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
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