No resemblanceHarry's POVMy heart was full of delight when my gaze was fixed on him. He was growing rapidly every day, and I bet he took after me. His curly blonde hair was a replica of his mother's, the shining grey eyes were unmatched by mine, and his cute cheeks blushed whenever he smiled.He had all the features of my father, as my mum complimented the moment we entered the mansion, not even giving a watchful gaze at me.“Derick, dear,” she lowered herself to maintain the same eye contact as his, opening her arms, and Derick hopped into them in an embrace.“Nice to meet you, Grandma,” he greeted with a grin on his face, his dimples visibly making their way.“Oh dear, what an adorable child,” Mum leaned forward and planted a kiss on his forehead, smiles plastered all over her face, and her heart merry.I loved seeing her happy and would do anything within my power to always keep that smile on her face. Being the only parent I had growing up, she had always gone out of her way to
BeneathHe was truly right. “If he looks like my dad, then he should look like me, or is there something Mum was hiding from me?” I thought to myself. As frustration built, I narrowed my eyes at my mum.“Mum, do I really look like Father?” I asked, my gaze fixed on her. She seemed a little uncomfortable with my question and turned her gaze to Derick.“Derick, take your chips upstairs,” she said, and with that, he left, leaving the three of us alone.“Son, why ask such questions?” she said, her gaze fixed on mine and a frown creasing her forehead.“Don't you have his pictures? You can confirm your doubts with them,” she replied, raising my brows.I felt a little uneasy. “Sorry, Mum,” I apologized, but my mind was still clouded with uncertainty. “But if Derick truly looks like Dad, then he should also resemble me,” I said, prompting an immediate gasp from Lily, who almost choked.“Darling, are you alright?” I leaned towards her. She nodded, picking up the glass of water and gulping it d
CoincidenceThe light from my phone, indicating an incoming call, suddenly illuminated the room. Who could be calling at this hour? I wondered. I quickly reached to pick up the phone, rolling off Lily, who was still basking in the afterglow of our recent intimacy. After we made out, we continued for a while longer, enjoying each other's company. Derick was left in my mum's care because she insisted he sleep with her in her room instead of the vacant one. I never had the time or energy to argue with mum, who was always bent on doing what pleased her without considering others. It's an aspect of her I despise, and I prefer not to clash with her over it.I picked up the call and was immediately taken aback by what I heard.“Boss, I think there's a situation,” Louis snapped over the phone.My heart suddenly quickened. “What’s the situation, Louis?” My voice was a mix of uncertainty and anger.“Boss, we... we got to the mansion only to find the gatekeeper in a pool of his own blood,” his v
Worst NightmareCeline's POVSo it's true that William Wood is actually gone. When I suddenly had the opportunity to tell him I was his child, I thought I finally had the chance to have a father figure and the love I never had while growing up. They knew I would find peace at last and decided to cut it short. Why is life so cruel to me? Am I meant to live a life without peace, joy, or happiness? The tears that were already clouding my eyes streamed down my cheeks seamlessly.I was beginning to think I was meant for this. Maybe somehow, that's how life has designed it for me—a life of misery. The only parent I had left was gone just like that. Couldn't he have spared me the opportunity to identify who I was before embracing death? Couldn't he have held me in a warm embrace, looked straight into my eyes, and called me "daughter"? Something I have longed and prayed for. Now my efforts were in vain, with nothing left. I sobbed even more.“Celine, everything will be fine,” Evelyn consoled,
UnexpectedHe’s all have got left when everything came crumbling before my eyes, and I couldn't bear to leave him behind.His loving, tender face brought life back to me when it seemed to fade away. Henry gave me hope again and a fresh start.“This life... we are like flowers that sway in the morning but suddenly fade away when the sun shines. We are like passersby and will go away when our time is up on this earth. What will you be remembered for when your time is up?”The priest's voice pulled me out of my reverie. My heart suddenly quickened. If I leave this earth now, who would miss me or feel my absence? Perhaps only Evelyn and my beloved son, who was only a few months old. I had no one else by my side, and no one else to miss me. It was a reflective moment for me. “What will I be remembered for?” The question kept ringing in my subconscious.A new courage surged within me, and the worries were over. It was as if I had awakened, and another aspect of my being emerged—an aspect of
Jack's POVWhat would you do if you discovered that the one you considered prey would soon become a lion and tear you apart? That the one prey would soon be a thorn in your flesh?I felt betrayed, and my heart pounded in my chest when I received the information about Celine. She was not just a staff member at the company but also a figure who posed as his lost daughter. All these years with the boss, he never talked having a child, not to mention a daughter. How was that even possible when he despised associating with women?The boss was such a free spirit years back when he hadn’t amassed so much wealth, and back then, I was so close to him. He trusted me more than anyone and would disclose some hidden secrets to me. I remember those days when I was his PA; I tried to uncover the reasons why he chose to remain without a wife or even a mistress. He narrated his encounter with a certain lady whom he slept with one fateful day after being drugged at a party. He woke up only to find that
Depth The dirty, filthy scent of the air, thick with a sense of dread, suddenly irritated my being, sending shiver down my spine. I slowly opened my eyes, but what greeted me was darkness, impenetrable darkness. It felt as though I was in a dungeon, the walls themselves closing in.The air was thick and musty, carrying the rotten scent of death, making my stomach lurch. The urge to vomit surged, and I clutched my hand to my stomach, while my other hand covered my nostrils. I was suffocating. I doubted I could survive one more minute in such a disgusting atmosphere; the stench was overwhelming.The walls were made of rough-hewn stone, cold to touch and covered in patches of moss and creeping vines. Flickering torches mounted on the walls cast eerie shadows that danced along the corridors, revealing glimpses of rusted iron gates and heavy wooden doors reinforced with metal bands.The last thing I remembered was the guards dragging me to the car, Evelyn shouting and pulling at me, but t
UncertainI slowly opened my eyes as a bit of reality struck. My vision was blurry, and the pain in my body alerted me, but by now, I was warm. The cold chills were gone, my wet dress was slightly dried, and I could tell I was near a heater. I couldn't comprehend how, in such a short time, everything had changed. My body was almost steady, apart from the pain I still felt, which caused me to groan.I lifted my gaze slightly, only to meet an unfamiliar figure. My heart quickened, and I slowly sat upright, my fear evident in my expression. He was seated next to me, and my eyes narrowed as I suddenly realized I was in a moving car. Stunned by how and where I had been taken, I fixed my gaze on the figure, whom I presumed to be the boss, fear written all over my face.“You're awake. How are you feeling right now?” he asked quickly, interrupting my thoughts and making me feel more uneasy. He didn’t seem harmful—his expression revealed only concern and worry—but his voice was familiar, or wa
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