Chapter Thirty-twoMoment With The KidsMaxon’s POVI stood before the mirror, gazing at my reflection as I dressed in the clothes Sophie had chosen for me. The fabric felt cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the intense heat that had enveloped us just minutes ago. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I recalled the passionate encounter we had shared. I had missed her, missed the electrifying connection we had always shared, I missed having myself inside of her, I missed our intense moments.With each piece of clothing I put on, I couldn't help but think about Sophie. Despite the painful history between us, our chemistry remained undeniable. A part of me wished we could turn back time, I wished we could go back and I could have avoided what she did to me, but I knew that was an impossible dream. She had hurt me too deeply, and there was no going back. She had done things she shouldn’t have done, she killed the love and trust I had for her, and she almost killed my sister,
Chapter Thirty-threeIrresponsible, Incompetent FatherMaxon’s POVThe kids and I continued to play on the floor, Amara and Asher's laughter continued to fill the room, keeping a big smile on my face. I looked at them with love and admiration on my face, it seemed as though we were a perfect family at that moment.As the children continued to play with each other, their faces radiating with happiness and excitement, I couldn't help but wonder about the future. What would it be like to have them in my life, to be a part of their everyday world? To be with them through the challenges of life? I wondered what it would be like to be there with them every single day of their life. The thought of that warmed my heart and also fueled the determination to get my kids back."What would you two like to have?" I asked.Amara looked up at me, her eyes radiating with anticipation and excitement. "Ice cream, Mr. Hero! Can we have ice cream, please?"Asher nodded in agreement, his face lighting up wi
Chapter Thirty-fourThe DNA resultMaxon’s POVAs Sophie's stormed away, I found myself sinking to the floor, my legs unable to support me any longer. Guilt and frustration washed over me like a tidal wave. I had made a grave mistake, one that I could not have foreseen. My mind raced with thoughts and self-condemnation.I had been so caught up in the joy of spending time with Amara and Asher that I had forgotten the most critical detail of all—Asher's condition. I had given him ice cream without considering the consequences, and now I watched helplessly as Sophie's anger was justified.Every word she had thrown at me reverberated in my mind like an echo. I felt the weight of her accusations, and it only deepened my sense of guilt. I had been called irresponsible, and I couldn't help but feel that she was right. How could I have overlooked such an essential detail in caring for Asher?My eyes stung with unshed tears as I thought about the life I had missed with my children. If only I ha
Chapter Thirty-fiveThe Battle LineSophie’s POVI settled into my familiar workspace at the office, the chair creaked as I sank myself into it, my fingers tapping lightly on the keyboard. My eyes were fixed on the computer screen, but my mind was elsewhere.I began to scroll through the files on my desktop, the same ones I had been working on the last time I was here. My task was just to summarize, organize, and prepare the necessary documents for an upcoming meeting. But as much as I tried to focus, my mind refused to cooperate. My thoughts kept drifting to Maxon and what he might be thinking.Maxon remained the father of my children, but he was still the man whose presence in my life was both a source of joy and an endless well of fear and uncertainty. The bitter taste of those emotions settled in the pit of my stomach.I knew him well enough to understand that he would stop at nothing to have his kids back in his life. It didn't matter that he had been absent for years, that he had
Chapter Thirty-sixThe Fight For My KidsMaxon’s POVMy heart pounded with triumphant joy as I sat in the office, the DNA test result in front of me. I had expected this outcome, considering the undeniable resemblance between Amara and Asher, my children, and myself. But Sophie had always been stubborn, never backing down in her determination to keep them away from me, demanding evidence.She had said to me several times that I wasn’t their father, she insulted me and made it a work to always reduce me to nothing.Sophie called me incompetent, she called me irresponsible, she said I would never be able to father my own kids, but I was ready to prove her wrong, to make her take back all she said.Now, I had that evidence.The paper in my hand held the power to shatter Sophie's resistance, to prove that I was the biological father of our children. It was a victory, a step toward reclaiming the precious years I had lost with them. But as I stared at the result, an uncertainty crept in. Wh
Chapter Thirty-sevenLoosing My KidsSophie’s POVI sat there, my body frozen in place, as if a heavy weight had settled upon me, rendering me immobile. Maxon’s words echoed in my mind, and the tears welled up in my eyes. I could see the looming danger, the very real possibility of my children being taken away from me, and it was a nightmare I couldn't wake from.My heart ached with a pain I had never known before. The thought of losing Amara and Asher, my precious children, was unbearable. They were my world, my reason for everything I did, and the idea of being separated from them sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t imagine being away from them, I couldn’t imagine them being taken away from me. They were all I had, my life, I won’t be able to live without them. They were what had been keeping me going since the last five years, how was I supposed to live without them now?In that moment, I wished I could gather them up, take them far away from Maxon, and disappear into hiding. I w
Chapter Thirty-eightThe LawsuitSophie’s POVAs the morning light filtered through the curtains, I woke up to find my children nestled beside me. Amara and Asher, their innocent faces at rest, were a reminder of the looming crisis and challenge that hung over our lives. I knew that Maxon had likely already started working on obtaining custody of the kids, and the thought of facing him in court filled me with a deep sense of unease.I headed for the bathroom and took my bath, then head out of the kitchen to make breakfast before the kids wake up.As I did so, my thoughts waved again, back to the looming battle.I had chosen to leave the life I had before behind, to escape the toxic environment, and to build a new life with my children. It had been a difficult journey, filled with challenges and uncertainties, but it was a journey I would take again and again if it meant protecting Amara and Asher.The sound of my children's laughter reached my ears as they stirred awake from their slum
Chapter Thirty-nineHumiliationSophie’s POVI fell to the chair, my heart pounding painfully in my chest as I clutched the lawsuit in my trembling hand. I gazed at the words on the page, my vision blurring with tears I couldn't hold back. With just this pierce of paper, he could take my kids away from me, he could take my kids and all that made me happy away from me. In that moment, I felt the overwhelming sense of loss wash over me, even before the case had officially begun. I knew Maxon all too well. I knew his determination, his power, and his relentless pursuit of what he wanted. And what he wanted was our children. Maxon could buy all the judges and everyone involved in the case, just to make it favor him, and I’ll be all alone, all by myself.How would I fight this case all by myself? How was I going to do that without help from anyone?I felt like a loner, I didn’t know what to do. How was I going to fight against a man like Maxon? He would do whatever it takes, he would do wh