Yohan's cabin was dimly lit with a sombre atmosphere. Ryan and Yohan sat across from each other, nursing glasses of whiskey.
Ryan lost in his thoughts, stared into the amber liquid in his glass, the pain of Gracie's absence etched in every line of his face.
Ryan took a long swig from his drink.
"Man, I just... I don't know what to do," Ryan's voice cracked with emotion, his eyes glassy from the alcohol and unshed tears.
"I miss her so damn much, Ricky," Ryan's voice quivered.
"She was the heartbeat of our home, Jimmy," Ryan's voice cracked with pain as he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. "Gracie kept everything running smoothly. Her smile... it lit up our lives. How am I supposed to go on without her?"
"You've got to stay strong, especially for Jemma."
Ryan wiped away a tear, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Jemma... she's lost, just like me. I don't know how to console her. She's shut herself off from everyo
Without second thoughts, he rushed into Jia's room adjacent to Sara's, only to find Sara gently patting Jia, who was fast asleep. "Shh, keep it down. Jia just nodded off," Sara hushed him as she hurriedly stood up. Ignoring her plea, Yohan grabbed her wrist and pulled her into her own bedroom. "Yohan, let go! Jimmy might see us," Sara protested as Yohan dragged her inside in a hurry. In the bedroom, Yohan pushed her against the door and planted a kiss on her lips. It was intense, but Sara quickly realized something was off; Yohan seemed tense and possessive. After a long kiss, Yohan held Sara close, resting his chin on her head. Sara sensed his rapid heartbeat and asked softly, "What's wrong?" "Ryan's still torn up about Gracie. He can't seem to move past it," he said, his voice weighed down. Sara noticed the fear in his eyes and locked gazes with him. "Yohan!" He gently cupped her face. "It terrifies me to even
Ryan strolled into the living room after seeing off Monica, and Judy remarked, "I really liked her. She's great with kids, isn't she?" "Jemma's back, probably starving," Ryan sighed, sensing Judy's intention. Judy signalled to a maid, "Let's get dinner started." Then, turning to Ryan, Judy intervened, "Ryan, don't you think Monica's right?" "What?" Ryan asked, puzzled by the sudden topic. "You never tied the knot with Gracie. Just look at yourself. You don't look like a dad to a sixteen-year-old girl. You're young and good-looking. Maybe it's time to consider settling down," Judy suggested gently. "Mom, seriously, I'm not in the mood to talk about marriage," Ryan replied, his tone determined. As Ryan began walking towards Jemma's room, Judy called out, "Stop right there, Ryan!" Turning back, Ryan faced his irate mother. "You've gone against our wishes enough. We've kept quiet and followed your lead all this time
Worry gnawed at Ryan's nerves when Jemma didn't return from the washroom for an extended period. With growing concern, he decided to check on her. Hustling to the washroom, he scanned the area but found it empty, devoid of any sign of Jemma. Anxiety crept in as he called out her name, hoping for a response. Ryan's heart sank, realizing that Jemma was nowhere to be found, leaving him deeply unsettled.Ryan searched the entire production house and the surrounding areas but couldn't locate Jemma. He repeatedly tried calling her, yet there was no answer. After a considerable time passed, he learned that Jemma had left the production house in tears quite some time ago.Worried and sick, Ryan decided to take action. He and Monica hopped into the car, scouring the roads in a desperate attempt to find Jemma. Despite their thorough search, Jemma was nowhere in sight. Feeling increasingly anxious, Ryan dialled his home number in hopes of finding Jemma there. Unfortunately, she w
Yohan swiftly caught Ryan's arm to prevent him from hitting Jemma. He shot a warning glare at Ryan and shook his head firmly, signalling him to stop, “Don’t dare to touch her.”Ryan turned away in a sudden panic."She needs to learn some manners. She's forgotten how to behave!" Judy shouted.Yohan turned to Ryan, asking, "Is what she's saying true?""Why are you asking him? Ask me! What's wrong with asking him to marry Monica?" Judy snapped. "We suggested he marry Monica. Monica loves Jemma dearly! Will my son stay single forever? We care for him too. Besides, you don't have parents pestering you to get hitched. You're already living with your mistress, what do you know about family?" she added accusingly.Sara lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes."Mom," Ryan interjected."I've had enough! Either marry Monica or I'll end my life!" Judy declared before storming out of the living room. Sara held Jemma's hand an
"Yeah," Jemma agreed softly, feeling a bit lighter having shared her pain."Thanks for not prying too much.""Of course," Jay said, dribbling the basketball absentmindedly. "Sometimes just being there helps. And hey, if you ever need someone to listen, I'm around.""Thanks," Jemma said, a small smile forming on her lips. "I appreciate it."They both fell silent for a moment, the sounds of the basketball hitting the court filling the air."You know," Jay finally said, breaking the quiet, "sometimes shooting hoops helps clear the head."His openness and genuine empathy surprised her. Jemma began to see a different side of Jay. Behind the tough exterior she had initially perceived, she found a caring and thoughtful person.They continued to talk for an hour, about everything and nothing, finding a strange sense of comfort in each other's presence. Jemma felt a sense of relief as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders after c
As dinner commenced, Monica took it upon herself to make sure Jemma ate well, continuously insisting just like Gracie used to, trying to replicate her caring nature. Daisy and Lio also engaged Jemma in affectionate conversations, reminiscing moments that reminded Jemma of her mother. These gestures made Jemma introspective, leaving her puzzled by the contradictory nature of Daisy and Lio's behaviour.Throughout the dinner, Ryan observed Jemma’s quiet and distant behaviour, noticing her struggle to connect with Monica and her children. He couldn't shake off the feeling that Jemma hadn’t entirely embraced Monica and her children, despite their efforts to make her feel welcomed.Despite the effort and warmth extended to her, Jemma still felt disconnected and out of place. She tried to force a smile, attempting to reciprocate their kindness, but her heart remained heavy.As the meal concluded, Jemma excused herself and retreated to her room. The laughter echoing from the living room felt
Eric chuckled softly, realizing the impact of his statement. "Your words are inspiring, and I feel as though I've found a friend." Sara, relieved by his clarification, responded warmly, "If that's the case, whenever you call, I'll definitely come." Eric leaned in a bit closer, a hint of insistence in his voice. "Then don’t go tonight. Let's go somewhere and grab dinner." Sara hesitated, unsure about the suddenness of the invitation. "Tonight…" Eric held her gaze, searching for her thoughts, "What’s wrong? Whenever I ask you out, why do you hesitate?" Sara attempted to explain. "It's not that... I…" Eric interrupted gently, his tone pleading, "You just said you'd come whenever I call. Now, I want you to come with me." Sara felt a mixture of emotions, torn between her desire to maintain professionalism and the allure of Eric's request. "I...I…" Eric continued to look into her eyes, a determined yet gentle expression on his face. "Come on, Sara. Let's spend some time togethe
One day…As time drifted into the night, the villa settled into a hushed rhythm, the children peacefully tucked into their beds. Sara cast a lingering glance around the quiet villa before her eyes fixed upon the closed door of the study room. Yohan, her husband, had vanished into that room upon arriving home, bypassing even a morsel of food. His behaviour had shifted subtly over the past few days, and an unsettling air of strain surrounded him.Tonight felt different. Sara's intuition nagged at her; something was amiss. Hesitantly, she approached the study door and gently rapped her knuckles against the wood. Silence greeted her, prompting another, firmer knock."Yohan," she called softly.A heavy, strained voice responded, "Come in."Pushing the door open cautiously, Sara was met with a sight that struck her heart with concern. Yohan sat solemnly near the dimly lit bar, a solitary figure amidst the shadows, nursing a glass of alcohol. The scent hung heavily in the air, mingling with