Darkness. That was all there was at first. A deep, heavy nothingness that felt like me feel like sinking underwater, like being swallowed whole by a world without sound or light. Then came the pain. It was dull at first, a distant throbbing somewhere deep in my body. Then it sharpened, spreading like fire through my veins. My head pounded, my hands felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and something tugged at my skin - tubes, maybe? I tried to move, but my body didn’t want to listen. Panic curled in my chest. Where was I? I forced my eyelids to move, even though they felt glued shut. A soft beeping sound filled the air, slow and steady. The scent of antiseptic, which was sharp and clean, filled my nose. The air was cold, almost too cold, biting at my skin. A hospital. Memories hit me all at once. The attack. The blood. The feeling of slipping away. I was supposed to die. A shaky breath left my lips, and I turned my head slowly. The effort sent a sharp sting down my neck,
Four Weeks Later Freedom. That’s what the doctors called it when they finally discharged us. I should have felt relieved. I should have felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. But as I stepped outside the hospital, the cold air filling my lungs, something in my chest still felt tight. Four weeks. That’s how long we had been stuck in that place - four weeks of beeping machines, fluorescent lights, and hushed voices whispering about whether we’d make it. I had spent every one of those days sitting by Natalie’s bedside, waiting for her to open her eyes, for her to say my name. And when she finally had, I’d felt something break inside me - relief so strong it had made my legs weak. Now, she stood beside me, her hand tucked into mine, looking up at the sky like it was the first time she had ever seen it. The sun cast a warm glow on her skin, but she still looked too pale, too fragile. Her body was thinner than before, her movements slower. But her grip on my hand was st
Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. I had never seen him like this before. Not when we were trapped. Not when we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive. Not even when he was injured, fighting to stay conscious. But now—now he looked like a man who had lost everything. His shoulders were tense, his breathing uneven, his fingers tangled in his hair as if he was trying to hold himself together. I sat beside him, close but not too close, giving him space. I wanted to say something, but words felt useless. What could I possibly say to make this better? How do you comfort someone when their entire world has just crumbled? I reached out and gently touched his arm. He flinched. Not in fear. Not in anger. Just in pure, raw pain. I pulled my hand back. For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the distant hum of the city outside, cars moving, life continuing as if nothing had changed. But for Sebastian, everything had changed. Finally, he lifted h
The knock on my office door was sharp, deliberate. I didn’t expect anyone. Not at this hour. Not today. I set down my pen, glancing at the clock. 3:47 PM. I had been drowning in work all day, trying to keep my mind off everything that had happened in the past few weeks. Trying to pretend that life was normal again, that I wasn’t standing on the remains of a world that had been shattered beyond recognition. But now, someone was at my door. I straightened, adjusting my tie before speaking. “Come in.” The door creaked open, and my muscles tensed the moment I saw him. Thomas Grant. My stepfather. The man who had been nothing more than a shadow in my life, standing by while my mother did whatever she wanted. A man who never protected me, never spoke up, never did anything except watch. And now, he was here. I said nothing as he stepped inside, his movements slow, cautious—like he knew he wasn’t welcome. His eyes darted around the office before finally settling on me. He cleare
I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the elevator and into the familiar space of Grant Enterprises. It had been weeks since I was last here. Weeks since my life had spiraled into chaos. Since secrets had been revealed, betrayals exposed, and the foundation of everything I knew had been shaken to its core. But now, I was back. Back to work. Back to normal. Or at least, as normal as life could get after everything that had happened. The office smelled the same-fresh coffee, crisp paper, the faint scent of polished wood. The soft hum of conversations and clicking keyboards filled the air, blending with the occasional ringing of phones. It was comforting in a way. Familiar. And yet, something felt different. Or maybe I was the one who had changed. …. The first thing I did after settling into my office was call HR. I needed a personal assistant. Ever since I got promoted, I had been handling too much on my own, and after everything that had happened, I knew I couldn’t affo
The weight of the the whole dramam going on settled on my shoulders like a boulder.I stood outside the police station, gripping my phone tightly in my hand, my thumb hovering over the play button.This was it.The moment I would turn my own mother in.The woman who had raised me, who had held me as a child, who had taught me how to ride a bike—now, I was handing her over to the law.Because she was a monster.Because she had betrayed me.Because she had tried to kill the woman I love.I sucked in a sharp breath, closing my eyes for a second. The night air was cold, biting against my skin. The streetlights flickered above, casting long shadows on the pavement. I could hear the faint sounds of cars honking in the distance, but everything around me felt… muted.Like the world had slowed down.Like I was standing on the edge of something I could never come back from.Then, with a final exhale, I stepped inside.The police station was bright and, the air was thick with the scent of coffee
The house was too quiet. It was at this moment I knew silence had a sound and could be heard. It wasn’t the peaceful kind of silence.It was the heavy, suffocating kind-the kind that made the air thick, the kind that made my own heartbeat sound too loud in my ears. It pressed against my chest, wrapping around me like an invisible chain.I stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the space in front of me. My hands were clasped together, but my fingers kept fidgeting, twisting over one another.Sebastian hadn’t come downstairs since we got back from the courthouse.I knew where he was.Locked in his study. Alone.I hated this silence.Because it wasn’t really silent.It had a sound—the sound of pain, of grief, of everything that had gone unsaid.I walked toward the couch and sank down, my body feeling heavier than it should.This house wasn’t just a house.It had been
When I woke up this morning, if someone had tapped me and told me that the world as I knew it would come crashing down today, I would have laughed and said they were bluffing.But it is amazing how the worst can happen, at moments when we least expect it.I was smiling when I walked up the pathway to Alfred’s house, the warm June sun casting a golden glow over everything. It was one of those perfect days that seemed tailor-made for surprises. My heart raced with excitement, and I clutched the small gift I had brought for him—an antique watch he had been eyeing for months. Today marked our two-year anniversary, and I wanted to make it special.The front door creaked as I pushed it open, stepping into the cool, air-conditioned sitting room, where I found Marlene, the housekeeper, dusting a vase in the living room.“Hi Marlene!” I greeted her with a warm smile. “Where’s Alfred? I have a little surprise for him.”“Oh, Miss Natalie, he’s inside the house, resting,” she replied, returning
The house was too quiet. It was at this moment I knew silence had a sound and could be heard. It wasn’t the peaceful kind of silence.It was the heavy, suffocating kind-the kind that made the air thick, the kind that made my own heartbeat sound too loud in my ears. It pressed against my chest, wrapping around me like an invisible chain.I stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the space in front of me. My hands were clasped together, but my fingers kept fidgeting, twisting over one another.Sebastian hadn’t come downstairs since we got back from the courthouse.I knew where he was.Locked in his study. Alone.I hated this silence.Because it wasn’t really silent.It had a sound—the sound of pain, of grief, of everything that had gone unsaid.I walked toward the couch and sank down, my body feeling heavier than it should.This house wasn’t just a house.It had been
The weight of the the whole dramam going on settled on my shoulders like a boulder.I stood outside the police station, gripping my phone tightly in my hand, my thumb hovering over the play button.This was it.The moment I would turn my own mother in.The woman who had raised me, who had held me as a child, who had taught me how to ride a bike—now, I was handing her over to the law.Because she was a monster.Because she had betrayed me.Because she had tried to kill the woman I love.I sucked in a sharp breath, closing my eyes for a second. The night air was cold, biting against my skin. The streetlights flickered above, casting long shadows on the pavement. I could hear the faint sounds of cars honking in the distance, but everything around me felt… muted.Like the world had slowed down.Like I was standing on the edge of something I could never come back from.Then, with a final exhale, I stepped inside.The police station was bright and, the air was thick with the scent of coffee
I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the elevator and into the familiar space of Grant Enterprises. It had been weeks since I was last here. Weeks since my life had spiraled into chaos. Since secrets had been revealed, betrayals exposed, and the foundation of everything I knew had been shaken to its core. But now, I was back. Back to work. Back to normal. Or at least, as normal as life could get after everything that had happened. The office smelled the same-fresh coffee, crisp paper, the faint scent of polished wood. The soft hum of conversations and clicking keyboards filled the air, blending with the occasional ringing of phones. It was comforting in a way. Familiar. And yet, something felt different. Or maybe I was the one who had changed. …. The first thing I did after settling into my office was call HR. I needed a personal assistant. Ever since I got promoted, I had been handling too much on my own, and after everything that had happened, I knew I couldn’t affo
The knock on my office door was sharp, deliberate. I didn’t expect anyone. Not at this hour. Not today. I set down my pen, glancing at the clock. 3:47 PM. I had been drowning in work all day, trying to keep my mind off everything that had happened in the past few weeks. Trying to pretend that life was normal again, that I wasn’t standing on the remains of a world that had been shattered beyond recognition. But now, someone was at my door. I straightened, adjusting my tie before speaking. “Come in.” The door creaked open, and my muscles tensed the moment I saw him. Thomas Grant. My stepfather. The man who had been nothing more than a shadow in my life, standing by while my mother did whatever she wanted. A man who never protected me, never spoke up, never did anything except watch. And now, he was here. I said nothing as he stepped inside, his movements slow, cautious—like he knew he wasn’t welcome. His eyes darted around the office before finally settling on me. He cleare
Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. I had never seen him like this before. Not when we were trapped. Not when we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive. Not even when he was injured, fighting to stay conscious. But now—now he looked like a man who had lost everything. His shoulders were tense, his breathing uneven, his fingers tangled in his hair as if he was trying to hold himself together. I sat beside him, close but not too close, giving him space. I wanted to say something, but words felt useless. What could I possibly say to make this better? How do you comfort someone when their entire world has just crumbled? I reached out and gently touched his arm. He flinched. Not in fear. Not in anger. Just in pure, raw pain. I pulled my hand back. For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the distant hum of the city outside, cars moving, life continuing as if nothing had changed. But for Sebastian, everything had changed. Finally, he lifted h
Four Weeks Later Freedom. That’s what the doctors called it when they finally discharged us. I should have felt relieved. I should have felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. But as I stepped outside the hospital, the cold air filling my lungs, something in my chest still felt tight. Four weeks. That’s how long we had been stuck in that place - four weeks of beeping machines, fluorescent lights, and hushed voices whispering about whether we’d make it. I had spent every one of those days sitting by Natalie’s bedside, waiting for her to open her eyes, for her to say my name. And when she finally had, I’d felt something break inside me - relief so strong it had made my legs weak. Now, she stood beside me, her hand tucked into mine, looking up at the sky like it was the first time she had ever seen it. The sun cast a warm glow on her skin, but she still looked too pale, too fragile. Her body was thinner than before, her movements slower. But her grip on my hand was st
Darkness. That was all there was at first. A deep, heavy nothingness that felt like me feel like sinking underwater, like being swallowed whole by a world without sound or light. Then came the pain. It was dull at first, a distant throbbing somewhere deep in my body. Then it sharpened, spreading like fire through my veins. My head pounded, my hands felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and something tugged at my skin - tubes, maybe? I tried to move, but my body didn’t want to listen. Panic curled in my chest. Where was I? I forced my eyelids to move, even though they felt glued shut. A soft beeping sound filled the air, slow and steady. The scent of antiseptic, which was sharp and clean, filled my nose. The air was cold, almost too cold, biting at my skin. A hospital. Memories hit me all at once. The attack. The blood. The feeling of slipping away. I was supposed to die. A shaky breath left my lips, and I turned my head slowly. The effort sent a sharp sting down my neck,
The city had never felt this big. The streets stretched on endlessly, the lights flashing past like blurs of color as I pushed the car faster. The call kept repeating in my head, a cruel echo that refused to fade. "She lost a lot of blood. There's a high chance she won’t survive." My fingers gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. No. She couldn't die. I refused to let her die. The car roared as I sped through a red light. Horns blared, tires screeched, but none of it mattered. My heart pounded against my ribs like a war drum, my breaths coming out sharp and uneven. The world outside blurred, but my mind was painfully clear. I could still see her face, pale and weak, lying in a pool of her own blood. The memory was like a knife twisting in my gut. "Hold on, Natalie. Just hold on." I had never prayed before. Not once in my life. But as I raced through the city, I found myself muttering desperate words under my breath. I didn’t care who was listening.
The cold night air hit my face as I stepped outside the hospital. The chaos from earlier had faded, leaving behind an eerie quiet. My body felt heavy, my mind even heavier.I should have felt relief.Iris and Samantha were in police custody. They wouldn’t be able to hurt Natalie again. The nightmare should have been over.But it wasn’t.Something inside me wouldn’t rest.I stood near the entrance, watching as the police officers led the two women to the waiting patrol car. Samantha fought against their grip, her wild eyes burning with rage."You think this is over?!" she screamed, twisting in the officer’s hold. "You think you’ve won, Sebastian?! You have no idea what’s coming!"Iris, on the other hand, didn’t say a word. She simply walked forward, her face blank. But I knew better.She was calculating.Planning.Waiting for the right moment.The officers shoved them into the car and s