Evans’ hands caught her arms, steadying her before she could stumble. He frowned at her tear-streaked face. “What’s wrong?” Luna shook her head, trying to pull away. “Nothing, I just—” “Luna.” His voice was firm. He wasn’t letting her go that easily. She squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t do this anymore, Evans. He believes them. He thinks I’m some manipulative woman who forced her way into his life.” Evans’ expression darkened. “He said that?” Luna swallowed hard. “Not directly. But he didn’t deny it either.” Evans clenched his jaw. “I knew that Victoria was playing dirty, but I didn’t think he’d fall for it so easily.” Luna let out a bitter laugh. “I was fooling myself, wasn’t I? Thinking I could remind him? That love could overcome this?” Evans exhaled slowly. “I don’t know, Luna. But I do know that this isn’t over yet.” Luna wiped at her face, her hands trembling. “I just… I need to go home.” Evans watched her closely. There was something off about the way she sp
“Owen” Luna squeaked. She couldn't believe her eyes. Standing before her was Owen Knight, her highschool boyfriend. Owen chuckled lightly. “Luna. I thought that was you. When I saw you walk past my garage, I couldn't believe my eyes. I had to confirm for myself.” Owen smiled, the twinkles in his eyes, more pronounced.Luna stared at him in disbelief. Owen had grown up to be a man. Gone were the boyish looks and gangly physique. Owen looked matured now, with a full bearded face and a muscular shape which accentuated his tall height. Owen cleared his throat and this snapped Luna out of her reverie. She hastily stood up and brushed down her dress.“Wow! Owen, I didn't expect to run into you here. I thought that you'd be in one of the big cities, building car engines and living the dream life.” Luna blurted out.Owen laughed. His laugh was throaty and deep, it vibrated her spine. “Well. Thanks for the flattery. But, unfortunately, I'm still here. After highschool, the plan was to apply
“Oh. Hey Lisa.” Owen announced, happiness evident in his voice.Luna studied the woman who stood before her. She was a pretty blonde, average height and smooth tanned skin. Luna noticed the engagement ring on her finger and the puzzle pieces fell into place. “Umm. Luna, meet my fiancée, Lisa Hills. Lisa, meet my long time friend, Luna Morgan.” Owen made the introductions.Lisa studied Luna closely before offering her hand for a handshake. Owen instinctively moved towards Lisa and threw his right hand over her shoulder. She melded into him. It was evident that they had strong feelings for each other. Lisa cleared her throat. “Nice to meet you Luna. Owen doesn't have many friends, so I really appreciate the few that he has.” Lisa sounded sincere. Luna was immediately drawn to her. She knew that Lisa was a good person, the type of person that she wanted in her circle. “Nice to meet you too. Congratulations on your engagement and future wedding. It's nice to see that someone cares abo
Jasper was wary about Evans’ gravelly tone. He watched him cautiously. “What's the problem, Evans?” He asked.Evans sighed as he rubbed his chin. “What exactly are you doing Jasper? This is getting too messy. You need to address this right now!” Evans Voice rose in pitch.Jasper was taken aback by Evans' behavior. He took deep breaths in order to calm the storm which was already building up inside him. “Evans, you need to explain what you are angry about. Coming here and throwing tantrums will never yield the desired effects.” Jasper warned. The tension in the air was palpable.Evans sighed again. “ Jasper, talking about your relationship with your wife, Luna. I decided not to interfere with family matters but it looks like family matters are becoming messy. You can't just treat Luna like that, treat her like garbage at the behest of your mother and Victoria. Luna is your lawfully wedded wife. Now, I don't know the circumstances surrounding your marriage, but I can say for sure th
Evans gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on the phone. “A proposition? You expect me to listen after what you and your company pulled?” Stuart let off a soft chuckle. "Oh, come on, Evans. That was business. Nothing personal.” Evans scoffed. “Nothing personal? You stole our designs and consequentially, our patent. I don't know how you managed to pull it off but I'm damned sure that you sent a spy or you hacked into our systems.” Evans spat out venomously. “And yet, here we are.” Stuart's voice remained smooth and unbothered. He was clearly in no hurry or under any pressure. He waited for Evans' breaths to normalize before continuing. “Word on the wire is that your company isn’t what it used to be. Allegedly, investors are fleeing. Jasper is a shadow of himself. Tell me, Evans—how much longer can you keep it afloat?” Evans clenched his jaw. “We’ll manage.” Another chuckle. “Of course, you will. But at what cost?” Evans had had enough. “Get to the point.” Stuart paused
Sunday's evening sun was setting beautifully. Luna watched as the sky dimmed with each descent of the sun. It was a wonderful view. She turned away from her window and straightened her dress with her hands. She looked into the mirror to make sure that her hair wasn't tangled. She was dressed for dinner with Owen and Lisa. Luna thought it was generous of Lisa to have invited her for dinner. She grabbed her purse and keys and walked out of her house. Owen's house was a few minutes' walk from hers. She relished the cold air caressing her skin. The smell of lillies permeated the air. Her walk was uneventful. She knocked once on the oak door before Owen opened it to let her in. The house was impeccable. Hardly fancy, but very comfortable. The dining area was shrouded in all forms of delicious aromas. It was evident that Lisa was a good cook. Owen showed Luna to her seat at the dining table. He sat opposite her. They talked about mundane stuff, highschool events and life after highschoo
A week after Jasper's summoning call, Evans stood at Jasper's hospital room door. He briefly recalled how he had battled with his inner self, wondering whether Jasper was going to survive the accident. Nostalgia hit him. He remembered his first encounter with Jasper, applying for a role at his firm when the firm was barely solid. They had grown since then, been there for each other. However, as Evans stood before the door, he had an ominous feeling that something was about to break. He took in a deep breath and raised his hand to knock. After two solid knocks, he pushed open the door and stepped into the room.Jasper was seated on a chair, a document perched on his knee as he perused through it. He raised his head to acknowledge the visitor. His eyes widened. Evans was definitely the last person he was expecting. He had been waiting for Evans' visit for days. He reasoned that Evans had decided not to honor his invitation because he still felt hurt about their last conversation.“Hey
Luna's demeanor transitioned from shock, to disbelief, to acceptance. She smiled. Her decision had already been made a long time ago. In that moment, clarity hit her with full force. She was chasing the ghost of a past life.Without a word, she turned and left. As she walked out of the hospital building, she ran into Sophia in the parking lot.Perfect timing. Luna walked purposefully towards her.“Good day Sophia, I need to speak with you. Trust me, it's something that you've been dying to hear.” Luna stated dryly.Sophia smirked. She had a feeling that her plan had come to fruition. “Luna. There's a coffee shop around the block. We can discuss there.” Sophia offered.Ten minutes later, they were both sitting opposite each other, two cups of steaming coffee on both sides of the table.Luna's posture was rigid, her eyes cold and sharp. Sophia's eyes narrowed as she studied Luna. There was no warmth, no maternal instinct to be found. Just a hard, calculating gaze. "I don't know what
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