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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN
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The outside was cold, there were pedestrians that were hurrying towards their destinations and rubbing their hands together at the same time, trying to produce heat through friction, and preventing their hands from freezing.
Winter is near.
The cold wind occasionally swept past through the people, making them shiver, their feet doubled their effort to walk, carefully to not stumble on the ground and hit their faces on the paved street, then instead of going home, they will be sending themselves to the hospital next to the busy street.
Inside the hospital, Sharon was pacing back and forth in front of a closed door. It was numbered 203; it was a private hospital room. The secretary was a little bit pale, and a whole day had yet to pass, but her face was painted with a terrible exhaustion.
As she was anxiously walking in circles and d
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN==The went out of the hospital the very same day he went in; he can’t lay on the comfortable mattress of the hospital bed while Althea and Kai are in an unknown situation. So, despite the strong refusal of his parents, the secretary, and his doctor, he stubbornly said that he has to go. He must go and find them himself. They were all left helpless and were left to watch him stand, change clothes, and exited the hospital.Victoria and Joseph exchanged glances before trotting behind their son who went out of the hospital fast as how fast he went in.As what his parents said, they immediately mobilized their troops to search the area where the two went missing. Unfortunately, the surveillance cameras nearby were broken- deliberately. The damages of the cameras showed that they were forcefully yanked, and who did that? They also don’t know; the security f
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN==A suffocating silence engulfed Althea the moment she fluttered her eyes open. There was no noise. It wasn't an exaggeration to say you can almost hear your blood rushing in your veins.Her mind is still hazy and muddled- like it was submerged in water for a long time, turning sluggish.She moved- no, to be precise- she tried to move.It was stopped with the rough, and tight binding on her body; the waist, her hands, and both feet. Startled, the woman looked down and casted her blue eyes to it-It was a rope.Seeing the rope that was tied on her- rendering her immobile- countless memories came rushing in her mind.She gasps, realizing that she was kidnapped. Althea hastily swept her eyes on the room and took everything in as much as she could- from big details down to the sm
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN==The iron door closed slowly behind him. It clanged against the metal door frame, and the noise revabrated in the silent hallway. The said hallway was, like the room, dimly lit. It was illuminated by fluorescent lights that were slightly yellowish due to its age. The flies and moths here were worse than the room, circling on the sources of lights, casting their shadows on them.In the hallway, next to the door were two big men. They were standing upright with a stern expression. Both of their bulky hands were on their back, and their gazes were right at front. When they noticed that Dino finally exited the room- where a muffled screaming can be heard- they simply greeted him."Sir."Dino on the other hand nodded at them but said nothing. He walked away from the door and when he was a good distance away from that certain room, he picked the phone up.
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN=="What are you doing here?" Tyler asked with a frown.Sheryl, who was standing by the door, also frowned and her eyes dropped on the ground and said pitifully. "Why are you asking me that? Am I not even welcome here?"Tyler's furrowed brows deepened and he looked at the other with annoyance. "Even? Who gave you the illusion that you are welcome to any of my property?"He heard her gasp, Sheryl looked at him, her eyes filled with pain that was glistening with tears. She said disbelievingly. "How can I not be? I am your fiance!""..." Tyler sighed and pressed his finger against his throbbing head.He thought that his day would not get any worse, but to think that she'll show up on his doorstep at the peak of his despair!"Look, Sheryl. We're not talking about this, AGAIN. I'm tired toda
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN==He saw the world crumbling down at that moment. Tyler had no idea how much time had passed before he could speak again and asked his mother if he was joking, because if she was, he was not happy. Jokes are supposedly funny, but Victoria's words were like lightning striking him under a tree where he was taking refuge during a raging storm.All hopes and his denial to accept dissipated into thin air when she repeated her words again. But this time, clearer, Victoria's voice was cold and solid, she was resolute and it sounds like there was no room for negotiation.Tyler refused to believe her still, until later that day.True to her words, her force backed out, and Tyler had no authority to force them to stay. He tried but his words were casted aside, leaving him rooting on the ground.Tyler was speechless and mad. He cann
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN==Althea hid Kai on her back quickly admits of her dizziness. Her grip was too hard that her son let out a small cry. Althea was guilty after inflicting pain on Kai despite it being unintentional, but she can't think of it as of the moment, her mother instincts were screaming at her to protect the kid.She glared at Dino who was looking disgusted at the puddle of mess she made on the floor.Although they were kept here underground without sunlight, somehow, they remembered to give them foods and took them to the toilet to excrete wastes. Althea always wondered why they were still keeping them alive, what was their purpose, and what do they want from them.But none of it matters for now. At least for now. Althea was waiting for an opportunity to escape for these past few days, but it seems like she was stuck on a dead end, seeing nothing but a
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY==As Dino was taking the call outside, Charles was staring eye to eye with the pale Althea. He spoke, lowly, making sure that no one other than him and her hear his words."Two days from now, do everything you can to escape with your son. We can only offer you slight distraction, and you have to carry yourself there and out. We can give you nothing more, good luck."Althea asked, her voice crack. "... Why are you helping us?"The man raised an eyebrow. "Helping you... Ah, yes. That what must it looks like to you, but..." Charles smiled strangely. Althea felt shivers on her back. "By this time, surely you know who I am and my involvement with a mafia organization, so let me just tell you one thing; we aren't helping you, my boss is not that kind enough to do so, the boss is doing everything for their amusement, nothing more."His
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE==Victoria did not mention anything to her, she just called and said to take care of her son. Sharon thought that she can't do it herself since she'll be busy finding traces, but it looks like it’s not the case.What it was, or why it is, Sharon can't afford to think about it now.She needs to stop Tyler from going out and cause accidents. He's too drunk."Sir, comeback here. It's already nighttime, you have to sleep, and eat. You must rest sir." Sharon said nonstop. Tyler did not respond, so she can only continue. "Sir Tyler, I understand your frustration. I know it's hard, we don't know where they are, their situation- I know how you feel-""YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL!"It was like a roaring thunder, booming right after the lightning strikes, not letting anyone to get ready of its piercing cry. Sharon was greatl
---I did what I was ordered to, and when I finally got to the bottom of it…What the fuck?“I knew things would be interesting if I keep him by my side.” Startled, I looked at my sister who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She was looking at the photo with interest in her eyes. She looked at me. “Erase every record the police had or anything within Victoria’s reach, we can’t have her figuring out everything before I can have my fun of them destroying each other.”“Hmmm,” I glanced at her. “Isn’t she your friend?”“Friend?” She smiled, appearing innocent. “I don’t have anything like that. Father banned that word to us, brother.”“... If that’s what you say.”“Good!” She turned and stretched her body. “Ahh, I can’t wait to see Sheryl get destroyed by the man she loves. Or maybe, it would be mutual destruct
—“Is that your fiance?” I asked as soon as I sneaked at her back, wanting to scare her.“Stop doing that!” She yelled at me. I laughed at her, telling her sorry. She clicked her tongue before nodding. “He is. Handsome, right?”“Hmm?” I pretended to think about it. “Not really.”She scoffed. “Really.”She turned her back on me and continued her work, facing the paper works that were piled on her table. She was 15.I stood behind her, looking at the man on her table.From the day I knew that all along, she was the leader, I decided to stay and look after her. When I told her about my decision, the pause she had was short but eye-catching. Before I could register the pause and understand the meaning behind it, she answered my words with a smile.‘I will be glad to have you under me.’ Her smile was pretty chilling, more bone-numbing than our father’s s
—I am older than her by 5 years, and I remember her looking at me from behind. Normally, one should feel happy to know that someone was looking at their back, admiring them, but that’s not the case with me.Every time I look back, turn to look at her over my shoulder, every time I caught her eyes, I can’t help but shudder:She feels the same as our father.We were only half-siblings. We have the same father, but that’s not the case with mothers.My mother died when I was four, then our father brought another woman into the house after that. That woman was Charlotte’s mother. She was warm and kind. I remember her talking to me a few times.‘Charles, even though you don’t have my blood, please think of me as your mother too.’ She said one time when I tried avoiding her in fear that she wanted me dead. That was what most people who wanted to seize my father’s power would do if they were in her position
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (10)“He is so cute…!”Days had passed since the birth of her son. Althea was peeking at him with a glass wall between them. She still has IVs in her hand, and she hasn’t recovered most of her energy yet, but she seems like she was overflowing with one.She had her palms against the glass, Althea feels like looking from where she was is not enough, she wanted to slip through the wall and hold him. But it was still not safe, so she held the urge in.A bracelet on her son, the letters were a little bit incomprehensible, but she can read them. It was the name of her son:Alexander Kai GrahamAlthea felt giddy, she can’t wait to hold him in her arms soon.“He’s your son?”“Yes,” Althea responded without thought. When she realized what she had
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (09)—Blood was trickling down.Plop, plop, plop.Bead-shaped blood fell from her private area continuously. It seems like someone pressed the pause button of the world; Althea felt everyone in the supermarket stopped moving.‘No.’ She thought to herself as she watched the blood slowly forming into a puddle beneath her feet. She can feel the hot liquid trailing down her legs. ‘This can’t be!’This day is supposedly like the normal days she had. Strolling around and buying things she thinks she wants. But in the middle of it, she just suddenly felt it come down.She’s only six months pregnant.“Oh my god!” A lady came to her, holding her shoulders in worry. Her eyes were on the blood, aghast. “You are bleeding!”
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (08)—She didn't think of it anymore and immediately set an appointment for the abortion.The next day, she went to the center and waited in line.Althea was all covered up, afraid that someone might recognize her in this hospital. She was pale, she had to deal with the morning sickness alone, and she had no idea what to do the whole time because, in her previous pregnancy, her mother was there.Now she was alone, dealing with everything she doesn’t want to.Althea wants to sob and to get everything over with. She can’t believe she committed a grievous sin to her friend. If only she didn’t get tempted with the money, things would not escalate like this.‘It’s all his fault,’ she galed at the entrance of the hospital where few people were going in and out. ‘He fooled me!’
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (07)—“A brothel?” Althea asked as soon as she entered the place. Her eyes wandered around and she felt overwhelmed by the red hue of the place. The lights, the atmosphere, the people. Everything here was new to her. She doesn’t know what to feel.“First time here?” The lady in heels asked. She gestured to someone far away by her hand and the other nodded before leaving their sight. “Don’t be nervous, you will only be entertaining guests… Why you don’t want to? It’s money, you know.”Selling myself. If it was her in the past, she would strongly disagree and storms off from here. But now, she has nothing but emptiness, she abandoned her pride and morals. She doesn’t have any desire to live anyway. This much won’t hurt her.“Anything’s fine,” Althea said, her
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (06)“What happened to you?” Altheaopened her eyes and saw a fuzzy scene. There were heads in front of her peeking at her from above. Althea could not recognize the features of the faces, but she knew they were medical workers because of their uniforms. It was the uniforms that the nurses and the doctors wear that she sees every time she goes to the hospital for check-ups and visits to her father.“You have been stabilized…” She heard muffled voices as if she was submerged in an ocean, waters entering her ear canals. She tried to move, but her body was too heavy like lead. She gave up and remained still, still unable to do anything, not even talk.“The man who found you and sent you here already paid for the medical bills…”‘What are they talking about?’ Althea had no clue. ‘It seems important.
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (05)“Do you like it?” The man asked Althea who was silent with her head bowed. “Do you like it?”“...” She had no response.His eyebrows twitched. He dislikes being ignored despite ignoring people.He bends down and held her chin to look at him forcefully. “Hey, little mouse, I am asking you a question. Do you like it?”“...” She still had no response.With eyebrows raised, he stood up and stretched his arms. “Sigh! After all, we did to repaint the wall, that blood only amounted to that much. It wasn’t even able to cover one-fourth of the wall. So regrettable! Now, the little fierce rat is not fierce anymore…”He glanced down, his cold eyes looking at the woman who was sitting on the cold ground motionlessly. “She can’t even appreciate our