The night before we left the country, I stood in my study, eyes scanning the documents I was about to hand over.Rafael leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his usual sharp gaze softer tonight. He didn’t say anything at first—he didn’t have to. We’d known each other too long. He knew what I was thinking, and I knew he was waiting for the moment I’d say it out loud.“I’m trusting all of this to you,” I finally said, holding out the envelope. “Business operations, legal matters, security around Elisse… even the situation with Noel. You handle everything while I’m gone.”Rafael stepped forward and took the envelope. “You really going off the grid?”“For a while,” I nodded. “Just a week or two. I need this time with my family, Raf. No calls unless it’s life or death. I want to give Eloise and the kids what they deserve. Peace.”He glanced down at the envelope before tucking it inside his coat. “You know I got you,” he said firmly. “Go be a husband and a father. I’ll take care of ev
I kissed her—Eloise—like I needed her to breathe. Her lips were soft, trembling beneath mine, but she didn’t push me away. She kissed me back.God, she tasted like longing and sadness all at once. But then— “Fuck…” A sharp pain shot through my lower lip. I pulled away, blinking, and reached up to touch the sting. Blood. She bit me.“Oh my God! I'm so sorry… I didn't mean it,” she panicked, dropping onto the edge of the bed like her world just caved in. I stared at her. She wasn’t looking at me—her eyes were somewhere far away. There was something… off. But my body was still buzzing, still aching from the way her mouth moved with mine. Her scent lingered on my skin, and pleasure drowned the alarm bells in my head. I should ask her. I should stop. But God—her lips were just on mine. And I didn’t want it to end. Not yet. “Hey, Eloise, I’m okay,” I said, trying to calm her down as I wiped the blood off my lip. I gave her a small smile. “It’s just a bite.” She didn’t
I stood on the terrace, phone in hand, staring out at the quiet view outside. Rafael was calling. I answered immediately."Any updates?" I asked, straight to the point."I don't know how to describe it. Elisse is still grieving. Matthew—your brother—he's moving fast," Rafael said cautiously."What now?" I asked, already sensing where this was going."He's hired a lawyer. One of those quiet but deadly types. He’s pushing to revisit the inheritance division—yours, Veronica’s, and his."I let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Let him. I don’t care about the inheritance.""I know," Rafael replied. "But he’s spinning it like you’ve disappeared, like you walked away from everything. He wants full control.""Then let him think that." My voice was calm, firm. "I didn’t walk away from everything. Just from the parts that never mattered to me."There was silence for a moment on his end."Alright," he finally said. "Just thought you should know.""Thanks," I murmured, glancing back
I've thought about this one. Clearly. Logically. Heartly...And it still hurts.What kind of wife and mother am I? I keep telling myself that I can handle everything—that I'm doing this for them, for their sake, because I love them. But who am I really fooling? This isn’t what love is. Love doesn’t leave quietly in the middle of the night without them knowing. I closed my eyes, gripping the suitcase tighter. I hated myself for doing this—for even thinking this was the right thing. I closed my eyes, gripping the suitcase tighter. I hated myself for doing this—for even thinking this was the right thing.Then my phone rang.I froze, heart pounding as I looked down at the screen.Matthew.I stared at his name for a moment, my thumb hovering. But I couldn’t answer—not now. Not when everything felt this fragile. Not when I wasn’t even sure who I was anymore.So I let it ring.And when it stopped, I slipped the phone back into my pocket and stepped out into the night.Just as I opened the
The cold air of Denmark greeted me the moment I stepped out of the car. The house in front of me wasn’t anything extravagant—it was small, modern, and tucked away in a quiet, remote area. But what caught my eye wasn’t the house.It was the men.They were everywhere. Standing guard, pacing silently, some eyeing me with suspicion. I held onto the strap of my bag tightly and followed Matthew inside. Every step felt heavier than the last.The house looked normal, cozy even. But I knew better—this wasn’t home. This was a cage dressed in warmth.Matthew placed his hand on my shoulder, gently but firmly, like he was trying to remind me of something—of who he was to me before.“Angel,” he said, using the old call sign he used back then. I flinched, but said nothing.“This will be our safe haven,” he added, gesturing around the place.He walked me through the house, showing me each room—the kitchen, the living area, a small library, and a guest room that looked more like a surveillance space t
Every night, my children and Elijah haunted me. I can't sleep well thinking about them.I can't sleep thinking about how Eloah’s asthma is. Does he still keep his inhaler beside him like I taught him? Is someone checking on him when the air gets too cold?I can't sleep thinking if Eliana can sleep without me by her side. She used to curl up beside me, her tiny fingers always reaching for mine in the dark.I can't sleep thinking if Elijah… is finding me. If he's trying. If he’s losing sleep too. If he's blaming himself.I feel like I’m going insane here, and all I want now is to go home. As hard as it is to admit, I don’t think I’ll succeed with my plan. There are too many guards outside—armed, built like tanks... I know they won’t hurt me because I’m sure Matthew told them not to. But I’m also certain he instructed them to keep an eye on me every minute, every hour. Damn it.Maren was gently brushing my hair, her touch light and careful. She offered to do it earlier, saying it would h
In one blink of my eye, I saw Matthew clutching his arm, blood seeping through his fingers. He gritted his teeth, but he kept moving, dragging me with him behind a broken wall for cover.“Elijah…” I whispered, almost like a prayer, my eyes desperately searching the scene. My heart refused to believe it wasn’t him.Matthew snapped his head toward me, his face twisted in pain and fury. “It’s not Elijah!”But I didn’t listen. I couldn’t. “It is him,” I said through shaky breaths. “I know it’s him. I can feel it—he came back for me, Matthew!”His jaw clenched, breath heaving. “I'm telling you, Eloise! This is not Elijah!” His jaw clenched, breath heaving. “I'm telling you, Eloise! This is not Elijah!”I snapped.I shoved him back with all the strength I had left, my hands trembling, my vision blurred with tears. “It *is* Elijah! I know it! Why can’t you just admit it?!”Matthew looked stunned, caught off guard.“Why can’t you just give me up to him, Matthew?!” I screamed, voice cracking.
As much as I loathe calculus, I hate family dinner.Isn't it hypocritical to call it family dinner if you all don't see each other as one? If you don't treat each other as one? As I sat there, staring at the neatly arranged plates and utensils, the air around me felt so fake. Every movement felt scripted, as if everyone was pretending we were this perfect family. But the truth? We were far from it. Why do we even need to keep up this weekly charade? We all just sit here, eating in silence, pretending we're closer than we actually are.And honestly, the silence was better than the fake conversations.Uncle Sandro broke the silence, flashing his usual polite smile. "So, Farah, how's school going?"Farah, who had been quietly picking at her food, perked up a little. “I’m actually running for valedictorian in 10th grade,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice.A small smirk tugged at the corners of my lips. At least someone in this family was achieving something. But before anyone else
In one blink of my eye, I saw Matthew clutching his arm, blood seeping through his fingers. He gritted his teeth, but he kept moving, dragging me with him behind a broken wall for cover.“Elijah…” I whispered, almost like a prayer, my eyes desperately searching the scene. My heart refused to believe it wasn’t him.Matthew snapped his head toward me, his face twisted in pain and fury. “It’s not Elijah!”But I didn’t listen. I couldn’t. “It is him,” I said through shaky breaths. “I know it’s him. I can feel it—he came back for me, Matthew!”His jaw clenched, breath heaving. “I'm telling you, Eloise! This is not Elijah!” His jaw clenched, breath heaving. “I'm telling you, Eloise! This is not Elijah!”I snapped.I shoved him back with all the strength I had left, my hands trembling, my vision blurred with tears. “It *is* Elijah! I know it! Why can’t you just admit it?!”Matthew looked stunned, caught off guard.“Why can’t you just give me up to him, Matthew?!” I screamed, voice cracking.
Every night, my children and Elijah haunted me. I can't sleep well thinking about them.I can't sleep thinking about how Eloah’s asthma is. Does he still keep his inhaler beside him like I taught him? Is someone checking on him when the air gets too cold?I can't sleep thinking if Eliana can sleep without me by her side. She used to curl up beside me, her tiny fingers always reaching for mine in the dark.I can't sleep thinking if Elijah… is finding me. If he's trying. If he’s losing sleep too. If he's blaming himself.I feel like I’m going insane here, and all I want now is to go home. As hard as it is to admit, I don’t think I’ll succeed with my plan. There are too many guards outside—armed, built like tanks... I know they won’t hurt me because I’m sure Matthew told them not to. But I’m also certain he instructed them to keep an eye on me every minute, every hour. Damn it.Maren was gently brushing my hair, her touch light and careful. She offered to do it earlier, saying it would h
The cold air of Denmark greeted me the moment I stepped out of the car. The house in front of me wasn’t anything extravagant—it was small, modern, and tucked away in a quiet, remote area. But what caught my eye wasn’t the house.It was the men.They were everywhere. Standing guard, pacing silently, some eyeing me with suspicion. I held onto the strap of my bag tightly and followed Matthew inside. Every step felt heavier than the last.The house looked normal, cozy even. But I knew better—this wasn’t home. This was a cage dressed in warmth.Matthew placed his hand on my shoulder, gently but firmly, like he was trying to remind me of something—of who he was to me before.“Angel,” he said, using the old call sign he used back then. I flinched, but said nothing.“This will be our safe haven,” he added, gesturing around the place.He walked me through the house, showing me each room—the kitchen, the living area, a small library, and a guest room that looked more like a surveillance space t
I've thought about this one. Clearly. Logically. Heartly...And it still hurts.What kind of wife and mother am I? I keep telling myself that I can handle everything—that I'm doing this for them, for their sake, because I love them. But who am I really fooling? This isn’t what love is. Love doesn’t leave quietly in the middle of the night without them knowing. I closed my eyes, gripping the suitcase tighter. I hated myself for doing this—for even thinking this was the right thing. I closed my eyes, gripping the suitcase tighter. I hated myself for doing this—for even thinking this was the right thing.Then my phone rang.I froze, heart pounding as I looked down at the screen.Matthew.I stared at his name for a moment, my thumb hovering. But I couldn’t answer—not now. Not when everything felt this fragile. Not when I wasn’t even sure who I was anymore.So I let it ring.And when it stopped, I slipped the phone back into my pocket and stepped out into the night.Just as I opened the
I stood on the terrace, phone in hand, staring out at the quiet view outside. Rafael was calling. I answered immediately."Any updates?" I asked, straight to the point."I don't know how to describe it. Elisse is still grieving. Matthew—your brother—he's moving fast," Rafael said cautiously."What now?" I asked, already sensing where this was going."He's hired a lawyer. One of those quiet but deadly types. He’s pushing to revisit the inheritance division—yours, Veronica’s, and his."I let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Let him. I don’t care about the inheritance.""I know," Rafael replied. "But he’s spinning it like you’ve disappeared, like you walked away from everything. He wants full control.""Then let him think that." My voice was calm, firm. "I didn’t walk away from everything. Just from the parts that never mattered to me."There was silence for a moment on his end."Alright," he finally said. "Just thought you should know.""Thanks," I murmured, glancing back
I kissed her—Eloise—like I needed her to breathe. Her lips were soft, trembling beneath mine, but she didn’t push me away. She kissed me back.God, she tasted like longing and sadness all at once. But then— “Fuck…” A sharp pain shot through my lower lip. I pulled away, blinking, and reached up to touch the sting. Blood. She bit me.“Oh my God! I'm so sorry… I didn't mean it,” she panicked, dropping onto the edge of the bed like her world just caved in. I stared at her. She wasn’t looking at me—her eyes were somewhere far away. There was something… off. But my body was still buzzing, still aching from the way her mouth moved with mine. Her scent lingered on my skin, and pleasure drowned the alarm bells in my head. I should ask her. I should stop. But God—her lips were just on mine. And I didn’t want it to end. Not yet. “Hey, Eloise, I’m okay,” I said, trying to calm her down as I wiped the blood off my lip. I gave her a small smile. “It’s just a bite.” She didn’t
The night before we left the country, I stood in my study, eyes scanning the documents I was about to hand over.Rafael leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his usual sharp gaze softer tonight. He didn’t say anything at first—he didn’t have to. We’d known each other too long. He knew what I was thinking, and I knew he was waiting for the moment I’d say it out loud.“I’m trusting all of this to you,” I finally said, holding out the envelope. “Business operations, legal matters, security around Elisse… even the situation with Noel. You handle everything while I’m gone.”Rafael stepped forward and took the envelope. “You really going off the grid?”“For a while,” I nodded. “Just a week or two. I need this time with my family, Raf. No calls unless it’s life or death. I want to give Eloise and the kids what they deserve. Peace.”He glanced down at the envelope before tucking it inside his coat. “You know I got you,” he said firmly. “Go be a husband and a father. I’ll take care of ev
Elisse was kneeling beside the stretcher, her fingers trembling as they brushed over her father’s hand. Her eyes were swollen, red, distant.“They found him by the shore,” she said, her voice barely holding itself together. “His body drifted for hours… They said he fell from a cliff.”“Fell?” I asked, stepping closer. “Or was pushed?”She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. “You think my father would just trip and fall off a damn cliff, Elijah? You know him. He wouldn’t even get near the edge. Someone did this.”“Who was the last person with him?”She swallowed hard, eyes drifting back to her father’s lifeless form. “He’s a fisherman, Elijah. The sea was his home. He knew the cliffs like the back of his hand. He wouldn’t just slip. No way.”I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Do you have someone in mind, Elisse? Anyone who might’ve wanted him gone?”“My father is a good man, he doesn't have any beef with anyone,” she said, voice cracking as tears welled again. “Everyone in the villa
I sat across from Matthew in the private room of the restaurant, my fingers curled around the warm cup of tea the waiter had just placed in front of me. The man sitting across from me—my first husband—felt like a stranger. His aura was different now. Darker. He wasn’t the Matthew I used to know—the one who made me laugh, the one who always had a teasing smirk on his face. This Matthew was cold, unreadable. But still, I remained patient. I owed him that much. He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the table. “You’re different,” he muttered, eyes scanning my face. “You’re calmer than I expected.” I offered him a small, tight-lipped smile. “I didn’t come here to fight, Matthew.” He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “Then why did you come?” "To talk to you—”“About what?” Matthew cut me off, leaning forward with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. “About how happy you are with him? About how you moved on so easily while I spent years in hell?” I exhaled s