The moment Bryan left, Mrs. Chapman turned to Mia, stretching her arms as she sighed.“The sun is already setting. We should go inside before it gets too cold,” she said, brushing her damp hands against the towel draped over the pool chair.Mia, still busy licking her ice cream, let out a small hum. “Do we have to? It’s so nice out here.”Mrs. Chapman gave her a look. “Yes, we do. You’re not planning to sleep by the pool, are you?”Mia pouted but reluctantly got up from the poolside, grabbing a towel and tying it around her waist. “Fine, fine. But I’m taking my ice cream with me,” she said, taking another spoonful as they walked inside.Mrs. Chapman chuckled. “At this rate, you’ll end up getting a brain freeze.”Mia grinned. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”As they entered the house, their conversation shifted to random topics.“You know,” Mrs. Chapman started, wiping her damp hands with a smaller towel, “I’ve been meaning to ask—have you given any more thought to that charity ga
Mia was deep in sleep, curled up comfortably under the thick blankets, when a soft but persistent knock sounded at her door. She stirred slightly, frowning as she tried to cling to sleep, but the knocking came again. Groaning, she sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes before muttering, “It’s open.”The door creaked open, and Mrs. Chapman stepped inside, looking as lively as ever. She was already dressed, her hair neatly pinned up, and she had a warm smile on her face.“Wakey, wakey, my dear. It’s morning already,” she said in a cheerful tone.Mia yawned, stretching her arms lazily before smiling. “Good morning, Mom.”“Good morning, sweetheart. Now, hurry and freshen up. We have shopping to do today, remember?”Mia’s sleepy brain took a moment to catch up, but as soon as Mrs. Chapman mentioned shopping, her eyes widened slightly. She remembered their conversation the previous night—how they had planned to go shopping for the babies today.“Oh, that’s right,” Mia murmured, rubbing her stom
The moment Bryan and his crew arrived at the luxurious five-star hotel in Mexico, they were escorted to their respective rooms. The hotel was nothing short of extravagant, with marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows that offered breathtaking views of the city, and soft golden lighting that gave the entire place a warm, elegant feel.Bryan pushed open the door to his suite and stepped inside. The room was spacious, with a king-sized bed neatly made with crisp white sheets, a seating area with plush sofas, and a minibar stocked with expensive drinks. A large flat-screen TV hung on the wall opposite the bed, and a door led to an en-suite bathroom that had both a bathtub and a glass-enclosed shower.He tossed his duffel bag onto the bed and stretched his arms. It had been a long flight, and even though he wasn’t one to complain, he was grateful to have some time to rest before the concert later that evening. Just as he was about to sit down, his phone vibrated with a message.“Get s
Bryan stepped out of the elevator and into the grand hotel lobby, adjusting his jacket as he walked toward the entrance. The space was buzzing with soft music, elegant chandeliers casting a golden glow over the pristine marble floor. His eyes immediately landed on Lincoln and Raymond, who were already waiting with the man assigned to take them around.Lincoln, as usual, was the first to react when he saw Bryan approaching.“Damn, bro!” Lincoln grinned, stepping forward and giving Bryan’s outfit an exaggerated once-over. “You look like you just walked straight out of a fashion magazine. Our manager really outdid himself this time.”Raymond, standing beside him with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement. “For once, I gotta admit he got it right. These outfits are fire.”Bryan smirked slightly. “You just realized he knows what he’s doing?”Raymond chuckled. “Man, I always knew, but you know me, I love to act like I don’t. Gotta keep the man humble.”The guy who was supposed to take t
The ride back to the hotel was suffocating. The silence inside the van was thick, pressing down on everyone like a heavy weight. Bryan sat at the back, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. His pulse was still erratic, his hands curled into fists on his lap. Every time he blinked, flashes of what had just happened replayed in his mind—the gunshots, the chaos, the panic.It wasn’t something new to him, but then, he was never expecting it at his concert.Philip was in the front seat, his sharp eyes scanning the streets through the windshield. Lincoln and Raymond sat across from Bryan, their usual easygoing demeanor nowhere in sight. Instead, they were both staring blankly, lost in their thoughts.Nobody spoke.When the van finally pulled up in front of the hotel, security was already waiting. The guards were on high alert, their gazes sweeping the area for any signs of trouble. As Bryan stepped out, he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The grandeur of the hotel—its
Bryan stood frozen, his body rigid as the zipped-up body bags were carried away. His mind refused to process the reality before him. Lincoln. Raymond. Gone. The weight of it was suffocating. His pulse thundered in his ears, drowning out the frantic voices around him.Philip’s grip on his arm tightened. “ lord Bryan.” His voice was steady, but there was an urgency behind it. “We need to move.”Bryan couldn’t move. His legs felt cemented to the ground.“Lord Bryan,” Philip said again, firmer this time. “We don’t have time. The people who did this are still out there.”That snapped him out of his trance. He turned sharply, his entire body going rigid. The women—they were gone. He scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of them, but it was as if they had vanished into thin air.His fists clenched. “Where are they?”Philip exhaled sharply. “They slipped out the moment this happened.”Bryan’s chest burned. This wasn’t random. It wasn’t an accident. It was a message.His phone buzzed in
The mansion stood eerily silent as the black SUVs pulled up to the entrance. The gates were wide open, the security system disabled. Something was wrong.Bryan’s heart pounded violently against his ribcage as he pushed the door open and stepped out of the car. Philip was right behind him, his gun already drawn.The driveway was littered with bodies—his men, the people who had sworn to protect his home. Some lay motionless, while others groaned in pain, their hands pressed against gunshot wounds. Blood stained the marble steps leading to the grand entrance.Bryan’s breath came in short, sharp bursts. His mind screamed at him to move, to find Mia and his mother, but his legs felt frozen. His worst nightmare had come true.Philip crouched beside one of the wounded guards, gripping his shoulder. “What happened? Where are they?”The man coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “They… they came out of nowhere. We thought it was just another security check, but then… then
The night was heavy with tension as Bryan led his men into the underground tunnels beneath the city. The air was damp, filled with the scent of oil, metal, and the distant echo of dripping water. The dim glow of scattered lanterns barely illuminated their path, casting long shadows against the cold stone walls. This was a place only the most dangerous men knew existed—a world beneath the world, ruled by those who thrived in darkness.Philip walked beside Bryan, his gun in his grip, eyes scanning every corner. They weren’t alone. Figures emerged from the shadows—men with scarred faces and dead eyes, members of the underground mafia. They moved silently, their presence heavy with menace.A tall man with a thick beard and a jagged scar across his cheek stepped forward. His voice was low, gravelly.“Lord Bryan,” he acknowledged. “You don’t come here unless it’s war.” He says with a small smirk playing on his lips.Bryan’s jaw tightened. “It is. There’s war!”The man smirked, revealin
Mia stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing her hands over the wedding gown that hugged her body perfectly. She still couldn’t believe this was happening—her wedding to Lord Bryan.Mrs. Johnson, Bryan’s mother, stood beside her, admiration shining in her eyes. “You look breathtaking, my dear. This dress was made for you.”Mia bit her lip, turning slightly to examine the intricate lace details cascading down her back. “You really think so?”Mrs. Johnson chuckled. “Oh, absolutely. And trust me, my son won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”Mia blushed, warmth flooding her cheeks. After all these years, Bryan still had that effect on her. The way he looked at her, touched her, made her feel like the most precious thing in the world.Just then, the boutique door opened, and Clara, Mia’s best friend for three years, came rushing in. They had met at the supermarket and became friends after bumping into each other and their groceries spilling over.“Mia! You have to see the c
The night was heavy with tension as Bryan led his men into the underground tunnels beneath the city. The air was damp, filled with the scent of oil, metal, and the distant echo of dripping water. The dim glow of scattered lanterns barely illuminated their path, casting long shadows against the cold stone walls. This was a place only the most dangerous men knew existed—a world beneath the world, ruled by those who thrived in darkness.Philip walked beside Bryan, his gun in his grip, eyes scanning every corner. They weren’t alone. Figures emerged from the shadows—men with scarred faces and dead eyes, members of the underground mafia. They moved silently, their presence heavy with menace.A tall man with a thick beard and a jagged scar across his cheek stepped forward. His voice was low, gravelly.“Lord Bryan,” he acknowledged. “You don’t come here unless it’s war.” He says with a small smirk playing on his lips.Bryan’s jaw tightened. “It is. There’s war!”The man smirked, revealin
The mansion stood eerily silent as the black SUVs pulled up to the entrance. The gates were wide open, the security system disabled. Something was wrong.Bryan’s heart pounded violently against his ribcage as he pushed the door open and stepped out of the car. Philip was right behind him, his gun already drawn.The driveway was littered with bodies—his men, the people who had sworn to protect his home. Some lay motionless, while others groaned in pain, their hands pressed against gunshot wounds. Blood stained the marble steps leading to the grand entrance.Bryan’s breath came in short, sharp bursts. His mind screamed at him to move, to find Mia and his mother, but his legs felt frozen. His worst nightmare had come true.Philip crouched beside one of the wounded guards, gripping his shoulder. “What happened? Where are they?”The man coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “They… they came out of nowhere. We thought it was just another security check, but then… then
Bryan stood frozen, his body rigid as the zipped-up body bags were carried away. His mind refused to process the reality before him. Lincoln. Raymond. Gone. The weight of it was suffocating. His pulse thundered in his ears, drowning out the frantic voices around him.Philip’s grip on his arm tightened. “ lord Bryan.” His voice was steady, but there was an urgency behind it. “We need to move.”Bryan couldn’t move. His legs felt cemented to the ground.“Lord Bryan,” Philip said again, firmer this time. “We don’t have time. The people who did this are still out there.”That snapped him out of his trance. He turned sharply, his entire body going rigid. The women—they were gone. He scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of them, but it was as if they had vanished into thin air.His fists clenched. “Where are they?”Philip exhaled sharply. “They slipped out the moment this happened.”Bryan’s chest burned. This wasn’t random. It wasn’t an accident. It was a message.His phone buzzed in
The ride back to the hotel was suffocating. The silence inside the van was thick, pressing down on everyone like a heavy weight. Bryan sat at the back, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. His pulse was still erratic, his hands curled into fists on his lap. Every time he blinked, flashes of what had just happened replayed in his mind—the gunshots, the chaos, the panic.It wasn’t something new to him, but then, he was never expecting it at his concert.Philip was in the front seat, his sharp eyes scanning the streets through the windshield. Lincoln and Raymond sat across from Bryan, their usual easygoing demeanor nowhere in sight. Instead, they were both staring blankly, lost in their thoughts.Nobody spoke.When the van finally pulled up in front of the hotel, security was already waiting. The guards were on high alert, their gazes sweeping the area for any signs of trouble. As Bryan stepped out, he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The grandeur of the hotel—its
Bryan stepped out of the elevator and into the grand hotel lobby, adjusting his jacket as he walked toward the entrance. The space was buzzing with soft music, elegant chandeliers casting a golden glow over the pristine marble floor. His eyes immediately landed on Lincoln and Raymond, who were already waiting with the man assigned to take them around.Lincoln, as usual, was the first to react when he saw Bryan approaching.“Damn, bro!” Lincoln grinned, stepping forward and giving Bryan’s outfit an exaggerated once-over. “You look like you just walked straight out of a fashion magazine. Our manager really outdid himself this time.”Raymond, standing beside him with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement. “For once, I gotta admit he got it right. These outfits are fire.”Bryan smirked slightly. “You just realized he knows what he’s doing?”Raymond chuckled. “Man, I always knew, but you know me, I love to act like I don’t. Gotta keep the man humble.”The guy who was supposed to take t
The moment Bryan and his crew arrived at the luxurious five-star hotel in Mexico, they were escorted to their respective rooms. The hotel was nothing short of extravagant, with marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows that offered breathtaking views of the city, and soft golden lighting that gave the entire place a warm, elegant feel.Bryan pushed open the door to his suite and stepped inside. The room was spacious, with a king-sized bed neatly made with crisp white sheets, a seating area with plush sofas, and a minibar stocked with expensive drinks. A large flat-screen TV hung on the wall opposite the bed, and a door led to an en-suite bathroom that had both a bathtub and a glass-enclosed shower.He tossed his duffel bag onto the bed and stretched his arms. It had been a long flight, and even though he wasn’t one to complain, he was grateful to have some time to rest before the concert later that evening. Just as he was about to sit down, his phone vibrated with a message.“Get s
Mia was deep in sleep, curled up comfortably under the thick blankets, when a soft but persistent knock sounded at her door. She stirred slightly, frowning as she tried to cling to sleep, but the knocking came again. Groaning, she sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes before muttering, “It’s open.”The door creaked open, and Mrs. Chapman stepped inside, looking as lively as ever. She was already dressed, her hair neatly pinned up, and she had a warm smile on her face.“Wakey, wakey, my dear. It’s morning already,” she said in a cheerful tone.Mia yawned, stretching her arms lazily before smiling. “Good morning, Mom.”“Good morning, sweetheart. Now, hurry and freshen up. We have shopping to do today, remember?”Mia’s sleepy brain took a moment to catch up, but as soon as Mrs. Chapman mentioned shopping, her eyes widened slightly. She remembered their conversation the previous night—how they had planned to go shopping for the babies today.“Oh, that’s right,” Mia murmured, rubbing her stom
The moment Bryan left, Mrs. Chapman turned to Mia, stretching her arms as she sighed.“The sun is already setting. We should go inside before it gets too cold,” she said, brushing her damp hands against the towel draped over the pool chair.Mia, still busy licking her ice cream, let out a small hum. “Do we have to? It’s so nice out here.”Mrs. Chapman gave her a look. “Yes, we do. You’re not planning to sleep by the pool, are you?”Mia pouted but reluctantly got up from the poolside, grabbing a towel and tying it around her waist. “Fine, fine. But I’m taking my ice cream with me,” she said, taking another spoonful as they walked inside.Mrs. Chapman chuckled. “At this rate, you’ll end up getting a brain freeze.”Mia grinned. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”As they entered the house, their conversation shifted to random topics.“You know,” Mrs. Chapman started, wiping her damp hands with a smaller towel, “I’ve been meaning to ask—have you given any more thought to that charity ga