Inside his apartment was quiet—too quiet—while the city streets buzzed beneath Dominic’s window. The night after the jewelry event felt heavy as everything unsaid between him and Solo was suffocating him. He hadn’t seen her, but the absence of closure ate at him.He couldn’t stop thinking about her. She had served him a killer blow. The memories were creeping in faster, pushing aside his thoughts of Sapphire. Sapphire, who had once been everything, now felt like a hollow shell of a dream he’d outgrown.The sound of his phone vibrating broke the silence. Jake.“Anything?” Dominic asked, more hopeful than he wanted to admit.Jake’s voice was measured, and Dominic recognized the tone as cautious optimism. “I’ve just got off the plane. I’m on my way to where this Solar woman works. It could be something or nothing. We’ll know once I check it out.”Dominic’s pulse quickened. The name—so close to Solo. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but this was the closest they’d come to anything rese
Jake’s call had left Dominic standing in the middle of his bedroom, staring unseeing at the wall. Solo was on her way to Italy. His heart pounded, his mind raced. He was too late—she was already gone. But this information, this jolt of reality, wasn’t enough to silence the storm of emotions swirling inside him.He had been haunted by regrets about the distance between them and how he had treated her. He had tried to push it aside, bury it, but the guilt had grown louder. Knowing she was slipping further out of his reach, this feeling threatened to overwhelm him.Should he chase her? Could he?He paced the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence of his apartment. What right did he have to go after her? She had left for a reason, and he was the reason. Dominic had kept her at arm’s length and treated her as though she meant nothing when, in reality, she had meant everything.His chest tightened, and his indecision grated on him.The phone in his hand trembled as Dominic redialed Jake
Seated by the airplane window, Dominic watched as the city lights receded into darkness. Uncertainty gnawed at him.His conversation with Jake on the repeat."Dominic, think about this," Jake said. "She left for a reason. You need to consider what she wants.""I can't just let her go," Dominic voice strained. "I need to see her, to tell her—""Tell her what? That you're sorry? That you suddenly realized her worth?" Jake sighed. “Man, don’t make this about easing your conscience."Dominic had paused, running a hand through his hair. "It's more than that. I can't explain it, but I have to try."Jake went silent and said, "Alright, but be prepared for the possibility that she may not want to see you.""I understand.”Since Jake had pretty much guest his past relationship with Solo, coupled with Dominic's need to speak to someone, he told Jake everything. Jake’s response, although harsh, was reasonable and honest.What if Jake was right? What if Solo wanted nothing to do with him?He clos
Sapphire sat at the desk in Dominic’s study. He was on a business trip, allowing her to rifle through his home. Scanning his phone records, which she found with the rest of his bills in his out tray, the name "Jake" appeared repeatedly."Who are you, Jake?" she muttered, tapping her manicured finger against her temple. Her disbelief was palpable. Could Dominic be involved with someone like Jake? She had known Dominic for most of her life.They went to the same schools and shared friends. She couldn't recall Jake being in their social circle, yet he called and received calls from this man more frequently than his calls to her.Judging from the dates, their relationship started a few days before her return. The record shows Dominic even calling Jake when she and Dominic are together, mainly during the night and after making love.She would get to the bottom of this. Even if Dominic was distant and showed a lack of interest in sex, she refused to believe that he would be emotionally and
Stepping off the plane at Florence Airport was like stepping into her new life. The warm Italian sun had welcomed her, but despite the beauty of her surroundings, an unsettling unease crept over her, casting a shadow on her excitement.Her boss, the man who had orchestrated her fresh start, was there to greet her. He had handed her the documents for her new identity—and she felt she was holding her future.But as they drove through the streets of Florence, it was hard to believe it had been a few days since all this had occurred. Her new life and job felt surreal, and as the days passed, a strange tension sat between her and Inigo.He was charming, too charming, and while he had been gracious, something beneath the surface made her uneasy. His gaze lingered just a little too long, his compliments too personal.True, he had given her a new life, yes, but it began to feel as if strings were attached. Although they remained invisible for now, she could feel them.“This city suits you, So
After returning to the hotel, Dominic leaned back in his hotel chair and stared at the ceiling, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He had rushed to Italy with a sense of urgency, a desperate need to find Solo. However, it had been days, and every lead had hit a dead end. The trail was cold, and time was running out.He grabbed his buzzing phone, hoping for anything that could bring him closer to her. It was his contact, and the familiar disappointment seeped into him before he answered. The cold plastic of the phone felt heavy in his hand, in contrast to the warmth of hope that had been dwindling with each passing day."Dominic," the voice on the other end said, tinny and distant, "I've searched every possible avenue, but there's no trace of a Solo Delaney in Italy. Are you sure Florence was her final destination?"Dominic rubbed his forehead, the weight of those words pressing down on him. The room seemed to close in, the air thick with disappointment. "I don't know—she n
Solo’s knuckles rapped on the large oak door before her, and she waited for permission to enter. A Sound came from the other side of the door—she assumed that was her cue to enter."Can we talk?”"Sure, what do you wanna talk about?” Inigo gestured for her to sit.His office felt too large and intimidating. The House of Ricci was everything she had dreamed of—prestigious, influential, respected. But now, as Solo sat across from Inigo, her heart pounded with uncertainty.She’d rehearsed the conversation she wanted to have with Inigo several times, but the words stuck in her throat. It was her fault. She should've said something sooner. Her confession could be a dealbreaker. Inigo leaned back in his chair, watching her with calm confidence. His dark eyes studied her every move.“I need to tell you something,” Solo said, her hands clasped on her lap, her thumbs rolling over themselves.Inigo raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Go ahead.”“I’m pregnant,” she said, the words forced ou
Dominic looked at Sapphire and shook his head. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Sapphire, can we do this later? I’m—”“No.” She said, her voice was firm, cutting off any excuses. “We’re going to do this now.” She moved toward him, her arms folded across her chest, her expression unreadable. “You went to Italy,” she said, her voice calm but icy. “And you don’t have to lie to me—I know why.”Dominic’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t reply.“You went to look for her, didn’t you? Solo.” The name felt bitter on her tongue, like a betrayal.Dominic hesitated, but the look in Sapphire’s eyes told him she already knew. There was no reason to deny it.“Yes,” he admitted, his voice low. “I went to look for her.”Sapphire’s lips trembled, but she recovered, her voice rising with fury and heartbreak.“I endured for three years! So we could be together.” Her hand rose to pat her hair as though tidying imaginary loose strands. “I could only make this sacrifice because of our promise to each oth
Dominic stood in the foyer of the mansion, his fingers trailing along the polished banister as he ascended the staircase. The sound of a violin drifted down from the upper floor, its melancholy notes tugging at his heart. He paused midway, closing his eyes to listen.Five years had passed since Solo left him, but the ache lingered. Dominic had devoted himself to raising Daryl and nurturing her musical talent. He'd watched with pride as she collected award after award, her name becoming synonymous with virtuosity in classical circles.As the violin's song reached its crescendo, Dominic resumed his climb. He approached Daryl's practice room, the door ajar. Through the gap, he could see his daughter—eyes closed in concentration as her small fingers danced the bow across the strings.The sunlight streaming through the window caught the golden highlights in her hair, reminding Dominic of autumn leaves.He leaned against the doorframe, content to watch in silence. As he studied his amazing
Vivian's hands trembled as she dialed the number, her heart pounding with excitement and trepidation. The line crackled to life, and she heard the familiar voice of her old friend on the other end."Clara, it's me," Vivian whispered, glancing over her shoulder to ensure she was alone."Vivian? What's going on? Your message sounded urgent," Clara replied, concern evident in her tone.“Is the line secure?”‘Yes, what’s wrong?”Vivian took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. "I need your help. It's about the babies, our grandchildren. There's something... different about them."She paused, searching for the right words to explain the inexplicable. "They’re gifted, Clara. Their intelligence could be off the charts. I've never seen such potential in children so young."Clara remained silent on the other end, waiting for Vivian to continue. Vivian's voice grew hushed as she recounted the incidents she had witnessed of the children playing in the sandbox.“I’m not sur
Solo and Kirael stepped outside, the sun warming their faces as they surveyed the scene. In the sandbox, the children immersed themselves in their creations, each enthusiastically pursuing their interests.Damien's hands moved as he sculpted a miniature version of the main house in the sand. His brow furrowed as he added details to the tiny windows and doors. His creation showcased his keen eye and budding architectural skills.Beside him, Daniel sat cross-legged, his finger tracing patterns in the sand. At first glance, the patterns appeared to be squiggles. Closer inspection revealed that the boy had etched what looked like lines of code into the granular canvas. The symbols and numbers flowed logically, hinting at Daniel's understanding of computer languages.Nora's tongue peeked out from the corner of her mouth as she twisted and turned a colorful Rubik's cube in her hands. Her eyes darted across the faces of the puzzle, her mind working through the algorithms to align the colors.
Solo smiled as she gazed out the window of their converted office and workstation. The afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the lawn, where the children played in a sand pit supervised by the nanny Kirael’s parents insisted on.It had been a whirlwind year filled with resentments, regrets, challenges, rewards, and moments of joy.Her grandmother’s mansion was huge, consisting of a main house and a few smaller houses connected by long cobbled pathways leading to the main house.She remembered her time in Florence and the emergence of Solaire Designs, a contractual enterprise that started within the House of Ricci, which was just a fledgling dream of hers and was encouraged by Charles.After only one year, and with the help of her dear friends, it had blossomed into a thriving business, exceeding both her and Kirael's most optimistic projections. The successful completion of their contract with the House of Ricci and sub-contract with the House of L
Miles let himself into the office—he walked in carrying a keyboard, its keys gleaming under the office lights, and headed toward the play area. “Where’s my little sunshine?” he said, pretending not to see her chewing on the corner of a plastic brick. Daryl giggled at the tall man towering above her, her chubby hands dropping the brick as she staggered to her feet, wobbling toward him with arms outstretched. Her delighted squeals filled the room.“Ma, ma,” she called, her baby voice sweet and endearing.“Hey, ugly Mama, I’m here too. Did you miss me as you strolled past?” Dominic’s voice cut in, laced with mock indignation. He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “What’s that you’re carrying?”“I noticed the last time I came how much she liked the music box I gave her and wondered if she wanted to create some music of her own,” Miles replied, setting the keyboard down on the floor.Dominic raised a brow, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “You mean you noticed how much that thing irrita
Closing his laptop, Dominic gazed at the play area in the corner of his office. A bittersweet smile on his face. He never imagined his life would turn out this way, but here he was, a single father doing his best to protect and nurture the precious little girl who had stolen his heart.He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He remembered moving the nursery to the room next to his, which Solo had once used for her artwork, and having to build an adjoining door to his bedroom after finding Daryl crying alone in her room.Aralise was nowhere to be seen while Sapphire played music in her room, which was so loud it could wake the dead. Appalled by their disgraceful, neglectful behavior, he called for the builders to do the necessary building work and moved Darryl’s cot into his room as a short-term solution.The mother returned several hours later, laden with shopping and a carefree smile. When he confronted them, both women said that the other was responsible. Aralise stated that Sap
When her words had reached his ears, something inside Miles snapped. He could no longer see her as the cute little girl he used to tutor. He stood, lifting her with him. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her toward his bedroom, their lips never parting. He laid her on the bed, hovering over her."You're beautiful," he said, drinking in the sight of her aroused expression, her swollen lips red, and begging for more. She pulled him in for another kiss. They shed some of their clothes as their hands explored exposed skin. It should feel wrong doing this with her, but he couldn’t shake the belief of how right this felt. Every touch, every kiss seemed to ignite sparks between them. Their bodies moved in a natural rhythm like they had been made for each other.She attacked him with a hunger that matched his own, pulling him toward her for a searing kiss that threatened to set his very soul alight. Their lips crashed together, locked in passion, teeth-gnashing, and tongues
Miles had emerged from his room first, looking smug as he settled onto the couch. He'd thrown on comfortable sweatpants and a worn t-shirt, his hair still damp from the quick shower. He’d opened a beer bottle and took a long swig, relishing his victory.A few minutes later, his little suck-up appeared, her hair wrapped in a towel, wearing pajama shorts and an oversized shirt. She groaned when she saw him already lounging on the couch."No fair! You must have rushed through your shower," she said and pouted, flopping down next to him.Miles grinned, handing her an opened beer. "A win's a win. Prepare yourself for two hours of coral reef ecology."She took a sip and narrowed her gaze. "You wouldn’t…would you?”"You're right," he said and chuckled. "I'm feeling merciful. How about we compromise on a chick flick?"She beamed, her eyes lighting up. "Really? You'd watch a rom-com with me?""Don't get used to it," he warned, but he couldn't help smiling at her enthusiasm. "This is a one-time
Miles buried his face in his hands and sank deeper into his memories. It was the company’s anniversary celebration, the same thing every year. Two random staff members' names were drawn from a box, and they would organize the event using one of the larger conference rooms.That year, Miles's name was one of the two chosen; his little suck-up was the other. A bitter chuckle escaped him as he remembered how they had approached their task.His little suck-up had been all business at first, the same as she always behaved when they were at the office—armed with her little clipboard and a focused gleam in her eye.It was their first time working on something together since he’d gotten her the job in his father’s company. But the longer they had spent time together, planning decorations and debating menu choices, the more the formal facade had crumbled.Their familiarity with each other surfaced, and they'd giggled like schoolchildren as they acted out ridiculous party games, their faces flu