I woke up feeling uneasy. The sun was barely peeking through the curtains, but I knew I had a long day ahead. I glanced at my phone, hoping to see a missed call or a message from Martins, but there was nothing. I sighed and tried calling him again, but it went straight to voicemail. My heart sank.After getting Leah ready for school and dropping her off, I decided to drive to Martins' house. I needed to see him, to understand why he was avoiding me. When I arrived, his workers told me he wasn't home."Do you know where he might be?" I asked, trying to hide my frustration."I'm sorry, ma'am. We haven't seen him since yesterday," one of them replied.Feeling defeated, I drove to his office. Maybe he was swamped with work and just needed some time. But when I called his office, they told me he wasn't there either. My mind raced with worry and confusion.I needed to talk to someone, so I headed to Mandy's boutique. Mandy was always a voice of reason and comfort. As soon as I walked in, sh
As I entered Madam Katie’s office, she looked up from her desk and smiled warmly. “Carina, it’s good to see you. Come in, sit down.”I took a seat across from her, feeling a lump form in my throat. “Madam Katie, I’m really worried about Martins. He hasn’t called or shown up for days. His workers don’t know where he is, and he’s not at his office.”Madam Katie’s expression shifted to one of concern. “That does sound troubling, Carina. Have you tried speaking to his friends or family?”“I’ve tried everything I can think of,” I said, my voice trembling. “He’s always been there for me, but now he’s just disappeared. And with everything else going on, it’s too much to handle.”Madam Katie leaned forward, her eyes soft with understanding. “I understand, dear. But you must stay strong. You have a lot on your plate right now, and you can’t let this affect your work. Your business is growing, and you have Leah to think about.”I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes. “I know, but it’s hard to f
Madam Katie had been worried about Martins for days. She knew he was hiding in his penthouse, avoiding everyone, including Carina. The situation couldn’t go on any longer. She needed answers and she needed to set things straight.She drove to his penthouse, her mind racing with thoughts. When she arrived, she didn’t bother knocking. She barged in, her determination unwavering.Inside, the smell of alcohol was overwhelming. Martins sat on the couch, a bottle of whiskey in his hand. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked utterly defeated.“Martins!” Madam Katie yelled, her voice filled with anger and concern. “Why haven’t you been taking my calls? Or Carina’s calls?”Martins stared at the floor, saying nothing. His silence only fueled her frustration.“Answer me!” she demanded. “Why are you avoiding Carina?”Still, he remained silent. Madam Katie’s patience snapped. She marched over to him, her eyes blazing with fury.“When did you get this weak, Martins?” she shouted. “What happened t
When I got the call from Madam Katie, my heart raced. I grabbed my purse and was about to leave when my phone rang again. It was Martins. Relief washed over me, and I hurriedly picked up the call.“Martins!” I cried, my voice breaking. “Where have you been? Why have you been avoiding me?”Before I could say more, he interrupted, his voice strained. “I need to talk to you, Carina. I’ll text you the address.” He hung up before I could respond. I stared at the phone, feeling a mix of relief and frustration.I was about to head out when I saw Luke approaching my house. I stopped in my tracks, dreading another confrontation with him. “What do you want, Luke?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.He insisted on meeting with me, claiming he had something important to say. I shook my head, not wanting to hear his lies. “I don’t have time for this, Luke. I need to go.”But he persisted, stepping in my way. “Do you want to know why Martins has been avoiding you?” he asked, his voice low
The man I had loved and trusted had been hiding such a terrible secret, and I felt lost, betrayed, and utterly broken. The tears wouldn't stop, and I could hardly see where I was going. My legs felt heavy, and each step seemed to take all the energy I had left.Just outside, I saw Luke waiting by his car. He noticed my distress and walked over, offering to give me a ride home. I didn't have the strength to argue or refuse, so I nodded and got into his car.Luke drove in silence at first, but I could feel his eyes on me. I tried my best to hold back the tears, but they kept flowing. My chest felt tight, and my hands trembled."Carina," Luke started, his voice soft but with a hint of something else, "I'm sorry you're going through this. Martins... he's always been a problem."I didn't respond, staring out of the window, letting the tears fall freely. Luke took my silence as a cue to continue."You know, Martins has always been shady. He has a history of hurting people. I remember heari
Nelly paced back and forth in her living room, the glow of the city lights outside casting eerie shadows across her face. She glanced at Maria, who was sitting at the dining table, eyes glued to her laptop screen."Are you sure this will work?" Nelly asked, her voice edged with anticipation.Maria nodded, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "I've got it all covered. Carina's about to lose everything, and she won't even see it coming."Nelly smirked, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "Good. She needs to be brought down a peg or two."Maria pulled up the construction company’s confidential documents that she had managed to sneak out earlier. "This is the final piece," she said, attaching the files to an email. "Once I send this to her rivals, they’ll have everything they need to beat her to the punch."With a decisive click, Maria sent the email. "Done. Now we wait."Hours later, under the cover of night, the rival company released their new plan. It was eerily similar to Carina's, do
I walked into the boardroom, my stomach a knot of anxiety. The air was thick with tension. As I took my seat at the head of the table, I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me. The board of directors sat, grim-faced, waiting to unleash their fury."Carina, do you realize the magnitude of this disaster?" Mr. Thompson, the head of the board, began. His voice was harsh, his eyes burning with anger.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I understand the situation is dire, Mr. Thompson. We were blindsided by this leak of information,and I'm doing everything I can to find out who’s responsible."Ms. Jacobs, another director, leaned forward, her expression cold. "Blindsided? This was a blank failure of leadership. You were supposed to ensure the security of our plans. Instead, you let them slip right into the hands of our competitors."I felt my cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "Security measures were in place, Ms. Jacobs. Whoever did this knew how to
I arrived at Madam Katie's house feeling completely defeated. The drive there had been filled with thoughts of failure, of letting her down, and of how I was spiraling. As I walked through the front door, I could hear her voice from the living room, pleading with the investors on my behalf. I stood silently in the hallway, watching her from behind, feeling even more guilty with every word she spoke."Yes, I understand your concerns," Madam Katie said into the phone. "Please, give us a little more time. We are addressing the issue and will come back stronger.”She turned and saw me standing there, and our eyes met.Overwhelmed with guilt, I fell to my knees, tears streaming down my face. "I'm so sorry, Madam Katie. I've failed you. I’ve let everyone down."She rushed over to me, her face a mix of concern and kindness. "Get up, Carina. This isn't your fault," she said, helping me to my feet."I can't do this," I sobbed. "I want to quit. You should take over. I’m ruining everything."Mad
Dear Diary It’s been three years since everything changed. Sometimes I still marvel at how quickly life can transform from chaos to calm, from pain to peace. I’m sitting in my room now, surrounded by the comforting hum of everyday life, and I feel compelled to capture this moment, to reflect on how far we’ve come, Everyday I wonder if it's a dream but I don't think I want to ever wake up from this dream,I am finally happy, Over the years things have changed but let me take you on the ride. Martins and I are happily married,Ohh and our wedding was the talk of the town, Every day with him feels like a blessing. We have twins now, A beautiful girl and a boy, Their laughter fills our home, and watching them grow has been one of the greatest joys of my life, Leah won't stop thanking us for giving her siblings, She has settled into junior high school remarkably well. She’s blossomed into a bright, confident young woman, and I couldn’t be prouder, The stigma that her father was a murder
I felt a surge of excitement that I couldn’t contain. I wanted to share the incredible news about our engagement with the people who had supported me throughout this journey. Without hesitation, I reached for my phone and dialed Madam Katie’s number.“Hello?” Madam Katie’s warm voice greeted me.“Madam Katie! It’s Carina,” I said, barely able to keep the excitement out of my voice. “I have some wonderful news to share with you!”“Oh, Carina! What’s going on?” she asked, her tone immediately brightening.“I’m engaged!” I blurted out. “Martins proposed to me tonight here in Jeju, and I said yes!”There was a brief pause before Madam Katie’s delighted gasp came through the line. “Oh, Carina, that’s wonderful! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you both.”“Thank you! I wish you could have been here to celebrate with us,” I said, my voice filled with happiness. “We had a perfect evening. The setting was beautiful, and the proposal was just as magical as I’d hoped it would be.”“I’m sure it
Martins and I had spent a perfect week exploring the island, soaking in its natural beauty, and trying out new experiences. Today was our last day, and I couldn’t believe how quickly the time had flown by. I’d been recording every moment for a special video, capturing the highlights of our trip.After finishing up my latest video segment about our visit to a stunning waterfall, I was excited to see what Martins had planned for our final evening. He had hinted at a surprise, and the anticipation made my heart race.As we walked back to our accommodation, Martins was unusually quiet, his gaze occasionally shifting to me with a secretive smile. I couldn’t help but wonder what he had in store. When we reached our place, he helped me get ready, making sure I looked my best for whatever the evening had in store.A private car soon arrived to take us to a special restaurant Martins had booked. The ride through the picturesque streets of Jeju felt almost surreal, with the soft evening light c
Carina and Martins prepared for their much-anticipated trip to Jeju Island, the air was filled with a mix of excitement and relief. They had dropped Leah off with Mandy, who was more than happy to look after her. Carina had managed to give Leah a quick hug and a few reassuring words before they left. The bittersweet feeling of leaving Leah behind was softened by the knowledge that she was in good hands. Mandy and Leah stood at the airport, waving goodbye as Carina and Martins made their way to the boarding gate.The airport was bustling with activity, but Carina felt a sense of calm wash over her as they approached the gate. She and Martins had been looking forward to this trip for weeks. It was their chance to unwind and escape the chaos that had dominated their lives recently.As they boarded the plane, Carina felt a flutter of anticipation. She and Martins settled into their seats, and Carina glanced around the cabin, noting the comforting familiarity of their private space. The pl
yMartins had sent a message about a special trip we were taking together to Jeju Island. I couldn’t wait to escape, even if just for a little while. As I approached the front door, I could already feel the excitement bubbling up inside me.Martins greeted me with a warm hug as soon as I walked in. His eyes sparkled with genuine happiness, something I hadn’t seen in a long time. “You made it! I was starting to think you might change your mind.”“Never,” I said, smiling up at him. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”We shared a soft kiss, and it was like the world outside ceased to exist. All the trials and tribulations seemed to vanish for that moment, and it was just the two of us. Martins took my hand and led me to the living room where soft music played in the background. He had set up a cozy space for us to unwind. There was a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket, and he poured us each a glass as we settled into a slow dance.The music was soft, almost ethereal, and as we swayed
The gala party incident had become the talk of the town. Social media buzzed with clips of the shocking revelations and the dramatic arrests of Luke, Claire, and Nelly. News outlets dissected every detail, and the public eagerly awaited the legal proceedings. Carina's bravery in exposing her tormentors was widely praised, but now, the focus shifted to the consequences for those who had wronged her.Claire was the first to be investigated. She sat in the interrogation room, her face a mask of defiance. Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, she maintained her silence."Mrs. Grant, we have substantial evidence against you," the lead detective said, his tone firm but not unkind. "Your best option is to cooperate."Claire’s lawyer, a sharp-eyed man in a tailored suit, leaned forward. "Claire, listen to me. The evidence is irrefutable. If you plead guilty and cooperate, we might be able to negotiate a lighter sentence."Claire’s eyes flashed with anger and fear. She looked at her l
I woke up on the morning of the gala with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. Today was the day we would finally expose Luke, Nelly, and Claire for their crimes. But first, I had to make sure Leah was safe. Mandy and I drove to her niece’s house, where Leah would stay for the night. Mandy’s niece was a sweet, responsible young woman who adored Leah, and I felt confident she was in good hands. “Thank you so much for taking care of her,” I said to Mandy’s niece as I hugged Leah goodbye. “Of course, Carina. She’ll be safe with me,” she assured me with a warm smile. Leaving Leah behind, I drove to the event hall where the gala would be held. The place was a hive of activity, with people bustling around, setting up decorations, arranging seating, and checking sound equipment. Everything had to be perfect for tonight. I walked around, ensuring that all the preparations were on track. Satisfied with the progress, I headed back home where my fashion designer was waiting for me.
I sat in Madam Katie’s cozy living room, the weight of anticipation heavy in the air. Mandy, Martins, and Madam Katie were with me, all of us gathered to watch the video that Miguel had sent. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the screen in front of us. My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed play, and the recording started.Miguel's face appeared on the screen, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and determination. He began to speak, detailing his involvement in Luke’s dirty dealings, Nelly’s scheming, and Claire’s cold-blooded actions. As the video played, the room grew eerily silent, each of us hanging on every word.When the video ended, I looked around at the others. Mandy’s face was pale, her eyes wide with shock. Martins sat with his head in his hands, and Madam Katie had a look of grim determination.Martins was the first to break the silence. “I can’t believe it. My own sister... she killed her husband.” He looked up, his eyes meeting mine. “She acted so de
Carlos felt a strange mix of satisfaction as he walked into the headquarters of the Mexico police. After days of meticulous planning and gathering evidence, he was finally ready to bring Miguel down. The evidence he had collected was damning, enough to put Miguel away for life and bring justice for all his victims. Carlos handed over a thick file to the lead investigator, a stern-faced woman named Inspector Rodriguez."We've been looking for Miguel for a long time," Inspector Rodriguez said, flipping through the documents. "This is exactly what we needed."Carlos nodded. "I'm ready to play my part. I have been undercover as Miguel's right-hand man for some time now. I can lead him right into your trap."Inspector Rodriguez looked at Carlos with a mix of admiration and concern. "You know the risks, Carlos. If Miguel suspects anything, you're a dead man."Carlos's jaw tightened. "I know. But this is the only way to bring him down."The next day, Carlos slipped back into his undercover