LOGINThe living room felt still.Not quiet in a peaceful way, quiet like something was about to shift.Gabriel sat upright, his hands resting on his knees.Prisca remained standing for a moment.Watching him and easuring the distance between them.Then she walked slowly to the chair across from him and sat down.Not too close, not too far.Neither of them spoke immediately.This time, silence wasn’t avoidance, it was preparation.Gabriel broke it first.“You said we need to talk.”His voice was calm.Prisca nodded once.“Yes.”She clasped her hands together lightly.Not nervous, just steadying herself.“I know about the case,” she said.Gabriel’s eyes sharpened slightly.“What case?”“You don’t need to pretend,” she replied quietly. “The public hearing.”He leaned back slightly.“Who told you?”“It doesn’t matter.”It did.But he let it go.i thought you have settled the issue when i overheard you discussing with your lawyer, but seems i was wrong.She continued.“They’re going to bring ev
The flight back was quieter.Not because the children were unhappy, but because they were tired.Sandra rested her head on Gabriel’s shoulder.Her eyes half closed, her energy finally worn out after days of excitement.Daniel sat beside them, looking out through the window.The clouds stretched endlessly, white and calm.“Are we home yet?” Sandra murmured softly.“Not yet,” Gabriel replied.She nodded slightly.Then went still again.Gabriel adjusted his arm gently so she could rest better.His eyes moved between both children, watching and thinking.Paris had been easy, simple and light.Here, on the plane, that feeling had started to fade.Reality was waiting.He knew it.The laughter,the games, the quiet joy, all of it had been real.But temporary.He leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes briefly.Sandra’s voice from earlier echoed in his mind.I miss mommy.He had answered calmly.But the truth sat deeper than words, things were not fixed.Not even close.The plane began it
Morning in Paris came gently.Soft light slipped through the curtains, touching the edges of the room.Gabriel was already awake.He stood by the window, looking out at the city below.Cars moved slowly.People walked with purpose.Everything felt calm.Different from home, and different from the weight he had left behind.A small voice broke the silence.“Daddy…”He turned.Sandra was sitting up in bed, her hair slightly messy, her eyes still heavy with sleep.“Good morning,” he said softly.She rubbed her eyes.“Is this really Paris?”He smiled.“Yes.”She looked around again, as if making sure it was real.Then her face lit up.“We’re really here!”Her excitement filled the room instantly.Daniel stretched on the other side of the bed.“Why are you shouting?” he murmured.Sandra ignored him.“Can we go out now?” she asked.Gabriel checked the time.“After breakfast.”She nodded quickly.“Okay!”Breakfast was lively.The hotel restaurant was filled with quiet conversations and soft m
Morning came earlier than expected.The house was still quiet when Gabriel stepped into the living room, dressed and ready.The suitcases were already by the door.Everything had been prepared the night before.For a moment, he stood still, looking around.This house had held too many heavy moments recently.Arguments, silence, and distance.But today........ Today felt different.Not lighter, just… paused.Upstairs, a small voice broke the silence.“Daddy?”Gabriel turned.Sandra stood halfway down the stairs, rubbing her eyes.“Why are you awake so early?” he asked softly.She walked down slowly.“You said we are going to Paris today.”He smiled faintly.“That’s true.”“I didn’t want to miss it.”He crouched and opened his arms.She stepped into them without hesitation.“Go wake your brother,” he said.She nodded quickly and ran back upstairs.Minutes later, the house filled with energy again.Footsteps, voices, and excitement.Daniel rushed down with his backpack already on.“Are w
The house felt different that morning.Not tense.Not quiet in a painful way.Just… busy.For the first time in weeks, there was movement in every corner.Drawers opening.Footsteps running up and down the stairs.Voices calling out from one room to another.“Mommy! Where is my blue bag?”“In the closet!” Prisca replied.“No, it’s not here!”Prisca sighed softly and stood from the bed.“I’ll come.”She walked into Sandra’s room and opened the closet door herself. The bag was right there, hanging neatly on the hook.She pulled it down and handed it over.Sandra smiled brightly.“Thank you!”Prisca nodded.“Don’t just throw things inside. Fold them properly.”“I know,” Sandra said quickly, already turning away.Prisca watched her for a moment.She didn’t correct her again.Today wasn’t the day for that.Across the hall, Daniel’s room was worse.Clothes were everywhere.T-shirts on the bed.Jeans on the floor.Shoes in the wrong places.Daniel stood in the middle of it all, holding two s
Prisca wasn’t trying to listen.At least, that’s what she told herself.She had gone to Gabriel’s study to drop off a document he had forgotten at home. It was nothing important—just a file from his office—but something had pushed her to bring it herself instead of asking the driver.Maybe it was habit.Maybe it was something else.The door to the study was slightly open.At first, she was about to knock.Then she heard Gabriel’s voice.“…if this goes public, it won’t stay contained.”Prisca froze.She didn’t mean to stop.But her feet refused to move.Inside the room, Gabriel continued speaking. His tone was low, controlled, but there was tension beneath it.“I don’t care about my reputation,” he said. “This is about the children.”Prisca’s fingers tightened slightly around the file in her hand.The children;Sandra and Daniel.She moved closer to the door without realizing it.Another voice responded. Mr. Harrison.“We can try to limit exposure, but once the hearing is public, the me
The first sign that something was wrong came quietly.Too quietly.Victoria had been wheeled into recovery with the careful optimism doctors reserved for patients who had not yet given them reason to worry. Her surgery had not been easy—nothing involving a failing kidney ever was—but it had gone ac
The surgery did not end when the doors of the operating room closed.Gabriel learned that the hard way.For twelve hours, he sat in a plastic chair outside the ICU, his spine bent forward, elbows on his knees, fingers locked together so tightly his knuckles ached. The hospital lights hummed overhea
The alarm went off without warning.One sharp sound split into many—machines crying out in overlapping tones, footsteps pounding from every direction, voices snapping into command. The hospital corridor transformed in seconds from sterile calm into controlled chaos.“Clear the hallway.”“Prep OR Tw
Victoria woke to silence that felt earned.Not the hollow silence of waiting rooms or the sharp quietness of hospital nights—but a deep, steady stillness, the kind that came after a storm had already torn through and moved on. The machines around her hummed softly, their rhythm slow and reassuring.







