As Sinjin drove to Dapplewood, all he could think about was the potential aneurysm his father would have if he knew what he was up to and about to do: risking his life to save a stranger's kids. Despite the danger he knew he was going to be in, he wasn't scared of dying himself, though he hadn't planned on it. However, he couldn't say the same for the men who had kidnapped Eds' sons.Pulling up at the curb in front of Sande's apartment building, he dialed Eds but received no response from her, so he quickly dialed Sande, who answered on the first ring, as if she'd been waiting by the phone. Worried that Eds might have acted impulsively by trying to save her sons alone, his fears heightened when Sande came downstairs, got into his car, and tearfully revealed Eds' absence.She recounted how Eds had slipped away when she waited for him, and when he didn't show up, she asked Sande for a cup of water. Sande blamed herself for not anticipating Eds' actions, but thankfully knew where Eds had
"What happened to her?" The attending doctor asked Sinjin as Eds was wheeled into the hospital."Uh... She was shot," He replied anxiously. "She's barely breathing. She's lost a lot of blood. Please save her.""We'll do our best, sir," The doctor assured him, hurrying after the gurney through the operating room doors.Anxiously, Sinjin ran his fingers through his hair, praying fervently for Eds' recovery. He knew he'd never forgive himself if anything happened to her. If only he had reached her friend's apartment sooner, she wouldn't have felt compelled to rescue her sons alone.She likely believed she couldn't truly rely on a stranger, especially a billionaire, to abandon everything and rush to her aid. After all, just a week earlier, she had been his escort, and he hadn't even known her real name or anything else about her until now.Speaking of sons... Sinjin spun around and spotted the boys standing outside the hospital doors, clinging to each other. He sighed heavily. He had done
"Okay, your pizza will be here in ten minutes," He informed them. "Another ten minutes?" They whined. "Yes, that's the fastest the delivery person can get here," He explained. "Bummer," They grumbled. "Shame on you, boys," Sande scolded them as she approached. "What are you supposed to say?" "Aunt Sande!" The boys ran to hug her. "We thought we'd never see you again." Sande sighed as she pulled them close. "Me too," she said, pulling back to look at their faces. "You have bruises." "We tried to be heroes," Tristan explained. "You should never fight a man with a gun," Sinjin admonished them. "You did. You were cool," Troy smiled. "You used your words, but... It was cool." "Now, did you thank Mr. Santillan for saving you?" Sande queried. "Or did you just prank him as a way of saying thanks?" "Sorry," the boys looked duly chastised. "Thank you for saving us and for the pizza, sir." "It's okay," Sinjin said.The Lobster Shack's delivery guy arrived, and Sinjin paid for the ord
A week later It was a given that neither Sande, Eds, nor the boys were returning to Dapplewood, especially after what happened to Dagger. Even though it was his fault, they were the ones who would pay the consequences for his death. The only safe place for them was in Sinjin's house. Sande's boyfriend, Lex Parker, was not happy when she refused to stay with him. However, he realized that if anyone could truly keep his girlfriend safe, it was his boss. It also helped that his boss was after Sande's friend, not Sande herself.Fortunately, the boys loved it there. They had their own rooms, TVs, video game consoles, and everything two energetic nine-year-olds would need to stay occupied. Sinjin's house was right on a private beach, with the ocean not far away. However, Sande had not been able to get a tan because she'd been cooped up in the hospital, waiting for her best friend to wake up.Sinjin kept her company by working from the hospital, but she could see the stress catching up to h
As the call connected and his mother's voice spoke on the other end of the line, Sinjin took a deep breath. However, she wasn't speaking to him but cussing out a poor maid who'd not done her job well. He had mistakenly thought that she would change as the years passed, but she remained the overbearing woman he had known all his life."Sorry about that, dear," Camilla said, her voice carrying a hint of a smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call this fine morning?""Isn't it too early to call people names, mother?" He asked, his voice devoid of emotion."It's 11 am. That's not early," She responded casually. "Is something wrong, darling? You never call me first. I always do the calling, and you always ignore me.""Right," He murmured. "Mrs. Bale told me you dropped by for a visit yesterday. Did you meet anyone you weren't supposed to talk to?""What are you talking about?" She feigned ignorance. "I met Imelda, and she told me you weren't home, so I left.""I see," He said, rub
Sinjin finished giving Sande and Eds a tour of the three-bedroom condo and asked, "So, what do you think?""The view is amazing!" Tristan exclaimed as he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. "We're in the heart of the city, aren't we?""Close enough," Sinjin replied, walking over to stand beside Tristan and placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. "You see that high-rise building over there?" He pointed to the skyscraper in the distance."The one that looks like it's reaching the sky?" Tristan smiled. "Yeah, I see it.""That's my company. It's the tallest building in the country," Sinjin imparted."Seriously?" Troy joined them. "Wow!""How many stories?" Tristan's eyes widened."About forty stories high," Sinjin replied. "I designed the building myself.""Really?" Troy frowned. "So you're also an architect?" "I had too much time on my hands when I was younger, so I studied architecture in school and graduated with honors. I have a master's degree in architecture, robotics,
"Hey, Mom, are you busy?" Tristan asked as he settled down on the chair in front of the kitchen island.Eds turned to give her son her full attention. "No, baby, what's wrong?" She replied."I was, um... Well, Troy and I were wondering when we'll go back to school," He said, fiddling with his fingers. "It's been weeks, and we've missed a lot of things."Eds sighed and walked over to the island, leaning against it as she reached out to take Tristan's small hands in hers. She had been thinking about their education too and knew she needed to get their transcripts from the school, but that would mean going back to Dapplewood, which was not an option.She knew Taron's silence since the kidnapping didn't mean he had given up. Far from it—he was likely planning something even more sinister, and she dreaded to think what that could be. His closest friend had died, and he would want revenge."I know, baby. I've been thinking about it too, but you know we can't go back home. You and Troy will g
"Is he here yet?" Troy asked his brother."No," Tristan replied, his face glued to the window overlooking the parking lot. Eds had refused to let him open the window or go out on the balcony. Sinjin had promised to take them to watch a college basketball game, but he was running late."He won't get here any faster even if you turn into that panel of glass you have your face glued to," Sande teased him, walking over to take a seat on the sofa."But we'll be late to the game," Troy whined."Maybe he's stuck in traffic. The man made sure to return to Merendra today instead of Sunday. Cut him some slack," Eds admonished them."Yes, mom," The boys responded, looking duly chastised.Five minutes later, the doorbell rang, and both boys raced to open the door, not bothering to ask who the visitor was as Eds had instructed. Troy flung the door open and threw his arms around Sinjin's waist, with his brother following suit."I've missed you boys too," Sinjin said, ruffling their hair and chuckli
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,