00:17

I took a drag.
“Why do you keep forgiving him? He won’t respect you.” — Hades
“You don’t understand.”
“Oh yeah, of course you don’t. You forgive him everything, everything, everything — you’re an idiot. He’ll walk all over you and control you.”
“That’s not true.”
Hades snapped.
“Then explain it, damn it.”
I took a deep breath.
“Caleb is… in pieces…”
I waved it off.
“You still won’t understand.”
Hades flared up again.
“What does that have to do with you? Let him put himself back together.”
“He is doing it himself. He’s doing everything himself, everything…”
Tears started running down my face.
“Caleb is the bravest out of all of them.
He’s completely torn apart — I don’t even understand how he’s still breathing, still trying, still supporting me and carrying the business on his back.”
“You’re unbelievably stupid. You don’t understand what kind of strength he has.”
“Yeah right.” — Hades
I waved him off.
“What’s your problem? That he’s stronger than you expected?”
Hades exploded.
“Idiot, he’s using you!”
“That’s not true! That’s not true!”
“Caleb is not that kind of man. He wouldn’t do that.”
“Oh really? Then why does he keep running away like a coward?”
“Shut up.”
I started smoking nervously.
“You’re such an asshole. Caleb has to hold himself together every single day just not to hang himself. He’s completely rebuilding himself — it’s insanely hard. He’s crushed by himself… and he’s in a really fucked-up place right now… and this idiot keeps poking me with that ‘some other man would handle it’ bullshit…”
“What a piece of shit.
What a bastard.”
“Yeah? Convinced yourself?” — Hades calmly filing his nails
“Shut up! You’re unbelievably stupid, so stupid it’s beyond words. That guy is insanely strong.”
“Yeah, sure, sure…”
He paused.
“You’re hysterical.”
“You piece of shit!”
I shoved him.
He shoved me back — and the fight started.
Jafar pulled me away.
Hades’ lackeys held him.
I spat out blood.
“You dumb piece of shit! So fucking dumb!”
“And you’re a slut, got it? A slut! You can’t say no to him. Where’s your willpower, damn it? He shows up and you melt instantly!”
“That’s not… okay, it is, but—”
“But what, what, what?” — Hades mocked me
I snapped.
“You fucking asshole!
It’s because I love him — that’s why I react to him!”
“Oh yeah, a slut. You’d sleep with Nate, with Colin — hell, even with Jonathan if they got a little closer.”
“That’s not true!”
“Oh really? Don’t you forget how to breathe when Nate’s around?”
I clenched my fists.
“That was a special case. I was weak, I was starving. And even then I didn’t let him touch me.”
“That’s only because he didn’t push. If he kissed you — you’d spread your legs instantly.”
“You piece of shit!”
And I lunged at him again.
He hit me back.
The fight exploded again.
I kept kicking and kicking.
Hades kept aiming for my stomach.
I was completely out of breath.
And finally shoved him.
“You fucking piece of shit.”
He spat at me.
“Slut.”
“Asshole.”
And wiping the blood, I walked home.
“What the hell does he understand… nothing… nothing.”
“Piece of shit.”
“He understands nothing.”
“Aaaaa—!”
I screamed into the air.
“Aaaaa!”
“Slut, slut—” — Hades
“Aaaaa!”
“Get lost, you asshole!”
“Caleb is power. I know that.”
“Fuck that fucking bastard.”
“Nazokat, don’t listen to him.
Don’t listen.”
“Fuck that piece of shit.”
Psychiatric ward
I knocked softly.
Caleb was asleep.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Damn.
I wiped my tears
and took his hand.
“My dear… don’t listen to anyone.
I know who you really are.”
“You idiot.” — Hades
“Get lost.”
And then Caleb woke up.
“Kitten…”
He immediately pulled me toward him.
I smiled.
“My love…”
Caleb pulled back.
“Sweetheart, why are you here?”
“What do you mean, why am I here?”
“Sweetheart…” — he took my hands —
“Kitten, I don’t know how long this is going to take… my ass is already sore from the injections.”
I laughed.
“Sweetheart…”
He touched my cheek.
“You need to…” — he swallowed —
“you need to leave me… sweetheart, and move on.”
Hades rolled his eyes.
“How long is he going to keep playing the hero?”
“Caleb, I don’t think so.”
“Angel…”
His hands started shaking again.
“Caleb…”
He closed his eyes.
“Do you want to hit me again?”
Caleb rubbed his forehead.
I started crying.
“But why? Caleb, are you angry at me?
Why is this happening?”
“I am angry, sweetheart.”
“My God… at what?”
“Well, first of all, it pisses me off that everyone just hangs around you whenever they feel like it while I’m right here.”
“Caleb…”
“Sweetheart.” — he cut me off
“Yeah, better not argue with him.” — Hades
“Nate. Jonathan. Colin. Probably Aaron too.
And all those other guys…”
I raised an eyebrow.
“All your… politicians, Hollywood, medics, military — how many of them are there, for fuck’s sake?”
“Caleb…”
He started shaking.
Caleb grabbed my hands.
“I’m not sharing you, damn it.
It pisses me off that they have your photos.
It pisses me off that you see them.
I’m furious, sweetheart.
It pisses me off.”
He started smashing everything around him.
I tried to steady myself.
I’m not afraid of him. I’m not afraid of him.
This is Caleb, and he loves me.
Come on, kitten, it’s him.
He won’t hurt us.
“Yeah, we’ll see.” — Hades
“Caleb.”
“What?!”
“First of all — just because you’re angry doesn’t give you the right to talk to me like that.”
He lowered his eyes.
“And second — you fucking asshole, I don’t know a single woman who would support you the way I do, you fucking bastard.”
“Is it my fault that everyone wants me?
What the hell am I supposed to do about it?
Whether they love me or not — what does that have to do with me?”
“Yes, those are my guys.
They’re connected to me, and I’m connected to them.
We have… our own kind of family.”
“That shouldn’t be happening. You’re mine.”
“What? Are you out of your mind?
What, you gonna lock me in a basement too?!”
“It’s not my fault you’re insecure.
What does that have to do with me?
I’ve proven to everyone that I’m with you, that I love you.
If you can’t handle my light — that’s on you.”
Caleb exhaled sharply.
“You think I’m weak?”
“Ha. Of course you are.”
Caleb broke down crying.
“Well, there you go.” — Hades
There was a knock at the door.
Michael whispered to me that the doctors were coming.
Damn.
There’s no time.
I kicked Caleb.
He kept crying.
I realized his psyche had gotten way too comfortable there.
How convenient — the second there’s a scene, it’s “I’m little Caleb, you wouldn’t hit a child.”
Oh I fucking will.
I swung and hit him again.
“Get up.”
Caleb wiped his nose.
I kicked him again.
“Get up.”
He shifted slightly.
“Get up! Get the fuck up!”
I don’t fall in love with weak men.
Where’s your growl, damn it?!
“Sweetheart…”
I screamed like I’d lost my mind.
“Where’s your growl?!”
Caleb changed in an instant.
I swallowed.
Oh God…
“That reminds me of someone… wasn’t his name Derek?” — Hades
My eyes widened.
Damn.
“Caleb, easy… easy…”
He rolled his neck.
“Sweetheart…”
I swallowed again.
Oh God…
Caleb stepped closer.
“Sweetheart, I’ll get myself back together. Everything will be fine.
But right now I’m not myself.
You should leave.”
“And that’s it?”
“Sweetheart…” — he kissed me —
“I’d be lost without you.”
I smiled.
“As you say, Mr. Caleb, sir.”
Caleb let out a growl
and grabbed my jaw.
“Sweetheart, don’t do that.”
I unbuttoned my blouse.
“As you say.”
“Fuck…”
Caleb licked his lips
and slammed me into the wall.
My breathing quickened.
“Kitten… you’re so sweet…”
And then the doctors walked in.
“What are you doing?! You can’t provoke him!”
I buttoned up.
“Ahem.
Sorry.”
“Please step outside.”
“Of course.”
“Come here for a moment.” Caleb froze.
I swallowed.
We were alone again.
“Sweetheart…”
He rubbed his neck.
“I need to tell you something.”
I held my breath.
God… what is he about to tell me…
“My angel… sweetheart… back then I was young.
And I didn’t have you.”
I swallowed.
Oh God… what is he about to tell me…
“Sweetheart… I… I was different back then, you understand?
That was a different man… my angel…”
“Caleb, what happened?”
“Sweetheart… I was 21.”
I tried not to break down.
“I was seeing a girl.”
I grimaced.
If he still loves her, I’ll kill him right here.
“She got pregnant.”
“…okay…”
“And… we… I mean I… I pressured her.”
My head started spinning.
“Sweetheart—”
“Shut up.”
I grabbed my head.
“The abortion… they killed the child.
They killed the baby…”
I held my head.
Caleb tried to touch me.
“Get away from me.
Don’t.
Don’t you dare touch me.
You piece of shit, don’t touch me.”
The doctors rushed back into the room.
I tried to leave.
My head was spinning.
I collapsed, and the nurses took me to Sam.
“You okay?” — he handed me water
“Sam… damn…” — I tried to hold onto something —
“is there any chance the baby didn’t feel it?”
He slowly shook his head.
Rage tore through me.
“Bastard… bastard… bastard…”
I was shaking with anger.
“He should’ve told me from the start.
No — this bastard waited until we were already in love, and only then dropped this on me.”
“Sam…”
He sat down
and pulled out a sedative.
“You gonna sit down yourself, or should I call the nurses?”
I sat down irritably.
Sam injected the sedative and set up an IV.
“Listen… Caleb was completely different back then.”
“Damn it, Sam, what difference does it make?!”
“Sweetheart… it makes a huge difference… remember second year?”
I flinched.
Medical school had already sobered me up — with its brutal truth, with how things really are, not some fairy tale.
Sam nodded.
“Remember?”
I lowered my head.
“I remember.”
I remembered everything I went through while studying.
There are things in life that make your hair stand on end.
Damn.
I wiped my tears.
I thought — considering how much Caleb has changed… he probably hates himself for this.
“So now we’re supposed to feel sorry for him?” — Hades was eating salmon
I grimaced.
“Disgusting.”
He waved it right in front of my face on purpose.
I swallowed.
Logic and analysis took over.
“Don’t spiral.” — mind
And I nodded.
The act was shit.
Caleb back then was a complete piece of shit.
But damn — what now?
It’s already done.
Sure, if the child could be saved — that would be one thing.
But the decision was made. The baby is gone.
Damn…
Tap… tap… tap…
Tears started pouring.
And I began thinking about that woman.
What could push someone to do something like that?
Maternal instinct is strong — how did this even happen?
He said he pressured her.
But honestly… I don’t even know what kind of pressure it takes for a mother to give up her child.
I sat down and started thinking deeply.
Cut it off.
This is not the time for emotions.
We need to figure this out.
“Right, baby.” — Hades tossed another piece of salmon in his mouth
Ugh.
Okay… pressured… pressured…
What could that mean?
“Sam?”
“What?”
“Listen, in your psych ward… do you, like, have safeguards? You know… for situations like that…”
“Yeah. Nurses are always around. The chances of a patient hurting themselves are almost zero.”
“Good.”
“And why do you need that?” — Hades snorted
Caleb’s state is extremely unstable.
I figured every argument with me — along with all his past demons — kept pressing on his mind, whispering that he failed… that maybe he should just… end it.
I started shaking.
Oh God…
“You idiot. He’s a walking disaster. Only someone as stupid as you would get involved with him.” — Hades
“Shut up. You’re too stupid to understand.”
“Of course. What do I know…”
“Shut. Up.”
I need my mind.
It’ll sort this out.
“Think.” — mind
“Got it.”
And I kept analyzing.
Pressure…
Hmm.
It’s unlikely you can just pressure someone enough for them to give up their child like that.
Maybe it was a threat?
No… unlikely.
Damn, I need more details.
Let’s assume he lied to her.
But how?
How do you lie about something like abortion? She knew exactly what that was.
Maybe she didn’t fully grasp it?
No… unlikely.
I pictured Caleb, furious, yelling that he didn’t want the child.
And tears started running again.
Oh God…
The image felt so real.
So vivid.
His face flushed, yelling at her…
God…
“Yeah… and that’s your prince…” — Mushu
I broke down crying.
“Will you shut up already?!”
I called Nate.
While he’s on his way, I’ll think more.
Okay, he yelled at her — but what about her?
Worst case, she could’ve given the baby to her parents.
God…
I got it.
It wasn’t about where to put the child.
It was about Caleb not wanting it to be born.
I felt a chill run through me.
“Pull it together.” — mind
I obeyed.
Okay. Let’s assume he was yelling like crazy — but there had to be more.
As far as I remember, he didn’t hit women.
“Well… before you…” — Hades and Mushu bumped fists
I blushed.
“That’s different…”
“Sure it is.” — Hades
So if she didn’t feel physical threat,
then the only thing he could’ve done… was convince her.
“Oh yeah, he’s good at that.” — Mushu
Right. It’s ugly — but we have to follow the logic of who Caleb was back then.
Nervous.
Maybe on drugs.
Cruel.
Cold.
A copy of his father.
His soul was dead.
Greedy. In love with money.
Okay.
But still… he couldn’t literally force her, even with pressure.
She could’ve run away and had the child.
He would’ve never known.
So there has to be something else.
God… I’m missing pieces.
“Think.” — mind
“Got it.”
One of two things.
Either she couldn’t afford the child — which is often the main reason.
Or…
Damn.
My chest went cold.
She loved Caleb.
Tap… tap… tap…
Tears started pouring again.
She loved that bastard.
“Pull yourself together. Not now.” — mind
I hesitated.
Okay.
Alright.
I tried to steady my breathing.
Hands — mind.
Right.
I straightened up and pulled my hands behind my back.
My body snapped into place instantly.
A clear command.
That’s how the body understands: I’m in control. I’m composed. I lead.
The tears dried immediately.
Good.
Alright.
So… that means it was her decision too.
“Oh, great.” — I actually got excited
“Yeah, what a celebration.” — Hades
“Get lost. You don’t understand.
That means even someone like Caleb — the way he was back then — didn’t make that decision alone.
She made it too.
She’s just as responsible.”
“So what?” — Hades, stone-faced
“That means Caleb won’t hang himself.”
That scared me.
Lately he’s been so unstable I’ve had to constantly stay on edge just to make sure he wouldn’t kill himself.
And then Nate walked in.
I immediately threw myself into his arms.
Nate just held me tight.
Thank God we skipped the stupid questions like “what happened?”
I stayed in Nate’s arms for a bit.
Sam took out the IV, and I fell asleep.

23:16
I woke up in the room.
Nate was next to me, holding my hand.
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
He nodded toward the door.
I froze.
“Colin?!”
“Hey.”
I rolled my eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
“Will he ever leave us alone?” — Hades
“I don’t know.”
“I came to check if you’re okay.”
I softened.
“Nate.”
He immediately looked up.
“Sweetheart, go home. I’ll be fine with this herring, don’t worry.”
Nate laughed.
“Alright.”
And kissed my hair.
I once again caught myself thinking I’m surrounded by the best men in the world.
“Yeah, except for the child-killer.” — Hades
I grimaced.
Ugh.
Colin walked over and sat down next to me.
“Did you know that passing a law goes through several stages… I mean, before a law gets approved…”
I screamed:
“Help! Someone save me!”
Colin burst out laughing.
Then continued like nothing happened:
“And here’s another interesting fact… back when elections and voting used to…”
“Aaaah!”
I covered my ears.
“Stop talking!”
Colin laughed again.
He leaned closer to me
and gently kissed me.
I froze.
I was so shocked
I didn’t even know what to do or how to react.
“You’re so beautiful.”
Oh God… is there even one man in this world who isn’t in love with us? — Hades threw his hands up to the sky
“What?! What?! Beautiful?!”
“You idiot!”
I started hitting him with a pillow.
Colin started laughing and dodging from side to side.
A loud commotion rose in the hallway.
We exchanged looks.
Someone was yelling and aggressively demanding something.
“Who is that?!” — Colin
“How would I know?” — me
I listened more carefully.
“Oh… I see.”
“Colin, look out the window. Any helicopters?”
Colin froze.
“Plenty.”
“Damn… looks like my father’s here too.”
And then suddenly — all my people stormed into the room.
I burst out laughing.
“Guuuuys! Stop showing up every time I land in the hospital!”
Hollywood leads the way.
As always — full drama, clearly playing to the camera.
“Guys—” I laughed — “are you sure you came for me?!”
Hollywood was followed by an army of PR people, filming everything.
“Oh baby, this actually works in our favor — perfect timing. Imagine tomorrow’s news: you, disheveled, in a psych ward, and you and your whole family accused of money laundering… now that’s publicity… what do you think, will even more moms join the waitlist?”
The color drained from my face.
Oh God… he’s right.
“Guuuuys—”
But I didn’t even get to finish.
The military stormed in.
Right behind them — fighters.
Then politicians.
And of course — the Jews.
“What the hell do they want?” — Hades
“Hey, we don’t have any cornbread here!” — Mushu and Hades were dying laughing
They stood there with serious faces and their little hats.
Hades and Mushu were losing it.
“Hey guys, relax — nobody’s hunting you anymore.”
I turned red from head to toe.
Then the puppet masters showed up.
I prayed Hades would shut up.
Just don’t open your mouth…
He theatrically wiped his lips.
And kept going:
“Wow… still can’t get used to the fact that people can be black…”
I buried my face in my hands.
God… this is so embarrassing… so embarrassing…
“Listen, baby, you think it’s genetic? Toss them a bone.” — Hades
“Shut up. Shut up, shut up!”
And even the Arabs showed up.
I froze.
Oh my God…
“Oh come on, baby, you can’t even tell who’s where here.
Why are they all so wrapped up like that?!
Hey guys — robes aren’t exactly in fashion anymore!”
“Pff—haha—oh this is good—HAHAHA!”
“Yeah… they’ve got it rough.
Religion is no joke, sweetheart.
God saw wars, saw horrors… but then got carried away and added a new rule — no jerking off.”
“Hm.
What do you think?”
I was bright red from embarrassment and shock.
God… Hades is such an idiot.
But the guys laughed.
And I exhaled.
“Hey, guys.”
“Hey.”
Everyone started hugging me.
“Boys… since you’re all here — I need your help.”
They immediately gathered, ready to protect me.
I started crying.
Such amazing guys… so caring.
“Boys, I love you so much.”
All my boys settled down.
“Yeah… would’ve been better if you showed your tits…” — Hades and Mushu high-fived and burst out laughing again
“Pigs.”
“These guys are actually really good guys!”
“Yeah, yeah… you think they’d say no?” — Hades
I blushed.
“That’s… different…”
“Uh-huh.”
“Pff—haha—haha—” Jafar, Hades, and Mushu were laughing like maniacs
“Guys, please sort this whole mess out… I need my life back.”
The guys sat down wherever they could.
The politicians and the Arabs pulled me over to them — I tucked myself in among my boys.
Colin ordered delivery.
They brought a whole mountain of food.
Colin and Aaron.
Jonathan.
Nate and the kids ran in after them.
Everyone settled in, thinking.
Figuring out what to do next.