NoahThe pounding in my head was relentless when I finally opened my eyes. I tried to remember what had happened. I was tricked by a woman, and then the kidnapper knocked me out. Now, I was back in the dark, musty room. I was tied up even tighter than before. The ropes bit into my skin. They were making any movement impossible. My clothes were completely ripped and disheveled.Did that guy do anything? No, I don't feel any pain except for my head… Thank goodness. Raymond. The thought of my love brought a brief moment of hope. Was he out there looking for me? He must be. He would pour every bit of money and power he had into finding me. “Please, Raymond. Help me…” I whispered into the dark.And Neil, my sweet boy. Was he crying, wondering where his mommy had gone? I missed him so much.Time dragged on. Exhaustion began to weigh me down. I hadn’t eaten all day. The lack of food and water was making me weak. I drifted in and out of consciousness. My mind was spinning with fear and worr
RaymondOwen’s words made my heart sink. If Josie had indeed kidnapped Noah, she would be in grave danger. Josie was an insane woman, driven by her terrible jealousy. No one knew what crazy things she might do to exact her revenge on Noah.I couldn’t wait. I had to take action immediately. The only thing that mattered was Noah’s safety. I grabbed my phone and dialed my father’s number. He had powerful contacts all over Edendale. “Father, I need your help,” I said, my voice urgent. My father’s best friend was a high-ranking police officer. When we found Noah, I would need the support of armed police. Owen also took swift action. He hired a team of expert hackers at a high price to track down Noah and Josie’s location.I was pacing up and down as the team of hackers was looking for clues. I couldn't imagine what Josie and her kidnappers were doing to Noah right now. The fact that she hired men to rape her before, that night at the hotel, raised the hairs on my neck. I couldn't let tha
NoahPanic surged through me as I saw several men approaching. Their faces were twisted with disgusting expressions. I was surrounded. I had to get out of here! But how?My feet were bound. My hands were tied. I couldn’t protect myself. There was nothing I could do. No, this can’t be happening!They approached me without mercy. The kidnapper was the first to reach me. “Hello little lady. Finally, time to have a little fun together. You seemed eager earlier. Are you still eager now?” he said with a grin, looking me up and down. The others joined him. They all started touching me at once. Some held me tight. Others were fondling me roughly in all the wrong places.“No!” I struggled against their grasp. I couldn’t bear thei
RaymondI couldn’t believe what I saw. Noah was lying on the ground. Her face was pale and lifeless. A puddle of blood surrounded her. She had a huge wound at the back of her head.Desperation gripped me as I knelt beside her. My heart ached with the realization of how helpless she must have felt facing this danger alone.How could I have found her so late? At that moment, I hated myself with an intensity I had never felt before. I had failed to protect her.Carefully, I lifted her into my arms, afraid that even the slightest touch might aggravate her pain. She felt so fragile. Her body was limp and unresponsive. I carried her to the car. Every step felt like an eternity."Owen, drive!" I shouted, m
OwenWhen I finally found out the truth, I couldn't help but feel heavy guilt weighing on my shoulders. It was Noah who saved me all along. The more I found out about her, the more I realized how blind I had been.I lost an incredible woman. I had been too easily fooled by Josie's manipulations. It was a bitter pill to swallow.I tried to contact Noah endlessly, to no avail. She had a new life now. Far away from her old one. I was desperate to feel close to her. But I couldn’t do it in the present. Perhaps, I’d find some answers in the past.I spent countless hours retracing Noah’s steps. I visited the orphanage where she grew up - the building and children looked just as neglected as 30 years ago. I spoke to people who knew her. Slowly,
RaymondIf it wasn’t for the medical emergency, I would never want to see Bob Miller again. He had hurt Noah more than anyone could imagine.The first interaction I had with him was a karate kick to his gut. I protected Noah from his attack. The second interaction was him swinging a steel rod to my back, knocking me out. Thankfully, he got what he deserved and was sent to prison. And my back injury ended up bringing Noah closer to me.But now, Noah was in grave danger. She had lost too much blood from her head wound. Her good-for-nothing father was the only one who could save her.I called all my most powerful contacts in the city. We had to find him as soon as possible. I offered a big price for whoever found Bob Miller first.
Raymond“No, Raymond. Don’t listen to him. I’ll teach him a lesson,” Owen said, his fists clenched.I felt the same urge to beat Bob into submission. But I knew better. Bob might be the last hope to save Noah’s life. I couldn’t risk it.“Stop it, Owen,” I said, my voice heavy with resignation. I turned to Bob. “If I kneel down and beg, can you promise to keep your word?”“Who knows,” Bob replied cunningly. An evil grin spread across his face. "Do you have a better option?"His laugh echoed through the hallway. Each cackle twisted the knife of helplessness deeper into my heart. Everyone around us was seething with anger. But they remained silent, waiting for my decision. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, judging, pleading, empathizing.Bob knew he was our only hope. And he was shamelessly using it against me. He wanted to humiliate me in front of the crowded waiting room. For his own petty amusement. But right now, nothing mattered to me more than Noah’s life. In fact, I would give m
RaymondThe nurse’s words hit like a sledgehammer. “Oh no, his blood cannot be transfused. He has a history of drug abuse!” A gasp echoed around the waiting room. Everyone there had been invested in our tragedy. The room fell into a stunned silence. The last thread of hope we had held onto was abruptly severed.“Damn it! Where is he? Where’s Bob? I must beat him up! Right now!” Owen’s enraged shouting broke the silence. His voice roared through the waiting room.“Please be quiet, sir. You’re in the hospital! Have some respect,” An angry nurse reprimanded him, her eyes flashing with irritation.“I knew it. I always knew he was a complete jerk! How could I ever think he would save Noah?” Owen’s voice was lower now. But it was still laced with seething anger. He paced back and forth, fists clenching and unclenching. He was obviously struggling to contain his frustration.While Owen was mumbling curse words, everything around me seemed to blur. It was as if I had been transported into a s
NoahI opened the box, and there it was—a delicate golden necklace with a teardrop-shaped ruby nestled at the center. It caught the light with a soft, familiar glow.“Wait a minute… Is this…?”Raymond’s smile widened. “The necklace Owen gave you after you saved his life as a child? It sure is.”I shook my head in disbelief, my fingers brushing over the ruby’s multifaceted surface. This was the necklace that had started it all—the one that ended my relationship with Owen, fractured my friendship with Josie, and, in the end, brought Raymond and me together.“No way… Where did you find it?” I asked breathlessly.He took my hand. “I went to Josie’s apartment after she passed away and found it tucked away in a jewelry box. I remembered the story you told me about it. I just knew you should have it back.”Overwhelmed, I looked up at him, my eyes filling with gratitude. He held my gaze, and we shared a lingering, tender kiss. One that was filled with years of love and unspoken promises. As
NoahThe grand hall was resplendent, draped in soft whites, blush pinks, and touches of gold. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the orchestra played a melody that filled the air with romance and elegance. I took a deep breath, looking out over the sea of familiar faces, and then my eyes found Raymond’s.He stood at the end of the aisle, his gaze fixed on me, his smile both proud and tender. The love in his eyes was so deep, so steady, that my nerves began to melt away, replaced by a warmth that filled my entire being.With every step, my heart beat faster, the anticipation building with each note of the music. Raymond’s gaze never wavered, and as I drew closer, I could see the emotion glistening in his eyes.Finally, we reached him. My mother released my hand and turned to Raymond, her own eyes shimmering. She placed my hand in his, her voice choked with emotion. “Take good care of her,” she said softly, her words laced with love and a hint of the strength that had carried us both.Ra
NoahAs I looked at Evelyn, her gentle smile seemed to melt the tension in my shoulders. Her eyes, always so full of determination, held a glimmer of joy as she spoke.“Don’t worry, Noah. It’s good news.”A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped me. “Good news?” My voice was barely a whisper.She nodded, a spark of excitement lighting up her face. “The doctor said… well, they said there’s a chance I’ll walk again. The prognosis is good if I keep exercising, eating healthy, and pushing myself.”My relief quickly turned into a grin as the magnitude of her words hit me. “Mom, that’s amazing!”She wheeled closer, her hand finding mine. Her touch was warm and filled with the quiet strength that I’d come to admire even more through her recovery. “I know, right?” She laughed, her voice tinged with the thrill of newfound hope. “I can’t wait for the day I can pick up Rosie all on my own, to hold her without limits.”We sat there, both smiling, both overwhelmed by the idea that she migh
NoahCassandra’s labor dragged on, stretching through two long days. I felt every minute of it from my room. My worry and helplessness coiled tighter with each update. The doctor had ordered me to stay in bed. Although it felt good to rest, I hated that I couldn’t be there for her. She’d been such a support to me during my own labor with Rosie. Her words had steadied me through every contraction and every wave of pain. Now, here I was, stuck in bed while she struggled on her own.Little Rosie was my solace. Every time I looked at her, I felt a soft warmth spread through me, all the worry and exhaustion melting away. She was a tiny, perfect miracle with her miniature fingers and rosy cheeks. I couldn't stop staring at her. Raymond was wonderful too. He moved back and forth between rooms to check on Cassandra and then back to me, sharing gentle updates that kept me grounded.On his fourth or fifth return, Raymond’s expression was strained. He sat by my bed, taking my hand gently. “She
NoahThe words fell like a stone in the room. My heart stuttered as I looked between her and Raymond, my grip tightening around his hand. “What… what kind of complication?”The midwife took a steadying breath. “It seems your baby may be in a posterior position—facing up, rather than down. This can make labor slower and a bit more challenging.”A wave of worry swept over me, and I felt my breaths quicken. Cassandra placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Hey, Noah, breathe. She didn’t say impossible—just more challenging.”The midwife nodded, her tone reassuring. “We’ll try some different positions, some movements that might help encourage her to turn. This happens often enough, and there are ways we can support the process.”I nodded, feeling the tension ease a fraction as I met Raymond’s eyes. He gave me a brave smile, squeezing my hand. “We’ve got this,” he murmured. “We’ll help her get into position, and soon, we’ll be meeting our little girl.”The midwife guided me through some po
NoahI stared, slightly panicked, down at the small puddle forming beneath me. Cassandra brought her hand to rest gently on my arm. “It will be fine, Noah. Looks like your little girl has her own schedule,” she said with a reassuring smile. Her voice was calm and warm. Her words broke through my anxiety. I managed a shaky laugh, nodding in agreement.An employee approached, casting an understanding look at the situation. “Don’t worry about a thing—we’ll clean it up,” she said, a gentle smile on her face. “Good luck!” She gave a supportive nod as we carefully made our way out of the store. Cassandra held my arm to steady me.Once we were outside, Cassandra reminded me, “You don’t need to rush to the hospital just yet. They usually want you to wait until active labor is in full swing.” Her calm certainty helped, but I still felt jittery. I immediately grabbed my phone, dialing Raymond’s number. He picked up after the first ring.“Raymond?” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “It’s ha
NoahThe room erupted in cheers and joyful shouts as pink confetti rained down around us. It took a second to sink in: we were having a girl. Barely containing my smile, I felt Raymond’s strong arms wrap around me from behind. He leaned his head close, his voice a low, gentle murmur. “A little girl, Noah… our little girl.”My heart swelled as I looked at Neil, who was watching the confetti with wide eyes. He had a look of pure wonder on his face. It was the brightest smile I’d seen on him since everything that happened, and I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. He was still healing. But moments like these, surrounded by love, felt like the very first steps toward a new beginning.Evelyn rolled over, her eyes filled with emotion as she held out her hands to us. Slowly but surely, she was regaining control over her muscles. I leaned down to her, and she wrapped her arms around both Neil and me. “Oh, a little girl,” she whispered, her voice thick with joy. “Our family just keeps grow
NoahThe house buzzed with excitement and laughter as we invited everyone inside. Each new arrival was greeted with hugs and cheers. Cassandra's friends—Harper, Lila, and Gia—were here, their faces lighting up when they spotted me. Our trip to Vegas and Cass’s wedding had bonded us. Seeing them again brought a sense of closeness, comfort and normality after recent events. Raymond’s colleagues filled the space with their lively energy, and Simon’s friends mingled easily with Raymond’s parents, whose faces were aglow with anticipation.Neil quickly spotted his friends from school, darting over to hug a small girl with a sweet smile. I couldn’t help but smile knowingly; he’d mentioned her more than once—his little primary school girlfriend. Seeing him run and laugh, his face bright with joy despite the shadows of recent events, filled me with a deep, almost overwhelming sense of gratitude. After everything he had endured, there was hope that he might find his way back to himself. Seei
Noah“Oh, Raymond…” I murmured, my heart brimming with emotion as he knelt before me, the words barely forming in my mouth, tangled up with a happiness that felt almost surreal.He waited patiently, still on one knee. His hazel eyes sparkled with flecks of gold in the bright sunlight. His hand was steady, holding out the ring as if it were a promise. A reminder of how far we’d come. I glanced at my old engagement ring. My fingers trembled as I noticed the way this new ring was designed to nestle perfectly against the first one. It was so unmistakably Raymond—thoughtful, detailed, crafted to fit me like a missing piece.“Yes,” I finally said, smiling through my tears. “Of course, I will marry you… again.”His face lit up with a joy I hadn’t seen in years. He slid the ring into place, its sleek band clicking softly as it nestled against my old ring. The two pieces formed a sparkling whole. As the diamonds caught the golden glow of sunset, it felt like the most perfect reflection of us—