Antony’s steps were slow and uncertain, his mind weighed down by the truth, by pain, by a future that suddenly felt like a shattered mirror—dangerously sharp, and hopelessly broken.The streets were quiet, only a few cars whizzed past now and then. The wind whipped through his coat as he walked on, aimlessly, numb to the world around him. The alcohol in his system made everything blur slightly, his thoughts more chaotic than ever.He barely noticed when he stepped onto the road, lost in a memory of his childhood—of playing catch with Charles, of Lydia bringing them lemonade. For a moment, he smiled, before the sound of screeching tires tore the peace apart.SCREEEEEECH!Bright headlights flooded his vision.A loud horn.A scream.Then—Blackness.The impact tossed him several meters off the tarmac, his body thudding against the cold, hard ground. The car didn’t stop—it sped away, its tires screeching again as it disappeared into the night like a phantom.“OH MY GOD!! SOMEBODY HELP!!”
Lydia sat on the cold bench just outside the ICU, her head buried in her palms, her tears soaking the sleeves of her sweater. She had cried so much that her eyes were swollen, red, and aching, but she couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when the guilt gnawed at her like a relentless beast.Every beep of the machines behind the glass wall felt like a slap to her soul.Antony.Her Antony.Lying there unconscious. Fighting for his life.And it was all her fault.She had broken something that could never be fixed.“If only I hadn’t said those things… if only I had stayed silent,” she whispered between sobs, her voice barely audible.She could still hear her own words echoing in the walls of her mind."I don’t love you as a brother..."What had she been thinking? What demon had possessed her to cross the line that should never have been approached, let alone shattered?Lydia clenched her fists against her thighs, rocking slightly back and forth.“This is punishment,” she whispered. “God is punishi
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air as Rita stepped into the brightly lit hallway of the hospital's ICU wing. Her heart thundered in her chest like a war drum, echoing the fear gnawing at her insides. She gripped Adrian’s hand tightly, her knuckles white, as they approached the nurse’s station.“Antony Kirui,” she said softly, almost unsure her voice had come out at all. “He was brought in this morning after an accident.”The nurse glanced at the chart in front of her and gave a small, solemn nod. “Room 6. But he’s still unconscious. Only one visitor at a time, please.”Rita swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. Adrian squeezed her hand reassuringly, then let it go. “I’ll wait right here,” he whispered. “Take your time.”Her feet moved, but her mind was numb. As she walked through the corridor, memories flashed before her eyes—Antony helping her carry boxes when she moved into her new apartment, defending her from cruel tongues, calling her strong when she felt weake
The room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor and the gentle hiss of oxygen flowing through the tubes connected to Antony. The dim lights cast a soft glow on his pale face, still as stone, save for the slight flutter of his eyelids every now and then—a signal that he was somewhere in between this world and the next.Rita sat by his side, her fingers laced with his, whispering softly to him as though her voice could guide him back. Lydia sat quietly across the room, still nursing her guilt but silently praying—pleading—for Antony’s return.Then suddenly, a faint twitch.Rita’s eyes snapped open, staring at his hand. There it was again—a faint, almost imperceptible squeeze. She sat up straight, her heart thudding wildly. “Antony?” she whispered urgently, “Can you hear me?”His eyelids fluttered again, this time more deliberately. His brow furrowed, as though struggling to escape some invisible weight pressing down on him.“Antony, it’s me—Rita. I’m here,” she s
The morning sun spilled gently through the windows of Charles’ penthouse apartment. Birds chirped outside, and the city was slowly coming to life. Charles was sipping coffee and going through work emails when his phone rang.He didn’t recognize the number at first, but he picked it up casually.“Hello, Charles speaking.”There was a pause, then a rushed voice came through, almost too fast to comprehend.“This is City General Hospital. We’re calling in regard to Mr. Antony… we’re very sorry, but there was a complication early this morning… he—he didn’t make it.”Charles froze.“What?” he whispered.“Sir, I’m deeply sorry. The doctors tried everything. He suffered a cardiac arrest at dawn…”“No, no—wait—what are you saying? That’s not possible!” Charles stood up, knocking over his mug. Hot coffee splashed across the table and floor, but he didn’t even notice.“He was recovering. I was there yesterday—he laughed at my jokes! You must be mistaken!”“I wish we were, sir… but I’m afraid we
The world seemed to blur around Rita as she stood in the middle of the hospital corridor, surrounded by wails and murmurs, but none of it reached her ears. Her entire being felt numb. Everything she saw and heard was filtered through the fog of disbelief, heartbreak, and sheer devastation.Antony was gone. The only person who had truly seen her—believed in her when the rest of the world questioned her worth. He had picked her up when she was at her lowest, reminded her of her strength, and stood by her with unwavering faith. And now… he had vanished. Just like that.She sank slowly to the floor beside his stretcher, pressing her forehead against the cool metal edge. “You weren’t just my friend,” she whispered through trembling lips. “You were… everything I never thought I deserved.”Charles came to kneel beside her, his face creased in sorrow. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “He talked about you all the time, Rita. You… meant the world to him.”Rita let out a choked sob, her
After everything that had happened, Rita couldn’t bring herself to go back abroad immediately. The weight of the tragedy and the unanswered questions about Antony's accident kept her grounded, unable to leave just yet. There were things she needed to understand—things that didn’t sit right with her. Rita knew she needed more time, not just to grieve but to observe the complex web of relationships and power dynamics around her. She couldn’t ignore the possibility that there were forces at play that she hadn’t yet uncovered.Meanwhile, Anita, always a step ahead in the game of manipulation, had managed to hook up with James. It wasn’t out of love or attraction—Anita’s intentions were far more calculating. After James had been devastated by the loss of Antony, she saw an opportunity to rise to the top. She knew he was vulnerable, looking for someone to pick him up after the crash, and she had found a powerful figure willing to back him up. In her mind, this was the perfect way to secure
The tycoon backing him—a powerful, faceless figure—had been pressing him harder with each passing day. The messages came through encrypted lines, always cold, always clear:“It’s time to finish what you started.” “Her family must fall.” “You’ve been paid. Deliver.”James didn’t even know who this man truly was. They had never met face to face. Everything was conducted through intermediaries, encrypted emails, and burner phones. The only thing James did know was that the money was too good to ignore. Especially now. With his mother’s medical bills piling up, his own reputation sinking, and his business crumbling after Antony’s death, he was hanging by a thread. And this tycoon, whoever he was, had offered him a lifeline—a dangerous, bloodstained lifeline.The burden of that secret grew heavier with each passing hour. He’d stare into his mother’s face and wonder, Would she approve of what I’m doing? Of course not. But she wasn’t here to stop him. No one was.He tried to convince himself
The following morning, the air around Antony’s family home buzzed with tension and anticipation.Detective Mills and his team had requested an emergency meeting. Everyone, from Lydia to Antony’s grieving parents, gathered anxiously in the drawing room, their nerves raw from weeks of grief and unanswered questions.Detective Mills walked in with a laptop tucked under his arm and a hard, unreadable look in his eyes."We have news," he announced, his voice sharp and clear. "We were able to recover the surveillance footage that had been wiped from the hospital’s security system."A heavy silence fell across the room.Everyone leaned forward as Mills placed the laptop on the table and pulled up the footage.What appeared on the screen made every heart in the room stop.There, clear as day, was the image of a woman sneaking into Antony’s hospital room the night he died. She moved with eerie precision, her face partially covered but unmistakable to those who knew her.It was James’s mother.
While the Drakes and Rita's family were planning a new chapter filled with joy and beginnings, far from their world, another family was consumed by grief and questions — Antony's family.The suddenness of Antony's death had left a gaping wound, one that no condolences or prayers could heal. His parents, once lively and full of pride, now seemed like mere shadows of themselves. Their once grand estate felt cold and hollow, haunted by whispers of what could have been — and more darkly, what truly happened.The police investigation was tireless. Antony’s father had spared no expense, hiring not only private investigators but also forensic experts to comb through every detail surrounding his son's death. Reports were piling up — some inconsistent, some deeply unsettling.There was no peace at home either. Every conversation, every glance, was thick with suspicion and despair.And then there was Lydia.Since the day Antony was pronounced dead, Lydia had not been the same. She moved through
Her father gave her a long, scrutinizing look before pulling her into a bear hug as well. “You’ve been away for too long. How are you? And… how are the boys?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.“The babies are fine,” Rita replied, her heart swelling with affection for the tiny creatures that had changed her life. “They’re so much work, but so worth it.”Her mother stepped forward, gently placing her hands on Rita’s shoulders. “You look good, my dear. You’ve blossomed. I can see the happiness in you, even though I know it hasn’t been easy.”Rita smiled, nodding. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’m happy now. Everything’s going well. I’m finally settling in.”As her parents entered the house, they were introduced to the nursery, where the twins were peacefully sleeping in their cribs. Rita’s heart swelled as she watched her parents' faces soften at the sight of their grandsons.Her father stepped forward, admiring the little ones. “They’re beautiful. I see so much of Adrian in t
The house had barely settled back into the joyous atmosphere when the front doors slammed open again.The echo rang through the air as Sophie and James were dragged back into the limelight — but this time, it was a humiliating, bitter spectacle.Sophie’s carefully curated appearance had already started to unravel.Her red dress that once looked fierce and confident now appeared out of place, like the outfit of someone trying to hold onto their power that was quickly slipping away.Her perfectly painted makeup had begun to smear with the tears she couldn’t hold back.James, on the other hand, tried to mask his panic with a cocky, defiant smile.But his attempt at maintaining control was shattered when the guards escorted them directly into the middle of the hall, the center of all eyes.“This is your last chance,” Mr. Drake’s voice thundered through the room.The gathered family members looked on with curiosity, shock, and disgust.Adrian had never felt more disgusted in his life.His
Inside the hospital room, the atmosphere was light, warm, almost sacred.Adrian sat at Rita’s side, one baby asleep in his arms, the other tucked against Rita’s chest.Mr. Drake — the once cold, stern patriarch — stood by the window, hands behind his back, occasionally glancing at his grandsons with a rare smile softening his weathered face.Mrs. Drake couldn't stop fussing over the babies, cooing softly and wrapping the twins in tiny blankets she had rushed to buy.Adrian's sister was already taking pictures secretly, unable to contain her excitement at becoming an aunt.It felt surreal — like a wound that had long been open was finally being stitched closed.The Drakes — once divided, cold, and controlled by expectations — were finally feeling like a real family again.They started discussing plans for a small private welcome dinner, just close family only, to properly receive Rita and the twins into the Drake family.Mrs. Drake was excitedly suggesting decorations and baby gifts wh
Francis was spiraling.His father's threat echoed endlessly in his mind.If the world finds out… you're no longer my son.He could feel the walls closing in.Every whisper in the hallway, every glance from the house staff, felt heavier now — like they knew.Like everyone knew.And Linet…She wasn't staying quiet.Across town, Linet was preparing for war.She sat at her vanity, fixing her flawless makeup with steady hands, while her eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.She picked up her phone and sent a mass message to the elite social circle:"Exclusive family announcement coming soon. You won't want to miss it.Location: Dalton Estate.Time: Dinner party tomorrow.Dress to impress."Then, she called her lawyer."I want all legal documents ready," she said crisply. "If Francis tries to divorce me, I want full rights to use his infertility reports. Make it messy."The lawyer hesitated. "Are you sure you want to go that far?""I was thrown away like trash," Linet hissed. "It's their tur
Thrown out like garbage.Humiliated in front of everyone.Linet sat alone in a dim hotel room that night, staring blankly at the city lights. The shame burned through her skin like acid — but she didn’t cry. No, Linet wasn’t the crying type. She was the kind that bled inside until the blood turned to venom.“They think they won,” she muttered darkly to herself.“They think they’re so perfect...”A cruel smile curved her lips.Let them laugh now. Let them celebrate.Because when she was done, they would all regret the day they crossed her.Especially Francis.A few days later, Linet sent a calm, polite message to Francis:"Can we talk? Just a final conversation. I’ll even buy you coffee."To her surprise — or maybe not — Francis agreed.Guilt gnawed at him; maybe he felt he owed her that much.They met at a discreet little café, far from the estate’s judging eyes. Linet looked stunning — composed, almost saintly in a soft blue dress, no sign of the hellfire brewing inside her.Francis
Back at the city, darkness brewed beneath the surface.Mary, still recovering from everything she had been through, knew she couldn't let Linet’s lies continue any longer.After everything Linet had done — manipulating, lying, scheming — Mary had found out the ugly truth: Linet’s pregnancy was nothing but a well-played act to trap Francis and the entire family.Mary decided the upcoming family dinner would be the perfect stage to expose Linet publicly — in front of everyone Linet was trying to fool.She began gathering evidence carefully — doctor's reports, witness statements, and even a secret recording of Linet bragging to a "friend" about how her "baby bump" was nothing but a prosthetic trick for now.Mary was careful, calculating — she knew Linet was dangerous when cornered.What Mary didn’t know, however, was that Linet had already sensed the threat.Her instincts were sharp.She knew Mary wasn’t the type to stay quiet, especially after the last tense confrontation they had.Pani
Sophie stood frozen outside the hospital doors, her hands clenched tightly into fists.She could barely believe what had just happened.After all the years of loyalty, after enduring Adrian’s coldness for so long, his mother — the one person she thought she could rely on — had abandoned her without a second thought.Abandoned her... for Rita's babies.Tears of rage and humiliation welled up in her eyes.She had supported the engagement, she had tolerated Adrian’s indifference, and now, she was nothing but a discarded afterthought.Choking on her sobs, she pulled out her phone and called her father."Dad..." she whimpered the moment he picked up."I’ve been humiliated... She left me... for those... those babies!" she cried.Her father tried to calm her, but Sophie wasn't listening.The rage was blinding.She shoved the phone into her purse and stormed off down the street, not caring where she was going, bumping into strangers without apology.She was too angry to notice anything.That