TwistedDropping the phone to get back to what I was doing before the call, my heart wandered to what my decision would be. Contrasting thoughts swarmed my mind, and clues led me back to Jack, who I knew would always want to interfere in my dealings. But then, I had no evidence against him.Sliding the screen of the phone, I made a call to Detective Alloy. I never wanted to involve Levi or anyone else any longer. Bent and determined to uncover every bit of the truth myself this time, the troubling content of the message kept clouding my thoughts, making it hard to concentrate on the work of the day. Checking the deadline on the top of the folder, which was set for a week, I selected the files. I reached for the office line to make a call, but then I was restrained halfway.Becky was supposed to handle these files if I couldn't, but I couldn’t trust her with delicate documents pertaining to the company anymore. I had my suspicions and reservations about her. No one could be trusted unt
Unexpected surpriseThe drive was once again a reflective moment, storming with thoughts of what the worst-case scenario would be if she came clean to Jack. I had known Jack to be a bad person from the beginning, but my mind never stopped calculating all possible scenarios and outcomes. My gaze narrowed intermittently at Levi through the rearview mirror. He seemed more focused on the drive and paid little to no attention to whether I was observing. He was engrossed in his hands, tightly gripping the steering wheel.Stepping out of the car, I picked up my bag sluggishly, my gaze landing on the stack of files I had brought back from the office. A hiss escaped my lips. I never thought that after such a strenuous day of brainstorming and thinking, I would still come back to sorting through files. I couldn’t help but curse in my heart. Becky should be blamed for this extra workload. She was supposed to help relieve me at a time like this, but no, she chose to make herself an object of susp
Not againHow was I supposed to explain that he had already seen his dad? Or where do I even begin to explain that his dad was actually the man he met the previous day, the one responsible for the incident that kept him at home for almost a month, missing school and social activities?It was shocking how things had turned out, but I definitely wasn't ready to reveal all this—certainly not now, and not anytime soon. I had nothing to do with Harry anymore. Thanks to Evelyn's persuasion, I think I freed him from all the charges. He should move on, get a better life, and pick up the broken pieces of his existence, turning them into something meaningful and worthwhile.“Mum, you're not responding,” Henry popped in, snapping me out of my thoughts almost instantly. My gaze fixed on him. “Dad wouldn't want to meet with you now,” I said, a frown suddenly creasing his forehead. I bit the inside of my lip, hard. “Not like that, sweetheart. Dad isn’t in the city right now. He’s far away, as I’ve
Never alone“Darling, why would you say such a thing? Or is there something I’m missing?” Evelyn asked, her eyes narrowed at him.He shrugged, dropping his cutlery in frustration after a long stretch of silence. “Nothing really. I thought about the whole scenario all through the night, and after hearing from him, I said to myself it would be best if you listened to his side of the story,” he paused, rubbing the back of his neck with his hands. “You know,” he narrowed his gaze toward me, “you never judge a book by its cover without reading through its contents. I know you had your past experiences with him, but don’t let them define your today and the future ahead.” He finished, raising his gaze toward me, his expression unreadable, as I tried so hard to contain the anger I felt seething inside.How could he think that after all those years of pain, I would still consider hearing Harry’s side of the explanation? What was there to explain aside from his mischievous acts? Wasn’t it enoug
NervousHarry's POVSeated in the vehicle, my heart bled even more than anticipated. It felt as if a dagger had been stabbed into it and refused to be removed. What hurt the most was hearing her little son speak to me with such disgust, so derogatorily. Something in me died at that moment. I still had that familiar feeling whenever I set my eyes on him, but I couldn't decipher it. I never knew how to handle it, misery shredding my already broken heart into pieces.If I hadn't confirmed my suspicion years back, I would probably think he was my child. The resemblance still baffles me, but each time I think about it, the saying that a child could resemble an enemy pops up in my head. No doubt, Jack hated my guts and everything about me, which is why his child took after my looks. However, something deep down in my subconscious was still uncertain.If Jack was truly Celine's son's father, then he would have come looking for her a long time ago. From all the information I've gathered so fa
A glimmer of hopeCramping through the rough floor with my shoes, I took the direction she pointed to, and soon I was standing at the door of the office as described. I took a deep breath and opened the door.A young lady, probably in her late twenties, greeted me, and for once, my doubts were debunked. I had expected to see an older woman seated in the office, not a young lady."How may I be of help to you, sir?" she inquired, gesturing for me to take a seat, which I did, my eyes still fixed on her. "I want a report, or rather, a case file from seven years ago," I piped up. For the next few seconds, she stared at me intensely. I knew that look, but I wasn't giving up. "I would do anything and probably pay for it. It's as urgent as an emergency, please," I spouted."Well, sir, what you seek is not in my hands to deliver.""What do you mean?" I asked, a bit perplexed."You see, accessing old files is not my duty, and what you're asking for is impossible.""How so?""Because the owner o
Unexpected turnI wiped my eyes with the back of my hand in a split second to identify who was calling. It was clear that I wasn’t mistaken.Why would he be calling me? The last time we had an encounter, he swore never to have anything to do with my company or me again. So why was he calling this early in the morning? A mix of uncertainty and nervousness settled in my heart as I watched the call ring to an end. But he called back relentlessly, and I was left with no option but to answer, albeit hesitantly.“I know you didn’t want to pick up, based on our past rift. But I’ve got good news this time,” his voice popped up. If I hadn’t mastered his voice during the time we were business partners, I would have thought I was mistaken about who was calling. It was the CEO of CC Corporation.“All right, speak up,” I demanded hastily.“After lots of consideration and proper evaluation, I’ve decided to give your company a second chance, for old times’ sake,” he hissed. “But your presence is nee
TwistedCeline's POVIt’s been the busiest night ever. Staying up all night to work on this particular file was nothing short of a tough job. It still hurt deep down that I had to do this all alone when there were capable hands in the company that could have handled it. I chose to give myself the extra work because I was intent on not leaving any room for mistakes.No one was to be trusted at this point until all the evidence was out and the culprits identified. I tilted my head towards the table situated just to my left. The pile of files was still sitting there, glaring at me. None of them required immediate attention compared to this one. The graphic seemed a little too simple for my liking and needed improvement to add a more sophisticated touch. Glancing at my wristwatch, it was already past one, and my eyelids were growing heavy.A knock on the door made me wince. No one would be knocking at this hour unless it was Henry. And what would be keeping him awake at this time?“Come i
A Blissful ForeverHarry's POVWe drove out of the mansion toward the most renowned resort in the city. My heart surged with joy and gratitude for the journey and the battles fought to reach this glorious moment of peace with Celine and my son, Henry.It was a dream come true. Deep down, I vowed never to let this opportunity slip away. This was the moment I had always envisioned, and now that it was manifesting, I was more than ready to cherish it. I resolved to make amends for all my past mistakes, creating and nurturing beautiful, lasting memories, even amidst any struggles that might come our way.“Dad, can we stop at Moore’s? I want to get my favorite candy,” Henry said, pointing toward the store on the left side of the street.“Alright, anything for you, son,” I replied, and he grinned, biting his hand playfully.“Thank you, Dad!” he cheered. I smiled and turned the car toward Moore’s parking lot.Soon, we were back in the car, Henry happily clutching his bag of candies and snack
The expectedA grin spread across his face as he held my hands, planting a loving kiss on them before crouching low on his knees. My heart soared once more, and this time, I was determined to give this tireless man a "yes" for his relentless efforts to win me over.“Please, my lady, will you be mine again?” he asked, his hands dipping into his pant pockets to retrieve the ring. To my amazement, his gaze remained fixed on mine.“Please, girl, forgive him and accept him back; for my sake and Henry's,” Evelyn's voice surged from behind almost immediately, and I winced.“Yes, he deserves one more chance,” Aaron added.I stayed still, determined in my thoughts, my face adorned with a grin. Finally, I whimpered,“Yes, I’ll give you another chance, to be yours again.”With a relieved smile, he hastily slid the ring onto my finger and rose to his feet.“Thank you. I promise I’ll never hurt you again,” he said, his eyes widening with sincerity.“Are you sure?” I asked, my voice trembling sligh
Sorrowful momentWithout hesitation, I tapped to receive the call, my head lowered and my heart racing. By now, the applause had stopped, but Harry still remained kneeling with the ring in his hands, his face showing a mix of disappointment and uncertainty.“Hel…” I started, but his voice cut me off almost immediately.“Please, you need to come. The report is bad, and Evelyn needs you,” he asserted, and my heart sank.“Okay, I’ll be right there,” I responded. The call ended almost immediately from his end. I hurriedly lowered the phone from my ear, casting a sorry gaze at Harry.“Please, I need to leave. It’s about Evelyn,” I announced. Without glancing around at the murmurs that arose once more, I hastily addressed the team, then stormed to the car and drove off almost immediately to the hospital.Once at the hospital, I hurriedly made my way through the lobby and down the hallway leading to the maternity section. I knew she would be there. As I had suspected, I spotted Aaron speakin
Two Weeks LaterCeline’s POVA lone tear dropped from my eye as I walked along the aisle toward the pavilion. My heart couldn’t stop wondering how I got here; a pathway filled with endless struggles and challenges. A path where evil loomed, but amidst the overwhelming obstacles and chaos, I succeeded, alongside the great team that stood firm with me. It felt like a dry bone coming back to life.The roaring applause of the crowd and the overwhelming feeling of having everything under control struck me with a sense of fulfillment—the kind that comes when one keeps a promise. That, I had lived to remember for seven years, ever since Dad was buried."I wish I could see him again and tell him everything is now fine and under control," I whispered in my heart, never stopping to wander through the familiar thoughts crowding my mind.The media buzzed around the hall, fixing and focusing their cameras on me. The grin on my face widened as a surge of joy erupted through me. As I climbed the pa
Rising Tension"Why can't I go inside?""That's the instruction, sir. I'm so sorry if it doesn't sit well with you, but please, you can't go in," he explained."I see. Is your madam at home?""Not really. She stepped out a few minutes ago. I thought you might have driven past her on your way here.""Not at all," I replied, feeling a pang of devastation. My eyes fell on the drink I held in my hands, and all the carefully rehearsed words I had practiced in the car suddenly felt meaningless."Can I leave this for her?""Not at all, sir. I think you should give it to her yourself; it would be much better," he replied. I sighed and turned to leave, my feet dragging sluggishly against the ground.Just then, a voice called out from behind."What are you doing here? I thought I told you last time not to come near us! Why are you still bent on bringing us more trouble?"I turned to meet his angry gaze. His words were far too harsh for a child his age, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that
Bad OccurrenceHarry's POVIt's been a heck of an experience for me. The shock and the stigma felt increasingly heavy, almost suffocating the life out of me. I still felt as though the chains of the forbidden were caging me, weighing me down like an unbearable burden.“Boss, you need to do something before everything escalates beyond what we can handle,” Louis, who had come over, suggested with a concerned expression.I sat still, lost in thought, struggling to figure out what to do. It was fortunate that the news hadn’t picked up on this yet, but I needed Celine's help to navigate through this mess before it did. Otherwise, it would tarnish the company’s reputation irreparably. This disaster, which I had been grappling with for the past twenty-four hours, left me filled with regret. I doubted it would ever leave my mind; not now, not ever. Mom’s face still appeared before me repeatedly. The moments when she smiled, the happy times we shared; all of them taunted my heart relentlessly.
The Unforseen I held her hands in pain as the other corps members rushed toward us. My gaze became blurry from the tears that clouded my eyes.“Ma'am, step aside,” the officer instructed, but I remained unmoved. I couldn't let go of her hands. Watching her lying motionless pricked a deep part of my heart, and I didn’t even notice if the guy was caught or not. Everything else felt irrelevant at that moment.He leaned in, turning her over slowly and placing his ear on her chest.“I think she’s still alive,” he muttered, and a sudden wave of relief washed over me.Soon, she was wheeled into the ambulance, and I followed suit. Once at the hospital, she was rushed into the emergency room while I waited impatiently in the waiting area, praying earnestly that nothing would happen to her.I stood there, lost in my thoughts of grief and anguish, when a hand rested on my shoulder, jolting me almost immediately. I turned to find Alloy standing close by.“Ma'am, I think you should calm down. She
Moment of AgonyOnce freed, I ran as fast as I could while they pursued me. I knew the risk was higher now, but it was the least of my concerns at that moment. My heartbeat raced as I stumbled upon a door. Hurriedly, I opened it, only to find myself at the back of the suite where the cops were stationed. Just as one of the men chasing me fired a shot, the bullet struck the doorframe, creating a sharp cracking sound as I scrambled to the other side.“Drop your weapons!” the police announced. Oblivious to the ambush, the men chasing me ran straight into police custody. I heaved a sigh of relief, clutching my chest in an attempt to ease the tension building within me.“Damn, that was a freaky risk,” I muttered under my breath. I had no idea I could run as fast or as boldly as I just had. Once settled, I glanced around, only to realize something was amiss. I distinctly remembered hearing the leader give orders as I fled. He had been following me, but now he was nowhere to be seen. Somethi
A Turn for The WorstMy heart raced drastically as I lifted my head to meet his gaze. Did he already sense that I had my eyes fixed on the dark-haired guy, apparently the leader who had just walked in? I thought to myself, but then the realization hit me hard: What if he’s part of the gang? I mean, judging from his appearance.I felt my stomach churn as I finally mustered the courage to reply.“What are you doing here?” I inquired, trying to mask my unease, which was clearly written on my features.He smirked. “Looking out for you,” he replied. I felt a little relieved and then a surge of anger.“Why can't you mind your business?” I asserted.“I can't mind my business while you’re still sitting here. Besides, I kept wondering why your supposed partner is taking so long to appear. Or were you just playing a fast one on me?” he questioned, smiling sheepishly.I tried so hard to hold back my anger, which was seething beneath the surface. It was glaringly obvious that he wasn’t part of th