Alina's Pov It was one of those crisp summer mornings where the air smelled faintly of cotton candy and freshly mown grass. Asher had been pestering me for weeks about going to the amusement park, his bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement every time he mentioned the Ferris wheel or the bumper cars. I had resisted for as long as I could, knowing that agreeing meant also spending the day with Theodore. But Asher’s enthusiasm was infectious, and I finally caved in.Asher bounded ahead, his small hand clasped in Theodore’s, as we walked through the park gates. The sun cast playful shadows on the ground, and the sounds of laughter and cheerful music filled the air. I trailed behind, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Mom, come on!” Asher’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Let’s go on the roller coaster first!”I forced a smile and quickened my pace. “Alright, let’s do it.”The roller coaster was a blur of speed and color, and Asher’s delighted screams made my heart swell with jo
Alina’s PovI sat on the plush sofa, staring out the panoramic windows of the penthouse, the city below a blur of movement and lights. Asher was playing with his blocks on the floor, his tiny hands creating towers and bridges, his innocent laughter filling the room. Since I couldn’t go to work anymore, I found myself with more time than I knew what to do with, boredom creeping in like an unwelcome guest.Anders walked into the living room, a discreet shopping bag in hand. "Miss. Alina," he said with his usual calm demeanor, "Mr. Maxwell sent this for you. He expects you to be ready in an hour. You have to go somewhere."I blinked in surprise, taking the bag from him. "But what about Asher?""Mr. Maxwell has already made arrangements. Martha and I will take care of Asher," he replied smoothly, leaving no room for argument.Curiosity piqued, I headed to the bedroom, opening the bag to find a stunning red spaghetti strap dress inside. It was accompanied by a set of diamond jewelry—a neck
Alina's Pov Without breaking the kiss and having his hand wrapped around me, he effortlessly walked to the other side of the decoration and it was only then I noticed a beautiful pastel tent decorated with fairy lights waiting for us. “What are you—” my words were silenced as his lips captured mine in a fervent kiss. The world around us disappeared. His hands slid up my sides, pulling me closer as I deepened the kiss, our tongues tangling in a dance of raw need. My soft lips yielded to his, and I clutched his shoulders, pulling him even closer. The intensity of the moment consumed us, our breaths mingling, my gasps fueling his desire. He cupped my face with one hand, his thumb brushing against my cheek as I tilted my head, exploring his mouth with a hunger I couldn’t contain. My fingers threaded through his hair, tugging gently. Every touch, every caress was electric, igniting a fire that burned hotter with each passing second. I could feel my heart pounding against his chest,
Alina's Pov Cooking with Asher was always a delightful, messy adventure. This morning, he had insisted on helping me make pasta. At just four years old, he had a fiery determination and an eagerness to be involved in whatever I was doing. How could I say no to his bright eyes and infectious enthusiasm?“Okay, sweetheart, you can help Mommy,” I said, lifting him up to sit on the kitchen counter. His eyes sparkled with joy, and he clapped his tiny hands in excitement."Yay! I help Mama," he declared proudly.I set the ingredients out on the counter: a packet of pasta, a variety of spices, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Asher leaned forward, eyes wide, surveying the array of items before him. He reached for the spice jars, his small hands struggling a bit with the lids.“Let me help you with that, love,” I said, gently twisting off the cap of the oregano for him. “This is oregano. Smell it. Isn’t it wonderful?”Asher took a big whiff and scrunched up his nose, making a face that m
Alina's PovAs I opened the door to the penthouse, Thea stood there with a huge grin, her arms loaded with bags of snacks and a couple of DVDs. It had been way too long since we'd had one of our legendary sleepovers."Thea! You made it!" I exclaimed, giving her a tight hug."Of course I did! Wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, squeezing me back. "Where's my little man?""Asher! Aunt Thea's here!" I called out.Within seconds, a blur of curly hair and infectious energy came barreling towards us. Asher threw himself into Thea's arms, giggling wildly as she lifted him off the ground."I've missed you so much, buddy!" Thea said, spinning him around. Asher squealed with delight, his laughter filling the room."We've missed you too," I said softly, watching them with a smile.After settling in and catching up a bit, we gathered on the couch with a mountain of popcorn between us. Asher sat between Thea and me, his eyes wide with excitement as he looked at the stack of movies on the
Alina's Pov "How... when?"Theodore takes a step closer, his expression softening as he reaches for my hand again. "Earlier today," he says gently. "I'm so sorry, Alina."I feel a strange numbness wash over me, a mix of shock and disbelief. "I... I don't know what to say," I stammer, my voice breaking."It's okay," Theodore murmurs, pulling me into a comforting embrace. "Take your time."I cling to him, the weight of the news pressing down on me. The room fades into the background as I try to process the reality of my father's death, feeling Theodore's steady presence grounding me in the midst of my turmoil.I stand there, wrapped in Theodore's embrace, but all I feel is a strange, unsettling numbness. No sadness, no remorse, just a void where my emotions should be. The news echoes in my mind, but it feels distant, as if it's happening to someone else.I pull back slightly, looking up at Theodore. "I don't... I don't feel anything," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "I tho
Alina's Pov As I opened the letter, I watched carefully as my heart was pounding in my chest. I unfold the paper with trembling hands and began to read. The silence in the car feeling heavy, each second stretching out as my eyes take in what was written. My Dearest Alina,If you are reading this, then my time has come, and I have departed from this world. There are no words that can truly express the remorse I feel for the pain and suffering I caused you. I know I was never the father you deserved. I was selfish, cruel, and neglectful, and I let my ambitions and grudges take precedence over my duties to you as a parent.Signing you away to Theodore was the most disgraceful thing I ever did. I justified it as a business decision, but deep down, I knew it was wrong. It was not until I was imprisoned that I began to see the full extent of my failures and the hurt I had inflicted on you. I asked you to visit, hoping to have the chance to make amends, to explain myself, and to beg for
Alina "Aren't you excited?" Millie decided to speak after observing me for a couple of minutes. She was careful in phrasing her sentence, knowing that I don't really like people disturbing me at my little corner table situated on the balcony connected to my room. I was drafting out a chapter for my upcoming book with my feet tucked under my hips, on the comfy bean bag. The evening was quiet, yet enchanting, as I took some sips from the coffee mug resting beside me on the table. My glasses were hanging a little low on my nose as I continued pressing the keys on my laptop, earning little clicking sounds. "Excited about what?" I didn't bother looking up from the screen. Millie and I were cousins. She was the daughter of my only uncle. She was two years younger than me and I could say we were a little close. Or maybe that's what I made her believe, because I never got close to anyone. Not even family. Mom was out of the picture when she died in an accident and I was only three. After th