My father regained consciousness as soon as the doctor announced that his condition became stable. It was such a surprise since my father never had any health problems for a long time. The doctor made him undergo a series of tests to make sure there were no underlying causes for his sudden fainting. After the tests it was concluded that he fainted due to the bottled up stress that my father couldn't express, causing it to physically manifest in his body. My mother kept on crying and nagging at my father because he never really showed any weakness in front of her even when I was still young. He never showed us even if he wasn't feeling well or whenever he was hurt. He may just show either his cold, composed or assertive reaction, but he never lashed out. I never saw him cry and never vented his anger despite knowing he did feel angry and furious at times. The last person he was talking to was my cousin. I talked to him over the phone after I finished processing the paperwork for the h
The next morning, Laia still wasn't feeling well, but she still insisted on going to work because she missed out a few days of work right after she was caught by her father's men."I need to go to work. I still have many files that I need to review. Even though Adler sent in my excuse letter, it is inappropriate to not report after a few days of absence," she insisted as she tried to push me away from the door."Are you crazy?! You are pregnant! Why do you need to restrain yourself? Do you want our baby to suffer because of your negligence?" I blurted in disbelief, blocking the door while grabbing her bag away."I won't strain myself. I have already informed the office that I am pregnant and they promised that they will lessen the workload given to me. As the licensed lawyer of our company, I shouldn't slack off just because I am pregnant," she explained as desperately reached for the bag I just grabbed.I was shocked to learn about her work. I never thought she'd become a lawyer. No
My heart sank as soon as I finished reading the entire text message of a familiar name. I felt my blood draining, breaking into chilling cold sweat as my heart pounded wildly in horror and disbelief. My hands kept trembling that I almost loosened my grip on my phone. I nervously looked at Laia and she was looking at the phone in my hand with an uncomfortable look on her face. She then looked at me as if she wanted to ask something, but still remained silent."D-Did you r-read the n-notification on m-m-my ph-phone?" I stammered, asking hesitantly."I did," she answered briefly, furrowing her eyes while looking away.The confusion and guilt suddenly overwhelmed me as I hurriedly walked towards my wife and knelt before her, pulling her hands cupping it together. "D-Don't believe the message. It is impossible! Believe me... We've been apart for almost two years already. I've never heard anything from her after our breakup," I desperately explained to her, trying to defend myself, hoping t
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Even though I used to flirt with some girls when I was not in a committed relationship, I've never in my entire life imagined that I'll be having an open relationship with someone. What's more is that, the one who's asking for it is my wife—my legally wedded wife. I was utterly shocked and furious at the same time. A lawyer calling for an open relationship. What are the odds? "We're married. We're about to have a child," I murmured in disbelief, looking at her blankly. "I already sent the documents to process our annulment. I asked a close friend to help us out. You can't have your child be fatherless," she asserted, pushing my hand lightly away from her belly. "You are carrying my child," I mumbled in a low voice. "I know. But your girlfriend needs you more than I do," she replied as if it was nothing to her. "She's not my girlfriend. We've already parted for two years already," I explained, trying to keep myself calm despite my hands tre
I pulled her nearer, pressing my lips against hers. She tried to push me away, but I pulled her even closer. I could feel my heart pounding like a drum beating at a fast pace. I shouldn't do this right now, but I couldn't control the pent-up frustration I've been pushing aside these past few days—I want her badly.She soon gave in as she wrapped her arms around my head and opened her mouth lightly as she matched my pace. Our tongues intertwined a few times as our breaths grew heavy. I pushed her, pinning her on the seat as I slowly reclined the seat backwards.This is not enough to clench my thirst—I want more. I want her badly that I am going crazy as the heat of my body rose and my mind was in chaos."Can I?" I whispered to her ear as I pulled lightly from her lips."Not until you're sober enough to realize what you're doing," she said as she pushed me away to get out of the car.I rushed out of the car and followed her like a dog. She entered the elevator so I ran before she could
I was so petrified to move, seeing Laia sitting while trembling on the tiled bathroom floor tainted with blood. “W-We need to c-call Nina...,” she stammered, looking at me with a horrified look on her face. I couldn't speak nor move—I remained staring at her blankly due to horror. “Elrod! CALL NINA!!!” she screamed desperately, then she tried to stand on her own. I jolted from her scream as my body trembled. I tried to help her to stand as I called Nina, her OB. Ring! Ring! Ring— “Hello? This is Dr. Nina speaking. How may I help you?” she greeted me as soon as she answered the phone. “H-Hello... Th-This is Az, L-Laia's h-husband. I-I don't know w-what to do. She's suddenly bleeding,” stammered, talking on the phone while I was helping Laia to get out of the bathroom. “What?! What exactly happened? No, wait! Bring her to the emergency immediately! I'll be on my way in a bit,” she worriedly exclaimed. I hurriedly helped Laia to change her clothes and hurriedly grabbed all the
My heart is pounding excessively as my mind runs wild from fright."Hic! S-Sir! L-Let me explain... It's not my child!" I exclaimed as his men handed the rifle to his hand.He looked at me sharply while loading the ammo to the magazine before slapping it back to the rifle. I stepped back, stumbling down as my knees gave out due to fright. He then pulled and pushed the bolt handle back before lifting the rifle towards the target as he turned around in position to shoot.Bang!I felt my heart stop beating for a second as the gun shot sound echoed loudly across the shooting room. No wonder they were all using a muffler--it was deafening. I turned to look at the target and saw him missing just an inch away from the center."Tsk! Let's not talk about the unimportant matters for now. I don't have much time. Do you know how to use a gun?" he asked.I shook my head while composing myself to stand up though I'm still shivering from shock.I don't have much idea about guns though I played a lot
My head suddenly felt like it's going to explode in anxiousness as my voice echoed across the room. "Do you really love your current girlfriend?" she asked in a rather pitiful voice. "Sorry... I didn't mean to raise my voice. Please… What exactly did you say to my parents? My father just got out of the hospital yesterday. I don't want to give them another shock," I begged in a low voice, trying to control my emotion. "I just asked them how they are. She also said that she was sad when she learned that we both broke up after 7 years of relationship. She also told me that you never had any girlfriend after that, but just recently you brought a girl home. Though you didn't formally introduce her to your parents, she said she knew that you both have a close relationship. She also told me that the girl used to be your classmate during grade school," she replied. "Did you tell them anything weird? Like regarding your son? Or regarding why we broke up?" I asked. "Are you really going to
After Carlo and Sienna's exquisite wedding, Laia and I discovered ourselves in a serene corner of the resort's garden. The waning sun cast a gentle, warm glow over the surroundings as we distanced ourselves from the jubilant celebrations. The air carried the delightful scent of flowers, and in the distance, we could hear the soothing waves caressing the coast.We trekked together, our fingers entwined, and contentment surged through us. The brisk ocean breeze and the subtle saline sea aroma, nearly eclipsed by the flower's fragrance, stirred up cherished memories. With a grin, I inquired, "Recall our first New Year together?" as we settled on a nearby bench."That day was full of joy, shared with our friends and families," she chuckled. "I believe it's also the very same day when their relationship took off.""Who? Carlo and Sienna? How did you find out?" I asked, perplexed since I hadn't told her yet how I discovered Sienna's pregnancy two years ago, during her
Shortly after waking up, Daniel Adler quickly started sharing the truth with a detailed account of events. He came forward with additional evidence, determined to bring justice to the circumstances surrounding Mr. Dominique's death, my son's tragic fate, and the traumatic suffering my wife endured throughout the kidnapping ordeal.He revealed that after my father-in-law's hospitalization, he investigated Mr. Stone's company as part of his mission. Unfortunately, his independent efforts led to his discovery and capture by the Black Panthers. In a twist of fate, the day he first saw Laia in the same room where he was held captive was the beginning of his ruse. He feigned allegiance to their cause, providing them with intricate details about Mr. Dominique's assets and the contractual agreements we had in place.Mr. Stone, recognizing Daniel's potential, offered him a lifeline, allowing him to work within their organization. The day he and Laia disappeared was part of a scripted act, with
The twilight deepened as I paced back and forth in a silent and dimly lit corridor in front of the operating room. Daniel Adler's operation took hours due to the tricky position of the bullet inside his body, while Mr. Stone was already in the recovery room, surrounded by law enforcers who took turns keeping an eye on him."I have to go home now and check on my wife and Anika," Carlo said as he walked near me. "You should relax yourself a bit.""Carlo is right," Eric interjected, his voice a comforting anchor amid my turmoil. He urged me gently with a supportive tap on my back. "You should take a well-deserved break and entrust the rest to me. Go and be with your wife," he suggested understandingly.I muttered, glimpsing at the operating door, "But—""I'll stay here and keep you updated. Here's your phone, so go ahead and check your wife now," Eric insisted.Carlo then pulled my arm and said, "Let's go! The exit is also that way."Despite my excitement, I felt conflicted about seeing
We carefully scheduled our corporate celebration to occur precisely one week after the highly successful launch of Harmony Assist. The timing was deliberate, as we wanted to ensure that the project gained ample attention and coverage from the media all across the globe. The response to Harmony Assist had exceeded our expectations, and it had become the focal point of many news outlets and tech publications.The project had captured attention, not just for its innovative features but also for the rapid pace at which we had developed it. Our exceptional team of engineers and designers had worked tirelessly, sometimes through the night, to make Harmony Assist a reality. The result was a revolutionary product, transforming not just technology but also the quality of life.The media frenzy around Harmony Assist was so intense that it momentarily eclipsed other news stories, including the ongoing litigation against Mr. Stone, the former CEO of Stonewell Construction Enterprise. This legal b
I found myself in profound silence, staring at the room's ceiling. The pristine white expanse seemed to reflect my inner turmoil, a cruel reminder of the revelation about Olivia Harrington that had shaken me to my core. I sat at my desk, feeling overwhelmed. I forced deep breaths to steady my racing heart. Each beat resonated in my ears, echoing the emotions welling up inside. At the same time, my head throbbed with anguish, and tears blurred my vision. Each fleeting moment stretched endlessly, and the surroundings dissolved into obscurity as I grappled with the surge of intense emotions. It was as if the weight of the entire universe rested on my shoulders, and all I could do was hold my breath, adrift in the chaos of my thoughts and feelings. After I regained some composure, taking a deep, shuddering breath, I reached for the company phone. I summoned Carlo and Eric to my office, maintaining a steady tone despite my inner restlessness. They promptly arrived to discuss further enha
Following the downfall of my father-in-law's prominent business and my wife's kidnapping, the Black Panthers maintained a low profile. A confidential investigation revealed Mr. Stone's abstention from further actions, emphasizing their exclusive objective of eradicating the AD corporation from the corporate landscape. To steer clear of direct rivalry with his enterprise, I channeled my newly established venture into pioneering technological advancements, ensuring their covert development beyond the scope of Mr. Stone's scrutiny.During the initial weeks of rekindling my friendship with Tiffany, Mr. Stone grew suspicious to the extent that he had me surveilled by Black Panthers personnel. Unbeknownst to him, these individuals were spies working for Red Phyton under John's direct and discreet supervision.Mr. Moretti had surreptitiously penetrated the rival faction, skillfully breaching their sanctuary without alerting their senior leadership. Shortly after I managed to assuage Mr. Ston
I froze, my heart pounding as though it might burst from my chest. My hands trembled as I grasped my champagne glass, my fingers slick with moisture. It couldn't be her, I reasoned. My mind is scrambling to rationalize the absurdity of the situation. Laia had been missing for a year despite our best attempts, and the agony of not knowing her fate had been a continuous weight on my shoulders.However, the deeper hole kept opening up inside me as she moved nearer, and the facial features became apparent clearly. It was her. The same hazel eyes that once sparkled with frivolity and comfort are scanning the space in a vain attempt to locate someone. The edges of her lips curled up in a gentle smile that carried the power to dispel all anxiety.I put my champagne glass back on the table and started walking in the crowd, looking at them with mixed feelings of hope and anxiety inside me. Time seemed to have stopped, and I felt neither the piercing eyes nor the whispers behind my back. It was
As the night wore on, Sienna and Carlo prepared a makeshift bed in their living room for me. They insisted I stay the night since it was already late, and they couldn't let me go alone in my current state of mind. However, the events of the day had taken a toll on them. Anika, who had been relatively calm during dinner, began to cry, and Sienna had to tend to her. Carlo reluctantly left my side to help her soothe the baby.The frantic cries of Anika filled the apartment, echoing through the living room where I lay. But then, as Carlo and Sienna's efforts to calm her continued, a deafening silence enveloped the room. It was in this silence that my mood turned for the worst. I was overwhelmed with misery, despair, desire, wrath, and self-blame.I tossed and turned on the improvised bed, thoughts consumed by the day's events, the hunt for Laia, and the inquiry into the accidents. The heaviness of the universe seemed to settle on my shoulders, and I couldn't escape the feeling that I was
After more than half a year of attempts to find the perpetrator who caused both my father-in-law's and my wife's car accidents, the investigators finally caught him. The bittersweet relief clashed with my agony and rage, followed by self-blame as I lowered the phone, placing it slowly on the bed. "Was that the investigators?" Carlo inquired as soon as I hung up the call. "Yeah, they finally caught him," I replied. "It took them a while," he grumbled in disappointment. I clamped my jaws as I felt increasingly frustrated, then flopped onto the bed with desperation. A deep sigh escaped from my mouth as I yearned for a moment of relief. I tried to seek comfort in my mind, but my inner turmoil prevented it. Restlessness surged through me. I couldn't resist the urge to shift and turn on the mattress. It felt like a storm of thoughts and emotions was swirling within me, making any chance for rest seem like a fantasy. "Man, I know how anxious you are right now, but we need to sleep so we