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
Hope Alive Was I meant to remain in shambles, heartbroken? Or was it always meant to turn to sorrow when it seemed like light was surging? My heart and entire body were no longer mine. Why was there a "but" in his last sentence? It's been three long days, but it felt like a thousand. I had wept until there were no more tears left. I had roamed the streets of the city countless times like a deranged person until my strength failed me. All futile, no hope. The worst part was that the cops were on the case, but still, it had been three days without my son. The inspector only pulled my leg to calm me down, assuring me my son was in their custody, but those were mere words. Only Aaron read between the lines as he glared intensely at me. I kept blaming myself subconsciously for even giving that strange guy a listening ear. I should have just ignored him and moved on. Maybe then all of this wouldn’t be happening, and Henry wouldn’t be missing. My body was a mess, and my limbs felt
Harry’s pov"And what in heaven's name are you driving at?" Glaring at him only furrowed my brows and intensified my anger. How could he fumble on an assignment as simple as this? Just keep watch over the child in your custody, simple. Does he ever consider the consequences of his actions before choosing to be careless with such simple tasks?"You are just inconsistent," I cursed, trying so hard to keep my temper in check. It was never in my nature to hurt any of my men, but now the urge surged within me. I restrained myself, clenching my fingers into a fist. How frustrating it was to expect a successful deal only to meet failure."B-boss, I'm sorry," he stammered, his head still lowered in fear. It was written all over his trembling body; his legs barely supported him, and his sight disgusted me.The thought that the child was not eliminated was infuriating, and I felt a pang in my heart. I had never been this tense when it came to my dealings, be it society or business, but this wa
Shocking RevelationCeline’s povMy heart suddenly quickened, a surge of delight sprang up, and a wide grin spread across my face. I had never been in such a mood for the past three days since Henry was apprehended, and to think the heavens somehow granted my wish swept me off my feet.“My son, my joy,” I gently pulled him from her grip as I kissed his tender face passionately over and over again. It felt like a million times, but it was never enough. I had missed him so much that tears welled up in my eyes as I planted those kisses.He didn't look any different from his usual self, and you would doubt he had even been held captive for the past three days. I narrowed my eyes at the familiar lady. I couldn’t forget her face in a hurry, despite my insane mood and deranged heart. She must have taken good care of him; that much I was certain as I observed him. But the question remained: how did he get into her custody? Was she working with my son's captors? A frown suddenly creased my fa
Harry’s pov"What's the occasion for?" I inquired upon sighting the well-structured décor on the walls of the living room and everything neatly in place, starting from the entrance all the way to the large dining area, which was meters away from the living room.I mean, I wasn't expecting something as massive as this; I just thought it was a regular dinner with Lily and Derick. But from what I could see, there was more to it than I ever anticipated.I tilted my head to the right where a huge decoration was glaring at me. The inscription on it earned a grin from me as I admired the craft and dedication of a purposeful career. My heart quickened at the sight of a portrait of myself standing right in front of me."Ahh!" I whispered, my eyes widening at the image. I never knew I was this gorgeous, let alone remember the last time I even glanced at the mirror. All I ever knew was work and caring for my beloved family, never sparing any time for myself. I cursed inwardly, but my feelings we
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