Dylan Forteros stood in his expansive office on the top floor of F Newspapers and Magazines, gazing out over the sprawling cityscape. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow across the skyline, illuminating the glass towers that mirrored the ambition he felt coursing through his veins. At twenty-five, Dylan had carved out a formidable reputation in the publishing world, rising from a junior reporter to the CEO of one of the most influential media companies in the industry. His striking looks—dark hair perfectly styled, piercing blue eyes, and an athletic build—often drew attention, but it was his dedication, integrity, and strategic acumen that truly defined him.
He turned away from the window, taking a deep breath as he prepared for the meeting ahead. The company was at a crossroads, navigating a rapidly changing landscape as digital media began to eclipse traditional print. Dylan had always embraced innovation, and today he was set to unveil a bold new initiative aimed at expanding their online presence. Yet, despite the weight of his responsibilities, his thoughts drifted to Kaye Montemayor. Kaye was a vision, a beautiful blend of elegance and strength, and her infectious smile had a way of brightening even the darkest days. As the owner of Hotel de Montemayor, one of the city’s most prestigious hotels, she commanded respect in her own right. Their love story was one of serendipity, a chance meeting at a charity gala that had blossomed into a deep, unwavering bond. They were on the cusp of tying the knot, a day that felt both exhilarating and surreal. His phone buzzed, pulling him from his reverie. It was a message from Kaye. “Can’t wait to see you tonight! Let’s talk about the wedding plans. Love you!” Dylan smiled, his heart swelling with affection. He quickly typed a response. “Love you too! Looking forward to it. Let’s finalize everything.” As he pressed send, a wave of anticipation washed over him. Kaye had been immersed in the wedding preparations, her enthusiasm infectious. He admired her ability to balance her demanding role at the hotel with their plans for the future. It was one of the many reasons he loved her so deeply. He glanced at the clock, noting he had a few moments before his meeting. Taking advantage of the brief lull, he walked to his desk, where a framed photo of the two of them sat prominently. They were at a beach, Kaye’s laughter captured in the golden light of sunset, a moment of pure joy. He recalled that day vividly—the way her hair danced in the breeze, the sound of her laughter ringing in his ears. It was a reminder of the life they were building together. The moment was fleeting, as the door to his office swung open, and his executive team filed in, serious expressions replacing the lightness of his earlier thoughts. They had a presentation to discuss, one that could shape the future of F Newspapers. “Dylan, we’re ready to begin,” said Sarah, his secretary, her tone brisk yet respectful. Dylan straightened his posture, transitioning back into CEO mode. “Alright, let’s get started,” he said, gesturing for everyone to take their seats. He pushed aside his personal thoughts and focused on the task at hand, knowing he needed to lead with clarity and purpose. As the meeting unfolded, Dylan expertly navigated through slides and strategies, addressing concerns and inspiring his team with a vision that encompassed not just survival but growth. Each suggestion was met with nods of agreement, the synergy of the group palpable as they brainstormed creative solutions to the challenges ahead. Yet, amidst the discussions of digital platforms and advertising strategies, his mind occasionally wandered back to Kaye. He envisioned her in a wedding dress, radiant and breathtaking, walking down the aisle toward him. The thought brought a smile to his face even as he tackled the pressing matters of the company. Finally, as the meeting drew to a close, he felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him. “Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. I believe we’re on the right track. Let’s make this happen,” he concluded, earning a round of applause. As his team filed out, Dylan felt a renewed sense of purpose. He had dedicated himself to F Newspapers, but Kaye was his heart. The thought of marrying her, of promising to share his life with her, filled him with hope. He paused just outside the door to his favorite restaurant, a low-key yet elegant spot where he and Kaye often celebrated life’s milestones. He checked his watch; they had planned to meet for dinner, but as he prepared to push the door open, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw Kaye’s name flash across the screen. “I’m so excited to see the gown! I’m heading to Magic Fashion Boutique now! Love you!” A smile crept onto Dylan’s face. He could practically picture her beaming with enthusiasm. Kaye had been counting down the days until their wedding, and the gown fitting was a major event for her. He quickly typed back a response. “Can’t wait to see it! You’ll look amazing, as always. Love you too!” Satisfied, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and pushed through the restaurant door, but a flicker of unease settled in the pit of his stomach. Magic Fashion Boutique was known for its talented designer, Aki Salamanca, and the excitement surrounding Kaye’s gown was palpable. Still, he felt an inexplicable concern as he made his way to their reserved table. Meanwhile, Kaye Montemayor was practically bouncing in her seat as she drove towards Magic Fashion Boutique. The city’s skyline glimmered in the distance, but her thoughts were consumed by the beautiful gown she had been dreaming about. The exquisite design Aki had crafted was something she could hardly wait to see in person. She navigated the familiar streets with anticipation, her mind swirling with visions of lace and satin. As she approached an intersection, her heart raced. She was just moments away from the boutique when suddenly, without warning, a black sedan sped through a red light. Kaye’s instincts kicked in, and she slammed her brakes, but it was too late. The crash echoed through the air, a deafening noise that drowned out everything else. In an instant, glass shattered, metal crunched, and Kaye felt a violent jolt before everything went dark. Back at the restaurant, Dylan settled into his seat, his thoughts still lingering on Kaye. He glanced at his phone, half-expecting another message filled with her excitement. But as moments turned into minutes with no word from her, that flicker of unease transformed into a deepening concern. He pulled up his messaging app, ready to check in, when his phone rang. It was Katty, Kaye’s secretary. “Dylan! You need to come to the hospital. Kaye’s had an accident.” His heart dropped, the world narrowing to a single, horrifying focus. “What happened? Is she okay?” “There was a car crash. She’s in critical condition. Please hurry!” The color drained from his face as he stood abruptly, the restaurant fading into the background. Panic surged through him, and without a moment’s hesitation, he rushed out the door, his mind racing. Kaye was supposed to be trying on her gown, not fighting for her life.Aki Salamanca stood in the small living room of her apartment, her heart racing as she faced Larry. The late afternoon light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the mess of scattered books and unwashed dishes. She couldn’t believe they had come to this point, but the betrayal was too fresh, too raw.“Five years, Larry! Five years, and this is how you repay me?” Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. “I sacrificed everything for you—my time, my money. I thought we were building something together.”Larry leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression a mix of irritation and indifference. “Aki, you’re making this sound dramatic. I’m just having fun. I’m still a teenager.”“Fun?” Aki echoed, disbelief flooding her tone. “Is that what you call it? Cheating on me with someone else? What kind of fun is that? Did it ever occur to you that your actions have consequences?”He shrugged, a dismissive gesture that felt like a slap to her face. “You’r
Aki’s eyes fluttered open, her mind heavy and foggy as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. The room was dim, lit only by a small window high on the wall, its panes crisscrossed with iron grills. She blinked a few times, trying to remember how she got here, but her thoughts slipped away like water through her fingers.She sat up slowly, her gaze drifting across the room, and despite the eerie silence that pressed in on her, she found herself mesmerized by the sheer elegance of the space. The walls were draped in rich, velvety fabrics—deep reds and purples that shimmered faintly in the soft light. Golden threads were intricately woven into the patterns, forming elegant shapes that wound their way up toward the ceiling, which was vaulted and adorned with delicate carvings.Aki’s breath caught in her throat. The design was unlike anything she had ever seen before, a perfect blend of opulence and artistry. Even the furniture, though sparse, was made from the finest materials—d
Dylan Forteros stood in the dim hallway outside the small, cold room where Aki was being held, his breath coming in ragged, uneven bursts. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into the flesh of his palms. His whole body trembled, a violent storm of emotions threatening to explode. The thought of Kaye, his fiancée, lying in the hospital bed, tubes connected to her fragile form, made him sick with rage.It had only been a week since the accident, but to Dylan, it felt like a lifetime. His life had been torn apart in an instant. One moment, he was standing at the altar with Kaye, her smile lighting up the room as they planned their future together. And then came the accident. A single, senseless moment. A mistake. One he couldn’t forgive.And it was all because of Aki.The weight of it pressed down on him, suffocating him. He wanted to scream. He wanted to break something. Most of all, he wanted to make Aki pay for the devastation she had caused. He wanted her to suffer. But he
Aki’s fingers trembled as she touched the door that Knight had slammed shut just moments ago. The sound of the heavy lock turning echoed in her ears, reverberating in the suffocating silence of the room. She was alone now, trapped in the cold, dimly lit space, the truth crashing over her like a tidal wave. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her knees threatened to buckle beneath her.Her mind spiraled, replaying the moment over and over—the accident. The screech of tires, the jarring impact, the sickening crunch of metal against metal. She had caused it. She had been careless, distracted, and now someone was lying in a hospital bed because of her. But not just anyone—Kaye. Kaye, Knight’s fiancée. The realization hit Aki like a punch to the gut, and a wave of nausea swept through her.“No…” she whispered, shaking her head violently, as if denying the truth could make it go away. “No, no, no…”But it didn’t go away. The reality only grew sharper, more terrifying. She had hit Kaye, th
Katty paced nervously back and forth in the small, cluttered office of the Magic Fashion Boutique. The warm afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. The soft ticking of the wall clock seemed louder than usual in the stillness. A neat desk was placed against the far wall, with papers, fabric swatches, and a few scattered sketches spread across its surface. Katty's eyes kept darting toward the phone on the desk, hoping it would finally ring with some sign of life from her boss, Aki.It was unusual, this silence. Aki was always on top of things. If anything, she was the type of person who would call several times just to check in, especially with such an important appointment lined up today. Katty’s stomach churned with anxiety. Kaye, one of their most prominent clients, was supposed to visit today to review the final design for her wedding gown. And Kaye had specifically requested to meet with Aki.But Aki wasn’t here.More alarmingly, Aki wasn’t
Katty stood in Aki’s office, staring at the door Nate had just exited through. She could still feel the tension in the air, thick and stifling, as if something invisible but real had been left behind after the conversation. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. It gnawed at her, tugging at the edges of her mind.Her thoughts wandered back to Aki, her boss and mentor, the talented and graceful woman who had taught her almost everything she knew about the fashion industry. Lately, Aki had seemed distant, like she was hiding behind a polished veneer of calm. Aki had always been private, but now she was unreachable, and too far to reach on. Katty couldn’t help but feel that it had something to do with Larry. That arrogant son of the city mayor had been dating Aki for years, and even though Katty had always found him insufferable, she kept her opinions to herself out of respect for Aki. But the last few months had been different. Larry had been showing up more often, ma
I've already taken care of the accident, Dylan,” Mr. Belgeorence began, his voice smooth yet laced with an undertone of danger. “It was free from the knowledge of the media and the police, and I've silenced the necessary parties.”Dylan, seated at the opposite end, gave a slow nod, his fingers tracing the edge of a whiskey glass without taking a sip. He wasn’t entirely surprised by Belgeorence’s words. The man was known to have a reach far beyond legal confines, though it wasn’t something spoken about openly. It was the unspoken truth that made Belgeorence both powerful and dangerous.“I offered them enough money to shut their mouths up,” Belgeorence continued, pacing slowly across the room. “All witnesses have been handled. I deleted footage from every source. The traffic cams, the nearby buildings—anything that could possibly identify the accident is gone.”He stopped in front of Dylan, leaning down slightly as if to make his point clearer. “It’s as though it never happened.”Dylan
Dylan sat in the grand living room of his mansion, the warmth of the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the hardwood floors. Despite the elegance and comfort of his surroundings, he felt a tightness in his chest, a gnawing sense of unease that refused to leave him. His thoughts were tangled, consumed by the words of his lawyer, Mr. Belgeorence, who had just left the mansion.Dylan could still hear the lawyer’s words ringing in his ears, heavy with legal jargon and the weight of unfortunate reality. It wasn’t that the news itself was unexpected; it was that it came at a time when he was least capable of handling it. His fiancée, Kaye, had been hospitalized for over a days now, recovering from a car accident that had shaken him to his core. The accident had happened so suddenly, so unpredictably, that Dylan hadn’t yet been able to fully grasp its impact. Seeing Kaye lying motionless in the hospital bed, wires and tubes surrounding her, had made him feel utterly powerless. And now