~Bastian's POV~She was here. Ellara and Sofia. They looked so happy and peaceful. If I hadn’t failed them, this is how they were supposed to be, filled with happiness when they were with me.I trailed after them through the wild field of sunflowers and lilies, the air fragrant with their scent, fresh and unpolluted. It was clean. It was refreshing.An overwhelming sense of peace washed over me. I had finally left it all behind. I could finally rest, rest from the guilt, the pain, the hurt, and the failures. My parents, my sins, my regrets, it was all behind me now. That was a good thing. That’s what I should have been thinking.So why was my peace being interrupted by the green-eyed, red-haired spitfire I left behind? Would she be fine? No, I didn’t think she would. Knowing Lilith, she would blame herself.I had heard her crying, soaking me with her tears, yet I couldn’t open my eyes. My eyelids were too heavy. No matter how hard I tried to move, I was stuck.I knew then and there, m
Chapter 41: Has the operation been scheduled?What did she just say? First madam. Hellena or Rebecca, which one? If they drugged me, what about Bastian? My heart skipped a beat. They did something to Bastian." No, don't take her away," I screamed in fear. My palms became clammy with anxiety as my legs shook, almost giving out again.However, I am held by Dr. Thomas. I felt grateful towards him. Only God knows what Jelly would have done to me if it were not for him." Why?" I knew what he was asking without further clarification. " I need to know who was responsible." I simply stated. My voice, calmer than how I am actually feeling inside." Hmm." He turned to the two security guards who were holding the struggling Jelly down. " Hold her down, so she doesn't escape." The guards did as they were commanded.Jelly calmed after her hands were restrained behind her back. She looked fiercely at the guards. If we didn't know better, we would think that she was the one wronged and not me."
We all turned toward the voice that had bellowed that question. I instantly tensed when my eyes met the cold ones of Bastian’s mother. Hellena Lockhart’s sharp voice silenced the yelping of the struggling Jelly. She stood at the doorway, her presence commanding immediate attention.“What’s going on here?” she repeated.Her gaze swept across the room, looking at everyone as if they were insignificant. Even Dr. Thomas wasn’t spared from her disgust. Rather, her eyes shot daggers at him.Finally, her eyes landed on me, burning with an intensity that made my heart race, not with fear, but with anger and bitterness. If I were still trying to be in her good graces, like I had before, the weight of her stare would have been suffocating and overwhelming.But now? I didn’t care.A lump formed in my throat, stopping me from spitting out the venomous words stuck at the tip of my tongue.“You,” she spat, stepping forward with a pointed finger. Her face twisted into a mask of pure rage. “This is a
The antiseptic smell of the IV drip hung heavily in the room, hitting my nostrils anew. Jelly's trembling voice broke the suffocating silence Hellena's presence had brought and the trance I was seeking refuge in."Please, ma'am," she pleaded again, her eyes now wide with desperation. "Just let me go, and I promise I'll tell you everything I know."Yes, she had said that before.My heart quickens in excitement, a mix of fear and curiosity dancing within me. I took a cautious step closer, my voice barely above a whisper."What could you possibly know?" I asked again. It was more of a question to myself than to her.Jelly glanced nervously at Dr. Thomas and the officers before focusing back on me. "It's about Ellana, Bastian's late wife."I drew in a deep breath, shocked and appalled at her words. "What do you know about her?" I asked fearfully.Jelly hesitated, wringing her hands. "I know why she died."A cold shiver ran down my spine. "What are you saying?" I asked hoarsely. This was b
Madam Ellana didn’t die by accident. It was a setup.Jelly’s words sent a cold shiver down my spine, echoing in my mind. I had thought Bastian had grown up in a cozy family when I first came here.But now, I knew better. This house of his was a den of pythons. They swallow whole.I looked at a trembling Jelly, knowing this might actually put her in trouble as well as me.Still, I needed to know. Why? I didn't know.I swallowed hard, pushing past the nausea crawling up my throat.“Tell me everything,” I whispered, my voice barely loud enough, the way I needed it to be. The fear in my voice was undeniable.Jelly’s hands were shaking, her lips trembling as she tried to find the right words. “I... I don’t know if I should…”I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “Jelly, if you don’t, Lucy will keep using you. And one day, she’ll get rid of you too. You know that, don’t you?”Her eyes darted around the room, panic settling in. “I know,” she whispered. “I know, but… I’m scared, Miss.”“I unde
~Lilith's POV~Jelly paled the moment she heard what I said. I feel bad asking that of her but she was the best person for the job. No one will suspect her if she plays her card right. " But Miss, I don't think I will be able to," she says in a small voice." You can. Just act as though you are going to beg Hellena."" Not sure it will work, Miss."" It will. After all, Lucy still believes you are working for her."" Alright, Miss. I will try my best." She sighs and then turns to leave.I bring out my phone that I had used in recording our conversation. This is a huge evidence. I can't be caught unguarded when Lucy wants Bastian.Jelly moved fast. By the time I returned from my walk around the hospital at noon, Bastian’s phone was already in my hands. She had taken a huge risk, but we had no other choice. My fingers shook as I scrolled through his messages, looking for the recording that I knew was in his phone. And of course, their chats. I was willing to do anything; that could h
Bastian's POV The silent activity of the city blared in the distance, a backdrop to the thrum of my heartbeat. I shouldn’t be here. Not now. Not with her. But the pull was stronger than my will. I hear my footsteps echo down the hallway, bouncing off the walls like a warning. I could feel the sweat dampening my palms, the tightness in my chest that came with knowing I was walking into a willing sin. The door stood before me, simple, wooden, yet so much heavier than it should be. Behind it was everything I should avoid. Everything I had no right to want, yet, I am unable to ignore the pull. HER. Lilith Morrell. I knew she was there waiting for me. I gritted my teeth, my hand hovering and shaking over the brass doorknob. The metal was cool, but within, I burned with the heat of a thousand forbidden desires. One twist, one pull, and I’d be on the other side. I’d told myself I could handle it, her. That I could stay in control, and keep the boundary between us clear. But the
Bastian's POV Once again, I felt her breath before I saw her, soft and warm against my skin, like a secret. I turned, my hands outstretched to touch her, but she was just out of reach. The moonlight caught the curves of her body, her skin glowing as if she were made of shadows and light. Lilith. She stood before me, yet out of reach, mischief glinting in her eyes. Her lips parted, curling into that wicked sexy smile she always wore when she knew she had me. She always had me hooked and panting for more. "Come closer," she whispered, her voice winding around me, soft, dangerous and alluring. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder than the last. I moved toward her, every muscle in my body aching, burning with a need I couldn't explain nor understand. But no matter how close I got, she drifted farther away, taunting me with that damn laugh, reechoes like melodious music. She was my master and I, her slave. Suddenly, her hands were on me, tracing lines over my chest, wit
~Lilith's POV~Jelly paled the moment she heard what I said. I feel bad asking that of her but she was the best person for the job. No one will suspect her if she plays her card right. " But Miss, I don't think I will be able to," she says in a small voice." You can. Just act as though you are going to beg Hellena."" Not sure it will work, Miss."" It will. After all, Lucy still believes you are working for her."" Alright, Miss. I will try my best." She sighs and then turns to leave.I bring out my phone that I had used in recording our conversation. This is a huge evidence. I can't be caught unguarded when Lucy wants Bastian.Jelly moved fast. By the time I returned from my walk around the hospital at noon, Bastian’s phone was already in my hands. She had taken a huge risk, but we had no other choice. My fingers shook as I scrolled through his messages, looking for the recording that I knew was in his phone. And of course, their chats. I was willing to do anything; that could h
Madam Ellana didn’t die by accident. It was a setup.Jelly’s words sent a cold shiver down my spine, echoing in my mind. I had thought Bastian had grown up in a cozy family when I first came here.But now, I knew better. This house of his was a den of pythons. They swallow whole.I looked at a trembling Jelly, knowing this might actually put her in trouble as well as me.Still, I needed to know. Why? I didn't know.I swallowed hard, pushing past the nausea crawling up my throat.“Tell me everything,” I whispered, my voice barely loud enough, the way I needed it to be. The fear in my voice was undeniable.Jelly’s hands were shaking, her lips trembling as she tried to find the right words. “I... I don’t know if I should…”I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “Jelly, if you don’t, Lucy will keep using you. And one day, she’ll get rid of you too. You know that, don’t you?”Her eyes darted around the room, panic settling in. “I know,” she whispered. “I know, but… I’m scared, Miss.”“I unde
The antiseptic smell of the IV drip hung heavily in the room, hitting my nostrils anew. Jelly's trembling voice broke the suffocating silence Hellena's presence had brought and the trance I was seeking refuge in."Please, ma'am," she pleaded again, her eyes now wide with desperation. "Just let me go, and I promise I'll tell you everything I know."Yes, she had said that before.My heart quickens in excitement, a mix of fear and curiosity dancing within me. I took a cautious step closer, my voice barely above a whisper."What could you possibly know?" I asked again. It was more of a question to myself than to her.Jelly glanced nervously at Dr. Thomas and the officers before focusing back on me. "It's about Ellana, Bastian's late wife."I drew in a deep breath, shocked and appalled at her words. "What do you know about her?" I asked fearfully.Jelly hesitated, wringing her hands. "I know why she died."A cold shiver ran down my spine. "What are you saying?" I asked hoarsely. This was b
We all turned toward the voice that had bellowed that question. I instantly tensed when my eyes met the cold ones of Bastian’s mother. Hellena Lockhart’s sharp voice silenced the yelping of the struggling Jelly. She stood at the doorway, her presence commanding immediate attention.“What’s going on here?” she repeated.Her gaze swept across the room, looking at everyone as if they were insignificant. Even Dr. Thomas wasn’t spared from her disgust. Rather, her eyes shot daggers at him.Finally, her eyes landed on me, burning with an intensity that made my heart race, not with fear, but with anger and bitterness. If I were still trying to be in her good graces, like I had before, the weight of her stare would have been suffocating and overwhelming.But now? I didn’t care.A lump formed in my throat, stopping me from spitting out the venomous words stuck at the tip of my tongue.“You,” she spat, stepping forward with a pointed finger. Her face twisted into a mask of pure rage. “This is a
Chapter 41: Has the operation been scheduled?What did she just say? First madam. Hellena or Rebecca, which one? If they drugged me, what about Bastian? My heart skipped a beat. They did something to Bastian." No, don't take her away," I screamed in fear. My palms became clammy with anxiety as my legs shook, almost giving out again.However, I am held by Dr. Thomas. I felt grateful towards him. Only God knows what Jelly would have done to me if it were not for him." Why?" I knew what he was asking without further clarification. " I need to know who was responsible." I simply stated. My voice, calmer than how I am actually feeling inside." Hmm." He turned to the two security guards who were holding the struggling Jelly down. " Hold her down, so she doesn't escape." The guards did as they were commanded.Jelly calmed after her hands were restrained behind her back. She looked fiercely at the guards. If we didn't know better, we would think that she was the one wronged and not me."
~Bastian's POV~She was here. Ellara and Sofia. They looked so happy and peaceful. If I hadn’t failed them, this is how they were supposed to be, filled with happiness when they were with me.I trailed after them through the wild field of sunflowers and lilies, the air fragrant with their scent, fresh and unpolluted. It was clean. It was refreshing.An overwhelming sense of peace washed over me. I had finally left it all behind. I could finally rest, rest from the guilt, the pain, the hurt, and the failures. My parents, my sins, my regrets, it was all behind me now. That was a good thing. That’s what I should have been thinking.So why was my peace being interrupted by the green-eyed, red-haired spitfire I left behind? Would she be fine? No, I didn’t think she would. Knowing Lilith, she would blame herself.I had heard her crying, soaking me with her tears, yet I couldn’t open my eyes. My eyelids were too heavy. No matter how hard I tried to move, I was stuck.I knew then and there, m
~Lilith’s POV~The sting of the slap still burned my cheek, but I didn’t care. I had drawn blood. Her blood. That was enough for me. But before I could gloat, before I could even process my next move, the world tilted, and I saw myself being welcomed by the ground.However, hands,strong, and firm, gripped my shoulders, steadying me. My body, about to crumple due to the exhaustion from fighting off the drug, threatened to give out, but those hands held me up. Kept me from falling.“Miss Morrell, are you alright?”That voice sounded so familiar. It felt like I knew it, but I couldn't pinpoint where, so I kept my cool, protecting myself from losing control to the drug.“Miss?” The voice called out again. I wanted to say I was fine, but I couldn't. Not that I didn’t want to, but my lips wouldn’t move.“Leave me alone! I was helping her!”It was the fake nurse from earlier. Whatever exhaustion my body was feeling flew out the hallway.Knowing she could still spill lies that might put me ba
~Lilith’s POV~ Bastian… he’ll be fine, right? Yes, Bastian will be fine. I tried opening my heavy lids, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't. What’s happening? Did I fall sick or something? No. I need to wake up. I need to stand up and check on Bastian. I need to remind him not to die on me. Foolish Lilith, foolish Lilith. You caused this. It’s all your fault. You should have paid more attention to him. You should have checked up on him even after you left New York. If anything happens to Bastian, you are to blame. Guilt, shame, and hurt rushed through me. To think I’ve been making life difficult for Bastian… Jesus. What have I done? Why did I let my desires control me? No. First things first, I need to get up from this bed. The smell of antiseptic hits my nostrils. The beeping of a machine. Pain tears through my wrist. My hands feel heavy, just like my lower body. It feels like I’ve been hit by a train. Slowly, I pry my eyes open. A blinding light pierces through my
~Lilith’s POV~Where are the meds? I can't find them. Bastian doesn't look good. What should I do? No, Lilith, just concentrate on finding the medications. Why didn’t he say anything?Even in the midst of all this, his family was still frustrating him. Mad people everywhere.A loud thud echoes through the room, so loud that I fear whatever falls is already broken.I shouldn't have left him. That was the thought that crossed my mind when I saw him.Bastian had fallen. He was the one that had fallen. When did he stand? Wasn't he sitting on the floor? The sound I heard, it was him? And not an object?The marble wood drawer crashes against my leg, jolting me from my shock. My eyes snap back to him lying there, his eyes wide open. As though, shocked life was being snatched from him.No. No. No.“Bastiannnnnnnn!”I run with all my might, closing the two feet between us.I lift him up the moment I reach him, his weight heavy against me. His eyes are still bulging.“Please, don't die. I don't