The next morning, Cassia woke up to prepare for work as she could still feel the effects of the late-night fun with her friends. As she buttoned up her blouse, she heard a knock at the door. Her friends popped their heads in, grinning. "We’re leaving now, but are you sure you don’t want a ride? Yo
After leaving the office early, Cassia sat in front of the mirror, the cool air from the evening bath still clinging to her skin. She pulled off her shower cap, letting her damp hair fall freely around her face. Reaching for the bottle of oil, she poured a small amount into her palm and began to mas
Martinez sat at his desk, staring at the messy pile of papers in front of him. His desk was cluttered with reports, notes, and photographs everything he had collected so far for his little investigation. But no matter how many times he looked through them, something was missing. He needed the final
"Darvan," Lucas called out, attempting to stop him. However, Darvan shoved Lucas against the railing once more, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Stay away from her. If I see you near her again, I swear you’ll regret it." Lucas merely chuckled, finding the situation amusing. "You two have already br
As they stepped out of the building, Lucas's hands were cuffed. Martinez pulled out his phone and made a quick call, the line connecting almost instantly. "Monitor all broadcasting stations," he ordered, his voice calm but authoritative. "Take down any news related to me and Darvan. I don’t want a
Darvan gasped, his eyes widening as he struggled to make sense of it. Staggering back, he fought against the whirlwind of thoughts consuming him. He knew his uncle too well—once his uncle set his sights on something, he never gave up. The realization stung more than Darvan cared to admit, but his p
"What’s the meaning of this?" she said aloud this time, her voice sharp and filled with frustration. Her eyes remained fixed on the screen as the video replayed, hoping desperately that she was mistaken. But she wasn’t. It was unmistakable. Darvan, her own son, was caught in a fight, brawling like
The sting was immediate. Darvan blinked, startled, his jaw tightening. "Mom!" he said, his voice low and filled with confusion. Somehow, he already knew why she had hit him, but he didn’t want to believe it. It couldn’t be about the fight with Lucas. Justin had confirmed that there was no mention
As Martinez walked toward his car, the dive coach and those at the seashore couldn’t help but whisper among themselves. “Hope she’ll be okay.” “Where exactly did the coach go?” “He promised to stay back to double-check everything.” “He deserves to be held accountable for being careless.” “Maybe
Quinn and Kiara emerged from the water, swimming toward the shore while laughing and chatting as they removed their masks. "That was fun," Kiara murmured. Quinn's eyes scanned the area for the coach. Not spotting him, she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I thought the coach said he'd wait her
Cassia stepped out of the mall, her small shopping bags swaying at her sides, the cool evening breeze brushing her face. She glanced over her shoulder for what felt like the hundredth time, her unease growing with each passing moment. "Okay, seriously, what’s wrong?" Quinn asked, noticing the dist
"It just... felt like someone was watching us," she added, her gaze still fixed behind them. Quinn turned, scanning the street, but it was empty. "There’s no one there. Maybe you’re imagining things? I mean, why would anyone with bad intentions follow us during the day? They're not that stupid," Qu
Cassia walked through the hallway, making her way toward the apartment she and her friends had rented temporarily. She could hear their voices, loud with laughter and chatter, coming from the living room. As she stepped inside, Kiara and Quinn turned to look at her, their expressions brimming with c
After watching Darvan walk away, Cassia turned her attention to Martinez, a gentle smile gracing her face. "I think my friends must have gone back to the hotel," she said, glancing briefly at her wristwatch. "I should probably head there too. It's getting late, and I'm exhausted—and famished." Mar
"And you're the one giving me lessons?" Darvan’s brows furrowed, his anger barely contained as he stared at his uncle. Martinez bit his lower lip, sensing the direction Darvan was taking the conversation, but he didn't care. He repeated his words as if daring Darvan. "I don’t intend to lecture you
"Hi...?" Martinez muttered, his tone hesitant. Cassia chuckled, unable to resist her amusement at his unexpected shyness Right now, he seemed more like a lost child. She turned her gaze to the sea, and there was silence for a few seconds before she turned back to him. "Is this the place you mentio
As Darvan watched her walk away, he sat frozen in place, his mind replaying her words like a broken record. "Desperate pest?" Did she really call him that? him? "Darvan... I want to go back to the hotel," Stacy’s voice broke through his daze. She was clearly uncomfortable. She couldn’t bear to stay