WINTER:I squinted my eyes. “Where did that come from?”He averted his gaze, which he usually did. “I saw you smiled at him when he pushed you on top of him.”I tried to recall if I acted like a teenager squealing because of happiness as she touched her crush's body, but I did not. “Is there a problem with that? We did not kiss or fuck each other in the living room. Besides, I am single. So is Cali though I am not saying that I wanted something to happen between us. That chapter of my life was already closed, Hawk.”He stared at me for a moment before he looked away again. “You are right. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you two loved each other.”I narrowed my eyes. “Wait. Stop whatever wrong thinking you have in your mind. I wanted to clarify. Who said we loved each other? Calcifer loved Carmela. He never loved me. What did you see earlier? He was messing me out. Trying to make fun. I was out of the equation. Cali had no feelings, okay?”Now, why did that thought stung
WINTER:Seeing Jett-Jett meant seeing Carmela, too, which I did not like at all. But could I tell them that I don't approve of it?“Mommy, please? I was already looking forward to meeting Jett-Jett. We always talked over the phone.”Courtesy of Calcifer. It seemed like he wanted the two to get closer to each other so that when he would drop the bomb that they were siblings, it would be easier for the two to accept it. “This will be a good time to let them meet, pumpkin. The two have nothing to do right now.”“How about that woman?” I inquired. How would I explain to Liam if that woman will come out of the blue and do something else? Like doing inappropriate things?Like showing her cleavage in front of the kids? Or maybe in front of Cali and the kids would see how she seduced my ex-husband? “She is not living with me, pumpkin. Rest assured that she will not know I am at my house.”“And the child? Are you taking custody of your child?”“I was the one taking care of her. Carmela gave
WINTER:“Jett-Jett,” Cali called, his patience wearing thin. “I told you to be nice to Liam and his mom when they visit us. I thought we were already clear about that?”Jett-Jett's lips pressed into a snarl. “Well, I don’t like them, Dad and they can go back to where they came from. They are not welcome in our house.”I wished I never came here. I felt sorry for my child who did not even know what was happening or why he was being hated by someone who did not even know him.So unfair. “What? That’s not a good thing to say. You apologize to them now!” Cali demanded, his patience wearing thin. Not wanting to back down, Jett-Jett retorted, “I don’t want to! It’s not my fault! It’s her fault for taking you away from me and Mommy. How could she be shameless, Daddy?”“Mommy? Are you okay?” Liam whispered, clutching my clothes as if his life depended on it. “I'm fine, Liam. Don't listen to what she says. She's only upset,” I whispered. “Let's forgive her, shall we? Planting a grudge again
WINTER: As much as I knew that Calcifer was single and that he had no girlfriend and it was not Carmela, the feeling as if you were caught sinning persisted.It seemed like a bucket of water was thrown into me. As if burned, I pushed Calcifer away from me. My eyes trained on the newcomer whose nostrils were steaming. Carmela. His other ex-wife.If looks could kill, I would be dead by now. She shrieked an ear-splitting one that nearly made my ears bleed. “How could you do this to me?” she exclaimed; her face burned with anger. Calcifer straightens himself while blocking my eyesight from the woman. He was trying to protect me.Don't you dare hide, Winter. You did nothing wrong. You did not seduce Calcifer of anything like that. Still, why did it feel like we were discovered for doing immoral acts even if there were none. Why am I hiding behind him? His broad back felt like strong walls that would protect me from any rabid animals. “Do what?” he calmly asked. “What am I doing?
CALCIFER:I watched in agony as Winter dragged Liam outside the house. It was so close. Winter had slowly given in, but Carmela had to buted in, killing the moment. Fuck. Why did she have to show herself and create a scandal? This woman had no class. I clenched my fist. How to get rid of this woman? She won't even give up on me and I did not like it a bit. She was getting on my nerves. "Why haven't you told me you arrived, Cali?" Carmela asked when it was already the two of us. “Didn't I tell you that I will get you at the airport?”I glared at her. "Winter is my visitor. I invited them because Jett-Jett has no playmates. Why do you have to destroy everything, huh?" I growled.She looked at me in disbelief and pain. Then, she pointed at herself. "Me?”“Yes, you!”I've been trying to win her back. To aim for her forgiveness. But then Carmela had to show herself. What a fucking right timing. “What if it is my fault? Why are you so angry? Is it because I stepped in and stopped you fr
CARMELA:It was the woman’s fault because Cali’s love for me had disappeared.I hated her for that. I want her to disappear from the picture forever. But how? Cali will kill me if I do something to that woman. But was killing her worth it just to attain Calcifer’s love and attention?His world no longer revolved around me. Back then, I could always wrap him around my fingers. Whatever I said, he would always listen. He was my puppet and I used his love for me to get whatever I want from him. Bags. Shoes. Money. Calcifer was the richest person I could ever had and I did not want him to lose like that. All because of Winter.I bit my fingernails.I wanted that woman gone. I need to plan this well. Something that would not leave any evidence at all. “Mommy? Why are you crying?” Jett-Jett asked.After Cali left and went to his room, I entered the child’s room. The child whom Cali had attached to. It was unfortunate that I had to use her so that Cali would not cut off his financial suppor
WINTER:An almost kiss. Until now, I could not forget the feel of his weight pressing against mine. Of Calcifer’s scent and everything about him. If Carmela did not arrive, would I give in? Would we kiss?I put my fingers on my lips, remembering how it felt to have his lips against mine.Calcifer.Why could I not forget that man? Was he thinking about me? He never bothered to send me a text when I left. Which meant only one thing. He did not care what I would think. He just let me overthink.Damn. To think he told me he liked me. If he truly did like me, he should be asking right now if I was fine or not after what his daughter had told me.With all honesty, I could not blame the kid. Her mother was still alive so it was a given that she would prefer her mother over me. Still, I was glad that even for a short period of time, Liam and Jett-Jett were able to bond.My eyes shifted to Liam’s sleeping form. He had long fallen asleep, but me? I could not force myself to sleep.The heck.I
WINTER:Hawk loved me.It was surreal and I did not know what was happening. Or whether I would believe him.I pointed at myself. “You loved me?”“Is it unbelievable?”“It is. I’m sorry, but I am not taking your feelings for granted. But…I cannot give you a response right now.”“It’s fine, Miss Winter. You don’t have to give me your answer. Saying my feelings to you was already a great help since I was able to get rid of this heavy feeling.”“I’m sorry, Hawk.”“It’s fine, Miss Winter.”He turned his back. Just as he was about to step forward, I said, “Hawk…I haven’t given an answer yet.”“I will understand whatever your opinion, Miss Winter.”“Are you sure?”“I am fine.”He was not fine. His shoulders drooped and he was sad. I wished I could ease the pain he felt right now, but my heart was in chaos. I just could not lie to myself and tell him that everything was okay. That I would be choosing him, because right now, I cannot do anything.“You will still stay, right?”He laughed in a l