It was about five in the afternoon. Freya frantically alighted from the taxi, rushing into Noah's school with the aim of picking him up.She knew deep down that she was sorely late, as Noah's school hours always ended by the hour of three. She blamed herself for prioritizing her quest for participating in a cooking competition over her dear son who must have felt sad and lonely, being the only one left in school for a few hours.She was just coming back from making an application for the cooking competition. For about two weeks, she had been running around, trying to meet up with the criteria for participating in the competition as the requirements for participation were too much. She wished she had considered the stress involved before indulging in such a time consuming process.However, she was relieved that after all the work she had put in, she was deemed qualified to participate in the contest by the managerial board. The three-day cooking contest was scheduled for next week, aft
"Desmond!” Freya snarled, gritting her teeth in fury as she stormed towards the roadway, looking out for a taxi.Her face was red with anger and her fists clenched, her chest heaving intensely as she flagged down a taxi.With immediate urgency, she boarded the taxi and headed home. After all, she had no exact location in mind where Desmond could have taken Noah to. She feared that Noah might have led Desmond to their new house after being threatened and her heart skipped a bit at that scary thought.Soon, she arrived at her house and alighted quickly. But unfortunately for her, there was no sign of Noah or Desmond. They weren't at her house.Freya's heart race increased rapidly and her breath began to cease, she gasped for air as she consulted her brain for the most logical action to take or who to call for help.However, she resorted to reaching out to Desmond as he was the only one who could clear her doubts. After taking a deep breath, Freya dialed Desmond's number and waited patie
"I see you were bored at your workplace”, Desmond said sarcastically, his angry glare at Diego intensifying.Diego slowly turned to glance at Desmond, a sarcastic chuckle escaping his lungs.Freya and Noah sat still, in utter silence as if letting Diego do the talking on their behalf.“Yes I was. So I decided to come over here to ease my stress a little and spend time with “family”. You do realize I consider you family, right?” Diego said with a smirk, his tone thick with sarcasm.Desmond didn't utter any word. He fixed Diego with a glacial, threatening stare, his jaw stiff with disdain. Then he stole a glance at Diego's bodyguards who stood sentinel behind them.“I see you brought your “dogs” along. Were you expecting that I would attack you?” Desmond mocked, letting out a sarcastic chuckle afterwards.Diego chuckled slightly as well, a sarcastic grin plastered on his face.“Attack? Only one who can actually throw fists should use that term”.Freya watched the two men throw subtle sh
The most anticipated cooking contest of all times finally arrived.The bright yellow sun cast its warm glow on the Simmer and Spice restaurant, the venue of the contest. Freya stood outside, her heart racing with anticipation and a hint of nervousness. She had spent days preparing for this moment, perfecting her techniques and studying the judges' preferences. The restaurant's warm facade seemed to glow, inviting her into the culinary arena. She took a deep breath, smoothing her apron and mentally preparing for the “Spice Masters” contest.It was Friday. Noah had gone to school. The only support system she had, who had accompanied her to the contest's venue, was Diego. Their hands were entwined in agreed confidence as they walked towards the entrance of the restaurant.His genuine support, coupled with the fact that he dumped his office work for her event captured her heart. He had been a source of encouragement to her ever since she mentioned the contest to him, engaging her with lot
Tension filled the air as the contestants began cooking, each of them involved in some chopping, sauteing, slicing and the rest.Freya wiped the sweat from her forehead as she expertly sliced the succulent wagyu beef, her mind racing with the dish she was about to create. The aroma of sesame oil and soy sauce filled the air, mingling with the hum of ovens and the murmur of the contestants’ focused chatter.“Alright, chefs! You have one hour left to create your signature appetizer, blending the flavors of the East with the sophistication of the West!” the host announced, his voice echoing through the bustling kitchen.The host's announcement unsettled her, as she realized about thirty minutes had passed without her having done anything spectacular yet. Freya glanced around, keeping an eye out for her competitors who seemed to be way ahead of her. She noticed one of them handling what looked like a delicate fish filet, another, wrapping thin sheets of dough around a mysterious filling,
It was Freya's dish to be judged next. With feigned confidence, she appeared before the judges, a forced smile on her face to conceal her uneasiness.“Freya Dominic, what have you prepared for us?” One of the judges spoke, Judge Cristina Santos.“I made some pan-seared wagyu beef gyoza with truffle-ginger dipping sauce and microgreens salad”, she replied boldly, yet her heart pounded hard through her chest.“Interesting. I hope the meal is just as delicious as it sounds”, Judge Donald Jefferson said firmly with a stern expression.Freya nodded slightly, her feet turning cold instantly.The judges' table fell silent as they took their first bites of Freya's dish. The air was thick with anticipation, the only sound was the soft clinking of utensils on plates.Judge Donald closed his eyes, savoring the flavors. “Hmm, interesting combination”, he murmured, his expression unreadable.Freya's heart leaped a little at the somewhat positive feedback on her dish.Judge Frederick, a food critic
Freya stepped briskly out of the restaurant, her eyes scanning the surroundings for Diego, her chest heaving intensely in excitement.However, she saw no sign of him. Maybe he grew tired of the wait and left. Or it could be that he had some urgent work to do at the office. Her heart sank at the realization of him leaving without wanting to see her first. She couldn't blame him though. She shouldn't be a hindrance to his work.She slowly began to walk towards the roadway, with the aim of halting a taxi when two strong arms wrapped her shoulders from behind.Surprised and a little thrown off balance, she twisted her neck to see who it was. And it turned out to be who she thought it was, his lips curved in a broad smile.All the sense of tension and nervousness disappeared that instance as she set her eyes on him, her face lit up in a warm, relieved smile.“You thought I had left, didn't you?” He said into her ears in a low, inviting tone.Freya simply smiled warmly at him as she releas
The third day of the contest finally arrived. Freya had managed to cross the second stage to qualify for the grand finale, the most anticipated part of the cooking contest.Tension hung in the air as there were only three contestants left; the remaining five had been evicted.The audience witnessing the finale of the contest live sat in a section a little bit far from the kitchen so as not to distract the contestants. Some of them were relatives of the contestants, some, foodies and spice enthusiasts, while some were chefs and culinary experts.Unlike the first day of the contest, Freya was more relaxed and less worked up. She sized her competitors up, picturing herself as the winner of the contest already as she felt somewhat better than them, her culinary skills superior to theirs.Having in mind that Diego and Noah were seated amongst the audience, watching her closely in excitement, waiting to celebrate with her the moment she would emerge as the winner, she vowed within herself t
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 AMFreya’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 get this over
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
The waiting room was quiet except for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights and the occasional rustle of papers at the reception desk. The atmosphere was still, the kind of quiet that felt heavy and unnatural.Freya sat stiffly in one of the hard plastic chairs, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. Her eyes kept darting to the double doors of the emergency unit at the far end of the room, every nerve in her body tense. Diego’s life was behind those doors, and the uncertainty was suffocating.She felt like she was holding her breath, afraid to let it out in case it broke the fragile silence. Her emotions were spilled all over, tears welling up in her eyes. She had promised herself she wouldn't shed tears anymore and that Diego was going to survive. However, the feeling of self-pity washed over her as she reflected on all she had faced alongside her loved ones in just one day.Noah sat beside her, his small legs swinging just above the floor. His face was pale, his usual spark di
Freya dug her fingers into Noah's hair, clutching his head as their embrace grew deeper and more desperate. She crouched down, pulling him even closer to her.As Noah buried his face in her chest, Freya felt a dampness seeping through her clothes from his eyes. “Don't cry, my love. I'm here now. Mommy's here. There's no need to be scared, okay?” Freya said in a soft whisper, stroking his back gently.Noah responded with a sniffle, his chest heaving intensely as he tried to fight back his tears. Desmond, on the other hand, stood still behind Noah, his hands still in his pockets.His expression was neutral, yet his eyes revealed he was weary of their overt display of a soul bond, like they were the only mother and son in the whole world. He constantly rolled his eyes subtly, waiting patiently for Freya to finally notice him.Freya planted a final kiss on Noah's cheek before releasing him from her embrace. Gently, she cradled his face in her palms and looked directly at his face, her ey