"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 don’t know how to cope with such a loss.The moment Noel said the words—She’s dead—something in me broke. Not cracked, not splintered—broke. Like glass shattering from the inside. It’s not just pain. It’s a kind of silence that screams. A weight that settles in your chest and refuses to move.I keep waiting to wake up. Hoping this is just another one of those twisted nightmares I’ve had since the accident. But every time I open my eyes, I’m still here—on this damn island. And Eloise is still gone.Gone.I hate that word.Because it sounds so clean. So final. But nothing about this feels clean. My memories of her come in flashes—her laugh, the way she used to say my name like it mattered, the last time we fought, the last time I made her cry. God, I can’t even remember the last time I told her I loved her.And now I’ll never get the chance to.Eloise and I never started in a proper way.I didn’t marry her out of love. I didn’t even secretly like her.I married her because I was despe
I woke up gasping for air—my lungs burning, chest tight like I’d been pulled from the bottom of the ocean. Every breath felt like fire. I coughed violently, choking on what felt like seawater or blood. Or both.Everything was a blur until my eyes landed on a face hovering above mine. Noel.His brows were furrowed, worry etched deep into the lines of his face. “Matthew,” he called out, firm but gentle. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”Safe?I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my ribs like a thousand knives. I groaned, falling back onto something soft—a bed, maybe. Wooden ceiling above me. The air smelled of salt and dampness. Waves crashed somewhere in the distance. Where the hell am I?“What happened?” I croaked, my throat raw.“You almost died,” he answered flatly. “I had to get you out.”Out of where?My head throbbed. Pieces of memory floated in and out—flashes of shouting, running, blood. Eloise.Eloise and I... we fought. Over something. No—someone.Noel.I turned my head toward
They say time heals all wounds. I used to think that was a lie we tell ourselves to make pain more bearable. But watching my family now… I know it’s not time that does the healing—it’s love.Life doesn’t go back to what it was. No—after everything that happened, it moves forward. Slowly. Quietly. And sometimes, beautifully.It’s been months since that chaotic morning when Eloah dropped that bomb during breakfast. Since then, things started changing around here. Not in the grand, dramatic way—but in small, healing ways.Eliana’s belly is growing now. She's finally smiling again. Some days are harder than others, but her strength reminds me of her mother. She spends most of her time with Eloise now—quiet conversations, warm hugs, even silent cries. It’s a bond they’re rebuilding, one I’m proud to watch from a distance. The moment I heard her scream from inside the delivery room, everything inside me stilled.Eliana—my daughter—my little girl, was about to become a mother.I was pacing
I needed air. I needed to get out of the house before I completely lost it.I found myself driving to Rafael’s place, the weight of everything pressing on me. I didn’t know why I ended up there, but I did. Maybe because he was the only one who could listen without offering judgment. Or maybe because I just needed to hear someone else’s voice that wasn’t full of disappointment or anger.Rafael answered the door, already holding a bottle of whiskey. No words were exchanged; he just handed me a glass and led me to the couch.“Talk,” he said, pouring his own drink.I sank into the couch, staring into my glass. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Raf. Eliana… she’s not the girl we raised. I thought we had a chance at fixing things, but I don’t know. She didn’t abort the baby, but she’s still a mess. I don’t understand what happened to her, to all of them.”Rafael didn’t interrupt, just took a swig of his drink, waiting for me to continue.“Everything I do feels like it’s wrong. Eloise and I,
I sat on the cold hospital couch, my hands clenched tightly in my lap as the ticking of the wall clock echoed in my ears. Elijah was pacing silently beside me, his jaw tense, arms crossed tightly over his chest.The door finally opened, and our family doctor—Dr. Ramirez—stepped in with a clipboard pressed to his chest, his expression unreadable.I stood immediately. “Doc? How is she?”Dr. Ramirez sighed, then gently closed the door behind him. “Eliana is stable now,” he began, voice calm. “She’s severely dehydrated and physically exhausted, but nothing that fluids and rest won’t fix.”Elijah exhaled sharply, relief flickering in his eyes—but only for a second.“There’s something else,” the doctor continued, shifting his weight. “She’s still pregnant.”My heart dropped.“What…?” I whispered.“She’s in her first trimester,” he said softly. “Roughly nine to ten weeks, based on her lab results and ultrasound. The bleeding wasn’t a miscarriage—it’s stress-induced. But the fetus is still th
The moment I heard Elijah's question, the moment I knew that his patience died.Between the two of us, Elijah was always the gentler one. The soft place to land. Especially when it came to our daughters, he always managed to calm the storm—even when I couldn’t. But hearing him now—his voice sharp, raw, filled with something close to rage—it scared the hell out of me.I took a shaky breath, stepping in fast, reaching for his arm. His shoulders were tense, fists clenched at his sides, and his eyes—God, his eyes were locked on Eliana like he didn’t recognize her.“Elijah... Hon, please...” I whispered, gripping his arm tightly. “That’s our daughter.”But he didn’t even look at me. He took another step forward, and Eliana flinched.“What did I hear, young woman?” he said, his voice low but thundering in the room. “You aborted—you killed your own child?”My chest tightened. I saw the tears pooling in Eliana’s eyes, her jaw trembling, but her pride still holding her back from crumbling. I c
I stood beside Eloise, both of us silent as we stared at the wall filled with framed photos. Six kids—but basically seven kids.God, time flew fast.Each photo captured a piece of our life—Eloah with his mischievous grin, Eliana's shy little smile, and the twins, Sandra and Matthew, always caught mid-laughter, Ezrah smiling naughtily, and Eliam proudly showing off his new set of teeth. Then there was Elisha, our youngest for now, her baby photo framed right at the center.I slid my arm around Eloise’s waist, pulling her closer. "If we have another one," I murmured against her hair, "we’re gonna need a bigger wall."She let out a soft laugh, and I felt it against my chest. I smiled too. This wall—it wasn't just filled with pictures. It was filled with life, with memories we built together, one kid, one moment at a time.I leaned down and kissed the side of her head, thinking…If we were given another blessing, I wouldn't hesitate.I'd fill all the walls if it meant more of her, more of
The blinding lights above me blurred through the tears in my eyes. My body shook, exhausted, every inch of me screaming in pain. I gripped the sides of the bed so hard my knuckles turned white."Push, Eloise! One more push!" the doctor said.I sucked in a breath and pushed with everything I had. My heart pounded in my ears, the world narrowing to nothing but the sound of my own strained breathing and the overwhelming need to meet my baby.Then — a cry.A loud, desperate cry that made my heart burst in my chest. Tears streamed down my face as I collapsed against the bed, gasping for air."It's a girl," the nurse said softly.A girl.Our girl.I screamed again, my body wracked with a new wave of pain. I thought it was over—but the doctor’s voice cut through the chaos."Another one! Keep pushing, Eloise!"My eyes widened in shock. Another one?I didn’t even have time to process it. Elijah and I had agreed not to do an ultrasound, wanting it to be a surprise... but we never imagined this.
"Won't you apologize for Matthew?"Those were the first words I said the moment I sat across from him. No anger. No shouting. Just a cold, tired question.Noel leaned back in his chair, chains clinking lazily, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Apologize?" he repeated, almost amused. "For what?""For everything," I said, voice flat. "For ruining him. For dragging all of us into your mess. For being the reason he's dead."Noel scoffed, shaking his head slowly like I was the one who didn’t understand. "Matthew made his own choices. Don’t put that on me.”"You robbed me of ten years with him—""Oh, come on, Eloise. Don’t act like what I did didn’t favor you. And don’t pretend you loved Matthew the way I loved him. It was Elijah you loved, not Matthew. So stop acting like you’re heartbroken just because Matthew died!”I stiffened, feeling the rage rise in my chest, but I forced myself to stay still. I wasn’t going to give Noel the satisfaction of seeing me crack."You’re right,"