EIGHTEENGreg stood under the shade of a large tree, his posture a mix of impatience and fatigue. The quiet of the night was occasionally interrupted by the distant sounds of the city. "The duration of the movie should be over, right?" Greg muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes wearily. "Nevermind, I’ll watch a few more." He shrugged, settling in to wait for his boss and Talia to finish their business.***Inside the office, the ambient light from Talia’s desk lamp cast a warm glow on her focused face as she typed diligently. Her concentration was shattered when Malia burst into the room, practically slamming a document onto her desk. The sudden noise jolted Talia, and she looked up, her surprise evident in her wide eyes."Talia!" Malia’s voice cut through the air like a blade. Her face was flushed with anger, her eyes narrow slits. "Who gave you the courage to slack off in the middle of a crucial project? Do you know how important Mr. Bernard's project is? If you can’t handle it, the
NINETEENMalia stormed into Marco’s office without knocking, her face contorted with anger. Marco didn’t even glance up from his computer.“How many times have I told you to knock before barging into my office?” he said coldly, fingers still flying across the keyboard.But Malia was in no mood to listen. She strutted toward him, her hips swaying seductively, and reached for his tie, straightening it as though she had every right to. "I only told Talia to speak politely with Mr. Bernard about the project. But they all bullied me!" she cried, leaning over him to hug him from behind. Tears welled in her eyes, but there was a wicked glint underneath them. She pressed herself against him, hoping to provoke a reaction. Marco remained still, his face impassive, refusing to acknowledge her physical presence. His fingers stilled on the keyboard when Malia whispered, "Your brother Leo… he seems to be protecting Talia a lot these days."
TWENTYTalia opened the door and stepped out, with Leo right behind her. Marco’s piercing eyes locked onto her, but she refused to show any sign of fear.“Boss, I tried—” Greg stammered, attempting to explain, but Leo raised a hand, silencing him.“It’s fine, Greg. We were only talking business,” Leo said calmly, his gaze never leaving Marco.“Marco, have you arranged the handover of Malia’s responsibilities to the supervisor?” Leo asked, his voice firm.Marco smirked, ignoring the question. “Leo, I have something to discuss with Talia,” he said.Leo chuckled softly. “Oh? Can’t you discuss it here if it’s business? Or is it something that shouldn’t be heard by others?” His words were sharp, a challenge lingering in the air.Marco’s smirk faded as he grabbed Talia’s hand, but she quickly shook it off.“Don’t touch me. I can walk on my own,” she snapped. Marco nodded, steppi
TWENTY ONE**Flashback...**Talia sat beside her mother, her head bleeding, tears streaming down her face. Thick smoke billowed from the car’s hood, and blood stained every corner of the vehicle. “Ta...Talia,” her mother’s voice was weak, barely a whisper. “Please, take care of yourself.” Blood gushed from her mouth, her life slipping away.“No, Mom... please stop talking. I’ll call for help... You can’t die!” Talia sobbed, holding her mother’s trembling hand, desperate to stop the inevitable.“I love you,” her mother whispered, her hand slowly slipping from Talia’s grasp. In the next moment, she was gone.“Mom! Mommy, no, please don’t leave me!” Talia screamed, shaking her mother’s lifeless body in denial.Through her tears, she saw a blurry figure—a man appeared in front of her. He gently lifted her mother’s body out of the wreckage. Moments later, he returned, carrying Talia in his
TWENTY TWOLeo stopped halfway and turned back to face her, his expression dark and brooding. His eyes narrowed slightly, but Talia kept her composure, not showing any sign of concern. Her blank expression seemed to irk him even more."So, the chicken is more important than my feelings for you?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as a mocking smile crept onto his lips.Talia blinked, surprised by his sudden outburst. "Wait, you're angry? Why are you so angry?" she asked, confusion evident in her voice.Leo let out a bitter laugh, his shoulders shaking with the intensity of it, but there was no humor in his eyes. His laughter was dark, unsettling, as though he were mocking her for not understanding the depth of his frustration. Without answering, he turned and began walking away."Hey, stop laughing like that! Your laugh is scary!" Talia called after him, but Leo didn’t stop. He kept walking, his strides pur
The hospital reeked of antiseptic and tension. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow on the white-tiled floors as Leo and Talia approached the reception desk. Talia’s heart pounded as she asked the nurse for Marco’s room, her voice barely concealing the trembling anxiety underneath."Room 302, Donovan family," the nurse directed them. Talia thanked her, her voice soft and strained, as Leo placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her toward the room.As they entered, the sight of Marco lying unconscious in the hospital bed sent a shockwave through Talia’s system. His head was wrapped in white gauze, a stark contrast to his pale complexion. His arms and legs were bandaged, though the injuries didn’t appear life-threatening. Talia’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes welling up with tears.Beside the bed, Marco’s mother, Mrs. Donovan, sat rigidly in her chair, her face a mask of stoic worry. Talia’s father stood nearby, his expression gri
TWENTY FOURLeo took a few slow, deliberate steps toward Marco, his eyes dark and piercing. His hand came down on Marco’s shoulder, a firm pat that felt more like a threat than comfort. Marco shifted uneasily, trying to steady his breath, but the air felt heavy between them. Leo leaned in, his face so close that Marco could feel the heat of his breath. Marco coughed slightly, his throat tightening under the weight of Leo’s closeness."You know what I despise the most?" Leo’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried a venomous edge. His eyes never left Marco's, sharp and accusing. "Thieves."Marco’s brows furrowed in confusion, his heartbeat quickening."People who greedily steal what doesn't belong to them," Leo continued, his voice rising with fury. His jaw clenched as he spoke, each word dripping with contempt. "And then they sit there, at ease, enjoying all the benefits. They forget about the *real* glory of the person who *earned* it."Marco stiffened as Leo’s grip on his s
TWENTY FIVETalia lowered her head, her entire body trembling with fear. She tried to steady her breath, but the weight of Mrs. Donovan’s gaze made her feel like she was suffocating. Every muscle in her body tensed, but she couldn’t find the strength to lift her eyes. The silence between them only fueled Mrs. Donovan’s fury, and Talia could hear the sharp intake of her breath.Mrs. Donovan’s face contorted with anger, her nostrils flaring as she stared down at Talia. "You already *knew*, didn’t you?" Mrs. Donovan hissed, her voice shaking with rage.Talia’s lips parted, but the words barely escaped in a whisper. "Yes, Mother. I knew."The calmness in Talia’s voice only seemed to ignite Mrs. Donovan’s fury further. She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white as she took a step closer, looming over Talia."If it wasn’t for that car accident..." Mrs. Donovan’s voice rose, each word cutting through the air like a blade. "I