Rita panicked, desperately trying to find a way to escape. However, the cement continued to pour, forcing her and the children into a corner. Rita felt hopeless and apologized to the two children. She shouldn't have brought them back; it was her foolishness, and everything was her fault.Rita's heart raced as the cement encroached on their small corner, the cold, gray sludge inching closer with every pa*sing moment. Edward's grip on her hand tightened, his eyes wide with fear, yet his voice remained steady as he spoke, "Mom, we can't give up now. We have to keep believing that help will come."Lilith nodded in agreement, her small frame shivering against Rita's side. "Yeah, Mom. Edward's right. We're a team, and we'll get through this together."Rita managed a weak smile through her tears, her children's unwavering faith in her filling her with courage. "You're both so brave," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the ominous rumbling of the pouring cement.As they huddled toge
In the middle of the night, after Rita and Jaden came back from the hospital.Rita was awakened by Jaden urgently, who urged her to leave immediately as there were a*sa*sins nearby.Rita's heart raced as she absorbed Jaden's words. "a*sa*sins?" she whispered, her voice quivering with fear. "How did they find us?"Jaden's eyes held a mix of concern and fear"I don't know, Rita, but we can't stay here. We need to move quickly if we want to stay ahead of them."Rita nodded, her mind racing to process the urgency of the situation. "Where do we go?"Jaden's jaw tightened as he thought for a moment. "There's a safehouse I know of, not far from here. It's hidden deep in the forest, off the grid. We should be safe there.""But what about Edward and Lilith?" Rita's voice cracked as she thought of the children.Jaden reached out and placed a rea*suring hand on her shoulder. "I've already taken care of that. They're in good hands, Rita. The hospital director owes me a favor. He'll keep them hidden
The sound of an engine came from not far away, and Rita saw a car parked not too far from her and Jaden. Rita pushed Jaden aside and walked towards the car, pleading with the person inside to save them.When Rita saw Noah in the back seat, she was shocked. Why was he here?"Rita, my dear, it's been quite a while," Noah said with a warm smile."Noah? What are you doing here? How did you find us?" Rita stammered, her heart racing with a mix of relief and confusion.Noah chuckled softly, leaning back in his seat. "Well, you know me, always keeping tabs on the unexpected. I heard you were in a bit of a tight spot, and I couldn't resist coming to the rescue."Rita's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You expect me to believe that you just happened to stumble upon us in the middle of nowhere?"Noah's expression turned serious as he leaned forward. "Rita, I know we've had our differences in the past, but things have changed. I've changed. I've been through experiences that made me rethink a lot of
Noah took Rita to his downtown villa and hired a family doctor to treat Jaden's gunshot wound. Noah then reminded Rita that it was time to fulfill her promise.Rita looked at Noah and saw that his eyes were no longer gentle, but hostile.Noah's voice grew stern as he gazed at Rita, his once-kind eyes now tinged with an unsettling intensity. "Rita," he began, his words cutting through the air, "we've come too far to turn back now. You made a promise, and it's time to honor it."Rita's heart raced as the weight of the situation bore down on her. She had never seen Noah like this before, his demeanor a stark departure from the man who had rescued her just days ago. "Noah, please," she implored, her voice quivering, "Jaden needs time to heal. We can't rush this."Noah's expression remained unyielding. "Time is a luxury we don't have," he retorted, his tone cold and unrelenting. "You know what's at stake, Rita. I can't afford to be patient any longer."Rita's mind raced, searching for a wa
Early in the morning, Rita was informed by Noah that Jaden had woken up, and they could leave. Rita's heart raced with a mix of relief and anticipation as she made her way to Jaden's room, her steps echoing softly in the quiet hallway. With a gentle push, she opened the door, revealing the pale morning light filtering through the curtains.As soon as Jaden saw her, his face lit up with joy, momentarily overshadowing the lingering shadows of his ordeal. He struggled to sit up, a determined glint in his eyes. Rita hurriedly approached, her voice a soothing whisper, "Easy, Jaden. Take it slow." She reached out and helped him adjust his pillows, supporting his back.Jaden managed a weak smile, his voice hushed but full of gratitude, "Thank you, Rita. I... I didn't know if I'd see you again."Rita's eyes softened as she met his gaze, her fingers brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead, "I promised I'd be here, didn't I? Noah and I made sure to find you."Jaden's eyes shifted when
Rita didn't want to be entangled with Jaden anymore, and she was determined to leave. Despite his gunshot wound, Jaden blocked Rita's way. Rita looked at the shirt stained red with fresh blood on Jaden, feeling somewhat distressed.Just then, Jaden fainted leaving Rita in a helpless state. Immediately she took Jaden to the hospital.At the hospital, the urgency of the situation weighed heavily on Rita as she paced the sterile hallway outside the emergency room. Her heart raced with a mix of worry and guilt. After all, regardless of their complicated history, she couldn't bear to see Jaden in such a vulnerable state.An exhausted-looking nurse finally emerged from the ER, catching Rita's attention. "Are you here for the gunshot wound patient?" the nurse asked, her voice laced with concern.Rita nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, that's... that's Jaden. How is he?"The nurse offered a rea*suring smile. "He's stable for now. We managed to stabilize him and remove the bullet.
Rita returned to her parents' home, and when they saw that she had safely returned, they all breathed a sigh of relief.The two little ones, Aidan and Emma, were also arranged by Jaden to be brought back.Rita's parents enveloped her in a warm embrace, their faces etched with a mixture of worry and joy. "Oh, Rita, we were so worried about you," her mother exclaimed, tears glistening in her eyes.Rita held them tightly, feeling a rush of emotions. "I'm sorry for causing you so much concern," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I had to find out the truth about everything."Her father stepped back slightly to look at her, his expression a mix of understanding and curiosity. "What did you uncover, Rita? What led you to take such risks?"As Rita recounted her journey, from the mysterious messages to the hidden clues that guided her, her parents listened intently, their brows furrowing as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place."But why would anyone want to target you, dear
Weeks later, Rita visited a design studio for a collaboration discussion. If everything went well, she could wrap up her trip and return home with her children within a week. However, at the entrance of the studio, she saw Jaden.Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the tall figure standing by the door, a hint of surprise and uncertainty etched across his face.Jaden handed Rita the divorce certificate between him and Percy, his face filled with anticipation. Rita found it a bit hard to believe, but she feigned composure. She returned the divorce certificate to Jaden, telling him not to disrupt her life anymore, as it had nothing to do with her.Rita's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice carrying a note of caution. "Jaden, I appreciate your effort to share this with me, but I fail to see how your divorce concerns me."Jaden sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I thought you should know, considering how close we used to be. Percy and I decided to part ways, and it's been a dif
Rita handed over the recorded phone conversation to the police, accusing Noah and Percy of kidnapping. They were taken into custody for questioning.Inside the small, sterile interrogation room, Detective Rodriguez eyed Noah and Percy sternly. "Gentlemen, you're both aware of the serious allegations against you. Rita claims she has evidence of your involvement in the kidnapping. Care to explain yourselves?"Noah exchanged a tense glance with Percy before sighing heavily. "Detective, this is all a misunderstanding. We were never involved in any kidnapping. Rita is just trying to pin something on us."Percy nodded in agreement. "Absolutely, Detective. We may have had some disagreements with Rita, but kidnapping? That's a bit extreme."Detective Rodriguez leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. "Rita seems pretty convinced that you two are responsible. And this recorded conversation she handed over, where you discuss the 'plan' and even mention the victim's name, doesn't help your case."No
The powerful will to survive continuously fueled Rita, and she had to make sure Jaden knew that she was the little girl who saved him back then. Just then, Rita heard Jaden's voice, calling out to her repeatedly. She desperately wanted to respond, but she realized she didn't have the strength to speak.As the haze of exhaustion blurred Rita's vision, she managed to raise her hand weakly in an attempt to signal Jaden. He rushed to her side, his expression a mix of relief and concern. "Rita, you're awake!" he exclaimed, gently grasping her hand.A faint smile tugged at the corners of Rita's lips as she mustered the energy to whisper, "Saved... you." Her voice was barely a whisper, but the words were enough to convey her message.Jaden's eyes widened with understanding, memories of that fateful day flooding back. "You're the one who pulled me out of the river when we were just kids, aren't you?" he asked, his voice filled with amazement. "I've always wondered who that mysterious girl was
Rita's eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in a dimly lit room. Percy was sitting beside her, concern etched on his face. "Rita, are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.She took a deep breath, her memories still swirling in her mind. "I... I remember," Rita whispered, her voice quivering. "I remember everything now, Percy."Percy's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and relief washing over him. "You do? That's incredible, Rita. What do you remember?"Tears welled up in Rita's eyes as she recounted the memories that had flooded back to her. "Jaden... the mountain... the kidnappers. I remember saving him, guiding him down the slope," she said, her voice trembling. "And the necklace, Percy. It was Jaden who caught hold of it, not you."Percy's expression darkened, his grip on the necklace tightening. "Rita, you don't understand. I... I did what I had to do to protect you. Jaden was too weak, and I couldn't let him have it. It was for your own safety."Rita looked at
Percy intervened, shooing Noah away to buy some food for Rita. Percy had long desired to get rid of Rita but had always failed. She played the victim, revealing Jaden's information to Noah, aiming to gain his trust and work together to abduct Rita.Percy's patience had worn thin, and she saw an opportunity to finally unravel the tangled web Rita had woven. As Noah reluctantly left to fetch the food, Percy leaned in closer to Rita, her voice a low and dangerous whisper."Your little games won't work anymore, Rita," Percy hissed, her eyes piercing into hers. "I know your true intentions, and I won't let you manipulate Noah any longer."Rita's façade crumbled, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape. She was cornered, and Percy knew it."You can't prove anything," Rita stammered, her voice shaky.Percy's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Oh, but I can. You underestimated me, Rita. I've been gathering evidence of your deceit for quite some time now."Rita's defiance wavere
Rita's head spun as she tried to make sense of the situation. She blinked, trying to process the unexpected alliance between Noah and Percy. The room felt heavy with tension, and Rita's heart raced as she looked from Noah's eyes to Percy's determined expression."Rita, you have to understand," Noah began, his voice strained. "I never wanted any of this to happen. But you insisted on being with Jaden, and that tied your fate to his."Rita's eyes narrowed as she absorbed his words. "Tied my fate? What do you mean?"Percy chimed in, his tone calmer than Noah's, but equally serious. "Jaden possesses a power that could reshape the world, but it comes at a great cost. And you, Rita, unwittingly became part of that cost when you chose to stand by his side."Frustration bubbled within her, and she clenched her fists. "So, what? You two decided that locking me up was the solution? That destroying Jaden would somehow fix everything?"Noah's gaze softened, but his grip on his emotions remained t
Percy visited the hospital to see Jaden. He told her that he had completely lost patience with her and warned her that if she dared to harm Rita, he would not spare her.Percy pa*sionately questioned how Jaden could treat her like this, forgetting that she had saved his life.Percy's words hung in the air, tension thickening with every pa*sing second. The sterile hospital room seemed to close in on them, its cold white walls reflecting the emotional turmoil that swirled within. Jaden's gaze remained fixed on the floor, unwilling to meet Percy's accusatory stare."Percy," Jaden finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, "I know you're angry, and I understand why. But you don't understand the complexity of the situation."Percy clenched her fists, struggling to contain her frustration. "Complexity? Jaden, Rita is innocent in all of this. She's been through enough, and she doesn't deserve your wrath."Jaden's eyes flickered briefly, a hint of regret fleeting across her features. "Y
Rita and Jaden sat across from each other in Jaden's spacious office, a map of the exhibition area spread out before them. "This powder might hold the key to unraveling the mystery," Rita mused, her brows furrowed in concentration.Jaden nodded, his eyes fixed on the map. "It's clear that someone intentionally tampered with the dresses. But why? And how does it connect to the models' asthma?"Rita leaned forward, her fingers tracing the outline of the exhibition booths. "The powder could be a trigger, something that aggravated their asthma and caused the accidents. But who would want to harm them? And why would they target the wedding dresses?"Jaden leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "We need to find out who had access to the exhibition area that night. Let's start by reviewing the surveillance footage."Rita nodded and pulled out her tablet. "I've already instructed the team to retrieve the footage. We should have it soon."As they waited, Jaden's gaze drifted to a
The doctor informed Rita that Jaden had woken up. Rita was aware of the recent events, which had been a significant blow to Jaden.She comforted him, a*suring him that everything would eventually get better.Jaden wished for Rita to take the children and leave the country. He a*sured her that he would handle everything. Noah wouldn't give up easily, and Jaden didn't want Rita to become a pawn in Noah's game. He feared that Noah might use Rita against him, putting him in an even more vulnerable position.The doctor's words hung in the air as Rita absorbed the news. Jaden had finally woken up, a flicker of hope in the midst of their tumultuous situation. She had seen the toll recent events had taken on him, the weight of it all etched into the lines on his face. With a determined resolve, she entered Jaden's room, her heart heavy but determined to be the pillar of strength he needed.As she walked in, their eyes met, and a bittersweet smile played on Jaden's lips. Rita could sense his l
Percy leaned in, her voice a mere whisper, "Rita, think about it. With your parents' connections, we could make a difference. Save Jaden's company, his reputation."Rita's eyes flickered with a mix of uncertainty and determination. "But Percy, it's not that simple. I can't just walk away from Jaden when he needs me the most."Percy's brow furrowed. "Rita, I understand your loyalty, but we're talking about saving everything he's worked for. And your children's future too. This might be the only way."Rita shook her head, her voice growing firm. "No, Percy. I can't turn my back on him. He's innocent, and I won't let him go through this alone. We've faced challenges before, and we'll overcome this too."Percy's gaze softened as he reached out to hold Rita's hands. "I admire your dedication, Rita. But you're risking everything—your family, your children's well-being. Don't you want to secure their future?"Tears welled up in Rita's eyes as she looked down, struggling to find the words. "O