Victor had always prided himself on being able to handle any challenge that came his way, business, battles, even the complicated dance of romance, but tonight, he found himself facing an entirely new opponent: the kitchen. The moment he had suggested cooking dinner for Emma and Lila, it had seemed like a brilliant idea. A cozy, intimate evening where he could show off a little and take care of the two most important girls in his life.What could go wrong?Everything, as it turned out.The villa kitchen, bright and spacious, looked inviting at first glance. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, and the sound of the ocean was a soft hum in the background. Lila was buzzing with excitement, running around the kitchen, insisting she would be Victor’s “official helper.” Emma, amused by the whole ordeal, lounged on the couch, watching them with an indulgent smile.Victor pulled out the recipe card Emma had left on the counter, a simple pasta dish with homemade sauce. Easy enough, right
Deals and DesireVictor awoke to the soft glow of early morning light seeping through the curtains. His body was still tangled with Emma’s, their skin flushed from the heat of the previous night. But as his eyes blinked open, the haze of passion faded, and the reality of their looming war returned like a cold wave crashing over him.Emma stirred beside him, her hand instinctively reaching for his chest. She didn’t open her eyes, but he could feel the weight of her thoughts pressing against him. The night had given them a brief reprieve, but the world outside was still full of danger, and the Graves Group was closing in.A sudden knock on the door broke the silence.Victor sighed. “Come in.”One of their spies entered, bowing slightly. “Sir, I bring urgent news. The Graves Group is forming alliances with the neighboring warlords. They’re consolidating their forces.”Emma’s eyes snapped open, the warmth between them vanishing as reality hit.“How much time do we have?” she asked, sittin
Promises in the RainThe late afternoon sun had just begun to dip behind the clouds as Victor, Emma, and little Lila wandered through the bustling market. The air was warm, heavy with the scent of spices and the buzz of people chatting, vendors shouting about fresh produce and handmade goods. Lila’s eyes sparkled as she darted from one stall to another, tugging Emma’s hand with every discovery.“Mommy, look! Flowers! Can we get some?” Lila squealed, pointing at a nearby stand.“Of course, sweetheart,” Emma smiled, crouching down to her daughter’s level. “Pick whichever ones you like.”Victor watched from a few steps back, his arms folded across his chest, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he observed the two most important people in his life. His family. The word still felt foreign, but every time he saw Emma’s gentle smile and Lila’s laughter, he was reminded how far they had come.But just as Lila bent down to choose her flowers, the sky rumbled, dark clouds rolling in swiftly. Be
Victor held Emma close, feeling the tension leave her body as she melted into his embrace. The warmth of the fireplace flickered against the walls, casting soft shadows around the room, but all he could focus on was her, the woman who had changed everything for him."I don't want to rush anything," Victor murmured, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. His hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing gently against her skin. "But I can’t keep pretending that I don’t think about what we could be… about what this" he gestured between them, "means for us."Emma blinked, her eyes wide and full of emotion. "Victor, I... I feel the same way. I’ve been thinking about it too. But there’s just... so much going on. You know how complicated things are with everything, Lila, the business, the Phantom..." She trailed off, her voice full of uncertainty.Victor sighed. "I know. But we can’t keep putting our happiness on hold because of all that. Life is never going to be simple, Emma. We’ll alway
Lila’s bondEmma watched from the doorway as Victor gently scooped Lila up into his arms. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the room, but all she could focus on was the softness in Victor’s eyes as he smiled down at their daughter. It was a side of him she hadn’t seen before, tender, protective, almost vulnerable.“You love Daddy, don’t you, Lila?” Emma said softly, leaning against the doorframe, unable to hide the smile on her lips.Lila giggled in response, wrapping her small arms around Victor’s neck. “I love Daddy!” she declared, her voice bright and innocent.Victor chuckled, pressing a kiss to Lila’s forehead. “And Daddy loves you,” he whispered, his voice low, full of affection. Emma’s heart swelled at the sight of them together. It hadn’t always been this way. For a long time, she wasn’t sure they could ever be a real family, but now, watching Victor with Lila, she felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could work out.Victor’s gaze s
Mother’s SecretsThe air between them was thick with tension, and Emma could feel the weight of Victor's silence pressing down on her like a storm about to break. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, his hands clenched into fists. She knew something was wrong, something deep. But Victor had always been good at hiding his pain, locking it away like a secret he didn’t want anyone to uncover.Not even her.“Victor,” Emma said quietly, stepping closer to him, “you can’t keep shutting me out. Not when it comes to Lila. I need to know what’s going on.”He didn't look up. His jaw tightened, and the muscles in his arms tensed as if he was fighting a battle within himself.“I told you,” he said in a low voice. “She’s dangerous.”Emma frowned, crossing her arms. “Dangerous how? You can’t just say that and expect me to accept it without an explanation. This is our daughter we’re talking about.”Victor finally lifted his eyes to meet hers, and the pain she saw there took her breat
Emma’s heart pounded in her chest as the sound of footsteps grew louder, filling the quiet hall with an eerie rhythm. She clutched the note in her trembling hand, her mind racing with fear. Victor stood frozen, his eyes locked on the door, his body tense, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.“Victor…” Emma whispered, her voice barely audible. “Do you think it’s her?”Victor didn’t respond immediately. His sharp gaze remained fixed on the doorway, muscles taut with tension. Then he shook his head, his voice low. “I don’t know. But stay behind me.”The footsteps stopped just outside the door. Emma felt her breath catch, her heart pounding in her throat. Victor’s body was a wall between her and the unknown threat. The silence that followed was deafening.And then, a soft knock. Emma’s nerves shattered like glass. She gripped Victor’s arm, her fingers digging into his skin. “Who—who is it?” she called out, her voice cracking slightly despite her best efforts to sound calm.A fami
Emma’s DilemmaThe sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the room as Emma sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone. Her mind was spinning, haunted by Victor’s silence and the looming presence of his mother. She rubbed her temples, trying to chase away the growing headache. Beside her, Victor lay asleep, his back turned toward her as if even in slumber, there was a distance between them.Emma glanced at him, her heart aching with a mixture of love and frustration. Lately, Victor had been shutting her out more and more, brushing off her questions about his mother with vague responses. She understood he was trying to protect her, but the secrets were becoming too much to bear. Every time she looked at Lila, her daughter’s innocent eyes reminded her of the threats lurking around them. A sudden buzz from her phone jolted her out of her thoughts. She picked it up, her breath catching in her throat when she saw the name flashing on the screen: *Ethan*.Her ex.She stare