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
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
“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
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
"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
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
"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.
Luke nodded firmly. "Yes. He wasn’t just a brilliant business partner, but also a sincere man. Even in our last discussion, he spoke about wanting to ensure the company’s future for you, Siren."Tears almost filled Siren’s eyes, but she held them back with great effort. "Why didn’t he ever tell me?"Luke smiled faintly. "Maybe because he wasn’t looking for recognition. He just wanted you to succeed without feeling burdened."Siren clenched her fists tightly. "Then I won’t waste everything he did. I’ll continue his fight and make sure this company remains strong," Siren said, staring at Luke with determined eyes.Luke nodded with pride. "That’s the answer I wanted to hear. We’ll face them together, Siren."Siren looked at the documents in her hands as if she could see the traces of James' hard work on every page. Her resolve grew firmer. This wasn’t just about her family anymore. It was also about preserving James' legacy.Siren closed the file decisively. "It’s time for me to show the
James' return from the dead after a plane crash and his rise as the CEO of the massive Scout family corporation have become the talk of the town. Adding to the sensation, the news of his stepmother, Hanah, and stepbrother, Aladric, being arrested has spread like wildfire, fueling the hunger of journalists eager for a scoop. The shocking revelation of James Scout being alive and back in power has stunned many.The news went viral, shaking the public. Even James' biological father, who had always remained silent, could only apologize in shame. He realized that he had utterly failed to protect his own family.As the world reeled from James Scout's return, the headquarters of Scout Corporation was flooded with reporters, all desperate to get a statement from the rightful heir. Cameras and microphones were thrust at anyone entering or exiting the building, while speculation on how James survived the plane crash spread rapidly.At the Scout family residence, James’ biological father, Leonar
As expected, today James confidently arrived with David and Vaul, his assistants, at the giant corporation owned by the Scout family. According to David, there was a meeting scheduled today with shareholders and the company's elite executives to appoint the new CEO.James, who was presumed dead, reappeared with irrefutable evidence of Aladric and his mother's crimes. Now, as the largest shareholder, James was set to take his rightful place as the company's director. His arrival was bound to shock everyone.As James stepped into the grand headquarters of Scout Corporation, the atmosphere inside was tense. Executives and shareholders had already gathered in the main conference room, awaiting the crucial moment—the appointment of the new CEO.David and Vaul followed closely behind James, their expressions unreadable, but their eyes sharp, as if prepared for any resistance."Everything is ready, sir," David whispered as they neared the entrance to the large meeting room.James nodded slig
"I'm home, Sweety." James entered the mansion at night, though it was not too late.He walked toward the dining area and noticed that the dinner remained untouched, even though dinnertime had long passed."Where is Siren? Has she not had dinner yet?" James asked one of the maids present."Madam is still in her room, Sir. She hasn’t come down at all," the maid replied, making James feel uneasy.James let out a slow sigh before climbing the stairs to their bedroom. Worry started creeping into his mind. Siren never skipped dinner.Reaching the door, James knocked gently. "Sweety, are you inside?"No response…James frowned before finally opening the door and stepping in. The bedroom lights were dim, and Siren sat at the edge of the bed, hugging her knees. Her eyes stared blankly at the window.James approached her and crouched down in front of her. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked softly.Siren didn't answer immediately. It took her a few seconds before she finally whispered, "I'm just… tir
James narrowed his eyes. "What is he up to?"David placed his phone on the table, displaying a report. "There are signs of sabotage in one of our related projects. Several suppliers have suddenly withdrawn, and there are rumors that someone is trying to buy shares in companies affiliated with us."Romano growled. "Damn it, he's wasting no time."James gave a faint smile, completely unfazed. "Then let's give him a surprise."Romano's eyes narrowed. "What’s your plan?"James leaned back in his chair, exuding confidence. "If Leonard wants to play dirty, we’ll make sure he realizes he picked the wrong opponent."Romano smirked. "I like the way you think, James. But you know Leonard isn't someone who goes down easily."James met his gaze sharply. "Which is exactly why we need to act fast."David crossed his arms. "Do you have a strategy?"James picked up his phone, typed something, then looked at them. "First, we identify the suppliers who backed out and secure alternatives before the proj
On the other side, James, along with David and Romano, attended a major business meeting. The tender at stake was highly sought after by many entrepreneurs. James had already promised Romano that he would secure the contract.The meeting room was filled with prominent business figures, each with their own agenda and ambitions. James sat calmly in his seat, his expression unreadable as the tender committee representatives began presenting the highly contested project.Romano sat beside him, appearing relaxed, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. Meanwhile, David, seated across from them, seemed more at ease, occasionally glancing around the room to assess their competitors."James," Romano whispered. "We must ensure our proposal is the best. I don't want to lose this project."James nodded without turning his head. "Don't worry, Mr. Romano. I've prepared everything."The presentation session began. One by one, the participants took turns presenting their plans. James observed atten
"Good morning, Sister-in-law!" David entered the mansion with a bright expression."Oh? What brings you here so early?" Sirena asked, frowning."What else? I'm here to greet the newlyweds," he chuckled, making Sirena roll her eyes."Sit down, have breakfast," Sirena said, already seated at the dining table."Well, if you insist, I won’t say no," he laughed, taking a seat across from her."Ck... Always taking advantage of opportunities," James commented as he appeared, dressed neatly."Of course," David grinned as he flipped his plate over."You're all dressed up, James? Are you going somewhere?" Sirena asked, observing her husband."Yes, Sweety. I have a meeting and need to meet with some investors," James replied, sitting beside her."Will it take long?" Sirena asked, not wanting him to leave.James smiled slightly, sensing the reluctance in her voice. "I'll try to be back as soon as possible. Just a few hours, Sweety."Sirena sighed softly, stirring her food absentmindedly with her
"Ah, looks like my persuasion worked this time," James teased as Sirena opened her bedroom door, stepping out with a clearly annoyed expression."It better be good," Sirena muttered, walking ahead and leaving James behind."Of course. When have my dishes ever been bad?" James chuckled, following her.Sirena shot him a glare over her shoulder, eyes filled with doubt. "You're way too confident."James feigned offense. "Oh, Sweety! Do you still doubt my culinary skills? That really hurts my pride as a man."Sirena scoffed and crossed her arms. "We'll see. If it’s not good, you’re washing dishes for a whole week."James let out a low chuckle. "Deal. But if it is good, you owe me a reward."Sirena narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What kind of reward?"James leaned in slightly, whispering in a playful tone, "Three rounds tonight. How about that?"Sirena’s face instantly turned red. "JAMES!" she shrieked, shoving him away.James just laughed in satisfaction. "Alright, alright. Let’s start co
"You're lying, aren't you? You must be lying to me, James," Jeslyn said, completely unwilling to accept James' statement."Why would I lie to you, Jes? There's no point in doing that," James replied."James, from the very beginning, our agreement was about my marriage to you!" Jeslyn snapped, her eyes brimming with anger."There was never such an agreement, Jeslyn!" James said, his frustration evident. Meanwhile, Sirena remained silent, but her gaze was filled with anger toward James, as if accusing him of being a liar. That alone made him feel pressured.Jeslyn stared at James, her eyes burning with fury and disappointment. "So, you're just going to throw me away? After everything we've been through?"James sighed, trying to suppress his frustration. "Jeslyn, I never promised to marry you. If you or your father assumed that, it was never my agreement."Jeslyn let out a bitter chuckle, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "So, this was all just business to you? What am I to you,
"Welcome to my mansion," James said as he opened the massive door to his grand estate."Wow, so this is where you've been living all this time?" Sirena asked in awe."That's right. I bought this place because it's comfortable. Even though it's on the outskirts of the city, the view is breathtaking," James replied.Sirena stepped inside, her eyes immediately captivated by the mansion's magnificent interior. Tall walls adorned with classic carvings, a grand crystal chandelier casting shimmering light across the room, and elegantly arranged furniture created an air of luxury."You're right, this place is truly beautiful," she whispered, admiring every corner.James smiled slightly as he closed the door behind them. "I want you to feel comfortable here. From now on, this is your home too."Sirena turned to him, sensing something in his tone that made her feel... safe.Vaul, James' personal assistant, appeared from the hallway and gave a slight bow. "Welcome, Madam. The master bedroom has