“How did you know about that?” Darvan asked, his gaze suddenly sharp and unreadable. Stacy blinked, realizing she had just revealed what she was supposed to keep hidden. She hadn’t meant to say it. Panic flickered in her eyes as she instinctively pressed her lips together, biting down to stop hers
"I think we need some time apart" he said, each word measured and final. "I can't do this anymore" Stacy stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing to grasp the meaning of his words. Time apart? Was he actually suggesting they separate? The thought seemed unreal, almost impossible to believe. Surel
Martinez slowly pulled his hand back from her cheek, his expression soft. "Goodnight, Cassia," he said gently before turning and stepping out the door. Cassia stood there for a moment, caught between thought and feeling, her cheek still tingling where his fingers had touched. "Oh... right. Goodnig
As Martinez stood by his window side, taking in the beautiful night view of the city beneath him, he raised his right hand to his face and began staring at them. His fingers...this same fingers...had brushed against Cassia's cheek earlier today. It was the first time he had ever touched a lady's fa
" It doesn’t look like you’re searching for a girlfriend. No, Darvan. To me, it looks like you’re in desperate need of a mother. Someone to handle everything for you." Darvan stood there, stunned into silence. He opened his mouth to reply, but no sound came out. "It looks like you’re in desperate
“Don’t worry,” Mrs. Sinclair said coldly, her voice like steel. “I’ll handle this myself. And whatever you want with Darvan, just let me know. He’s my son, after all, and he will abide by my rules.” Her tone was firm as she turned away from Stacy as if lost in thought. Her heels clicked sharply ag
"Darvan..." she whispered, startled. For a moment, her resolve softened. His body was freezing and trembling, and she could feel him struggling to hold himself steady. His desperate grip on her arm felt sincere, almost enough to make her reconsider. But just as quickly, she snapped herself out of
Liam’s car came to a halt, and he unfastened his seatbelt, ready to step out. But his gaze froze on the figure standing in the rain—Darvan. He was drenched to the bone, trembling from the cold, yet he made no attempt to move or seek shelter. At the very least, he could have waited somewhere out of
Cassia didn’t waste time dwelling on rumors or threats. She walked past the judgmental stares, the looks of disgust from people who acted as if they knew her story. She ignored it all. She had more important things to focus on. When her parents called, asking for money, she sent it without a word.
Later that evening, after dinner, Cassia sat at the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone. Her name flashed across multiple trending topics, all discussing her and the deceased Claudine. The sheer volume of posts made her wonder if people were being paid to share their opinions about the issu
Among the many people who saw the post, Aurora was one of them. She sat in her bedroom, phone in hand, casually scrolling through her news feed when the image appeared on her screen. The moment she saw it, she quickly took a screenshot. Then… just like that… it was gone. Deleted. She stared at th
Martinez pressed his lips together as he listened to Nora’s voice over the phone. She explained that Cassia wasn’t answering her calls, which was why she had reached out to him. "We're at the shopping mall," Martinez informed her. "Cassia might be in danger," Nora warned. "And soon, her name could
Nora welcomed them inside, gesturing toward the dining area where breakfast was already set. The warm scent of freshly cooked chicken and buttered toast filled the room, making Cassia’s stomach grumble softly. "Thank you for coming," Nora said as they took their seats. She offered Cassia a small s
Martinez took Cassia to a quiet, upscale restaurant that evening. Soft lighting and low chatter filled the air as they settled into their seats. "You do realize we’re supposed to be keeping a low profile, right?" Cassia teased, glancing around the elegant space. The room was filled with people; so
Martinez sat on the couch, phone in hand, his eyes glued to the screen, his brows drawn together in concentration. It hadn't been long since he had picked up Cassia from Nora’s place and brought her home. "Have you eaten?" Cassia asked, but he didn’t respond. His attention remained locked on his ph
Darvan stormed into his mansion, his mind replaying the moment his mother had slapped him. The memory pissed him, making his blood boil. "You are no son of mine." The words echoed in his head, causing him to exhale sharply. Without thinking, he grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it against
"Pretend to be my daughter, Claudine. Dress like her. Act like her… please." Cassia’s breath caught. Her heart pounded against her ribs. What was this? For a moment, the room fell into silence as both of them just gaze at each other. Cassia swallowed hard. "You're… asking me to become someone el