"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,"
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
"Ahh... Fuck…”“Damn… Ahh, fuck me… fuck me… Elijah, baby… Please… Ahh. Fuck me… Ah!”“You're so tight and wet! Fuck it!” Ahh… Fuck!”I'm there. I can feel it. I squeezed her boobs harshly as if holding to my sanity. I gave her a long thrust that made her moan long and loud before I convulsed. I immediately stood up, grabbed the condom, tossed it in the trash, and picked up my phone from the nightstand. I couldn't help but feel irritated when I still saw no reply from her. Me: Where are you? Me: I saw you with your friend yesterday. Me: Hey? Me: I saw your bank statement and you're running out of money. I was so frustrated I could have thrown my phone against the wall!“Is that Eloise Hart that I know?” Before I could type a reply, I felt someone wrap their arms around my back.“Not your business,” I replied, irritation creeping into my tone. She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed with my response. “Come on, I was just asking. You don’t have to be so uptight.”I ignored her
"You son of a bitch!” “Eloise, please, let me explain first!” He pleaded, there's desperation in his voice.“There’s nothing left to talk about! Fuck you!” I spat back, my hands gripping the car door, trying to steady myself. My heart was pounding, fury surging through every vein.“Eloise, come on! We’re going to crash! Damn it, fix your issues when we get home!” Eduard shouted from the back seat, his voice frantic, but I barely registered it. “Stop the car! I can’t stand looking at your fucking face! Stop the car!” I screamed, tears burning my eyes.The car swerved, and suddenly, everything was spinning—I jolted awake, gasping for air, my heart still racing as if I’d just lived through it all again. Reality came crashing down as I looked around and realized where I was.Elijah’s penthouse.Not his. Not that night.I closed my eyes, trying to calm my breathing, pushing the nightmare to the back of my mind. After a few moments, I threw the blanket off and got up. This wasn’t the firs
"I will never let this slide, Elijah!" I rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of her words settle in. Four years. Four damn years since Matthew’s death, and my mother still couldn't let it go. Every mention of Eloise sent her spiraling. Taking a deep breath, I looked around. The early morning air was cool, the sky just starting to lighten, and here I was, standing outside in a simple white v-neck and sweatpants because my mother couldn’t resist making a scene.As I walked into the penthouse, I saw Eloise sitting at the dining table, eating ramen while watching something on my laptop—probably something she took from my room again.She looked different now than before Matthew died. Back then, she was full of life; her hair was bright, and her laughter filled the room. She was a painter, known for her bold colors and deep feelings. Everyone loved her, and she had a bright future ahead.But after the accident, it was like everything changed. The bright colors in her life turned dark. S
ELOISE“Isn’t it better if I take you inside? I can vouch for you to Uncle Edmund.” My face turned sour at his question. “What am I, a teenager?” I asked irritably as I unbuckled my seatbelt. I heard him laugh. “Aren’t you?”“Do you also want your nose to get broken like what I did to those jerks?” Elijah held up his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin still on his face. “Okay, okay, I get it. No nose-breaking today.”“Good,” I replied, finally pushing the car door open and stepping out. I straightened my clothes, feeling the evening chill brush against my skin."Thanks." That was the last thing I said before I walked away from his car.I could still hear his shout behind me, but I just raised my middle finger.I stumbled back into the house, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The events of the morning felt like a blur, but all I wanted was to crawl back into bed and forget about everything—especially the drama with my mother-in-law.I shuffled through the hallway, ignoring the s
I headed straight to my office after dropping Eloise off at her house. Despite the chaos she often stirred, there was something oddly energizing about it, and I found myself looking forward to the peace and quiet of my workspace—or so I thought. When I opened the door, I immediately heard the sound of someone crying. My brow furrowed as I stepped inside and saw Venice, her face buried in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.Sitting beside her was Rafael, holding a coffee cup with a smug expression, clearly enjoying the scene before him.“Seriously, Rafael?” I closed the door behind me and gave him a pointed look.“What?” he shrugged, trying to hide a laugh. “It’s not every day you see Venice cry over someone. It’s... entertaining.”“Asshole,” Venice muttered, sniffing loudly as she glared at Rafael.I walked to my desk, dropping my keys on the surface before addressing them. “Alright, what happened this time?”Venice let out a loud sob and pointed dramatically at Rafael. “He d
The roar of the engine filled my ears as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my foot pressing harder on the accelerator. The world outside blurred into streaks of light and color, but I kept my focus steady. I glanced at the side mirror, catching a glimpse of the car behind me struggling to keep up.A smirk tugged at my lips. Too slow.I swerved around a sharp turn, the tires screeching as I maintained control. The thrill of the race coursed through my veins, drowning out everything else. The crowd’s cheers were deafening, but it only fueled me. I could see them lining the makeshift track, waving their hands and shouting my name.They were all expecting me to win—no, counting on me to win. I knew most of them had bet everything on me, and I wasn’t about to disappoint.I stole another glance at my side mirror. The closest car was at least two lengths behind, its driver desperately trying to catch up. I laughed softly under my breath, the adrenaline making me feel invincible.“This is
"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
My vision was blurry, my head pounding with every step they dragged me through the hallway. The coldness of the cement wall, the smell of metal and rot—it all screamed prison. But the only thing that mattered to me right now… was the tiny life inside me.I curled into myself the moment they threw me into a small, dimly lit room and slammed the metal door shut behind them. The silence was deafening. My arms shook as I held my stomach, whispering through gritted teeth."You’re okay… please be okay."Tears slid down my cheeks as I leaned my head against the cold wall, swallowing the pain. The baby… my baby. I couldn’t let anything happen. Not again. Not like with everything else I failed to protect.Noel thinks I’m weak. He thinks bruises and fear will make me bend. But he doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know what a mother becomes when you threaten her child.He will know soon.I jolted awake at the sudden sound of the door creaking. My body tensed, thinking it was one of Noel’s men again. B
I can endure anything. Anything in this world. But the thought of my child suffering and getting hurt will be the end of me. The end of my sanity.Let them take my name. Let them strip me of my pride, of the company, of everything I’ve built, of everything she built. Let them break my body, tie my hands, chain my freedom—but not my children. Not Eliana’s soft laugh. Not Eloah’s gentle eyes. They are the last pure thing I have. The last reminder that something good still exists inside of me.If Noel touches even a strand of their hair, I swear—he won't just face a grieving mother. He'll face a monster he created with his own hands. One he's not ready for.Because if I have to burn this whole world just to keep them safe… I will.Noel’s smirk only grew wider, clearly enjoying the control he had over me.“Ah, there it is,” he said, his voice mockingly soft. “I hit a nerve, didn’t I? You see, Eloise, this is the kind of leverage I have over you. Your love for your children, your weakness