The Father of My Children

Episode 1

Arya and Noam had been a couple for five years and it had been three since they'd last seen each other, with Noam having gone abroad to study. But today was the day they would finally reunite. Arya had risen early, though in truth, anxiety had scarcely allowed her to sleep the previous night. Time crawled by at an agonizingly slow pace, every minute feeling like an hour, even as she went shopping to find the perfect outfit for the long-awaited moment with her beloved. As dusk fell, she took her shower, applied her makeup exquisitely, donned the carefully selected attire, hailed a taxi, and set off for the hotel to wait for him, having made up her mind to give herself to the man she loved.

"Hello, did you miss your flight?" she said with a lump in her throat and tears forming in her eyes.

"Arya, I've booked the next flight out. I'll be there tomorrow morning, okay? You'll wait for me, right?" Noam spoke with a calm voice from the other end of the phone.

"It’s fine, I just miss you so much. It’s been so long," she managed, trying to hold back tears and hide the disappointment in her voice.

"We’ll see each other very soon," he said with affection and hung up before she could even say goodbye.

She grabbed the wine bottle she had picked out so carelessly for that night and took a hefty swig directly from it. Today, she had resolved to gift herself to Noam after years, but all went awry. Her mood and self-esteem were in tatters at that moment. Not sure if she’d ever have the courage again to be with him before their wedding day, she took an even larger gulp and looked at herself in the mirror, all dressed up for nothing, feeling the sting of frustration at that moment.

"Noam, why did you do this to me? You don't realize how frustrated I am right now! I got all ready, and you miss the damn flight and act like it's no big deal," she yelled, wishing he could hear just how let down she felt, even though it was futile – he was in another country and wouldn't hear anything she said.

She finished the rest of the wine in the bottle, her body feeling lighter as the room seemed to spin. Collapsing onto the bed with tearful eyes, she knew she would look horrible in the morning with a swollen face from crying and a terrible hangover. She was nearly asleep when she heard a noise at the door, which must have been the bathroom, as the pleasant scent of men's cologne filled the room. She saw a male silhouette appear, heard the door close, and watched him approach.

"You really waited for me while drunk, huh? Don't think I'll let you get away with this; I'll have to punish you," she heard in disbelief as Noam had arrived, seeing her in that state, and she accepted her 'punishment'...

Kilan Pagano, the sole heir to the influential Pagano family of the United States and known for his arrogant, cold, and commanding nature, was someone people feared to approach. After an argument with his father, he had left home and checked into a New York hotel, armed with nothing but a few clothes due to his constantly traveling for business. After one of these trips, he decided to meet some friends in a well-known city bar before returning to his hotel.

"Room key for 8018," he demanded brusquely.

"Good evening, Mr. Pagano. Here is your key," the receptionist replied, her voice wavering.

He took the key and headed to the elevator, his presence inevitably drawing everyone's attention. Once in his room, he noticed a woman lying on his bed.

"They sent another woman to please me? They never tire of this, but at least she's not bad," he remarked upon seeing Arya sprawled out. He glanced around and noticed the scattered lingerie and clothes near the bed.

"They could at least find someone less messy; she's asleep no less!"

He disrobed and took a shower. Upon returning, he lay beside the partially awake Arya, who hugged and kissed him, exuding the smell of alcohol.

"You really waited for me while drunk, huh? Don't think I'll forgive you; I'll have to punish you," he said with a raspy voice and mischievous smile, unable to resist the allure of such a beautiful woman in his bed, and she, mistaking him for Noam, embraced his supposed surprise.

"So this is how you choose to seduce me, you wicked girl, but since I’m a magnanimous man, I’ll indulge your wish," he asserted.

His kiss was fervent, matched by her own intense passion, though in her mind it was Noam she was sharing this moment with. Kilan's hands explored Arya's body, eliciting a soft moan from her.

"Be gentle with me, my love," she whispered faintly.

"Don't worry, you'll enjoy it, I can assure you," he responded, capturing her lips again as she moaned.

Their intense night of passion unfolded with Arya surrenderingly fearlessly, fulfilling all the desires of the man she mistakenly believed was her own. Little did she know, this encounter on a hotel bed would herald the beginning of her undoing.