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
THALIAMy family went to the mansion of the Laverde to take a rest. My mom doesn't want to see Cassie’s face.I don't understand. If they dislike her presence, why are they letting an illegitimate daughter enter their life?Mom was fuming in madness, the same with Dad, whom I could not make eye contact with.I was so disappointed in him. He said it's alright to date Damon and now he wants me to end my relationship with him. Seriously? What's wrong with him?Of course, I don't want to break up with Damon. That's why Dad was angry at me for disobeying him and yelled 'No!’ in his face.I'm glad Mom and Leander were not there to teach me a lesson for disrespecting my Dad.As we arrived, I immediately pulled my brother to the corner beside the storage room without my parents knowing.“Bro, can I use your phone?” I whispered.“I thought you disliked the iPhone?”I rolled my eyes as I glared at his phone in his hand.“I forgot mine in L.A.--”“Buy your own.” He coldly responded and walked
THALIA Dad dragged me upstairs to my room and shut the closed door. He even turned off Leander's phone and hid inside his coat.“It's not your grand uncle.”My brows furrowed at his words.“What do you mean?”“Mr. Kane might just spouting nonsense–”I scoffed. “Are you saying Damon's deduction was wrong?”“Probably.” He gritted his teeth in irate. What's wrong with him? Why is he acting like this after saying that it's all right to have a relationship with Damon?I shook my head and turned my back on him. Yes, I am going to ignore his useless thoughts. “I just found out today that he has a spy in our company.”I stopped when I was about to open the door of the bathroom.“His ex-accounting manager? Yes, he is a spy, but he's not working with Damon. You already know that–”“Then what is this?” He threw his phone on the bed. As I was curious about what he meant, I checked his phone and saw pictures of Damon with a man I was not familiar with. I abruptly took the phone, and with tremb
THALIAI'm lying on the hammock in the garden, staring blankly at the gloomy sky, which seems like it is trying to console my almost-dying soul. Since my parents are not here, this gives me a chance to inhale fresh air just to stop myself from torturing my eyes.I felt dehydrated from crying last night. It feels like my chest will erupt from the pain I felt remembering Damon's eyes.It hurts me to see him pleading.I've never heard anything from my Mom since last night. I know she knew about it. But still, I don't want to see or talk with anyone.—--'I’m still learning to loveJust starting to crawl’—--Suddenly, I hear a song slowly getting closer that I don't want to hear. The familiar perfume of this jerk invaded my nostrils and tried to ruin my mood.Frustration delves into me."Stop it." I hissed."You should be crying."I rolled my eyes at his tone. "I did... last night."Through my peripheral vision, I saw Leander sitting opposite my swing. Does he not have anything else to d
THALIAMy rage towards Cassie was stronger than breaking up with Damon. Well, I'm not saying it's our end because I never said we're going to end our relationship. I cried because I hurt him with words and I miss him so damn much.If Damon didn't get that then… I'm doomed.I only made sure my father wouldn't pester me into breaking up with Damon. I end it right in front of his eyes to stop him from being such a weird Dad. It doesn't suit him.Our only problem was Cassie.Since she came into our life, she's not doing anything but she's already a nuisance. I entered my father's office with raging eyes.“Careful in opening the door, Thalia.” He warned but I ignored his scary tone.“Why is she here?”“Who?”“Cassie Miller.” His deep sigh indicates he's had enough of family issues. But I can't blame him. It's not even in our family but rather in my granduncle’s family.This is Laverde's problem but my father won't ignore the problems on my mother's side.It's really a pain in the ass.
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