“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Arwena screamed, her voice raw with panic. She threw her elbow back, driving it with all her strength into the gut of the man who had grabbed her from behind. Her movements were frantic, fueled by desperation, but the man barely flinched. His grip remained unyielding, like iron, and his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer against him.With a swift motion, he pressed a damp handkerchief over her face, the scent of chemicals strong and overpowering. Arwena fought against the suffocating pressure, twisting violently in his grasp, her body straining in every direction as she attempted to break free. But her arms, already injured, felt like dead weight, robbing her of the strength she needed to escape.Her breath became shallow and rapid, her mind clouding as the edges of her vision blurred. She could feel her body growing heavier, the darkness creeping in from the corners of her eyes. Every attempt to resist became slower and weaker as the
"Archie!" Tandre shouted.He had clearly seen Archie fall onto the road after being hit by a car.Tandre couldn’t explain it, but it was as though he could feel the pain his brother was enduring. He shoved aside the bystanders who had gathered and immediately hugged Archie, his eyes still locked on the car speeding away. After a moment, his gaze shifted to Arwena, lying beside the car.He wanted to help Arwena too, to check her condition, but he couldn’t let go of Archie. His brother needed him more."Help!" Tandre called out, his hands trembling. He gently stroked Archie’s bloodied forehead, his bloodstained fist clenched. His jaw tightened in a mix of anger and worry.He recognized the driver of the car Jake was in—it was Farah. In his mind, Tandre vowed to get revenge for both his brother and Arwena."Call for help!" Tandre ordered the onlookers, treating them like subordinates. Fortunately, they were near a hospital, and help arrived quickly for both Archie and Arwena."Please, hel
"Archie, please wake up. I'm so sorry. You got hurt because of me. I’m sorry you were dragged into my mess," Arwena whispered, her voice weak and trembling.She blamed herself for everything. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought Jake would go to such extremes to harm someone to get her back."Please wake up, Archie. I need you. I need someone to talk to, someone to lean on. I can’t do this without you. And Nathan… we still need to care for him, don’t we?"Her trembling hand brushed against Archie’s cheek. She couldn’t stop apologizing over and over again, even though he lay unconscious.Tears streamed down her face, each one a painful reminder of her guilt and anguish. Her words felt like knives to Tandre’s heart. Every time she spoke to him, it was as though no one else existed, as if she and Archie were in a world of their own."Archie..." Arwena sobbed harder, clutching his hand and pressing it against her tear-streaked face.Tandre stood silently, his chest tightening as he
"Archie!" Arwena and Tandre exclaimed in unison, spinning toward him as he glanced between them."Like magnets stuck together, huh?" Archie teased, his eyes lingering on Arwena. “Flirty, aren’t you, girl?” he mouthed silently, his lips barely moving. Arwena caught the playful words, paired with an exaggerated eye roll.Immediately, she stepped away from Tandre, clearing her throat as she moved closer to Archie, silently pursing her lips in frustration. She glared at her friend, who, despite just waking up, was already teasing her. Archie’s eyes gleamed with amusement, his grin widening.Thankfully, Tandre wasn’t looking directly at her, caught between averting his gaze and bowing his head in embarrassment.“A-Archie, you’re misunderstanding. I wasn’t flirting with Arwena. I was just helping her,” Tandre stammered, clearing his throat nervously and shooting a pleading glance at Arwena for support.His eyes begged for assistance, but Arwena remained silent, arms crossed. She knew Archie
Archie's eyes widened for a moment before he quickly shut them, pretending to be asleep to avoid Arwena's piercing gaze.“Why did you come back so soon?” Tandre asked, stealing a glance at Archie, who was feigning sleep. “How is Nathan?”Arwena stood in the doorway, her eyes fixed on Archie, who lay still as if his entire body were in casts.“Nathan is fine; he’s still sleeping soundly,” she replied, her tone polite despite her annoyance with Archie.She needed a moment to collect herself. The worry about what might happen next was gnawing at her, compounded by the anxiety over Farah and Jake’s recent actions. She had just received a call from her parents confirming the pair had fallen off a cliff but hadn’t been found. No one knew if they’d been swept away by the river or trapped beneath rocks.“Maybe you should go home and rest,” Tandre suggested gently. “You haven’t rested since yesterday, and you haven’t slept at all.” He scratched his head awkwardly, noticing Archie peeking at Arw
"Ahh!" Farah screamed in pain, writhing as she tried to free her foot from being stuck under a large rock. “Ahh…” She sobbed uncontrollably once she managed to pull her foot free.She looked around frantically. Jake wasn’t beside her. Her eyes searched for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. They had been holding hands earlier when the current swept them away. But the strong water flow caused Jake to lose his grip on her.“Jake… where are you?” she cried out, calling for her boyfriend. But there was no response. Only her voice echoed back to her, accompanied by the sound of rushing water and birds chirping.“Jake, where are you?” Farah struggled to stand but couldn’t. Her foot was swollen, painful, and bleeding.Her entire body ached. Besides her injured foot, she had scratches, bruises, and cuts all over her body. Even her head had a wound.She held onto the large rock that had saved her from being completely swept away and positioned herself in its shelter. Wrapping her arms around h
"Arwena, are you okay?" Archie asked his friend. They had just arrived at Tandre's mansion, and Archie was eager to go inside. After all, it was his first time stepping into his brother's beautiful home, but Arwena was ruining the moment. It had been days since they found out what had happened to Jake, and here she was, still distant and unsettled. She seemed guilty, as if blaming herself for what had happened to her ex-boyfriend. "Arwena, wake up!" Archie shook his friend lightly. "Come on, Wena! I know you're shocked and can't believe what happened to Jake. But please, stop blaming yourself. Stop thinking about him. It wasn’t your fault—it’s their fault, Jake and Farah." Besides Jake, Archie knew Arwena was also thinking about Farah, who still hadn’t been found. Arwena was kind, so even though Farah had wronged her many times, she still worried. Especially now, after what had happened to Jake. It had been days since they found Jake, but as for Farah, they hadn’t found even
"What kind of question is that, Archie?" Tandre asked in a sulky tone. He glanced at the housemaids, feeling a bit embarrassed. This was the first time someone had confronted him like this, and in his own home. He couldn’t respond immediately. He tightened his grip on Nathan. Aside from his brother's yelling, Archie’s accusatory pointing and glaring made it feel like they had gone back to their old ways, with Archie showing him no respect. “We’ve already talked, haven’t we? We’ve made up, Archie. Of course, I want you to live here. I want to be with you. This is your home too.” “Really? Is that why you gave us a grand welcome in my room with Arwena?!” Tandre frowned, confused by what Archie meant by "grand welcome." “You know, Tandre, if I could walk right now, I’d run out of here with Arwena and Nathan, and we’d never come back.” Tandre glanced at Arwena, who seemed just as puzzled by Archie’s behavior. But unlike Tandre, Arwena looked pleased with Archie’s change of hea
After Arche and Louie's wedding, Tandre and Arwena quickly returned to the country, knowing that in just a few months, their little bundle of joy would arrive. The excitement and anticipation of meeting their baby girl filled their days.Finally, the long-awaited day had come—the day Baby Natalia would be born.Inside the hospital, the family gathered outside the labor room. The atmosphere was tense with excitement, worry, and impatience. Everyone was eager to see Baby Natalia and to make sure Arwena was safe.Tandre, however, was the most restless of them all. He paced back and forth in the hallway, running his hands through his hair and glancing at the labor room door every few seconds. His heart raced with joy and worry, unsure of what to expect.Minutes felt like hours as they waited. Tandre tried to calm himself, but his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. “Will Arwena be okay? What if something goes wrong?” he thought, his palms sweaty and his breathing uneven. He wanted to be str
Four months after Tandre and Arwena's wedding, Archie and Louie decided to get married. Despite being family-centered and private, their wedding day was filled with deep emotion and beauty, but it was not without its challenges and moments of tension. Although it is a joyous celebration for them, it comes with society's judgment and harsh opinions that, at times, overshadow the happiness they are trying to embrace.Archie and Louie have been together for months, sharing a bond so strong that no amount of prejudice or criticism can tear them apart. But, like any same-sex couple in a world that isn't always accepting, their love is met with judgment from the people around them. From family members to strangers, their relationships face obstacles that are impossible to ignore.For Louie, the pressure was too much. Growing up in a family that still held traditional values, he heard whispers and hurtful words. Some family members, including some distant relatives, could not understand why
Two months after Tandre’s romantic proposal at the gazebo of Hotel Denovan—a place that once bore witness to one of the saddest chapters in Danreve’s life when Arwena rejected his marriage proposal—things took a different turn.Danreve had knelt, holding a ring in his hand, as the sky lit up with fireworks he had prepared for the woman he cherished most. He had promised himself to replace all of Arwena’s painful memories with joy.The proposal fulfilled one of Arwena’s long-held dreams. Danreve put in great effort to decorate the gazebo with small lights that look like fireflies, along with red and white roses, symbolizing pure and genuine love.Arwena’s heart overflowed with happiness at Danreve’s grand gesture. She hadn’t expected him to go to such lengths. Although she once resented him for forcing her to sign a marriage contract, that was in the past. Danreve had kept all his promises to her, never falling short as a husband and a father to Nathan and the baby in her womb.For Arw
Archie sighed repeatedly, his gaze following Louie as he retrieved an umbrella from the car. His heart stirred with a mixture of longing and frustration. He liked Louie, deeply, but he had learned to keep his feelings at bay. He had stopped flirting with him, knowing full well where it would lead—only to heartache.Louie was a real man, strong and genuine. Even though Archie couldn't help but notice the small signs that Louie might feel something for him too, he was afraid to take the risk. He knew that someday, Louie would find a woman who could give him the love he truly deserved, a woman who could fulfill the needs he had as a man.And so, Archie had learned to keep his emotions in check. Every time Louie came into his presence, his heart would thunder in his chest, but he had forced himself to accept that Louie was nothing more than his assistant and friend. Nothing more."Sir Archie..." Louie called out, his voice snapping Archie from his thoughts as Louie ran toward him, umbrell
"My queen," Tandre whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, his lips pressing a soft kiss to the back of her neck. His voice was tender and full of affection, and his touch made her heart skip a beat.She had been on the verge of drifting off to sleep, the peaceful lull of the night calling to her, but how could she refuse her husband, who had just returned from work and seemed determined to work his magic on her?“You smell so good, my queen,” he murmured, his voice warm and inviting, just as she turned to face him.His gaze was intense and inviting, and he bit his lower lip, his eyes dark with desire.Without thinking, her hands instinctively found their way to the back of his neck, drawing him closer. His eyes sparkled even brighter, and his smile deepened in response.She couldn’t help but feel as though she was being drawn in by the way he looked at her. His eyes spoke volumes of his love for her, conveying that she was the most beautiful woman in the world—his world.“You’re
"My queen," Tandre softly called to his wife, a gentle affection in his voice. Arwena immediately smiled, her heart warming at the sound of his words. He had been watching her for a while, patiently waiting for her to finish what she was doing. And now, with her task finally completed, he couldn't resist approaching her. Arwena shook her head with a knowing smile, fully aware of the silent longing that had been building in her husband. She knew he was eager to be close to her. He wanted to embrace her, to kiss her, but because of the warning she'd given him—that she wouldn’t join the Denovan Jewelry launch—he had held back. "Are you done?" he asked softly, his hand resting gently on her shoulder, caressing it with tenderness. Arwena responded with a sweet smile and a playful sparkle in her eyes. How could she not smile? Tandre's intentions were as clear as day. He wanted something more. He wanted to kiss her, and she could see it in the way he bit his lower lip, his gaze never le
After a deafening gunshot that made Arwena squeeze her eyes shut tightly, a series of explosions reverberated through the conference room, causing her breath to catch in her chest. Time seemed to slow as the violent sounds echoed in her ears. She was crying, but no sound came out—her mouth was open, but her voice had abandoned her. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably, and her lips quivered as her body shook with the shock. Tandre, on the other hand, held her firmly, pressing her against him as if to shield her from the chaos. He held his breath too, certain that it was the end for them. He had accepted that it was their last day together. They remained locked in that embrace, a tense silence stretching between them, until the frantic shouting of police officers and the bomb squad’s urgent commands filled the conference room. The sharp contrast between the quiet aftermath of the explosions and the chaos of the responders was disorienting. Farah, caught completely off guard by th
“No, Wena! Don’t go in—” Tandre shouted, his voice desperate, but his plea was abruptly cut off when the cold barrel of a gun was shoved against his forehead.“Shut up!” Farah snapped, her voice trembling with rage as her finger twitched dangerously on the trigger. “You’ve been pushing me too far, Tandre! I’ve had enough of you!”“Don’t do this, Farah, please!” Tandre pleaded, his tone raw with sincerity, his eyes locking onto hers. “I’m begging you. I’ll do anything—just leave Arwena out of this.”Even as he faced the weapon aimed at him, not once did Tandre fear for his own life. His only concern was for Arwena. The mere thought of her being harmed made his chest tighten with a suffocating pain.Janica clenched her fists at his words, the weight of them stabbing into her like a cruel dagger. Hearing the man she loved beg for another woman crushed her heart, each word twisting the knife deeper.“I said shut up!” Farah’s eyes blazed with fury, her voice rising. “No amount of begging wi
“F-Farah!” Janica exclaimed, her voice trembling as though she had been jolted awake from a deep sleep by the gunshot that echoed in the room. Her lips quivered, and her wide, panicked eyes fell on the man lying lifeless and bloodied on the floor. “What the…” Her voice trailed off as she clamped her hands over her ears, trying to block out the deafening chaos. Her gaze darted around the room, searching for an explanation. Her breath hitched as her eyes landed on Tandre, crouched on the floor, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. The veins in his arms bulged, a silent testament to his barely contained fury. She wanted to scream, to lash out at Farah for her brutality. The man Farah had mercilessly shot was innocent, unrelated to their petty grievances and unending hatred. “How…?” Janica’s voice cracked as the words faltered. Shaking her head in disbelief, her eyes welled with tears. Her gaze lingered on the bloodstained hole in Tandre’s suit, and her trembl