He had just been with her three times, his body was satisfied, yet the more content he felt physically, the more he noticed the vast emptiness inside him. It was like falling into a bottomless pit, no end in sight. The woman who filled his heart with joy was so close, yet he felt she was slipping further away from him. He was learning the hard way about the pain of yearning for something unattainable. Maybe all those relentless pursuits... never really end well?
Selena kept Everett at arm''s length, constantly switching her moods around him. She''d act all lovey-dovey when their son was around, but as soon as he was out of sight, she couldn''t wait to put some serious distance between them. Everett''s heart started to grow cold too. He still came home every day, and they shared a bed at night, but he no longer reached out to her. It was like there was a vast gulf between them, truly a case of being close physically but miles apart emotionally.
Before they knew it, September had rolled around. Early autumn in Newport wasn''t all that noticeable; the sun was still zing high in the sky. Today was little Mateo''s first day at school. Alex had secured a spot for him at Newport''s top private school, offering a ster education from kindergarten all the way through high school. With a top-notch faculty and an incredible environment, the real advantage was thework of children from influential families, forming bonds that couldst a lifetime.
The world of elite families was pretty exclusive, making it tough for outsiders to break in. These kids grew up together, forming tight-knit circles that practically paved their way to sess right from the start. It was something others could only dream of.
Everett drove his wife and son to the school for Mateo''s first day. Little Mateo had been buzzing with excitement about school the night before, but when they got to the gates, he turned clingy, holding onto his mom for dear life. Selenaughed softly, trying to reassure him, "Mateo, there''s nothing to be scared of. I''ll be back to pick you upter, and there are lots of kids your age to y with. Didn''t you say Emily and the others were too little and childish for you?"
Mateo had inherited some of
Everett''s aloofness, preferring his ownpany, which wasn''t a great habit. She hoped he''d open up, make friends, and grow up with them. Childhood friendships were such
treasures. Just like Everett angl.
Jaime, even if she didn''t quite fancy Jaime, there was no denying his loyalty to Everett. And then there was her and Joy; though they hadn''t known each other since kindergarten, they''d grown up together, sharing everything like
sisters, closer than most siblings.
Everett suddenly wrapped an arm around Selena''s slender waist. She tensed up slightly but didn''t pull away. "No room for tears, buddy," Everett said, keeping his stern tone. "Off you go. Your mom and I are heading out."
Mateo, not daring to defy his dad,
hefted his backpack, which was almost as big as he was, and reluctantly made his way inside, looking back every few steps. Once he was out of sight behind the big doors, Selena''s smile vanished. She spoke coolly, "You head to the office, I''ll go to the hospital. No need to trouble Mr. Everett, I''ll just grab a taxi."
Everett was left fuming. He pulled his hand back, giving her a chilly look, "No need for the charade, Mrs. Bet." With that, he turned on his heel, headed for his Maybach, climbed in, mmed the door, and sped off with a roar.
Someone stood quietly behind the
school gates, watching them go their separate ways, a faint smile ying on their lips. The school belt rang, and the noisy ssroom feff silent as the kids sat neatly at their desks. A woman in an elegant suit walked in, smiling as she took in the room of young faces. "Hello, everyone. I''ll be your homeroom teacher from now on."
Later that evening, Selena arrived at the school gates right on time to pick up her son. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a familiar figure...