“Nooooooo!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.I was sure it was too loud that my voice must have echoed even across the other rooms from where I was confined.Yes, I found myself waking up from what seemed to be a horrifying nightmare. It was just like that dream I had before but this time, it was truly a horrifying nightmare that I don’t wish to see again.I even had to pinch my face right away the moment I woke up just to make sure I was already in my reality. The pain I felt was surely enough to convince me that I was already up in the reality.It wasn’t even that long when Aunt Lou came rushing back inside to see me. “Marga? Child, are you alright? What’s the matter? We heard you screaming from outside.” She urgently stated the moment she was able to walk towards my side.Aunt Lou quickly held my hand and it was the right kind of warmth I was yearning to feel ever since I woke up from that horrible dream. The moment compelled me to feel the urgency to hug her right away. Aunt L
I was still trying to absorb everything that Aunt Lou had just said. I couldn’t possibly bear the thought that the dream I was fearing actually came true.“But how?” I said as my head continued to slowly sway from left to right, still not trying to accept the nightmare that now turned out to be real.Aunt Lou held my hand together as she still wept in sorrow. “When I found you inside the comfort room, you were already unconscious and your thighs were covered in blood. I tried my best to bring you here as quickly as I could to save the baby but it was too late.”And as soon as Aunt Lou said that to me, I immediately felt like the whole room was slowly shrinking and squeezing between. It was as if everything around me was making me suffocate that I could not really breathe normally at all.I could very well see Aunt lou talking to me, her mouth continuously moves and I could not even hear anything she says. It was echoing but was too unclear for me to hear. Her words almost sounded like
Aunt Lou’s head shook slight as reaction depicts how she knew that Regina would really have the capability of doing that against me.“That bitch did that to you?” She asked.And I was able to muster up the energy to reply, “From what I could remember, we had crossed paths when I used the bathroom. I didn’t knew she was there until I got out of the cubicle. I really didn’t want to argue with her but she triggered to, and it ended up in violent way where she slammed me quite hard against the wall. The impact was so hard that my belly got hit so intense and even my head was badly hurt, making me instantly felt dizzy. And before I could even fully lost my consciousness, I heard her screaming blood.”“That must have really caused a great impact on you miscarriage but I think what made you lost the baby was because no help was extended to you. You said that that bitch Regina screamed blood before you lost your consciousness, isn’t that right? Then, if she knew that you are bleeding, she wou
More days passed that I lost track that it had already been over weeks now since I lost my child through a miscarriage. And yet, for some reason the pain was still here and won’t fade away. It hurts the most when you know that you could no longer be able to see your baby that you had been praying to have for so long. I had wished for that baby to come for so long, and now I won’t be able to have the chance to hug him ever.I was still in the middle of my thoughts when all of a sudden, Aunt Lou came from behind me. She was carrying a tray with two cups of coffee. “I see you woke up quite early today.” Aunt Lou swiftly told me the moment that she was able to get a comfy sitting position. Aunt Lou was usually wearing her bubbly face once more and I knew that she would try her best to cheer me up today. We usually do this around in the morning before she prepares to head out for her daily appointments.There are days when I feel like a burden for my aunt knowing that she was already bu
I have pondered that perhaps Aunt Lou could really be right after all. Choosing to stay her would only make me suffer more and recall about the incident of my miscarriage. It was something that still haunted me now in my everyday life. Which was why, I somehow wish to believe that what Aunt Lou told me would really help me in a way.“Could my decision about moving to Vancouver wait?” I abruptly said that caused Aunt Lou to abruptly draw back a bit with a little taken aback face. “May I know why?” she inquired.At first, I was uncertain about telling her all about it. Especially after what happened, I knew that she would only be upset that it was for this reason why I want to delay the plan to move to Vancouver.However, I knew that I must secure putting the connection between me and ex-husband into a closure. Aside from that, I wanted to make sure that I get all the terms that I asked of Justin.It was for that reason I still prefer to be left behind so that I could work on it. This
I am filled with an overwhelming wave of anger, surpassing mere surprise. It is truly disheartening to witness the Montefalcos' insatiable greed, going so far as to strip my late parents of their beloved medical center. "Those heartless individuals will stop at nothing until they have taken everything you hold dear." Aunt Lou expressed her frustration. Learning about the news must have truly ignited her anger. "The medical center is now under our management, and it is unbelievable that anyone would even attempt to claim it from us," she exclaimed with a mix of frustration and disbelief. I sensed that her anger surpassed my own. It came as no surprise that her reaction was as expected, considering Aunt Lou and her husband had taken charge of everything at the medical facility after my parents passed away.Naturally, they have every reason to be furious about the Montefalcos' desires. “We can’t let them get away with this. Do you happen to know a reliable lawyer we could consult for
“It’s you?!” I exclaimed, seeing that it was just none other than the same man, that perverted man, whom I encountered when I disguised as a nurse at the medical facility.He was able to stand up straight as though he had not been severely wounded before. I guess he must have recovered from that wound. I kind of envy him, the wound he had has already healed, whereas mine would probably take a long time, probably never at all, to heal."Oh, look who it is. The nurse who took care of me. What are you doing here all by yourself?” He asked. And just like he did before, he was acting to casual with me again. Still seething with anger from the near collision, I could not help but feel the urge to confront him. "Do not you dare divert the issue here," I said, unable to contain my frustration. You nearly got me killed just now! I vented at him.The man eventually raised his hands before his chest, as though indicating that he surrendered. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry but I was in a bit of a hurry
“Please don’t hurt me.” Was the only thing that came out of my mouth as the homeless lunatic woman threatened me with the knife in her hand.I was totally scared, my whole body shaking from the fear that had quickly enveloped me. I suddenly began to feel fear about my life. Like since I was stuck in this isolated road with no one to rescue me, only miracle could tell that this lunatic woman wouldn’t hurt me.“Give me all your money now!” The lunatic woman’s stinky breath almost made me puke as she screamed before my face. This also made me instantly cry as I beg for her mercy.In that instant, I immediately pulled my bag to get my purse but before I could even open it, the lunatic woman was swift to take it from me. “Give me that, you dimwit!” I feel so helpless at the moment, it was like my life now depends on if I would give her all my money. Apparently, it would seem that the lunatic woman was so disappointed finding out that the purse was actually empty. “What the hell? Why is i
Nathan Calloway had always exuded a quiet menace, the kind that made people instinctively lower their gaze and step aside. But today, he didn’t bother with subtlety. He stood in my path like a hunter savoring his victory, his dark suit crisp, his expression one of smug satisfaction.“Margarette,” he said smoothly, like we were old friends. “Going somewhere?”I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. My heart was pounding, but I couldn’t let him see my fear.“I was just leaving,” I said, stepping sideways.He moved with me, blocking my way. Behind him, two of his men stood by the black car, watching. Waiting.“Now, now,” Nathan murmured, tilting his head. “Let’s not make this difficult. We both know how this ends.”A cold rush of adrenaline flooded my veins. I could fight. I could run. But neither would get me far.Leon’s voice came through my earpiece, low and urgent. “Margarette, I’m coming. Stall.”I swallowed. “If you know everything, why are yo
Elise Grant was a woman born into privilege, but privilege came with its own kind of chains. She had spent her life learning how to play the game, but now she was realizing that the rules had changed—and I was the one rewriting them.I watched her disappear into the fog, but I knew she wouldn't be able to walk away from this. Not entirely. People like Elise didn’t just sit back and watch their world collapse—they fought, even when they didn’t know who the real enemy was yet.Leon let out a quiet sigh, his fingers flexing against his side. "She’s going to struggle with this."Dorian smirked. "Good. People make the best decisions when they think they don’t have any other choice."I pulled my coat tighter around me. The air was damp, the salty ocean breeze mixing with the lingering scent of gasoline from the fishing boats docked nearby. "She’s going to reach out again soon."Leon’s gaze flicked to me. "How can you be so sure?""Because she’s smart," I said simply. "And because she’s terr
The wind whipped through my hair as I watched Elise disappear into the night. A thrill ran through me, a mix of victory and anticipation. She had taken the bait, but we weren’t in the clear yet. Not by a long shot.Leon and Dorian flanked me, their expressions unreadable. The three of us stood in silence for a beat, the ocean waves crashing against the wooden pier below us.“She’s scared,” Dorian finally muttered, lighting a cigarette. The flame illuminated his sharp features for a moment before fading into the night. “Which is good. Fear makes people predictable.”Leon’s gaze remained fixed on the path Elise had taken. His jaw clenched, his thoughts miles ahead of us. “Fear also makes people desperate.”I turned to him. “You think she’ll run to her father?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted his stance, slipping his hands into the pockets of his coat. “Not immediately. She’s smart enough to know that if she tips him off too soon, she’s collateral damage.”I nodded. “The
The moment Elise Grant’s fingers touched mine, I knew I had her attention. She was a woman who played in circles of power, who measured every interaction with precision. A single misstep could cost her everything.I held onto her hand for just a fraction longer than necessary, letting the weight of my words settle between us. Then, with a small, knowing smile, I withdrew, lifting my champagne flute to my lips.“Margarette,” Elise repeated, as if testing how my name felt on her tongue. “I don’t believe I’ve heard of you before.”I chuckled softly. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”Elise tilted her head, intrigued but guarded. “And what exactly do you do, Margarette?”I swirled the champagne in my glass, watching the golden bubbles rise to the surface. “I help people see things they’ve overlooked.” I lifted my eyes to hers. “Or things they’ve been kept from seeing.”Her smile didn’t waver, but something in her gaze sharpened. “That sounds dangerously close to a threat.”“Not a threat.” I to
The black SUV moved through the city under the cover of darkness, the tension inside as thick as the fog rolling in from the harbor. I sat in the passenger seat, my fingers drumming against my thigh, my gaze fixed on the glittering skyline ahead. Leon drove in silence, his grip tight on the wheel, while Dorian lounged in the backseat, casually checking his watch as if we weren’t about to walk into one of the most dangerous plays of our lives.“Elise Grant won’t be easy to approach,” Dorian mused, breaking the silence. “She’s got bodyguards, a strict schedule, and enough privilege to think she’s untouchable.”“That’s what makes her blind to threats,” Leon countered. “She’s never had a reason to look over her shoulder.”I exhaled slowly, my mind racing through the details of the plan. Elise would be attending a charity gala tonight, hosted at a high-end hotel owned by one of her father’s associates. It was the perfect opportunity to get close, to plant the seeds of doubt in her mind. Th
The cabin felt smaller now. Maybe it was the presence of this new stranger, or maybe it was the way my nerves coiled tighter with every passing second. Either way, the moment Dorian stepped inside, I felt it—the shift in the air.I gripped the revolver tighter, even as I pushed the door shut.Leon emerged from the hallway, still holding his phone, his dark eyes sharp as they flickered between me and Dorian. He didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked… resigned."Dorian." Leon’s voice was clipped. "You took your time."The stranger—Dorian—chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Traffic," he said, as if that explained everything. His green eyes met mine again, studying me with a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t quite name.I didn’t trust him."You’re staring," I said flatly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.Dorian grinned, unbothered. "Just making sure you’re as sharp as Leon said.""Flattery isn’t going to make me lower the gun."Leon exhaled, pi
The car ride was silent except for the occasional hum of the tires against the pavement. Lillian sat in the driver’s seat, her hands steady on the wheel, eyes flicking between the road ahead and the rearview mirror. Every so often, I followed her gaze, expecting to catch sight of a shadow trailing behind us.Nothing.Yet the unease in my chest refused to settle.Leon had sent one of his private drivers to pick us up outside of town, just past the tree-lined outskirts where the city lights faded into darkness. The safe house was in an undisclosed location—secluded, heavily secured, and supposedly impenetrable. But after everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could believe in impenetrable anymore.Aunt Lou had been hesitant to let me go, but she knew staying behind was too dangerous. Uncle George had slipped a small revolver into my bag before I left, whispering instructions in a firm voice I had never heard from him before."Use it if you have to. Don’t hesitate."Now, as the he
i sat in the dimly lit room, my fingers trembling slightly as I clutched the warm cup of tea Aunt Lou had prepared for me. The fragrant steam curled upward, but even the soothing aroma couldn’t quiet the storm raging in my mind.No matter how tightly I wrapped myself in the comfort of my aunt’s presence, my thoughts remained restless, tangled with fear and uncertainty. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing—Leon, his jaw tight with determination, refusing to back down no matter the danger. His need to uncover the truth had set us on a treacherous path, and with Alexa hidden away for her safety, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.Sleep had been a distant dream for the past few nights. Every creak of the house, every gust of wind against the window, sent my heart racing. I knew I was being watched. Maybe not now, in this moment, but somewhere out there, someone’s eyes were on me.A soft knock at the door shattered my thoughts.Aunt Lou
The room remained silent for a moment, heavy with the weight of what Lillian had just revealed. My mind raced, processing the implications of the forged document. Justin wasn’t just trying to intimidate me—he was trying to erase my claim entirely, to make it look like I had given up willingly.I clenched my fists, my pulse pounding in my ears. “How did you get this?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.Lillian exhaled sharply, pulling out a USB drive from her pocket and placing it on the table. “An informant within Justin’s circle leaked these to me. They overheard him discussing his next steps—he’s preparing to launder the stolen assets and shift everything offshore. If we don’t act now, your parents’ properties will be out of reach forever.”Uncle George muttered another curse under his breath. Aunt Lou, pale and shaken, placed a protective hand over mine. “What do we do now?” she asked, looking at me as if I had the answers.I swallowed hard, then turned to Lillian. “Do we have