bustling with phones ringing, voices raised, officers moving purposefully from desk to desk. My resolve nearly faltered, but then I saw him. He stood near the far end of the room, his uniform tailored to perfection, radiating a calm demeanor. His presence demanded attention, though he wasn’t speaking. I caught myself staring. It was as though everything else faded, leaving only him in focus. Hid name wasn’t spoken until one of his colleagues called out, “Lucian, got a second?” The sound jolted me from my thoughts, but not enough to ignore the way my heart fluttered. “Excuse me,” I said, approaching cautiously. His sharp blue eyes moved to me, and I felt as if he could see right through me. “Yes?” he