LOGINMichael's POVI didn't want to think about Carlos. Unfortunately, he had made that impossible.The hospital hallway felt quieter after Fernando and Carlos moved away, but somehow the silence only made my thoughts louder.I sat down heavily in one of the waiting room chairs and rubbed my face.I let out a long sigh.Across from me, Kim was sitting with her legs tucked beneath her on the chair. She had been staring through the glass window toward her father's room for several minutes.Every now and then she would glance toward the door as if expecting someone to come out and tell her Theo was completely healed.I felt sorry for her.No matter how mature Kim acted sometimes, she was still a daughter worried about her father.Then I realized she was looking at me, not Theo's room."What?" I asked.Kim tilted her head."You look stressed" she replied. I laughed weakly. After several moments I finally sighed."It's Carlos" I replied. Kim blinked."The guy with Fernando? What about him?" S
Fernando’s POVThe hospital lights reflected off Carlo's expensive sunglasses which were currently perched on top of his head.The bastard looked like he'd stepped off a magazine cover. Meanwhile, I looked like a man whose life had been turned upside down and somehow Carlos still smiled like this was a pleasant surprise.It wasn't.I immediately looked toward Michael and the expression on his face told me everything.He was angry.I hated when Michael was like that, especially when the subject was me.Carlos smiled brightly."Fernando" he greeted. Before I could react, he wrapped his arms around me and I nearly groaned.Carlos hugged me tightly, like we had been separated for years, which honestly wasn't far from the truth.I awkwardly patted his shoulder.The entire situation was a disaster. When Carlos finally stepped back, I immediately noticed Henry staring.The look on my son's face made my stomach sink."Dad?" Henry asked.I already hated this conversation then Henry pointed at
Michael's POV(Several minutes earlier...)I should have walked away, looking back on it now, that was probably the smartest thing I could have done.I was worried about Theo, concerned about Henry, exhausted from Fernando and now some ridiculously overdressed stranger had appeared out of nowhere claiming to know my husband.Technically, still my husband. The distinction mattered, at least legally.The stranger folded his arms and stared at me and I stared right back.The man looked like he belonged on a fashion runway rather than inside a hospital..His jacket was probably worth more than most people's car.His jewelry practically sparkled under the hospital lights and een his shoes looked expensive.Everything about him screamed money and a lot of attitude."You really don't know who I am?" he asked dramatically."No."His hand immediately flew to his chest. The gesture was so exaggerated that I almost laughed."That is genuinely offensive" he said.I raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry?"
Fernando's POVHenry stood in front of me, the hospital hallway suddenly felt too quiet.My mind immediately began calculating possibilities.How much had he heard?Had he heard me threaten Theo?Or had he heard everything?I couldn't tell and that uncertainty bothered me more than I wanted to admit.Behind me, I could feel Theo watching and the bastard wasn't saying anything.Probably because he was enjoying this.I slowly stepped into the hallway and pulled the door mostly closed behind me.My face remained calm, my expression relaxed. Inside, however, I was already trying to determine the safest way to navigate this conversation."Henry."My voice sounded surprisingly normal and his eyes narrowed slightly.I offered him a smile."How long have you been standing there?" I asked.His answer came immediately."Long enough" he replied. I forced myself not to sigh."What are you doing here?" I asked.Henry folded his arms."I could ask you the same thing" he countered. I decided to co
Michael's POVI had walked into the doctor's office expecting answers, what I hadn't expected was another problem.It felt like my life had become a never-ending cycle of disasters, secrets, and people trying to destroy each other.My heart was still racing from everything that had happened tonight and now i was in the doctor's office."Mr. Carter"The formal tone immediately put me on edge and I leaned forward in my chair."Is Theo okay?" I asked.The doctor nodded as a small smile appeared."Yes" he replied.Relief immediately washed over me. I hadn't even realized how tightly my shoulders were clenched until that moment."The surgery was truly successful" he added.I let out a breath."Thank God."For a brief moment I thought the meeting was already over then I noticed the doctor's expression change.My stomach tightened."What is it?" I asked.The doctor glanced down at one of the files then back up at me."During our examinations we discovered something unexpected" he said.Immed
Fernando’s POVThe moment Michael disappeared down the hallway with the doctor, I made my decision to make ny move.I wasn't interested in speaking with nurses, I wasn't interested in sitting quietly in a waiting room and I certainly wasn't interested in pretending Theo and I could coexist peacefully.There was no way I was going to be okay being with the man who was trying to come in-between Michael and I.There was something that needed to be said, something that had been hanging over both of us since the night everything went wrong.I glanced toward Henry and Kim. They were talking quietly near the chairs and neither of them paid much attention to me.Perfect. There was no better time than the present. The last thing I needed was an audience.I walked toward Theo's room and the nurse at the station looked up so I gave her a polite smile.One of the benefits of money and confidence was that people rarely questioned you.She returned to her paperwork and as I pushed the door open, T
Fernando’s POV The morning felt almost too peaceful.I sat at the small wooden table in the safe house kitchen, the aroma of scrambled eggs, toasted bread, and Henry’s overly sweet coffee drifting lazily in the air.Henry put his fork on a piece of pancake onto his plate, humming something cheerfu
Michael’s POV I blinked slowly, light filtering through the curtains. The air smelled like disinfectant mixed with something floral, I think. My body ached, but the sharp, gut‑wrenching agony from the hospital wasn't there anymore.Healing, finally, at least physically.Emotionally? Mentally? Yeah
Fernando’s POV I had no idea where to start.I stood in the middle of the safehouse living room, staring at maps, scribbled notes, and the half-empty cup of whiskey in my hand as if any of them would magically reveal Ashley’s location. “Think, Fernando,” I muttered to myself.I dragged my hands d
Ashley’s POV I still couldn’t believe my ears.For a moment I could only stare at Nick, frozen in the doorway of my bedroom, as if the entire conversation had sucked the air around us. His voice still echoed in my skull, sharp and ugly, replaying like a curse.My heart thundered against my ribs,







