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1 stormed back into the hotel suite, slamming the door behind me so hard that the frame shook. My heart pounded fumously in my chest, a wide range of anger and frustration that I could barely control. How could he? How could Alex stand there, apologizing like his words meant anything? Like they could undo everything that had happened?
The rage boiled under my skin, threatening to explode as I paced the length of the living room. I couldn’t breathe; it felt like the walls were closing in. I stopped, gripping the back of the couch, trying to steady myself, but my hands shook violently Everything had happened because of him. The fire, the kidnapping, the torture..everything
I could have lost my children. My children. A seb choked my throat, but I swallowed it down. I didn’t have time to cry, to break down. Not now. Not when I had to be strong for them.
But the images wouldn’t stop flashing in my mind. The fire…a month ago now…but still so vivid. The smoke, the heat, the pane My habies screaming, me desperately trying to get to them, to save them from the flames that nearly took us all. And just last werk. God, just a week ago. I was kidnapped. Bianca’s men had grabbed me, tied me up like I was nothing, and tortured me for hours. Every punch, every cut, every blow..because of him.
Alex. Alexander Williams Alistair.
1 gritted my teeth, the very sound of his name in my head enough to send a fresh wave of fury through me. He was the reason for all of this. He had dragged his toxic life back into mine. And for what? To play the hero? To swoop in and pretend to save the day?
“Selfish bastard. I spat under my breath, my nails digging into the fabric of the couch. He didn’t care about us. Not really. If he did he would have stayed away. He would have realized that every step he took toward us, every time he forced himself hack into our lives, he was only putting us in more danger.
Bianca’s psychotic jealousy wasn’t some random act. It was targeted. It was deliberate. Because of him. She couldn’t stand that Alex had chosen me, that he had left her in the past. And because of that, she wanted me gone.
She could have killed me. She tried to
I closed my eyes, the memories of last week flooding back. The ropes digging into my wrists, the cold concrete beneath me, Marco’s face as he whispered his apologies before finally letting the go. He had been hired to kill me, and I would have been dead if he hadn’t had a conscience. And through it all, Bianca’s shadow loomed over everything, planning it all like some deranged puppet master
I felt sick. Sick with the memory of it all, sick with the realization that I wasn’t safe. That my children weren’t safe.
And now Alex thought an apology would fix it? That he could say a few words and I would just what? Forgive him? Let h
No
I showed those thoughts aside, burying the small part of me that wanted to consider his side, that wanted to believe he was truly trying to help it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter. He had done this. He had brought this storm into my life, and now I had to pick up the pieces hold my family together whale he played the victim.
1 waster going to let fin off that eastly I wasn’t going to let him waltz back in and pretend everything could go back to
1pared faster, my chest tighe, my head duobbing. The kids would be back soon, nanny, bodyguards, the whole entourage dat now followed in everywhere because of the danger Alex had brought into our lives. And I couldn’t even bring myself to
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face them. Not yet. Not while my blood still boiled, not while I sell wanted to scream and throw something and rage against the mess my life had become.
I stopped, my reflection staring back at me from the hotel room mirror. I barely recognized myself. My eyes were red, my face tight with fury. I wasn’t this person. I wasn’t someone who let hate consume them, who allowed anger to dictate their every move. But right now? Right now, I hated Alex.
And I hated that it was his fault,
If he hadn’t tried so hard to force himself into our lives, none of this would’ve happened. Bianca wouldn’t have spiraled out of control. My children wouldn’t have been put in harm’s way. And I… I wouldn’t be standing here, trembling with the weight. of everything I’d been through.
There was a knock at the door, soft but enough to pull me out of my thoughts. I wiped my face, trying to push down the storm of emotions racing inside me. The door opened, and there they were….my children, my heart and soul…running into the room with their nanny close behind, the bodyguards lingering just outside. Their laughter should have brought me peace, should have reminded me that I was still here, still able to protect them.
But all I could feel was anger. Anger that I had almost lost them. Anger that I had to keep fighting just to keep them safe.
I couldn’t do this. Not right now,
Without a word, I turned my back to them, heading toward the bedroom. I could hear their footsteps behind me, but I kept walking, needing a moment, needing space. I couldn’t face thern with this fire still burning inside me.
I reached the door and closed it softly, leaning my back against it. My heart was still racing, my hands still shaking. I didn’t know how to calm down, how to let go of this rage that had consumed me since the moment Bianca had reentered my life, dragging Alex back with her.
It didn’t matter that he was trying to help now. It didn’t matter that he felt guilty. The damage had been done, and I wasn’t sure I could ever forgive him for that,
All because of him.
An hour later.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my head heavy with the weight of it all. The room was still, except for the muffled sound of the kids playing just outside. I had tried to distance myself, to push all my emotions down so I wouldn’t break in front of them. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of guilt. They had been through so much…too much..because of Alex.
Just then, the door creaked open, and the kids, looking well–fed and a bit more cheerful than they’d been in the past few days, bounded in.
Ethan’s wide grin was the first thing I saw as he ran toward me, his arms open. “Mom!” he shouted, throwing himself into my arms. Emma followed, her quieter smile warming my heart as she climbed up beside me, her tiny arms wrapping around my waist.
For a moment, my heart softened, my anger and frustration slipping away. I held them close, inhaling the sweet scent of their hair, kissing the tops of their heads. They were everything to me, my world, my reason for fighting through all of this. Each of them took turns kissing me, making my heart swell with love and pain all at once.
“How was school?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. I wasn’t ready for what I had to say next.
Ethan beamed up at me, his brown eyes sparkling. “It was good! We had art today. Look what I made!” He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his backpack, revealing a messy but heartwarming drawing of us, standing hand–in–hand in a garden. My heart clenched at the sight of it Emma chimed in quietly. “I made one too, Mommy. We had so much fun.”
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I smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from Emma’s face. “That’s beautiful, baby. Both of you did amazing”
They nestled closer, the warmth of their tiny bodies grounding me. But the words I needed to say clawed at my throat. desperate to be spoken. I took a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly as I prepared to shatter their moment of happiness.
“I hate to break it to you..” Lbegan, my voice low, trying to keep it steady. I felt Ethan shift in my lap, his big eyes looking up at me with curiosity. “But you two aren’t going to be seeing your dad anymore.”
The words hung in the air like a bomb, and I watched as their faces fell in slow motion. Emma’s eyes widened in disbelief. while Ethan’s brow furrowed. They both stared at me, waiting for me to tell them I was joking, that it wasn’t real. But I wasn’t joking. Not about this.
“Why?” Ethan finally asked, his voice small but demanding. “Why can’t we see him, Mom? What did he do?”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “Your dad… he needs to sort some things out right now. It’s not good for you to be around him for a while. I’m doing this to keep you both safe.”
“But Dad’s a nice guy!” Ethan shot back, his voice rising in pitch. “He didn’t do anything wrong! Why can’t we see him?” Emma’s bottom lip trembled as she watched me, her eyes filling with tears. “We love Daddy, Mommy. Please don’t say we
can’t see him
The lump in my throat grew heavier. “I know you love him,” I whispered, trying to hold back my own tears. “But right now, it’s not safe. He’s caused.. he’s made some mistakes, and I can’t let him be around you until things are better.”
“No!” Ethan shouted, his small fists clenching. “We’re never gonna stop seeing him! You can’t stop us!”
“Ethan, please listen to me,” I pleaded, reaching out to touch his arm, but he pulled away, his face twisted in anger. “I’m doing this to protect you.”
Emma’s quiet sniffles turned into full–blown sobs, and she buried her face in her hands. The sound of her crying ripped through me, but Ethan’s defiance was like a knife twisting deeper into my chest.
*You don’t get it, Mom!” Ethan’s voice shook with emotion. “You don’t get it at all! Dad’s not bad! He didn’t hurt us! You’re just being mean!”
I flinched, his words hitting me harder than any physical blow, My heart shattered into a million pieces, but I couldn’t back down. I couldn’t let them see the danger they were in. “I’m not being mean, Ethan. I’m doing what’s best for you.”
“No, you’re not!” he screamed, his face red with anger. “You’re just making things worse! We want to see him! You can’t stop
Emma’s sobs grew louder, and she clung to Ethan, her small body shaking. “Please, Mommy, don’t take Daddy away.”
My throat burned with the effort to hold it together, but I was losing. I was losing them, and there was nothing I could do. They didn’t understand they couldn’t understand that I was trying to protect them, that everything I was doing was for them
But all they saw was the parent keeping them from their father. The one who had warmed his way into their hearts. “You’re not being fair!” Ethan yelled, his voice cracking with emotion. “We hate you for this!”
Before I could respond, they both turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door so hard it rattled in its frame. The sound echoed in the quiet that followed, leaving me standing there, stunned.
I felt like I had been punched in the gut, the air knocked out of me. My chest was tight, my heart aching in a way I hadn’t expected. I had just lost my children, even If only for a moment They hated me.
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All because of him.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back, refusing to let myself fall apart. I had to be strong. For them. Even if they couldn’t see it, even if they hated me for it, I was doing this for them.
But the pain in my chest was unbearable. They had yelled at me. My babies had yelled at me, walked out on me, and slammed the door in my face. And all I could do was stand there, feeling like the worst mother in the world.
I sank onto the bed, my hands covering my face as the weight of it all crashed down on me. Alex had won their hearts, and now they saw me as the enemy.
God, what if I was doing the wrong thing? What if, in trying to
protect them, I was pushing them away for good?
I didn’t know anymore. I didn’t know if I was strong enough for this.
