New determinationCeline's POVI couldn't believe I was standing right there with Alloy and the group of cops that had surrounded the entire building.Was Jack really capable of doing everything he had confessed to? I still couldn’t believe it, even as I stood there, clenching my fists. I felt like punching that smug face of his right now. The dread hovering in my heart intensified with every new revelation that struck me deep down. A shiver ran down my spine. I felt like I was losing control every time I remembered the bang and the cold words from Jack. I imagined she had been shot, but deep down, I prayed she was still alive.Turning to Alloy, I asked, “What’s keeping them from coming out?” They were taking too long already; every second felt like an eternity.“It’s in process. They can’t possibly escape— the place is surrounded. Just calm down,” he said.“What if someone else is hurt?” I thought to myself. I couldn’t shake off the urgency. I needed to be certain Becky was okay. I c
Recurring pain"She's my daughter, let go of me!" she barked, throwing herself on the floor. I couldn't resist watching, fighting back the urge to console and comfort her. Deep down, I felt how broken she was. I remembered how I felt the day Henry was kidnapped years ago; it was as though the world was coming to an end. Not to mention kissing someone you knew would never come back again."Ma'am, it's alright, everything is going to be fine," I tried to console her, but she was inconsolable. She pulled away even more, not caring about the people watching or the media capturing everything to spice up the news."Ma'am, I think it's time we left. Remember, we need to go to the station first," Alloy called. For a moment, I hesitated, reluctant to leave the woman all by herself. But there was nothing I could do to help her, except ensure that the perpetrators fully face the consequences of their actions.Soon, we were out of the scene and back at the station, one of the largest in the city.
Recurring pain“What’s he doing here?” I snapped in fury. I couldn’t believe he was so jobless that he always tried to stalk me.“I invited him over,” Aaron asserted.“Why would you do that without my permission?”“Celine, watch it. That's my husband you’re talking to in such a manner. We want the best for you, even though you won’t give him another chance. It’s best you hear him out, forgive him, and move on with your life with someone else.” She paused, staring intensely. “It’s best you forgive him for the sake of your son and your sanity,” she added decisively.“I don’t want to hear anything he has to say! He should just get the heck out of my life forever! Is that too much to ask?” I asserted, by then Harry was already in our midst.“Celine, please hear me out, I..”“I don’t need your silly explanations! Just get the heck out of here this minute,” I cut in angrily. “Oh, don’t worry, I think I should leave instead. You disgust me,” I spouted, leaving immediately without a second th
Beyond forgivenessHarry's POVMy brows raised in annoyance the moment the little child asked those questions. However, I had come this far not to jeopardise what I so desired. My gaze was fixed on her as I approached the living room from the entrance.“Go upstairs, cutie,” she instructed her son, and his frown deepened, his eyes rolling from my head to my toes, before turning and heading upstairs. She watched until he was completely out of sight.“I thought I made it clear that I don't want to see you anywhere near me. Are you a plague to my thoughts?” she spat, and my heart shattered. She picked up the phone she had tossed on the couch, and my heart skipped several beats at once. I knew she was more powerful the moment I saw the news headlines regarding Jack’s atrocities. For a lady of her status to even get at Jack for a fleeting second is something I must admire. It had been a force that pulled me even more toward her. Jack would definitely be out, that much I knew, and he would c
NeverCeline’s POV“Haven't you done enough? Just go, I have forgiven you,” I said, hoping he would finally leave. I wouldn’t forgive myself if he pushed me to do what I feared. He definitely wouldn’t like the outcome. As much as I tried to stay calm, I needed him out of my space. His presence irritated me deeply.“Not enough to let me leave this house. You can do whatever you want with me, but I'm not leaving until I see the forgiveness I’ve earned reflected in your eyes,” he pressed, his tone dripping with intense emotion. I groaned inwardly at its effect. He was pushing me hard, trying to break down the walls I had built around my heart for the past six years.“Mum, let me call security,” Henry blurted out, but I stopped him. As much as I hated the way things had turned out, I didn’t want him to be as harsh as his father, the reason I was determined to guide and raise him properly. However, I felt powerless in this situation. He was really hurt by the man kneeling before us, which
The unexpected"Hello, ma'am," he greeted, his tone a mix of worry and uncertainty. My heart quickened."What's the issue? You never call at this time," I asked, confusion clouding my expression."There’s a serious issue, and I need you to come over first thing in the morning. Something needs to be done, or I doubt the outcome," he exclaimed."What exactly is the issue?""Ma'am, you need to come see for yourself." The call ended. I stared at the phone in disbelief, trying to process what I had just heard. I couldn’t comprehend or piece the words together in my head. The more I tried, the more frustrated I became."Mum, is everything alright?" Henry asked, his expression a bit worried."Not really, cutie. I’d like you to go to bed now," I said, and he lowered his head onto the pillow while I waited for him to drift off to sleep. It was normal for me to do this; his nanny had little work to do when I was home.My heart raced all through the night, wondering what the issue could be to wa
TemptedThis game I must surely get to the root of. I might not know how to play it alongside him, but what was more certain was that I must show him twice how powerful a woman can be.“I think I should heed your advice, but do you have any clue who that superior person is; the one who messed with the case and granted him bail? Do you know who he is?” I asked, needing clarity and direction on what I was about to embark on. If I must start this game, then I must first know all those who were involved in it—dismantling them from within, then fighting them publicly. The battle was getting fiercer than I had thought, but one thing was certain: “I must get to its root,” I muttered in my heart.“Not really,” he said, rolling his eyes around as if trying to recollect something. “I tried to figure out who he was, but I couldn’t. He was such an expert at what he did. Seriously now, I’m beginning to fear for my life because whoever is involved in this knows I was working with you, and they must
Forbidden movesHarry's POVTrying to win her heart every day had been a taunting desire, I must admit. I barely had a moment without thoughts of her creeping in daily. I bet it's due to this life of loneliness I now live. Karma chose to repay me in a way I least expected. The haunting events of these past months have really dealt with me. If only she knew the depth of my heart, she would have just broken free from the restraints within her heart and granted me the forgiveness I longed for.“By now, she should be reading the leaflet,” I whispered to myself, taking a sip of the steaming coffee placed before me. A sudden grin creased my forehead as I imagined her reaction, picturing every move she might make in my mind. Her stony heart should be melted by now. Beneath that harsh exterior lay the tender part of her that I so desired to see again—the tender, loving Celine who once did all she could to love me, despite my cruel and dishonest life with her. A frown creased my forehead as no
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