Luna has always believed she wasn't good with guesses, but this time, deep down in her heart, he prayed Ariel should have gotten a helper for her mother.“Please tell me you've seen someone, please," she pleaded, her voice cracking a bit as she clasped her hands in front of her face.“Yes, that's right," Ariel replied, smiling warmly."Really?” Luna sat up straighter."Yes, Mrs. Luna.”"But… I mean, I only told you this morning; how did you pull it off so fast,” she asked, smiling and blinking in surprise."Well, if you must know, I made a few calls, pulled a few strings, and voilà!”“Wow, Ariel, you’re incredible! I can’t believe you got someone so fast. “Well, this morning, you looked so sad and worried; I couldn't help it plus, your mom deserves the best care. I wasn’t going to waste any time, ma'am.”“Phew… You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you, Ariel. I owe you one.” Luna said, feeling relieved. “Oh, stop. You’ll make me blush. Anyway, her name is Margaret. She
The dinner hall was packed with wealthy people. The atmosphere in the hall was lively as the guests clinked their glasses. The guests conversed with each other as they awaited Jasper's arrival.With a soft swing, the double doors of the entryway opened, drawing everyone's attention. Standing tall and composed, Jasper radiated authority and control in his tailored fitted black suit. Luna stood beside him, the silky fabric of her red dress clinging to her shape in all the right places, like a trail of fire. Her beauty was breathtaking, and the guests couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves.As the two went down the few stairs into the main hall, silence fell over the group. A great balance was achieved between Luna's warm, carefree grace and Jasper's cool, calculating demeanor. They were a sight to behold—an unquestionable power couple who seemed to captivate the audience with their complementary qualities.“Is that really Jasper's wife? I didn't believe the rumors.” Michael, one o
Luna, although looking surprised, barely had time to react. She made a slight nod to Gregor and quietly followed Jasper's lead. She wasn't sure if she was to be offended by his possessive behavior or if she should be grateful for coming to her rescue. Gregor had made her feel uncomfortable with his questions. The guests who had seen Jasper's reaction felt he had done so because of his love for his wife, and they murmured quietly amongst themselves.“What do you think, love?" Mr. Sheriff asked his wife as they stood watching the two leave the hall.“He really loves her. They look so inseparable." She replied with a slight grin on her face.The ride home was quiet one. Jasper didn't say a word, which made Luna feel uncomfortable. If only he could say something, she would know exactly what to do, but he kept mute. Luna stole a quick glance at his face; all she saw was an angry look. His jaw was tight, and he stared ahead, his eyes looking fierce as though they would cut through the winds
"Of course I am; get off me.” Luna shouted at him.“Too late." He replied as he pinned her hands to the bed and continued. He couldn't control the burning sensation that he felt, and backing out was not an option. Luna felt unbearable pains all over her body as his actions were rough, and due to the struggle, he inflicted bruises all over Luna's body. Luna felt betrayed; her heart raced, and tears kept falling down her eyes.When everything was over, Jasper and Luna lay on the bed in silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. Jasper sat up slowly, still breathing heavily. Luna slowly turned away, her whole body ached from Jasper's actions; her whole body boiled in anger. Jasper just ripped her virginity off of her in an abusive manner.“Don't test me again, Luna." He said as he stood up, dressed up, and left the room.Luna was left alone in the dim light; her emotions were filled with hurt. That night was the worst night in her life. “Marriage is not supposed to be like this,” she
Luna woke to the sunlight shining down through her long, open window. She smiled at the sun as she stretched on the bed. The birds sang their songs in different rhythms, and the leaves on trees flapped in the mild wind. It was a beautiful morning.After stretching, Luna got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. She took a quick shower with some ocean breeze-scented body wash. It gave her the feeling of being by the sea, and she loved it. “I think I need to visit the beach," she chuckled.After taking her bath, she quickly put on her rose dress and went down for breakfast. She couldn't tell what it was, but she knew she felt differently that day; unlike her frequent moody nature, she felt lighthearted with smiles all over her face.“Hello, Ariel. It's a beautiful day, don't you think?" Luna asked as she pulled the chair at the dining room and sat down.“It seems someone woke up from the right side of the bed this morning. You look happy this morning, tell me, what are we celebratin
Luna forced a smile as she tried to maintain composure. "You've been busy these days and I figured out you might have missed a couple of meals so I felt it's wise to bring you lunch,” Luna said she stared at him to see what his reaction would be, but his face was expressionless.“Lunch? You came all the way to my office just to bring lunch?" Jasper asked in a harsh tone."Yes. I just wanted to… help in any way I can. I know work has been stressful and you've been under pressure.” Luna replied, feeling a bit uneasy.Jasper stood up from his seat, turned his back to her, and walked to the window. He put his hands in his pocket as he stared at the next building through the office window glass. “I don't need your help, Luna. And who told you I'm under pressure?" “I just felt…" “You just felt what?” He barked, cutting her words short. "Look here young lady, this isn't some fairy tale where a packed lunch fulfills one's wish, so stop trying." Luna's smile suddenly turned sore, but she
Luna woke up to the sunlight shining through her window, but she didn't feel its warmth. She lay flat on the bed with her back as she stared at the ceiling. All that happened at the office the previous day replayed in her mind—how Jasper treated her without taking a single note of her feelings. Her kind gesture turned into a reason for his mockery.A gentle knock on the door broke the silence. Not getting any response, Ariel opened the door slightly, peeked head in, and saw Luna lying down. Then she walked in.“Good morning, Mrs. Jasper. I brought you tea; don't worry, I made it just the way you like it, no sugar, extra honey." She smiled warmly.Luna diverted her gaze from the ceiling to Ariel; her face was expressionless as she stared at Ariel. Without saying a word, she forced a smile and stared back at the ceiling.Ariel knew this feeling; it was now a routine for Luna. “I just hope she doesn't go into depression; she's so young for this." Ariel pondered. She placed the tray on th
Luna woke up to the sound of Jasper's voice. With sleepy eyes, she stretched gently before sitting up while robbing her eyes with the back of her palm. Jasper waited patiently for her to finish.“Is there something wrong with your room?" He finally broke the silence."Good morning, Jasper. I actually slept off on the couch while waiting for you. Hope all is well at work.” "Waiting for me? Interesting… You never cease to amaze me, Luna. When did you start waiting for me.” He smirked.“Ariel told me about the party, so I decided to help with the decor. I waited so I could hear your opinion." Luna explained calmly, feeling a bit nervous.“You did this?" Jasper asked with a stern look on his face.“I thought it's wise to help with the decoration.”Jasper walked around the room; he got to a table and ran his finger along the edge of the table. He then stopped and glanced at the bright red and golden table setting. He tightened his lips and turned to Luna.“This is too much. The colors are
Two Months After The Shootout The courtroom had been silent when the judge read the sentence. Life Imprisonment Alexander Mason, once a feared man, had sat expressionless as the verdict was delivered. His fate had been sealed—the culmination of years of crime, deceit, and brutality. The United States government had wasted no time in securing his extradition. The evidence against him was overwhelming: the murder of Jake Morgan and Jung Yen, the torture and grievous bodily harm inflicted on Sebastian’s mother, Luna, Lin and his funding of a terrorist cell (Black Sentinel).There had been no grand farewell or dramatic objection from him; just a simple nod as the gavel came down, condemning him to a lifetime behind bars. His reign of terror had ended. In the weeks that followed, Thomas and Sebastian worked closely with the local authorities in Vietnam. With Alexander gone, the Black Sentinel crumbled, their remaining members either arrested or fleeing into the unknown. The contraban
Five Hours EarlierThe convoy moved steadily along the winding dirt road, a line of black Humvees and trucks kicking up clouds of dust under the gaze of the moon. Inside one of them, Sebastian sat with his hands bound, his jaw clenched. Lin and Luna sat beside him, equally restrained. Across from them, Alexander Mason sat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Sebastian had expected many things when Alexander’s men had dragged Luna, Lin and him, bagged their heads and tossed them into the van, but the sight that greeted him when he had reoriented himself was not one of them. The moment his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat.“Mum?” His voice cracked, disbelief rendering him momentarily frozen. Her eyes widened, and before anyone could react, Sebastian lunged forward, pulling her into his arms. Her thin frame trembled as she clung to him fiercely, her silent sobs shaking her body. “You’re alive.” Sebastian whispered, as he deepened the hug.Alexander chuckl
Thomas adjusted his night-vision binoculars and focused on the camp below. Locating the camp after Jasper's direction wasn't hard, coupled with the fact that they had high-tech surveillance devices. The camp was a hive of activity, armed personnels moving swiftly in all directions. From their vantage point, he and his team had a clear view of the entire setup. The black tent in the center caught his attention again. Jasper had been clear. That was where Sebastian's mother was being held.However, getting into the camp wasn't going to be easy. It was heavily guarded and its location in the centre of the camp was a tactical nightmare. Thomas arched his brow as he noticed a pattern. There was a tall, bearded man, immaculately dressed, who strolled leisurely around the camp. As he walked, soldiers paused and slightly bowed to him in respect. This led Thomas to believe that the man held some sort of high authority. He was definitely the top dog in the camp, the shot caller. Thomas zoo
Sebastian’s head hung low, blood dripping from his temple. His wrists were raw from the metal shackles that bound him to the wooden post. His body screamed with pain from the beatings, but he had endured worse. He would not break. He just hoped that Jasper had been able to escape and call for help.Lin was slumped beside him, barely conscious. Her face was swollen, her lip split open. They had fought. They had endured.With a venomous stare, he spat out a lump of blood on the boot of his torturer. The torturer was a bulky, dark man who had been tuning them up for days in search of information. He had proven to be an unyielding captor, and the fact that Sebastian and Lin refused to talk infuriated him. A knock vibrated the door. The torturer's attention snapped to the door. He had instructed his minions not to interrupt him whenever he was at work. With an irritated voice, he snapped.“Who's there?” He bellowed.No response.Sebastian and Lin exchanged weak glances. They were glad fo
Jasper’s breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted through the dense undergrowth. Twigs snapped underfoot, branches tore at his arms, and the darkness seemed to press against him from all sides. After running and simultaneously scanning his environment for hours, he had done it.He had escaped the camp.But now what? Realization dawned on him. Adrenaline had driven him out of the camp, but now that the rush was fading, reality set in.Where the hell was he?The jungle was vast and like a green void. He had no compass, no map, and no idea how far he had run. He sighed as he mentally facepalmed himself.He had been so reckless.How was he going to locate the shore where the boat had been hidden?He forced himself to keep moving. There was no turning back. As the hours stretched into days, Jasper’s pace slowed. His legs burned, his lips cracked from dehydration, and his stomach twisted painfully from hunger. No food. No water. The sun was relentless, beating down on him thro
Jasper had begun to believe his father had abandoned him again. Days had passed without any word from him. It was therefore surprising when his father strode into his tent on a cold evening. His father stood at the entrance of the tent, a smug look on his face. Jasper hated how unaffected Alexander looked. He clenched his fists. “Where are my friends?” “They’re fine.” His father replied him, his voice devoid of emotion.Jasper studied him. He didn't believe anything he said.“I want to see them.” His father exhaled through his nose. “That won’t be happening.” Before Jasper could retort, Alexander held up a hand to cut him short. “I didn't come here to banter words with you. I came here to give you a choice.” Jasper’s jaw tightened. “What choice?” “You leave this island. Tomorrow morning, a helicopter will arrive. You’ll board it, and you’ll forget you ever saw me.” Jasper stared at him in disbelief and confusion.“Excuse me?” He inquired.“You heard me.” Jasper let out
Two days passed by in quick succession. Ever since Alexander stormed out of the tent, he hadn't returned. The only people who had entered and left the tent were the nurse who came to change his bandage and the maids who came to drop off food and water for Jasper and the strange woman I'm the corner. Two days confined in a space with a mute woman who was like a lifeless husk—unwilling to socialize. The morning of the third day, Alexander decided to bless Jasper with his presence. Jasper sat on the edge of his chair, his father’s piercing gaze locking onto him like a predator studying its prey. Without any form of pleasantries, Alexander decided to swoop in for the kill. “Let’s try this again.” He said, his voice calm but firm. “My apologies. I wasn't entirely honest with you. Your friend Jung is in custody, that you already know. However, we also managed to capture two other people plus the commando-lady we picked up two weeks ago. They've already been questioned and I have to give i
Jasper groaned as he stirred, pain radiating from his injured leg. His mind was foggy, the lingering effects of morphine dulling his senses. As his mind cleared, the first thing he registered was the smell of roasted coffee beans. Last time he checked, they weren't on a vacation island which provides luxuries like hot frothy coffee. With a huff, he sat up and properly assessed his surroundings. He was in a tent, that much he could deduce. The tent was well furnished, two plush couches arranged perpendicular to each other, a large shiny oak table in the centre, maps and documents spread across it, expensive-looking artworks propped up against the foot of the tent and another king-sized bed situated in the opposite corner of the tent. Glancing at his foot, he noticed that it had been neatly wrapped up with clean bandages. He sighed.His nostrils traced the source of the coffee smell. It came from a coffee pot which was placed on a tray with cups on a table in the corner of the tent. T
From the shadows, figures emerged. At least five of them, dressed in a mixture of camouflage and dark clothing, their faces partially covered with cloth. Each one wielded a weapon—rifles, machetes, even crossbows.The leader, a tall man with a bald head, stepped closer. Unlike the other men, he didn't cover his face with a cloth. From the slant of his eyes, he seemed to be of oriental origin. However, his English was surprisingly clear and well-pronounced. “Who are you? And what are you doing on this island?” His voice boomed and reverberated around the forest floor. Sebastian's mind whirled as he tried to figure out the best way out of their current predicament. Looking at the men, it was evident that they weren't government military personnels; instead, they looked like the pirates that Lin had warned them about. Sebastian exchanged a tense glance with Luna. He knew one thing for certain. They were in serious trouble.“We are researchers, on a research mission to uncover the w