Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 11 AMMikael couldn’t believe it when he heard the phone call interrupting his peaceful morning—a morning that made him not want to leave the bed because he remembered Claire was still asleep beside him the last time he closed his eyes.Or... not.Because when he opened his eyes, he found no one.“Shit!”The room, dark throughout the night, was now fully illuminated as sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window.Mikael nearly jumped in shock when he saw the clock on the wall.11 AM?No way. He hadn’t slept this deeply in the last six years, and he couldn’t believe he had slept in so late as if all his problems had disappeared.Fuck. Claire needed money... and he had slept so late that she had already left him.“What’s going on?” Mikael almost snapped at the caller, but fortunately, he still had enough presence of mind to control his voice.“Mr. Williams, it’s me, Trevor. I’m calling to inform you that a woman claiming to be your wife
Manhattan’s BankManhattan, New York, US. 11 PMClaire still couldn’t believe what she was doing. Losing Cecilia, going to Mikael, doing the unthinkable, stealing money from him, then running through the bank’s back door with three bags larger than her body.Cecilia...Claire would get her back—she would save her.And Claire didn’t regret doing all these crazy things for her daughter. She would do anything for Cecilia—anything.“Hurry if you don’t want to be late. Frankly, you’re already an hour late.”Her phone rang once more, and she considered ignoring it, thinking Mikael was calling—just like the dozens of calls he’d made after they had spoken using the bank manager’s phone.“I got the money. Please understand it takes time to gather this much.” Claire closed her eyes briefly while still trying to drag the three large bags, “just wait there for two more minutes.”“You’d better hurry, someone’s already waiting for you there,” Anderson responded quickly. “Stop talking and hand your
Somewhere in New York. 1 PMDiscovering that Linda was a traitor and learning that Hernandez was still the one behind all of this was deeply shocking.For a moment, Mikael couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Linda standing there with a gun pointed at Claire’s head.It felt like just yesterday, they were talking in the car after leaving his parents’ house. He never imagined that woman—the whore—could turn into a traitor in the blink of an eye.Or maybe not in the blink of an eye. She had been a traitor from the beginning. He was the one who had been fooled, allowing her to stay one step behind him the entire time.But who cares about Linda now that Lionel and his team have likely dealt with her?Chasing Claire. That was all Mikael focused on—chasing Claire as she had just run away from him into the old building at the end of the yard.There had been an explosion from inside the building, but when they entered, no one was there.“Oh God,” Claire covered her mouth, tears streaming down
Somewhere in New York. 1 PM“Long time no see, Hernandez,” Mikael said calmly. “What the hell are you doing this time?”Mikael spoke with a calmness that seemed so real, as if he wasn’t afraid of anything, even though they had just realized that there was no way out of the building while time was ticking away. However, Mikael’s calmness didn’t affect Claire at all. She could feel her legs trembling—fearful, deeply cared.She remembered how she had decided to come without the slightest bit of fear to meet Mikael, steal money from him, and leave with Linda to meet Anderson here. And now, as she stood face to face with Anderson, all her fears merged and hit her at once.“Mommy,” Cecilia’s soft voice was the only thing that pulled Claire out of her shock, making her tune back into the conversation between Mikael and Anderson, who both stood ready with guns in hand. If Mikael fired, the place would turn into a terrifying battlefield in just a few seconds. The same would happen if Anderson
Somewhere in New York, 1 PM.“I’m glad you still remember me,” David sneered, “I thought after returning to the United States, you’d forget your lover in Canada because you decided to go back to your ex-husband.”The shock in Claire’s eyes was still very evident. However, Claire knew her surprise wouldn’t change anything—it wouldn’t end or fix anything.So she shook her head—giving a single sentence to refute David’s words, “He’s my husband, not my ex-husband.” She replied confidently, hoping for a miracle to be on her side amid the crushing situation.“Ah,” David snapped his fingers, “I think I forgot some details. Forgive me if that’s the case. But, I’m sure my little Cecilia hasn’t forgotten me.” He walked closer, “isn’t that right, Cecilia?”“Mom,” Cecilia tightened her hug, and Claire could feel the fear so clearly in her daughter’s voice.“Why are you doing all this?” Claire turned towards the door—hoping someone would come through and save her once again. “How much did Anderson
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 7 PMFor the first time in his life, Mikael felt like he had lost control over his own body.He was unconscious—not in the usual sense. He was awake, but his mind was gone, and he couldn’t control anything.His last memory was of Claire collapsing after she shot Hernandez with the gun she had stolen from him.Who said Mikael didn’t know when Claire reached into his pocket and took his gun? He knew, and he felt her hesitation. But he didn’t stop her—he let her make the decision during the most chaotic moment of her life. And he didn’t regret his decision at that time.But after that, Claire collapsed and lost consciousness. She passed out, yet her arms still held Cecilia tightly—still providing the best protection she could, even though she knew her embrace wouldn’t be enough to shield them from the enemy’s bullets.Just seconds later, Lionel dragged them into the helicopter. Moments after Lionel got it airborne, the building exploded.Mikael
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 10 PMClaire stared at Mikael’s right arm, which she had just finished wrapping with a bandage. His wound on the waist had been left to dry without being cleaned or treated for hours.Minutes passed since they sat together in his apartment—the same apartment she had visited the night before.Everything had changed overnight, and Claire still wasn’t fully ready to process it all. Yet, as she cradled Cecilia in her lap—she was sleeping soundly, unaffected by anything—it left Claire unable to voice any complaints. This was more than she could have ever imagined.The night before, she had been restless, impatient for the morning so she could secure the money to save her Cecilia.And tonight, Cecilia was safe, sleeping peacefully in her arms.So many shocking things had happened—betrayal, disappointment, anger, and sadness—all mixed within her heart and mind. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to say a word.Her voice had been exhausted, lost to the
Mikael’s MansionManhattan, New York, US. 2 AMOne of the biggest reasons why Claire canceled all her plans the day she decided to run away from her family was because of what she last heard when she came to New York to meet Mikael a few weeks after she gave birth.Years ago, she had indeed decided to run away—disappearing for a while to calm herself after all the chaos that had occurred. At that time, she was too shattered to accept the state of her life—her marriage to Mikael, the lies, Michael’s death, and the fact that she had shot Anderson and thought she had killed him.All the chaos that happened left her with no choice but to leave the United States for a while and try to find peace in a foreign place she didn’t know. However, at that time, she had always thought of returning. She wanted to return to the United States after giving birth to Cecilia. She knew that no matter what happened—whatever the reason and no matter the state of her heart at the time she realized that the W
Mikael’s Mansion.Yonkers, New York, US. A few months later.Mikael gazed at the sprawling grounds of his mansion, which had begun to bloom with flowers, with butterflies fluttering freely.Claire had started planting flowers in their mansion’s yard two weeks ago, and the blossoms were beginning to bloom in the spring, transforming the once-dreary mansion into something beautiful.Mikael had been away from that building for nearly six years. Even though there were still servants cleaning and maintaining the place every day, it had felt gloomy when they first moved in a few months ago.However, Claire only took a few days to make significant changes to the mansion. Cecilia's laughter echoed in every corner, bringing a new light that Mikael had never imagined before. Claire had begun to do her part—adding magical touches that his mind struggled to comprehend, but his heart could feel.And now, as spring had arrived, everything was starting to grow lushly—especially Mikael's heart, which
Chapter 117 Perfect Family in the MorningMikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 9 AMClaire nearly jumped in surprise when she felt a cold kiss on her neck in the midst of the chilly air. Her hands moved to push the man away—the only person allowed to do such a thing to her.“Mike,” she groaned irritably.“Are you going to keep hiding under the blankets until the afternoon?” Mikael chuckled and continued showering her with cold kisses along her neck and face.Claire opened her eyes and pouted. When she turned her head, she didn’t find Cecilia there and concluded that she had woken up late, meaning Cecilia was already awake.“Get away from me!” she said while pushing Mikael away, even though she knew her refusal was futile.“Do you really want me to go?” Mikael raised his eyebrows.Claire rolled her eyes as she noticed the drastic change in their interactions.She had known Mikael her entire life, but she felt unprepared for all of this. Waking up to see Mikael’s handsome face in
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 1 AMOnce again, Claire woke up with soreness between her thighs, and the memories of what she’d done replayed in her mind. Her eyes weren’t fully open yet, but she knew it was still nighttime—the sun hadn’t risen, unlike a few days ago when she awoke.A large, warm hand wrapped around her waist tightly, keeping her from falling off the sofa in the living room. A thick blanket covered her bare body, and she knew that the man behind her was also still undressed, even though he was awake.She could feel the gentle strokes along her back and steady breaths against her neck. The man hadn’t said a word, but Claire knew he was awake, or at least hadn’t slept since she had immediately closed her eyes after their last... game, however many hours ago.She had been right to worry—she’d lose control again if she let Mikael talk to her at night. And yes, she had lost control once more.There was no denying that she missed every touch from this man. Ther
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 9 PMSnow once again blanketed the streets of New York, which were adorned with Christmas lights and bustling with pedestrians going about their activities. Some chose to step aside, seeking warmth from the cold, while others continued to stroll, enjoying the frozen snowflakes falling around them.Amid the hustle of New York, Mikael opted to sit in the main room of his apartment with two mugs of hot chocolate—one for him and one for Claire.The cool air from the balcony door, which wasn’t fully closed, made the room feel cold—typical of the chilly end-of-year weather.Mikael had endured many terrible years, but it seemed he would close this one with a sweet gift—Cecilia.“This is the best year-end I’ve ever had,” Mikael smiled.Sometimes, he forgot the last time he had smiled, but in the past few days, he had lost count of how many times he’d smiled because it happened so often.“Good for you,” Claire responded flatly.Sometimes, Mikael wond
Michael’s GraveManhattan, New York, US. 9 AMClaire stepped forward, clutching a bouquet of white roses she had bought just before arriving at... her destination.“Mom,” Cecilia reached for her hand, prompting Claire to turn and offer a brief smile to the little girl.“That’s okay, Cecilia.” Mikael crouched in front of Cecilia and lifted her into his arms when he noticed she felt scared.Claire had never taken Cecilia to a cemetery before, but Cecilia had seen graves on television, and it always piqued her curiosity.Cecilia didn’t have anyone to visit in Canada, so she never went to a cemetery. But now, she was in New York, and… she felt like she had to visit one of the graves she missed the most—Michael’s grave.“Daddy, I’m scared,” Cecilia said quietly, hiding her face against Mikael’s chest.“Aren’t you here with Daddy and Mommy?” Mikael kissed her hair softly, “You don’t need to be scared, right?”“Yes, Daddy.” Cecilia nodded but kept hiding her face, making Mikael chuckle affec
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 11 PMTime passes day by day, and Claire feels unable to stop them. The end of the year is approaching, but she feels she still can’t leave this year behind—a year that has brought her many surprises and… happiness.She is living in Mikael’s apartment.They sleep together in the same room, on the same bed, and under the same blanket. However, nothing happens between them except… sleep, in the literal meaning.It’s not that Claire wants anything else. Honestly, she still can’t believe what she did with Mikael on the nights following the moment she killed Anderson with a gun in her hand.That night, she was completely unhinged and couldn’t think clearly. Everything she discussed with Mikael drove her further into madness, and they ended that madness in an even crazier way. However, she would try to control herself not to do that again… at least until she was truly sure about her decisions and what she wanted to do next.Now, she lives with Mik
Williams MansionManhattan, New York, US. 1 PM“Oh my God,” Josephine Williams gasped, covering her mouth in surprise when she saw Claire standing at the mansion door.“Mom,” Claire gave a brief smile and reached out to hug her.They had met briefly yesterday, but that encounter meant nothing to either Josephine or Claire. At the time, everything was chaotic, and Claire’s only concern had been calming Cecilia, who was crying hysterically out of fear.“My dear,” Josephine sighed as she hugged Claire, “I’ve been waiting for word from you since last night.”“Sorry to make you worry, Mom. I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”“I know you’re fine,” Josephine released the hug and cupped Claire’s face, looking at her closely. “I just needed to hear from you. It’s the only thing that could ease my mind.”Claire smiled and nodded. Years had passed since her childhood, but Josephine still saw her as a little princess she would always worry about. Claire hadn’t understood Josephine’s mind
Mikael’s Mansion Manhattan, New York, US. 10 AM “Do you like these eggs, Cecilia?” “Can I have more?” “You want more?” “I want! I want!” “Sure, Princess! You’ll have mine, and I’ll make another one for you.” Claire blinked as the voices broke through her sleep. She opened her eyes for a few seconds, but the pull of sleep soon coaxed them shut again. Sunlight poured through the large windows at the center of the room, illuminating the sofa that faced the balcony. Despite it being late in the year, the day was bright enough for the midday sun to break through and gently warm Claire’s still-closed eyelids. She stretched, feeling a familiar ache from yesterday morning—the same kind of soreness she used to experience years ago. As much as she wanted to forget what had happened last night, Claire couldn’t deny that when she closed her eyes, all she could think about was the way Mikael had kissed her, letting his hands roam her body—touching her with tenderness and passion. “Daddy,
Mikael’s ApartmentManhattan, New York, US. 4 AMMikael still couldn’t believe what had just happened.Yes, it was hard for him to truly accept that, at this moment, he was lying next to Claire, who was curled up, shivering under his arm. Her eyes were closed while her body, from her waist down to her feet, was covered by the thick blanket he had given her after they had finished their long, wild sex.Claire’s confession had made Mikael lose control. He didn’t know how else to express the madness in his heart but through a kiss, a reflex to Claire’s long confession. However, that kiss had only ignited a fire within him, pulling him back into the burning circle.And the more surprising thing was... Claire accepted his touch.Mikael leaned down to kiss Claire’s shoulder and whatever else his lips could reach—her head, her forehead, and the nape of her neck, which was covered by strands of her red hair.Claire had stopped coloring her hair since Mikael wasn’t sure when. But he remembered