WINTER:Unknowingly, my hands went to my lips and touched them. My breathing slowed as I focused on Calcifer's lips. A kiss, huh? I nibbled on my bottom lip as I remembered the memories. He was such a good kisser and his lips were soft and always red, reminding me so much of the apples I saw on the online streaming platforms. What would it feel like if something happened between us again? It had been a long time since the last time I was with a man. Well, excluding Hawk since these past few months, he was exclusively working for me. Until Calcifer arrived. I shook my head at the train of my thoughts. Those were dangerous thoughts that should have been destroyed the moment they started to kick in. Really, Winter? You're going to be fooled again by someone like him? Then you will cry your heart out?"S-shut up, Calcifer. You're only lonely now. You can kiss your other ex-wife." If he was not lonely, then he would be talking to Carmela now. That woman was desperate to get Cali’s a
WINTER: “I never said that!” I exclaimed.“I heard it, pumpkin. You're so cute when you're embarrassed.”My nose flared. “I'm not trying to be cute!” I whispered in a harsh voice. “I know. You're not acting to be one. It's effortless,” he retorted in a dreamy voice. “Can I keep you forever, pumpkin?”“You're getting drunk.”“Drunk of happiness because of you. I wish we were always like this. I don't know talking to you is fun. It seemed like we were on a courting stage where we got to know each other.” I fell silent. Well, it was true. Back then, we got married directly. Calcifer was so busy at that time, running their business while I was also helping Dad with our company. Except for our names and family background, we did not have any idea who my groom was. “You're being cheesy,” I muttered under my breath, but was silently smiling. I liked talking to him, too, and unfortunately, no matter how much I tried to keep the hatred in my heart, it was slowly disappearing. It will only
WINTER: Are we going on a date? I wanted to ask but stopped myself. Liam had not known Hawk loved me and I did not think this was the best time to tell him about it. And if I did tell him, what would he say? Would he be against it or not?“Where would we go?”“Where do you want to go?” he asked. “I don't have anything in mind.” Right now, I would rather spend my day sleeping in bed, but this was Hawk we were talking about. “But we can go where you want. D-do you have something in mind, Miss Winter?” he asked shyly. Where I want, huh? There was only one thing I wanted. No particular place in mind but somewhere where I could be at peace.Liam raised his hands. “Me, Uncle Hawk. I want to go to the zoo!”“A zoo?” Hawk scratched his head. “If it's fine with your Mom.”"I'm fine everywhere as long as Liam wants it."The child danced with joy. "Yes! Thank you, Mommy! Thank you, Uncle Hawk!""Why don't you change first, Liam so that we can go now?""Yes, Mommy. I will change."I called t
WINTER:The whispers from the women continued and I did not like it a bit. The more that I wanted to hide Hawk from them. My bodyguard deserved someone who would never cheat him. Someone who would love him for the rest of his life. Since when are you getting possessive of your bodyguard? the other part of my mind said. This is not possessiveness. I am merely trying to protect him! Protect him from what? Or are you only jealous, Winter? I'm not jealous of anything or anyone. Why would I be jealous of them? Hawk lifted his gaze, watching me with a confused expression.“This is a nice spot, Miss Winter. Liam can see the giraffes from here.”I'm not jealous, right? I cannot accept that I am jealous. It only meant that I had an inkling of feelings for him. Which only meant that I had some feelings for him and Calcifer.Torn between two lovers, huh?Hawk was not bad at all. He was nice and warm inside so we would get to know him better and I could attest to that. “Yes, Mommy. I love t
WINTER: “Yes, it was a woman, Miss Winter. Is there a problem with a woman being a content creator? You should try watching her videos, Miss Winter. It's educational. She explores different countries and lets you see what that place offers.”My mouth opened and then closed.There was nothing wrong with that. What was wrong was how I thought right now. Was this jealousy over some random woman? And why would I feel like that?“Do you like her?” I asked before I could stop myself. Now, Hawk liking someone was already an issue to you? the other part of my mind asked. “I like her,” he answered without hesitation, without even getting embarrassed. My lips pressed into a thin line. “Why do you like her?” I pressed.“Uhm…is it wrong to like her, Miss Winter?”Yeah. Is it wrong that he will like someone else, Winter? Did you forget that the world does not revolve around you always?“N-No. Nothing.”“Is it not okay to like a content creator, Miss Winter?” he pressed, in pure confusion. I
WINTER:Hawk’s face went bright red as he struggled to look for some words. Aw. Such a cutie.I found him cute especially if he kept on acting like this. When he still could not say anything, I said, “It’s fine, Liam. Uncle Hawk does not need to buy any flowers for Mommy. Bringing me here is enough.”“No, Mommy. Uncle Hawk. You should buy Mommy flowers. Or if you don’t, I will just tell Daddy to bring Mommy one. Mommy, can I call Daddy right now? I will tell him to bring you flowers.”“I forgot to bring you one, Miss Winter.”Hawk and I stared at each other while his face was getting even redder.“Hey. It's no big deal, Hawk.” I was not waiting for anything in return to him. He was new to these things and I accepted anything that he could offer. I did not want to put pressure on him.“No, Miss Winter. I felt bad for forgetting to bring you one.”“You should buy one, Uncle Hawk. Daddy always gives Mommy flowers. And they are all beautiful.” “I…I will buy flowers, Miss Winter. I fou
WINTER:Before I could say anything, the line went dead. What. The. Heck? He did not even listen to my explanation.If I was seething inside, Liam's reaction was quite the opposite. "Yehey! Daddy is coming!" The happiness was clearly showing on his face and I could not stop feeling the guilt. “He is coming, Liam.” Unfortunately. Even if I told him not to, he would force himself here. I felt embarrassed meeting Hawk's gaze. I looked at him with an apologetic look while accepting the bouquet of flowers. "I'm so sorry, Hawk. I never invited him." I smelled the flowers and closed my eyes. Lovely. It was Calcifer who always brought me one despite having a loveless marriage. Maybe it had something to do with our wealth or perhaps he wanted to show off to Dad. "It's fine, Miss Winter. It was Liam who invited him. I cannot say no to the child."He was only saying that, but his ego was already wounded. It was never fine. He was always mad at Calcifer and seeing his presence alone—on our
CALCIFER:The clock was ticking and I could not stay in my seat while waiting for my secretary to give me an update.My mind would occasionally wander to Winter and Hawk and to what they were doing right now. There were piles of documents on my desk, but I did not have the time to read them. Getting Winter's location was the top priority.My secretary, Nathalia Wright, had been glancing at me every now and then. “Ahm, are you sure about this, Mr. Calcifer?” she asked. The moment I showed her the picture and ordered her to locate Winter's location based on the pic, she already got the picture that this was an urgent order from me. “Do you think I am kidding right now? Do you think I have the means to joke in this kind of situation?”“Ahm, okay. You don't have to snap at me, okay?” She continued searching for something on her laptop. “Any news, yet?” I asked my secretary.It had been nearly half an hour when I asked Nathalia to trace Winter’s location. Jacaranda trees. Only a few pa