Freya stood nervously outside the 25-story Hunter's Global Enterprises building which towered above her, its sleek design and shimmering glass façade intimidating and triggering her anxiety.She knew what she had to do and had thought about it well enough. There was no time to waste. She had to rectify her mistakes.Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her dress and composed herself before pushing open the revolving glass doors into a lobby with gleaming marble floors and a sleek reception desk. Her heart pounded as she approached, her mind racing with the impending confrontation with Diego.As she approached the reception desk, Freya's eyes scanned the area, searching for a glimpse of Diego. The receptionist looked up and smiled at Freya.“How may I assist you?” She asked, polite but detached.Freya began with a nervous stutter, “Uhm… I…” The receptionist raised a brow slightly, urging Freya to go on.Freya couldn't hide her nervousness. She blamed it on the fact that she had never b
11:00pmIt was dark in Freya's apartment. She had tucked Noah in bed hours ago yet couldn't get some sleep.Freya paced back and forth across her darkened living room, deeply absorbed in disturbing thoughts.Fresh tears streamed down her face, washing away the dried trails of her earlier sorrow. Her body felt numb, and a throbbing headache pulsed through her temples, a painful reminder of her exhausting tears.The silence was suffocating her — Diego's silence, his absence, his indifference. It had been weeks since they last spoke, and the weight of his disregard was crushing her.She stopped pacing, her hands clenched into fists as she stared blankly at the wall. Why wouldn't he talk to her? Why wouldn't he forgive her? Was she the first person to ever make a mistake? The questions swirled in her mind like a whirlwind, driving her mad.Freya's mind drifted to the fact that they had no photo together. And if it was indeed true that their relationship had come to an end, then, all she h
Diego finally broke free from the spellbound gaze and snapped back to reality. He rushed towards Freya, touching her shoulders lightly while peering outside, scanning the surroundings, as if checking who was watching.Then gently, he pulled Freya into the house and shut the door with a soft click.While they were still standing at the door, right before Freya could utter a word, Diego began, his words tumbling briskly out of his mouth.“Freya, this is just a few minutes to midnight. What the hell are you doing here so late at night? Don't you know it could be dangerous out there? A woman like you shouldn't be alone by this time of the night. What the heck were you thinking? And why didn't you give me a call before coming?” He asked, raising his voice, his tone laced with concern.Freya let out a deep sigh and tried to speak. “I just wanted…”“Wait, you left Noah all alone at home? Are you being serious right now, Freya?” He exclaimed, his eyes wide in disbelief, worry etched on his fa
(RATED 18+)Diego savored Freya's lips, his hands tenderly exploring her lower back, igniting shivers down her spine.Having tasted the sweetness of her mouth, Diego slowly broke away, his eyes fluttering open, locking onto hers with newfound intimacy.Freya's hands lingered on his chest, not eager to let go of him. Her eyes locked onto his, his steady gaze piercing deep into her soul.“Freya”, Diego whispered into her ears, his voice trembling as his lips brushed against her ear lobes.Instinctively, Freya's hands slid up Diego's nape, running her fingers through his soft longish hair, tightening her grip around him.In response, Diego enclosed her in his arms, pulling her in for a warm embrace, his lips brushing against her cheeks.“I love you, Diego. I've always loved you”, Freya said in a soft whisper, her voice barely audible, shutting her eyes tight as she savored the deep embrace.Diego buried his nose in the warm nook of Freya's neck, his ragged breaths whispering softly again
Freya's cheek rested on Diego's firm chest, her hair tangled from the passionate night they had shared. Diego's arms wrapped around her, one hand placed lazily on the soft curves of her spine, holding her close as their slow, synchronized breathing filled the silence. The morning light peeked through the blinds, casting a warm glow across the room.Suddenly, Diego's alarm pierced the tranquility, shattering the peaceful atmosphere. The sharp, insistent beeps jolted them back to reality and Diego let out a soft yawn. Freya groggily lifted her head, her eyes squinting against the brightness. Diego's gaze met hers, sleepy and warm.“Morning”, he whispered, his voice husky from sleep.Freya smiled, her lips still swollen from their kisses. “Morning.”Diego reached over to silence the alarm, his movement causing Freya to snuggle deeper into his side. Turning it off, he dropped his arm lazily around her, making her snuggle even deeper into his firm chest. As the room fell quiet once more, t
"It's okay for now. Let him be”.The order came and the five hefty men who had beaten the timid young man to stupor, turning his face into a bloody mess, stopped abruptly, pushing their victim violently to the floor.The captive, whose hands were tied and lips were wounded and bleeding, struggled to get up and take a look at the “Boss”, the mastermind behind his kidnap.His clothes were dirty and torn and his body bruised and battered. He was at the brink of death and his ragged breaths were abnormal.“Boss, please…have mercy. Don't kill me… I have a wife and son to take care of… Please”, the man pleaded in between gasps, tears crawling down his swollen cheeks.Desmond, the boss, took a step towards the vulnerable captive and stared down at him on the floor, his deep-blue eyes piercing deep into his soul. A hint of pleasure hung in his eyes as he gloated over the man's miserable state.“Alex Chen. So good to have you here. Please feel at home”, Desmond said sarcastically, shrugging hi
It was Sunday.Freya spent half of her day searching for catering jobs and various ways to take her career to the next level. She decided she couldn't remain a food truck chef for the rest of her life. Although the food truck was about five months old and its success was incredible, she couldn't help but itch to get more. She wanted to give Noah a comfortable and successful life more than anything.She adjusted her reading glasses on the bridge of her nose and scrolled through her laptop, consistent in her search. She was expecting Diego as he said he'd come over to see Noah and her. So while waiting for him, she thought she would just finish up her search for greater opportunities.Diego's car screeched to a halt in front of Freya's house. In preparation to alight and make his presence known to Freya, Diego observed himself in the mirror for a while, then he dabbed a new, enticing cologne on his pulse points, complementing the one he already wore to boost his confidence. He smoothed
Freya's face lit up with joy as she read the life-changing email. She had enrolled in another cooking contest after some months. Her initial fears and doubts had long disappeared as she considered herself tough and thick-skinned.Despite the fact that she had lost a contest before, followed by the heart wrenching humiliation which was aired on several TV stations and the internet, she decided to give it another try.The news of the cooking contest hosted by a very prestigious and popular restaurant was spread about the internet and she couldn't resist. Immediately, she made an application and now, an email was sent to her about her qualification for the contest.She couldn't wait to break the news to Diego. She didn't tell him about her participation in the contest, all she wanted was to surprise him. She envisioned herself making the greatest comeback of all times.Yes, a few people would recognize her and maybe mock her for what had happened at the previous cooking contest, but she
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