CaspianAfter pressing a sweet kiss to Ava’s forehead and murmuring a soft goodbye, I forced myself to leave for work. As much as I wanted to stay with her, to watch over her every second, there were things I needed to handle. Now that the worst of the business crises had been handled, it was time to start tying up the other loose ends — the ones that kept me up at night.The day passed in a blur of meetings, contracts, and handshakes. But the whole time, a heavy weight pressed on my chest. The unfinished business from four months ago—the bastard who dared to touch what was mine.I was typing an email when my phone buzzed loudly on the desk. Glancing at the screen, I froze. It was Commissioner Harris.Finally.I snatched the phone up and answered without hesitation. "Any news?" I asked, voice clipped and low.There was a beat of static before the Commissioner’s voice came through. "Yes. We’ve finally gotten a tip after a month of silence. We have eyes on him now. He won’t escape thi
CaspianI stumbled out of the station, my feet barely able to hold me up. Everything felt like it was spinning around me.Clara. Clara. Fucking Clara.The name rang over and over again in my head like a broken record. My heart hammered against my ribs as I made my way across the parking lot, barely seeing anything. I found Flynn still sitting inside the car, the engine quietly running, waiting patiently for me.Just as I reached the door, my phone started to ring in my pocket.I pulled it out with a trembling hand and froze when I saw the caller ID.Clara.Talk about the devil.But wait, why the hell is she calling me?For a second, I almost let it ring out. Almost.But something inside me—something cold, sharp, furious—made me swipe the green button. I lifted the phone to my ear."Clara," I said, my voice coming out low, rough, and deep enough to make the ground beneath me seem to vibrate.There was a soft little laugh from the other end of the line, airy and sweet."I heard they cau
CaspianI sat back, my fingers gripping the armrest of the car seat as Clara’s words echoed in my mind. She wasn’t playing games anymore. There was something cold in her eyes, something almost… calculated. She had the power to ruin everything—my marriage, my business, my reputation, everything I had worked for. All with a few words.But it wasn’t just the threat of losing my empire that gnawed at me. No, it was her. Clara. The woman sitting across from me, with that self-satisfied smirk on her lips and that contract dangling in front of me like a noose. She wanted me to divorce my wife. My wife, the woman I love, the woman I had vowed to spend the rest of my life with.I couldn’t do it. I wouldn't.But the way Clara spoke, so sure of herself, it was almost as if she had already won."You’ll regret it," she had said earlier, the words haunting me now. "Divorce her, or I’ll expose everything. The world will know that your marriage is a lie."How had I ended up here? How had I let it go
AvaI sat up in bed, the morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. My eyes landed on the pregnancy test lying on the bedside table. I sighed deeply, my heart heavy with uncertainty.It had been two days since I last spoke to Caspian. Two days of unanswered calls, ignored messages, and sleepless nights. I even reached out to Marcel, hoping he might have seen him, but he hadn't. He mentioned calling Caspian two days ago, and since then, there had been no response.To make matters worse, Joy, our housekeeper, resigned two days ago as well. She didn't give a reason, just left. Everything felt like it was unraveling.I picked up the pregnancy test, turning it over in my hands. The result was clear, but my mind was clouded with doubt and fear. I needed to talk to Caspian, to tell him, to understand what was happening and hear what he has to say. The other part of me knew he would accept me, knowing fully well that the man loves me even if he never de
CaspianIt’s been fifteen days. Fifteen days since everything fell apart. Fifteen days since the divorce papers were signed, and since I found out about the child. Ava’s child. My child.I still don’t know how to feel about it. I still don’t know how to process it. I didn’t even know what to say when I found out. Part of me was relieved when her mother told me to stay away from Ava and the baby. But another part of me... another part felt like it was all a cruel joke. How did I get here? How did everything spiral so out of control so quickly?I can still hear her voice in my head. “I’m carrying your child, Caspian.” The words echoed in my brain like some kind of broken record, but nothing made sense.She was married to me... for a reason I can’t even understand now. It was all a game, wasn’t it? A lie I let myself believe. A lie I let her believe, too.But damn it, the baby... The baby was real.I hadn’t been eating. I hadn’t been sleeping. The only thing keeping me alive right now wa
AvaI hadn’t slept all night.No matter how many times I closed my eyes or shifted positions, sleep just wouldn’t come. My mind wouldn’t stop racing—memories, thoughts, regrets, everything spiraling through my head like a storm I couldn’t quiet.So I just lay there, still as stone, eyes fixed on the ceiling, pretending to sleep in the darkness.Then I heard the soft creak of the door opening. Footsteps. Familiar. Careful. My mom.I didn’t move.She came closer and sat on the edge of the bed. I could feel her presence without opening my eyes. Her fingers brushed softly against my face, then ran through my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear. I almost broke then."I'm really sorry I never knew about what you were facing," she whispered, her voice tender and aching.I wanted to respond. God, I wanted to say something. But I couldn’t. I stayed still, kept my breathing slow, pretending to be asleep. I wasn’t ready to speak. I wasn’t ready to cry in front of her.Eventually, she stood up a
CaspianThat morning, Dolly's incessant chatter delayed me more than I had anticipated. Her excitement about being back was endearing, but I was eager to escape the confines of our conversation and immerse myself in work.Upon arriving at the office, I dove into tasks. With Clara and Marcel gone, I'd hired a new personal assistant to help navigate the chaos. She was efficient, and her presence brought a semblance of normalcy.As evening approached, the familiar ache returned. Then, I decided to visit my usual bar. I had barely stepped into the bar when I saw him — Marcel. He was sitting alone at the counter, a glass in his hand, half-empty. My stomach clenched instantly. I hadn’t seen him since the day he broke my face in front of the entire company. A day I’ll never forget — and honestly, I deserved it.The moment our eyes locked, his jaw tensed. No smirk. No friendly stare. Just a cold, hollow stare that burned right through me.I turned to leave. I didn’t need this. I couldn’t
AvaThat morning, I was seated at the dining table, eating my mother's homemade delicacies. The aroma of freshly baked bread and spiced stew filled the room, a comforting presence amidst the chaos of my thoughts. I was eating for two now, and my mother ensured I never missed a meal.The front door creaked open, and Marcel stepped in. He looked exhausted—dark circles under his eyes, shoulders slumped, his usual confident stride replaced with a weary shuffle."Where are you coming from?" I asked, concern lacing my voice.He didn't respond immediately, instead sinking into the chair opposite me with a heavy sigh."Where's Mom?" he inquired, avoiding my gaze."She went to the grocery store to get some things," I replied. "But Marcel, where have you been?"He hesitated, then muttered, "I was at Caspian's place."My fork paused mid-air. "What? Why would you go there?"He rubbed his temples, clearly battling a headache. "I was drunk... I didn't even know how I got there."He looked up, eyes
AvaThat morning, I was seated at the dining table, eating my mother's homemade delicacies. The aroma of freshly baked bread and spiced stew filled the room, a comforting presence amidst the chaos of my thoughts. I was eating for two now, and my mother ensured I never missed a meal.The front door creaked open, and Marcel stepped in. He looked exhausted—dark circles under his eyes, shoulders slumped, his usual confident stride replaced with a weary shuffle."Where are you coming from?" I asked, concern lacing my voice.He didn't respond immediately, instead sinking into the chair opposite me with a heavy sigh."Where's Mom?" he inquired, avoiding my gaze."She went to the grocery store to get some things," I replied. "But Marcel, where have you been?"He hesitated, then muttered, "I was at Caspian's place."My fork paused mid-air. "What? Why would you go there?"He rubbed his temples, clearly battling a headache. "I was drunk... I didn't even know how I got there."He looked up, eyes
CaspianThat morning, Dolly's incessant chatter delayed me more than I had anticipated. Her excitement about being back was endearing, but I was eager to escape the confines of our conversation and immerse myself in work.Upon arriving at the office, I dove into tasks. With Clara and Marcel gone, I'd hired a new personal assistant to help navigate the chaos. She was efficient, and her presence brought a semblance of normalcy.As evening approached, the familiar ache returned. Then, I decided to visit my usual bar. I had barely stepped into the bar when I saw him — Marcel. He was sitting alone at the counter, a glass in his hand, half-empty. My stomach clenched instantly. I hadn’t seen him since the day he broke my face in front of the entire company. A day I’ll never forget — and honestly, I deserved it.The moment our eyes locked, his jaw tensed. No smirk. No friendly stare. Just a cold, hollow stare that burned right through me.I turned to leave. I didn’t need this. I couldn’t
AvaI hadn’t slept all night.No matter how many times I closed my eyes or shifted positions, sleep just wouldn’t come. My mind wouldn’t stop racing—memories, thoughts, regrets, everything spiraling through my head like a storm I couldn’t quiet.So I just lay there, still as stone, eyes fixed on the ceiling, pretending to sleep in the darkness.Then I heard the soft creak of the door opening. Footsteps. Familiar. Careful. My mom.I didn’t move.She came closer and sat on the edge of the bed. I could feel her presence without opening my eyes. Her fingers brushed softly against my face, then ran through my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear. I almost broke then."I'm really sorry I never knew about what you were facing," she whispered, her voice tender and aching.I wanted to respond. God, I wanted to say something. But I couldn’t. I stayed still, kept my breathing slow, pretending to be asleep. I wasn’t ready to speak. I wasn’t ready to cry in front of her.Eventually, she stood up a
CaspianIt’s been fifteen days. Fifteen days since everything fell apart. Fifteen days since the divorce papers were signed, and since I found out about the child. Ava’s child. My child.I still don’t know how to feel about it. I still don’t know how to process it. I didn’t even know what to say when I found out. Part of me was relieved when her mother told me to stay away from Ava and the baby. But another part of me... another part felt like it was all a cruel joke. How did I get here? How did everything spiral so out of control so quickly?I can still hear her voice in my head. “I’m carrying your child, Caspian.” The words echoed in my brain like some kind of broken record, but nothing made sense.She was married to me... for a reason I can’t even understand now. It was all a game, wasn’t it? A lie I let myself believe. A lie I let her believe, too.But damn it, the baby... The baby was real.I hadn’t been eating. I hadn’t been sleeping. The only thing keeping me alive right now wa
AvaI sat up in bed, the morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. My eyes landed on the pregnancy test lying on the bedside table. I sighed deeply, my heart heavy with uncertainty.It had been two days since I last spoke to Caspian. Two days of unanswered calls, ignored messages, and sleepless nights. I even reached out to Marcel, hoping he might have seen him, but he hadn't. He mentioned calling Caspian two days ago, and since then, there had been no response.To make matters worse, Joy, our housekeeper, resigned two days ago as well. She didn't give a reason, just left. Everything felt like it was unraveling.I picked up the pregnancy test, turning it over in my hands. The result was clear, but my mind was clouded with doubt and fear. I needed to talk to Caspian, to tell him, to understand what was happening and hear what he has to say. The other part of me knew he would accept me, knowing fully well that the man loves me even if he never de
CaspianI sat back, my fingers gripping the armrest of the car seat as Clara’s words echoed in my mind. She wasn’t playing games anymore. There was something cold in her eyes, something almost… calculated. She had the power to ruin everything—my marriage, my business, my reputation, everything I had worked for. All with a few words.But it wasn’t just the threat of losing my empire that gnawed at me. No, it was her. Clara. The woman sitting across from me, with that self-satisfied smirk on her lips and that contract dangling in front of me like a noose. She wanted me to divorce my wife. My wife, the woman I love, the woman I had vowed to spend the rest of my life with.I couldn’t do it. I wouldn't.But the way Clara spoke, so sure of herself, it was almost as if she had already won."You’ll regret it," she had said earlier, the words haunting me now. "Divorce her, or I’ll expose everything. The world will know that your marriage is a lie."How had I ended up here? How had I let it go
CaspianI stumbled out of the station, my feet barely able to hold me up. Everything felt like it was spinning around me.Clara. Clara. Fucking Clara.The name rang over and over again in my head like a broken record. My heart hammered against my ribs as I made my way across the parking lot, barely seeing anything. I found Flynn still sitting inside the car, the engine quietly running, waiting patiently for me.Just as I reached the door, my phone started to ring in my pocket.I pulled it out with a trembling hand and froze when I saw the caller ID.Clara.Talk about the devil.But wait, why the hell is she calling me?For a second, I almost let it ring out. Almost.But something inside me—something cold, sharp, furious—made me swipe the green button. I lifted the phone to my ear."Clara," I said, my voice coming out low, rough, and deep enough to make the ground beneath me seem to vibrate.There was a soft little laugh from the other end of the line, airy and sweet."I heard they cau
CaspianAfter pressing a sweet kiss to Ava’s forehead and murmuring a soft goodbye, I forced myself to leave for work. As much as I wanted to stay with her, to watch over her every second, there were things I needed to handle. Now that the worst of the business crises had been handled, it was time to start tying up the other loose ends — the ones that kept me up at night.The day passed in a blur of meetings, contracts, and handshakes. But the whole time, a heavy weight pressed on my chest. The unfinished business from four months ago—the bastard who dared to touch what was mine.I was typing an email when my phone buzzed loudly on the desk. Glancing at the screen, I froze. It was Commissioner Harris.Finally.I snatched the phone up and answered without hesitation. "Any news?" I asked, voice clipped and low.There was a beat of static before the Commissioner’s voice came through. "Yes. We’ve finally gotten a tip after a month of silence. We have eyes on him now. He won’t escape thi
AvaBefore I could even recover from the shock of Caspian's kiss, I noticed movement from the side of the stage.Two tall men in sharp black suits — the kind you only see in high-profile events or cheesy romance movies — walked toward me, each carrying an enormous bouquet of red and white roses.The crowd gasped and laughed, the announcer chuckling into the microphone."For the best new poet... and obviously, someone’s very dedicated husband," she said with a wink, and the audience burst into applause again.My jaw dropped as the men stopped right in front of me, bowed slightly, and handed me the flowers. Nestled between the petals was a little card.From Caspian. Always.I turned to look at him, tears blurring my vision again. He just shrugged in that Caspian way — smug, infuriating, beautiful — as if to say, Of course I’d do this. You’re mine.The ceremony wrapped up in a blur. I barely remembered walking backstage, holding the trophy in one hand, the massive bouquet in the other. M