LOGINCHARLOTTE~•~“When can we go back?” Nyla asked as we got into the backseat while Alexander and his driver put our luggage in the trunk. “Go back where?”“To Disney World!”My mouth fell open. “We just arrived in New York.” I reminded her.“So? Does that mean we can’t go back?”“Go back where?” Alexander asked as he got into the passenger’s seat, twisting around to look at Nyla.“Disney World. I want to go again.”Alexander laughed. “We’ll go back for your next birthday.”Nyla’s eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. “Next birthday? But that’s next year!” She cried.“It only opens on your birthday,” I added.Nyla regarded me with a suspicious look, then pursed her lips. “You’re lying to me, right?”Alexander laughed again while I merely shook my head as the driver took his seat and started the engine. The girl was getting smarter every day and it was becoming impossible to outsmart her.My phone buzzed with a text, stealing my attention while Nyla tried to convince her father to ta
ALEXANDER~•~My heart was full.And so was the camera I ordered online. Nyla loved pictures. She made sure to take one whenever she changed backgrounds, which was every ten feet. Her ten feet, not mine. While Charlotte and I were still married, I’d never imagined what having kids would be like, but this ball of sunshine had me wrapped around her fingers. Watching her announce to everyone that it was her birthday was adorable. The girl had endless energy and I was more than happy when she finally ran out of said energy.Charlotte had already told her that we would be coming back the next day, but it seemed like Nyla wanted to do everything in one day.If she continued like this, we were going to miss our dinner reservation. When I got back with water, she placed her ice cream cone in front of me. I took a small bite and she resumed eating.“I’m happy you’re here, daddy. This is the best birthday ever.”Fuck. Could someone get a heart attack from too much happiness?When I knew about
CHARLOTTE~•~I had been to Disney World only once in my life.I was six years old and my mother had spent the entire trip on her phone while my father tried desperately to make up for her disinterest by buying me every piece of merchandise in sight. I came home with multiple stuffed animals, a new princess dress, and a lot of stickers.I never went back after that. My family went again, but they only took Briella and left me with my grandparents because I’d experienced it once and Briella hadn’t. Standing at the entrance now, watching Nyla’s face as the castle came into full view for the first time, I decided my first visit didn’t count.“Mommy.” Her voice came out small, almost reverent, but nothing like her usual volume. She had been talking nonstop on the flight from Los Angeles, on the drive from the hotel, and through the entire process of getting through the gates. The second the park opened up before her though, she went completely silent.I crouched down beside her. “What d
CHARLOTTE~•~I didn’t realize how serious Alexander was until I woke up the next morning to him arguing with someone from his office over the phone while making pancakes and eggs. His signature breakfast.“No,” he said flatly as he cracked another egg into the bowl. “Move the meeting.”There was a pause from the other side.“I don’t care if they flew in from Zurich.”Then another pause.“I’m in Los Angeles with my family. Figure it out.”My stomach flipped stupidly at the last part. I mean, I did know he was serious, but seeing him in action was quite hot.Nyla, on the other hand, sat on the kitchen counter swinging her legs while decorating a pancake with whipped cream. “Daddy,” she called out, bringing his attention to her. “Mommy says too much sugar is bad for me.”Alexander lowered his voice. “Your mommy eats just as much sugar.”“No, I don’t,” I defended as I walked into the kitchen.Both of them turned to look at me at the same time. Alexander’s gaze softened instantly as if me
CHARLOTTE~•~“If you had gone one more time without answering my calls, I would have taken the next flight to LA.” Lucy hissed as I answered her call and brought my phone to my ear.I winced. “Sorry. Everyone is trying to reach me at the same time.” I explained.“So? It only means you prioritize me.”“I did. I put my phone on DND and put you on favorites.”“Is that supposed to make me feel special?”“Not at all,” I said but couldn’t stop my laugh. “But I’ll make it up to you later.”She sighed audibly. “Whatever. I was calling to check up on you. I didn’t know Vanessa was behind all that.” Her tone was accusatory.Right. I hadn’t told her about that. I didn’t blame her if she was mad at me for keeping things from her. “I’m sorry.”“You’ve replaced me with Alexander, haven’t you?”I instinctively looked at the door of my room. I’d waited for him to leave before I answered her call because I also wanted to talk about him and even if the call wasn’t on speaker, I didn’t want him to over
CHARLOTTE~•~Barely twenty-four hours after my lawyer filed a suit against Vanessa, my phone started buzzing nonstop.Vivian, my publicist, didn’t make my manager reveal the lawsuit, but she made sure to tip a known blogger about it and after they saw the filed case with evidence against her, the internet went crazy.That also meant everyone was calling me at once.I never told Lucy about suing Vanessa so I wasn’t surprised that she was among the hundreds of people trying to reach me at once. Even Dave was trying to get to me, making me wonder what he wanted to say. Was he going to plead for his fuck buddy?He sent a few messages but I didn’t bother checking them.Since everyone was trying to reach me at once and they couldn’t, they started trying to get to me through Alexander, then his team. I did not doubt that one had to do with Vanessa’s legal team. They were grasping for straws at this point.They most likely wanted to end the case before it probably began but I wasn’t going to
ALEXANDER~•~Too many people were trying to reach out to me at the same time and it all had the same message.“Your ex-wife hid your daughter from you?”It painted Charlotte in a bad light and it made me feel a bit guilty, just not enough to drop the case. It wasn’t like she was willing to hear me
CHARLOTTE~•~I would strangle Alexander if it wouldn’t land me in jail.Alexander’s petition didn’t feel real, not when I first got the papers while I was with Dave, not even when I confronted him in front of his penthouse. It wasn't until the first court hearing, when the judge questioned Nyla’s
CHARLOTTE~•~My mouth opened and closed repeatedly, not knowing what to say. Alexander and I shared a glance, but neither of us could come up with words. It was careless of us to get into an argument within Nyla’s earshot.“Why are you guys fighting?” She asked again, looking at me. When I didn’t
CHARLOTTE~•~“What do you think I’m doing here, Charlotte?” Alexander asked casually.“Are you stalking me?” I hissed.“Who’s at the door, Char?” Lucy yelled from inside.“Nobody!” I yelled back and stepped outside completely, closing the door behind me.“I wouldn’t say stalking. I’m just keeping







