Chapter 10 -Celine's POV- The blaring of my alarm rips me from sleep , my heart slamming against my chest like it already knows I've messed up . Sunlight spills through the thin curtains , painting streaks of gold across the room . I rub my temple , blink at the numbers flashing on the alarm clock , and- " Shit ! It's seven - thirty ! " 38 Panic surges through me as I launch out of bed . * God . No. No. No. * Hunter warned me about being late . He warned me . And now I've done exactly what he told me not to . I whip around and shake Caesar gently . " Baby , wake up . I'm late for work . " He groans , curling deeper into the covers like he's trying to escape the morning . " No , Caesar , you gotta wake up! " My voice is soft but desperate , my hands moving over his back in frantic strokes . He still doesn't budge , so I do the only thing I can - I scoop him up in my arms and rush toward the bathroom . " Mom , I wanna sleep , " he mumbles against my shoulder . I wish I could let him . I wish I had the luxury of slow mornings , of making pancakes and singing silly songs to wake him up instead of this - this rushed , chaotic mess of a morning . But I don't . So I set him down and grab his toothbrush , moving as quickly as I can . " Ahh , Mom ! That hurts ! " He squirms as I scrub his teeth too hard . I bite my lip , guilt seeping in . " I'm sorry , baby . I didn't mean to hurt you . I just - we have to hurry ." Minutes bleed into each other , and before I know it , we're ready . Caesar in his white shirt and red jeans . Me in a simple yellow dress . I hoist him into my arms and rush toward the door when his small voice stops me . " Caesar , please , not now , " I plead , already feeling the seconds slip through my fingers like sand . His eyes glisten as he points toward the kitchen . " Mom , I'm hungry . " My stomach twists . I exhale sharply , dragging a palm down my face . In the rush of getting ready , I didn't even think about breakfast . I force a smile . " Don't worry , honey . You'll eat at work , okay ? " He sniffs but doesn't argue . I don't have time to feel like shit about it . I grab my bag , run out the door , and flag down the first cab I see . ### I don't know how long I've been working . Maybe hours . Maybe forever . Long enough to forget that I'm not just a maxi . Long enough to forget that I have a son waiting for me . 1/4 39 Chapter 10 I had left Caesar by the door before I started cleaning Hunter's study . Like always . But now- His cries rip through the house . Loud . Heartbreaking . Impossible to ignore . My blood turns to ice . I don't think . I just * run . * I fly down the stairs so fast I can barely breathe , my heart hammering against my ribs as I silently beg- * Please , God . Don't let Hunter be there . Don't let him see this . * But when I reach the living room , my worst nightmare unfolds before me . Hunter is standing in front of Caesar . Watching him . And Caesar - my sweet , innocent little boy - is sitting on the floor , his tiny body shaking with sobs . * Fuck . Fuck . Fuck . * Before I can reach him , a hand yanks me back , pressing me behind one of the pillars . The head maid . Her f ed in fury , her voice slicing through me like a blade . " What the hell is your problem ? You think this is a to speak , but nothing comes out . Or just choosing not to answer ? " she snaps , her words dripping with venom . " Your son's crying has been eryone , and it was * so * loud that the boss had to come out and see what was going on ." e don't care about your past , " she continues , her voice a low hiss , " but do * everyone * a favor and keep the product of your irresponsible lifestyle under control . " The words hit like a slap . Like a punch straight to the gut . And suddenly , I can't breathe . My lips pressed into a thin line , heat rising in my chest . My voice came out sharper than I intended . " He's not a product of an irresponsible lifestyle . That's such a mean thing to say . " Laughter . Sharp . Mocking . It sliced through me like a blade . " We didn't expect you to admit it anyway , so spare us the scolding , " one of them sneered . " You better go handle that son of yours before the boss decides to do it for you . " And just like that , they walked away , leaving me standing there , fists clenched at my sides . I inhaled deeply , trying to steady the tightness in my throat , and the sting in my eyes . I wouldn't cry . Not here . Not in front of them . Because as cruel as their words were , they weren't wrong . 2/4 9:08 pm G G G G Chapter 10 I needed to check on Caesar . A sharp , broken wail cut through the tension in my chest . " My stomach hurts ! " The second I heard him say it , my heart twisted violently in my chest . Oh God . I forgot to feed him . A wave of guilt crashed over me so hard it left me breathless . I felt it deep in my bones - this unbearable ache , this frustration at myself . How could I be so careless ? He's only three . He depends on me for everything , and I forget the most basic thing . My fingers curled into fists , the anger - at myself , at this job , at everything - threatening to consume me . " Is that why you're crying so much ? " Hunter's voice was quieter than I expected . Softer . Like he cared . I barely had time to process it before I saw Caesar opening his mouth to answer . " Umm . Uhh , nothing's wrong with him. " My words rushed out as I forced a smile , my hand tightening around Caesar's shoulder . " He's just upset that I haven't been with him all day . " It was a lie . A stupid , obvious lie . 38 Hunter's eyes darkened instantly , a silent warning flashing through them . My breath hitched . My hands trembled . But I held his stare , forcing myself to stay composed . I crouched down , wiping the streaks of tears off Caesar's face . " Sweetie , it's okay . Please don't cry . I'll get your toy . You love your toy , right ? " Hunter didn't move . Didn't say a word . But I could feel the weight of his presence behind me , like an invisible force pressing into my back . " I don't want my toy , Mom ! I want to- " Before he could finish , I pressed his face into my chest , muffling his words . Hunter was still watching . I could feel it . " There , there , sweetheart , " I whispered , my voice shaking slightly . " I understand . But please , get up , okay ? " " No. " His refusal came so quickly , so firmly , it sent another wave of panic through me . Then I heard it . The sound of Hunter's footsteps moving toward us . My body went rigid . My heart pounded against my ribs . 3/4 9:08 pm G GGG Chapter 10 * Oh God . Oh God . Oh God . * I stood up so fast my legs nearly gave out . But I kept my back straight , kept my face blank , even though I was unraveling inside . Hunter stepped closer , his gaze dropping down to Caesar , still sitting on the floor , tears staining his cheeks . I braced myself for it . For the words I knew were coming . You're fired . Get out of my house . But he didn't even look at me . His eyes stayed locked on Caesar as he spoke . His voice was quiet . Cold . Unshakable . " Get up . " 4/4 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!