"You heartless bitch," Jess whispered faintly, trying to suppress the wave of anger that threatened to surge through her. She couldn't afford to feel such emotions, not with the baby. But Kim’s laughter, soft and mocking, pierced the silence. "Oh, don’t look at me like that," she taunted. "I wanted to meet sooner, but I figured your little mind would need time to process with everything going on. Consider it... my kindness." “Kindness, my ass!” Jess hissed through clenched teeth, her voice low but seething with barely contained fury. “Your kind could never understand something so human, and I pity you for it.” Her words hung in the air, venomous and sharp, meant to pierce through Kim’s pretense. It wasn’t just the insult; it was the truth Jess wanted to wield like a weapon, a blade aimed at the heart of the twisted figure before her. But she knew, deep down, that such a sentiment was lost on someone like Kim, whose cruelty ran so deep it had long since masked any capacity for e
"Home sweet home," Jess murmured softly, her eyes sweeping over the estate with a mixture of nostalgia and wariness. Her gaze was sharp and judging, taking in every detail of the place that once held her childhood. The estate loomed before her, unchanged and yet foreign, as though it was frozen in time but distorted by years of absence and untold stories.She stood behind a slender, ancient tree that had been a silent witness to her youth. It was the same tree that had offered her shade during long, lazy afternoons when life had been simpler, untouched by the darkness that would later creep in. Jess swallowed hard as images flashed before her eyes—memories of a time when everything was still normal, or at least, as it should have been. The echoes of her past stirred unbidden in the cool air, filling her mind with fragments of a life long buried.The rusty gate, once a barrier to the outside world, now seemed pristine to Jess, as if time had reversed itself. She felt as though she ha
[A Preceding Chapter of Chapter 58]The investigation room, though bright and spacious, felt suffocating to Jess. She sat stiffly, the weight of her pregnancy making her uncomfortable in the cold, metal chair. Almost ready to give birth, she found herself trapped in more ways than one. Despite the room's ample space, it felt narrow and confining. Across from her sat Zach, who despite his calm demeanor, was determined to unravel the mysteries he has been detangling ever since. Zach leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Jess, probing for a reaction. "We already know you grew up at the Takahashi manor," he said, his voice measured but persistent. Jess, she didn't feel surprised at all. After all, she knew this very day would come and for some reason, she's almost thankful she has been caught. Yet, getting her to talk felt like trying to coax words out of a stone; no matter how hard they pressed, Jess remained silent, like a dam holding back a torrent of truth that could fl
[Continuation of Chapter 63] Dryzza followed the young Takumi as he led her through the grand corridors of the estate, his small figure walking confidently ahead of her. Despite his youth, there was something unnerving about his demeanor—something that made her skin crawl. His movements were precise, calculated, as though he knew more than a child should. She could tell from the way his gaze flickered toward her, sharp and suspicious, that he wasn’t entirely convinced of her presence. Yet, strangely, he didn’t call for the servants. He didn’t question her any further. It was almost as if he was toying with her, testing her, and she hated the feeling. As they turned a corner, Dryzza nearly stumbled when a figure emerged from the shadows—a woman in the attire of a servant. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with surprise, and Dryzza’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized her. “Joline,” she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with disbelief. The servant’s eyes darted b
Make this longer and sound more intellectual. Dryzza was never the type to be fazed easily. Years of working as a detective had sharpened her instincts, enabling her to read people and situations with clarity. Even so, she felt the weight of suspicion thick in the air the moment she teleported into such a time. Standing across from her was Joline— still Joline. “I’m sorry for being late,” Dryzza managed to say, her voice steady. She didn’t waver under the intensity of Joline’s gaze. Joline’s eyes remained sharp, and though her expression remained neutral, Dryzza could sense the unease radiating from her. There was no point in pressing too hard at this stage. A calculated approach was always best in such situations. “It seems like we have a little misunderstanding,” Dryzza added cautiously, choosing her words carefully to diffuse any brewing tension. It was a delicate dance. She wasn’t here to cause conflict, but the atmosphere made it clear that her mere presence was already an
In the hushed stillness of the cemetery, Samantha whispered softly to the gravestones before her, her voice barely above a murmur. "Hey, mom, dad. It’s been a while," she began, her breath hitching as she leaned down to place a bouquet of tulips, a feeble offering to the memory of her estranged parents. As she traced the letters of their names etched in stone, Samantha's fingers brushed away the accumulated dust, revealing the cold permanence of their absence. "Daniel Brown, Josefina Brown," she recited, her eyes flickering to the identification card hanging from her white coat. "Samantha Shane Andersen," she added with a bitter laugh. "Twenty years later, and I still can’t comprehend how you could despise your own flesh and blood." A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she gestured to her ID. "Look at me now, mom, dad. I'm a licensed psychiatrist," she choked out between soft sobs. "I have the career you always wanted for me. I even have my own office, soon to be filled with comforts rem
Kathleen slammed the car door with a ferocity that made Christian wince. "Best friend for ten years, my ass!" she hissed, crossing her arms and seething with barely contained rage. Christian followed her into the car, his frustration evident as he settled into the driver's seat. "Why did you storm out?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm, but the disbelief in Kathleen's eyes cut through him like a knife. "And you're taking her side?" she spat, her voice trembling with anger. "This isn't about sides," he sighed, trying to placate her. "I'll always take your side no matter what, but this is about respect and boundaries. Samantha's still haunted by her past. Give her time. She'll open up when she's ready." Kathleen's fury only grew. "Ten years isn't enough time? And obviously, you are taking her side." "I'm not!" Christian protested, rolling his eyes. "You're her best friend. You're supposed to understand. She has every right to keep her secrets." Kathleen scoffed. "Yeah, whate
"After she left, I started hearing this voice inside my head, doctor! I-I know you told me not to listen to them, but it’s so hard. What should I do now?" Samantha hummed thoughtfully as she jotted down key points from her patient's account. Setting her pen aside, she regarded him with a calm, professional demeanor. “Last time you were here, Mr. Rito, you spoke about your friend Bryan, who lives under your bed. Do you remember?” The young boy nodded cautiously. “And then there’s your girlfriend, Dessa, who resides inside the mirror in your room,” she continued. He nodded again. “And the mysterious tall man who appears suddenly, anytime and anywhere?” He looked at her unsteadily, his eyes darting around the room. Samantha took a deep breath and glanced at the boy’s mother, who was staring at her son with a mix of disbelief and distress. It was her first time accompanying him to the clinic, and the revelation was clearly overwhelming. “I have conducted extensive tests on your son, M