Alex entered his penthouse and slowly made his way towards the small bar built-in along the wall leading to the kitchen. It contained booze of various brands and flavors he hadn't touched in a long while. But today, the drive to do so was irresistible.Opening the cabinet door, he pulled out a large bottle of untouched scotch along with a shot glass. Without bothering to wipe the shot glass, he uncapped the bottle, poured himself a shot of the scotch, and downed it in one gulp.The stiff alcohol burned his throat, causing his eyes to water, but that didn't stop him from pouring another one and downing it just as quickly.“Alex, you're back.” A soft, feminine voice came from behind him.Nodding, he turned to face the owner of the voice. It was Nicole. He tried to smile at her, but the awkward stretch of his lips told him that what he had on his face was nothing close to a smile.“How's my sister? I suppose she's back from the business trip?” Nicole asked.The mention of Skylar caused t

It was time, Luca decided. This time, he wasn't going to allow Skylar to escape the conversation that needed to be had like she'd done yesterday.He pressed on her doorbell and waited. A few seconds later, the door was pried open by the woman he was after, looking radiant in a pink sundress. He quickly took a stance, prepared to push back just in case she attempted to shut the door in his face.To his surprise, she merely stepped back to allow him entrance. Luca flashed her a smile she didn't return as he stepped inside her house.He heard the sound of music being played from a phone before he spotted Austin bouncing and shaking his body exhilaratingly to the beat while on his feet, Laura dancing along with him.As soon as his son saw him, he beckoned Luca excitedly to come dance too. Luca did, heart swelling with so much love he thought it would burst as he wondered whether his son got so excited whenever he saw him because he recognized him as his father, or it was all just part of t

The first thing Alena announced when Skylar got to work the next day was that the CEO had resigned and returned to Rockford. Skylar quickly disregarded it, believing that it was just like the rumors last time when Luca went away for just a day.She was proved wrong when an impromptu board meeting was held later that day. Luca had really left, leaving Brandon Wood to run the affairs of the Chicago branch.Skylar didn't know how to feel about that. Sure, Luca had said he wasn't going to interfere in her life anymore, but to this extent? What about their son?Was the supposed love he had for their son so fake that now that she'd told him she didn't want to be with him, he would just leave and decide not to return?She shook her head to clear the thought. Luca's love was real. She'd seen it in his tears the first time he held Austin and his affection and adoration every time he was with their son. He was going to be back.But a week passed, then two, and yet she heard nothing from him. Sh

Just as Skylar started making her way towards Luca, Cornelia's voice came through the speakers, announcing that it was time for dinner. Everyone who was up on their feet went to take their seat, and sighing, Skylar went to do so too.The closest family to the birthday boy and girl, if she could even call Cornelia that, were going to be seated at one table larger than the others.There was Skylar herself, her mum and her dad, Austin, Cornelia and her husband, Ana, one of Luca's aunts, Ella, Abhishek, Laura, Luca, and...and what the heck was Aisha doing at the close family table?Her heart sinking, Skylar focused on picking her meal choice from the menus already laid out on the table. It consisted of a ridiculous amount of different dishes. The catering service was definitely charging a fortune if they were willing to provide all these for anyone who requested them.Cornelia insisted on feeding Austin, which shouldn't have been a problem, but at that moment, it was, because with Skylar's

When Luca's body began quavering again, Skylar's first thought was that it was a second wave of orgasm that'd waited a minute after the first to hit him, until the sounds of his broken sobs reached her ears."Tarzan..." She breathed in shock.The magnitude of emotion behind every sob had chills running down her spine, his tears further dampening her already sweat-soaked chest.He hadn't told her why he was crying, and yet somehow, she knew, and it pulled the tears out of her own eyes. Wrapping her arms around him, she cried along with him when she should be comforting him."I'm sorry." Luca croaked when their sobs eased. "God, I'm so sorry for being such a mess, Vanilla. It's just that I thought I'd lost you forever and having you like this again, it... It..."Another broken sound erupted from his throat as he cried some more."I know... I know. It's okay, Luca. It's okay." She smiled sadly as she continued to hold him.Finally, when his tears stopped, he lifted his head from her ches