Entangled Hearts

A mother's love 💕

11:24 pm

Fourteen years ago,

Blackwood manor.

As thunder clapped overhead and rain beat against the windows, young Felix crept along the hallway, tip-toeing gently to avoid waking anyone.The stormy weather outside mirrored Felix's nervous energy as he crept through the darkened hallway, his footsteps muffled by the constant thunder. He reached a room and quietly opened the door, slipping inside.

Felix approached the bed where Rhys lay fast asleep, his small body twitching with each thunderclap. Felix's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he gently shook Rhys's shoulder. "Rhys, wake up.. come on, Rhys," he whispered urgently, trying to rouse his brother from slumber.

Rhys stirred, his voice groggy with sleep. "Wha'... Felix?"

Rhys stirred, blinking sleepily as he woke up. Felix gently tugged on his hand, urging him to get out of bed.

"What's happening?" Rhys asked groggily, still half asleep.

"We're going to see my mom" Felix whispered, his voice hushed with excitement.

"Your mom"

Felix smiled. "That's right! You promised to come with me, remember?

Rhys yawned, stretching his small arms over his head. "Aunt Vanya? I wanna see Aunt Vanya!"

Felix helped Rhys out of bed and held his hand. "Let's go, buddy. We'll go see my mom together"

Rhys stumbled a bit, still sleepy, but Felix supported him. "I'm coming, Felix! I'm coming!"

With their hearts racing, Felix and Rhys crept down the hallway, making as little noise as possible. Suddenly, they spotted a shadow and heard footsteps.

"Quick, hide!" Felix whispered, Felix swiftly dragged Rhys behind a cabinet.

As the shadow drew closer,its outline appeared to be that of a large bear, Rhys's eyes widened in fear. "It's a ghost! Ahhhhh!" he shrieked, before Felix could clamp a hand over his mouth.

The sound echoed throughout the mansion.The shadow approached them, revealing Rosemary, Rhys's twin sister, her eyes sparkling with mischief,her hand,clutching a teddy bear.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Felix whispered harshly.

Rosemary huffed. "You guys always leave me out of everything. I want to see Aunt Vanya too. I miss her."

Rhys frowned, trying to sound grown-up. "Rose, you should be asleep. It's too late for girls to be up."

Rosemary stamped her foot. "No! I wanna come too! Or I'll tell Daddy!"

Felix hesitated, then relented. "Okay, okay... you can come. Just please, stop shouting."

As the trio crept down the hallway, they were oblivious to the shadow watching their every move. Just as they reached the front door, a deep voice boomed from behind them, making the children jump in fear.

"Where are you going, children?" their father demanded, his fierce gaze piercing through the darkness.

"We're just getting a snack, Dad," Felix said, his voice shaking with nervousness.

"The kitchen isn't in that direction, do you think I'm a fool?" their father replied, his voice laced with suspicion.

Rosemary, still trembling, blurted out, "We wanna see Aunt Vanya!"

Rhys quickly covered her mouth, his eyes wide with warning. "Rose, shh!"

Felix cried out, his voice reverberating through the hallway. "Stop, Rhys, stop! I don't care if we're not supposed to talk about her, but I miss my mom. I haven't seen her in two years!"

Their father's gaze hardened. "Let's ignore the fact that you're sneaking out in the middle of the night, or that you've been corrupting your siblings' minds to support that vile woman. But one thing I cannot ignore is your refusal to accept your new mother after all these years.

"She is not my mother!" Felix retorted, his voice raw with emotion. "Just because you decided to marry her, it doesn't make her my mother! I have a right to see my real mom."

Their father's face twisted with rage. "You will address Monique with respect! She has been nothing but kind and supportive to you all, and yet you continue to disrespect her. "

"Maybe my mom's the only one who loves me here!" Felix shouted, his voice filled with hurt. "You hate me for being her son, but you still want me to be your heir! Aunt Monique will never be my mother!"

Suddenly, a beautiful woman with blond hair and a flowing red nightgown appeared, her arm draped over their father's. "What's going on here, honey?"

Rhys and Rosemary instantly ran to hug her thighs. "Mom, Dad won't let us see Aunt Vanya!" Rosemary exclaimed.

The woman's face transformed with understanding.

"All I'm doing is trying to teach a spoiled brat like Felix that he shouldn't mingle with people below his station," their father said, his voice filled with authority.

Felix's hands clenched into fists at the insult, but he kept silent.

"If you won't learn the easy way," his father continued, "then you'll learn the hard way. Go and kneel in the rain until you give up this ridiculous idea of seeing that vile woman."

The beautiful woman frowned. "But dear, he's just a child. He doesn't know any better."

"He's not a child anymore," their father replied, his tone stern and unwavering. "It's time he learned that actions have consequences. He needs to understand that his place is with us, not with those people."

"Honey, he's just a kid; he doesn't know right from wrong," their mother pleaded, her voice filled with concern.

"No, this is for the best. It's time he learned," their father insisted, his tone unwavering.

"But--"

"No buts. My decision is final. Why don't you look after him and see if he admits his wrongdoings?" their dad said as he firmly guided the twins towards their bedroom.

The twins struggled and shouted, their protests falling on deaf ears as their father remained steadfast in his resolve.

Once the door clicked shut, Monique reached into her pocket and produced a lighter and a cigarette, lighting it with a quick flick of her wrist. Felix remained teary-eyed, clutching his hand as he watched his step mother with a mix of fear and confusion.

Monique knelt down to Felix's level, blowing a cloud of smoke into his face. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A disgruntled maid's son playing the role of an heir?"

"I don't want to be here; all I want is to see my mom," Felix whimpered, his eyes downcast.

Monique let out a mocking laugh. "My, my, all that can be settled if you just took a long walk and never returned."

Young Felix looked up at his stepmom, her words piercing through his vulnerable heart. He couldn't understand why she was being so cruel, and he longed for the comfort of his mother's embrace.

Monique's voice dripped with venom as she grasped Felix's shoulders, shaking him roughly. "Don't think you're worthy of more than your station, boy. You're just a maid's son. Don't dare aspire to be anything more, or you'll face my wrath."

Felix's eyes dropped, tears streaming down his face. Monique's grip tightened. "Do you understand me?"

Felix's sobs grew louder. "Y-yes, ma'am..."

Monique's expression twisted in cruelty. "Good. Remember, my son Rhys is the rightful heir. I'll stop at nothing to ensure he remains so."

She released Felix, dusting off her hands. "Back to your punishment, then."

Felix slowly rose to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. Monique led him to the door, pushing him out into the chilly night air. The cold wind hit him like a slap, making his teeth chatter.

"Kneel," Monique ordered, her voice firm.

Felix sank to his knees on the damp ground, his thin pants offering little protection from the cold. The stone patio was unforgiving beneath him, and he could feel the chill seeping into his bones.

Hours passed, and still, he didn't make a sound. The cold seeped deeper, making his muscles ache and his skin numb. Felix's mind grew foggy, his thoughts muddled by the exhaustion and cold. He felt like he was disappearing, bit by bit, into the darkness.

As the night wore on, Felix's body began to weaken. His knees throbbed, his back ached, and his head spun. He felt himself swaying, his vision blurring, and then, everything went black in place.

The present

1:39 am

Blackwood hotels

Sweat poured down Felix's face, his body convulsing violently as he relived the nightmare of his troubled past. The shadowy figures of his memories danced in his mind, taunting him, mocking him. He could almost feel the frightening cold on his knees.

His breath came in shallow gasps, his heart racing like a runaway horse.Beads of sweat formed on Felix's forehead, his body trembling as he relived the nightmare of his youth. A lady, her long, silky hair cascading down her back and her curves accentuated by the silk gown she wore, shook him from his nightmare.

"Adrian, Adrian wake up, wake up!" she said, fear in her voice.

But Felix's reaction to the nightmare continued, his teeth chattering and his body still shivering. The lady seemed increasingly scared as she shook him continuously, her eyes darting around the room.

His body jerking upright with such force that he nearly lost his balance. The lady, who had been anxiously watching over him, reached out to steady him.

"Adrian, Adrian tell me, are you okay?" she asked, her voice quivering with concern.

Felix let out a groggy groan in response, his eyes still clouded with the remnants of his nightmare. The lady, growing more fearful by the second, grabbed his face and held up a hand, showing him several fingers.

"I think it's time you get going"Felix said pushing her away.

Kassia's voice trembled. "Adrian, please let me take care of you..."

Felix cut her off, his words slicing through the air. "Remember the rules, Kassia? Don't get clingy. You're one step away from suffocating me."

Kassia's face crumpled. "All I want is for you to open your heart to me, to let me love you..."

Felix let out a derisive chuckle as he rubbed his temples, still shaken by the remnants of his nightmare. "Doll face, when we started this little tryst of ours, I thought I made myself perfectly clear: I'm not looking for a nursemaid or a mother, and I sure as hell ain't looking for love. You knew that going in. So stop with the weepy eyes and just accept that I'm not the white knight you're looking for."

"But I love you "

"Listen up, sweetheart, I have known you since when we were kids, you I go by Felix" Felix snapped, his patience wearing thin. " But We're not here to hold hands and sing kumbaya. You're a good lay, but that's all you are to me. I don't need you hovering over me like some sad-eyed puppy dog.

Kassia flinched at his harsh words, her tears threatening to spill over. "But... but I just want to be there for you," she pleaded.

"Save it for someone who cares, now get out" Felix said, his voice ice-cold.

Kassia let out a sob, her tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "You will be mine one day, Adrian," she said, her voice thick with emotion. She turned and fled from the room, leaving Felix alone.

As soon as she left, the phone rang, shrill in the silence. Felix's gaze lifted to the bedstand, where the phone seemed to be ringing louder by the second. He struggled to his feet, exhaustion weighing him down, and stumbled towards the phone.

"Hello?" he growled, his voice laced with irritation.

"Whoa, bro, chill out!" Klaus's voice replied, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Felix sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. "What do you want?"

"Can't a guy just call his favorite person in the morning without getting the third degree?" Klaus teased.

"It's one in the morning, Klaus," Felix growled. "Just tell me why you called."

Klaus paused for a moment before continuing, his voice more serious. "Well, it's about the interview. Paula and I think that Miss Cohyen is the best candidate out of everyone we interviewed. Given your history with her, we just wanted to see if you're okay with us hiring her."

"Oh, you mean the mud girl," Felix said dismissively. "I don't care. Do what you have to do. She'll be gone soon anyways they always leave."

"And I wonder why that is," Klaus quipped, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Maybe because you scare them away?"

"They know what they're getting themselves into," Felix countered. "It's not my fault if they can't handle it."

"Wow Felix I didn't expect you to be so understanding"

"You know, it might have something to do with the fact that it's one in the morning and you called immediately after my fight with Kassia," Felix snapped. " But You must have known that, didn't you?"

"Wait, hold on," Klaus said defensively. "I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to make sure you were sure about the interview ."

"Stop lying to me,why are you really calling, Klaus? Did Kassia put you up to this? She probably called you crying, just like she always does, and I know you've always had a soft spot for her."

Klaus sighed, his voice softening. "Look, I just wanted to check on you, man. You know Kassia can be dramatic, but this time it sounded different, and I was worried."

"You could've been direct from the start instead of baiting me with the job interview," Felix countered. "But you love pushing my buttons, don't you?"

"You know where the fun is,"" Klaus chuckled. "But seriously, I need to know if you're okay. Kassia said you were in rough shape."

"I'm fine. You worry too much, Klaus," Felix said dismissively. "Kassia's overreacting as usual."

"She may be stubborn, but she's also been there for you since we were kids and she understands you better than anyone.

"And that's why she keeps getting hurt," Felix said. "She knows I don't love her, but she insists on trying to be more than just a good lay Felix sighed "But why are you sticking your nose into my business, anyway? Don't you have your own problems to deal with?"

"This isn't about me, Felix," Klaus said, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I'm sick of seeing Kassia get hurt by you for no reason."

"Oh, don't pretend this isn't about you," Felix said. "You think I haven't noticed how you pretend not to see Paula's feelings for you? Your fake obliviousness is just as hurtful to her as I am to Kassia.

Klaus laughed nervously, his discomfort evident. "What are you talking about? Paula's just a good friend. I don't know what you're getting at."

"Keep telling yourself that, Klaus," Felix said with a chuckle. "But just remember, I warned you. Don't hurt Paula like I've hurt Kassia."

Klaus stammered, searching for a retort. But before he could respond, Felix ended the call.