LOGINKARENI came downstairs clutching my son tightly against me. The air felt different the moment I stepped outside. Maybe it was because I was finally back home after all these years, or maybe it was because I knew nothing would ever be the same again.A car was already waiting for us.The moment the guards saw me, they hurried forward and took our luggage. I thanked them quietly before getting into the car with my son ,Edwin beside me."Mum, do we finally get to see Dad?" he asked, looking up at me with those innocent eyes.My heart squeezed."Yes, baby," I replied softly, leaning down to kiss his forehead.He smiled and settled comfortably beside me while the car pulled away from the airport.I turned my head toward the window as familiar streets slowly came into view. The city was as lively as I remembered. Cars filled the roads, people moved about in a hurry, and tall trees lined several parts of the street Home.I had missed it more than I cared to admit.But along with the memories
BRYAN"Mr. Bryan, we might be late for the meeting," Mrs. Lewis said as she stepped into my office."Let's go," I replied.She quickly gathered the files from my desk and followed behind me. We headed toward my private elevator, and within moments we were downstairs at the reception area. My eyes briefly swept across the lobby. Cali wasn't there. She was probably out for lunch or buried somewhere in the building doing whatever task she'd been assigned.I pulled out my phone and checked the time.Damn.I might actually be late.I started toward the exit when something caught my attention.I looked up.And froze.Cali.And Steve,Standing together,Talking,Smiling.For a second I just stared.What the hell was going on?I had specifically told her not to follow me earlier so she could finish her work. Yet here she was, laughing with her high school sweetheart as if she didn't have a care in the world.A scoff escaped my lips before I could stop it.Annoying.I motioned toward Mrs. Lewis.She immed
CALII was finally back home and had already resumed work.Out of nowhere, Mr. Bryan told me I could leave, so I did. After all, it had only been a contract, and both of us had fulfilled our parts of the agreement. There was no reason for me to stay any longer.I grabbed my bag and paused for a moment, glancing around the room to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything important. My eyes swept across the table, the chair, the shelves, and every corner of the room. Nothing.With a small nod to myself, I locked the door behind me and headed out.Thankfully, I was able to catch a cab without much trouble.The ride to the company was quiet, giving me enough time to mentally prepare myself for the mountain of work waiting for me. The moment the building came into view, I couldn't help but sigh.Back to reality.I paid the driver, stepped out, and walked briskly toward the entrance. The first thing I did was stop by reception to clock in before heading to my office.The second I stepped insid
SARAH"You're back," he said.I nodded. The night was quiet, and somehow his voice sounded louder than it should have."You didn't have to wait," I replied."I wasn't waiting," he said quickly. "I just couldn't sleep, so I decided to come out for some fresh air."I nodded slowly. "Okay. Goodnight."I turned to leave."Wait."His voice stopped me in my tracks.I froze for a second before turning back to face him."Can we have a word?" he asked.I let out a small sigh and sat back down. There was something in his expression that made me curious. He stared at me for a moment, as if trying to gather courage, then cleared his throat."So..." he began.Then he stopped.I waited."So, I wanted to ask..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Did you enjoy your time out?"The question caught him off guard because he immediately cursed under his breath, like he had asked the wrong thing.I hummed.It should have been an easy question to answer, but somehow it wasn't.The silence stretched betw
SARAHHe rested his head against my chest, his lips brushing softly against my skin before he looked up at me again. My heart was beating so fast I was sure he could hear it. Everything about that moment felt unreal, like I had stepped into someone else’s life for a second.He slowly pulled me closer, his touch gentle but enough to send butterflies rushing through my stomach. I could barely think straight. My body felt warm, my head dizzy from how close he was to me. Every little movement made my breath hitch.“Are you okay?” he whispered softly.I nodded even though my voice refused to come out properly.The room felt smaller, quieter, like the whole world had faded away and left only the two of us there. He brushed his fingers along my waist, pulling me closer until there was barely any distance between us. I could feel my cheeks burning, but I didn’t pull away.Honestly, I didn’t want to.He kissed me again, slower this time, and I melted into him before I could even stop myself. M
EMILYHe stared at me for a few seconds before taking slow steps closer. My breath caught instantly. The heat from his body alone was enough to make my heart race, and when his breath brushed lightly against my neck, I nearly forgot how to think properly.“Never let anybody touch you again,” he said quietly.I let out a shaky huff, trying to ignore the way my stomach twisted. “Stop it already. Why are you making everything feel so real?” I asked, gathering the last bit of courage left in me.He didn’t answer immediately.Instead, I suddenly felt his lips against my neck, soft at first, and my legs almost gave out beneath me.“Chris...” I whispered.But he didn’t stop. His kisses trailed slowly to my shoulder, sending waves of heat through my entire body. My abdomen tightened painfully, and honestly, I felt like I could collapse at any moment. His hand slipped around my waist, firm but gentle, guiding me backward until my back touched the wall.What was wrong with me?Why wasn’t I pushi







