Freya frantically adjusted her sitting posture, her expression turning worried. How could she have forgotten that Diego was an expert in tracking her location? He had bodyguards stationed practically in every corner of the city. Desmond remained frozen in shock, his stunned gaze still fixed on Diego whose neutral stare seemed to transform into a glare. His smirk had faltered, his confidence wavering for a moment. "Diego, I wasn't expecting you”, Freya whispered, her voice neutral, but her eyes flashing a warning. However, Diego's gaze never left Desmond. His icy stare pinned Desmond to his seat, threatening to disrupt his composure. Just then, Desmond snapped out of his stunned form and regained his confidence, his face scrunched up in a contemptuous scowl. "I see you're joining the party, Diego”, Desmond sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "More like ending it”, Diego retorted, his tone cold and even. With a confident gesture, he adjusted his navy-blue blazers and s
Diego stared hard at Freya for a couple of seconds, his gray eyes piercing deep into her soul, making her uncomfortable.After a while of intense staring, Diego finally spoke up, his tone icy, "Freya, what were you thinking?" Freya's mouth fell open, her words not coming out. Her brows furrowed in a mix of confusion and surprise."What do you mean?" she asked, surprised.“Why did you meet with Desmond? After everything we've been through, you still thought it was okay to speak with him? And why didn't you tell me? I had to find out from my men who saw you meeting with him. Why?” Diego snapped, his brows furrowed in a slight displeased frown.Freya stared hard at Diego for a few seconds, in disbelief. She recoiled in shock, taken aback by his angry statement.With a silent sigh, Freya shook her head slightly in defense. She began, “It's not what it looks like, Diego. I only wanted to give him a piece of my mind…”Diego cut in sharply, his tone laced with slight anger, “Despite knowing
The news anchor gazed directly into the camera and began, "Breaking news: Business tycoon Desmond July files lawsuit against estranged wife, Freya July, citing abandonment and breach of marital contract." Diego, watching the news with keen anticipation, suddenly looked around, hoping Freya was too busy in the kitchen to hear the news. With a sense of urgency, he grabbed the TV remote and turned down the volume. His face darkened and his fists clenched in irritation. Yet another scandal on the news. The news anchor went on, “A shocking development has emerged in the highly publicized separation of business tycoon Desmond July and his estranged wife, Freya July. According to sources, Desmond July has filed a lawsuit against Freya, citing abandonment and breach of marital contract…” Diego leaned back in his living room couch, his face contorted in a displeased frown. He rubbed his chin several times in a thoughtful way, his mind racing with measures and countermeasures, even if th
The first day of the trial arrived at last, shaking the news and internet. Freya couldn't admit that the lawsuit was a huge turning point in her life. She had never imagined that she would one day be in a court battle. Let alone, in a court battle with her dear husband, the ex-love of her life.The courtroom was dimly lit, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioner vents. The air was thick with tension, heavy with the weight of expectation. Desmond sat confidently in the front row, his eyes scanning the room with an air of superiority. His smile, though subtle, seemed cruel and he squared his shoulders in a haughty manner. His lawyers flanked him, each one busy preparing documents relevant to the case.Across the aisle, Freya sat stiffly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes, which were red-rimmed from lack of sleep, darted nervously around the room, her gaze flicking towards Desmond before quickly looking away. He wore a mask of overconfidence and Freya couldn't
Another bright morning sun cast its warm, golden light upon Bayside Bistro, illuminating the elegant facade of the restaurant. The soft rays shone across the gleaming glass windows, highlighting the subtle curves of the building's exterior design. The gentle morning breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, mingling with the enticing aromas wafting from the restaurant's kitchen.Just then, a sleek crimson-red sports car halted in front of the restaurant, its tires scrunching against the pavement.With a sense of urgency and duty, the driver alighted and circled the car in order to open the door for his boss.As he held the door open for her, Freya stepped out of the vehicle with poise and confidence, her long, straight chestnut hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of night. Her alluring and expressive brown eyes sparkled in the morning light, radiating a sense of warmth and hospitality.Her outfit was a blend of style and sophistication. She wore a crisp, white blou
Another day of the trial arrived and the courtroom was filled with an air of tension and animosity as the litigants awaited the arrival of Judge Jordan. Desmond sat still, his eyes gleaming with dissatisfaction. He was dressed in a designer suit, his tie perfectly knotted, and his dark hair slicked back. He stared blankly into space, his mind racing with several thoughts and questions.How was it that Freya was getting more famous, with the support of the public? How did the lawsuit backfire on him? He shook his head in disbelief, his jaw clenched in irritation. Things weren't going as planned. And now, he was stuck with yet another boring court proceeding which wasn't the center of his plan.Just then, the courtroom doors swung open and Freya walked into the courtroom with her head held high, exuding a sense of quiet confidence. She appeared in a designer navy blue pantsuit, with a fitted jacket and matching trousers that fell to the perfect length, just above her shoes. Underneath
All eyes were fixed on Attorney Simon as he approached the witness stand, ready for his direct examination.With a warm smile, he began, “Mr. July, can you please tell the court about your relationship with your wife, Freya?"At his lawyer's question, Desmond's expression turned sentimental in a way Freya thought to be glaringly fake. "We had our ups and downs, but I loved her. I provided for her and our son, Noah. We had a good life together. I tried my best to be a better husband to her, a better father to Noah”, he said, his tone soft and gentle.Attorney Simon nodded encouragingly and asked further, "And can you describe your relationship with your son, Noah?"Desmond's eyes softened and glittered with unshed tears, his face red with anguish. As a reaction, Freya and Diego exchanged displeased glances at Desmond's ”nasty” show of insincere emotions. “Noah is my world. I've always been a devoted father to him. I coached his soccer team, attended his school events…I was always ther
The moment her lawyer called her to the witness stand, Freya stole a brief glance at Diego as if seeking reassurance before standing up, her hands still entwined with his. Diego gave her a warm smile, his eyes softening. He squeezed her hand gently before reluctantly letting go.All eyes were on Freya as she smoothed out her dress and made her way to the witness stand. She took the oath, and then Attorney Kim began her questioning."Freya, can you please tell the court about your marriage to Desmond July?" Attorney Kim asked.Freya took a deep breath before beginning, stealing a furtive glance at Desmond. "We were married for ten years, and for most of that time, I was miserable. Desmond was controlling and abusive, and he made me feel like I was worthless”, Freya said, her icy gaze never leaving Desmond."I'm so sorry, Freya. Can you tell the court about the phone calls you received from Desmond after you left him?" Attorney Kim asked further, her tone sympathetic."Yes...he called m
Diego sat propped up in the hospital bed, the room around him quiet except for the faint hum of the machines monitoring his vitals, and the outdated TV mounted in the corner.His eyes frantically darted to the wall-clock every second, as if expecting someone. The seconds stretched into minutes, and the minutes felt like hours.It had been 48 hours since he last heard from Freya. Two days without a single call, message, or word. Freya was never out of reach for this long. His chest tightened at the thought, his mind spiraling through worst-case scenarios. Was she okay? Had something happened?He rubbed his temples, trying to push the thoughts away, but his worry only deepened. He hadn’t seen Noah in days either. There was only silence and he wondered where they were. Their sudden nonchalance was the last thing he had expected on the fifth day of his hospital stay.The afternoon sun slipped through the blinds, casting long, golden shadows across the sterile walls. To numb the pain he wa
Early evening arrived and Freya returned to the hospital with Noah. As Diego lay on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the muted TV and lost in thoughts, the door cracked open, revealing Freya and Noah.Diego’s eyes immediately found Freya’s, scanning her face for answers. His expression was calm but with a hint of concern.As soon as they walked into the hospital room, hand-in-hand, Noah’s face lit up in excitement, seeing Diego sitting up slightly in bed, his eyes open and alert.“Diego!” he exclaimed, his small feet pattering against the tiled floor as he ran to his bedside. “You’re awake now! I’ve been waiting for you to wake up!”Diego averted his confused gaze from Freya to Noah, his eyes brightening with relief and gratitude.“Buddy”, he whispered, his gaze softening. He smiled despite the ache in his body, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He reached out a hand, and Noah grasped it eagerly, his tiny fingers clutching Diego’s with enthusiasm and surprising strength.Freya s
Freya sat in the back seat of the car, staring out the window but barely seeing the city passing by. The late-morning sun poured down, its golden light sharp and relentless, as if mocking her awful state of dilemma.Everything outside looked so ordinary—people walking, cars streaming past—but her thoughts were far from ordinary. Her mind was chaos.Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, threatening to pour out. Desmond’s cruel and unbelievable ultimatum swirled in her head over and over, each word cutting deeper the more she thought about it.Each passing thought made her realise how deep Desmond's conditions were. They were deeper than what it sounded like, and a sense of fear enveloped her like a thick blanket.Desmond wasn’t just asking her to return to him. He was asking her to sacrifice herself for the sake of peace. To live a lie, trapped in a cage, while the people she loved moved on without her.Her heart ached, and her mind raced with disturbed thoughts. How far was she w
10:30 AM Freya’s driver parked her car outside the sleek, towering Everston Grande Hotel. The morning sun glinted off the mirrored windows, but the warmth of the day couldn’t melt the cold determination coursing through Freya. Taking a deep breath, Freya grabbed her purse and alighted from the car. Shutting the door with a soft click, she looked up at the gigantic hotel before her. She smoothed her blazers, straightening imaginary wrinkles. Then she began to approach the main entrance door with brisk urgent strides. She pushed open the glass doors and stepped into the lobby, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Just then, she halted abruptly as she set her eyes on Desmond. There he was, standing near the entrance, impeccably dressed in a designer suit, his confident stance as infuriating as ever. He spotted her immediately, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Freya”, he said smoothly, extending his arms in mock welcome. "I've been waiting for you." "Let’s just g
Freya rushed out of the hospital, the crisp morning air swirling around her. She didn't know exactly where to find Desmond, but she knew he was never far when chaos unfolded, always watching from the shadows and pulling the strings in secret.Today, she wouldn’t let him hide. Today, it ended—once and for all. And she had to do something quick. What if Desmond decides to strike again and eventually succeeds in killing Diego? What if Diego doesn't survive Desmond's next attack?She strode quickly to the parking lot where her driver had parked her car, waiting patiently for her. Earlier that morning, after Diego woke up, she had summoned her driver to get her car to the hospital where she was.Freya's calm facade crumbled, her jaw tightened, and her eyes burned with determination. She was going to find Desmond wherever he was hiding.She was the reason Diego had nearly died. If it wasn't because of her, Desmond wouldn’t have thought about hurting Diego or Noah. And now, she was going to
The hospital room fell silent, the faint beep of machines and the occasional footsteps of nurses across the hallway the only sounds heard. Freya sat beside Diego’s bed, carefully cutting a piece of toast into small, manageable bites. She had pulled a tray of hospital food, which contained a mix of bland oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and the toast, and balanced on a table close to his bed.Diego watched her closely with a small, amused smile, though his face was still pale from the injuries he was healing from."You don’t have to do this, Freya", he whispered, his voice soft but husky.Freya looked up from the food tray, her gaze meeting his tired eyes. "Of course, I do. Why not?" she said gently, spearing a piece of egg with the fork. "You’re still weak, and I’m not about to let you starve because hospital food isn’t exactly gourmet."He chuckled weakly, the sound more of a breath than a laugh. "Yeah, I’d rather be fed by you than eat this myself. Makes it taste good”, he said, his gaze s
7:23 AMFreya stirred slightly, her neck stiff and aching from where she had fallen asleep. She had slumped over in the hard chair with her head resting on the edge of Diego's hospital bed, her fingers curled loosely around his hand.The faintest movement beneath her palm made her brow furrow in confusion. Being half-awake, she shifted slightly, brushing it off as a trick of her tired mind. Then drowsily, her eyes sank downwards as she began to drift off to sleep once again.But then it happened again—a soft, deliberate squeeze on her fingers. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and her mind, still heavy with exhaustion, struggled to make sense of what she was feeling at the moment.The sterile white of the hospital room came into focus, and her heart thumped hard as she lifted her head, her disheveled chestnut hair falling around her face. Her gaze fell on the source of the touch — Diego's hand which was intertwined with hers. Just then, Diego’s fingers moved again, wrapping weakly ar
4:17 AMFreya gently twisted the door knob and cracked the door open. Before stepping in, she scanned the hospital room where Diego lay. Letting out a silent sigh, she stepped into the room, ushering Noah in. Then she gave a slight nod to the nurse who accompanied her as if asking for privacy. The nurse got the message and left, shutting the door behind her. The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors. Freya's eyes misted, her hand steadying Noah's as they approached the bed. Diego lay unconscious, his skin pale against the stark white sheets. An IV drip snaked down to his arm, and there was a pulse oximeter sensor clipped on his index finger. She had prepared herself for this moment, but the reality of seeing Diego like this was far more painful than words could convey.Freya's heart sank, and her face reddened in anguish. The sight of Diego's helpless state stole Freya’s breath, but it was Noah who let out a soft, broken cry.His grip on her hand
As Freya settled back into her seat, trying to focus on the relief of Diego’s survival, Desmond’s phone suddenly buzzed, shattering the deafening silence.Desmond pulled his phone out, glanced at the screen, and furrowed his brow, making a show of standing up and stepping away.“Yeah?” he answered, his voice pitched just loud enough for them to hear. Freya and Noah exchanged uncertain glances before returning their gazes to Desmond once again.A short moment passed before Desmond nodded, his expression shifting to what Freya recognized as his version of “concern.” “What? Now? Alright, I’ll handle it.”He ended the call abruptly and slipped the phone into his pocket, turning back toward Freya and Noah. Then he gave a small, almost theatrical sigh.“I’ve got to go. Work emergency,” he said, the words almost too casual for the supposed urgency in his tone. “I’ll have to leave. Keep me posted on Diego.”His voice carried that familiar blend of arrogance and feigned importance, which trig