LOGINSHIMMA’S POV“Mattias,” I called, letting him know……clearly…..that he was taking this too far.His jaw was still tight, his eyes sharp, like he wanted to keep talking until nothing was left of Mr Beau’s excuses.But I couldn’t stand here and watch it happen the way it was happening.Because yes… I knew. I knew Mr Beau wasn’t someone I was supposed to trust. I knew the way his presence changed the everything all the time, the way his calmness never felt genuine, the way he always seemed to arrive like he had been placed there.Still, that didn’t mean every time he showed up, he had to be guilty.What if this was just an overreaction? What if his intentions were completely harmless this time?Maybe he really was trying to help the kids……trying to regain what was taken from them while all of this mess was happening.I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay calm .“Can I talk to you for a moment… privately?” I said to Mattias, my eyes still locked on his.I didn’t look away to give him spa
MATTIAS’S POV.I watched the bastard’s face as he tried to wear innocence like it was a shirt he could put on and off whenever it suited him.“Mattias,” he said again, like my name was something he owned. “I came here so we could talk.”Talk……I scoffed, staring down at my children as they stared at me wide eyed. Like they badly wanted to know what was going on….like they were surprised at the way I spoke to Beau.What on earth did this man do to make my children like him this much? How much of a manipulator was he, that my kids had completely become obsessed with him?I raised a brow and folded my arms, waiting. Let him keep talking. Let him dig. Men like him always did.Because I needed to know why he had the audacity to show up at my house when……when he was still right at the top of my mind as a suspect connected to Doctor Ryle’s death.His eyes slipped to Shimma for a second.Then back to me.That tiny movement told me everything. He wasn’t only addressing me.He was manipulating
Mr BEAU’S POV.Of course they’d notice.Kids always notice the moment their surrounding changes……when a familiar voice returns and the promise of “normal” walks back through the door like it never left.When Nora and Elara came down after Noah, I let my face soften exactly the way it needed to. Not too sad…….never too sad. Just enough warmth to make their confusion feel like hope.‘Let them miss me,’ I told myself. “Let them crave what I can offer.’Because the truth is, tutoring was never just tutoring.It was access.It was time alone with the parts of their lives I could control.It was a reason to be close enough that Shimma would relax……just for a moment……just long enough to forget how suspicious I should be.And Shimma…Shimma was the kind of woman who didn’t relax easily. Not anymore.So I worked with what I had: the children of course.As Nora clung to my sleeves and Elara bounced with that impatient honesty only kids have, my mind quietly mapped everything like a chessboard.
SHIMMA’S POV.I stared at Mr Beau in confusion.He knew too well we weren’t ready to receive guests…..especially not after what happened. Especially not when the surrounding around the house still felt heavy with suspicion and fear.His smile looked practiced, too smooth. His eyes…..those eyes……looked eager.Not worried. Not concerned. Eager.I turned my gaze slightly toward the guards who stood by the entrance door, as if to check whether they’d suddenly decide to tell me what he was doing here. But they only shifted awkwardly, pretending they hadn’t just watched him argue his way into our gate.Then I looked back at him.“You know you weren’t supposed to be here… right?” I asked, my voice low but firm……the kind of tone that tries to keep my panic from showing.Mr Beau’s lips parted like he was ready with an instant answer.“I just…” he began.“No.” I cut in before his excuses could become believable. “Not with everything going on.”I felt my pulse in my throat…..anger too…..because
MR BEAU’S POV.I cleared my throat, forcing a smile as I stood before the two huge and scary-looking guards that stood by the gate. All armed and guarded.Yes……….I knew.I knew that the last place I was supposed to be at was here… right in front of Shimma’s home.But after hearing her voice last night… after that sudden electricity of her breathing and the way the sound of her voice reached me through the silence, I realized I had to try harder.I couldn’t let them keep her away from me. Not when I’d already tasted the thrill of reaching her.Not when my mind wouldn’t stop clawing at the thought that she was “so close”, right behind these walls, and yet so unreachable……..unless I made myself undeniable.“Good morning,” I said, tilting my head like I was harmless. Like I wasn’t desperate. “I’m Beau……Mr Beau,”One of the guards didn’t even bother to look at my face properly. He kept his posture rigid, his hand near his baton.“You’re not on the list,” he said flatly.I swallowed, forcin
MATTIAS’S POVI didn’t know who had called…….an unknown number, that was all the screen showed. But it didn’t matter how many times I told myself it was nothing. The truth was, my skin didn’t believe it.I stood in the hallway, away from the kids, away from Shimma’s eyes. I kept my voice calm anyway.“Hello? Who is this?” I said, my gaze drifting upward like I hoped it wasn’t any bad news.But strangely, there was no response.Just dead silence……like the caller was still breathing on the other end but refusing to speak.My jaw tightened. My fingers were still damp from earlier nerves, and I hated that my body was giving me away.“Who is this?” I repeated, slower this time. “Talk to me. What do you want?” I said, my voice rising.There was nothing…..No words. No background noise.Just nothing……..and that nothing crawled under my skin.Then the call ended abruptly.The screen went dark so fast it felt like a hand had snatched the air out of my lungs.I gasped, staring down at the phone
My mother! She must have asked him to come, since I was home, this was the perfect opportunity for her. Why does she always seem to ruin my best moments? A wave of frustration washed over me as I glanced at Blake. How could he have the guts to show up at my place? What is he thinking?(scuffs).Great,
I was about to make my way back upstairs when I heard, “Shimma.” I turned to see Mr. Mattias making his way toward me.Why was my heart racing so fast?I turned to leave again, but I felt a grip on my shoulder. “Shimma, no! Don't go!” he said. “You wouldn’t have done that.” “I know. I'm so sorry;
“Shimma, Be my girlfriend,” Mr Mattias said. I gasped softly as my eyes flew open in shock.I was so dumbfounded, my tongue ceased words. Just then, my door opened as Lucas stood by the door. His eyes fell on Mr Mattias who squatted in front of me.“Lucas,” Mr Mattias said. Still squatted in front of
“Come in,” I yelled as I watched the door open. Revealing Mr Mattias.“M—Mr Mattias,” I stuttered as I watched him make his way into my office. He began to loosen his tie as he made his way toward me.I gulped hard, my eyes wide open, my mind racing with questions. What had gotten into him?He leaned t







