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The next morning
Last Updated:
2024-10-15 20:29:07Related chapters
Love Under Fire The wake
NancyI was leaning against the large window, watching Charles' wake unfold with a mix of relief and discomfort. Relief knowing that my children, Amber and Peter, were far from all that farce, in New York, and discomfort because, even without wanting to, I was there, in the middle of it all, witnessing every morbid detail of this performance. Nothing there seemed genuine. Charles Morton's death was a spectacle, and everyone played their roles perfectly.Bruce, of course, was at the center of it all. Dressed impeccably in black, he seemed to fulfill his role as a grieving son almost automatically. His serious but restrained expression, the way he received greetings and condolences—everything was so calculated. I watched him from a distance, recognizing the mechanical gestures of someone suffocated by responsibility but without allowing any emotion to escape.It was then that I noticed three young women approaching, wearing clothes that were clearly inappropriate for the occasion. Tight
Last Updated : 2024-10-16Love Under Fire The culprit
NancyWinter had already covered everything with its icy blanket, and the air outside the great Morton mansion felt thick and sharp. The wind blew in gusts, carrying with it a damp cold that made even the stones on the path to the cemetery seem frozen. The branches of dry trees swayed in the distance, casting long, flickering shadows on the lawn that led to the family mausoleum. The snow, which had fallen lightly the day before, covered the ground in a thin layer of white, almost as if it was announcing the arrival of something dark and definitive.Inside, the wake had already gone on for hours. The heated air of the mansion was unable to dispel the oppressive feeling that hung over us all. The smell of mortuary flowers mixed with the expensive perfume of the women present created a suffocating atmosphere, as if mourning were just another formality among many others. Every person in that room seemed more concerned about being seen than actually feeling the loss. There was no genuine p
Last Updated : 2024-10-17Love Under Fire I can't live with this lie anymore
Nancy"Are you going to deny that you were in love with our father's wife, brother?" Bruce roared, his voice echoing through the hall like thunder. He was on the verge of breaking down, his face contorted into a mask of pure hatred. His breathing came in ragged gasps, and his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white. The veins in his neck stood out, and there was saliva accumulating in the corners of his mouth, which he involuntarily spat out with each scream.Those words seemed to have a physical force, like a slap in the face of everyone present. The silence that followed was suffocating, interrupted only by the sound of heavy breathing and the cold wind outside, which blew against the windows."Arrest this useless person!" Bruce shouted again, now turning to the police officers who were present. "You heard what I said! He killed our father! That worm!" His voice was a mix of despair and revenge, echoing in the hall like a desperate plea for justice — or perhaps f
Last Updated : 2024-10-17Love Under Fire My woman
NancyThat was bad, but I preferred not to judge Harald. He was a man who had suffered greatly at the hands of his father, a tyrant who always sought control over his life and his choices. The last thing I wanted was to add more weight to your conscience. If he got to the point of getting involved with Charles' wife, that was something he had to resolve on his own. I was not one to give opinions or point fingers. For a moment, I let Harald and Candace take Ivor, who was sad, not understanding where his mother was. He was only five years old and deserved some peace, even in the midst of so much confusion.After the wake, people began to disperse. The mansion, once full of laughter and conversation, was now empty, like an echo of what had been. I felt suffocated by that loneliness, surrounded by walls that had witnessed so many lies and betrayals. The silence became deafening, and the feeling of despair grew in my chest.I walked through the cold corridors of the mansion to the living r
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Love Under Fire I still have hope
CandaceAs Harald drove back to the mansion, the silent night seemed to lengthen between us. The soft sound of Ivor's breathing, sleeping in the backseat, was almost a comfort, but my heart was elsewhere, tight and confused. I couldn't believe what had happened earlier at the Mortons' house. Harald, the man who always seemed so distant from me, had defended me. He stood up to Bruce, calling me his wife."I don't allow you to talk to my wife like that." His words still echoed in my head. The first time he called me 'his' woman in public. My heart raced just remembering. There was something there—something I desperately wanted to believe was the beginning of something real between us.I shifted in the car seat, trying to ease the knot forming in my chest. I looked at Harald, his expression serious and focused on the road ahead. He was silent, and the silence was killing me inside. I needed to know what he was thinking. What did that defense mean to him? Did that change something between
Last Updated : 2024-10-19Love Under Fire A despicable human being
NancyThe silence in the house was oppressive. There was an emptiness that filled every corner of the mansion, making every sound echo and every thought reverberate in my tired mind. I was alone with Bruce, and the mere fact of his presence was suffocating. The big doors, the huge windows—everything seemed to conspire to remind me of the weight of the lies that had been told inside that house.When Harald and Candace left with little Ivor, the boy looked at me as if he wanted to understand, as if I could offer him some explanation about what had happened to his mother. But I couldn't. There were no easy explanations. Glory was on the run, and it all seemed like a trap that we were all trapped in, a web of intrigue that only got more and more tangled.I turned to the empty hall. My feet echoed as I slowly walked to the dining room, where Bruce was. He was sitting at the end of the table, his eye black from Harald's punch, casually leaning back in his chair with a cigarette between his
Last Updated : 2024-10-19Love Under Fire A ghost in the room
NancyThe awakening was slow, as if I were emerging from a deep, heavy sleep, and the world around me was still covered in a veil. I blinked several times, trying to clear the fog that obscured my vision, and realized something was wrong. The smell. The air had a strange, sterile odor, a mixture of disinfectant and freshly laundered sheets, very different from the usual aromas of the Morton mansion, which was always filled with expensive perfumes and the subtle scent of old wood. I sat up carefully, feeling my head throbbing slightly, and looked around.The room was small, practically modest, with a single bed covered in white sheets and bare walls, painted in a pale beige tone that seemed heartbreaking to me. A small dresser in the corner and a chair next to the bed were the only furniture visible. There was something in the air that didn't feel right, as if I had been transported to a completely different place, where the opulence of the Morton home had been replaced by an almost op
Last Updated : 2024-10-19Love Under Fire The reunion
NancyThe warmth of Jake's embrace was like an antidote to all the nightmares he had faced. I fell deeper into his embrace, seeking the comfort that only he could provide. The reality became more vivid by the second, and emotions bubbled up inside me—a mixture of relief and euphoria. My heart was beating wildly, and adrenaline seemed to run through my veins."You have no idea how I felt," Jake began, his voice deep and full of feelings, as we pulled away a little to look at each other. His eyes, with that intense shine, spoke more than words could ever express. "I... I didn't know if you were still alive, Nancy. Every day, every second, uncertainty consumed me.""We've both been through so much," I said, emotion strangling my voice. "When you… when I thought I lost you forever, Jake, it was like losing a part of me. I didn't know if I could handle it."Jake shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line, as if trying to hold back all the emotions that were raging to the surface. "W
Last Updated : 2024-10-19
Latest chapter
Love Under Fire So, now we can say thank you, Las Vegas!
Nancy“Argh, don’t tighten it too much… You’re hurting my neck!” Peter was grumbling with a grimace as I straightened his tie.“Remain calm; just lift your chin; I’m almost done,” I told him, adjusting my collar. Today was my wedding day with Jake. I was already dressed as a bride and everything, and the ceremony would start in a few minutes. I was so nervous. Not only that, but I really hoped everything would go well.He grumbled in disgust. “Did you know that children shouldn’t be present at their parents’ weddings, Mom?” he said, making me frown.“What? Why do you think that?” I asked.“Because naturally, children are not born before their parents marry. It's not the natural order of things, let alone divorce and second marriages,” he said, being clear in his opinion, as he didn't want to accept my relationship with Jake.I sighed, smoothing his jacket after straightening his tie. “You're getting so big. You're even taller than me.” I smiled softly, and I stroked his black hair. “I
Love Under Fire Such a good friends
NancyMoments later, Jason and Jake were in the wine cellar, somewhere in the mansion, talking about wine and things like that. Laura and I were walking in the manicured gardens of their mansion, which were so beautiful and comforting.“Why aren’t they coming?” I asked after a while, looking behind me to see if her husband and my fiancé were coming to catch up with us, since they were just getting us some wine to drink and talk on the sofas that were there in the garden under a cozy porch."Oh my God! Jason must have stuck him with a long wine conversation,” Laura said with a long chuckle. “We received bottles of the first line from a friend of ours in Chicago, Carter,” she added.“Are you talking about Joshua Carter?” I asked because I knew that name and knew that he had a wine production company.“Yes, I am,” Laura nodded. “What a fortuity that you know him, too.”“Um, I actually met him because of Bruce,” I said. “The Mortons were an influential family, and from time to time Bruce
Love Under Fire How is life?
NancyJake and I traveled to New York to visit our friends who lived there, the couple Jason and Laura Davies, who, since the last time we had seen them, had evolved a lot in their relationship, that is, when I met them, they were still fighting and trying to see what they were going to do in their relationship because they also had issues to resolve. But I remembered Laura's words, when she told me at the time that her husband had hurt her heart, but that nothing he had done compared to what Bruce had done to me. So today it was very satisfying for me to be able to see the two of them together and happy after having solved all their problems. They had even had another set of twins, and they seemed so happy now that their eldest daughter was playing with the babies, running around exuding happiness and joy while Jake, I, and the couple were sitting on the mansion's porch, drinking wine and talking about everything that had happened. This couple had been very important in helping us
Love Under Fire I miss you so much...
Nancy "What? Give it back in kind and make him taste his own medicine? What are you suggesting, Lanie?” I asked, being a little dumbfounded. She and I were still at the dinner table, and she had just suggested that. She shrugged now. "Yes. Didn't your husband go to bed with someone else? Then you also go to bed with another man, and then you become equals,” she explained, making me gasp. “How can you suggest such a thing? Do you think I'm such a vulgar woman up to this point? Do you think me going to bed with another man will solve things for me?” I asked, shocked that she was suggesting such a deviant thing. “It probably won't solve anything, but it will make you feel a little better. What is it? Do you think Bruce deserves happiness after all these years he played with you?” She retorted. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to smudge my body by getting involved with someone I don’t know just to get revenge on him,” I countered. Lanie laughed, waving her hand. “I don't see it
Love Under Fire One year after Lanie's death
Days were passing, and I thanked the heavens that everything was going so well, but today in particular, it was a year since Lanie, my dear friend, had died, and I was terribly sad remembering her.I remembered how she had done everything she could to cheer me up when I was at rock bottom after finding out who Bruce Morton really was.I remembered in detail what the season at her house had been like and how much she helped me, God in heaven...Nancy On that day, the ringing of my cell phone woke me up, and I felt my lamp, picked up the device, and saw that my daughter was calling me. “Hi, my love,” I said as soon as I answered, rubbing my face with my hand, still drowsy. “Hello, Mom? Haven’t you come home yet?” Amber asked on the other end of the line. "Um… Not yet, darling,” I replied a little fearfully. It had been two weeks since I was at my friend Lanie's house. "Um... Okay? When do you plan to return?” She asked in a somewhat petulant manner. I sighed. “To be honest, I
Love Under Fire How good it is to be normal
NancyThe last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions. After everything that happened with Candace, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders. The scars of pain and struggle were still there, but the feeling of relief was in the air. It was a new beginning for all of us. Like a good mother, I tried my best to care for Candace, and now, seeing her at home, taking a deep breath and starting to rebuild her life, my heart is filled with hope.It was on a mild morning that we realized that life was returning to normal. Amber's laughter echoed through the house as she tried to decide what to wear for a date. I watched her from the kitchen, where she was preparing a simple but nutritious breakfast. The smell of toasting bread mixed with the aroma of fresh coffee, creating a welcoming atmosphere.“Amber, do you need help?” I asked, trying to hide my smile at seeing her so excited and nervous at the same time.“No, mom, I can do it!” she replied, a little louder than usua
Love Under Fire It's a beautiful girl
CandaceThe joy I felt holding my daughter in my arms was indescribable. After hours of pain and struggle, the little one was finally here, and I couldn't stop smiling. It was a girl. The doctor had shown me quickly, and I couldn't believe that this little creature, so perfect, was my daughter. I felt a wave of love that I had never experienced before, and that feeling enveloped me like a warm blanket on a cold day. I looked at her face, so small and vulnerable, and wondered what the future held for us.Jake and Harald were in the room, both overjoyed with the news. The energy was contagious, and the happiness in the atmosphere was palpable, like happy music that filled every space. The smell of disinfectant mixed with the light scent of flowers someone had brought, creating an atmosphere of celebration and hope."Look, Candace, you did an amazing job!" Jake said it with a wide smile that lit up his face. He seemed genuinely touched, and I could feel that he was genuinely happy for me
Love Under Fire Time heals everything
NancyThe morning seemed perfect, the kind of day I always imagined as a normal family, without constant tension or fears. Recent times had been full of challenges, losses and changes, but being there, in Jake's house, surrounded by the people he loved most, brought a feeling of completeness. Everything felt a little lighter. Of course, there were still traces of the past that occasionally appeared in our conversations and gestures, but something had changed within me, and perhaps even within my children.That day, we decided to have a family lunch. Me, Amber, Peter, Jake, Harald, Ivor and Candace, all gathered at a table for the first time, without formalities and without protocols. I wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting, especially with Harald there, a presence that, some time ago, would perhaps have been unthinkable in such an intimate environment. But, little by little, everyone had found a way to live together, with the wounds still healing, but now ready for a new phase.
Love Under Fire We'll be fine
NancyThe next morning, very early, before the sun even fully illuminated the house, I was already awake, organizing my thoughts. I knew I needed to talk to Amber and Peter, just the three of us, without Jake around. This moment was very important, and I wanted them to feel comfortable saying what they really thought, without fear. I knew this conversation was necessary, as there was a lot at stake. Jake was part of this new life I wanted to build, but most of all, my children needed to feel part of it.I took a deep breath before entering their room. Amber was already stretching, her eyes still sleepy, but she noticed my presence and smiled. Peter, still sleeping soundly, had a serene face, something rare to see. I approached him gently, touching his shoulder lightly. “Peter, honey, are we going to wake up? I need to talk to you and Amber. Just the three of us, without Jake.”He opened his eyes slowly, still confused from sleep, but nodded. Amber looked at me with a mix of curiosity
