Chapter 20 As she wandered, her attention was drawn to a young boy, maybe four or five, playing by the outdoor pool. The kid was plucking leaves from a nearby bush, tossing them into the water, then fishing them back out with a small net. Over and over, he repeated this little game, completely absorbed … Read more
Chapter 19 The next morning, Curtis clung to Melissa like a lifeline, his little arms wrapped tightly around her neck. His big, watery eyes stared up at her, full of reluctance. “Mommy, you’re coming back soon, right?” Melissa’s throat tightened, and her chest ached as she fought back the tears threatening to spill. Forcing a … Read more
Chapter 18 Curtis’s lips quivered, and the unhappiness on his face deepened. Melissa quickly stepped in to smooth things over, her tone soft and soothing. “Curtis, remember what we talked about? ‘No talking during meals, no chatting before bed. If you talk too much while eating, you won’t grow tall. Daddy’s just reminding you.” Curtis’s … Read more
Chapter 17 Bradley squinted, his tone laced with skepticism. “This is a custom-made cologne-one of a kind. You sure you’ve smelled it before?” Melissa hesitated, suddenly doubting herself. She couldn’t imagine a world where she’d crossed paths with someone like Bradley-a man so far removed from her reality. Yet that scent lingered, scratching at the … Read more
Chapter 16 Guilt clawed at Melissa’s chest. She’d done her best with what little she had, reading books to Curtis late at night and teaching him as much as she could. But she knew it wasn’t enough. “I just don’t want you to push him too hard. He’s still just a kid. He needs time.” … Read more
Chapter 15 With time to spare before the court hearing, Melissa finally got a break from Hugh’s infuriating calls. The quiet was a welcome relief, giving her the space to focus on what mattered most-taking care of Curtis. Curtis was recovering well. Meanwhile, Bradley, buried in work, was spending less time at the hospital, which … Read more
Chapter 14 She didn’t wait for a response. Hanging up, she let out a long breath, a rare, satisfied smile tugging at her lips. Bradley watched her, his arms still crossed, his smirk widening. “Now that’s more like it. If you’d stood up for yourself like that earlier, you wouldn’t have let him walk all … Read more
Chapter 13 Bradley stroked Curtis’s cheek with the kind of tenderness no one would expect from him. His voice was low and coaxing, with just a hint of teasing. “Good boy. Keep calling me that. Otherwise…” He paused, letting the words hang. “I might just cancel this whole ‘protecting Mom’ operation.” Curtis wasn’t about to … Read more
Chapter 12 Bradley chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair. “Good. Now, let’s talk about our deal. No more fighting the doctors, no more skipping your IV. A promise is a promise, right? You’re a man of your word, aren’t you? We even pinky-swore.” Curtis hesitated, pouting, but finally nodded reluctantly. “Okay…” Bradley glanced at Melissa, giving … Read more
Chapter 11 Melissa narrowed her eyes at Bradley. “What now? You here to gloat again?” Bradley’s smirk was sharp and mocking. “You look like you’ve been through hell. Got screwed over again? Come on, spill it. What happened this time?” Melissa didn’t want to engage, but the frustration clawing at her insides needed an outlet. … Read more