Olive jolted awake, her scream still ringing in her ears.Her chest heaved as she fought to calm her ragged breaths. Sweat slicked her skin, her hair plastered to her damp forehead. Her eyes darted frantically across the room, searching for any sign of the darkness that had consumed her moments before.She looked around wildly, her eyes adjusting to the familiar surroundings of her room.Clutching her stomach, her trembling fingers pressed against her flesh, half-expecting to find the blade that had pierced her in the dream. But there was nothing. Just the pounding of her heart, loud and unrelenting, as if it were trying to hammer its way out of her chest.She could hear the ticking of the clock in the silence. Looking up, she saw it was only 2:30 AM. Grabbing the sheet tightly, she wrapped it around herself as she trembled.“It was a dream,” she whispered shakily, her voice barely audible. “Just a dream.”But it had felt so real. Too real. She pulled the covers tightly around her tre
Mia’s bitter laugh echoed through the room, her trembling hand pointing accusingly at Olive. Her voice was venomous as she snarled, “You think this is over? You’ve ruined everything—everything.”Raymond’s eyes darkened, his towering presence exuding cold authority. He stepped forward, his tone sharp and unyielding. “Mia, you’re not thinking clearly. I’ve asked you to leave because it’s the best thing for both of us. Staying here isn’t helping you.”Mia’s rage wavered, her face contorting as despair seeped into her expression. Her shoulders sagged, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Best for who, Raymond? You? Do you even care what you’ve done to me?” Her voice cracked, heavy with anguish.Raymond sighed, but his tone turned harder, more resolute. “I care, Mia, but not in the way you want me to. I’ve never loved you, and I never will. I care because of the friendship between our families—nothing more. It’s time for you to let go.”Mia shook her head violently, her hair flying a
“Who’s there?” Olive asked, her voice cautious as she approached the door.“It’s me, Raymond,” came the deep, familiar voice from the other side.She hesitated for a moment, then opened the door to find him standing there, his tall frame filling the doorway. His expression was calm, but his intense gaze held hers firmly.“I hope you’re comfortable in this suite,” he began, his voice softer than usual. “Or do you want me to get you a house instead?”Olive blinked, unsure if she had heard him correctly. “A house?” she repeated, her brows furrowing in confusion.Raymond nodded, his face betraying no emotion. “Yes, a house. I want you to feel at ease. If you’re not comfortable here, just say the word.”Olive stared at him, stunned by the casual way he made such a grand offer. “No, I don’t need a house,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “This suite is more than enough.”Raymond’s eyes dropped to the bed behind her, where her open suitcase lay with neatly folded clothes. “Are you leaving
Mia leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming against the table as she held her phone to her ear. “Make sure it’s done cleanly. No mistakes, no trace,” she said sharply.The man on the other end chuckled, his voice smooth and unbothered. “Mia, after all these years, you still question what I’m capable of?”He took a drag from his cigarette, the ember glowing briefly before he exhaled a cloud of smoke. His gaze wandered to the Chicago skyline outside his hotel window, his lips curving into a faint smirk.“Relax,” he said, his tone dripping with confidence. “You can start celebrating. The job’s as good as done.”Mia's laughter echoed through the phone, a cold, mirthless sound that sent shivers down the spine. "I knew I could count on you. You're the best in the business."The man's response was curt, his tone dismissive. "Just make sure you hold up your end of the deal." His words were a warning.He ended the call, slipping his phone into his pocket. His movements were deliberate a
The morning sun shone brightly through the curtains of Olive’s hotel room. She woke up slowly, feeling tired after a restless night. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes, then stretched her arms. It was time to start the day.Dragging herself to the bathroom, she washed her face with cold water. The chill helped her wake up fully. After drying her face, Olive stared into the mirror for a moment. Her heart was heavy. The court case today was on her mind.She dressed simply, in a white blouse and navy jeans, and then walked over to the phone on the bedside table. She pressed the button to call the hotel’s room service.“Good morning,” she said. “I’d like to order breakfast, please. Coffee, scrambled eggs, and toast.”“Yes, ma’am,” the voice on the other end replied. “We’ll deliver it shortly.”After ending the call, Olive grabbed her phone and texted her lawyer, Mr. Henry. “Good morning, Mr. Henry. I’ll come to your office today with the documents.”It didn’t take long for him to reply.
The waitress leaned back against the passenger seat, her dark eyes gleaming with malice. “Not bad. She’s a pretty one,” she said, smirking as she glanced at Olive. “Maybe you will have a little fun with her before she kisses the earth goodbye.”Olive’s skin crawled at the words. She felt like an animal, something to be used and then thrown away. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way to escape, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. She was too weak, too scared. She felt like a lamb surrounded by wolves, helpless and cornered. Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to give her captors the satisfaction of seeing her break.Who were these people? What did they want? None of that mattered now. All she could think about was escape. She had to get out, no matter what.The car slowed to a halt, the sound of crunching gravel beneath the tires breaking the tense silence. Olive squinted through her blurry vision and saw they had arrived at a desolate location—a forgotten piece
Raymond stormed out of his penthouse in New York, his phone pressed tightly against his ear.“I want every resource we have looking for Olive Bennett. Now.” His voice was sharp, filled with urgency.His driver rushed to open the car door, but Raymond didn’t wait. He slid into the backseat and slammed the door shut. “To the airport. Fast.”As the car sped off, Mia stood by the window, watching with a sly smirk. Everything was going just as she had planned.She picked up her phone and dialed.The cloaked man answered after one ring.“Hello,” she said smoothly, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “I don’t want her to see the sunlight of the next day.”The man chuckled darkly, taking a long drag from his cigarette. “Consider it done.”He exhaled a cloud of smoke before leaning back lazily. “When will I get my part of the deal?”Mia rolled her eyes, her tone playful yet cold. “Don’t be in a hurry. Everything will be processed soon.”The man grinned, taking another sip of his wine. “It
The tires screeched against the pavement as the car came to a jarring halt."Shit! She jumped out!" the man cursed, slamming his fists against the steering wheel as they came down from the car.The girl’s eyes burned with fury. “We need to get her before—”She stopped mid-sentence. Headlights sliced through the darkness, a black SUV speeding toward them.“Damn it!” the man growled. “We have to retreat.”He backed away cautiously, keeping his eyes on the unmoving form of Olive. The girl spat out a curse but wasted no time. They both rushed to the car, slamming the doors shut.The SUV skidded to a stop just a few feet away from Olive’s crumpled body.“Olive!” Raymond’s voice cracked as he leaped out of the car, his feet pounding against the asphalt. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as he reached for her. She was pale, her skin icy to the touch, and blood pooled beneath her, staining the ground red."Follow them!" he barked at his men.His men were already in pursu
The nurse turned and looked at Ezra, her expression unreadable. “Sorry, sir,” she said flatly, then turned away.It was as if the moment never happened. The nurses resumed their tasks in silence, their quiet efficiency louder than any words. Ezra stood there, ears ringing from the weight of what he’d just heard. That silence… it wasn’t what he wanted. It wasn’t what he needed. He didn’t want calm or polite shrugs—he wanted answers. He wanted someone to tell him that what he heard was wrong.With panic rising in his chest, Ezra spun on his heel and ran down the corridor. He remembered the ward Olive had been in, where Raymond's assistant had guarded the door like his life depended on it.His heart pounded in his ears, his shoes squeaking across the tiles. When he reached the room, he yanked the door open.Empty.The bed was stripped. Machines unplugged. Everything was so neat, it was like she’d never been there.“No. No, no, no—” he whispered, stumbling back a step.A nurse was inside,
Olive lost her childEthan felt like the ground had shifted beneath him. His eyes were fixed on nothing, yet everything around him swirled in chaos. His chest rose and fell sharply as the weight of Ezra’s words settled in.“She… she lost the baby?” His voice cracked, almost too soft to hear.Ezra nodded, his face drawn. “Yeah. The doctor said the trauma and stress were too much.”A silence fell between them.Ethan turned his face away, ashamed. “This is my fault,” he said bitterly. “All of it. If I hadn’t given in to Mia’s manipulations—if I hadn’t allowed my hatred for Raymond to blind me—Olive wouldn’t have been hurt.”Ezra didn’t respond at first. He just sat down beside Ethan’s hospital bed, leaning forward with his hands clasped. His posture was stiff. They had both walked the same path, driven by envy and resentment, thinking they were justified. But now, the consequences stared them down in the most brutal way.“You’re not alone in this,” Ezra finally said. “I let my emotions t
As soon as Ezra bent to pick up the object, Frank had already realized what it was. With desperation fueling his bruised and battered body, he lunged forward, ignoring the searing pain in his ribs, and snatched the phone off the ground before Ezra’s fingers could graze it.Ezra stood up slowly, straightening his jacket with the composure of a man who had not just been in a fight minutes ago. He smirked coldly. “We have to end this here. I have better things to do than stand here breathing the same air as you… unless, of course, you’re asking to die.”Frank chuckled despite the blood dribbling from the side of his mouth. His eyes, though nearly swollen shut, gleamed with something more dangerous than fury—conviction. “Ezra, you really do think highly of yourself.”He lifted the phone, his thumb dangerously close to the screen. “You see this? You’re not getting it back. This time, I’ll make sure it gets to the authorities. You won’t be able to lie your way out of this.”Ezra’s expressio
“What truth are you talking about?” Ezra asked, his voice edged with curiosity as he lifted himself from the body of his car. His head was feeling dizzy because of the stress lately but it seems Frank has something to say about him.A smug smirk played on Frank's lips.“Oh... look who suddenly wants the truth,” he said with a lazy chuckle. “I thought you didn’t give a damn when I exposed you. Or were you too busy playing the villain in a suit to care?”Ezra clenched his jaw, as his fist clenched by his side trying to calm the anger already building up in him.“Speak if you want to speak, and if you don’t—get lost.” His tone was tight, words pushed through gritted teeth.Frank scoffed, walking forward more closer to Ezra this time.“You’re still playing hard when you’re about to be ruined?” His words dripped with taunt, his confidence unwavering.Ezra’s eyes darkened.“Do what suits you. I don’t care. Just don’t bring Olive into this. If you do, you’ll have yourself to blame.”He turne
“I think I know what to do,” Frank muttered under his breath, the tremble in his voice betraying the storm raging within him. His shoes echoed against the sleek hotel floor as he strode toward the hallway, each step fueled by desperation and unresolved regret.He didn’t get far.“Excuse me, sir,” a firm voice cut through the air, halting him mid-stride. Two security men stood in his path, their stance unwavering, their eyes alert.Frank blinked, startled. “What’s this?”“Passage card, sir,” one of the guards demanded.Frank’s hand instinctively darted to his pocket, looking for a card—though he clearly knew he had none.“Hmm… I don’t have any,” he said, trying to maintain composure. “But I think we can talk, man to man.”“No. We don’t do that here,” the guard replied sternly.“Gosh,” Frank muttered. “Why are the people here so strong-headed? First it was the receptionist, now it’s the guards.”He knew there were empty rooms, but the receptionist had refused to give him one.“Okay, how
The person that just came down was Frank.Ezra stood still, his hand resting lightly on the curtain. The streetlight outside wasn’t too bright, but it gave enough glow to make out the tall, dark figure leaning on the car. There was no mistaking that face. The jawline, the hair, the posture—it was undeniably Frank.Ezra’s brows tightened. “What the hell is this clown doing here?” he muttered under his breath.He just stared.Frank? After everything? After what happened at the warehouse? Ezra had pulled him out with his own hands. Dragged him out. And now he was here? Following?Ezra slowly released the curtain and stepped back from the window. He rubbed his forehead with both palms, exhaling quietly. The day had already been messy. Too messy. And now this?He wasn’t scared. Just... fed up. Tired.He turned away from the window, running a hand over his head. His muscles were tight, jaw clenched. He pushed his damp curls back, then rubbed the back of his neck as if that could ease the ti
"Don't look for my boss; this is not a warning, but the truth. With his state of mind right now, he might kill you, and he definitely does not care about the consequences,” Daniel coldly said.Ezra didn’t flinch. He didn’t acknowledge the threat, the coldness in Daniel’s voice, or the dangerous warning behind it. Instead, he simply kept walking, his footsteps echoing off the sterile hospital walls. He was numb, his mind a whirlwind of confusion, guilt, and frustration. His brain couldn’t even begin to process everything that had just happened, the gravity of what was unfolding around him.As he reached the parking lot, Ezra could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him, a constant reminder of the mess he was now in. He opened the door to his car and slid inside, slamming it shut behind him with a soft thud. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he started the engine, the low hum of the car grounding him for a moment.He drove off, not knowing where he was go
Ezra had caught a glimpse of Daniel, so he approached him with the hope of finding Raymond.“Hello,” Ezra greeted, his voice steady but cautious.Daniel didn’t acknowledge him right away, keeping his attention firmly fixed on Olive’s door, like it was the only thing worth focusing on at that moment. His stance was rigid, almost like a soldier guarding an important post. Every muscle in his body seemed wound tight—a simmering tension that Ezra could almost feel from where he stood.Nurses were moving about hurriedly, attending to one patient or another. But none of them dared approach Daniel. They respected the silent authority he carried—one that demanded you either obey or keep your distance.Ezra shifted his weight, clearing his throat. "I’m Ezra," he said again, though there was still no reaction. "Ethan's brother."Daniel barely spared him a glance. His jaw tightened, eyes never wavering from the door. Ezra hesitated, unsure whether he should press on or let the silence stretch.“
Ezra sat stiffly in the hospital chair close to Ethan's bed, his fingers clutching Ethan’s hand like it was a lifeline. His brother’s palm was clammy, lifeless, but warm—thank God, still warm.The fluorescent light overhead buzzed, flickering once. The machines beside the bed beeped in a slow, steady rhythm.Ezra hated the sound.He leaned forward, eyes glued to Ethan’s pale face, searching for any flicker of movement, any twitch of his brow—anything that said I’m still here, bro.But Ethan didn’t move.His chest rose and fell shallowly under the white blanket. His leg was heavily bandaged, elevated—the blood loss had almost taken him on arrival. The nurse had told Ezra as much: “He’s stable, for now. But we’re watching him closely.”Ezra couldn’t stop the shaking in his knees. His brother—the one who always acted like he didn’t care, always played the fool just to lighten the mood—was lying there like a damn ghost. It didn’t feel real. It couldn’t be real.And then, like a slow wave