LOGINA week earlier…“When was the last time you took your medicine?” He asked, frowning, and stepped closer to me.I felt his gentle hand on my waist as I returned the pitcher of water to the fridge.“Last week. Why?” I asked, curious.“You’ve been skipping?” He asked again, referring to my anti-depressant medication.Yes. Anti-depressants. It had been months since I gave birth when I had another episode. I didn’t understand what was happening to me at the time, but I was found by Lando, locked in the bathroom, letting my tears flow while my child cried in his room. They took me to the hospital, and my doctor scheduled me for therapy.“It’s fine, Yuan. I don’t take it often anymore,” I told him, noticing the worried expression on his face.“Are you sure? I mean… I don’t want anything to happen to you or Slater. You know that, Selina,” he said seriously, guiding me to the living room.Slater was still asleep. After his bath, he had read briefly before falling straight to sleep in his room.
“What’s wrong? Does it look bad? Doesn’t it suit me?” I asked him, question after question.He kept a serious expression as he drove, finally glancing at me. “We should buy another dress.”My eyes widened at his words. “What? Why?”“I didn’t even notice that dress is too revealing. Damn it, Selina,” he said, clearly frustrated.“Stop, Yuan. This is fine, I’m with you,” I said with a smile, trying to lighten his mood.I teased him a few more times before he finally agreed not to buy a new dress. We drove straight to the venue. Tim greeted us immediately outside, accompanied by a woman.“Nice to see you again! You look really good, huh?” Tim said, giving me a quick hug.“You’re still a flirt,” I teased, laughing.“Wherever this one is, that’s where you’ll find him,” he joked to Yuan, who was standing beside me.“Shut up,” Yuan replied, and the two bumped fists.“I wouldn’t be surprised, he really looks like a dog,” Tim added, making both me and the woman laugh.“You’re not much better,”
“Slater, come on. Mommy’s having a hard time,” I pleaded once more, my eyes scanning the house to find him.It was, once again, bath time, and he always acted like this whenever he knew what time it was. I can say he’s a clever child, because ever since he discovered his bath schedule, he would eagerly anticipate it and try to hide from me.I walked toward the kitchen, but he wasn’t there. I checked the living room, but still no sign of him, so I sank down into a chair again.“What do you want? We can go see Uncle Lando,” I coaxed, but I received no reply.I rubbed my temples, patience slowly wearing thin. I bit my lower lip and thought up some tricks, hoping it would make him appear.“Fine. I guess Mommy can’t love a naughty boy anymore.”“No!”I quickly turned toward the back of the stairs when suddenly he appeared from there. I laughed aloud as I saw him pouting while running toward me.“No! Mommy loves me, Mommy loves me,” he repeated, planting kisses on my cheeks and lips again a
The office was dark, the only light coming from the glow of the monitor in front of me. My hands were clenched on the edge of the desk, knuckles white as I leaned forward, eyes fixed on the footage Detective Benson had just sent me.I didn’t even need to ask what it was. The moment I saw the black sedan parked outside the restaurant where I’d met Ingrid three years ago, my heart sank. My stomach twisted as I watched the sequence play out.There I was, talking to her, her hand brushing mine in a subtle, calculated gesture while outside, someone was tampering with my car. Benson had labeled it clearly “Elton Navarro: Sabotage.”I swallowed hard, leaning closer. The footage showed Elton crouched beside my car, carefully manipulating the brake system. Every second felt like an eternity, the sense of déjà vu making my chest tighten.A few minutes later, I saw myself step outside, pulling the car door open, unsuspecting. I settled into the driver’s seat, taking a deep breath. Behind me, a c
“I’m drunk…” I muttered between our kisses.“But not drunk enough to kiss me and make me go crazy,” Ethan said in his hoarse voice. “I can make you feel everything, Selina, just say the word."The vulpine trembled under his touch, moaning softly, drawing attention outside the bathroom, I could still hear Yuan’s voice. I don’t even know if I should answer him or not. And Ethan,... it was too easy to fall in line with him, but sometimes that was what we needed, me between his legs, grasping his hard-on, my eyes widened.“Damn... You’re huge, Ethan…”My hands started to move like they had their own mind, trying to get his belt loose. As I was about to finish what I’m doing, Ethan stopped me and handed me my phone I didn’t even know where he got it.“Call him, tell him you’ve already left,” she said in a soft, pleading voice. I could feel the irritating heat between us.I gasped and looked at my phone, then up at him.“I… can’t.”“You can. Call him,” he insisted, his hand still roaming my
The phone buzzed on my desk just as I was sifting through a stack of design sketches. I frowned at the name flashing across the screen.Ethan Blake.My heart skipped not in excitement, but in a sharp, involuntary stab of dread. I picked up, letting my voice be colder than I felt.“Hello?”“Selina… can we meet? I need to talk to you.” His voice was softer than usual, carrying a weight that made my chest tighten.I exhaled slowly, staring at the sketches in front of me as if they could shield me from him. “Ethan… I can’t. I’m busy.”“I know, but it’s important—”“No,” I cut him off sharply, my words final. “I’m… not doing this. Goodbye.”And with that, I ended the call. The line went dead, and a hollow pit settled in my stomach. I didn’t have the energy to face him. Not now. Not ever.I let my gaze fall on the window. Moments later, a familiar figure walked into my office, and my mood lifted immediately.“Selina!” Yuan’s voice was warm, confident, and everything I needed right then.“Yu







