The next few days, Damien and Carol enjoy their honeymoon in the same country, visiting different places and cities, and enjoying it to the fullest. Since they are not communicating with anyone else, except for Damien, who sends emails to the company, they have no idea what is happening. The two-week honeymoon is almost over, and they don't even realize how fast the days have flown by. Carol especially hates that it is ending. Right now, walking in the middle of the crowded streets, holding Damien's hand and trying to find a good restaurant to enjoy the local cuisine, Carol finds her heart growing heavier. She wishes she had planned a whole month’s honeymoon instead of just two weeks. Damien, meanwhile, enjoys every single second. His love for Carol deepens, his obsession intensifies, and the thought of having her entirely never leaves him. But little does he know that while he is enjoying his life with his wife, his entire career and reputation are being demolished by his fam
Mrs. Crawley freezes mid-step as her gaze falls on Mrs. Klein, who stands rigidly with her son, flanked by two stern-faced detectives. The air around them is heavy with tension. Mrs. Klein’s face is a mask of fury, her lips pressed into a thin line of anger and frustration. Her son, Louise Klein, leans unsteadily against her, swathed in bandages. His left eye is swollen shut, and his lower lip is grotesquely split, a dried trail of blood marking the aftermath of violence. The sight twists Mrs. Crawley’s stomach into knots. Her breath catches in her throat as guilt and dread claw their way up her chest. She can already oversee the future of their unbreakable friendship. Her years of sugarcoating and maintaining a good relationship with Klein family has finally come to its end. Before she can even steady herself to approach, the scene slams into her like a nightmare made real. Her son, Harris—her pride and her greatest frustration—had done this. And now, she’s forced to face the
Mr. Crawley strides into the closet room, his tie loosened and his face a mask of exhaustion. The lines of stress etched into his features deepen as he hangs his shirt.With a sharp and hurry movement, he changes into a comfortable outfit. When Mrs. Crawley enters behind him, he stiffens, his expression shifting to one of annoyance, a hollow exhales released. He glances at her over his shoulder, his tone as cold as the look in his eyes. "I heard your son messed with the Klein family. What’s with that?" The words hit like a slap, and Mrs. Crawley swallows hard. She steps closer, clasping her hands nervously. “It was a minor fight. Kids nowadays are a bit—” “How long are you going to let him run wild?” Mr. Crawley interrupts, his voice cutting like a blade. He turns fully to face her, his posture rigid. “Mr. Klein called me himself. Your son didn’t just mess with them. He broke their son’s nose and fractured two ribs.” The air in the room turns heavy. Mrs. Crawley struggles for
Damien wakes up to the sensation of Carol’s warm breath against his chest. Her body is draped over him, her hair fanned out messily across his shoulder. A smile tugs at his lips as he wraps his arms around her, holding her tightly. Her presence feels like a balm to his soul. Content, he closes his eyes, savoring the moment, and drifts back to sleep. But his peace doesn’t last long. He stirs when he feels her fingers on his face, gently cupping it. Before he can fully comprehend, her teeth playfully nip at his bottom lip. Damien’s eyes flutter open, a chuckle escaping him as he sees Carol perched on his chest. She’s grinning mischievously, leaning down to nibble his lips again. She’s wild this morning, and Damien isn’t the least bit surprised. His hands slide to her waist, steadying her as he kisses her back, soft and slow. **Good morning, my queen,** he signs after breaking the kiss, gently brushing the tip of her nose with his finger. Carol giggles, stealing another quick kis
"How was everything while I was gone?" Damien asks as they head home. Carol looks exhausted, and as soon as she gets into the car, she falls asleep. "Everything was alright! Your father handled most of the tasks and even tried to bribe me to replace me with someone else," James chuckles while driving. He’s picking them up from the airport. "What is that supposed to mean?" Damien asks, raising an eyebrow. "What I mean is, your father wants to bring his friend's daughter into your house to replace me in my position and replace Carol as your wife. I think you understand what I’m saying!" Damien chuckles, kissing Carol's hand. "He never changes—always chasing after my loyal subordinates. Now my wife!" James scoffs, but his expression turns serious as he glances at the rearview mirror. "Carol met Ian." Damien, who has been adjusting Carol’s head on his shoulder, freezes momentarily before looking at James. "Repeat what you just said," he demands, his voice icy. "Ian met Car
Carol has been busy with William, instructing him on what to do for the surprise and relaying what Sarah told her and the girls' group about her future proposal. Carol's reflection falls on his specs as Damien, sitting on the couch with one leg crossed over the other, watches his wife having a video chat with William. He can hear William, so his expression remains nonchalant. However, seeing Carol in his shirt, her long, smooth legs kicking the air, brings an evil smirk to his face. He extends his arm, gently rubbing her thigh while pretending to check his files. Carol flinches at first but soon looks at him with a death glare while using sign language to William. She tells him they’ll head to the next city in the evening, just a two-hour drive, so they are taking their time. Damien whistles, acting clueless. But Carol is the petty one here. She grabs the cold orange soda can she has for herself while signing with one hand. She shakes the can for a few seconds, letting Damie
Sometimes walking away from what can turn into toxic is a wise decision. Whether you doubt it or not. Carol who has been depending on her own intelligence and hard work to live her life fullest, certainly knows that after every single incidents, her trust for Damien is hanging on a thin thread. One more discovery of his secret, the thread will collapse. Carol can stay with him, like she stayed with Troy. For Troy's all red flags, she puts her pink glasses on to blind herself. She accepted him as life partner. She accepted him as her new normal. But Damien is certainly staying in a different place in her heart. She loved him, she wanted him not because she could easily accept him. Because she wanted him as her Man from the depth of her heart. So, before she will entirely lose her love and trust in him, she will remove herself from the position. It may look like overreacting, dramatic or a lame movement. But she wants to protect the love she has for him. Carol sits next to Da
It's almost midnight. The coldness of the city somehow bites his skin. Damien hasn't heard anything from his bodyguard, who is supposed to call him every fifteen minutes. But there is none. He messages Carol, but she doesn’t reply either.Right now, all he can hear is his heart racing against his chest and the sound of his unsteady, rapid breathing. He doesn't even wait for James to drive. He doesn’t care if the world knows he is fine. After all, the only thing he cares about in this world is Carol.He almost gets into an accident twice but somehow manages to balance himself. It feels as if he is racing against his heart and soul.The one-and-a-half-hour road ends in forty-five minutes. Damien exhales and inhales to steady his breathing before getting out of the car. The lights are on. He can smell something familiar wafting through the house.He hurriedly walks in. The door is already unlocked.As soon as he steps into the dining room, he sees Carol’s back. She is wearing the same pa
2:30 a.m. Damien pulls into the hospital parking lot, his knuckles white as he grips the steering wheel. His chest feels tight, his breaths short and uneven. Sweat trickles down his pale skin, soaking the collar of his shirt. Exhaustion clings to him like a second skin, but the anxiety coursing through his veins is far more potent. He throws his suit jacket over his arm and bolts out of the car, not bothering to lock it. The hospital looms ahead, its bright lights a sharp contrast to the suffocating darkness of his thoughts. His phone buzzes in his pocket—a message from James with Carol’s room number. He doesn’t waste a second, heading straight for the inpatient ward. His heart pounds louder with every heavy footfall. Taking the stairs two at a time, his breath comes in ragged gasps. His mind races, replaying the call from the hospital over and over. "Mr. Crawley, your wife collapsed, and we need you here immediately." The words were enough to rip the ground from beneath him
James steps into the room, his eyes immediately drawn to the fragile figure of Carol. She’s hunched over in a chair, her hair disheveled and her face pale, clutching Aria so tightly it seems as though she fears the world might rip her daughter away. Two nurses hover nearby, their faces etched with concern, while the doctor stands to the side, flipping through a folder of reports. The air in the room is thick, tense, and suffocating. “What’s going on?” James demands, his tone firm yet tinged with worry. His eyes dart between Carol and the doctor. “Damien is on his way back. He told me to check on you two.” Carol doesn’t respond. Her body trembles visibly, silent tears streaming down her face. She clutches Aria even tighter, her lips trembling as she stares into the distance. James crouches in front of her, lowering his voice as he tries to get through to her. “Carol, please,” he says, his tone softer now. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.” But Carol remains silent, her anguish spilling ou
Carol just says goodbye to Damien before leaving Aria with Alex and the female nanny who takes care of her. She already feels low without him. The day passes with work; nothing major happens. Since there’s a time difference between her and Eunice, they don’t talk much. But her other friends reach out to her as usual. After dealing with numerous clients, workers, and other activities, she feels far more exhausted than usual. Damien's presence has always been like a 24/7 therapist, and his absence makes everything feel heavier, even for just one day. Later, after returning home, feeding Aria, and spending time on self-care, Carol calls Damien. Their conversation is sweet and comforting. As days pass, Carol notices something unusual. The new nanny, Heather, seems fine, but Carol starts feeling weaker than usual. Aria, who usually loves sleeping and rarely cries, begins crying at night. Confused and worried, Carol consults a doctor, but they find nothing physically wrong with Aria
Somewhere in a casino, Harris is sitting on the counter whilst he's staring at the debt receipt. " Harris! The only way you can pay all the debt and keep gambling if you can get your parents' property. Don't you think it's high time to take action!" The owner of the casino when Harris has been staying for a while, suggests. He is doing the job of a bartender while watching Harris being drowned in an ocean of debts. Harris, staring at the debt he has, looks at him with a frown, " That bastard has owned everything. I can't even return home because of my criminal records!" Anger crawls under his skin as his face reddens with fury." Well, there are lots of ways to get what you want. If you want help, we can help, you know!" He smirks, " With violence, everything is possible!" Harris's expression brightens. Clutching the receipt of his latest loss in gambling, he leans into the chair, " That's a good idea, I think! I am the rightful owner of those money. So I will get them back!" The
Carol leans against the doorframe, her tired eyes fixed on Eunice, who sits on the floor, rolling a toy car back and forth with Aria. The toddler’s laughter rings out, bright and carefree, clashing with the heaviness in the room. “You’re leaving?” Carol’s voice is soft, but the weight of her words fills the space. Eunice’s hand falters on the toy car for just a moment before she pushes it toward Aria again, forcing a smile. “Yeah. It’s a good promotion, Carol. And... I’ve always wanted to see the world outside.” Her smile wavers, not quite reaching her eyes. Carol steps further into the room, crossing her arms as she searches for the right words. “But... I’m not saying it’s the wrong decision, just... are you sure you don’t want to give it another try? Maybe James has been struggling with something—”“Don’t.” Eunice’s voice is calm but firm, slicing through Carol’s sentence. She turns away from Aria, who is engrossed in her toy, and looks at her friend. “Don’t go there, Carol. Not
As if the wind is knocked out of his chest, James Alexander sits frozen, watching Eunice cry in despair. Her tears streak down her face, her voice trembling with frustration. "This is it, James," she begins, her tone laced with exhaustion. "I’ve been trying to hold onto this relationship, but I’m the only one fighting for it. Do you even realize what that feels like?" James looks at her, his brow furrowing. "Eunice, I know I’ve messed up. I’m sorry, okay? I’ll do better." "You’re sorry?" She laughs bitterly, shaking her head. "You always say that, but nothing changes. I’m the one who calls you, the one who begs to meet, the one who says ‘I love you.’ What have you done, James? What effort have you made?" James opens his mouth but quickly closes it. He doesn’t have an answer. Eunice continues, her voice breaking. "I’ve never felt this tired in a relationship before. A few months, James, and I’m completely drained. This isn’t love. It’s one-sided torture." He leans forward,
The culprit was caught soon. In the meantime, the closeness had turned into a strong friendship. Right now, it's Damien's 27th birthday party. Everyone is enjoying themselves. A few clients have attended the party, unaware that the Crawley family has grown close to the Martinez family. While everyone enjoys the evening, Carol is chatting with her friends, telling them about a new friend she made, when the door swings open, pushed by two security guards. "Carol!" Millie practically runs toward her, ignoring everyone in the room. She hugs Carol tightly and gives her a few kisses on the face. "I missed you." Eunice looks upset but curious about this woman. Like Carol, Millie avoids social media and reporters, so people don’t know who Mrs. Martinez is. "Who is that?" Katie asks. "Must be the new friend she’s been talking about all morning!" Sarah chuckles. Carol takes a deep breath and looks at her friends. "She’s my daughter-in-law!" Her friends stare at her in stunned
Who knew one incident could change so much in life? For Damien Crawley, that moment arrives as he leans against the doorframe, watching his wife, Carol, chatting away on FaceTime with none other than Millie Martinez. Millie, wife of Paul Martinez—Damien’s business rival—speaks animatedly, her laughter filling the room. Carol protected their son, Julian, five days ago, and since then, both of them have been talking about everything in their lives. While Martinez is still trying to get on his nerves, here his wife is having such a sweet friendship with the rival's wife. Damien isn’t particularly annoyed but can’t help wondering why Carol is friends with her. He crosses his arms and clears his throat, but Carol barely glances at him before turning back to her phone. “It’ll be close-knit,” Carol says, her tone cheerful as she discusses Damien’s upcoming birthday party. “Your family, my friends, and a few of Damien’s friends. It’s small, so don’t worry about bringing too many peopl
Damien sprints into the hospital lobby, his heart pounding harder than it had during his last board meeting. His tie is loose, and he’s slightly out of breath. He scans the room like a hawk, his sharp gaze landing on Carol seated in a corner with a blonde-haired toddler in her arms. “Carol!” His voice echoes, startling a nurse nearby. He strides over, his face etched with worry. " Are you okay? What happened? Where is Aria?" Carol looks up, startled, and immediately begins signing with her hands: **Calm down, everything is okay.**Damien freezes, confusion replacing his panic. “Why are you signing? You’re not even anxious enough to forget how to speak!” He narrows his eyes at her, crossing his arms. “What did you do this time?” Caught, Carol stops mid-sign and bites her lip, her cheeks turning pink. “Fine,” she mutters aloud, glancing at the boy in her lap. “It’s not exactly what you think. I saved a kid.” Damien blinks, leaning forward. “A kid?” His voice rises an octave. “Wha