"Sirena!" called Elda, running toward Sirena, who was napping in her favorite spot, resting her head against a shady tree trunk."Sirena, wake up! It's urgent!" Elda said, gently tapping Sirena's shoulder until she opened her eyes."What is it?" Sirena asked, frowning in confusion, still half-asleep."Look at this!" Elda showed her phone screen. On it was a picture of Sirena kissing a mysterious man inside a car. The camera clearly captured Sirena's face, but the man's face was blurry and unrecognizable."Do you know that because of this photo, the entire campus is in an uproar? They're claiming you're some sugar daddy's kept woman!""What?" Sirena gasped, utterly shocked.She sat up straight, her face turning pale with panic. "Are you serious, Elda?" she asked, grabbing the phone from her friend's hand to get a closer look at the picture. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and confusion."I'm serious, Sirena! Everyone's talking about it. Some are even placing bets on who the myste
Bruk!"Is this how you behave now, Siren?!" Ronald asked firmly, his sharp gaze piercing through."What do you mean?" Sirena asked, frowning in confusion."How much money do you need? Do you want branded goods or a car? I can give you all that. Why would you stoop so low to become some old man's mistress?" Ronald asked, clearly upset.Sirena stared coldly at the man in front of her, feeling both angry and hurt. She clenched her fists, trying to suppress the pain gnawing at her chest. Her sharp eyes locked onto Ronald's, filled with suppressed rage. "Ronald, you have no right to speak to me like that," she said, her voice cold but firm. "And what do you mean by accusing me like that?"Ronald scoffed. "I just want to know why you're involved with that old man. You must be after his money, right?" he accused.Sirena tried to hold back her emotions. "You know nothing about my life now, Ronald. Maybe you've forgotten, but you were the first person to leave me when I needed support."Ronald
James was working on his laptop when his phone began ringing incessantly. He glanced at the screen and sighed. This was the umpteenth time the call had come through.Finally, he answered."Yes, what is it?" James asked."James. Come home tonight. We’re having dinner together. Even Grandpa is expecting you," said the voice on the other end."Aren’t I just the discarded grandson and son? Why should I return to that house?" James retorted with irritation."James, why would you say that to Mom? No one has abandoned you!" the woman on the line protested.James fell silent, gripping his phone tighter. The voice belonged to his mother, and despite her tone being gentle, he could hear the weariness behind it."Mom," James took a deep breath. "All this time, it feels like everyone at home has chosen to ignore me. Grandpa, Dad... it seems like I’m not part of the family."There was a brief silence on the line. Then, his mother’s soft voice returned."James, you’ve misunderstood. We never meant
“James!” Zachari, James’s father, admonished sternly.James chuckled nonchalantly, his demeanor exuding indifference. “What? Do you think our family is incapable of betrayal? Even Grandpa isn’t guaranteed to stick to his word,” he replied with a tone that was both ambiguous and provocative, teetering between seriousness and jest.Malik sighed, attempting to ease the tension. “James, this isn’t about who can take advantage of the land. It’s about what’s best for our family and our collective future.”David smirked, interjecting, “At least James has a different perspective. Perhaps we should consider the risks involved, not just the potential profit.”Zachari, who had been silent until now, fixed James with a sharp gaze. “We’re here to discuss matters, not belittle each other. Think carefully about your decisions, James,” he said firmly, his disapproval evident.Leaning back in his chair, James shrugged. “Alright, I’ll think about it. But honestly, I’d rather focus on something more cer
James stared out the window of his room with a sharp gaze. In his hand was a glass filled with brown liquid—whiskey.He regretted visiting the Scout residence, as it only ended with him being asked to leave the company once again.James had been alienated from his own family since the arrival of Hannah, his stepmother.“James, you must remember. No matter how hard you try, you’ll always be the Scout family’s trash. Know your place, and never take what belongs to your brother, Alaric!” Hannah had threatened.In addition to her threats, James often endured abuse from that woman. Beatings, lashings, and even starvation—there was a time he didn’t eat for days and nearly died on the streets because of her cruelty.Recalling those moments, James closed his eyes, trying to contain the rage bubbling within him.In the Scout family, he was always belittled, undervalued, and forever overshadowed by David.Because of his mother’s low status, James had suffered countless abuses, insults, and humi
"Why do you keep staring at the bed? Don't tell me you’re thinking we’ll do it there, are you?" James teased, earning a sharp glare from Sirena."Pervert!" Sirena scoffed, her annoyance evident. As usual, James laughed it off casually."We could try it on campus, you know," James teased again, his tone playful."Stop teasing me, James," Sirena protested."Hehe... Alright. Actually, this room is a private space provided by the campus for me. I used to come here often and even stayed overnight, so I still use it from time to time," James explained, as if reading Sirena's thoughts."You can rest and relax here," James added."Oh…" Sirena nodded, feeling slightly more at ease after his explanation.James sat on a chair across from her, his gaze full of concern. "Are you feeling okay now, Sweetie?" he asked, his tone softer than usual.Sirena paused for a moment before nodding slowly. "Thank you, James. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I could face this on my own."James let out a shor
“That woman is shameless around James. I can’t stand this!” Claudya exclaimed angrily.“She’s definitely trying to get the dean’s and Mr. James’s attention,” Ana added.“She’s desperate for money, seducing everyone she can. Even with a sugar daddy, she still dares to flirt with Mr. James!” Glade said with visible irritation.Claudya huffed, her face flushing with anger. “Honestly, I can’t take it! It’s as if she owns all the attention on this campus. When it’s clear that I’m the one who deserves to be close to Mr. James,” she said, trying to suppress her emotions.Ana nodded quickly, her dislike just as apparent. “You’re right, Claud. She’s sneaky. Every chance she gets, she makes sure to grab attention from the dean, especially Mr. James, like she’s the most charming person around.”Glade, who had been silent, finally spoke. “This is all because she needs money. That’s why she shamelessly flirts with everyone. Even with a sugar daddy, she’s still trying to steal Mr. James’s attention
James’s car stopped at a shopping mall, and Sirena stepped out, followed by James.“What are you doing, James?” Sirena asked, surprised to see him get out as well.“What else? I’m going to be your bodyguard,” James replied casually.Sirena snorted, putting on an annoyed face, though she felt slightly flattered deep down. "Bodyguard, huh? No need. I can take care of myself, James."Ignoring her protest, James strolled leisurely beside her. "I’m just making sure you’re safe, Sweetie. You never know who might try to mess with you."Rolling her eyes, Sirena let him walk with her."Wow, must be nice to live such a carefree life, Mr. James," Sirena teased."Of course. I have a lot of money," James replied confidently. "I can pay people to do my work."Sirena shot him a sarcastic smile. "Oh, so money is the reason you’re so relaxed? No wonder you have so much time to flirt with people."James chuckled, unfazed. "You’re absolutely right. Why stress when things can be easy?"Sirena sighed with
"Are you going to campus, Siren?" Brianna asked as she saw Siren coming down the stairs."No, Mom. I'm going to the office," Siren replied."To the office? Is everything okay? Ramon has been coming here for the last few days. He doesn't want to tell me anything, maybe because he's worried about your condition," Brianna said."Everything's fine, Mom. Ramon came on Uncle William's orders," Siren answered."Uncle William? What does he want from you, Siren? Don't trust them. When your dad was struggling, they turned their backs on us. Even all the issues with Daddy are related to Uncle William. The reason Daddy was scammed out of trillions of dollars is all because of your uncle," Brianna complained, making Siren furrow her brow in confusion."Wait, what do you mean, Mom?" Siren asked, not understanding.Brianna took a deep breath, as if trying to calm her rising emotions. "Before your dad's downfall, Siren, our company was very strong. Your dad worked with Uncle William on a big project.
Sirena gazed thoughtfully out of the hospital room window. The heavy rain poured down, drenching the glass pane.Her mind lingered on a dream she had about James. In that dream, James seemed to be asking her to stop thinking about him and start a new life. But how could she forget James when a small life was now growing inside her womb?Closing her eyes, Sirena recalled their last encounter. That time, she had forgotten to take her contraceptive pills, and James had been quite passionate. Who would have thought that day would lead to the creation of a life now growing within her—a child who might become a lasting memory of James.She let out a long sigh, her eyes remaining tightly shut as she tried to calm the turmoil in her heart. The sound of rain hitting the window seemed like a sorrowful melody that wrapped around her being. The memories of James were too vivid, etched into every corner of her thoughts.Slowly, her hand moved to touch her still-flat stomach. There was a small life
"Ugh!" Sirena abruptly stood up and ran to the bathroom. She vomited everything in her stomach into the toilet.Hearing the commotion, Elda quickly rushed to the bathroom and gently massaged Sirena's neck."Are you okay, Siren?" Elda asked, handing Sirena a small towel."Yeah, I think I'm fine," Sirena replied, getting up from her position.But just as she stepped out of the bathroom, Sirena let out a scream of pain, clutching her stomach."Siren, what's wrong?" Elda was genuinely shocked, immediately supporting Sirena as she nearly collapsed to the floor."My stomach... it hurts so much," she whimpered.Elda saw Sirena's pale, sweaty face and grew increasingly worried."Let's get you to the bed first," Elda said, helping Sirena to the bed before immediately calling Gavin to take Sirena to the hospital."Hang on, Siren," Elda tried to comfort her as Sirena curled up on the bed, holding her stomach in excruciating pain."Siren... Siren..." Elda called out as Sirena's face turned ghostl
After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at Gavin’s car. Gavin carefully lowered Sirena and laid her in the back seat. Sirena mumbled something again, this time more clearly. “James... don’t go...” she whispered, before falling silent again.Elda held back her tears as she sat in the front seat. “She still can’t let go of James,” she said, her voice hoarse.Gavin sighed deeply. “It’s natural. Losing someone who means so much to you will never be easy. But I’m sure she’s strong. She just needs time.”The ride home was quiet. Only the sound of the car engine could be heard, accompanying the thoughts of each of them, drowning in sympathy for Sirena.“Should we drop Siren off at her place?” Gavin asked.“No. Take her to my apartment,” Elda replied.“Okay.”When they arrived at Elda’s apartment, Gavin lifted Sirena again, but just as they were about to enter the lobby, someone called out, and Sirena, who had slightly opened her eyes, saw a familiar figure in front of her.“Vaul?” Siren
“Hey, you guys finally made it,” Gavin greeted as Elda and Sirena arrived at one of the nightclubs.“Yeah, we didn’t want to miss your special moment,” Elda chuckled.“Come on in, Siren, Elda.”There were a few other students present at Gavin's birthday party, which was being celebrated in one of the private rooms of the nightclub.Sirena walked in with Elda, following Gavin to the private room that had been prepared. The music from the club echoed, but as they entered the special room, the booming bass softened slightly, replaced by a more intimate yet still lively atmosphere. The room was simply decorated but elegant, with a few balloons and colorful neon lights adorning the corners.“Wow, Gav, you really know how to throw a birthday party,” Elda said with a laugh, taking in the energetic atmosphere.“This is all for you guys too. Don’t be shy, enjoy the night,” Gavin replied with a wide smile. He looked very excited that night.Sirena smiled faintly, though there was still a heavin
On the third day after James’s departure, Sirena decided to return to college after several days of skipping classes.Upon arriving at campus, everything felt different. Her steps felt heavy as she walked toward the campus building, but there was a strong determination in her heart to face reality again, even though her heart still ached.At the entrance of the campus, Sirena could feel the stares directed at her. Some students looked at her with sympathy, while others seemed to take satisfaction, as if James’s departure was exactly what they had hoped for. The cynical glances cut deeper, making Sirena lower her head for a moment.Before long, hurried footsteps caught Sirena’s attention. It was Elda, running toward her with an expression full of concern. Without hesitation, Elda wrapped her arms around Sirena, surprising her."Sirena, you’re not alone," Elda said, her voice trembling as tears fell. "I know this is hard for you, but I’m here. I’m here for you."Sirena felt a tightness
Sirena stood in front of the apartment door, her hands trembling as she entered the password on the touchscreen. She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself, but each breath felt heavy. Every step toward the door felt increasingly burdensome, as if the weight she carried grew with every passing second.Slowly, she opened the door to the apartment—the place where she had met James, the place where they shared laughter, intimacy, and unspeakable happiness. This apartment had witnessed their relationship, which felt so intimate and full of love, even though once they stepped outside, everything was different. But now, it all felt like a fading memory.As the door opened, a familiar scent greeted her: the smell of coffee that once filled the morning air in this apartment, the aroma of James' cooking that always filled the kitchen. But now, everything felt empty. There was no laughter, no sound of James' footsteps, no playful banter that had always warmed the atmosphere. The room felt so qu
At the grand Scout residence, an unusual commotion filled the atmosphere. Servants rushed back and forth with anxious faces, while several family members busily made phone calls, seeking the latest information about the plane crash that had claimed James Andreas Scout. The television echoed the tragic news, accompanying tense discussions among the family.Amid the chaos, Hannah stood in the corner of the room, holding a porcelain teacup with a faint, barely perceptible smile. Her gaze was cold, contrasting with the feigned sorrow she had shown to some relatives earlier. Her heart was filled with an undeniable sense of satisfaction."So it's finally over," Hannah murmured softly, barely audible amid the clamor. She turned her gaze from the television to the large window, where raindrops had begun to fall gently.“Mother, this is not the time to smile!” scolded Alaric, her son, standing nearby with a confused expression. "James just died, and Grandfather will be even more worried about
Sirena had just left her house when she was startled to see Vaul standing in front of her gate, holding a box in his hand."Vaul? What's going on?" Sirena asked, approaching the man."I've come to deliver the items Mr. James entrusted for you," Vaul said.Sirena furrowed her brow, confused by Vaul's sudden visit. "For me? What's this?" she asked, her eyes curious as they focused on the box Vaul was holding.Vaul handed her the box with calm movements. "This is from Mr. James. He wanted you to receive it personally," Vaul replied, still maintaining a serious expression.Sirena glanced at the box for a moment before looking back at Vaul. "Mr. James... where is he now?" she asked."Mr. James is on his way to Mexico for work," Vaul answered.Sirena nodded, though her heart felt heavy hearing that James was far from her. "Thank you, Vaul," she said, taking the box with slightly trembling hands.Vaul nodded in response, then turned and walked away, leaving Sirena standing by the gate. Siren