“Please, take care of yourself, okay?” Maryam cried, pulling me into a tight hug. Her voice was shaky with concern as she wrapped her arms around me. “Eat well… and take care of Alex too.” “I will, I promise,” I whispered, squeezing her tightly. I couldn’t help but feel my heart break as I hugged her back. “Eww, get your snorty body off me,” I fake-gagged, making her laugh and slap my arms lightly. I turned to Ella, who was standing just behind Maryam. Kneeling down in front of her, I pulled her into a warm hug and kissed her forehead. “I’m going to miss you, my Ella bear. I’ll FaceTime you every day, okay?” “Okkkk,” she replied with a cheerful smile, wrapping her little arms around me. She wiped away the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. “Big girls don’t cry, Daphne.” I pinched her cheek, dragging it playfully. “You’re right, I’m not a big girl,” I teased, giving her a wink. My heart ached at the thought of leaving her, but I knew I couldn’t back out now. After a brie
She let out a blood-curdling scream, her voice echoing through the house as she gripped her ears, her body shaking. The smirk that had been playing on my lips vanished instantly, replaced by shock. “Miss Claire!” Richard rushed to her side, his face pale. “Claire… Are you okay?” “No! No! Stay the hell away from me!” she shouted, her voice frantic, her legs kicking as she writhed on the floor in a fit of hysteria. I could hear frantic footsteps pounding the hallway, and the door flew open. “What is—” Her sentence was cut short when she gasped, covering her mouth. “Daphne? You’re alive?” I could hardly believe it myself. “Mother, Father!” I cried, running to them. I fell into their arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “I never thought I’d see you again.” “Are you okay? What happened? How?” Father croaked, his voice strained as he looked me over, his gaze scanning me as though he couldn’t believe I was standing before him. “You… You’re alive.” “Yes, Father, I’m alive.” But before I could
“Yes, you heard me right. I’m six months pregnant… and it’s a boy.”The room went silent. The air felt heavy like the walls themselves were holding their breath. Claire’s face turned ashen, her eyes widening as she struggled back to sit up.“That’s… that’s not possible,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “But…”I folded my arms, keeping my voice steady though my chest felt tight. “What’s not possible, Claire? That I’m pregnant? Or that you all thought I couldn’t have children?”I turned to my father, who stood stiff and unreadable, as always. “Nathaniel is investigating Dr. Matthews. It seems he’s been deliberately giving us false results… like he’s working for someone.” I stepped forward, holding my father’s gaze. “So… please, Dad… I’ll need your help.”His expression darkened a bit, the sharp edge of suspicion flashed in his eyes, but he said nothing.Claire squirmed like a cornered animal, her hands trembling at her sides. “N-No… don’t.” Her voice was thin, almost a plea. She looked
It was the next day already, I was left yet again alone in the house. Father and mother were invited by the Stones for a buisness negotiation, while Claire is out to see her “doctor.” I knew she was up to something.Currently standing outside my father’s office, my palms were slick with sweat. The hallway was deathly quiet, My heart pounded so hard I thought it might echo through the empty corridor.I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out the small lockpick set Sebastian insisted I carry. My fingers trembled as I held the cold metal. Memories of my father’s punishments clawed at my mind, the only times I came here was when I did something wrong or received scoldings. The slaps, harsh condescending words, and unforgiving eyes, always compare Claire and me. This was his space. I was never supposed to be here.Suddenly, Sebastian’s calm voice crackled in my ear through the tiny microphone he’d given me.“You’ve got this, Daphne. Slow breaths. In and out.”I inhaled sharply, holdi
“I… I…” My voice faltered as my breath hitched. “Daphne? Is everything alright?” Sebastian’s voice cut through the mic, steadying me. I straightened my posture, forcing control back into my trembling hands. “Richard?” I snapped, turning to face the butler. “You caught me off guard.” His eyes widened, and his hands shook slightly. “Miss Claire… I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He bowed his head respectfully. I bit back a laugh, savoring the rush of dominance. Since my return, I’d noticed Claire had dyed her hair back to brunette, making us nearly identical again. Apparently, not even Richard could tell the difference. Lifting my chin, I channeled Claire’s practiced poise and walked out of the room, heart drumming in my chest like a distant war drum. Back in my room, I locked the door and retrieved the stolen documents, snapping photos and sending them to Sebastian. His reply came quickly: We need to act fast. Time isn’t on our side. Collapsing onto the bed, I FaceTi
I stared at the mirror, barely recognizing the face reflected back at me. My skin was pale, my lips painted deep red, and my eyes hollow but sharp. I settled for a ball gown, enough to hide my baby bump. Elegant and dangerous, this wasn’t me. It couldn’t be. But tonight, I had to be someone else —I had to be Claire. “Daphne.” Sebastian’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “Are you there?” He called out from the miniature transmitter he gave me in a pin form. “Nate will be there,” he said quietly. “Stay close, blend in, and follow my lead.” I nodded, forcing down the lump in my throat. I couldn’t mess this up. I went down to the living room my heard thundering, and heels clicking against the floor. I had threatened Claire to stay and pretend to be me. It was cold and silent, the ticking clock pounding in rhythm with my heartbeat. Every breath was tight in my chest as I waited, shoulders straight, fingers trembling at my sides. Footsteps echoed behind me. “Claire.”
“Daphne? Don’t panic.”I tried to respond, but my voice came out raspy, my throat tightening as though invisible hands were choking me. I gasped, desperate for air, as the room began to spin. My mind slipped into the past—dark, horrifying memories clawing their way to the surface.I was back in the stone room, surrounded by cold, damp walls that whispered torment. We were tied, naked, and broken. We didn’t dare believe escape was possible. Our captors paraded us like art, like objects. They said they were bidding on portraits, but we knew better. They were bidding on lives.My legs refused to move. I stood rooted to the spot, my trembling hands betraying the anxiety creeping in. It felt as if taking even one step closer to reality would shatter the fragile illusion that I’d escaped that life. What if I never truly had? What if this life—my freedom, my hope, Sebastian—was all a lie? A cruel trick my mind played to survive?“Was I even real?” I whispered to myself. My breath hitched. “I
Sebastian’s POVThe first time I saw Daphne, something shifted in me. There was something about her—fragility masked by a fiery determination—that captivated me in a way I couldn’t explain. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was magnetic, drawing me in like a moth to a flame.But tonight, it wasn’t just her strength or her sharp tongue that caught my attention. It was her vulnerability, the way her body stiffened under the watchful eyes of those twisted old men in the room. Their gazes lingered on her like predators sizing up prey, and it took every ounce of self-control I had not to lose it there and then. I clenched my fists, fighting back the rage boiling inside me. This wasn’t the time or place. I had to play the part, no matter how much it sickened me. When the bidding began, I raised my paddle without hesitation. I wasn’t bidding for art; I was protecting her from the leering eyes of monsters.When the hammer fell and the art was “mine,” I felt a twisted mix of relief and disgust.
Daphne’s POV My body shook, a buzzing filling my ears, tears blurring my vision. “I can’t believe this, Seb. I fucking can’t believe this,” I choked out, hugging him tightly, soaking his t-shirt as he held me close. “I’m happy that you’re happy, Daphne. You fought so well,” Seb whispered in my ear, his voice also shaky. Was this it? The end of Charles Sinclair? The end of the torment, the years of abuse, the never-ending cycle, all because of his selfish desires? It felt surreal. After the sentence was delivered, I watched Mom spiral. She couldn’t comprehend it, seeing the man she had placed on such a high pedestal come crashing down. Richard quickly took her away, but not before giving me a nod of acknowledgement. Seeing Mom like that tugged at my heart. She had ruined not just her life, but ours too. She had stayed with a man who repeatedly hurt her, and it had shattered me time and time again. But I had finally come to terms with it. I wasn’t responsible for her choices.
Daphne’s POV “This is the bank transaction, showing all the dirty work and exploitations,” Nathaniel said, spreading the thick sheaf of papers across the table. Sebastian’s eyes scanned the documents, his brow furrowed. “They’re rigging oil prices too,” he muttered. “Just how rich and powerful is Charles? He couldn’t have done this alone. There’s government involvement here, somewhere.” Nathaniel was back, thank God. Richard had been feeding us information over the phone, piecing together the puzzle of Charles’s illicit activities. After countless meetings with prestigious authorities, and after what felt like an eternity of legislative deliberation, we finally had it: an arrest warrant. But there was a problem. Intelligence suggested Charles was about to flee the country. Someone within the legislative body had tipped him off. Thankfully, Charles was tracked down to his private retreat, a secluded estate far from the city. The apprehension was swift and decisive. He would
Two Weeks Later “That’s great news!” I exclaimed, pulling Seb and Claire into a hug, joy bubbling inside me. We were gathered around the table, Skyping Nathaniel, who had finally gotten his hands on the NGO’s bank statements and transaction records. “I’ll be back first thing tomorrow, and the chase will finally be over,” Nathaniel muttered with a cashmere smile. It had been two long weeks since Nathaniel traveled to investigate the NGO. Given his position in the ministry, he was able to gain access quickly, posing as an agent sent by me. Charles had been notified by the NGO of my request for the bank statements. Richard informed us that he had been desperately trying to track me down, still clueless about how I’d accessed the files. He was currently hiding in one of his estates in Suncity, under the pretense of being out of town. Our investigation had uncovered vital information, including receipts for bombs and weapons purchased under Charles’s name, weapons that led to the mas
Richard’s voice cut through the heavy silence, the words pulling us against the unspoken emotions hanging in the air. “Now that everything is done, and we have the documents, with Charles’s signature… all you have to do is sign, and the NGO is legally yours.” His jaw was clenched and his gaze distant. He tried to hold it together after Mother left, but I could see the cracks forming. This was just as hard for Richard as it was for me, maybe even harder. Mother had made her choice—time and time again, she chose Father, no matter the cost. Richard kept fighting for her, trying to pull her back from the edge, but she didn’t want to be saved. She never did. Sebastian broke the tension, his voice gentle as he gathered the papers. “She will, once she finds stability. Let’s go home, Daphne you need to rest.” He drew me away from a broken Claire. I turned to Richard, my voice firm with conviction despite the ache in my chest. “Thank you, Richard, for everything. I will see to it that Cha
Daphne’s POV “M…Mother?” I whispered, the word catching in my throat. The sight that greeted me was a brutal shock. She was disheveled, almost broken. Her lip was split and bleeding, a thin line of crimson tracing its path down her pale skin. Her face, usually vibrant and carefully made-up, was ashen, almost ghostly. “Wh…what’s going on? Why do you look like this?” I stammered, my throat tightening with fear and disbelief. I had expected to see my mother, but this ravaged, vulnerable woman was a stranger. She clutched a thick Manila folder to her chest, her knuckles white. Her eyes darted nervously between us, finally settling on Richard. “I don’t have much time,” she said, her voice was barely audible, very strained and thin. “These are the files. They belong to you. Only you can have full access. The name of the NGO is ‘Project Chilia.’ All the necessary details are inside.” She hurried on, her words tumbling out in a rush, “But I must warn you, everything still runs under you
Daphne’s POV The next day arrived with an unpleasant swiftness. The air in the house hung heavy, thick with unspoken anxieties. Our collective patience felt like a frayed rope, stretched to its breaking point. We sat in an uncomfortable silence at the breakfast table, the clinking of cutlery the only sound disturbing the quiet. Sebastian had made breakfast, but no one seemed to have much of an appetite. The doorbell rang, a sharp sound that shattered the tense atmosphere. Sebastian exchanged a quick, worried glance with me. "Wait here," he said cautiously, his voice low. I nodded, my anxiety spiking. Claire shifted in her seat, clearing her throat uncomfortably. I glanced at her, sensing she had something to say. But I was beyond conversation. The return to the forest had stirred something within me, a raw reminder of her past actions, how she had brutalized me, and her constant ridicule. Ever since I came back home, she made me feel unwelcome, telling me harsh words. Forgiveness
I snorted, listening to Sebastian recount his first impressions of me, a genuine laugh bubbling up from my chest.“I mean…why wouldn’t I be skeptical?” he teased, a playful glint in his eyes. “You gave me ample reasons. First, you trampled my shoes, and second, you bolted from the hospital like a bat out of hell.”“Oh, please,” I groaned, burying my face in a nearby pillow, a wave of embarrassment washing over me. “Don’t make me relive those days.”Sebastian chuckled a warm sound that resonated through the room. “I should’ve known you were anything but ordinary. You entered my life like a force of nature.” I peeked at him from beneath the pillow’s soft fabric. A genuine smile graced his features as he shook his head in amused disbelief.“I thought you hated me,” I mumbled, not entirely blaming him. My initial behavior hadn’t exactly been endearing.“Oh, Daphne,” he said softly, a hint of tenderness in his voice. “You definitely got on my nerves…but I have a small confession to make. Y
Daphne’s POV A chilling dread settled over me. “I… I don’t understand,” I stammered, my world tilting on its axis. What could Richard possibly mean by saying I was the key? He gave a dry chuckle. “No one truly grasps the extent of Charles’s evil. Look at us,” he gestured to the group. “We all bear the scars of his influence, don’t we?” My gaze swept across Nate, Claire, and even Richard himself. Each of us carried a distinct torment, almost like a confirmation of Charles’s destructive power. “And here’s the kicker,” Richard continued, his voice laced with a bitter irony. “Mr. Calloway is the one who orchestrated your kidnapping, Daphne.” The name hit me like a physical blow. Mr. Callaway? One of my father’s business associates? The man who had… tried to….force himself on me last night? A wave of nausea surged through me. I retched, the contents of my stomach emptying onto the floor. Sebastian immediately wrapped his arms around me, his voice was like a soothing balm. “It’s al
THIRD PERSON POV FLASHBACK BEGINS The dogs barked wildly on a stormy night, their growls cutting through the eerie silence. The entire universe seemed cloaked in darkness, a heavy omen pressing down on the night. “I think something’s going on in the house. And from the sound of it, it’s bad,” Theo, the watchman, muttered to himself as he quickly sent a message to Richard. Richard, who had been restless all night, saw the notification and sat upright, his unease deepening. Richard had worked at the Sinclair residence for over a decade and knew every family secret. Though he didn’t have access to Charles’s numerous private dealings—something no one, not even Charles’s wife, possessed—he was privy to much more than anyone suspected. Richard was working as a double agent for a business associate of Charles, Mr. Calloway, who was also a trafficker. Calloway’s goal was to bring Charles down and seize his empire. Fueled by a thirst for vengeance, Richard had long buried any trace