It was a radiant and beautiful day. Caitlin awoke early and bathed Sultan, dressed him smartly, fed him a wholesome breakfast, and accompanied him to his kindergarten class at the preschool.
"Now, Sultan, you be a good boy for mommy, okay?" she said with a smile, and he responded with a cute smile and a slow nod. Despite not yet being completely fluent, he was incredibly adorable and had picked up speaking quite quickly."That's my little one," she said, kissing him on the forehead. "What would you like me to get for you?""Cho...colate!" he said with a cute grin, and she smiled back. "Of course! I'll get you just that, my dear."The teachers at the preschool smiled warmly. They all had a soft spot for Sultan. Not only was he charming, but he also showed exceptional intelligence for his age."Don't worry. We'll take good care of him. He's very bright," one of the teachers said with a big smile as she took him from Caitlin's arms.Afterward, Caitlin headed to the job interview. Grace had cleared all hurdles for her, leaving only the interview and acceptance.Meanwhile, Kane sat in his office, sifting through piles of paperwork. Exhausted, he took a moment to relax on the sofa. His neck and shoulders ached. Surely, being the CEO of such a large and significant organization like the Holton Empire (HEO) was no simple feat.Numerous responsibilities rested on his shoulders, demanding his attention to prevent his company from facing bankruptcy once again. The memory of the last occurrence was dreadful, with the organization sustaining significant financial losses. It had been a challenging task to restore the company to stability.Kane Esmond had been serving as the CEO of the organization since the age of twenty. It had been five years since then, and the organization had consistently maintained the highest rating for importing top-quality foreign goods of various types, including clothing, accessories, armaments, and machinery.Kane was not only renowned for being a young and responsible CEO but also widely popular both in the country and abroad for his remarkable good looks and striking handsomeness. He was considered the ideal man by many women, being wealthy at a young age and possessing captivating looks that attracted every woman's desire.Standing tall with a perfectly sculpted body, Kane boasted broad shoulders that were highly coveted. His deep gray eyes exuded passion and held a penetrating gaze. His facial features were impeccably sharp, with a perfectly defined jawline and a long, thick neck that women yearned to hold. His deep, soothing voice and persuasive aura added to his allure.He was a determined individual who pursued his desires without looking back. His luscious dark, silky hair was a treasure to behold. With his rare blend of masculine beauty and wealth, he stood as one of the wealthiest men in the country. His net worth soared into the billions and continued to grow, owning countless properties both domestically and internationally. His wealth was beyond comprehension.As he sat there, taking a moment to recuperate from the day's challenges, his assistant, Darian, entered the room clad in a black suit."Sir, there are new candidates for interviews in the sanitation department.""I'm feeling exhausted," he responded after a prolonged pause. "Let the head cleaner take care of that.""Understood, sir. I will relay the message to her."Upon her arrival, Caitlin was escorted to her department within the expansive office building. There, she encountered other job applicants vying for the same position. Given the building's size, there was a high demand for cleaners to ensure it stayed impeccably clean, requiring five cleaning sessions daily. This task was no small feat, but the compensation offered was quite generous, even for cleaners.Having some cleaning experience, Caitlin felt confident in her ability to handle the workload that lay ahead. With Grace's support, she secured the position with ease. Following her interview with the head cleaner, Mrs. Matilda, Caitlin was promptly welcomed into the team.On that very day, she donned her cleaner's uniform, a black dress adorned with white trimmings and a white apron, and commenced her duties. Her task involved cleaning the women's restrooms on the second and third floors of the fifty-story skyscraper. These two floors alone housed numerous bathrooms.After completing her work, she took a well-deserved break in the canteen. Her striking beauty caught the attention of many male employees who sought to engage her in conversation, but she politely declined their advances. She became the point of attention, drawing the gaze of Darian, Kane's assistant. Initially failing to recognize her, Darian was suddenly flooded with memories, realizing that she was the same young woman from two years ago, whom his employer had taken by force. It had to be her! He inched closer to observe her more closely."It was her!" He recalled how he had conspired with his master to lure her into the car and force her to inhale the potent drug. The memory left him horrified, unable to recall her name. Without hesitation, he hurried to inform Kane of what he had witnessed.Caitlin arrived at the preschool to collect Sultan. His face lit up with joy at the sight of his mother, and he ran to her eagerly. Embracing him, she lifted him, beaming with delight."My darling! How have you been?! You must have missed Mommy, haven't you?"He nodded slowly, prompting a smile from her."Time to head home now, sweetheart. And I got you some chocolates, your favorites!" She handed him two packs of chocolate bars. Excitedly, he tore open the pack and happily indulged in the treats."Oh... isn't he just the sweetest!" exclaimed one of the teachers. "He performed excellently today, mastering the alphabet correctly and writing numbers from one to a hundred without a single mistake. He's incredibly bright. I believe he will excel in his studies.""Really? Well, that calls for celebration, Sultan!""Mummy... I want cake!" he exclaimed excitedly, still nibbling on bits of the chocolate bars as they made their way to the roadside to hail a taxi."I think we have some strawberry cake left in the fridge," she mentioned as they settled comfortably in the cab. The driver smiled warmly at them."Wow... your son is so cute! His father must be a very handsome man, right?" Caitlin's expression turned serious, and the driver noticed the change in her mood."I... I apologize for that. But your son is adorable. You're very fortunate to have him."Caitlin forced a smile, though she felt deeply uneasy. The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of the father of her beloved son, the cruel man who had taken advantage of her. Despite the passage of two years since the incident, the painful memories remained vivid in her mind... his cruel smirk, the malevolent smile, every agonizing moment... she shuddered with cold chills whenever those recollections surfaced.No matter how hard she attempted to push them away, those memories persistently haunted her. It seemed like something she would carry with her for the rest of her days. Yet, as long as she had Sultan by her side, she found solace and happiness.On that evening, Kane sat down to dinner, accompanied by his assistant who sat by his side. He ate slowly, seemingly unenthusiastic about the meal, pausing to sip water from his glass now and then."Sir... You won't believe what I'm about to tell you," he began."What is it?""Do you remember that waitress from the café over two years ago, the one you took an immediate interest in?"After a moment of reflection, Kane finally recalled. It was not easy to forget the young woman he had deceived and mistreated. Following that incident, he lost all desire to pursue women for his gratification. The compassion and guilt he felt that night seemed to have turned over a new leaf within him. He couldn't bear the idea of deceiving and using another woman, only to abandon her."Yes... What's the matter with her?""Well... she's now working for your company as one of the cleaners," he revealed, causing Kane to halt his eating, attempting to absorb Darian's words."What?""It's true, sir. She's empl
After a long day at the office, Kane found himself on his way home with Darian behind the wheel. Lost in his thoughts, he couldn't shake the image of the young woman he had encountered earlier that day. Her lovely voice and the look of recognition on her face replayed in his mind, bringing back memories he had hoped to escape.As he grappled with his guilt over his past actions towards her, Kane realized that the first step towards finding peace was to offer an apology. Though uncertain of whether she would forgive him, he knew he had to try. Perhaps by seeking her forgiveness, he could finally lay his past to rest and silence the judgment of his conscience.At home, Caitlin gently placed Sultan on the sofa to rest before heading to the kitchen to prepare the meal he had requested. Seeing him looking so worn out and hungry, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. Knowing that he had to spend the entire day at daycare because of her job, Caitlin was filled with regret.
Caitlin was resolute in her decision. She requested a resignation form, much to the surprise of her colleagues with whom she had grown close."But... Why are you leaving?! You just started, dear!" Matilda exclaimed in disbelief."I meant what I said! I have made up my mind to leave this job, and that's final!" Caitlin declared as she grabbed her purse and departed.Her coworkers attempted to dissuade her and offer explanations, but she remained steadfast, signing the resignation letter and leaving despite their efforts. Kane was still pondering the incident when Matilda entered with the letter in hand."Miss Caitlin has resigned, Sir," Matilda informed him.He simply sighed, accepted the letter, and nodded slowly, signaling for her to leave without providing any explanation. She gazed at him briefly before departing.Caitlin swiftly hailed a taxi and made her way to the preschool to collect Sultan. Inside, she found him engrossed in playing with building blocks and toy soldiers. Upon
As he sat in his car on the way home, the echo of Caitlin's words, "He's not your son, and never will be," resonated in his mind.The day's shocking events left him reeling. The revelation that Caitlin had a son for him struck him deeply, leading to a newfound understanding of the struggles and pain she had endured. The realization that she likely faced hardships due to a pregnancy resulting from sexual abuse caused his ego to crumble, replaced by a profound sense of shame.For the first time in his life, he felt lost and adrift, as if Karma was seeking retribution for his past mistreatment of women. Uncertain of what to do next, he grappled with a sense of aimlessness.Despite his turmoil, Caitlin remained unforgiving. He sighed heavily, touching the still-bleeding scar on his left cheek, his blood-stained fingers a stark reminder of the day's events. Sensing his master's intense stress, Darian chose to remain silent, opting not to provoke Kane's potential outburst of anger in his cu
As Sultan turned three years old, Caitlin planned a surprise birthday party for him. Upon his return from school, he reveled in the celebration alongside Grace and his mother.His excitement soared upon seeing the beautifully crafted cake prepared for him. Caitlin was overjoyed to witness his happiness and had showered him with a plethora of toys as gifts. Mrs. Grace also contributed many delightful presents for him.Sultan let out a squeal of delight as he unwrapped the Mattel toy dinosaur. His long-standing wish for a T-Rex had finally come true, and the menacing-looking creature delighted him.Unable to get the little boy out of his mind, Kane made the decision to visit him at school. His plan involved discreetly following Caitlin as she escorted Sultan to school, allowing him to slip in during playtime.The next day, Caitlin escorted Sultan to school. They got into a taxi and departed, while nearby, Kane sat inside a black Tesla. Opting to drive solo this time, he followed the tax
Kane continued to visit Sultan at school, and in a brief period, they developed a strong bond, with Sultan growing very fond of him. Sultan affectionately referred to Kane as 'daddy,' and Kane felt a deep sense of connection with his son. The observant teacher, Mrs. Nicole, who had been discreetly monitoring their interactions, eventually decided to inform Caitlin about the charming stranger who regularly visited during recess to spend time with her son. She requested a meeting with Caitlin in her office. Initially concerned that Sultan might have been causing trouble at school, Caitlin was reassured by Mrs. Nicole that he had been exemplary in his behavior."I was apprehensive that Sultan might have misbehaved.""Oh, no, dear. Sultan is doing perfectly well. It's something else." Caitlin's apprehension grew."What do you mean?""It concerns a particular young man who frequently comes here to visit your son. He has been coming for nearly a month now.""A man? Who is he?""I was mean
As they journeyed back home in the taxi, a heavy silence enveloped them. Sultan's heart weighed heavy with sorrow; he already missed his 'daddy'. Beside him, his mother sat looking out the window, her expression still clouded with sadness."Mummy... is that man my daddy?" Sultan asked, his eyes brimming with tears.Caitlin gazed at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, he's not. He's not your father! Whatever he told you was a lie," she replied, her voice filled with emotion.Sultan held her gaze for a moment, his trust shaken. Although he didn't press her further, he couldn't shake off his doubts this time.Upon their arrival home, Caitlin prepared dinner while Sultan picked at his food, his somber mood palpable. Observing his melancholy, Caitlin pondered how he would react to the news that they would soon be moving to another city.The following day, Grace paid a visit after receiving a distressing call from Caitlin. She was taken aback to find Sultan at home instead of school, ha
All my life, I have faced nothing but pain and anguish. I have escaped death so many times, and I have seen the true meaning of suffering and poverty. I lost my parents when I was only a baby and I don't even know what had happened to them, the staff in the orphanage where I grew up refused to tell me anything. They hated me and treated me like trash. I was so little and I felt insecure about everything. All I wanted was a warm arm to lay my troubled head on. I wanted to love, and I wanted to be loved. I see other kids here every day getting adopted, but no one wanted to adopt me because I was very skinny and malnourished. I had rashes and my hair was scrawny and messy. In my little corner, I watched the other kids get adopted and I gave up hope. My life has no direction anyway…maybe I will eventually die one day. A young woman in her late thirties approached me in my corner, staring down at me with intense eyes. At first, I thought she wanted to dispose of me because of the vicious