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
Leonard AndersonJack’s POV“Schedule the flight to Italy for tomorrow morning,” I instructed Sam, adjusting the knot of my tie.Sam nodded and immediately started the booking process, burying his gaze in the iPad in his hands. I turned my gaze to the entrance and took note of the guards on duty.Leonard Anderson had scheduled the meeting for tomorrow morning in Italy. My heart grew intense; the deal was finally sealed, and I couldn’t wait to start exploring the details and lay down a guide for it.I alighted from the car and sauntered into the mansion. It had been a long day at work, and my body was completely drained as a result. Hurling my briefcase onto the sofa, I collapsed on the couch, reaching for the knot of my tie and pulling it off—it was strangling the life out of me and I doubted if I could survive a second still leaving it on my neck. I became pissed off when my heart recalled the earlier event of today.To think that the secretary was too inconsistent to finish a single
Jack’s povA wide grin spread across my face as the content popped up. A sudden rush of satisfaction crept into my entire being; I hadn’t felt this way in a long time. My heart swelled at the unexpected turn of events, and it was almost certain that everything was working as planned. My endless efforts were gradually bringing something gigantic, though it had taken longer than expected.My hopes and patience in Lily were growing thin, and I could hardly bear to realize that she was the reason behind our fruitless efforts all these years. My heart boiled, my brows furrowed, and I remembered sending her a threatening text two days ago. She seemed to have quickly forgotten the reason she married Harry in the first place. It was never meant to be for love, and she was forbidden from developing feelings for him. It was just business, and that was how it should stay—producing results. She shouldn’t forget that she has my child in that house, and the sooner she comes up with a plan, the bett
Meeting EmmaCeline’s povThe sliding glass doors of the terminal buzzed open, releasing a gust of cool, processed air that carried the distinct scent of coal and coffee. As I stepped inside, my grip on my suitcase loosened, and my heart quickened. I couldn’t believe I was leaving the country so soon. There was nothing left for me here. Evelyn had come along to bid me farewell as I journeyed to Italy, away from the chaos and struggles, to start a new life and career.It had been a difficult decision at first. I couldn’t fully comprehend everything Sharon was saying, but the urgency couldn't be denied. I couldn’t stand the thought of endangering my life and that of my child, so I persuaded myself to leave. It had always been my intention, but little did I know it would be sooner than expected.I glanced around, slightly fazed by the bustle of passengers, the hovering sounds of conversations, and the crackling announcements from overhead speakers. It was hard to believe that in just a f
ImpossibleWhat was she doing coming towards us? Something about her sent shivers down my spine, and the urgency to get out of her presence piqued. I had harbored resentment towards her ever since high school, and it only resurfaced today when I realized who she was. I became apprehensive."Why's she coming towards us?" I pouted, a frown displayed on my face as I waited for her to approach."Evelyn, right?" she threw the question at Evelyn, who was also surprised. It had been a long time, though, and I could affirm there weren't many changes in her appearance. Long curly blonde hair with highlights, a pointed nose, flushed cheeks, and an elegant structure. She was as beautiful as always. I couldn't match up to her, which kept me deep in thought as to why Davis had chosen me over her. The mention of Davis and the sight of Emma only brought back feelings of nostalgia and made my body tense up."Of course, yes, I’m Evelyn. What brought you back? It's been about six, seven years?" Evelyn
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