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
Not againHarry's POVSeated patiently in the car as he drove up, my heart wandered with joy. For a moment, I felt like giving up on this mission and focusing on celebrating this moment of rising hope and a great future. The grin on my face was evident and in full display.If I needed the clarity I longed for, then I should pursue it relentlessly. I figured that was the only way to keep me increasingly in anticipation of what was to be unveiled. How would it feel if I came close to the truth and cleared my doubts? That part of me longed for clarity once again as I watched the buzzing city from the car window. It felt so strong that I couldn't resist, which only left me in misery. Despite the hum from the busy city, my eyes rolled in anticipation while my heart wallowed in uncertainty. I had never been this drawn toward clarity as I was now, and the urge usually struck when I flashed back to his face repeatedly. Hope loomed in a distant hum.Soon the car halted at the mansion. I checke
What!My heart suddenly drifted to the earlier conversation with Mum that took place before my arrest. I couldn't believe I hadn't seen or heard from her after the incident that happened to me. That was unlike Mum; she never behaved in such a manner in the past, aside from the rift we had previously, which was obviously settled the last time we met.I pulled out my phone from my breast pocket to make a call, but her line wasn't connecting. Even the house line wasn't connecting either. My heart suddenly skipped. What could be the issue? I asked myself but couldn't come close to any clue that could have led to her disconnected lines. The beating of my heart intensified, as loud as a drumbeat, and I gasped."Take me to Mum's mansion, and please increase your speed," I instructed. It was a weekend, so I believed she would be home at that time if all was alright. However, I doubted that possibility. Along the drive, I clutched my hands to my chest to remain calm and remind myself that noth
HauntedJack's POV"Don't tell me to calm down! How could you think so lowly of me? Argh, Becky. I’ve loved you all along. I can admit I had a thing with her, but that was in the past," I tried to assure her, my jaw tightening. I think outside the plan, I felt something for her. That same feeling I once had for Emma before her demise."Don’t assure me of that if you can’t keep your word or prove it." A slight frown appeared on her face, which caught my attention. I reached for her cheek, my thumb gently rubbing the spot. "She’s suspecting my every move, even if she hasn’t said it outright, but I think she’s close to the truth. You know what that means for me.""Babe, don’t worry. That shouldn’t be a challenge or an issue that makes you frown," I said, smoothing her cheek with care, my gaze fixed on hers. "I can take good care of you, even without that job, so I don’t see any reason for you to worry." I assured her, lifting my other hand to hold her by the waist. The frown still linger
Dungeon Celine's POVWalking past the hallway, I gasped, holding my breath as I took in the surroundings. A tiny pang pulled at me, but then a surge of determination suddenly took hold of my being. I wasn't used to places like this, yet I snapped back to focus as I stepped into the lounge.“Ma'am, what do you need?” a waitress asked, walking toward me. I glanced around, taking in the sight of the place. It revealed a more intense environment, a mix of individuals. Some had a dreaded appearance, wearing rugged, torn jeans or disheveled suits. A few others, more decently dressed, were all engrossed in their activities and fun.I found an empty table at the other end of the hall, away from the cramped seats and the litter of bottles beneath many of the tables. “Just give me water,” I said curtly, and the waitress hurried off to fulfill my request. My heart raced wildly, but I knew I had to end all of this once and for all. The leader of this particular group controlled the other organiz
ForbiddenQuickly brushing my hands off, a cool shiver ran down my spine. In a moment of clarity, I realized what had just happened, which jolted me. I reached for her hands, tapping gently, but there was no response.“Gosh, what have I done?”I hastily pulled away from her and stroked her hair, letting my fingers trail down the side of her neck. It was instantly cold, and I jerked backward in shock. My body broke into a cold sweat despite the chills running through me. This can’t be happening. No!“Mum!” I called to her, but there was no response. My body trembled slightly. I raised her hands gently, but they dropped slowly, and that was when the true reality struck me. No! No! What have I done? I slammed my hands hard on the couch, making a reverberating noise that echoed through the entire room. Amidst my worries and misery, I still realized that I had just done something I shouldn't have.“Mum!” I called again, my eyes fixed on her face, which was still innocent, her eyes slightly
Her deathHarry's POV A surge of relief washed through me as I anticipated her call. I had sent her another gift just yesterday and hoped she had received it.Morning had already come, yet I hadn’t heard from her; not even a text. The earlier relief was gradually fading away. She was right to treat me the way she did; I had tried so hard to absorb that truth. Still, I couldn’t shake off the urge to go see Mum. She had given me false information about Dad’s death, but Louis had advised me to calm down before confronting her. That advice, however, had lingered long enough.It had been two days of intense worry and sorrow. Each time there was a glimmer of hope, it drowned in an ocean of grief and bitterness. I doubted if I could hold on any longer; I couldn’t heal unless I sorted things out quickly. I pulled my phone out of my breast pocket and hesitated for a moment before typing a text to Celine.Countless texts had been sent over the past few days, yet none received a reply. Still, I
Another Battle?My heart wandered to what Sharon had said earlier, and I couldn't shake off the urgency I felt to meet her. She sounded too serious, and whatever important information she had to disclose, I knew it was related to the past. As much as I never wanted to revisit my past, I still needed to know what it was all about.I had the urge to call Evelyn, but I restrained myself. There was no need to burden her with my issues anymore. I tried to grasp sleep throughout the night as I awaited the morning, but all my efforts proved futile, and I was already giving up in frustration.I reached my hand to the head of the bed where my podcast device was. I tapped to play the popular music streaming on it, tuning it to a lower key and pitch before slumping back onto the bed. I carefully freed my mind from all worries, and soon, the music synced with my heart. Slowly, I closed my eyes, and soon, I drifted off to sleep.*****Sitting in this popular resort at the far-right end of the larg
Intriguing SuspenseCeline’s POVMy heart shattered even more as I watched his reactions and flimsy flirting excuses, which he thought would win me over. I felt like I was losing it. He had taken something precious from me in the past, and as if that wasn’t enough, he still had to hide it from me; an act I despised so much.“I never want to see you near us again,” I cursed, looking intensely at his derailed expression, masked with even greater pain and hurt.“Please, for the…”“Just go,” Henry cut in, and he swallowed hard. I hated seeing my son angry, just as much as I felt the pain of a reopened wound. If my mum were alive, I wouldn’t have gone through the torment I endured. I doubted I would have faced the ridicule and humiliation his singular action caused me. Glaring at him, still crouched on the floor, I felt like strangling the life out of him for taking what was so precious and priceless to me, yet I tried so hard to restrain the urge.“Why are you still pleading? Take your di
BrokenHarry's POVI felt a shiver run down my spine the moment she pointed to the diary on the floor. My heart skipped a beat; or thousands. I distinctly remembered tucking the diary into the shelves, so how did it end up here, on the floor in this room?"How did you get that?" I asked, the perplexed look on my face betraying my confusion.She scoffed, shooting me a deadly stare that set my entire body aflame. "You still have the nerve to ask that? Isn't it your handwriting on it? You're just so pathetic," Evelyn spat, and I winced."Just get out of here this minute!" Celine barked, and my heart sank even more. Her pained expression and the tears on her cheeks tugged at something inside me. I tried to reach for her, but Evelyn slapped my hand away, rolling her eyes derisively."Never try that again," she snapped. Celine said nothing, her head buried in her hands, her face a picture of intense disdain.I crouched low, dropping to my knees. "Please, I'm so sorry for whatever you saw in
ExposedCeline's POV“Get the things ready and well arranged in the car while I quickly change into something perfect,” I instructed the new driver who had just started working.“Alright, ma,” he responded, turning to leave as I headed towards the staircase.“Ahh, girl, I’m so happy for you!” Evelyn chimed in from the door, hobbling towards me with a smile plastered all over her face.“Please calm down. You know you don’t need to walk fast in your condition. Slow and steady,” I teased, and she scoffed.“So, I shouldn’t walk fast anymore? Where is it written?” she snapped.“In your antenatal instructions, of course.”“No, you could have just called me a little child that should crawl instead.” She finally reached me.“You aren’t dressed yet.”“Yeah, but I’m going upstairs to get dressed now. Aren’t you coming over to help me with buttoning up?” I asked.“You should have just taken me along with you. It’s obvious you were actually waiting for me, pretending not to care,” she teased, com
AcceptedHarry's POVI could feel her breath heavily against mine as I deepened the kiss, my tongue savoring every drop of sweetness from her lips. I only pulled away when I realized she was out of breath.My gaze fixed on her intensely; I could see the fire and sparks buried within her eyes. I wasn't going to let go. I had long desired this moment, but somehow, I was denied it by the circumstances that followed thereafter.I kissed her again, enjoying every moment as she groaned, feeling the tingling sensation in her body. Her hands strayed to my back, her fingers digging deep through my shirt. I kissed her even more, lifting her to sit on the table while keeping our lips locked. My hands moved through her long, flowing gown, sliding up from her knees to her thighs. Her groans intensified, stirring my desire to continue. I could feel myself getting hard, not wanting to stop anytime soon.Just then, a bit of sanity struck me, hitting me hard enough to reset my senses. I stopped in my
Tingling SensationCan't believe he said those words. Wasn't he supposed be glad if I gave him a second chance in our lives. Or was he just putting on an act to get at me?“Why did you say that?” Evelyn asked, her eyes widened in shock as well. I silently thanked her in my heart for speaking up.“Because it's not the right time for that. Besides, my top priority is to ensure she's in perfect condition and not the other way around.”“Alright, if you say so,” Evelyn exclaimed.“But Dad, I can't wait for us to be one happy family again. Besides, Mum isn’t complaining about it, is she?” He turned to ask me, and I froze in place.“Mum!”“Yes, cutie, not really,” I replied, and he grinned.“You see, Mum isn’t complaining.”“Can we drop this issue for now? There are many other things to deal with right now.”“See, there is,” I replied, feeling utterly relieved at that moment. I wasn’t going to face any tough questions, even though I knew Henry had many to ask.*****Two months laterI steppe