As the snow gently fell outside, Jason busied himself in the kitchen, preparing a feast fit for the occasion. He glanced at the clock, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Skylar and their sons, for Christmas Eve. He had invited her over, to spend some time with her and the boys as a family. His parents, Emilio and Valentina, would join them, the next morning.The doorbell chimed, and Jason rushed to answer it, a wide grin spreading across his face as he welcomed his family inside. Skylar and the boys stepped in, cheeks flushed from the cold, but hearts warmed by the promise of togetherness.“Welcome, welcome! Come in, come in!” Jason ushered them inside, enveloping each of them in a tight hug.Skylar smiled, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “It’s so good to be here, Jason. Your house looks lovely.”“Thanks, Skylar. I wanted everything to be perfect for tonight,” Jason replied, leading them into the cosy living room adorned with twinkling lights and a crackling fireplace.Lore

One fine evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the room, Emilio and Skylar settled into their usual evening routine of sharing stories and laughter, after the kids have been out to bed. Skylar, ever the extroverted sibling, broached a topic that had been on her mind for a while.“Hey, Emilio,” Skylar began, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Have you ever considered getting back into the dating scene?”Emilio chuckled softly, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes before he masked it with a smile. “You know, Sky, it’s been four years since she passed. I’ve just been focusing on work and trying to adjust to life without her.”Skylar reached out and gently squeezed her brother’s hand. “I know, Emilio. And you’ve been so strong through it all. But don’t you think it’s time to open up your heart again? She would want you to be happy.”Emilio sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I suppose you’re right, Sky. It’s just hard to imagine being with an

Emilio’s heart raced as he stepped onto the bustling streets of Rome, Italy. Another business trip, another opportunity to immerse himself in the rich culture and history of his homeland. Or where he grew up. As he navigated through the vibrant city, memories of his childhood flooded back, filling him with nostalgia. This has been his home since the cruise incident. He went about doing his business. Jumping from one meeting to the next and trying his best to not give in to his exhaustion. One evening, while savouring a traditional Italian meal at a quaint trattoria, Emilio spotted a familiar face across the room. It took him a moment to recognize the man, but when he did, a wave of joy washed over him.“Pietro?” Emilio exclaimed, rising from his seat.Pietro turned, his eyes widening in surprise before breaking into a wide grin. “Emilio! Is it really you?”Emilio crossed the room in quick strides, enveloping him in a warm embrace. “It’s been too long, my friend,” he said, his vo

Jason paced nervously in his living room, awaiting Emily’s arrival. She had texted him earlier, mentioning that she had some news, and the weight of her words hung heavily in the air. When the doorbell finally rang, Jason hurried to answer it, finding Emily standing on his doorstep, her eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion. “Hey, come in,” Jason said, ushering her inside. “What’s going on?” Emily followed him into the living room, sinking into the plush sofa with a sigh. “It’s about him,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “He was in the hospital for the past week again. Pneumonia.” Jason’s heart sank at the news. “Oh, Emily, I’m so sorry to hear that. How’s he doing now?” “He’s stable, thankfully,” Emily replied, her shoulders sagging with relief. “But it was a scare, you know? He’s so young.” Jason nodded sympathetically, moving to sit beside her. “I can’t imagine how tough that must have been for you.” “Yeah,” Emily murmured, her gaze distant. “It’s been... exhausting, to say

In his office, Jason paced back and forth, his heart pounding like a drum against his chest. He had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. How could Skylar and her brother know about his affair? He had been so careful, or so he thought. Frantically, he reached for his phone, fingers trembling as he dialled Skylar’s number. Ring after ring echoed in his ears, but there was no answer. He tried again, only to be met with the cold sting of rejection as the call went straight to voicemail. “Skylar, please, just answer the damn phone,” he muttered to himself, desperation seeping into his voice. With each unanswered call, Jason’s panic intensified. He couldn’t bear the thought of facing Skylar and her brother’s wrath. He had to fix this, but how? As he scrolled through his contacts, searching for any possible lifeline, his mind raced with excuses, apologies, anything to salvage what was left of his crumbling world. He hurriedly left his office and made his way to the kindergarten where Sk