I rubbed my temples, fighting to keep my patience. "Sofia," I said, my voice low but cutting. "One last time: Get out, or I’ll have my people escort you out." Her face crumpled with fake hurt, but I wasn’t interested in her drama anymore. I was done. I stepped closer to Arielle. This was the first
(SOFIA'S POV) I stood frozen, my heart hammering in my chest as the sting of Dwayne’s slap lingered on my cheek. The pain itself was nothing compared to the fear that followed crawled up my spine, seizing my chest with an icy grip. It wasn’t the slap that unsettled me. It was the calm that followed
(DWAYNE'S POV) Turning my attention to Arielle, I saw that she seemed dazed. She was rigid, flustered, her eyes distant, as if she was looking at something but seeing nothing at all. My expression softened without thinking. I knew Arielle too well. She was tough—tougher than anyone gave her credit
(JARED'S POV) As much as I hated Dwayne's guts, I knew thanking him was the right thing to do. But his lips curled into a cold smile that never got to his eyes. "What, are you thanking me as her ex-husband? Or as the guy trying to win her back?" He said the words with a note of mockery that couldn'
(JARED'S POV) I leaned in further, my ears straining to catch every word, while my eyes were fixed intently on the screen. The dim lighting of the security room seemed to fade into the background as I became completely immersed in the conversation unfolding before me. The man's reply was dismissiv
But then, she finally spoke up, her face neutral and her voice measured. "I don't think I understand your question, Jared. And have you no manners? Why would you startle an elder like that?" I raised a brow, my stance unwavering. "Don't play dumb, Mrs Meyers. I saw you two a few minutes ago, and if
JARED'S POV As I walked, Arielle's cabin my destination, the weight of the conversation I had with Mrs Meyers settled heavily on my shoulders. I couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for Mrs. Meyers to bear such a secret all these years if it was this hard for me. Indeed, some secrets were be
(ARIELLE'S POV)As I slowly roused from sleep, I was momentarily disoriented, my mind foggy and blank. I tried to recollect where I was, and looking around, it dawned on me that I was in my room in the cabin.I sat up immediately, rubbing my eyes to get rid of the remnants of sleep. While at it, mem
It was evident in the way she switched her weight from one foot to the other and opened her mouth to speak multiple times without saying anything. Nana Jean leaned forward in her seat, her face mean and sober in the manner of an old Catholic nun. “The diagnosis is Early-Onset Memory Degeneration S
(DWAYNE’S POV) The air in the room around me was electric with underlying animosity. They might have put on their best acts, but I wasn’t fooled. And truthfully, there was nothing they could do to change the state of things. The board members sat quietly, their gazes eluding mine like it was a life
I’d almost turned around to leave when I caught sight of it, sticking out from underneath the stack of papers on the desk. I looked closer at the letterhead and identified the name of a hospital—medical reports. Was this the result of ye MRI scan?, I wondered to myself. I knew better than to look. I
(ARIELLE’S POV) My time in Germany finally reached its end. After conducting a series of tests and feeding me with supplements and a great deal of other tablets, Dr. Ellen and Dr. Julian agreed that their procedure was indeed successful. They made their discovery public and what followed afterwards
“Did you get that yourself? Why didn’t you let the paramedics check you?” I inquired with a mix of concern and relief. “Paramedics? What paramedics?” Jared asked, his smile dampening a bit with confusion. “I was in a meeting with my associates… back at the hotel. Yeah. I was on a call…” he explaine
(ARIELLE’S POV) When I woke up, I learned from Ashley that Jared had to leave earlier because of some business. But he’d yet to return and I was due to leave for my hotel. “Any sign of him yet?” I asked Ashley as she stepped into the room. She’d left earlier to get me something to eat on the docto
(JARED'S POV) I left the hospital hesitantly, my mind hazy with worry. I was tired myself. I sat behind the wheel and looked into the rearview mirror. I let out a sigh and steered the car onto the road. I struggled to maintain my concentration as I drove. I resorted to driving slower than usual, a
(JARED’S POV) For the rest of the evening, I couldn’t help but feel guilty about forgetting Maverick’s birthday. It beat my imagination how I’d forgotten something as important as that. I never forgot important dates, especially not my son’s birthday. I smiled through the call and even instructed
He took deep breath, and slowly knelt down on one knee. He let go of my hand momentarily and the other arm which he’d had behind him the entire time produced a velvet box. He gently opened it and nestled right inside the box, sitting on a black velvet pad, was a diamond ring, resplendent and breatht