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
Harry’s povThat child she was carrying and chuckling at was definitely Jack's blood, and this realization struck me hard, causing my heart to race. I was on the verge of a life-changing deal, yet the joy vanished the moment I caught sight of her.Why was she always in view? Whenever my heart was in ecstasy, she was truly a joy-stealer, and my hatred for her grew the day I learned from the hospital report that her child was too young to be mine, based on when I divorced her. To think she had the nerve to open her legs for that bastard Jack was something I had tried to forget all this time. Now, seeing her again only revived those hard feelings, and my heart boiled.It was a good thing that the child was now in the world, and I strongly believed that if I took this child away from the face of the earth, Jack would be half-dead and utterly broken. I knew he thought he would get away scot-free for making an attempt on my life. No, that wasn't going to happen. I made sure Lily and Derrick
HenryCeline’s povJust when we were about to leave the park, I noticed a group of guys entering. They looked cool but rude in their demeanor, and I doubted if they were also there to catch a glimpse of nature's beauty.“So, psychos also visit the park,” I thought to myself. Such a question was out of place because it was none of my business. When did I start prying into matters that didn’t concern me? I mean, it was an open and free place for anyone to visit, except for the entrance fee, which was high and made it the best park in the city.I hastily packed our things, put Henry back in his carrier, and shoved everything into the bag. I stopped for a deep breath, casting a sideways glare at the couple who had narrowed their eyes at us. We had already spent enough time here, and my meeting with Lincoln was just thirty minutes away. He was the kind of person who valued punctuality and frowned upon lateness. I wasn’t in the mood for his tantrums. The sooner we left, the better.I had re
PleaseMy back hit the bare floor hard, my hands clutching my heart, and my eyes widened in shock. “The white pieces, the two guys before me, and the footsteps approaching from behind, Henry sitting in his carrier—what just happened?”“Noooo!” I screamed.My eyes filled with uncontrollable tears as they rolled down voluntarily. The crowd around me became more intense by now, some with concern written on their faces. Many felt sorry but were confused by the whole scene I displayed. Some murmured among themselves, whispers everywhere but nothing made sense to me.“Where is my son? Where is Henry?” I asked, my eyes scanning everywhere. I threw myself on the floor. By now, I could feel the numbness in my limbs gradually dissipating, but that didn't matter unless I set my eyes on Henry. He was just a year old and too tender to be in danger.“No replies? No, no, this can't be happening,” I sobbed even more. What would I do without my son, my bundle of joy? Where have they taken him? Was he
Why?"Henry, wait for Mummy! Where are you going?" I ran to grasp his hand, but it slowly faded, leaving me in misery as I opened my eyes. My gaze darted around the room, goosebumps visible on my skin as fear gripped my entire being."Where is Henry?" I asked Evelyn, who held me tightly as I regained consciousness. Her expression revealed one thing—Henry wasn't here. I slowly pulled myself up. "Ahh!" The pain in my head, back, and entire body was overwhelming."Where's Henry?" I asked once more, pulling away from her grip, which was almost impossible to break. My body was still weak, but I felt a bit better than before. I knew I was in a hospital—the familiar smell and the white straps everywhere gave it away. How I got there wasn't something I could wrap my head around, nor did it matter. The only thing that made sense, even in my subconscious, was Henry. And I doubted if he was safe. I felt something was wrong. Henry was in danger."Let me go! Let me be!" I screamed at Evelyn as she
Curious His steps were loud and purposeful, and each one made towards us only echoed in my ears, buzzing deep in my eardrums. It felt like I could hear invisible sounds, even from a silent space, and they were so loud that my eardrums were beginning to bleed. I was really going insane, I knew I was, and if I couldn't see Henry soon, I doubted I would survive."How's she now?" he inquired, turning to meet Evelyn's teary gaze."I'm afraid she's getting worse with each passing minute, and something needs to be done fast," she expressed, turning to meet my weird gaze.Why would she say I was getting worse?"My utmost desire is to be with my son. That's all I'm interested in, and it's the only thing that needs to be done now!" I screamed at the top of my voice, avoiding their strange stares."Oh my child, come to mummy," I called out one more time, straying my eyes around, obviously looking for something. His tender voice was now audible, coming from a distance, and I knew he was somewher
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