Zoe’s mouth hung open, her throat too tight to let out a sound. Her eyes widened in horror. What the hell is Bryan doing here?The devilish smirk on his face made her blood run cold.“Where is Livia?” His voice was ice—sharp, dangerous. A shiver ran down Zoe’s spine as she instinctively took a step back. Her gaze darted across the floor, looking anywhere but at him.Bryan’s stare darkened. That was all he needed. Livia was inside.Zoe swallowed hard. Keeping her best friend hidden from a monster like Bryan was a deadly gamble.“Li…Li..Livia?” she stammered, hoping to stall, but Bryan’s growl sent a wave of terror through her. She clenched her fists, willing herself not to tremble. She knew what he was capable of. If Bryan found Livia, it would be the end for her.His jaw tightened. “I swear, you won’t live to tell the story, Zoe. If you dare lie to my face, I’ll peel your skin off and feed it to my dogs.”Zoe’s legs nearly gave out beneath her. He wasn’t bluffing.Her thoughts race
Logan stared in disbelief. “Vena?” His voice trembled, his mind refusing to accept what he was seeing.Mia stirred, her surroundings blurry before they gradually became clear. A sharp pain throbbed in her forehead, and when she reached up, she felt a bandage wrapped around it. She winced and let out a soft groan. Only then did she realize she wasn’t alone.“Vena!” Logan called again, his eyes filled with emotion.Mia’s heart pounded as she saw the unfamiliar man. Panic shot through her, and she scrambled to sit up, keeping a safe distance. “Who the hell are you? Where am I?” Her voice shook with confusion.Logan’s expression faltered. “Vena, don’t you recognize me? It’s me, your Cute Berry. You can’t have forgotten me.”Mia narrowed her eyes. “Listen, Mister, I don’t know what you’re talking about. My name is Mia, not Vena. And I’ve never met you before.” She scoffed, but his words—your Cute Berry—nagged at the back of her mind. Why would I call him that?Logan’s face fell. “No… Y
Mia’s heart pounded as she stared at the man before her, struggling to process his words.“What?” she shrieked, her pulse racing. “You expect me to believe that?”Doubt clouded her mind, but something deep inside whispered that this man wasn’t lying. Why would he go through the trouble of making up such an elaborate story? What could he possibly gain?Logan exhaled, his gaze locked onto hers. “I know this is hard for you to believe, Vena. You probably think I’m trying to trick you, but I swear, I’m not. Seeing you alive and well is a miracle. The only thing that could make me happier is if you remembered me—your Cute Berry.” His voice softened with longing. “Not a single day has passed where I haven’t thought about you, wishing—praying—you were alive somewhere.”Mia tensed as he placed his hand over hers. She glanced at the contact but, to her surprise, didn’t pull away. There was a strange familiarity in his touch, as if they had once shared something unspoken.She lifted her gaz
Logan stepped out of the room and immediately placed a call to the restaurant to order Mia’s meal. He had no intention of returning to her room until her food arrived, and besides, she needed some breathing space.He walked to the balcony, where two chairs and a table were neatly arranged. Pulling out a chair, he sat down, his mind racing with thoughts of the unexpected changes.How had Vena escaped her mother’s wrath? Why wasn’t her mother after her? Something didn’t add up. He needed to find out if she was dead or still alive. If she was still out there, Vena’s life could be in danger again.“Boss, the delivery is here,” one of his bodyguards announced, holding the package in his hands.“Bring it here and set it up properly. I’ll be back shortly,” Logan instructed, rising from his seat and heading toward Mia’s room.As he entered, he found her sleeping, but something seemed off. Her body trembled slightly, and sweat covered her face. She appeared restless, as though trapped in a
Bryan stood with his hands crossed behind him, gazing into the darkness of the night. Anger boiled within him, and yet, he couldn’t understand why.Why am I angry? Mia is nothing to me, right? Then why does my heart keep saying otherwise?Frustration clawed at him. If only he could force his heart to forget her, things would be much simpler.“Boss, he’s here,” Phillip announced from behind him.Bryan didn’t turn around. “Bring him in,” he ordered, his voice cold and controlled.Phillip bowed slightly before hurrying away. Moments later, a man dressed entirely in black—black suit, black shirt, black shoes—stepped onto the balcony.“Greetings, Lord Bryan,” Kelvin said, his tone respectful.Bryan finally turned to face him. “You made it back to town quickly after my call. Good.” His voice was stern, giving nothing away.Kelvin smiled, unfazed by Bryan’s usual lack of warmth. “Of course, Lord Bryan. When you call, I’ll always be here in a jiffy.” He snapped his fingers to emphasize his w
Zoe’s eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the stark whiteness surrounding her. A plain white ceiling stretched above her, and the walls were just as unembellished. Confusion settled in. This wasn’t her apartment—her walls weren’t all white. Panic gripped her chest. Where the hell was she?A dull ache throbbed in her head, making her wince as she attempted to lift her left hand to massage her temple. But the moment she tried, something held her back. A sharp tug.Her eyes darted toward the source, and that was when she saw it—a needle pierced her hand, connected to a drip. A machine beside her emitted a steady beeping sound. The realization sent her pulse racing.Her heart pounded against her ribs. She struggled to remember how she got here, but her mind was a frustrating blank. A hospital. That much was clear. But why?Before she could piece together her fragmented thoughts, the door swung open. A woman in a white lab coat strode in, her smile bright and reassuring.“Miss Zoe, yo
Mia stretched out her arms, letting the cool evening breeze wash over her. The park was lively, filled with children running around, their laughter ringing through the air. It was a simple, beautiful moment—one she wanted to savor.She lowered her arms, smiling as she watched the kids chase each other, their joy contagious. A sigh escaped her lips as she glanced around, her gaze searching. “Why is that mister taking so long?” She tapped her foot impatiently, scanning the area for a glimpse of him.“Hey, are you missing me already?”A deep voice spoke behind her, making her flinch.Mia turned sharply, her hand flying to her chest. “What did you do that for? You scared me, mister!” she scolded, frowning at Logan.Logan chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Sorry about that, Vena. I didn’t mean to.” He handed her a cup of ice cream and a stick of meatballs. “Also, can you please stop calling me ‘mister’? It feels weird.”Mia popped a meatball into her mouth before respondin
Mrs. Johnson Chapman sat back in her chair, her sharp eyes appraising Fiona from head to toe. A pleased smile tugged at her lips. “You look stunning, Fiona,” she said, her voice warm with approval.Fiona’s face lit up with delight. Compliments from Mrs. Johnson always made her feel special, but today, it meant even more. This was supposed to be the day she finally took the first step toward her dream. “Thanks, Aunt,” she said, her voice brimming with excitement. She spun around slightly, taking in the lavish closet around her. Every fabric, every dress, every piece of jewelry had been carefully selected for this moment.“Aunt, when are we going to start shooting?” Fiona asked eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation. This was her childhood dream coming true, and now that she was so close, she didn’t want any delays. She had spent hours getting ready, making sure everything was perfect. The thought of standing in front of the cameras, dazzling in her designer outfit, sent a
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