CLAIRE'S POVThe news left me in great shock, I couldn't get over it. My head was stuck with going to check on him and know how he was doing.I don't know how he was going to react seeing me, that is something else that kept me away from going there.It's a new day, and all through the night, I have been thinking about Lucas and the things he just lost.“Get my bathtub ready. I will need to go out soon.” I instructed the maid immediately after I got out of my room.“Mom? Where are you going?” So bad of me not to know that he was there.Now I have to find a perfect lie to say to him.“That's not the greetings I expected from you, Brian.” I squat to his level.“Sorry about that mom, good morning. But I still want to know where you ought to leave me?” He looked sorry for a second, and the next minute, he was so concerned about something else.“I am an adult and I can go anywhere I wish. Just don't get worried, I'll be back home before you know it.” I faked a smile.“Mom…you promise to ta
LUCAS POVThis is surely a day of pain and heartbreak, I don't know how to escape it. Playing strong was the best idea until Charles died; how was I going to fix it?I have put him in many risks, and now he is finally gone; I can't even explain what happened."More drink, please; I don't want to ask for these things again. They should be here." I ordered the maid that walked to and fro.I couldn't go back to my father's house. That was a big load for me, I don't know how I was going to explain anything to them.Especially my dad. He would want to beat the shit out of me, he can't do it but his actions would change."Here Sir." I felt tipsy and began to imagine things that would properly never happen in this life."Someone is here to see you, sir..." One of the securities came to inform Me.Before I could think of a response to give to him, Claire came in.My eyes widened and it looked like I just saw my problem standing right in front of me.She acted as she has always been acting, i
CHLOE'S POVAll my life I have never had a great opportunity to like this. I stalked Lucas' house because I knew she was going to come around, I wasn't wrong.Claire came to meet Lucas, and after some minutes, she left the house; her face when she drove past me showed there was a little problem between them."Well, she would stay longer if she had no problem with him. So...." I smiled as everything was like a book open at me.I snapped and turned off my engine to get into the house. I don't know what I was going to say, but with the way he was hurt, he would definitely want someone around, it might not be me, but I'm the only available person right now.Chloe.." he called out slowly.He was soaked with the wine that he drank. I've not seen him in this state before...I couldn't say a word, I took the drink and helped him with the wounds until it was morning.It was easier to make him have me that night but I chose to let him heal from what he was going through that night.He stood up
CHLOE'S POVMy eyes needed to get off that but here I was talking and looking down to admire.“Umm…it would help me if you tie a towel or better still put on a Short.” I smiled nervously.He scoffed and licked his lips. “I don't even know who you are, why are you giving me instructions?” He shrugged.“If you need to know who I am…then I need to concentrate.” My eyes went down there again.That isn't helping matters at all.He left the door wide open, I guess that was a sign to come in.I slowly walked into the house and inspected the whole place with just a glance.“So, what or who do you say you are?” He asked, putting on his trousers.I cleared my throat now that I had come back to my right senses.“You must be Kelvin?” I smiled.“Are any of your children missing?” He opened his arms.He sounded sarcastic and annoying at the same time. I faked a smile just so that I could get what I wanted.“What?” He cleaned my eyes with his palms.“Are you still lost? Do I have to wear a garment t
CLAIRE'S POVThe words Lucas said to me kept replaying in my head. I couldn't get it off my head, my day went bad, I could barely think like a normal human talkmore of responding to questions that were asked.Right from when I drove off until when I got home, I have been distracted with the things that replayed in my head."I need a quiet time, I do not want anyone or anything?" I instructed the maid and the security there before I entered my room."Yes ma." They nodded and proceeded with what they were doing.I fell on my bed and sobbed. All the years I hid this from Lucas, it finally came to light."How he found out is the worst way someone would find out something. I mean I will literally act the same way"Lucas.." I slowly called out the name as I bit my pillow hard so I would not be heard. "Ma?" I heard a knock on the door I immediately cease to cry, I really want to hit the bastard head off. I gave an instruction and now someone is knocking?"What the fuck is going on there?"
KELVIN'S POVIt's been years since I found peace in being alone and not letting anyone in.The great morning, just when I was about to start my daily routine I heard a knock on the door.I don't know who I was expecting apart from the man that picks up the trash. I dressed just like I had always dressed, I didn't put on too much.With the cup of coffee I opened the door, I found who I least expected. Someone I don't even know from anywhere.The elegant woman in front of me looked at me in shock and couldn't say a word. We bantered with our eyes for a few minutes before she could finally say a word.She introduced herself to me but I spent a lot of time trying to process what she was saying.The whole “our” in the sentence was getting me confused.“Lucas!!” She called his name and the atmosphere suddenly changed.There was an awkward silence between us, I wasn't the only one whose mood was changed because of the name that she just mentioned.She is affected too, her mood, her eyes, eve
LUCAS POVI had to fight so many pains during the day and night. I drank myself into a stupor and got help from the least expected person who happened to have another plan in mind. "I don't have to be this way anymore. I have a lot of things to do." I tried to convince myself to drink.My parents are very good at observing, so I think by now they must have known that I have been active these days.They will probably be thinking it is about my worker who died."It's about him anyway." I stared at my reflection in the mirror.I cleaned my eyes and tried to get out of my mess. There is no time to be crying over anything. The paper in my hand was evidence that Brian was my child.For a second, I was lost in thoughts again; the bang on my door brought me back to reality. I fluttered my lashes a thousand times trying to get out of what I was thinking."Who is there?" I folded the paper in two halves and put it in my safe."Lucas!" Mom's sounded terrifying.I scoffed and reached for the doo
CHLOE'S POVIt has been a busy day trying to figure out where and when to begin the whole plan with Kelvin "I can't wait for him to get more frustrated." I smiled as I shook my glass slowly before pouring the content into my mouth.There was this joy leaping in my heart, I felt less stress when I realized that I was actually getting everything under control.My sleepless nights weren't a bad night after all. I will use them to fight against those that said I was weak...One of them is dead already."Ma'am, your coffee." One of the men handed over the cup of coffee to me."This is warm.." I took the cup from him and took a sip and continued with what I had to admire."Just like she died like a puppet, just looking, she begged for Mercy, and she found none. I will make every one of them be that way." I clenched my teeth.My phone vibrated, I felt reluctant to pick it up but then I remembered that I had so many people around getting me informed about everything that was happening."Who
Claire sat across from Lucas and Prince Will in the small café near the courthouse, her hands wrapped tightly around her coffee cup. The warm steam curled into the air, but she barely felt it. Her mind was set on what she was about to say.Lucas watched her carefully, his deep honey-gold eyes filled with something unreadable. Prince Will, on the other hand, leaned back slightly, observing her with quiet curiosity.Claire took a deep breath. “I’ve made a decision,” she said finally.Lucas’s jaw tightened slightly. “What decision?”Claire exhaled. “I’m moving away. I’m taking Brian with me to another city.”Silence.Lucas’s entire body went still. PrinceWill raised an eyebrow but said nothing.Lucas’s fingers tapped against the table once, twice, before curling into a fist. “You’re taking Brian away from me?”Claire swallowed hard. “Lucas, after everything that happened… I need a fresh start. Brian needs a fresh start. He deserves to live in a place where he isn’t constantly looking ove
Claire sat in the hospital waiting room, her hands clenched together so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and the soft murmurs of nurses and doctors blended into the background. But she heard none of it.All she could think about was Lucas.He had lost so much blood. The doctors had been inside the operating room for hours. Every time the doors swung open, her heart leaped into her throat, but it was never the news she wanted.Her entire body was stiff with exhaustion, but she couldn’t rest. Not when his life was hanging by a thread.She leaned forward, burying her face in her hands. “Please, just let him be okay,” she whispered to no one in particular.A sudden commotion near the nurses’ station caught her attention. Several people had gathered around the television mounted on the wall, murmuring among themselves.Claire frowned and slowly stood up, walking toward them. The screen displayed breaking news, and her heart nearly st
Lucas barely had time to react.A sharp pain exploded at the back of his head as Chloe struck him, making him stumble forward. He caught himself against the wall, breathing heavily, trying to stay steady.“Don’t move,” Chloe hissed.Lucas turned his head slightly and saw her holding a gun, her hands trembling just enough to show her nerves.“Chloe,” he said slowly, keeping his hands where she could see them. “You don’t want to do this.”Chloe let out a bitter laugh. “You think you know what I want?” Her grip tightened around the weapon. “I wanted you, Lucas. I wanted us to be together, but you threw me away like garbage!”Lucas took a cautious step forward. “You know that’s not true.”“Don’t lie to me!” Chloe shouted, her breath ragged. “You chose her. You always chose her!”Lucas exhaled, forcing himself to remain calm. One wrong move and this could end badly.“I didn’t choose anyone, Chloe. This isn’t about that. It’s about you making the wrong choices,” Lucas said, his voice steady.
Kelvin sat in the interrogation room, his hands cuffed to the table, sweat dripping down his forehead. The walls felt like they were closing in, and the harsh overhead light made it impossible to escape the cold, hard truth—he was caught.Across from him, PrinceWill leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His gaze was sharp, unwavering.“Let’s try this again,” PrinceWill said. “Who else was involved?”Kelvin licked his dry lips. “I already told you everything.”PrinceWill tapped a pen against the table. “Lying won’t help you, Kelvin.”Kelvin clenched his jaw, looking away.PrinceWill sighed. “We already have enough to put you away for a long time. The only thing that’ll make your life easier is if you cooperate.”Kelvin’s fingers twitched. He knew he didn’t have a way out of this.“Fine,” he muttered. “Chloe.”PrinceWill didn’t react, but his grip on the pen tightened. “Go on.”Kelvin exhaled heavily. “She planned everything. She was the one who arranged for Brian to be taken to the
PrinceWill sat in his office, his eyes fixed on the stack of reports in front of him. The search for Brian had gone cold, and frustration was eating him alive. Claire had been coming to the station every single day, her face pale with exhaustion, her eyes swollen from endless crying. It hurt to see her like that.He had promised to help her. He couldn’t fail.A knock on the door made him glance up. One of his officers stepped in, looking hesitant.“Sir, we still haven’t recovered any CCTV footage from the night Brian was taken. It’s like everything was wiped clean,” the officer said.PrinceWill let out a slow breath, rubbing his temples. “There has to be something. No way a child disappears in a city like this without leaving a trace.”The officer sighed. “We’ve checked all nearby buildings. All footage was mysteriously deleted.”PrinceWill clenched his jaw. This wasn’t a coincidence. Someone had done this on purpose.“Sir,” another officer peeked into the room, his expression tense.
Chloe smirked as she looked through the small window into the children’s area.Brian was sitting alone, his little face filled with sadness.Soon, he would be out of the picture for good.And Claire would never see him again.Brian kicked his legs slowly as he sat on the wooden bench inside the orphanage playroom, watching the other children run around. He didn’t want to play. He didn’t want to be here.He wanted his mother.Tears stung his eyes, but he blinked them away. His mom always told him to be strong. But how could he be strong when he was stuck in this place with no idea when he would see her again?Then he saw her.His little heart pounded as he spotted the familiar blonde-haired woman walking through the hallway, her heels clicking against the floor.Chloe.She was the one who brought him here.She knew where his mother was.Brian jumped up, his small feet moving as fast as they could. He ran toward her just as she was about to step into an office.“Miss… please.”Chloe sto
Lucas stormed into his office, his entire body rigid with anger. His assistant, Mark, stood near his desk, looking anxious.“You need to see this,” Mark said, handing Lucas a file.Lucas barely glanced at it before slamming it onto the desk. “Tell me what happened.”Mark hesitated. “Kelvin called for a vote. He convinced the board members that your absence was harming the company.”Lucas’s eyes darkened. “And they listened?”Mark swallowed. “Most of them. But I called Camila.”Lucas’s jaw clenched at the name.Camila.His former love interest.It had been years since they last spoke, but she still held significant power in the company after inheriting her late father’s shares.Mark continued, “She arrived just before the final vote. As soon as she voted no, the others started reconsidering. Almost all of them joined her.”Lucas exhaled slowly, his hands tightening into fists.“So I’m still CEO.”Mark nodded. “Yes. But Kelvin isn’t backing down. He acted like nothing happened, said he’
Lucas lay on his bed, his body burning with fever. His head felt like it was splitting in two, his muscles weak, his throat dry. He barely had the strength to lift his arm, let alone get up. The room was dimly lit, curtains drawn shut, and the air was thick with silence.He had ignored his health for too long. Days without eating properly, sleepless nights filled with stress, and now his body had given up on him.A cold hand touched his forehead, and he groaned, shifting slightly.“Shh,” a soft voice murmured. “Just rest, Lucas. That’s all your body needs for now. Stop fighting it.”He forced his heavy eyelids open, his vision blurry. A figure sat beside him, a damp cloth in her hand. He blinked, trying to focus.Chloe? He wondered as his body tensed immediately.“What… are you doing here?” His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.Chloe gave him a small smile, pressing the cloth against his forehead. “Taking care of you.”Lucas tried to move, but his limbs felt too weak. “How di
Chloe pulled her coat tighter around her body as she stepped out of the car. The orphanage stood before her, an old brick building with a rusted iron gate. Children played in the front yard, their laughter ringing through the air. The sight made her sick.She wasn’t here for charity.With a confident stride, she walked through the entrance, where a woman in a long, dark dress stood behind a desk. The woman, Sister Agnes, looked up from a pile of papers, adjusting her glasses as Chloe approached.“Good afternoon,” Sister Agnes greeted, offering a warm smile. “How may I help you?”Chloe forced a sad expression onto her face, lowering her gaze. “I’m here to… to give my son up for adoption.”Sister Agnes’s smile faltered. “Oh, dear. That must be very difficult for you.”Chloe let out a dramatic sigh. “It is,” she whispered, looking down as if holding back tears. “I love him so much, but I can’t give him the life he deserves.”Sister Agnes reached across the desk, gently touching Chloe’s