The days passed like a dream—soft, fleeting, and almost unreal. I hadn’t been counting them because, for the first time in years, I was truly happy. But that happiness was laced with an edge of unease, especially when Anton told me what had happened.Vincent had been captured. By Anton’s men.The news left a strange weight in my chest, and though I tried to push it aside, it lingered."What are you going to do to your brother, Anton?" I asked, my voice quiet but firm as I sat across from him in the spacious living room.Anton leaned back in his chair, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the chandelier. His brow arched slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You sound like you’re worried about him."I hesitated, unsure how to answer that. Was I?Despite the cruel way Vincent had treated me, a part of me couldn’t deny that he had once been a significant part of my life. But worry? Love? Those feelings had long since faded."I’m not worried about him," I said, shaking my h
"Anton..." I hesitated, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap as I searched for the courage to voice what had been weighing on my mind. "Can I meet him?"The room fell silent, the air suddenly thick with tension. Anton’s jaw tightened, his usually soft eyes hardening as they locked onto mine. "Why do you want to meet him, Kirsten?" His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Because I feel like I need to," I said softly. "To free myself from him completely—for real this time. I need closure, Anton. I need to look him in the eyes and tell him that we’re done. And... I want him to ask for forgiveness."Anton’s gaze didn’t waver, but I could see the conflict brewing behind his eyes. For a moment, I thought he’d argue, tell me it was unnecessary, that I didn’t need to reopen that chapter of my life.But then, to my surprise, he nodded. "If that’s what you need," he said quietly, his voice firm but filled with understanding, "I’l
He looked down at his cuffed hands, his voice lowering to a whisper. "So, I took advantage of it. Out of jealousy, out of spite. I wanted to take away something he cared about, something he might love, just to prove I could. I wanted to hurt him the way I thought he had hurt me... and you became the collateral damage."His words hit me like a tidal wave, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. All this time, I had thought Vincent’s actions were about me, about control, about possession. But now I realized—it was never about me. It was about his insecurities, his bitterness toward Anton, and his need to win a game only he was playing."You used me..." I whispered, the hurt evident in my voice.Vincent’s eyes met mine, and for the first time, they weren’t filled with arrogance or anger. They were filled with regret. "I did," he confessed. "And I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.""I can’t believe you..." I whispered, my voice trembling with disbelief and pain.Vincent nodded slowly, h
I stopped, turning my head slightly, but I didn’t let go of Anton’s hand. “Yes?”He hesitated, his lips parting and closing as though he couldn’t quite find the words. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter now. “Do you think I even deserve peace? After everything I’ve done to you… to both of you?”I sighed, glancing at Anton, who gave my hand a small squeeze. He didn’t intervene, allowing me to face Vincent on my own terms. “It’s not about deserving it, Vincent,” I said gently. “It’s about whether or not you want it. Whether or not you’re willing to change and work toward it.”He leaned back in his chair, his cuffed hands resting heavily on the armrests. His gaze fell to the floor as if searching for answers in the patterns of the tiles. “I don’t know if I can live with the guilt. Every time I think about what I’ve done… it’s like it’s eating me alive.”“Then stop running from it,” I said firmly. “Face it. Own your mistakes and make amends where you can. That’s the only way you’ll ever
THE BEGINNINGI am Kirsten Zaldua.I stood in front of the towering Rockwell Corporation building, feeling small and out of place. My reflection stared back at me from the glass doors—tired, determined, but undeniably weary. Hugging the insulated delivery bag tightly against my chest, I braced myself for what lay ahead.This wasn’t my first delivery to this company, but somehow, the nerves always got to me. The polished marble floors, the sharp suits of the employees walking briskly inside, the hum of luxury and power that seemed to fill the air—it always reminded me of a world I desperately wanted to be part of but knew I didn’t belong in.Tightening my grip on the bag, I took a deep breath and tried to push away the thoughts clawing at the back of my mind. But they always found a way to resurface. Life wasn’t always like this for me.When I was younger, we had a simple but happy life. My mom, Olivia Zaldua, was an accountant for a small company, while my dad, Elias, worked as a cons
DELIVERYHer teasing softened, her gaze turning more tender. I caught a glimpse of something in her expression—maybe understanding, or maybe just the kindness she always extended to me. She’d seen so many faces pass through this lobby, yet there was something about me that seemed to linger in her mind. Perhaps it was my humility, or maybe the quiet hope that I carried, despite the weariness that seemed to be etched into every inch of my body.“I’ll see what I can do,” Grace said, her voice gentle as she took the package from me.“Thank you,” I said, offering a small but sincere smile. I adjusted my bag and turned to leave, my feet moving faster as I neared the door. I wanted to escape this grand lobby, this world that always reminded me of the gap between my life and the one I dreamed of. As I hurried to exit the lobby, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something in the air had changed. It wasn’t that anything specific had happened, but the weight of this building, the polished floor
NEW DAYBefore heading to bed, I glanced at my phone and saw the delivery schedule for the next day. Another drop-off at Rockwell Corporation. My heart gave a small flutter—was it excitement, or just the hope that tomorrow might bring something new? I wasn’t sure.As I lay there in the dim light of the small room, the weight of the day settled on my shoulders. I could feel the thin mattress beneath me, the fabric worn and soft from years of use. The silence in the room was almost oppressive, but it was a silence I had come to know well—a kind of quiet that wrapped itself around my thoughts, leaving me alone with my hopes and fears.Tomorrow felt like another battle, another challenge to face, but I had learned not to fear the challenges. They were part of the rhythm of my life now. My heart still fluttered at the thought of the delivery tomorrow—Rockwell Corporation. Every time I stepped into their sleek, glass-and-steel building, I couldn't help but feel a spark of something. Maybe i
NOTICEDWalking into the sleek lobby, I felt the familiar pang of inadequacy, but I kept my head high.“Delivery,” I told the receptionist, handing over the package.As I waited for her to sign the receipt, I couldn’t help but glance around. The polished floors, the soft hum of air conditioning, the sharp-dressed employees—it was a world so different from my own. But for a moment, standing there, I let myself imagine what it would be like to belong.“Thank you,” the receptionist said, snapping me out of my thoughts.I nodded, forcing a polite smile before turning to leave. As I stepped outside, the cool evening air greeted me, carrying with it a sense of both relief and longing. Another day was done, another small victory won.And as I pedaled home under the glow of the streetlights, I reminded myself of the prayer I had whispered the night before. Strength, not miracles—that was what I needed. And with each passing day, I felt myself growing stronger, ready to face whatever tomorrow
I stopped, turning my head slightly, but I didn’t let go of Anton’s hand. “Yes?”He hesitated, his lips parting and closing as though he couldn’t quite find the words. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter now. “Do you think I even deserve peace? After everything I’ve done to you… to both of you?”I sighed, glancing at Anton, who gave my hand a small squeeze. He didn’t intervene, allowing me to face Vincent on my own terms. “It’s not about deserving it, Vincent,” I said gently. “It’s about whether or not you want it. Whether or not you’re willing to change and work toward it.”He leaned back in his chair, his cuffed hands resting heavily on the armrests. His gaze fell to the floor as if searching for answers in the patterns of the tiles. “I don’t know if I can live with the guilt. Every time I think about what I’ve done… it’s like it’s eating me alive.”“Then stop running from it,” I said firmly. “Face it. Own your mistakes and make amends where you can. That’s the only way you’ll ever
He looked down at his cuffed hands, his voice lowering to a whisper. "So, I took advantage of it. Out of jealousy, out of spite. I wanted to take away something he cared about, something he might love, just to prove I could. I wanted to hurt him the way I thought he had hurt me... and you became the collateral damage."His words hit me like a tidal wave, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. All this time, I had thought Vincent’s actions were about me, about control, about possession. But now I realized—it was never about me. It was about his insecurities, his bitterness toward Anton, and his need to win a game only he was playing."You used me..." I whispered, the hurt evident in my voice.Vincent’s eyes met mine, and for the first time, they weren’t filled with arrogance or anger. They were filled with regret. "I did," he confessed. "And I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.""I can’t believe you..." I whispered, my voice trembling with disbelief and pain.Vincent nodded slowly, h
"Anton..." I hesitated, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap as I searched for the courage to voice what had been weighing on my mind. "Can I meet him?"The room fell silent, the air suddenly thick with tension. Anton’s jaw tightened, his usually soft eyes hardening as they locked onto mine. "Why do you want to meet him, Kirsten?" His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Because I feel like I need to," I said softly. "To free myself from him completely—for real this time. I need closure, Anton. I need to look him in the eyes and tell him that we’re done. And... I want him to ask for forgiveness."Anton’s gaze didn’t waver, but I could see the conflict brewing behind his eyes. For a moment, I thought he’d argue, tell me it was unnecessary, that I didn’t need to reopen that chapter of my life.But then, to my surprise, he nodded. "If that’s what you need," he said quietly, his voice firm but filled with understanding, "I’l
The days passed like a dream—soft, fleeting, and almost unreal. I hadn’t been counting them because, for the first time in years, I was truly happy. But that happiness was laced with an edge of unease, especially when Anton told me what had happened.Vincent had been captured. By Anton’s men.The news left a strange weight in my chest, and though I tried to push it aside, it lingered."What are you going to do to your brother, Anton?" I asked, my voice quiet but firm as I sat across from him in the spacious living room.Anton leaned back in his chair, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the chandelier. His brow arched slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You sound like you’re worried about him."I hesitated, unsure how to answer that. Was I?Despite the cruel way Vincent had treated me, a part of me couldn’t deny that he had once been a significant part of my life. But worry? Love? Those feelings had long since faded."I’m not worried about him," I said, shaking my h
I learned from him that Vincent had resorted to sending death threats, demanding Anton leave the country. My stomach turned at the revelation. It was a side of Vincent I hadn’t fully understood until now. Anton, however, seemed unfazed, stating firmly, “He’ll pay for that. I’ll make sure he does. Threatening me gives me the leverage I need to put him behind bars.”The thought of Vincent—once the man I thought I loved—going to prison left me torn. A part of me felt justice was inevitable, but another part still struggled to reconcile this side of him with the man I had once known.And then there was Anton. The man who had been a stranger not so long ago but now felt like a lifeline. It was surreal to think back to the days when I would deliver lunches to his company, never once imagining that the CEO himself was aware of me. And now, here I was, living under the same roof with him."Can you believe this?" I murmured to myself one evening as I stood by the window, looking out at the exp
His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out. But instead, he turned away, laughing bitterly. "We’ll see about that," he muttered, disappearing into his bedroom and slamming the door behind him. I exhaled shakily, my entire body trembling. This wasn’t living. This was survival. I picked up my phone and opened Anton’s message again. Without overthinking, I typed: Me: I need your help. I hit send and waited, my heart pounding in my chest. Within seconds, his reply came. Anton: I’ll be there in the morning. I stared at the message, a mix of relief and fear washing over me. Tomorrow, things would change. Whether for better or worse, I didn’t know. But one thing was certain—I couldn’t keep living like this. The morning light filtered through the curtains, and I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. My heart felt heavy, weighed down by everything that had happened the night before. Vincent’s words still echoed in my mind—his possessiveness, hi
"Do you want to go home?" Anton asked softly after a long stretch of silence.I shook my head, burying my face deeper into his chest. Embarrassment coursed through me. The memory of what had just transpired between us replayed in my mind, leaving me flustered. I couldn't look him in the eye, not yet.Anton, ever calm, held me close. His arms wrapped securely around me, and his fingers combed gently through my hair, lulling me into a fragile sense of peace."Live with me," he whispered, his warm breath brushing against my ear.I froze for a moment before resting my cheek against his chest, my voice barely audible. "I can't.""Then at least work in my company," he said, his tone coaxing but firm. "That’s your dream, isn’t it?"I lifted my head fully this time, meeting his eyes. His words struck a chord deep within me. "How do you know that?" I asked, my brow furrowed in surprise. "You know so much about me—it’s almost unsettling."A playful chuckle escaped his lips. "I do. Want me to li
His words hit me like a wave, washing away the barriers I had erected around my heart. I felt exposed, raw, but in a way that was strangely liberating. I had spent years feeling trapped, burdened by obligations, and here was Anton, offering me a glimpse of freedom and the possibility of happiness. Taking a shaky breath, I closed my eyes, letting the tears continue to fall. I knew that this moment was a turning point, a decision that could alter the course of my life. Anton's intense gaze was fixed on me, waiting for my response, and I knew he was willing to fight for me, to be the one to save me from the darkness that had enveloped my existence. In a bold move, I took a step forward, closing the distance between us. I reached up and gently placed my hands on his broad shoulders, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my palms. Anton's eyes widened with surprise, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned in, as if he had been waiting for this moment too. Our lips met in a kiss t
I didn’t say much after that, choosing instead to focus on finishing my meal. Anton, however, spent the entire time watching me, his piercing gaze following every small movement I made. It was unsettling, but I tried my best to ignore it.By the time the last course was served, I was so full I doubted I could take another bite. Still, I felt an obligation to finish—it seemed wasteful not to. But for someone like Anton, leaving food untouched probably didn’t matter at all.I dabbed my lips with a napkin and looked at him. “So,” I started cautiously, “what’s this ‘show’ you said I’ve been missing out on? What’s so important that you had to drag me out tonight?”His lips curved into a smirk, one that made me instantly suspicious. “You’ll find out,” he said cryptically. “But only if you decide to come with me after dinner.”I blinked, unsure whether he was serious or teasing. “Come with you where?”“Just trust me,” he said simply, leaning back in his chair, exuding an air of confidence th