On the terrace, Christine and Loukas were having breakfast while Hunter had a meeting with a client, and Ethan was still sleeping peacefully like a little angel. "I wanted to ask you something, Christine," Loukas announced, his serious expression overshadowing their casual conversation as he sipped his rich espresso. "You can ask me anything, you know that," Christine replied, curious about the change in Loukas' demeanor. Loukas waited for the maids to set the tray of warm croissants and fresh sliced fruits on the table, ensuring their privacy before continuing the conversation. His hesitance indicated the importance of what he was about to discuss. "Since you and Hunter will be working together for a long time, I need to know how you feel about him," Loukas finally revealed, catching Christine off guard. Her heart raced, and she struggled to catch her breath, feeling as though her heartbeats were amplified for everyone nearby to hear. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. She took a sip o

Christine dropped Ethan off at school. Her little angel had been in a gloomy mood for days, and his sadness tugged at her heartstrings. She was determined to find a solution to cheer him up. However, the situation bothered her so much that it became challenging for her to focus on her work. There was nothing she couldn't endure, except for watching her precious boy feel so low spirited. It broke her heart into pieces and made her question her abilities as a mother. She believed that Ethan's classmates must have caused him harm again. Children can be ruthless when adults fail to educate them properly. Exiting the car, Christine walked over to open the door for Ethan. She crouched down in front of him, gently lifting his chin with her fingers. "Look, baby, what do you say if we invite all your classmates to a garden party after school? Our backyard is large enough to host even a wedding, and it's Friday, after all. I'll take half a day off from work since I've had a busy week anyway,"

In her room, Christine was meticulously applying her makeup as she prepared for her date with Hunter's brother. She had a feeling that she would be scrutinized closely before leaving the house, so she decided to give extra attention to her appearance, not wanting to disappoint. Once she was fully satisfied, she stepped into her cropped jeans and black tank top, taking another appreciative glance in the mirror. It was a refreshing change to wear something age-appropriate, and she had Simon to thank for that. His casual style had convinced her to forgo her usual stiff business attire, and in that moment, she felt youthful again. After all, she was in her twenties. "Mommy, Mommy, are you really dating my uncle?" Ethan burst into her room, visibly agitated, his face furrowed with concern. "Sweetheart, Mommy is just having dinner with a friend," she declared, soothingly running her fingers through his soft hair in an attempt to calm him down. However, he remained unsettled. "How could y

Night melted into morning, and the time had come for Ethan to be discharged from the hospital. He had slept peacefully, like the angelic child he was, satisfied that his plan had worked like a charm. However, his Mommy, Christine, hadn't been as fortunate. Restlessness consumed her, her emotions a turbulent mix of distress, fleeting moments of ease, and torment. Despite her attempts to brush it away, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan had orchestrated his illness on purpose. And then there was Hunter's presence, intoxicating yet accompanied by painful memories. Some of those memories weren't entirely painful, but she kept that locked away as her own secret. Hunter, perhaps even more overjoyed than Ethan, stole glances at Christine whenever the opportunity presented itself, unaware that she did the same when he wasn't looking. Being in her company, along with her child, felt undeniably right to him. The intimate setup brought him immense pleasure, even amidst the troubling cir

The sunlight streamed through the curtains as Hunter entered Simon's room, delivering news in a demanding tone. "Pack your things, we're moving out today!" A wide grin spread across Simon's face. "Having a rough day, brother?" he taunted, relishing in the reaction he provoked. "Why would you say that? No, it's just time to return home," Hunter responded, the dark circles under his eyes betraying his lack of sleep. His brother found amusement in this, his smile growing triumphant. "But I've heard they haven't finished setting up the smart home technology we were supposed to test. Why the rush?" Simon probed. "I believe we've overstayed our welcome at Loukas' place. We don't want to push our luck, do we?" Hunter's words didn't align with the sudden decision, and both of them knew it. "Are you sure that's all there is to it? Or does it have something to do with my date last night?" Simon pushed further, testing his brother's limits. "Simon!!!" Hunter growled, his eyes flashing with