MasukI watched as Apollo dragged Stephanie out of the room his jaw tight. The moment the door shut behind them the room felt large as if trying to swallow whatever had taken place. Phoe trembled in my arms his little fingers clutching my dress, I held him tighter against me we needed to leave. The doors to the dinning room opened once again Sam and Nicky stepped inside their faces serious. “Let’s head back to the main house” Nicky said his hand positioned at the small of my back giving me support. I nodded while following behind them, I needed to get Phoe out of this space and sadly away from his mother. Finally we were in our bedroom, it was just me and Phoe — small, tired, and curled against me like my heartbeat belonged to him. His fingers toyed with my dress uncertain, fragile. Like if he let go, I might vanish. I brushed his hair back gently. “You okay, Papa?” I whispered. He nodded — but his lip wobbled. “Are you really my mommy now?” My chest ached. Terribly. “I’ll
I could feel the last thread of my patience snapping as I dragged Stephanie down the hall. Her wrist trembled in my grip, heels scraping marble as she struggled to keep pace. My pulse thundered in my ears — not just anger, but betrayal. Fear. My son’s fear. What had she said to him to make him react like that, his fear had hung in the air like smoke — I could taste it. I shoved her into the private lounge and slammed the door. The sound echoed like a gunshot. It shook the walls. I let go. She stumbled collapsing on the couch. Her chest heaved, face pale, stiff, eyes wide, watery, but stubbornly refusing to break. “What did you say to our son?” My voice came out low, shaking with something darker than fury. Phoe had clung to Jess like his life depended on it. Something had triggered him, something she had done. Her silence was gasoline. “Answer me!” The roar ripped out of me before I could cage it. I stepped closer, towering over her. She shrank back instinctively, pressing he
The estate was quiet. Not the peaceful, golden kind of quiet — but the kind that felt like a breath held, waiting for the first strike. A storm in the bones. I could feel it in every step as staff prepared the villa dining room: polished silverware, wine breathing on the table, soft music humming under crystal lights. Beautiful. Controlled. Exactly what Apollo wanted. Except control wasn't guaranteed tonight. Tonight, she was coming here. When Apollo had told me she would be showing up I wanted to protest. But at some point I would have to face her, her child was here anyways. I smoothed my dress over my stomach out of habit, palm lingering for half a second before pulling away. Three months wasn’t much, but the twins were there — a soft swell only Apollo and I could see. Everyone was still buzzing from our announcement. And the outrageous gifts were only climbing. He crossed the room toward me, sleeves rolled up, his black shirt fitted a little too well. My heart di
I was finally home. The moment the door shut behind me, a breath I’d been holding for days escaped my lungs. That room had been a prison — a suffocating box filled with fear, silence, and the constant reminder that I wasn’t in control. But here… in my own space… I could think again. Plan again. My mind went straight to Apollo. I needed to see him — needed to feel the way his presence grounded me, even when he didn’t mean to. But it was late, too late to call. And after the warning I’d been given — the threat veiled in calm menace — my fingers froze every time they reached for my phone. I wasn’t ready to find out what would happen if I disobeyed. A hot shower. That was what I needed. Steam filled the bathroom, curling around me like a warm embrace as the water ran down my skin. Slowly, the tension in my muscles melted, but my thoughts didn’t stop. They raced. Phoe, Apollo. The life I could still have, if I played this right. My plan had been perfect Phoe was supposed to bri
The floor length summer dress clung to my body, the back open with the dip stopping a little below my waist. The ruffles gave the illusion of a flower with its soft pink shade. Apollo was dressed in an apricot linen pants set and Phoe sported one of his own. They were both so handsome, and both of them belonged to me I had totally hit the jackpot. “My two favorite men are so handsome right now, I think I might faint” Phoe giggles, a blush rising to his cute little cheeks as I kiss him. Apollo leans down for his kiss but instead of his cheek he turns his head causing me to kiss his lips instead. I chuckle against his lips before deepening the kiss. Pulling back I placed another quick kiss on his lips, we couldn’t get carried away Phoe was here. And currently staring at his father with a big grin on his face. After doing a once over on the three of us we made our way downstairs. Everyone was already there having their different conversations, snacking and Phil was currently up to
After lunch and a little more pool time, everyone had now split up to go get ready for dinner. Phoe was currently napping in my lap his little head resting in my chest. “Hey sweet thing let me carry him up to the room, so you can both get some rest also there’s something I want Sam to show us too.” I smile whispering for him to just help me up instead I didn’t was Phoe waking up from being moved. After seeming to consider Apollo helped me out of the chair then proceeded to lift me up with Phoe in my arms. My eyes widen as I stared at him a smile on his face, this man was really something. A few moments later we were at his room with Sam opening the door for us. I wasn’t sure what Sam had wanted to show us but I guess it had something to do with what he had setup in our room. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but I know I wasn’t expecting to see a portable ultrasound machine setup. Apollo sets me down and my heart skips a beat, he wanted to see our babies. “Oh Apollo” he places







