TemptedThis game I must surely get to the root of. I might not know how to play it alongside him, but what was more certain was that I must show him twice how powerful a woman can be.“I think I should heed your advice, but do you have any clue who that superior person is; the one who messed with the case and granted him bail? Do you know who he is?” I asked, needing clarity and direction on what I was about to embark on. If I must start this game, then I must first know all those who were involved in it—dismantling them from within, then fighting them publicly. The battle was getting fiercer than I had thought, but one thing was certain: “I must get to its root,” I muttered in my heart.“Not really,” he said, rolling his eyes around as if trying to recollect something. “I tried to figure out who he was, but I couldn’t. He was such an expert at what he did. Seriously now, I’m beginning to fear for my life because whoever is involved in this knows I was working with you, and they must
Forbidden movesHarry's POVTrying to win her heart every day had been a taunting desire, I must admit. I barely had a moment without thoughts of her creeping in daily. I bet it's due to this life of loneliness I now live. Karma chose to repay me in a way I least expected. The haunting events of these past months have really dealt with me. If only she knew the depth of my heart, she would have just broken free from the restraints within her heart and granted me the forgiveness I longed for.“By now, she should be reading the leaflet,” I whispered to myself, taking a sip of the steaming coffee placed before me. A sudden grin creased my forehead as I imagined her reaction, picturing every move she might make in my mind. Her stony heart should be melted by now. Beneath that harsh exterior lay the tender part of her that I so desired to see again—the tender, loving Celine who once did all she could to love me, despite my cruel and dishonest life with her. A frown creased my forehead as no
Shocking discoveryI couldn't yet let down my guard, not when I was in a mess; in the middle of a charade with uncertain twists and outcomes. Retrieving my phone from the desk and leather briefcase from the side lock, I bowed out of the office straight to the elevator, with Louis following suit.The drive felt reflective, filled with countless scenarios of uncertainties. My heart dripped with doubt and fear of failure. At one point, I felt restrained and instructed Louis to drive back to the office. That tiny voice surged up again, bringing an unsettled feeling to my instincts. However, something kept pushing me closer to uncovering whatever I needed to know. I held on to that urge like a backbone to accomplish this task. I wished never to cross paths with Anderson again, and the idea of possibly encountering him in that hospital was something I couldn’t bear. I couldn't imagine the outcome of facing his disgusting and boastful presence.Once the car halted in front of the hospital, I
Darkened Only Celine could answer all these questions hovering in my heart. I couldn’t believe for a second that I had kidnapped my own infant years back and even went as far as wanting him dead, if not for the unknown person who saved him. Even when I searched for Celine, she was nowhere in sight. The accidental gunshot that happened recently. "No, no," I whimpered, slamming my hands on the wall I clutched in frustration.“I could have just had the blood of my child on my hands while, in a twisted way, I cherished another man's child, building a fatherly bond with someone who wasn’t my blood, my biological child, leaving mine alone without a father figure,” I whispered to myself. These conflicting thoughts strangled my heart, and my head throbbed from the tension. How cruel life has been to me for all my past sins and atrocities.I staggered out of the building, nearly collapsing from the shocking revelation. No wonder I had those doubts and a sudden urge to press on for clarity. Th
Broken wallsCeline’s POVThe moment he spat those words, my heart quickened, and the shades of my fears began to come alive. Nevertheless, he didn’t deserve to be a dad; not for a single day, even if he already knew what I had strived to keep a secret all these years. I would never let him come close to Henry; that much I was sure of. I was willing to let go of the burdens and forgive him, but I would never allow him into our lives. That wasn’t going to happen. He should stay the heck out and live his miserable life.“Coming to claim rubbish,” I muttered to myself as I refocused on the system, but the thoughts and scenes wouldn’t leave my heart. “I just hate him, I hate his guts,” I moaned in frustration. It would be better to devise a way to stop him, so he would stop interfering in our lives. That, I had to ensure. I thought to myself, clutching my hands under my jaw in deep thought.****“Girl, you never told me all this happened in just the short period we went on vacation,” Evel
Why HimI still couldn't imagine why they had to suggest such a thing. My gaze remained fixed on them, especially on Evelyn, feeling far too disappointed that she had joined in the push. How could I just let him into my son's life? I had forgiven him, so why push further? "Not when he wronged him," I asserted, my gaze still fixed on them."I believe he would work that out too; he just needs your approval," Aaron whispered from behind."I don't think I would allow that," I said, tilting my head towards Evelyn. "I think I should be on my way now; I have an appointment to catch up with." I snapped, checking my wristwatch. I had planned to spend more time with them, but it seemed they had planned something else behind my back, something intent on making me angry. I would never buy into such ideas. Harry would never have access to us again."Why the rush? We've barely started," she frowned. "Or are you just going because of him?" She directed her eyes towards Harry."Not really. I need to
A world of conflictMy heart reminisced on what Alloy had said previously, leaving me to wonder about the connection. For a moment, I doubted whether I could still trust him, but after several thoughts in the same direction, I found reasons why his suggestions were valid.Yet the question remained: now that he was involved in our device, it only meant one thing; that I would give Harry access into our lives again, which I wasn’t ready to do. Nor was I planning on backing out of this fight anytime soon, not in my wildest dreams.My hands clutched the headrest as Levi drove along the bustling street to what was once Williams Corporation. It had been ages; ever since my return, I hadn’t taken a single moment to check the place out, let alone schedule an appointment with the CEO of the new company occupying it. My heart skipped several beats as we drew closer. What was I supposed to feel now as that unsettling, nostalgic feeling set in, knocking me out of my thoughts and taking hold of me
Harry, not again.My thoughts drifted to months ago, just one month after I returned from Italy. A man had walked into my office, introducing himself and offering a proposal. He suggested I join a particular group, though I wasn’t yet certain of its purpose. I declined, preferring to establish my own company independently. I hadn’t taken it seriously, until now. Anderson just accused me of sabotaging their efforts, as if my lack of involvement in their criminal activities or funding scandals was a betrayal. Thousands of thoughts flooded my mind. The company that was once Williams Corporation, which had been shut down due to fraud, was now owned by Anderson, who controlled several top officials and the law. Everything was gradually adding up. “I sense a confrontation ahead,” I whispered to myself. But then I remembered it was time to pick up Henry. I sent duplicate copies of the documents to different hidden platforms and secured locations. They already knew what to do, as we had pre
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
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