THALIAI almost verge into tears seeing Leander instead of my Dad. They have the same voice when they yell out my name.“L-Leander… help me.” I pursed my lips together to gain his pity. When he massages his temple at what he has seen.He's wearing sweatpants but a naked top, revealing his chiseled chest. His disheveled hair indicates he just woke up.His room is on the other side. But seeing his neck red, I sensed something. Don't tell me he slept in the garden again, devouring his favorite brand of whiskey.He gestured to Brian to put me down, which I'm glad about and apologized to Brian for ruining his hairstyle.“Where do you think you're going? It's damn early and you're causing trouble.” Leander gritted his teeth.“I need to go back to my place.” I simply said.If I say I'm going to Damon, he will scold me as if he's my sole parent.He scoffed and inserted his hands inside his pocket. “The truth.”“I left the iPad plugged in.”“Thalia.” He warned. I firmly shut my eyes in irrit
THALIACassie nodded and with a smile, she walked down the stairs gracefully. I couldn't help but compare her personality to me. She's more feminine than me.Well, I'm unique in my own way. I noticed she always comes here alone, so I wonder where her children are with Damon.“Hi… Thalia.” She even knows my name. “Uhmm, what are you doing here?”My brow raised, confused if she owned the house or Damon. Why is she acting as if she's still Mrs. Kane in this mansion?“This is Damon's house, so… I'm here for him.”I silently rolled my eyes as I walked to the couch and placed my handbag on the center table. I'm a bit annoyed at her tone and even ask why I am here.Seriously? Does she own this house for her to ask my presence here? Do I need her permission every time I need to visit Damon?“It's early.”“It's past lunchtime. That's not early.”“Still–”“What do you want? Why are you here? You keep coming here without Damon's permission and yet you're asking me why I'm here. Duh! I'm Damon's
THALIAMy phone ringtone echoed inside the dining hall, which added to my annoyance at how loud it was. With a frown, I grabbed the phone inside my handbag and was about to turn off my phone but Mom's name plastered on the screen.I answered the phone unwillingly.“Are you coming home for dinner?” She started.“No, mom.”I sigh deeply as I sit on the dining chair while gazing around. I'm all alone in this huge dining hall.“Why?”I want to talk to Damon… but I'm not sure if he wants to talk to me. He wants me to let it slide. But I don't want to. I want to know more about him. I want to know everything about him.But he's like a wall. It's difficult to ger get through.“Has Dad returned?” I instead asked.I want to talk with Dad, too. About my internship. I won't insist on coming to Kane's Group, though. I'm afraid there's any consequences for his decision.“Not yet. Call him if you need anything from him.”“Okay.”My fingers fidgeted in my handbag chain as I didn't have any courage t
DAMON With a sigh, I started the engine of the car as we exited the mansion. The whole ride was in silence. Her brows almost collided with each other while facing the front. To be honest, I had already expected to see her in my house. But I didn't expect to be this early, after my phone call with Thalia.It was her first time visiting the columbarium room of our late unborn children, which was located downstairs at the end of the hallway. She wants to visit the twins in my presence since she became emotional.Thali didn't know about this. I'm afraid to open this topic to her since she might be shocked hearing all of this. But her presence earlier in my house was giving me anxiety.She even saw Cassie.“Please call me before visiting the house again,” I warned in a cold tone.“Why? Am I already banned from visiting the house?”I sigh deeply in annoyance. “It's not like that… I have a girlfriend and she might have misunderstood our situation.”“Damon… it's the twins' death anniversary
THALIA I paced back and forth in the living room, anxious while biting my nails as I was waiting for Damon to come home. I didn't know how to approach him after I got mad at him without learning what was going on in his life.Am I too self-centered? I always worry about what I feel. I always think about his feelings for me. I even doubted him many times.But… the day today made me feel saddened.It's been years since they broke up and the unborn child left the world without even seeing the world we were in.It's indeed unfortunate for the babies. This day might be too painful for Damon. It brings up memories. Bad memories.I groaned as I walked to the couch, grabbed my phone, and was about to call Damon. But I stopped.He's with that woman, Cassie. What are they doing together now? Reminiscing the past? About their lost love? About their supposed family–Enough, Thalia! I'm making it worse on my part.I pushed my hair back from my forehead. Just then, I felt a familiar scent invadi
THALIAAlfred Laverde…Due to my curiosity, I opened the envelope and saw documents regarding my grand uncle's personal information and my mother's family side.I remember the documents I saw in Damon's glove compartment. It was also about my family's information. What is really Damon's issue with my family? The door suddenly opened and Damon strode inside but froze when he met my eyes. He didn't expect me to be here.His eyes reached the envelope in my hand before he closed the door.“What is this?” I finally asked with a frown. “Why do you have the personal information of my granduncle? What did he do?”He scratched his temple as he walked towards me. “Thalia, give it to me.”“Answer me, please.” I pleaded as my eyes wavered when he took the envelope from me. “Are you still finding some flaws in my family? For what? To ruin us?”“No.” He flung the envelope on his table and reached my face. His warm thumb caressed my cheek softly. "I'm investigating your granduncle.” “Why?”“He's
THALIA Since I don't want to see a dead person, I let Damon take me home. As I arrived, I looked for my Mom in every corner of the house. But I couldn't find her everywhere, the same with my brother and Dad. Where are they? I asked the servants but they also didn't know where they went. I charge my phone and while it's charging, I use the telephone to call my mother's company, wondering if my brother is still working overtime. He loves working at night. But no one's answering. As I put down the telephone, it suddenly rang. I immediately picked up the phone. “Carter residence–” “Thalia?” My heart leaped. “Mom! Where are you?” “Come here to Paris.” My brows furrowed at her words and her tone. “Ha? Paris? Right now? W-Why?” I heard her sigh deeply in another line. “Your granduncle had a heart attack.” “Granduncle who–” I stopped as something flashed in my mind. “Granduncle Alfred?” “Who else? You only have one Granduncle.” My fingers tightened around the p
THALIAAt first, I was waiting for Leander to crack up, but seeing Cassie in front of me and my granduncle’s family glaring at her made me believe my twin brother's words. “Ho-How did it happen?”“Her mother and granduncle did something fun on the bed–” I slapped his mouth, causing him to glare at me. “What? You asked me how it happened.”I rolled my eyes in annoyance. “I mean…”“We only found out yesterday. She was in the company, looking for our granduncle.”Mom suddenly left the room with a dark aura lingering around her. She's scary when she's mad. So, it's better to stay away from her until her anger subsides.Why is she even mad about it? Because of Cassie? I firmly shut my eyes and realized that my current boyfriend has a past relationship with this so-called new family member.“I told you, I have a feeling that you and Damon won't fit with each other–”“Shut the hell up.” I gritted my teeth.What's wrong with Leander today? Why was he teasing me just as Frederick had been do
THALIAAFTER A MONTH“After Michael Scott was found dead a week ago, Alfred Laverde was found dead in Whiteface Mountain in the town of Wilmington in Essex County.”Wilmington… That's where Cassie's accident occurred years ago.I avoided my eyes from the TV as my heart suddenly pounded frantically. Anyway, I continue tying the lace of my sandal while trying my best not to react as best as I can at the news.Since Frederick's father was found dead, I'm having a hard time forgetting that news. It breaks my heart to see Fred in tears while mourning for his deceased father.He actually didn't deserve it because he didn't actually kill anyone. Well, almost, and that's us. Still… Fred was a great friend and we noticed he's turning his back on us. Maybe he's blaming us for his loss.And now… my granduncle is also dead.I gaze at my mother, who doesn't even show any emotions while listening to the news. I don't feel the sorrow of losing him. He killed my grandfather, and to be honest, I shou
THALIAMy eyes began to well up with tears of conflicting feelings. Anger, worries, and longing came out all at once. He disappeared without a trace after saying he would come back, and God knows if he’s alive or not. He made me fucking worried for nothing!“Where were you?” That was the only thing I asked.“I have to take care of something–”“Then why did you have to vanish like that?” My voice cracked up in the end as I failed to control it.He avoided my eyes with guilt lingering all over his face. I don't know what to feel. But there's only one thing I could figure out after seeing him again.“To protect you from harm.”I firmly shut my eyes, tears streamed down my cheeks as his words were like hitting my chest with a knife. All he could think was to be my protector, whereas here I am thinking he might have chosen the others over me.Am I being too selfish?I wiped my face as I looked around. Good thing my bodyguards are outside the university. “What happened to Uncle Michae
THALIAI flinched as I was startled when my phone suddenly rang. I got up in bed, sighing as soon as I saw the time. It's almost three, but my eyes won't even close just a bit.My attention was switched to my phone, which still kept ringing. Who would call at this hour?I answered it without looking at the caller.“Wha–”“Thalia.”My brows furrowed at the familiar voice in the end. I checked the number, but it's unregistered.“Ca-Cassie?”“I'm sorry for barking at the wrong tree.” My jaw fell as soon as I confirmed it was her. I jump off the bed and gaze outside the window.“Where are you? Who's with you?” I desperately asked.However, I heard her chuckle and sighed deeply.“I intentionally took the chance that my mother used to work with Laverde and got in as their so-called illegitimate family member.”Her words left me baffled. So… she's not a real Laverde?“What's your reason?”“I have found evidence and took a chance to get closer to the enemy.”“Evidence of what?”“I only want
THALIAI inhale sharply as soon as I exit the building. My chest feels heavy and tightened, and I don't know how to cope with the pain deep inside of me.My fingers firmly curled around the handle of my handbag.It's just my hunch. It's just my guts. It's just my suspicion that it was Damon. But why don't I feel this suspicion is real?I hate it.My phone rang, and Damon's secretary was plastered on my screen.“How was it? Is it Damon?”“No.”Then why did that jerk get Damon's phone?I scratched my temple as I walked to my car. I entered my car with a frown.“Where did that robber find it?”“He said a woman came and sold the phone.”I paused and confusedly thought about who that woman could be.“Woman? Who?”“He couldn't recognize her because she covered almost her face.”Why do people love covering their faces? Scared of the sunburn or hiding from the authorities?Since it's a woman, there's no way Damon is in trouble. So, I don't give a fuck with that woman who stole Damon's phone a
THALIAMom and Dad quickly went to Paris last night. Leander and I left here in New York so that we wouldn't be embroiled in the quarrel with Laverde.It's my mother's family, so I'm afraid Mom will break down. I heard her screaming to Uncle Adam on the phone before they left. I sighed as I put down my spoon on the table. I glanced at Leander, who was also in deep thought in front of his breakfast.“What's gonna happen now?”“What else? Mom possibly cut her ties with them.” I tightly shut my eyes in frustration. Why are there traitors in our lives? “Are we just going to stay here and wait? Mom might break down.”Leander let out a frustrating sigh. “Dad is with her. Also, they won't let us tag along with them.”It's been two decades since that happened. Doesn't the grandfather's case have a statute of limitations? I wonder how they found evidence despite the long period since it happened. Anyway, if it really proves my granduncle was the suspect of my grandfather's death, I hope he
THALIAOne week.It's been one week since Damon went missing. I even helped in looking for him but to no avail. Not even the authorities could find Damon Kane. There's no body or anything that can lead to his whereabouts. It was as if he vanished into thin air.I was depressed and cried every night while I had this hope every day of finding him together with the authorities.My parents and Leander didn't complain about how I poured everything into this search and rescue. They can see through me how desperate I am just to find him and I was hoping he's alive and in a safe place.Uncle Michael, who caused all of this, was on the run and hiding somewhere. Where's his courage to kill off my father's happiness now? Maybe he was also the reason why Leander's secretary was abducted and injured. Leander poured his soul into finding her but was also abducted by Uncle Michael. As of now, I don't know why Leander's secretary was abducted.I refused to talk to Frederick. Not because I hate his
THALIAI mustered my courage to point my gun at the person who was about to invade the car, but I stopped to see someone as my reflection, sticking his head through the window.“Leander!”“Thalia? What the hell are you doing here?!”I immediately jerked off from the car but was greeted by a woman leaning at the car. She was wearing corporate attire without a coat, and a red stain was visible on her dirty, white sleeve. “Who is she?”“My secretary. She's injured.” Leander opened the door, and I helped him place the girl in the back seat.Why is his secretary here? Did he come to get her?A rustling sound inside the forest, followed by repeated shouts from men, made us freeze.“They followed us.” My brother growled.He pushed me inside the backseat and entered the driver's seat. He was about to start the engine hastily, but I immediately stopped him.“Wait, Damon is still not here!”“We don't have much time.”He shoved off my hand, but I stopped him again.“No! We need to wait for Dam
THALIAI immediately wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me and kissing him harder than before. He lifted me and placed me on his lap, wrapping my legs around his waist. Our lips remained sealed. It was like we couldn’t get enough of each other, devouring one another. His hands were moving down, under my shirt, his fingers skimming over my skin, sending a rush of blood to every part of my body. His touch gave me the feeling of longing, and I relished every second he pushed his tongue and lips against mine. I lowered my hands and yanked his shirt up. He broke apart long enough to pull it over his head and toss it aside. His hands slid around my head, pulling me back to his mouth. I ran my hands down his abdomen. It was firm, with the perfect amounts of dips and ripples. His lips traveled down my neck and shoulders as he whispered sweet words in my ear. I gasped when he suddenly reclined the seat and softly moaned as I grabbed his face to meet my lips to communica
THALIAThe whole ride was filled with silence. He is driving his Ferrari while I'm here, sitting in the passenger seat with a lump in my throat. I don't know why I suddenly felt anxious being alone with Damon. The last time we saw each other, we were both fuming in our situation. But still, here I am, wanting to be with him while ignoring the supposed protocols.I gazed at him and saw his furrowed brows and solemn eyes focused on the road. Did he feel the same? Did he feel the awkwardness between us?"H-How did you find us?" I killed the silence."Actually... Leander and I talked before the abduction."I immediately gaze at him. "A-Are Are you the one who caused his wounds?" "Of course not. Do you think I'll harm your brother in that way?"I looked away while reprimanding myself for thinking he would do such a thing."N-No... you would not.""When I was going home after meeting him, Leander's secretary called me and tracked his phone." He explained, which left me with no choice but