JakeIt was early morning, and the mansion was enveloped in an almost reverent silence. I looked at Nancy, who was sleeping peacefully next to me, her serene face illuminated by the soft moonlight streaming through the window. She looked so beautiful and vulnerable, and I felt an impulse of affection come over me. I calmed down for a moment, listening to his gentle breathing, but then anger and determination began to shift in my chest, reminding me of what I needed to do.That night, it wasn't just about me; it was about her. I approached Nancy and, with all the care in the world, I gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. “Sorry about that, love,” I murmured, even though I knew she wouldn’t wake up. The image of her smile and the pain she had supported pushed me off the bed. I got up, put on a t-shirt and jeans that I had with me and grabbed my brass knuckles. I felt that the moment had arrived.Furthermore, I walked down the stairs, the wooden floors creaking beneath my feet, as if ale
HaraldMy head was spinning. Every word from Glory was a blow, and I tried to stay calm, trying to reason through the chaos. With each new revelation, I felt like the world around me was falling apart, fragmenting into pieces that I would never be able to put back together again. Candace was in front of me, still tied up, her voice shaking but steady. She looked at me with pleading eyes, asking, begging me to see the truth behind Glory's sick smile."Harald, please, you need to hear what I'm saying," Candace insisted, her voice cutting through the cold, heavy air of the warehouse. I wanted to believe her, I desperately wanted her to be wrong, that everything was just a lie to get out of that situation. I felt the heat of the gun against my palm, and it felt heavier and heavier. But there was something in Candace's voice, something in the way she looked at me, that made me freeze. An unshakable sincerity. It was as if his entire life depended on that moment."No, Candace!" Glory's voic
HaraldMy heart was in pieces, divided between the love I once felt and the hate that grew every second. I stared at Glory, pointing the gun with a trembling hand, and the question rang in my mind: how could I be so blind? How could I love someone so deeply and be betrayed in such a vile way?"You destroyed everything," I said, voice breaking as tears burned my eyes. "In the end, you always loved money more than anything, Glory."She looked at me with wide eyes, as if she was seeing something broken inside me. I saw the reflection of fear dancing in his pupils. She opened her mouth to respond, but I continued, unable to stop myself. The anger and pain overflowed, my every word was a cut, an exposed wound."It was because of your greed that you didn't want to be with me in the beginning, when we met," I spat out the words, feeling the weight of disappointment. "I was willing to give you all the love, everything I had, but you chose to marry a man like my father because of your greed. W
HaraldDriving home was like going through a dark, never-ending tunnel. The road seemed to go on forever, each bend heavier than the last. Candace was beside me, quiet and exhausted, and the tension between us was palpable. I tried to concentrate, but the image of Gloria staring at me, the lies she had told, the hatred and betrayal she represented... all of it swirled through my mind like a storm.Candace held my hand, her fingers intertwined with mine, seeking comfort in a silence that said more than any words. I could feel her shaking, her fear and exhaustion, but also her strength. She was there, by my side, and that was all I needed at the moment.We arrived home in the middle of the night. The darkness of night seemed to have swallowed the house, and only the faint glow of the moon illuminated the garden as I helped Candace out of the car. I opened the door, feeling the weight of tiredness, pain and the choices I had to make. That place was supposed to be a refuge, but now everyt
Nancy I thought I was sleeping next to Jake, but when I reached for the space where he should have been, I felt only the cold emptiness of the sheets. The room was dark, lit only by the dim light coming through the curtain. I looked at the clock: it was dawn. Restlessness took over me, and I got up, pulling my nightgown down and leaving the room.The house was silent, almost oppressively calm, and I began looking for him in each room, one by one. As he walked, old and bitter memories emerged, hidden in every corner of the mansion. I wanted to push them back, but it was impossible. They were always there, waiting for a moment of weakness to appear.As I walked around the house, I heard muffled children. My feet stopped instinctively, and I held my breath, trying to listen more carefully. There were grunts and groans—coming from the direction of the basement. The feeling of anguish grew inside me, and I went towards the children.When I opened the cellar door, the air was heavy and col
Nancy The sun's rays slowly faded over the horizon, dyeing the sky orange and purple, as Jake and I cuddled together on the porch floor. The smell of cut grass and the gentle breeze brought a touch of serenity to the moment, contrasting with the whirlwind of emotions that were boiling inside me. Jake was smoking a cigarette, his arm firmly around my neck, and I allowed myself to close my eyes for a moment, diving into thoughts of everything that brought me here.So many fights, so many wounds. Memories of a past that I tried to forget, but that insisted on returning. Bruce and his lies, his betrayals. My heart sank as I remembered the unfulfilled promises, the forced marriage, the stolen adolescence. But there, on that porch, with Jake by my side, I finally felt like I had found a way.“Do you think it’s time?” Jake asked, his voice low, almost as if he was afraid of what I might say. He looked at me with a serious look, but there was also a light of hope in his eyes.I nodded, my mi
AmberIt was a sunny morning in New York, and I was in the kitchen of my luxurious apartment, preparing breakfast. The smell of toasting bread mixed with the aroma of fresh coffee, creating a welcoming atmosphere. I loved these quiet moments, especially when I could share them with Peter, my younger brother. He was only ten years old, but he was such an intelligent and sensitive child. Life was good, or at least it was until that moment.While I was buttering the bread, I turned on the television to listen to the news. I wasn't too interested at first, I just left the volume low while I moved the pans. But then, the words “prison” and “father” began to stand out from the crowd of everyday news stories. I frowned, not wanting to believe what I was hearing.“It appears that famous businessman and philanthropist, Bruce Morton, of Morton Companies, was arrested this morning on charges of fraud and money laundering,” the host said, and my heart sank. What was happening? My father?I jumped
HaraldThe next morning, I woke up before everyone else. The house was quiet, and a silence took over the environment. I looked at Candace, who was sleeping peacefully next to me, with a peaceful expression, as if all her problems had disappeared. Ivor slept in the next room, which gave me a peace I couldn't describe. I knew how precious that calm was, and after everything we'd been through the day before, I felt incredibly grateful.I got up slowly, trying not to make any noise so as not to wake them up, and went to the kitchen. The idea of preparing breakfast for my family came without me having to think too much. I wanted to show, even if in a simple way, how much they meant to me. Candace, eight months pregnant, deserved all the love in the world, and I wanted her to know that. As for Ivor, I wanted him to feel how much he was part of us, a fundamental part of our family.I prepared pancakes, something Ivor always asked for on weekends, with fruit and honey. I also made toast and
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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