As Xavier stepped into Cathleen's bedroom, he was met with a sense of serenity that seemed to emanate from the sleeping figure on the bed. She lay there, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, completely unaware of his presence. He pulled up a chair beside her and settled in, watching her intently. A soft beam of moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting shadows across her peaceful face. He couldn't help but smile as she furrowed her brows and let out a content sigh in her slumber. In this moment, she seemed so vulnerable and fragile, yet she was also fiercely independent. As he sat there gazing at her, he couldn't help but wonder what thoughts and dreams were running through her mind as she slept.He couldn't understand why she had chosen to become a prostitute. Despite the roughness of her profession, she was undeniably breathtaking, and it seemed effortless for her to attract potential suitors. But as he thought about what she did for a living, his smile twisted in

Nature's fury poured forth with unrelenting force, battering the world outside. The deafening rumble of thunder echoed through the sky, drowning out all other sounds. Thick, dark clouds rolled in and swallowed the once-clear blue sky. With each crash of lightning, shadows danced across the pavement below. As the rain began to pelt down on the streets, people scurried for cover, their steps quickening as they searched for any available shelter. The angry downpour was a catalyst for chaos, causing heavy traffic to clog the bustling streets of New York City. Cars honked impatiently, and pedestrians huddled under awnings, seeking refuge from the relentless deluge. The cityscape was transformed into a watery canvas, streaked with vibrant hues and blurred shapes as the rain continued to pour down upon it.As the first drops of rain pattered against the window, old Mr. Knight sat inside the room, lost in thought. The rain quickly escalated into a fierce downpour, its rhythmic beat echoing th

Olivia's heart raced with joy and excitement, causing her to jump up and down like a carefree child. Her jubilation was short-lived, however, as Xavier's words struck her like a massive boulder, driving her to the edge of a cliff."I will not divorce my wife, Father! I love her, and I'm getting to know her." This single statement was enough to make Olivia run and throw herself into the sea. The weight of his words threatened to push her over the edge into a dark abyss of uncertainty and fear. She felt herself teetering on the precipice, unsure if she had the strength to pull herself back from the brink.A wave of paleness washed over Olivia's face, the color draining from her cheeks as she realized that all hope of ever being with the man she loved was lost. Her posture slouched, her shoulders drooping in defeat as she fought back tears that refused to come. The heaviness in her chest made it hard to breathe, and she felt like she was suffocating on her own emotions. All the blood in

"I'm sorry, I won't be able to say anything to you." The doctor said, and Xavier's jaw clenched as the doctor met his glower with an apologetic shrug. The sterile white of the room seemed to close in, a mocking contrast to the dark thoughts clouding his mind. The doctor went on, oblivious to the storm brewing within Xavier. "Cathleen seems like a married woman, and I can only talk to her husband or her family, not friends."The words hung heavy in the air while Xavier’s icy stare bore into the man who was daring to stand between him and his wife—not that he cared about Cathleen, but he needed answers. His temper, a live wire sparking dangerously close to detonation, threatened to break his facade of control. Time was slipping through his fingers, each second pounding against his skull like a drumbeat, heralding his fury."Time is money, Doctor," Xavier spat out, each word laced with venom. He could feel the familiar urge to command and dominate the situation, as he did in the boardroo

The untouched plate of food sat on the table, a silent accusation between them. Cathleen's eyes, sharp as the knives she wielded in court, cut towards it and then away. She wouldn't touch anything Xavier had touched—not after his venomous words had burned her trust to ashes."Are you going to starve yourself to death, then?" Xavier's voice, cold and flat, betrayed none of the anxiety that knotted his insides."Better than risking whatever spite you've cooked into that meal," she spat back, her tongue a whip he'd felt many times before, though never like this—never when she was so vulnerable, confined to the confines of her wheelchair.Her eyes fell to her own hands, useless for the moment, and her legs were a betrayal beneath her. The thought of needing help with something as intimate as bathing twisted her stomach with humiliation. In her mind, she saw herself as strong and indomitable, not this... husk. A tear betrayed her, carving a path down her cheek—a silent cry of new-found hel