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
Where’s Henry“No sir, you might be mistaking me for someone else,” I lied, trying hard to mask my fear. How was I getting into more complicated situations every day? From Dad's death to the funeral, then the dungeon, and now I was with someone I had offended in the past, just when I thought I had a chance of escaping once again.“Why don't I believe you?” he spat, gazing directly at me, probably in deep thought. “And why does your expression contradict your words?” His tone dripping with uncertainty. At that point, my heart raced. Even in my feeble state, I wished he would just drop me off, but how could I be sure I was safe in an unfamiliar place like this? The only way out was to maintain my stance of not knowing who he was.“No, I’m right,” he said with a grin on his face. “You mentioned having a son earlier, which explains it all. The last time we met, you had a bulge, and now it’s clear. You're the one.” He narrowed his eyes at my flattened stomach. I was doomed. What could I do
Aaron Lincoln“Henry, where are you?” The words left my mouth, my heart already bleeding. But then, the earlier voice surged from concern, I realized I was just emotionally carried away, and I felt sorry.“Oh, Celine, ahh,” it was Evelyn who was in the house. But why didn't I recognize her voice when I was outside? My thoughts were numb, and my reasoning was cool, like an iceberg.“Are you alright? Where did they take you? I hope they didn’t harm you. How did you get back?” Her numerous questions of concern only befuddled my mind and made it more delicate. She had already grasped my wrist and, with her other arm, touched me everywhere, ensuring I was healthy. My expressions quivered with intense emotion.I turned my gaze to my bed only to see Henry sleeping peacefully with his thumb in his mouth. “Jess,” I gasped, clutching my palms to my chest as a surge of relief enveloped my being. I couldn't wave off the excitement in my heart at the sight of my precious jewel once again. I hurled
Harry’s povWhy would he keep me waiting? Who the heck does he think he is? Picking up the glass from its stand and glancing at my wristwatch, I noticed it was already past the actual time. This I had done a million times in less than an hour.I gulped the wine from the glass and dropped it almost forcefully, leaving a visible crack on it. I cursed myself subconsciously when I realized what I had done. "It wasn't my damn fault," I muttered, trying to clear my head. I felt really frustrated.I was supposed to have received his call by now so I could send the driver to pick him up. All the reservations were in place, but he was about an hour late, and still no call. The urge to call him surged, but I restrained myself. Leonard Anderson was a cruel, ruthless billionaire who frowned upon being called, especially in situations like this.I wouldn’t sabotage this long-standing effort for anything. It had taken me a lot to convince him that my company was the right fit for the job, so why wo
Celine’s PovPlaying with little Henry at the park was a way I employed to escape the tense feeling and the atmosphere of futile efforts.After realizing that Aaron Lincoln was my dad's lawyer and the one in charge of the case, I put in all the effort I could to assist him, doing the little we could to sabotage and overturn the verdict. But the more we dug into the case, the more complex it became. Williams had been involved in so much fraud, and fighting the case only uncovered other hidden aspects of his dealings.There were things I never knew about him until now—certain dealings that were so messy, I couldn’t have imagined them. At first, I saw him as a ruthless, stern billionaire who merely possessed a domineering character that intimidated everyone around him. They all seemed to become subjects before him. Little did I know there was more behind it. To think that I once vowed to recover all his wealth is something I slightly regret. But still, I have to fight and forge ahead. He
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