"You're telling me there's nothing? No backup, no traces, no footage at all?" I hissed into the phone, my voice low but sharp enough to cut through the silence of my office."Yes, Sir," the man on the other end of the line replied, his tone cautious. "The system was compromised. Just like what happened on Hart's company night. Whoever did this knew what they were doing—they wiped everything clean.”I ran a hand down my face, frustration boiling in my veins. One week. One goddamn week, and we still had nothing to go on. The footage from that night was gone, and with it, any hope of finding the bastard who tried to kill Eloise."Keep digging," I snapped, pacing back and forth in my room. "Find another angle. Look into nearby establishments, traffic cameras—anything. I don’t care how long it takes or how much it costs. I want answers.”"Understood, Sir," the man said before the line went dead.I tossed my phone onto the bed and leaned against the edge of the desk, my head pounding. It wa
Every morning for the past few weeks, my day started the same way—puking my guts out in the bathroom. It wasn’t exactly how I envisioned pregnancy would be, but here I was, head over the toilet bowl, with my hair tied messily, praying for it to be over.As I washed my face and looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes wandered to my stomach. The small bump was starting to show, barely noticeable to anyone else, but to me, it was glaringly obvious. I looked...bloated, as if I had one too many meals at a buffet.I sighed, pulling down my shirt and walking out of the bathroom. The sight of Noel and Elijah already in the living room greeted me—like they always were. This weird cohabitation arrangement still felt strange, but at least they weren’t trying to kill each other. Well, not openly.“You two,” I called out as I passed by. “What’s for breakfast? Your baby’s hungry.”His head snapped up from his laptop, his brow furrowing. “My baby,” he corrected, standing up quickly. “And don’t worry
"I'm really sorry, bro... I mean, it just really slipped off right off my tongue..." Rafael's voice was laced with guilt, but I barely registered his words.My mind was elsewhere, spinning with worst-case scenarios as I thought of Noel and Eloise alone in the penthouse. I hated the idea—no, I despised it. The thought of him lingering around her, being too close, too comfortable... it was enough to make my blood boil. “Elijah? Are you even listening?” Rafael waved a hand in front of my face, his brows furrowed.I shook my head, forcing myself back to the present. “Yeah, I heard you,” I muttered, though it was far from the truth. “You slipped up. Fine. Whatever.”“Wait, ‘whatever’? That’s it?” Rafael looked at me, confused. “I just told Mom about Eloise’s pregnancy, and you’re acting like it’s not a big deal?”“It’s not that,” I snapped, rubbing the back of my neck. “I just have other things on my mind right now.”Rafael leaned back, crossing his arms. “Other things? Like what?”I did
I pushed the door open without thinking, the anger bubbling inside me spilling over. "What the hell are you talking about, Noel?”I flung the closet door open, startling Noel mid-sentence. His eyes widened, his phone still pressed to his ear."Elijah..." he started, but I held up a hand to silence him."What the hell are you doing here, Noel? And why the fuck are you investigating my sister behind my back?" My voice was low but sharp, laced with barely controlled fury.He closed his phone, trying to put on a calm facade, but I could see the unease in his stance. "It's not what you think—”"It’s exactly what I think!" I snapped, taking a step closer. "You’re in my house, in my space, talking about my family like it’s your business."Noel didn’t flinch, but his jaw tightened. "I’m doing this for Eloise. To protect her. Or have you forgotten about the attack?"I shook my head, my fists clenching at my sides. "I haven’t forgotten anything, Noel! But what are you doing? This sneaking aroun
The sound of clinking utensils filled the dining room. I glanced up from my plate, watching the two men sitting across from me. Elijah was focused on his food, his jaw tight, while Noel absently poked at his plate, his face unreadable. It wasn’t like them to be this... quiet. Usually, by this time, they’d already be throwing jabs at each other, turning dinner into some kind of verbal sparring match. But tonight, the tension in the air was heavy, and it felt suffocating. I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. "Okay, what’s going on?" Both of them looked up, startled, but neither spoke. Elijah avoided my gaze, while Noel raised an eyebrow and shrugged nonchalantly. “Nothing,” Noel said, stabbing a piece of chicken. “Why do you ask?” I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on. You two can’t go a meal without throwing insults at each other. This silence is deafening.” Elijah finally looked at me, his eyes softening just a little. "We’re just tired. Long day at work." "Sure," I sa
When I opened my eyes, the sterile white ceiling greeted me, and the faint beeping of a heart monitor echoed in my ears. I blinked, trying to adjust to the harsh light. It didn’t take long for me to realize where I was—the hospital.I felt a soft squeeze on my hand and turned my head. Uncle Sandro was sitting beside me, his face etched with worry. "You’re awake," he said, his voice a mix of relief and concern. "What... what happened?" My voice came out hoarse, my throat dry. "You passed out," he explained gently. "The stress got to you, Eloise. Edmund brought you here immediately after you collapsed." Edmund. My heart clenched at the mention of his name. The memories flooded back—the juice, Mila, his anger, and... his words about my child. "The baby..." My hand instinctively went to my stomach. Uncle Sandro smiled reassuringly. "The baby’s fine. You just need to rest. Stress isn’t good for either of you." I exhaled deeply, the tension in my chest loosening just a little.
After changing into my normal clothes, I stepped out of the hospital room. I didn’t want to stay there any longer; the sterile walls and the beeping machines made me feel suffocated. As I opened the door and walked out, the first thing I saw was Noel and Elijah sitting in the hallway. They were seated so far apart, you’d think they were strangers. Both of them looked up at me at the same time, their expressions unreadable. I sighed internally. This was going to be exhausting. "I’m ready to leave," I said simply, avoiding their gazes as much as possible. I’m not really this dramatic before. I couldn’t even give a damn about everyone, but this... This pregnancy is so ugh! The baby is making me do things I’ve never done before—like hugging Elijah. Hugging! What the hell was that about?!I walked ahead of them, my pace steady, while Noel and Elijah trailed silently behind me. Their presence was heavy, but I ignored it. As we moved through the hallway, I couldn’t help but notice
I stilled.I fucking stilled!Eloise's hug made my heart jump out of my chest. Never in my life did I think I could still be this close to her after everything that happened—after all the chaos and the lies. Yet here she was, holding on to me like I was her lifeline.Slowly, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer. I felt her trembling, her body so small against mine, and it shattered something inside me. She was scared—no, terrified—and I hated that I couldn't protect her sooner.Slowly, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer. She was trembling, her small frame shaking against mine. "The baby... My baby... Edmund..." she whispered, her voice breaking. I clenched my jaw, feeling the fear radiating off her. She was struggling to speak, her words barely making it out. "Shh," I said softly, brushing a hand over her back. "You’re safe now. Just breathe." She clung to me, and I held her tighter. No matter what, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her or the
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
I grew up with Matthew. Deep inside, I always had a feeling about his true identity, but I pushed it away. Because no matter what, he was still my brother.Maybe I was too focused on Eloise back then that I failed to notice even the slightest thing between Matthew and Noel.When Matthew came out of the closet to Dad, he was furious—disappointed. I couldn't even name all the emotions he showed that day. But one thing was clear: from that moment on, Dad's treatment of Matthew started to change.He put more effort into me, teaching me how to handle business, how to be the perfect heir—the son he could proudly present to the world. But with Matthew… it was different. Dad distanced himself, his disappointment manifesting in subtle ways at first—longer business trips, missed birthdays, colder stares.Matthew was always the type to seek approval, to crave validation—especially from our father. So when Dad started pulling away, treating him like a mere afterthought, Matthew did what he though
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my jaw locked as I trailed behind Eloise’s car. She was chasing after Matthew, and like a damn fool, I was chasing after her. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. The roads blurred past me, headlights flashing in the dark as we weaved through the streets. I kept my distance, watching as Eloise’s car sped up, refusing to lose sight of Matthew’s vehicle ahead. Where the hell was he going? Then, I recognized the familiar road leading to Uncle Sandro’s house. Damn it. Matthew’s car skidded to a stop in the driveway, and before his engine even fully died, he was out, slamming the door shut. Eloise parked next, practically throwing her car door open. I pulled up right after, stepping out and slamming my own door shut as my eyes locked onto them. “Matthew!” Eloise called, her voice cracking with urgency as she hurried after him. He didn’t stop. He pushed the door open and stepped inside Uncle Sandro’s house, his movements stiff
Without wasting another second, I scrolled through my contacts and called Rafael. “Eloise?” He answered almost immediately. “I need to see you,” I said, my voice firm. “Now.” There was a brief pause on the other end before he sighed. “Come to my office.” I didn’t even bother responding. I turned on my heel and headed straight for my car, my mind running a hundred miles per hour. I walked into the towering building bearing Rafael’s family name, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor. His family didn’t just run a security firm—it was the most trusted in Asia, handling the biggest names in business and politics. Ignoring the glances thrown my way, I headed straight for the top floor. The receptionist barely had time to greet me before I pushed the door open and stepped inside.Rafael was at his desk, flipping through some documents, but the moment he saw me, he leaned back, arms crossing over his chest. “That was fast,” he said, his usual smirk missing. “You sound
The moment I stepped inside Uncle Sandro’s house, I felt the weight of everything crash down on me. My chest was tight, my hands were still shaking, and my head wouldn’t stop replaying what I had just seen. Elijah. That woman. The baby bump. I swallowed hard and set my bag down by the door, forcing myself to take deep breaths. Farah peeked from the living room, her brows furrowing the second she saw my face. “El?” “I don’t want to talk about it,” I muttered, walking past her. She didn’t push. She never did. I made my way to the guest room, closing the door behind me before I finally let the tears fall. I pressed a hand against my mouth, muffling the sobs as my knees gave out. I should have been used to this by now—the disappointment, the heartbreak, the constant cycle of expecting too much. But damn it, it still hurts.What the fuck? I want to give him the benefit of the doubt—I really do. But the look on his face says something. Like it says everything. Guilt. Hes
“Elijah.” I didn’t look up. I kept my gaze fixed on the papers in front of me, my fingers tapping restlessly against the desk. Rafael sighed. “Are you seriously okay with this?” Silence. “You’re just going to let Eloise go like that?” he pressed, his voice laced with frustration. I flipped a page, ignoring the tightness in my chest. “Did you get the report I asked for?” Rafael exhaled sharply, clearly annoyed at my deflection, but he didn’t push. Instead, he placed a thick folder on my desk. “Yeah. I did.” Finally, I looked up. My jaw tightened as I reached for the folder, my grip firm. “Good,” I muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”Because after all of this, I will make sure to get my family back and live the life we had before this messed-up situation happened.I leaned back against my chair, rubbing my temples as I scanned the report Rafael handed me. Every detail lined up with what Ellise had told me.“She’s telling the truth,” I muttered, tossing the papers onto
I cursed under my breath the moment I saw the look on Eloise’s face. She was furious. Hurt. And I knew exactly what she was thinking. “It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, stepping toward her. But she backed away like I was a disease. Her eyes burned with betrayal, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Not what I think?” she spat, voice trembling. “Are you seriously going to say that while she’s right there—while she’s literally pregnant, Elijah?” I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Eloise, just listen—” “Oh, I am listening. And you know what I hear? Lies. Bullshit. The same excuses cheaters always make.” Cheater. The word hit me like a slap. My jaw tightened. “Don’t do this. Don’t twist it into something it’s not.” She let out a bitter laugh, crossing her arms. “Oh? Then why don’t you tell me what the hell it is, Elijah? Because from where I’m standing, it looks pretty damn clear.” I glanced at the woman beside me, who shifted unco
A dull throbbing pulsed through my skull as I slowly blinked my eyes open. The hospital room's fluorescent lights were dimmed, but even then, the brightness made me wince. I shifted slightly, my body feeling sluggish and heavy. Then I saw him. Matthew. Sitting by my bedside in his wheelchair, watching me with quiet concern. I swallowed the lump in my throat, disappointment creeping into my chest before I could stop it. I didn’t even know why. Maybe I had expected—hoped—to see someone else when I woke up. Like Elijah. But it was Matthew. And as much as I knew I should be relieved to see him safe but all I felt was exhaustion. “You’re awake,” he said softly, a small, almost relieved smile on his lips. I nodded weakly. “Yeah.” His eyes scanned my face, his brows drawing together in worry. “How are you feeling?” I hesitated, debating whether to tell him the truth. That I felt like my world was crumbling. That I was stretched so thin I could barely breathe. But instea
I paced back and forth in the hospital hallway, my heart hammering in my chest. My hands wouldn't stop shaking, my mind replaying the sound of Eloise’s body hitting the floor over and over again.Damn it.One second, she was running after me, desperate to explain herself. The next, she was falling—crashing down like everything between us.I clenched my fists. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.I just wanted her to choose us. To choose me.I ran a frustrated hand down my face, forcing myself to stay calm. The doctor had yet to come out, and the waiting was eating me alive. My stomach twisted painfully as the image of her limp body flashed in my mind again. I should’ve caught her. I should’ve—The door finally opened, and the doctor stepped out. I straightened immediately, my pulse quickening."Doctor," I breathed out, my voice tight. "How is she? Is she okay?"The doctor gave me a reassuring nod. "She’s stable. She hit her head, but it’s just a minor injury. No signs of a conc