INICIAR SESIÓNEdrick’s POV“Mommy… Mommy. I want Mommy.”His eyes were closed. He was deep asleep, but he kept repeating the words, tossing and turning beneath the covers.His face was scrunched up tightly, as if he were trapped in some terrible dream.“Mommy!” he cried again, his little voice breaking.His eyes fluttered open.“It’s okay, Jamie. I’m here,” I said, wrapping my arms around him.“Mommy. I want to see Mommy,” he repeated.My heart stopped.“It’s okay, Jamie. I’m here for you,” I said again, trying to soothe him.He had been like this all night.Crying in his sleep.Calling for his mother.Aria, this is the life you chose for our son.I will never forgive you for this.I pulled Jamie closer, holding him tightly against my chest.“It’s okay, Jamie. I’m here. You can go back to sleep.”“No.”His little hands tightened around my arms.“Mommy,” he whispered again.His eyes finally began to close.I ran my fingers through his hair, stroking it gently.“It’s okay, Jamie. It’s okay,” I repeat
Anna’s POV“Well, well, well. Mr. Kislov has started growing some balls.” I said it as I stepped out of the room, pulling the door shut behind me.Adrian raised his eyes to meet mine.“You need to get out of here,” he said.“Why?” I asked, moving down the stairs. “Edrick is gone. He doesn’t know I’m here,” I explained.“Yes, but I don’t want to be caught in your sibling drama. Go fix whatever it is that’s wrong between the two of you.”I stared at him, my arms folding across my chest.“Adrian, thank you,” I said.His frown remained firmly in place.“Thank you for helping me. I had nowhere else to go.”“Hmm.” He nodded.“Just please let me stay a little longer. I won’t stay too long, I promise. I’ll go somewhere else.”“Why are you running, Anna?”He turned, his eyes meeting mine.I shrugged.“I’m not running.” I paused. “Um… it’s complicated.”My fingers flexed nervously.“And you can’t tell me?.”“You wouldn’t understand,” I said, turning away.I headed back toward the room, but st
EDRICK'S POVThis was the life I have always wanted.I never thought of it, but now that it was right before my eyes, it made so much sense.Too much sense.Alina beside me, Jaime and Clover running after each other in the gardens. It was perfect. Too perfect.I wish I could freeze time. I wish I could keep the moment like this forever."What did John say?" Alina asked, breaking the moment.John."He said the first hearing will be fixed this week," I explained.John had called me earlier while I was at work."Uhmmm," she let out a sigh.I placed my hands on her shoulder, moving her closer."Nervous?"She gave a small nod."It will be fine," I said, placing my lips on her forehead."Anna's statement will be taken tomorrow," I added.She moved back a bit."How did she even agree to cooperate?" She asked.I smiled. "Long story. I convinced her."The smile didn't reach my eyes. But no one needs to know I made her sign a deal she might end up hating me for.......Morning came.Tuesday mor
ANNA'S POVHe agreed! I could not believe he agreed to give me the money!I rushed to pick two wraps from my drawer.Now that Edrick was going to give me money, there is no need managing the few wraps I had left.I hopped on my bed, unwrapped the first one and took it like a starved lion finally seeing meat.A smile I hadn't planned for appeared on my face.I unwrapped the second one, took it, and only then did my trembling hands calm down. My heartbeat began to slow down, the world began having colors again. Everything felt good, and for the first time since morning, the world made sense."Uhmm," I stood from the bed. I couldn't feel my feet hitting the floor, but I knew I was moving.Maybe I was floating.I made it to the drawers and searched for more. I was sure I had at least two more.My smile widened when I touched three more wraps.I didn't even bother going back to bed. I unwrapped, inhaled, unwrapped, inhaled. Each wrap brought a unique feeling, each wrap brought light to my
Edrick’s POVMonday morning came, and I was still stuck where I had been mentally.Nothing was getting better—except, of course, for the fact that Alina slept beside me every night.More than anything, Anna’s demand kept ringing in my head. The way her hands had trembled… that image refused to leave me.I grunted as I got dressed for work, every passing second only adding to my frustration.“Hmm.”Alina’s reflection appeared beside mine in the mirror.“Someone looks too good for work.” She smiled.I turned around, my back resting against the edge of the vanity.“Well, I don’t even want to be there. I want to be with you.”“Aww,” she sighed, her eyes melting as an upside-down smile appeared on her face.“Well…” She picked up my tie.“We don’t have a choice.”She placed it around my neck and began knotting it.Every time her fingers brushed against my chest, a tingling sensation ran through me.I held myself together long enough for her to finish tying it before wrapping an arm around h
Alina's POVAfter the talks with josh, Edrick and I drove back home. I needed Aria off my mind. Just fot a while, so, I rushed upstairs to Clover the moment we stepped in. "Mommy!" She hugged me. She was playing save the dolls with Jaime's Spider man toys. "Hello Jaime," I smiled at him. He stared at me for an awkwardly long second before nodding "Hello," he said, barely audible. He looked away as quickly as he looked my way. I let out a deep sigh.I didn't want to think about it, didn't want to push it, but I couldn't help it. "Do you guys want to go out for ice-cream later?" I asked. Clover was nodding, she opened her mouth to say yes, when Jiame interrupted. "Nanny already gave us ice-cream." "Yes she did," Clover added. I forced a smile and a small, "Okay," Left my lips. Just then, the nanny walked in with a bowl of snacks. "Did clover take all of her medicines?" I asked. "Yes ma'am, I made sure of that." Shde ssaid bending to serve the snack. The kid celebrated







