The moment he spoke, my heart broke. He saw right through my deepest secrets. His intelligence terrifies me, and his eyes burn in the dark like the fires of Hell. He wants to burn me, and then slowly devour my body and soul."Get away from me." I turned my back on him, and with every deep breath I took, the cold, damp fog went straight from my nose to my throat and into my heart. It was complete coldness, a torment of fire and ice."Eva, it's time to face your heart," he said, his voice trailing behind me like a strong rope around my body. I wanted to run away, but my feet could only freeze in place.No, I could have turned around and left. I could have resisted him in silence, but I couldn't. For so long, no one knew what I had lost, not even Frade could understand me.Why him?"Eva," he says softly as he walks over to me. I can feel the weight of his hands on my shoulders."So that's why you have the death list, isn't it? They didn't just hurt you, but they hurt your baby" His tone
Soon Daley killed his enemies on the island. I can't remember their names. But many people said the same thing to him before they died. "Puddin' island will never be left to outsiders.""I am already a king," he said as he killed his last enemy.Until one day, when he was out with me, I found that everyone we met was respectful to him. Then I understood what he meant.He got pudding and everyone was afraid of him.It made me wonder how he would react if I asked him again to let me go? Is he still gonna say yes?If he says no, will he kill me?I was very careful around him. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, he would sneak into my room. Every time I would pretend to be asleep. I thought he would do something terrible to me. But he just ran his gentle fingers across my cheek and left with a sigh.Every morning, there is still a fresh white rose with dew on my bed. We didn't have s.ex again. Did we all stay sane without o.pium?I don't know when there seems to be a wall between me an
"Are you serious?" I couldn't believe it. "Can I really go home?""Yes," he said in a tone that excited and discredited me.I remember I begged him to let me go home before, but he turned me down cruelly. I remember failing to escape from him. I thought black clouds were holding me back, but suddenly the obstacle disappeared. The hope of going home lay before me.I got cold feet."What made you change your mind?" I looked into his eyes, which were golden and misty, and I couldn't see into his heart.“We'll leave when the weather is good. It's said that the next two days will be sunny, although that might not be accurate.” He paused. “But we have to try, don't we?”"We?" I said doubtfully. "I thought you'd never leave the island."He used to make me think he was connected to everything on the island. He killed the Karrh brothers and became the winner of the game. He became the most powerful man on the island. Is he really gonna give up everything he's worked so hard for?"Haven't you a
The waiter with the fruit plate went to room 406, which was at the end of the corridor. The waiter didn't notice me following him because there was a thick red carpet on the floor. I hid behind a huge vase in the hallway and watched as he took the room card out of his pocket and opened the room. The waiter went in and came out after a while. So I stopped the waiter before he saw me."Excuse me, can you do me a favor?" I pretended to look for something. "My diamond earring is missing. Can you help me look for it? I think it might be here.""My pleasure." The waiter, wearing a red and black vest, immediately bent down to help me look for my earrings.I took the opportunity to walk over to him. As he bent down to look for it, the white corner of the room card showed up in his coat pocket."Are you sure this is where you left your earrings?" The waiter asked, his eyes wide as he examined every inch of the carpet."I'm sorry, Ma'am, but I don't see your earring, unless it's tiny."“That's
"Please keep your promise and let those poor girls go home."I knew I was going to die, so I subconsciously said what I cared about most. Even though I couldn't finish my revenge, I had promised the girls that I would let them go home. I hope Daley keeps his word after he kills me."Do it." Before I closed my eyes, I saw his calm face. There was no emotion in his eyes.Then I heard the sound of a pistol hitting, and something fell heavily on the carpet. So I opened my eyes and saw Daley wrestling with Robert."You're going to pay for this," Robert roared, his gun snatched by Daley and tossed aside. He reached for the low table with one hand in search of a weapon. A bottle of orange tequila spilled on the table. I grabbed his fat hand in case he attacked Daley with a bottle."I'm not going to kill you, man," said Daley. His body pressed against Robert's as he clamped his legs around Robert's body. And then he hit Robert over the head with the butt of his gun.Now Robert was silent, his
I hate waking up in a strange place every time I'm knocked out. I hate being in a coma when my mind goes blank. This time I didn't dream. I thought I was in a coma for a short time. But when I opened my eyes and saw the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, I felt very happy.I'm back. I'm pretty sure this is America. I can smell the familiar smell in the air. It's the smell of home.The room looks like a presidential suite of a hotel, with three full-length windows. I can see most of the city at a glance from any window. I looked out the window at the towering buildings, cars shuttling back and forth on the road. The people walking downstairs are as small as ants. The sunlight tinted the glass windows. I put my hand on the glass window and felt the warmth of the sun. It lifted the gloom that had enveloped me on Puddin' island.I'm back. I'm back in Manhattan.But I seem to be a prisoner again. I found myself alone in a huge room. There's only one person who can keep me here,
I felt dizzy when I heard him finish his words. My feet slid back, but Daley stepped forward and put his hand on my waist. He spoke softly."You're shocked, aren't you?"I looked into his calm, golden eyes, which were nothing like Frade's green eyes. I still can't believe they are brothers. Then it dawned on me. In the backyard of the White House on Pudding Island, while I was in a coma, I saw a face that looked like Frade's. Maybe it wasn't an illusion, and I just thought Daley was Frade."You already know everything, don't you?" I pushed him away in disgust. I remember telling him Frade's name. It was from that moment that he became aware of my relationship with Frade, so he approached me to get back at Frade?“I never thought about going back to America in my life. I believe it was fate.” He rubs my hair. “I wonder if Frade would go crazy if he knew I was sleeping with the woman he likes.”His sneer made my scalp tingle, and this man frightened me. I know nothing about him. He is a
Liv drove me to Santa Maria Hospital, and I told her to wait for me in the parking lot. I took the elevator from the parking lot to the hospital by myself. Gina has been here before, so I know that special rooms are usually set up on the top floor.When the elevator door opened, I saw two bodyguards standing in the hallway at the end, so I quickly determined that it must be Frade's room. But how do I get into the room? A passing nurse gave me a strange glance. To avoid her attention, I quickly turned into the corridor.Then a bucket in the hallway caught my eye, and I thought of a way to get into Frade's room. So I found a room with a cleaning sign on the walkway on the next floor. Fortunately, there were not many patients on this floor, and no one else appeared in the corridor except the cleaner who was doing the cleaning.I went into the ladies' room and purposely dumped the trash on the floor when no one was around. I broke the flush toilet, and the toilet kept leaking. After all t
A week later, the trip to Mexico didn't go well. Mexicans were angry at Mickle's claims that the wall had been expanded. The Mexican president and Mickle met in secret for three hours. I don't know what they talked about.After the meeting, he got on a plane and left Mexico. But he left me behind, and I knew exactly what he was doing.I was not surprised to see Daley in front of me as the representative of Mexico. Instead, I had the urge to punch him, but I held back.During my stay in Mexico, Daley was responsible for receiving me as the Mexican representative. The night we met, he took me to a fancy restaurant in Mexico City.“I had no idea that the famous Daley was already a member of council.”I looked across at Daley. The last time we parted, he looked pale. But now, beneath his mask of calm lies a kind of ineffable pride.“Do you have to talk to me like that?” Daley smiled at me, “It's been a long time since we were alone together and I miss you so much. I think we should celebr
“Why do you always have to decide before you tell me?” Frade asked, smoking hard on the couch. “Didn't I tell you to consult me before you made any decisions?”“Because this time there is no room for negotiation.” I stood in front of him, looking at him like that. My heart felt extremely painful. But I had to tell him about my decision. We have to face the truth eventually.“Mia was dead.”Frade's face froze for a few seconds. “She's dead?”“She escaped from the sanatorium, frantically searching for her father and questioning him as to why he had abandoned her. Mickle's bodyguard shot her for endangering the president. It happened right in front of me.”I have mixed feelings about Mia's death. Even though she was detestable, her death was like a razor blade slicing through my unsuspecting skin. It was instant, clear pain.Frade continued to smoke heavily. He didn't show much emotion about Mia's death. But I guess he felt the same way.He was in love with Mia. Her love was fake, but hi
I didn't expect Mickle to agree to meet with me as soon as I contacted him. But I had to go jogging with him, so I changed into a white sweatshirt and drove to his estate.We jogged side by side on a path near the estate, with two bodyguards following us. I can't remember the last time I ran in the morning. I was a little out of it at first, but after a while, I got my breath back.“Do you need a few minutes?” Mickle, who was wearing a black, short-sleeved tracksuit, turned to me. “Looks like you haven't exercised in a while.”“I'm fine,” I said.“I'll wait for you at the lake ahead,” he said as he continued to run.By the time I got to the lake, he was resting. A burly bodyguard offered him water, but Mickle gave it to me.“You need water,” he says.“Thank you.” I opened the bottle cap and took a sip. The bodyguard somehow took out another bottle of water and handed it to him.“It's a rare day for you to call me,” Mickle said, his face flushed but his tone calm. Judging from his stro
According to Vickie's will, her body will be transported back to Italy for burial. So Frade decided to hold a simple farewell ceremony for Vickie in the manor. After the ceremony, he would be in charge of sending Vickie's body back home with Mark.Vickie was right that no Sicilian would refuse the dying wish to return home. This time, they offered to open their arms to the Logan family to show their deepest sorrow.The place of the farewell ceremony was chosen in the hall of the manor, and all the participants were dressed in black as a sign of mourning. Black-and-white photographs of Vickie's life were placed in the centre of the hall. As her body was temporarily placed in the hospital morgue, guests had to mourn over her picture in silence.Each of the guests held a white chrysanthemum in their hands and placed it in front of the tablet. In the photo, she looked at everyone with a smile on her face, her eyes looking at everything indifferently.Frade greets guests who have come to p
In the room, Vickie is lying on her bed, a private nurse holding a clear plastic tube attached to a ventilator up her nose. Since a trip to Italy, Vickie has grown weaker. Mark told me that she was taken home in an ambulance from a private hospital after she landed.“Why don't you take her to the hospital?” I asked in a low voice.“She's determined to go home,” Mark said. “No one can change her mind, and you know it.”“The patient needs to rest. Please leave the room,” the middle-aged brown-haired nurse said politely.Mark and I left the room just as Frade and Vickie's doctor came out of the other room. That was the room where they had been discussing Vickie's condition, and Frade's sullen face didn't look good.It's terrible.“Mark, please help me get Dr. Hans out of here.” Frade's voice was hoarse and tired, and the stubble on his face seemed to have grown overnight, making him look even gloomier.“Are you all right, darling?” I stroked his cheek and looked at the man in front of me
A middle-aged woman in a plain grey T-shirt and light blue jeans sat on the living room sofa, her hands on her closed knees, her eyes downcast. The coffee in front of her was steaming, and it was obvious that she hadn't touched it.“Hey!” I whispered. “I'm Eva.”“Hi!” The woman stood up at once. She looked at me a little stiffly. “My name is Joe. I'm a friend of Joan's. We're all in the same union.”“How did you find me?” I motioned for her to sit down.“Joan gave me your number,” said Joe, “And we found your place. I'm sorry to bother you so late. Joan needs your help.”“You didn't come alone?” I asked curiously.“I have another colleague with me,” Joe said truthfully. “He's waiting for me outside.”“Is he here to ensure your safety?” I looked at her. “Since your friend is worried about your safety, why are you looking for me? So, what's the matter?”“We just...” Joe looked down sheepishly. “Just in case. But Joan says you're a trustworthy person. You're not like your father.”“I hel
During my stay in the hospital, I received many greeting cards and gifts from strangers. They piled gifts for the baby in front of the hospital or at the nurses' station, and a few fanatical fans even pretended to be nurses sneaking into the ward to see the baby. Fortunately, the fanatics were spotted by the doctor on duty and called the police, who quickly took them away.To prevent this from happening, Frade picked me and my baby up from the hospital in the middle of the night and took us back to the manor. Frade also put guards around the manor to keep out outsiders, leaving Mark in charge of all security, and Liv came to accompany me.Frade was on the move for us to leave the United States. This time he didn't entrust anyone but himself. He didn't tell me that he had met with those people. But from his tired face after each return, I can guess that our departure would become a distant dream.When Vickie learned of Frade's plan, she decided to go to Italy herself, because most of t
“What does a newborn baby get him?” I stared at Ian. “He's already president.”“The president just wants to show his concern for you,” Ian explained patiently. “This baby is his granddaughter. You're family.”“What an official statement,” I said. “Just this once. I need at least three months off for the rest of the year. During that time, neither I nor my baby could be seen in any media.”“Deal,” Ian readily agreed.“I'll give you some time to get ready,” Ian said. “I'll let you know when the president is arriving at the hospital.”After Ian leaves, Frade gently places the baby in her own crib, where she falls fast asleep without crying or fussing. Frade walks to the bedside, his eyes brimming with anger. I knew he was unhappy with my decision, and as I prepared for his wrath, he just lowered his voice and said, “Why did you agree to his request?”“Because I can't say no.” I looked at him. “Ian's right. Mickle is the baby's grandfather. I have no reason to say no to him visiting his g
“Do you have to go to the inauguration?” Frade asked as he peeled the apple. “The doctor told me your due date is coming up.”The skin he cut off with a knife was attached to the flesh of the apple, and less than two-thirds of the whole apple was left in his hand. I stared at the silver knife in his hand and asked, “Do you have a problem with apples?”“I hope this knife didn't cut apples, but...”“Stop,” I reminded him. “Watch your mouth.”“I don't want you to go to a crowded place,” Frade said, handing me a peeled apple. “In that case, all eyes are on the new president. If you're not feeling well or...”“Ian will have a nurse with me,” I said. “Besides, I only promised to be at the inauguration, and as soon as it's over, I'll be home.”“I'm going with you,” Frade said, “Or I won't trust you.”“Sure,” I readily agreed. “I'll tell Ian and get him to set you up.”“All I have to do is stand next to you.” Frade walked to the bed and brushed my cheek, then put a hand on my belly.“She's mo