Eric’s POV I regretted taking the stairs as soon as I started climbing. Memories I had tried to forget surged back into my mind. It felt like time had frozen. After meeting Vannessa, memories I had buried resurfaced. I wasn’t surprised to find myself submerged in childhood memories as I neared Granny’s room. I questioned if coming here was wise. Nothing good ever seems to come from visiting my grandparents' house. Usually, I either uncover something unsettling or revisit sad memories. I sighed, feeling weary but unable to ignore the situation. Granny was one of the few who cared for me after my parents passed away. I had to be here for her now that she was unwell. Plus, if I wanted to marry Phoebe, gaining my grandparents' approval was crucial. Even though it might not matter much, Phoebe likely valued family support. The thought of her made me smile. As I approached, I heard voices from my grandfather’s office. Grandfather was there with someone else, and I caught
Ghana.. A few days ago.. Miss Daisy was in her kitchen, preparing dinner. Jonathan had returned from his trip to Singapore three days earlier. Daisy welcomed him warmly but soon discovered he had traveled to see Phoebe, not for a scholarship as he had claimed. Though curious, Daisy chose to remain silent, assuming Jonathan simply missed his sister. She continued with her cooking until her phone rang, breaking her thoughts. An unknown number flashed on the screen. She sighed and answered. “Hello?” There was no reply. She tried again, “Hello?” Still, no response. Annoyed, she said, “If this is a prank, I’m hanging up.” “This is Randall,” came a voice she hadn’t heard in years. Daisy’s heart skipped a beat. Randall Meyers? She gripped the phone tightly, trying to stay calm. “Randall Meyers?” she asked, pretending not to know. “I know you remember me, Daisy. I’m sorry for disappearing and not telling you the truth. But right now, Phoebe is in danger, and I need your help. Yo
Diana’s Apartment The soft glow from the television casting flickering shadows on the walls. The muffled hum of the news broadcast provided a dissonant backdrop to her solitude.She emerged from the bathroom, her hair still damp from the shower, and padded into the living room. The news anchor's voice cut through the quiet, and still room.“After more than two decades, Mr. Frank and Elizabeth Hong’s death has been found to be more than a car accident,” the reporter said, his tone a mixture of gravity and sensationalism. “Their accident was instigated by the Hong’s rivals. It said that the only suspect found to be involved in their death is a real estate developer, Randall Meyers. Stay tuned for more as we go for a commercial break.”Diana sighed deeply, her eyes fixed on the screen. The name Randall Meyers struck a chord, but it wasn’t just the name, it was something else. She shuffled over to the kitchen, pulling a chilled bottle of water from the fridge and taking a long sip. “It
A few hours ago...Diana was jolted awake by strange noises coming from Eric’s room. Her heart raced as she wondered what could be happening.With a sense of urgency, she hurried to his room. As she opened the door, she saw Eric thrashing around in his sleep. His body was burning up, and his clothes were soaked with sweat.Without hesitation, Diana went to the bathroom to get a bowl of warm water and a towel. She returned to find Eric groaning and calling out in distress.“Phoebe, please don’t leave!” he cried out, his voice tinged with panic.Diana felt a pang of helplessness as she watched him struggle. She gently squeezed the wet towel and placed it on his forehead, hoping to bring him some comfort.Sitting by his side, she lightly touched his right cheek.Eric’s face relaxed, and he unconsciously leaned into her palm. Seeing him so vulnerable, Diana’s heart ached. She managed a soft smile as she continued to soothe him.“Phoebe!” he murmured again, his voice barely above a whisper.
Cuba… After Phoebe left Eric’s house, she stayed in a small, unremarkable apartment. It wasn’t well-known, and that was exactly what she needed. She called her mother. Their conversation quickly turned into a heated argument. Phoebe knew this would happen, but it didn’t make it any easier. In the end, she had no choice but to agree to the plan. They would leave the country for good. Randall had already made arrangements for them to leave as soon as possible. He was the one they all trusted to handle the details. While in Singapore, Phoebe had to change hotels constantly to stay under the radar. A few days later, she met up with her family at a shipping company. Jonathan was hesitant at first, unsure if this was the right thing to do. But in the end, he agreed. They all knew it was their only option if they wanted to avoid getting caught. After four days at sea, they finally arrived in Cuba. Everything had been set up for their arrival a big house with a
Twenty-five years ago... The Hong Construction... Mr. Frank Hong's office was packed with documents he needed to attend to. He sighed heavily, disappointed. He had promised his son he would come home early to play with him before bed. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen. Suddenly, he heard someone barge in. It was none other than his brother. Speaking in Mandarin: “You knew I was the one handling that project, but you went ahead and claimed it for yourself. Why do you always do that, Frank?” Ben yelled. Frank could only sigh. “Seriously, Ben, you need to calm that temper of yours. What project are you talking about?” Ben scoffed. “Yes, and the good son pretends,” he mocked. “What did I do this time that was so wrong? You could have called, you know,” Frank replied. Ben chuckled and drew closer to his brother. He banged the table before him and said, “Just because you are the president doesn’t give you the right to do as you please,” his voice sharp and intimidating
A month had passed since the termination of the COLAD project. Everything was going smoothly at the Hong Construction firm, but unfortunately for Mr. Meyers, his company was going bankrupt. After news spread of his termination by the Hongs, people started losing interest in him and his company. Everything was coming to an end for him. He stood in front of his company with his head hanging low, feeling a pang in his heart. He had to let all his employees go home; there was no work coming in. While he was going down, others were enjoying his downfall. He had been investigating Benjamin and discovered his dealings with underground bosses. He soon realized that Benjamin was the one who sabotaged his deal with the family, since Mr. Meyers had refused to deal with him personally. He decided to confront Benjamin head-on. One fateful morning, he managed to enter Benjamin's office without being noticed. “What the hell are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here. How—
Phoebe’s POV My heart felt heavy after listening to the story my father was telling. Every detail he revealed felt like a sword piercing my heart. My breath became ragged, and I couldn't grasp what was happening to me until I felt a warm hand touch my back. "Hey, it’s okay. I’m okay," I could have sworn I heard Eric’s voice. "Phoebe! Are you okay?" I snapped out of my trance when I heard my name being called. It was Jonathan, his hand on my back. "Hey, are you really okay?" he asked, concerned. Mama and Randall’s eyes were on me now. They were worried. "I’m okay," I responded. "If I had known it before, maybe I could’ve—" "Known it before? What are you talking about? You could have just called him on the phone, sent him an email, or tried to contact someone who knew him and could have protected him. But you chose not to, because deep down, you wanted him gone," I voiced out. He flinched and lowered his head. I might have gone too far with my words, but I wasn’t ready