After reading Eds' text, Sinjin started the car and drove toward his father's estate, which was an hour away from Midas Corporation. Despite the distance, he made it in just forty-five minutes, managing to avoid getting pulled over for speeding.He pressed a button on the steering wheel, causing the gates to open automatically. They closed behind him once he had driven through. Pulling up in front of the house, he turned off the ignition, exited the car, and slammed the door. As he approached the front door, it swung open, and his sister walked out to meet him."Sinjin, what are you—" Emma began, but she didn’t finish her sentence as Sinjin strode past her into the house, seemingly ignoring her. Surprised by her brother's attitude, Emma turned and followed him inside, curious about his unusual behavior."Sinjin, what a lovely surprise!" Camilla exclaimed, rising from the sofa to hug him. However, he lifted his hands to ward her off. "Baby, what’s wrong?" Her brow furrowed in confusio
As he approached an intersection, he saw the traffic light had turned red. Instead of slowing to a stop, he sped through it, and a truck slammed into the passenger side of his car. The impact caused the car to spin out of control and finally come to a halt.Just before losing consciousness, his only thought was Eds."Sinjin!" Eds screamed his name in her sleep, jolting awake and breathing heavily.Hearing the scream, Sande rushed into Eds' bedroom and quickly sat beside her on the bed. "It's okay. It was just a dream," Sande said, pulling Eds into a tight embrace."It felt so real. There was so much blood," Eds whimpered."Sinjin is fine. I'm sure he's fine," Sande reassured her.Just then, Eds' phone rang. Sande grabbed it from the bedside table and handed it to Eds, who answered despite the unknown number."This is her," Eds said when asked for her identity."I'm calling from Elderstone General Hospital. Your husband, Sinjin Santillan, was involved in a fatal accident and was rushed
A month later Eds let out a weary sigh, brushing her hair from her face as she sat up on the sofa that had served as her makeshift bed for weeks. The chest tube had been removed two weeks after Sinjin’s accident, but he still hadn’t woken up, and the fear that she might never speak to him again weighed heavily on her.Though the steady beeping of the heart monitor confirmed her husband was alive, and his doctor had reassured her that Sinjin was likely taking his time to wake up, anxiety still gripped her, causing her own heart to race.His parents and sister visited daily, but Eds never spoke to them anymore. She had said all she needed to on the day of his accident. They were the reason he was here, and if he died without waking up, she knew she would never forgive them—or herself.She stood up and walked over to his bedside, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Good morning, Sinjin," she greeted softly. "Did you sleep well? I didn’t." She had started talking to him about her day an
After Doctor Dupont left the room, a heavy silence filled the space as everyone drifted into their own thoughts. Sinjin's blindness was psychological, and with the right treatment and therapy, he would eventually regain his sight. Eds knew she should be happy about this, but she wasn’t. Sinjin had endured so much, far more than she could ever comprehend, and she had abandoned him to face his struggles alone.They had been friends before they married, and just because she had fallen in love with him—breaking her own rule—didn't mean she couldn’t have been there for him. Instead, she had run away like a coward, avoiding the consequences of her actions.If Mallucia was the one he truly wanted, Eds should have done her best to help him reconnect with the woman he loved. Isn’t that what being his friend was supposed to mean? Even though it would have broken her to see him with Mallucia, she knew she should have helped him.Camilla moved towards the bed, hesitant to ask how Sinjin was. Ins
Surprised when Sinjin opened the door to the second master bedroom, Eds hesitated in the doorway. She glanced back at his closed bedroom door, just a few doors down."What about your bedroom?" she asked, stepping into the room."That'll be turned into a nursery or something," Sinjin replied. "That room has memories I don't want to revisit.""A nursery?" Eds scoffed, closing the door behind her. "Isn't that a bit far-fetched?""Is it?" Sinjin countered.Eds sighed, running her fingers through her hair, then walked over to stand in front of him. She crouched down, placing her hands on his lap so he could sense her presence."Listen, Sinjin, about our marriage...""You said we could talk tomorrow," he interrupted. "Let's talk tomorrow."Eds sighed again. "Okay," she agreed, standing up. "So, what do you want to do now?""I'd like to take a shower," Sinjin said."A shower? Is that really necessary?" Eds asked, eyes widening.Sinjin lifted his arm and sniffed. "I stink.""No, you don’t. I
Silence followed Mallucia's departure as they both tried to process everything that had just happened. The realization that Sinjin had slept with Mallucia for revenge was unsettling to Eds, but she was relieved it wasn’t driven by genuine affection for Mallucia.Now that Sinjin had bid his final goodbye to Mallucia, he felt it was time to apologize to Eds for everything he had put her through. He understood if she found it too difficult to forgive him because he struggled to forgive himself."Edselyn, I'm sorry," he said. "I won’t ask for your forgiveness because I don’t deserve it, and I won’t offer excuses. I didn’t mean to hurt you. If you hadn’t found us, I would have told you myself.""I forgive you, Sinjin," Eds replied."Really? Why?" Sinjin asked, surprised."Life is too short to hold grudges," Eds shrugged. "When I heard about your accident, I blamed myself for pushing you away. I should have helped you work through your feelings because that’s what friends do.""You were rig
Sinjin was initially skeptical about hiring Nikki as his secretary but went ahead with it because of Eds. The boys celebrated their tenth birthday with Kyle, but the highlight was a special surprise from Sinjin: the newly released online game Dark Realm: Dawn of the Twin Avengers, which had already garnered over one billion downloads within its first month.When Nikki first arrived at the house, she was captivated by its breathtaking beauty. She had always dreamed of living by the beach and couldn't help but feel envious of Eds. Her attention, however, soon shifted from the house to Sinjin, whom Eds introduced to her. Nikki tried her hardest not to stare at Sinjin in Eds' presence.She had seen pictures of Sinjin online and read about him—he was not only the most handsome but also the richest man in the world. She couldn’t help but wonder how Eds had managed to land someone as extraordinary as Sinjin Santillan."You have a beautiful house, Mr. Santillan," Nikki commented."Thank you,
Eds froze for a moment as Sinjin's lips met hers. Startled, she lifted her hands to his chest in a subtle attempt to push him away. Realizing her hesitation, he pulled back immediately, lifting his head."I'm sorry," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to do that. I shouldn't have." Sinjin lay back, resting his head on the pillow, shaking it as if to push away the moment. "I'm really sorry."Eds shifted, propping herself up on one elbow. She reached out, her hand gently touching his face. "No, don't be sorry. I was just caught off guard, that's all." She assured him. "It's okay.""I know you said no intimacy...""That's bullshit," she whispered, her voice softly but firm. "Everything I said was bullshit. I do want you, Sinjin Santillan." Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Remember how I said I didn't want visuals for something I couldn't have?""Yeah?" A small smile curved his lips as he recalled their conversation months before."Well," she muttered, her voice barely abo
Two weeks later Sinjin stepped out of his car and shut the door, glancing at his father's house with a shake of his head before rounding the vehicle and making his way inside. The butler, Fred, had passed away months ago, and they hadn’t bothered to hire a replacement.Kyle had died in a car accident while fleeing from the police, and Lucas was arrested at the airport just as he was about to escape the country. Taron, his boss, along with the entire gang, had been sent to prison. Mallucia had found a wealthy French man to latch onto, and Sinjin ensured that Adella paid for hurting Eds by exiling her to Africa.He and Eds named their boys Emilio and Emeliano, and their daughters Annabelle and Phoebe.Striding down the hallway, he opened the door to the living room and stepped inside, shutting it behind him. His parents and sister were seated, watching his press conference, and he was relieved to find them all together.“Sinjin!” Camilla gasped, rising to her feet. “Oh, my baby!” She
Sande blinked once, twice, and then a third time, staring at Sinjin in disbelief. The man in front of her had blue eyes and dark hair, resembling her best friend's husband, yet Sande was uncertain if she was hallucinating."Dad?" the boys chorused, shock evident on their faces. An audience had gathered, all equally astonished at the sight of a supposedly dead man alive."Hi, boys. Missed me?" Sinjin grinned."Dad!" they exclaimed, rushing to hug him before Sande could intervene. They burst into tears as he enveloped them in his arms.Onlookers recorded the miraculous scene, still struggling to comprehend what they were witnessing. Sande approached Sinjin, stopping a few feet away. She noticed the faded bruises on his face and a small scar near his hairline that hadn't been there months ago."You're Sinjin Santillan?" she asked, needing confirmation."Hey, short stuff. You look good," he replied. "Married life suits you.""What's my middle name?" she pressed."Phoebe," Sinjin answered
Two weeks later Eds was sitting in the family room, watching TV with her boys, when Mrs. Bale entered to announce Camilla's arrival. She quickly instructed the boys to go upstairs, and they hurried off just as Camilla walked in with Emma by her side.Eds knew they were angry at her for refusing to attend Sinjin’s funeral, but she didn’t care. What bothered her more was the smug smile plastered on Emma’s face, leaving her uneasy as to why Emma looked so pleased."Hello," Eds greeted awkwardly. "Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything?""There’s no need for that," Camilla said coldly. "I’m here to take possession of my son’s house. I want you and your boys out of here in the next two hours."Eds stared at her in shock. "Excuse me? What right do you think you have to do that? This is my husband’s house, and you can’t just throw us out.""You insolent brat," Camilla hissed. "Your husband? Did you ever love my son, or were you just pretending all along?""I don’t need to prove my love
"Mrs. Santillan, are you alright?" Dr. Carmichael inquired, her brows knitting together with concern as Eds stared back at her, silent and unmoving."I can't be pregnant," Eds blurted out suddenly, her voice tinged with panic. "I can't be pregnant."Dr. Carmichael hesitated. "I thought... it might be good news for you, considering... after your husband's passing."Eds’ eyes narrowed. "If you were in my shoes, would you be happy?""Maybe... just a little," Dr. Carmichael admitted softly. "A part of me would find comfort, knowing his baby was growing inside me. Whether boy or girl, I’d have something of him to hold onto." She paused, her voice turning solemn. "I understand, Mrs. Santillan. I lost my husband and unborn daughter on the same day. There were moments I didn’t want to go on."Eds looked at her with surprise. "How did you manage?""With the help of my friends and family, I found my way back. I returned to being a doctor, and though the pain never fully goes away, it gets bett
A month later Breaking News: Global Shockwaves as Sinjin Santillan's Jet Crashes into Ocean: Tragic Incident Stuns the WorldAnchor: "Good evening. This is Starline News, and I'm Jayce Hammond. Our top story tonight: 'Global Shockwaves as Sinjin Santillan's Jet Crashes into Ocean: Tragic Incident Stuns the World.' We now go live to June Littleton for the latest updates."June Littleton: "Thank you, Jayce. I'm June Littleton reporting for Starline News. In a devastating turn of events today, the world has been left in shock following the crash of a private jet owned by the renowned entrepreneur Sinjin Santillan. The aircraft, en route from Los Angeles to Tokyo, went down in the ocean under still-unknown circumstances, sending shockwaves across the globe.June Littleton: "Santillan, widely known for his influential role in various industries, was on board the jet when the incident occurred. Preliminary reports suggest that the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control shortly befo
Kyle's eyes widened when he checked the intercom and saw Simon standing alone at the door. His heart sank slightly, as the boys weren't with him. He hurriedly unlocked the door and stepped into the hallway."Where are the boys?" Kyle demanded, his voice edged with irritation. "It's my turn to have them."Simon stood firm, holding up an envelope. "The boys are sick. Mrs. Santillan sent me to give you this."Kyle snatched the envelope, ripping it open. His brow furrowed as he unfolded the paper—a court-issued restraining order. His blood boiled."What the hell is this?!" Kyle spat, thrusting the paper toward Simon. "She can’t stop me from seeing my sons!"At that moment, the elevator doors slid open, revealing Sinjin. He strolled toward them, catching the tail end of Kyle’s outburst."Maybe she can’t stop you," Sinjin remarked coolly, bending to pick up the discarded paper. "But the court can. And it just did."Kyle's face reddened, his fists clenched. "You bastard! This was your plan a
Tristan unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his shoulders, his eyes dropping when he noticed the horrified expression on Eds' face. To his surprise, instead of recoiling, she grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet and dragging both him and his brother out of the room."Sinjin!" Eds called urgently as she hurried down the stairs. "Sinjin!"Sinjin emerged from his home office, his curiosity piqued by the alarm in Eds' voice. His eyes widened in shock as he noticed the bruises marking the boys' bodies, who were beside her, trailing closely."What on earth... How did this happen?" Sinjin crouched down, his voice filled with concern. "Who did this to you?" he asked the boys."No one," they replied in unison."That's all they keep telling me," Eds said, frustration lacing her words. "I called Kyle, and he said Troy was being bullied at school, but I didn’t believe him. Then I told Tristan to take off his shirt, and look! Their bruises are identical." She gestured at the boys as she expl
Over the following weeks, Kyle made every effort to get the boys to call him "dad," but they stubbornly stuck to using his name, which frustrated him. His attempt to eliminate Sinjin had failed, and each time he passed by Eds' shop, he was irritated by the sight of her laughing with Sinjin.What truly set him off was seeing them dancing and singing together in her shop, with customers cheering them on and recording the moment to post online. The video quickly went viral, amassing ten million views in just 24 hours.It was the same video that Troy and Tristan were watching on their phones, the volume loud and disruptive, while Kyle tried to concentrate on work. It grated on his nerves."Turn it off," he demanded."What?" Tristan asked, confused."I said, turn the damn thing off!" Kyle snapped."We're watching it," Troy responded, his tone defiant.Kyle shot up from his seat at the kitchen counter, marched over to the boys in the living room, and ripped the phones from their hands, hurl
A week later Kyle walked into Haven's Brew and Bakery during his lunch break and was pleased to find it empty. He had noticed that the busiest times were in the morning and occasionally when school let out, so he made it a point to come during lunch when Eds was usually free.He spotted Madison behind the display case, placing a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies and muffins, and greeted her with a smile."Hi," he said."Hi, Kyle," Madison replied. "Here to see the boss?""Yeah. Is she in?" Kyle asked.Just then, a squeal from Eds' office caught his attention. He was about to rush behind the counter to check what was wrong when Eds burst out of the office, laughing and trying to evade someone."No, stop!" she called out, still laughing.Kyle was puzzled about who she was with, but his confusion turned to shock when he saw Sinjin approaching with his hands raised in a peace gesture. Kyle couldn't believe his eyes—a blind man walking as if he could see."Santillan?" Kyle called out,