Some discoveries don’t require a dramatic coincidence. Carol stands there, staring at Damien without any expression. Her eyes observe as the color drains from his face. Slowly, she walks toward him—no expression, no sign language, and certainly no confusion visible. Damien tries to say something, perhaps a last-second explanation. He swallows hard, watching her approaching him. James looks like he’s scrambling for any excuse that might save the situation. After all, if Carol decides to throw Damien to the floor with one of her strikes, he’ll surely end up in a wheelchair. They both know how strong Carol is. But to their surprise, Carol stops in front of Damien, measuring their height. She rests her head on his chest and hugs him. Slowly, a smile appears on her face. James and Damien are left dumbfounded. Carol, standing at 5'5", continues to measure where her head reaches on Damien's tall frame, as if checking if she’s comfortable. Then, she steps back, looks up at him with her
"This is all messed up." James runs his hands through his hair while sitting on the edge of the couch. The rapid beating of his heart feels almost audible. "You know that if she somehow learns about this, there's no going back!" "That's why she doesn't need to know or remember anything!" "But why?" James asks, confused. "Why did you decide to hide everything?" Damien doesn’t answer immediately as he shuts off the laptop. "Let’s talk about it later. I don’t know what she’s thinking... but I don’t feel good about her reaction. I would’ve preferred if she’d screamed and accused me of betraying her trust. But that expression... it’s terrifying!" James can’t deny he feels the same. Something about her isn’t right. "Did you tell her that you’ve asked her friends to give her some space for a while?" He waits for a positive response, but Damien’s silence leaves him stunned. "Not again!" James shakes his head in frustration. "I told you—if you want to have her permanently, you can’
That night, he could say nothing. James insisted he sit down and talk to her before it was too late, then left the house. But unfortunately, Carol was busy planning to go on a date. Right now, Carol is typing on her laptop when Damien wheels himself in. Of course, he has to keep up his disguise in front of Lucy. But as soon as he closes the door, he stands up and walks toward her. Carol frowns a bit. She isn't used to the vibration of footsteps, but she knows she was right about that night. Damien was carrying her upstairs using the staircase. However, she remains silent and keeps noting something in a notebook. Damien hugs her from behind, pressing his lips against her skin in a gentle brush. She flinches. Her face turns red as she inhales his favorite perfume. **Don't disturb me right now!** she signs while pecking his cheek. Damien nibbles the spot until he gets her full attention. **What are you doing?** she asks, her face turning red. **What are you doing? Your husb
While planning the honeymoon, Damien tries many times, almost forcing her to listen to him. However, as intelligent as Carol is, she somehow avoids everything. Since she can't hear, he can't shout to let her know his inner thoughts. Meanwhile, Carol, who is busy with work and planning for her honeymoon, looks like she is living in another world—from shopping to brainstorming ideas about how she should spend her time with Damien. Recently, she has been getting some spam messages that she doesn't care to open. Who cares about some messages when she is going on a honeymoon with her husband? Right now, after a long day, Carol walks out of the office. She has a business trip to Miami tomorrow, so she needs some comfortable clothes suitable for the weather. Recently, it’s been getting colder here, but Miami should be warm. While walking toward her car, she notices a familiar figure talking to one of her employees. The moment their eyes meet, she waves her hand with a gentle smile.
Damien glances at the watch Carol gifted him. He wheels himself out of the company. Nobody is here except the security guards. But there is no way he can leave the wheelchair. James left soon after informing him that he would talk to their friends about everything. So, he is alone. Dialing the number of his chauffeur, he heads into the garage. But his eyes widen when he notices someone standing at the garage exit. His heart beats faster, a heavy pressure lifting off his chest. **Are you surprised?** Carol signs while sitting on her bike. Damien wheels himself as fast as he can and grabs her wrist. Carol, who had just settled herself, finds herself being pulled into his embrace as he hugs her tightly. She can feel his vibration. It's warm and fast. He kisses her forehead and lips like a desperate man. She laughs, feeling ticklish. **What's wrong with you?** she asks, blushing. **I missed you so much!** he says, cupping her face and smothering her with kisses. She feels
"Everyone sounded remorseful and angry about it except for Ian!" James slides his car keys into his pocket and heads toward his apartment. Damien, on the other side of the phone, takes a deep breath. "It’s fine. He’s always been sensitive about this. We all just needed a scapegoat for our hatred and frustration," he replies in a deep tone. "Where’s your flight?" James asks as he enters his apartment. "This evening. Carol is returning from Miami this morning." Damien grabs a towel and strides into the bathroom. The sun has yet to rise, and he couldn't sleep well last night. "Is everything going alright?" James asks while opening the refrigerator. Carol has been handling all the honeymoon plans, so James has no idea what she’s organized. Usually, Damien relies on him to handle tasks like booking rooms or arranging visas. "Yes… she’s acting normal," Damien replies while running the shower and checking the water temperature. "I’ll call you later." "Okay." Placing the phone o
**How did it happen? Damien said you were already getting treatment?** Carol hands Lucy a glass of water before sitting in the chair. Lucy is already crying. **It’s my fault. I became greedy. I became reckless once I learned that Damien married you!** Carol’s eyes widen in surprise, but she remains silent. She had thought Lucy returned because she was getting better. **Now, I think what I did has caused me a great loss. I came back here as a spy for Mrs. Crawley. Damien knows it, too!** Carol freezes, her shock apparent. **What do you mean?** she asks, a knot forming in her stomach. **Damien allowed me to return because of his mother’s death. Do you remember when he left for a week and came back with me?** Carol nods slowly. **His mother was found dead. But Damien and everyone knew she was murdered. He hated her, but she reminded him of someone he used to adore.** Carol’s expression shifts from shock to calm curiosity. She has no idea what Lucy is talking about
Next Day,As soon as the sun rises, they head directly to City X for hiking and skydiving. With such an eventful day planned, neither of them wants to waste time lounging around. Damien is especially excited for the plans ahead. He surprises Carol with a cozy bed and breakfast, a warm shower together, and even helps her dry her hair afterward. He carefully combs her hair, watches as she applies her makeup, and even learns a few techniques to assist her in the future. Carol, proud of her attentive husband and his quick learning, allows him to choose her lipstick color and dress. However, the lipstick doesn't last long—someone couldn't resist her lips and wiped away the last trace. ---Carol and Damien are now hiking with a group of people who will also be joining them for skydiving. The group includes individuals from different countries, but due to her disability, Carol struggles to make friends. Thankfully, Damien acts as her interpreter, helping the group understand her sign lan
With a long-suffering sigh, he nods. “Fine. I promise.” Aria beams, hugging him tightly. “Yay! My Julie forever!” Irene smirks, crossing her arms. “We’ll see about that.” Julian groans, rubbing his temples as Aria and Irene continue their tug-of-war over him. He has had enough. “Can you both just stop?!” He snaps finally, his patience finally breaking and wearing off. Especially to Aria who is clinging onto him like a slime. Silence falls. Aria blinks, her grip on his shirt loosening. “J-Julie…?” Her voice is small, uncertain. Julian exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Irene, you always mess with me and now her, and Aria, you act like a spoiled kid whenever I talk to anyone else!” His voice is firm, frustrated. “I can be friends with other people! You don’t own me, Aria!” His sharp cold eyes shudders Aria who looks confused with Julian's cold and indifferent gaze. The room suddenly feels too quiet. Aria’s fingers tremble as she stares at him,
Julian narrows his eyes before walking towards the door, " What's their name!?" He asks. " Julie! You got friends. What about me?" She follows him hugging her plush. " I don't know her name but she is here to play with you!" Julian walks downstairs while Aria skips the staircases one after one. " Why do you have friends? I don't have friends. I want to be friends with your friend!" She keeps whining while running towards Julian. " Hi! Julian!" A girl wearing a beautiful dress shyly waves her hand. " I am here to play." " Irene! Why are you here?" Julian asks, frowning a bit. " To play -!" Julian barely takes two steps forward before Aria latches onto his arm, her plush carrot squeezed against her chest like a battle shield. Her big, round eyes lock onto the girl standing before them, her lips pursed in a deep frown. Irene blinks, then smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is this your little sister, Julian?” Aria gasps dramatically, releasing Julian just to s
Two days ago, Julian told her that he hated her for touching his homework. Now she is yet to get over from that shock. Julian barely stirs under the warmth of his blanket, his face half-buried in his pillow. The room is quiet except for the faint rustling of fabric as he tries to sink deeper into sleep. But Aria stands frozen at his bedside, her tiny fists clenched, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "He said he hates me…" Her lips tremble, but not from sadness—from determination. She knows Julian better than anyone. He can say all he wants, but the moment she starts crying, he’ll melt like an ice cream cone in the sun. Taking a deep breath, she clenches her plush carrot and prepares for battle. She sniffs. Loudly. A little whimper escapes her lips, followed by another dramatic sniff. Then, with precise control, her lower lip wobbles as she blinks rapidly, allowing fat, glistening tears to pool in her big eyes. Julian shifts slightly under the blanket. She s
The ending of the vacation is coming soon. Throughout the days with James, everything starts feeling like before. His warmth, his flirtatious tease and sometimes stealing glances, it makes her heart more warm. At some point, I have started worrying about the matter of me transferring to Australia. I haven't told him about it. Not yet. I am not ready for this. The farmhouse is quiet, the night settling over us like a warm, comforting blanket. Outside, the crickets sing softly, their rhythmic melody blending with the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. The silver light of the moon streams in through the sheer curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring down at my hands, unsure of what to do next. My heart feels like it’s carrying too many emotions all at once—excitement, fear, longing, and something I can’t quite name yet. James is sitting on the small armchair by the window, his gaze fixed on me. The weight of his eyes is almost unbearab
The morning air is crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers as I step out onto the porch. The mountains loom in the distance, their peaks kissed by soft streaks of sunlight. For a moment, I let the tranquility wash over me, the weight in my chest easing ever so slightly. “You ready?” James’s voice startles me, and I turn to see him standing behind me, a lopsided grin on his face and a woven basket in his hand. He’s wearing a loose white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the sunlight makes his hair look almost golden. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, brushing past him toward the dirt path leading to the fields. We’re harvesting watermelons today. Margaret had asked us last night, her kind eyes twinkling with excitement as she explained that the ripe melons were waiting just beyond the river near the base of the mountain. James falls into step beside me, his strides easy and unhurried. “Do you think you’ll manage to carry a watermelon all the w
And, he tagged along...The hum of the plane’s engine fills the quiet space as I glance out the window, watching the horizon shift from fiery orange to muted pinks and purples. The first-class seat feels too large, yet somehow suffocating. I didn’t even want to be here with him. James, sitting beside me, stretches his legs, his presence filling the space like an anchor I can’t seem to escape. He taps his fingers rhythmically on the armrest, his gaze fixed ahead. “How are you feeling?” he asks, his voice soft but insistent, like he’s trying to sound casual. I keep my eyes on the clouds. “Fine.” “You’ve been quiet,” he presses. I let out a sigh. “What do you expect me to say, James? You weren’t supposed to be here.” He shifts in his seat to face me. “And yet here I am.” His voice carries that infuriating confidence that used to make me swoon—but now it only grates. I don’t reply, turning my attention back to the window. James doesn’t let the silence linger. “Eunice, I ju
Eunice, The hum of activity fills the office as I sit at my desk, tapping away at my tablet. My messages with James flicker on the screen, a mixture of casual banter and the occasional helpful advice about a recipe. He’s been staying with me for a while now, and honestly, he’s taken over my small apartment like it’s his. Cooking, cleaning, rearranging things—I can’t decide if it’s annoying or a blessing. How did I let him get so comfortable? “Hm? Bed and breakfast? How lucky!” Lea’s teasing tone pulls me out of my thoughts. I glance up just in time to see her leaning over my shoulder, her mischievous grin wide as she peers at my messages. I immediately turn the screen off, rolling my eyes. “Stop staring at other people’s messages! It’s nothing.” Lea smirks, unbothered by my annoyance, and pulls up a chair beside me. “Not ‘other people.’ My dearest colleague. Who, by the way, is leaving us soon. Got a boyfriend who’s tagging along, hmm?” I shake my head, gripping the tablet t
The sun streams through the large bay window of the living room, painting everything in a soft, golden glow. Aria is perched on the floor, her legs folded under her as she busily colors in her sketchbook. Her curly brown hair bounces every time she hums to herself—a random melody she makes up on the spot. Julian, sitting cross-legged a few feet away, is flipping through a book about dinosaurs, though his focus wavers. Aria’s humming is getting louder. He glances up from his book, arching an eyebrow. “Aria, what are you so happy about?” he finally asks, setting the book down on the coffee table. “You’ll never guess what!” she declares, her brown eyes wide with excitement. Julian raises an eyebrow, setting his book aside. “You found a unicorn in the backyard?” “No!” she giggles, shaking her head. “You finally learned how to fly?” he guesses again, his tone teasing. “Ugh! You are a bully, Julian!” She pouts, crossing her arms in mock annoyance. Julian smirks. “Okay, fine.
Carol sits on the edge of the desk, her hand still loosely gripping Damien's collar. She studies his face—the soft curve of his smirk, the playful glint in his eyes, and the way his hair falls slightly over his forehead. He always has this maddening ability to disarm her with a single look, as if he holds all the cards to a game she doesn’t even realize she’s playing. “Damien,” she begins, her voice softening just a touch. “We’ve talked about this. Another baby is a big commitment.” He leans in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he murmurs, “You mean the best kind of commitment.” His hands find their way to her waist, gently pulling her closer. “Besides, you already handle everything so perfectly. I know you can handle another little one running around.” Carol groans and leans back slightly to look at him, her brow furrowed. “Perfectly? Have you seen our daughter? She’s practically glued to me 24/7. I can’t even finish a cup of coffee without her demanding something or