Maxwell's POV, I peered out the window, my heart racing as I realized that the lady at the door was Amihan. The one person I wanted to avoid, the one person who had broken my heart beyond repair. As I watched her pleading with my mother, I felt my resolve crumbling. I wanted to believe that she was truly sorry, but I knew that I couldn't forgive her. Not now, not ever.I turned away from the window, my chest tightening with sorrow. I couldn't bear to look at her, couldn't bear to hear her words. All I wanted was to be alone, to wallow in my pain. But as I tried to retreat to the solitude of my room, my mother's words struck my heart. "Get out of this place this instant, you harlot!" my mother shouted, her face twisted with fury. "You're not welcome here, and I don't care what excuse you have. You've shamed my son, and I won't have you sullying this family any further."Amihan stood before her, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please, ma'am, I'm so sorry," she pleaded. "I don't know
Amihan's POV, The familiar sensation of my world falling apart washed over me as I drove home, the same feeling I had experienced a decade ago when Dalisay had betrayed me. But this time, the pain was more acute, more personal. It felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest, and I could barely breathe.I wondered how I had ended up in this situation, how things had gotten so bad. I thought about my life and all the choices I had made. Had I made the wrong decisions? Was this all my fault? Would I have just let go of trusting people and remained in my past hurt? As I sat in my car, I found myself wishing that Maxwell had been joking, that everything he had said about Judith was just a twisted prank. Maybe he had come up with some elaborate scheme to drive me away from the people I cared about. I knew it was a long shot, but I couldn't help but hope.I knew Judith would never betray me like that. We had been through too much together, and she was the only person I had trusted e
Judith's POV,I felt my hatred for Amihan rising within me, and I could barely contain it. I knew I needed to say something, to make her understand how I felt. I couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay when she was taking everything I had ever wanted."Amihan," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I need to tell you the truth. I've been pretending that I'm okay, but I'm not. You've taken everything from me, and I can't take it anymore.""What truth is there to say? Huh? That I've trusted a viper all these years. Why did I ever go wrong with our friendship," Amihan said with tears rolling down her cheek. "I'm tired of your fake tears," I said, my frustration building. "All I ever wanted was a love that was meant for me. But instead, you took everything from me, and now you're pretending to be sad about it. It's not fair, and I can't take it anymore."I could see the hurt on her face, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I was so angry, so hurt, that I couldn't see pas
Dalisay's POV,Driving to the supermarket that afternoon, the crispy breeze that enveloped my skin came with a refreshing feeling that filled me with exuberance, I felt a rush of adrenaline in me and I knew where it steamed from, since the last incident at the garden, Karl had been there, filling my life with love and cares which made me feel like I had been floating in the moon,My life had never been any sweeter, enjoying serenity and comfort from all around, so I had planned on getting Karl a gift to appreciate his love and effort for the past few days.I had just gotten off the store, smiling at the thought of the cologne I had gotten him when the buzzing of my phone interrupted my chain of thoughts,The description from my phone which tagged the caller "unknown" placed a halt to my reverie and filled me instantly with anxiety, as I studied the caller I tried to wrap my head around who it might be, but to no avail, I had a hunch that whoever it was meant no good, I hesitantly rec
Maxwell's POV,I had spent a week without Amihan, and it felt like an eternity. Every moment without her was filled with emptiness, a black hole in my heart where she used to be. My days were filled with loneliness and regret, my nights were plagued by restless dreams. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that my happiness was just out of reach, a distant memory that I could never recapture.I was trapped in a prison of my own making, and I didn't know how to escape.The guilt and shame I felt were overwhelming. I had torn down the life I had built for myself, and I had hurt the one person who meant more to me than anything else in the world. I had been blind to the truth, blinded by my selfishness and pride. And now, I was left with nothing but the wreckage of my mistakes.The worst part was knowing that I was partly to blame. I had let myself be misled, I had made the wrong choices. And now, I was paying the price. I felt like a failure like I had let everyone do
Amihan's POV,"Amihan, please, open the door," Adam's voice pleaded from the other side of the door. "I know you can hear me. I've been knocking for seven days now and you still won't let me in. Please, let me in. We need to talk."I sat on the bed, my hands clenched into fists. I had been avoiding Adam for a week now, ever since I had come back to the mansion. I couldn't face him, couldn't face the questions I knew he would ask. I was still trying to make sense of everything that had happened. As I lay there, paralyzed by the weight of my emotions, Adam's voice echoed in the silence of the room. His words were like a siren song, calling to me, beckoning me to respond. But I couldn't. I was trapped, frozen in time, unable to move forward. Every day felt like an eternity, each moment dragging on and on. The days and nights seemed to bleed into one another, leaving me numb and lost. I couldn't escape the despair that had wrapped itself around me like a shroud.And yet, despite it all,
Dalisay's POV,As I entered the mansion, Adam greeted me with a stony expression, his voice low and emotionless. His eyes were locked on me, filled with a burning intensity that left me feeling exposed and vulnerable. Even my swollen eyes, the result of a night of crying, failed to elicit any sympathy from him. I looked haggard and miserable, and I could feel the toll my sorrow had taken on my body. I had hoped to find Amihan at her apartment after getting her address from her secretary, but it was empty. "Why are you here?" Adam asked, his voice laden with accusation.My throat was dry and scratchy, and as I opened my mouth to speak, it felt like a knife was slicing through my vocal cords. I swallowed hard, but it only made the pain worse. My head was throbbing, and I felt like I was going to pass out. I couldn't think straight, and all I wanted was to see Bella, to tell her how sorry I was and beg for her forgiveness. "I want to speak to Amihan," I said, my voice shaking. I felt l
Judith's pov. I sat in my car, the pain and shame of what had just happened washing over me in waves. I couldn't believe that I had let myself be so vulnerable, so naive. How could I have been so stupid? I berated myself, my thoughts racing in circles. The humiliation of being pushed out of Maxwell's house, naked and shivering, was almost too much to bear. "Carter," I whispered, my voice barely audible. He was the only person I could go to right now, the only one who might understand what I was going through. I started my car and drove towards his apartment, tears still streaming down my face. "What do you want?" Carter said, his voice flat and uninviting. He looked at me, his expression cold and unreadable, as if he couldn't be bothered to see me. He didn't ask why I was there, or if I was okay. He just stood there, his arms crossed, a look of indifference on his face.I stared at him, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. I felt like I was going to collapse right there
Three years later, Amihan's Pov, Three years had passed, and everything had changed. I stood at the window, looking out at the world below, and a wave of mixed emotions washed over me. Nostalgia, regret, wistfulness, pride, hope. It was a complex stew of feelings, impossible to separate or label. I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me like a summer rain.As I thought about the journey that had brought me here, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. It had been a long road, full of twists and turns, but I was finally where I wanted to be. The funeral for Dalisay was a somber but beautiful affair, a fitting tribute to a life well-lived. As she was laid to rest, it felt like her soul was finally at peace.In the weeks and months that followed, Karl and Adams threw themselves into raising Bella. They loved her fiercely, determined to give her everything they could. And as she grew, she began to resemble her mother more and more, both in looks and in spirit. With little Bella by
Amihan's POV, I tried to sit up, but the pain in my head and stomach was excruciating. I could feel the grogginess of sleep slowly fading away, and I became aware of my surroundings. It was a hospital room, and the memory of the shooting came flooding back. "Mom," I said weakly, my voice hoarse from disuse. "Where is Dalisay?""Dalisay's getting the best care possible, honey," my mom said, her voice gentle and soothing. But even as she spoke, I couldn't help but sob. I felt so guilty, knowing that Dalisay had risked her life to save me."She's going to be okay," my mom said, rubbing my back comfortingly. "And you're going to be okay too. We're all going to get through this together."I wanted to believe her, but my emotions were still too raw. I couldn't stop crying. My gaze shifted to the corner of the room, and I saw Judith standing next to my father. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked like she had been crying. I felt a surge of anger well up inside of me."What is sh
Two weeks later, Judith's POV, The last two weeks had been a blur of pain and anguish. My best friend, Amihan, lay comatose in the hospital, clinging to life by a thread same as Dalisay. I blamed myself for everything that had happened. It was my selfish desire for Maxwell that had caused all of this. I had been so jealous of Amihan's relationship with him, that I had pushed her to move into the mansion, even though I knew it was dangerous. And now she was fighting for her life, while I was left with nothing but regret and guilt."Judith, you look exhausted," Amihan's mother said, her face filled with concern. "Why don't you go home and get some rest? You've been here at the hospital for days now."As soon as they had received news of Amihan's incident, her Foster parents had flown down from New York, arriving the next day. They had been at the hospital ever since, taking turns to stay with Amihan. She was right. I hadn't slept in days, and I was running on empty. But I didn't want
Karl's POV,"We have to be fast with whatever we have to do, because Chloe or Susan whichever you want to call her, is a crazy woman and wouldn't hesitate to do anything, her words shouldn't be taken lightly," I said to them who had been listening to me without interruption with my eyes wide open, I swallowed hard in an attempt to quell my panic that had gotten a grip of my heart,I was scared as I spoke which made my voice shake, I was scared if revealing the truth about my status with Chloe, the fear of making Luciana and Dalisay find out that I had been lying to them about my first wife made me pick my words with care."So, what are we going to do now? Because as long as I'm concerned, everyone of you here are suspect, and I'm going to get you all arrested." Maxwell responded unflinchingly, without any iota of panic in him, his expression was grimly as he spoke making everyone shift uneasily on their spot, except Luciana who had been sitting quietly with her fingers resting on her
Dalisay's POV,"Then who did?" he demanded, slamming his hand down on the desk, sending the files scattered across its surface into disarray. His eyes blazed with anger, and his frustration was palpable. "Who was the last person to see her? I need answers, and I need them now!"As I rolled my eyes in thought, a sudden realization hit me. It dawned on me that my mother could be behind Amihan's disappearance. My eyes widened in horror, and I bit my lip, trying to keep my composure. I knew that if I let my emotions get the best of me, this man would see through my facade. "Please calm down, we'll get to the bottom of...""I can't calm down!" he shouted, cutting me off in mid-sentence. His breathing was labored, and his eyes flashed with anger. The look on his face was terrifying, and I felt my heart skip a beat. He looked like a man possessed, and I knew that I had to tread carefully. Fear gripped me as I tried to find the right words to say. I knew that I had to diffuse the situation,
Maxwell's POV,My heart skipped a beat as I saw Amihan's name flash across my phone's screen. I hurriedly picked up the call, but the noise of the airport around me made it difficult to hear what she was saying. She sounded upset, her voice urgent and panicked. I tried to make out what she was saying, but it was impossible. I needed to find a quiet place to take the call.I began to look around for a secluded spot, but the airport was crowded and bustling with activity. Everywhere I looked, people were rushing around, their voices blending together into a cacophony of sound. I had been planning to move to the United Kingdom and start over, but Amihan's call had given me pause. "Babe," I said, my voice quivering as I answered the phone. "I'm sorry. Are you there?""I'm here," she said, her voice trembling. "Please...help me." And then, the line went dead.My heart sank, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. What had happened? What could she need help with? I tried to call her back
Amihan's POV, "Bella, please wait!" I heard Adam's voice calling after me as I ran from the mansion, but I ignored him. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to be alone. "Leave me alone!" I shouted, not even bothering to turn around. I just kept running, my feet carrying me further and further away from the pain and the betrayal.My heart thumped as I hurried away from the mansion, its weight pressing against my chest as if to crush me. Each step I took reverberated in my head, a pulsing reminder of the hurt that lay ahead. As memories of the betrayal that followed my misplaced trust flooded back, they threatened to drown me in despair. The images of the accident that had almost claimed my life ten years ago flashed before my eyes, a maelstrom of chaos and pain. I threw myself into the car, slamming the door shut as if to keep out the demons that pursued me. I could barely breathe, my chest rising and falling in rapid, panicked breaths. I knew I had to get away, to put
Karl's POV,"Where do you think you're going, sneaking off like that?" Luciana's voice rang out behind me, causing me to freeze in my tracks. She was sitting comfortably, cigarette in hand, a smirk on her lips. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, and I knew I had to think of something quickly."You're... here," I managed to stammer out, trying to regain my composure and collect my thoughts."I was just... I was just getting some fresh air," I stammered, my voice trembling with nerves. "Of course I'm here," she replied, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Her gaze was fixed intently on me, as if she were sizing me up, her eyes boring into mine. "I've always been here, and my eyes have always been on you."I felt myself flush under her gaze, feeling like a bug under a microscope. I knew I had to say something, anything, to break the silence that was hanging heavy in the air. But I couldn't think of a single thing to say."You have something urgent to take care of?" she asked, rais
Judith's POV,Despite the shame and pain coursing through my body, I climbed into my car and slammed the door shut. I had no destination in mind, I just wanted to get away. As I sat there, I realized that my hands were shaking and that my entire body was trembling.In a desperate attempt to relieve the pressure building within me, I let out a primal scream. But it did nothing to soothe the turmoil inside me. At that moment, I realized that Maxwell's mother was to blame for much of the mess I was in. She had played a part in orchestrating the events that had led to this moment, and she needed to take responsibility for her actions.The more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that the only way out of this situation was to confront her directly.With shaking hands, I rummaged through my bag for my phone. As soon as I found it, I dialed Maxwell's mother's number. The phone rang and rang, and just when I was about to give up hope, she answered. Her voice was cold and uninvitin