Novel-novel oleh Nyx Vale

Floyd's POV The penthouse was quiet when I got home, just the noise of the city through the windows.Kim was curled up on the couch in leggings and an oversized sweater, her laptop open, wine glass half-empty beside her. She looked up when I walked in."You're finally back." She closed her laptop. "Just got home from the gallery an hour ago. How'd the visitation go?"I dropped my keys on the counter. "Bad."She tilted her head. "Bad how?""He wouldn't even look at me." The words tasted bitter. "The second the session ended, he ran to Hailey like I was some kind of monster or something. He didn't look back once."Kim set aside her wine glass. "Well that was expected."I poured myself a scotch, definitely a mistake after the drinks with Mason, and sat beside her. "He wouldn't talk to me," I said finally. "Every time I tried to connect, he'd bring up Maxwell. 'Daddy took me to the museum.' It was so constant it made me sick.""He's five, Floyd. He doesn't understand the situation yet.

Floyd's POV I want to go home to my actual real daddy.Gio's words replayed in my head on a loop, each repetition twisting the knife deeper.My son had looked at me like I was a stranger. Worse than a stranger. A threat.And when Hailey had finally said it was time to leave, Gio had practically thrown himself at her like I was something dangerous he needed to escape from. Five years. I'd missed five years of his life.Five years of first words and first steps and bedtime stories. Five years of scraped knees and birthday parties and learning what made him laugh.And now some other man was reaping the benefits of my DNA while I sat in supervised visits watching my son draw away from me.The way Gio's whole face had lit up when he talked about Kingston. The absolute trust and adoration in his voice.That should've been for me.My phone buzzed. It was Mason.Mason: How'd it go?I stared at the message, not knowing how to answer.Terrible. Horrible. My son thinks I'm nobody while calling

Hailey's POV Gio didn't let go of Maxwell for the rest of the day.The moment we got home from the visitation center, he'd wrapped himself around Max like he was trying to disappear into him. Even now, four hours later, he was still glued to his side."Daddy, can we build the Lego set?" Gio asked for the third time, his voice so small it made my throat tight."We already finished it, buddy. Remember?" Max spoke with patience. "Want to start a new one?""No." Gio shook his head. "I want to build that one again. The castle.""Okay. Let's take it apart and start over."I watched from the kitchen doorway as Maxwell sat on the floor with Gio in his lap, carefully dismantling the castle they'd spent all week building together. My son kept looking up at him every few seconds. Making sure he was still there."Mommy!" Gio's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Come help us!"I set down my cold coffee and joined them on the floor. Gio immediately shifted between us, one hand on Max's arm, the ot

Gio's POVI knew something was wrong when mommy woke me up extra early on a Saturday. Normally, I got to sleep until the cartoon starts, but today, she was sitting on my bed with that face she made when she was trying to brave but really wasn't. "Good morning, baby. We need to get ready.""For what?" I rubbed my eyes."Remember how I told you about... about someone who wants to meet you?"My tummy got that icky feeling. "The other daddy?"She nodded, and her eyes got all wet. "His name is Floyd. We're going to see him for a little bit today.""But I don't want to." I pulled my teddy closer. "I already have a daddy. Why do I need another one?""It's complicated, sweetheart." She brushed my hair back. "But it's just for two hours. Then you come right back home. I promise."Two hours felt like forever.Daddy was making coffee in the kitchen when we came downstairs. He looked at me, then at Mommy, then back at me."Hey, buddy." He crouched down so we were the same height. "You're gonna

Hailey's POV I spent the next two hours buried in work, trying to pretend that the morning hadn't happened. Emails. Reports. Anything to stop replying Maxwell's voice or the way Gio had looked at us like he knew something had fundamentally shifted.My phone buzzed at noon.Christina: There's an emergency board meeting, it was called by Denison Walden. It's in an one hour.My stomach dropped.Denison, of course it was Denis. He'd been trying to take me down since the day I'd walked into Ramsey Industries, fighting every decision, questioning every move. He was definitely the kind of man who believed women belonged in supporting roles, not CEOs. And now he was calling an emergency meeting the day after the custody hearing.I texted Maxwell: Did you get the board meeting notice?His response was instant: Already heading there. Meet you in the boardroom.I got there as soon as I could. Fifteen board members sat around the conference table. Denison sat directly across from where I'd have

Hailey's POV I woke up to sunlight pouring through the windows and the weight of Maxwell's arm across my waist. For one happy second, I didn't remember anything. Just felt warm and cozy, wrapped in expensive sheets with a strong body pressed against my backThen memory crashed in.Oh my god.Last night. The shower. The bedroom. His hands on my skin, his mouth on mine, the way I'd completely given in to him...My eyes flew open.We'd had sex. Real, desperate, sex.And now we were tangled together in his bed like an actual couple instead of two people maintaining a business arrangement.What the hell did we do?I felt him shift behind me, his breathing changing as he woke up.My entire body went stiff.His arm tightened slightly around my waist, an unconscious movement that felt too natural.I needed to move. Needed to think without his body pressed against mine reminding me of exactly how good last night had felt.I slipped out from under his arm too quickly, nearly falling off the