Anna“My dad?” I asked my eyes wide and ringing in surprise. “Yes, Anna. That’s your father in that picture. I think all of this started with him.”There was a long moment of silence between us. Chloe’s words churned my stomach as I gazed at the picture. I’d spent my entire life not knowing what my father looked like, so even when I saw him in that picture, I wasn’t still convinced that he was the one. He looked almost nothing like I imagined. Nothing like me.The man in the picture had a long thick beard with a dark tan, tall where I was short, and black hair where mine was brown. “I don’t believe you,” I said, stifling the tears in my eyes as I forced myself up from the bed.I took a step and staggered, almost falling, but Chloe swiftly caught me before I lost my balance.“I know this must all be too much for you, but it’s the truth. That man in that picture is your father, John Brookes. I’ve been following and researching your family for a long time, Anna, and I’ve found some thi
Anna“Hiding you?” I asked in confusion, placing my hand on my hips, and staring at her directly in the eyes.“Why would he be hiding you?” Chloe hesitated further, unable to maintain eye contact with me, which only made me more curious about what she had to say.“Answer the question, Chloe!” I shouted impatiently, my mind filled with many thoughts.Slowly, she turned her gaze towards me and without saying a word, walked back to the bed, sat, and then beckoned for me to join her. I could see that whatever she was about to say weighed as heavily on her as my curiosity was.Suddenly, a smile slowly parted her lips as she shifted her gaze to me, “There’s something I’ve never told anyone about me. My real name is Chloe Dematrov Linguini. David Linguini is my father. I’m your sister, Anna.”I was frozen in shock. Chloe’s words took me by surprise.‘My sister?’ The words replayed in my mind, casting the same amount of shock and disbelief as the moment she uttered them.“No. No, you can’t b
Chloe“We’re in a lot of danger, Anna,” I repeated and Anna cut in sharply,“I already know about Edgar and his people and I’ve got that handled already.” Anna’s brows slightly frowned. She seemed just like him right now. I didn’t remember much about our father, except for the fact that he left us while I was still very young and never came back, but I remembered how he looked when he was always angry. He’d try so hard to keep it together for me and my mom, but something would always end up pushing him to his limits. I feared that I would catch that same anger from him, but I never did. Seeing it from now on Anna, just affirmed everything I already knew. She was his daughter, my sister.“Now if you’ll excuse me, I don’t think I want to hear anything else you have to say.” She added and brushed past me. I turned hurriedly and grabbed her hand, “I know how you feel, he left me too.” I uttered softly. In a way, I could relate to everything Anna was going through right now.I’d spent t
SheilaAs soon as we landed in Brigdon, I could already tell why Anna never talked about her hometown. There was nothing to talk about. Brigdon was one of those cities where nothing good seemed like it could come out.“So this is it.” Jack’s voice sounded behind me, as he dragged Luke along.My heart pounded in my chest as we arrived at the airport. Luke had led us here and I still couldn’t trust him, but right now, it seemed like I had no choice. Edgar and George were planning something dangerous, and if I wanted to keep Anna safe and get my revenge for what they did to Lydia, I had to push all my fears aside.I glanced at Jack and strangely, he looked more calm than I thought he’d be. He was the one who suffered more in all this. From being raised by a cruel man to being a monster, and taking his anger and pain out on a bunch of people who didn’t deserve it. I’d imagined, being here, so close to finishing this once and for all, his emotions would be a stream of chaos.“This is it,”
Sheila“You are in love with Anna, aren’t you?” He repeated,“That’s why you are doing all this.”“You know it’s funny how we’re all connected by the same woman. Only that she doesn’t truly know, does she? She’s in love with that other man. What’s his name? Uhm… Mark!” He blurted, as Jack slowly released his grip on him.“It’s Mark, isn’t it? Anna is in love with him while you are stuck playing bodyguard and protector. Boy, it must suck to be you.” Luke taunted. The whole time, Jack remained calm, staring into the distance as if he was musing on every word Luke said.“It must hurt you, to know everything you are doing for her, it’ll all amount to nothing. That even if you can win this fight, she’ll just go back to her boyfriend, Mark and you would have lost her. If you ask me, I think you like the chaos. It’s the only way that you still get a chance to be close to her, and you like that. Deep down you’re hoping that she would realize that she wants you. That she’ll finally see you an
Jack The ride to The Brown’s house was filled with tension but for other reasons. I knew I shouldn’t have bothered myself with the ramblings of a lunatic, but Luke wasn’t far from the truth either. It got me thinking that maybe somewhere deep in my subconscious, I may have been doing this, hoping for a chance that maybe someday, Anna would realize that I’ve always been the right one for her all this time. But just as the thought reflected in my mind, it quickly disappeared just as fast. She’d already told me how she felt about us and our relationship and I had to respect what she wanted. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how different things would have been if I had met her first.“You okay?” Sheila’s voice filtered softly into my ear as I gazed out the taxi window, wondering what it would have been like to grow up here and how different Anna’s life probably was back then.In a different life, I’d give up everything to live a life so simple, probably in a town similar to this. How
JackI remained frozen in shock wondering how she knew about George and Edgar. Did she really know about them or was this just another one of her cunning schemes?‘No,’ I shook my head dismissing the thought. She couldn’t have been that specific if she did not already know what was happening.“Ms. Brown, I…” I started to say but she harshly cut me in.“You came into my home, held a knife to my security’s neck, and threatened my guards and now you are here to tell me about an unidentified danger that I’m in, hmhph.” She scoffed and stood up, her icy glare remaining fixed on her face.“Don’t you find that somewhat ironic, Mr…” she called, snapping her fingers as if trying to remember my name.“Jack,” I said with a pretentious smile. I could see through her cunning moves and decided to play her little games. If we wanted to find out what she knew or if she could be of any help to us, I needed to make her feel we were on her side, even if that meant lowering myself before her.Heaving a d
Sheila“You’re in love with him aren’t you?” I asked, approaching her steadily.“No wonder you hate Anna. She’s a constant reminder that the man you loved, didn’t love you back. That’s why you hate her, isn’t it?” I asked, staring at her with mockery.Sarah frowned agitatedly. I could tell that I was getting on her nerves, which was exactly what I wanted. I don’t know why Jack bothered or what he was up to. But I knew that this woman would not bother to help us. The only way to get what we wanted out of her, was to trick her into revealing it.“Yes, I loved her father and it is true that he chose that tramp over me. But that was his mistake and he soon realized it when he brought Anna to me. He knew I was the only one who could keep her safe, but what Demarcus did not anticipate was that the burning passion I felt for him years ago was no longer the same.”“It was the perfect revenge and I didn’t even have to do anything much. He handed her right to me together with the codes. I decid
The day of reckoning had arrived. In a few minutes now, Anna and her troop will be taking Edgar and his men by surprise. The stage had been set with everyone working together to end Edgar’s tyranny.Under the cover of the night, Anna, Mark, Jack, and their allies positioned themselves near Edgar’s main hideout. Zach had fed them crucial information about the hideout's layout and where Edgar and George would likely be during the operation. Armed and ready, they moved swiftly, slipping through shadows and avoiding detection.As they closed in, Anna felt a mix of fear and exhilaration. She knew this confrontation would determine everything—her role in The Circle, her fate, and Mark’s future with his family. She glanced at him, catching his gaze, and a silent understanding passed between them. Finally, they reached the inner sanctum, silently taking down Edgar’s security guards, until they reached where Edgar and George were having a conversation. The two men looked surprised but quickly
As Mark prepared to find his brother, Zach, he couldn’t help but feel a mixture of fear and hope. Although he had agreed to work with Anna, he wasn’t convinced she understood just how deep the roots of The Circle ran or how much any of this had affected him. However, seeing how resolved she was to take down Edgar had swayed him, and he knew that, for his brother’s sake, he had to give her plan a chance.Meanwhile, after Anna walked out of the room, she now decided to contact Jack. As soon as he picked up, she explained her suspicions about The Circle and how their influence might reach farther than even she had initially thought, informing him that she needed him now more than ever. A few hours passed and Mark arrived at a small, dimly lit bar where Zach was known to spend his evenings. Immediately he walked in, he spotted Zach sitting at the far end of the bar, looking troubled. Mark approached him slowly, and as soon as he sat down, he placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder.
Author’s POV“So you’re telling me that you are not just a part of an evil organization that has been around for years, but you are also the head?” Mark asked, staring at Anna in disbelief. “I know this is difficult to process, but it is the truth. But we are not all like Edgar.” Anna said.“Right…” Mark scoffed.“No, I mean it. We don’t all want the same thing. The Circle has been in operation for years, working to maintain the balance and smooth operation of the surface world. Edgar and his associates are the only ones with the ideals that things need to change, and that for some reason they are the ones to affect that change. That’s why we are fighting them. We are trying to retain order and balance in this world.”“And how do you do that, huh?”“Tell me, Anna, does it involve letting the people up here decide for their lives or does your organization plan out the course of their lives?” Mark asked with a pruning look.“I don’t know about that, I’ve not been a member for long.” A
Author’s POV“What?” Mark recoiled in shock.“Who could have done that?” Anna hesitated for some moments, afraid of how he would take the news. “Tell me, Anna.” He demanded.“Zach!” Anna blurted. “Your brother Zach did.”Mark staggered for some time, trying to process what I had just said. “Are you serious?” He asked, still in disbelief.“I am,” Anna said softly. Mark remained frozen in place for some time, deep in contemplation. I could imagine how difficult this was for him to hear. Zach was a lot and had caused a lot of problems, but at the end of the day, he was still his brother. “I can’t believe this,” Mark muttered and immediately started searching through his drawers.“What are you doing?” Anna asked, to no reply.“What are you doing Mark?” She asked again. “What does it look like I’m doing?” Mark snapped irritably.“I’m going down to have a conversation with my brother and give him the chance to explain how he almost got me killed.” He raged and grabbed his car key.Ann
Author’s POVThose words filled Anna with a sudden dread. She hoped that somehow Mark would not ask her that because she still wasn’t sure who the father of her children truly was. There was that stranger from that night, and then there was Luke. For all she knows, it could have been either of them.Seeing how hesitant she was, Mark asked again,“Is the father still in the picture Anna? What happened with him?” At that point, Anna quickly turned around, “He’s not in the picture and that’s all that I can say. I don’t really like to talk about him.” She said, her heart beating out of her chest.Much to her surprise, Mark did not ask anything concerning him again. He waited for some time and then his lips curved into a smile,“I’d like to meet them.” As soon as she heard these words, Anna’s eyes widened in shock.“I’m sorry. You want to meet…”“Your children,” Mark interjected. “Is that okay with you?” He added.Anna remained frozen for some moments, her thoughts running wild. This w
Author’s POVUpon hearing that, Mark’s face reddened with humiliation. He didn’t think she would figure it out, but she was right, he was afraid. After Lydia died in that car accident, Mark had spent his entire life afraid of being abandoned, and that fear resurfaced when he learned of Anna’s children.“No Anna, the issue here is that you could not trust me. I’ve already been down that road once with Mia, and I don’t want to be in another relationship where my girlfriend is keeping secrets from me.” He argued.As much as he had a point, Anna was still not convinced. She knew Mark was trying to change the course of their conversation and she would not let him.She shot him a soft gaze and slowly walked toward him, “I know it’s not easy to admit Mark, and I know that I shouldn’t have kept this away from you for so long, but I am afraid too.” Anna said and Mark’s eyes shot up with curiosity.Anna heaved a deep sigh and continued, “When I first came into town, I didn’t know what I was goi
Anna“Who’s there?” Mark’s voice sounded through the door.I hesitated to answer. One word from me and he’d be calling the guards to throw me out, or at least that’s what I thought, so I knocked again and waited a while for his answer. This time he did not bother to say anything, and after waiting for a while, I knocked again.“I already told you, Rita, I don’t need anything!” His voice echoed in annoyance as he approached the door, and unlocked it.As soon as his gaze met mine, he froze in shock for some moment, unable to find the words to say anything.“Anna?”“Wh-what are you doing here?” Mark asked, and immediately his brows creased into a deep frown.“Mark, I just want to talk…” I started to say, but he rudely cut me off.“I don’t have anything to say to you.” He replied coldly and tried to close the door, but I quickly put my feet through the doorframe, stopping him.He shot one look at me and sighed heavily, turned his back, and walked inside the room, leaving me at the door.
Anna“You want my advice? Go for it.” I said, encouraging Jack. Deep down I knew it was a selfish act. As much as I hoped that he’d find love somewhere else, a part of me wanted to believe what it told him about Anna, that deep down she did not still harbor any feelings toward Mark. I’d hate to be in competition with my sister over a man we both wanted. Jack seemed flustered when I said that. I could tell he hoped that no one would spot his feelings toward Chloe, especially not the girl he was just trying to get over.Still, he managed to keep his composure and quickly tried to change the focus,“You should try taking your own advice with Mark. I know I’ve not always made your relationship with him easy, and I apologize for the part I played in that. But whatever this thing is between you and Mark, it’ll be a shame if you both fall out.” He said.“Jack, what happened between Mark and I is not because of you. He just couldn’t stand the honesty he wanted.” I said, pushing the bangs on
“Mark and I used to date.” The words echoed in my head like I was reliving a nightmare. I froze in shock, not sure what to say or how to even react. Deep down, I couldn’t help but dismiss the thought that this was the relationship Chloe and Mark shared, but I always tried to convince myself it wasn’t anything like that. Mark never talked a lot about her even after we met at that party, and I just assumed there was nothing much to say about an old friend.Now I see I was just trying to keep my thoughts away from a fear I didn’t want to have to face.However, I couldn’t understand why Chloe chose to tell me at this point and why Mark never said anything. Was he hiding something about their relationship? I didn’t know Chloe was my sister then, and I’m sure he didn't know either. Certainly, I wouldn’t have minded much about a girl he dated in the past, and at this point, I was convinced he was hiding something.As much as it should have felt good that I now had something to call him out