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
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
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 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
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
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 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,"
The walls were white. Too white. Too clean. Too quiet.I sat on the hospital bed, my hands resting on my lap, fingers unmoving. My eyes stared ahead, but I wasn't really seeing anything. Everything felt distant. Muted. Like the world decided to move on without me.I could hear Elijah’s voice somewhere near the door, low and serious. He was speaking to a doctor, their words blurring together until I finally caught one thing clearly—“They’re both okay.”They were talking about me and the baby.I’m okay.The baby is okay.But why didn’t it feel like it?My chest felt hollow. Heavy. Like something had been scooped out of me and all that was left was the echo of his voice.Matthew…He died in my arms.I keep replaying it—his last words, his final breath, the way his eyes dimmed as if the light just flickered out of his soul. And I just kept crying, screaming his name, begging a God I wasn’t even sure I believed in anymore.I didn’t get to say sorry.I didn’t get to tell him that I truly lo
We arrived at the edge of the abandoned building, the air thick with tension and dust. The place was rotting, every window shattered, every wall covered in graffiti. But it was quiet—too quiet. The men we brought with us started to spread out, silently taking their positions, blending into the shadows. I felt the weight of every second pressing down on me. My jaw clenched. My fists itched. My heart pounded with one thing in mind—Eloise.I glanced at Matthew, who gave me a nod. Even now, even with everything he was carrying, he was calm. Focused. We didn’t exchange words. We didn’t need to. We were here for one thing. And nothing was going to stop us.We didn’t go in right away.The building loomed ahead like a sleeping beast, silent and dangerous. But I knew better. It wasn’t sleeping. It was waiting.Matthew came up beside me, crouched low behind the broken wall we were using for cover. "Two on the left," he murmured. "Three more near the back, guarding the exits."I nodded once.
While waiting for Matthew, I sat on the couch. Eliana climbed beside me, wrapping her arms around mine like she always did. I kissed the top of her head.Eloah stood by the window, stiff and silent.“El…” I called softly.He didn’t look at me.“I know you’re mad. I messed up. I’m sorry.”Still nothing. I stood and walked to him. “I never stopped thinking about you. Or your sister. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I hurt you instead. I’ll make it right.”Eloah finally looked at me. “You leave, Mommy… alone…”His voice cracked, and it felt like someone punched me straight in the chest.“I know,” I said quietly. “And I hate myself for that every day.”He blinked fast, trying to hold back whatever he was feeling. “I cry… every night.”I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay still. “I’m sorry, El. I didn’t mean to hurt your Mommy. Or you.”He looked down, fists clenched at his sides. “Don’t leave again.”“I won’t,” I said instantly. “Not ever again.”There was a beat of silence
In a second, I’m already clutching his collar. We both look each other in the eyes, and I can see… that we do indeed have the same eyes.The same. Even the kind of anger we’re both trying to hold back.Rafael and Venice gasp behind me—they can feel the tension, thick in the air. But I don’t care. My heart’s beating like a war drum in my chest, and it’s not just anger. It’s confusion. Betrayal. Pain.“She’s pregnant,” he finally says, almost like a whisper.Venice lets out a sharp breath behind me. Rafael stays silent.“What did you just say?” I ask, my voice shaking.“She’s pregnant, Elijah,” he repeats, louder this time. “Eloise is carrying your child.”It feels like something exploded inside me. I don’t even know if it’s anger, happiness, or fear. Maybe all of them.“Don’t mess with me,” I say, shoving him back slightly, though I don’t let go. “If she’s pregnant, why didn’t she tell me?! Why the hell are you the one telling me and not her?!”“Because she didn’t plan to,” he answers.
“What do you mean Uncle Sandro died?!” I snapped, my voice louder than I intended.I was gripping my phone so tight my knuckles turned white.Rafael's voice on the other end was shaky. “Elijah… Noel found him. He got in the way while trying to protect Farah. He didn’t make it.”I froze. The words didn’t register at first. My chest rose and fell as the air seemed to thicken around me.“No,” I muttered. “No, that can’t be.”“I’m sorry,” Rafael said, his voice barely above a whisper. “He died a hero.”I ran a hand down my face, feeling the sting in my eyes. I turned away, making sure Eloah and Eliana couldn’t see me fall apart."What about Farah?" I asked, my voice low and tight. "Where is she now? Is she safe?"Rafael sighed on the other line. "She’s safe, Elijah. She's in Spain… with Matthew and Eloise. Matthew picked her up the moment he found out Uncle Sandro was gone."My jaw clenched. Spain. With them.Of course he’d go to her. Of course she’d be there too.I closed my eyes and lea
“Elijah, what is this?!” Uncle Sandro’s voice boomed behind me, his cane tapping loudly against the pavement as he approached the car. “You’re seriously taking the kids? At this hour?”I didn’t stop packing Eliana’s small pink backpack into the backseat. Then came Eloah’s toy dinosaur. I refused to look at him. If I did, I’d lose it.“Elijah!” he shouted again, this time grabbing my arm tightly. “Listen to me, son. Don’t do this—don’t take them away like this.”I clenched my jaw. “I’m not taking them away. I’m protecting them.”“From what? Eloise?! From their own mother?” His eyes were wide with disbelief. “You’re angry—I understand that. But don’t use the kids. Don’t pretend they’re not hurting too!”Finally, I met his eyes—mine glassy, but cold. “She made her choice, Uncle. She chose Matthew. Again. Do you know how many times I’ve endured that? How many times I caught her when she let go? I waited. I stayed. I kept hoping.” I let out a bitter laugh. “And still, it wasn’t enough.”Un