Emma was getting ready to go to the hospital. Her fingers moved quickly, buttoning up her shirt and tying her hair into a simple ponytail. She walked out of her room and found Sophie in the living room, sitting with little Claire, who was curled up on the couch, her face looking a little pale.“I’m ready to go to work. Please take good care of Claire,” Emma said softly, crouching beside them. “Make sure she gets her cough syrup. She’s been under the weather since yesterday, and I don’t want it to get worse.”Sophie nodded quickly, her voice filled with concern. “I will. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her. When will you be back? This is already 5 p.m.”Emma sighed, grabbing her coat. “Yeah, we have a complicated heart surgery scheduled tonight. It’s a multiple bypass graft, and it came in as an emergency. We have to do it this evening. I’ll probably be back tomorrow morning.”Sophie shook her head and smiled faintly. “You’re really trying, Emma.”Emma gave a tired but proud smile,
Allison lay on a long chair, her legs stretched out comfortably, one hand holding a tall glass of cold champagne. She didn’t feel tense or pressured anymore. Life was good, and she could finally enjoy it as she pleased.She sipped her drink slowly, her sunglasses covering her eyes, and allowed herself to relax fully.Then, her phone rang.She picked up the phone lazily from the table beside her, and when she saw the caller ID, she hissed.“Grandpa,” she muttered with irritation.Nothing good ever came from him. It was always scolding, mocking, or some attempt to put her down. She placed the phone back on the table, determined not to let the old man ruin her peaceful afternoon.The phone rang again, and again. By the third time, she felt annoyed. On the fourth ring, she grabbed the phone in anger and pressed the answer button.Grandpa’s sharp, commanding voice came through immediately.“Why didn’t you pick my call the first three times, Allison?”Allison rolled her eyes and sat up stra
Christian stood there, staring at Emma, and immediately knew he had said the wrong thing. He didn’t even need to think twice.Her eyes said it all. The way she looked at him, her lips pressed tightly together, her hands curling into fists at her sides—it was all too clear. He had crossed a line, again.Shit.He cursed silently. He opened his mouth to take it back, to explain himself, but Emma didn’t give him a chance.“Christian… maybe we should give each other some space and cool off. I just… I need to be alone right now.”Her hand gently slipped away from his grasp. Christian watched her turn around and walk away without looking back. She went straight to her apartment, shutting the door behind her.Christian stayed there, frozen, staring at the closed door. A small part of him believed he was right. He had every reason to be angry, but the bigger part of him... felt he was wrong. Maybe he had pushed too hard."Damn it," Christian muttered, running a frustrated hand through his hair
“What’s going on here?” Christian asked, his eyes moving from Emma to David, who were still locked in an embrace that looked a little too intimate.Emma quickly pulled back, her heart racing. She walked towards Christian, her lips parting to speak, “Christian…”But Christian didn’t wait to hear what she had to say. His hard gaze was fixed on David as he walked past Emma, heading straight to him.Christian stood just a few inches from David, his jaw clenched, his eyes full of fury. His voice dropped to a low, warning, dangerous tone.“You are really testing my patience, David… you’re really trying so hard.”David didn’t flinch. His face stayed calm, his body relaxed. He didn’t even blink, let alone feel threatened by Christian’s words. He simply stood tall, meeting Christian’s glare head-on.Emma rushed forward and stepped between them, spreading her hands to stop things from getting worse.Her voice trembled slightly, but she spoke firmly. “Christian… it’s not what you think. David wa
David woke up before dawn, his head throbbing painfully. He shut his eyes, and winced as he sat up slowly, rubbing his temples.His throat was dry, and the events from the night before felt like a fog. He had gotten home late after hanging out with Max and Felix, thinking it would distract him. But now, he felt worse.Dragging himself out of bed, David went to the bathroom cabinet and grabbed some aspirin. He swallowed two pills with a glass of water and returned to his bed. He lay back, hoping the headache would ease. Instead, his mind started racing.The events of the past week flooded his thoughts again. The paternity test. Allison. Henry. All of it. He let out a breath and stared at the ceiling.He couldn’t continue living like this anymore. It felt like someone had pressed the pause button on his life.But that had to end.Henry was his son. At least, that matter had been settled. No more running in circles over it. Although, he still felt like Allison was hiding something. He c
Allison sat on the couch, her eyes fixed on the television in front of her, but her mind was somewhere else. She didn't even know the name of the show playing on the screen.The actors in the show moved and spoke, and scenes changed, but Allison didn’t even react. She couldn’t remember when she had switched on the TV or how long she’d been sitting there.Her mind and body felt tired and weak. In just one week, she had lost so much weight, and it showed. Her once glowing face now looked pale. The dark circles under her eyes gave her a haunted look. Her hair, always neatly styled, was tied in a messy knot.She hadn't heard from David since the day he walked out on her at his office. Not a call. Not a message. Nothing.She felt trapped, caught in a storm of waiting and fear. Her mind replayed every moment of their last conversation, the anger in his eyes, the sharpness and warning in his voice. That silence from him was the worst kind of punishment.Of course, she had taken her mother’s