Clara stepped into the familiar yet foreign elite mansion, her two sons at her side, their presence drawing curious stares from the gathered crowd. The atmosphere was starkly different from six years ago, when she was greeted with cheerful smiles by the servants and even the housekeepers. Lara quickly brushed aside the memories of the past and opened her eyes wide, taking in the scene of mourning that mirrored her own grief. A casket stood in the center of the room, its occupant, the man who had been a pillar of support throughout her childhood, now laid still and lifeless. Clara's tears flowed freely, Lucas and Louis mirroring her sorrow. Jessica, standing beside her with a scowl, broke the silence. "Finally, you're back. I wonder if you only returned after Grandpa passed away." She said, arms crossed over her chest. Clara took a deep breath and looked at Jessica, trying to remain composed. "It's been a long time, but you're still the same. Are you twisting the facts? Don't start
"Raisa, you came too? How did you know I was here?"Catching her breath, Raisa replied, "We can talk later. Come with me for a moment, let's talk outside..."Without Clara's consent, she was pulled out of the house. Raisa looked at her seriously. "I came to tell you some bad news!"Her serious expression piqued Clara's curiosity. "News?""Yes, Clarissa... Clarissa has just been..." Raisa was too distraught to continue, but she couldn't bear to leave Clara hanging. "...found dead. Suicide.""What?" Clara narrowed her eyes in disbelief. "You're not making this up, are you? A woman like her wouldn't do something so foolish."Raisa sighed, her face etched with grief. "You don't believe me? Her body was found at the bottom of a ravine. Authorities concluded it was suicide.""What?" Clara was shocked and curious. "Why would she do something so drastic?" Clara raised her voice.Raisa shrugged. "I don't know. I'm surprised too. A prominent businesswoman like Miss Clarissa, found dead at the
"Mr. Jordan Halle, I've been hearing about the embezzlement scandal that Clarissa committed. And your company was one of the victims, yet you look fine. Maybe there's something going on between you two…" "Whatever you say, but after the competition winners are announced, I'll hold a press conference…" "But CEO Jordan, your credibility will fall." Raisa spoke up after listening to their conversation. "No! The press conference must be held." After speaking, Jordan stood up from his chair. "Coincidentally, I agree with you," Simon smiled mysteriously, "I hope your name is on the list of competition winners." Before leaving, he glanced at Raisa. If you think about it, Jordan did look relaxed and carefree. Could what Simon, the musician, said be true? Raisa was lost in thought. "Hey, what are you thinking about? Let's go." Raisa obediently followed her boss back to the competition venue… From the front row seats, Simon saw two people who had just arrived sitting side by side
As the murmurs of agreement towards Raisa's words filled the room, Emma lowered her head. Raisa was right; Jordan was indeed unconscious in the video. The people started to curse at her with harsh words. "Hey, what are you waiting for? Get out of there before the reporters arrive!" Emma looked hesitant and stiff. She looked at Simon, hoping for protection, but the man remained silent, realizing his plan to bring Jordan down had completely failed. "Mr. Simon Alexander, where are you going?" Emma tried to stop her boss and partner as he walked away. Unfortunately, the man didn't respond. He hadn't been paid for his work. After all, he worked for money! Jordan, although this incident had been troubling, was relieved by Raisa's defense after clearing his name. He looked at Emma coldly, with no sympathy left as he ran out of the building with a pale face. Tringg… The ringing of a call came from Jordan's phone. "Mr. Halle, a woman is causing a commotion in the office lobby." Jordan mon
Emma cruelly produced the exact same badge as the one in Emily's photo, unsettling Jordan. "This badge... where did you get it?" Jordan's voice trembled, a stark contrast to Emma's sinister laughter. "It was found near Miss Clarissa's body at the cliff edge where she was discovered dead." "Impossible! This is a trap. You're setting me up, and besides, this isn't admissible evidence. Do you know why?" Jordan argued, seemingly finding unexpected courage. "Every object has fingerprints." Emma's gaze sharpened. "Not evidence? Then how do you explain the badge, Jordan? That badge is only worn by members of 'Black Eagle,' a notoriously ruthless group involved in various crimes. This means you're one of them, am I wrong?" Jordan fell silent. The 'Black Eagle's' reputation was abysmal. His past membership in the group was a mistake he deeply regretted, a mistake threatening to destroy his life. "I... I've left the group," he whispered. "Left?" Emily scoffed. "Do you think we'll believe
Jordan emerged from the tense situation, his face slick with sweat. On his desk sat a small box of ready-to-eat meals. He glanced at the wall clock; it was 1:00 PM. A little late for lunch, but seeing his empty cup, he felt a twinge of annoyance. "Raisa, where is she? Did she forget her duties?" He immediately called Raisa. "Yes, sir..." "Raisa, you haven't yet replenished…" "I'm sorry, sir, but Miss Raisa took the day off to take Mrs. Clara and her two sons home." "Home?" Jordan repeated, frowning. He remembered Clara had won the competition yesterday. No wonder she could afford the fine and had offered to take responsibility for getting him out of the case. Jordan smiled pessimistically. "Wait! Why didn't she tell me? Leaving without contacting me, taking the day off without my permission…" "I'm sorry, Mr. Halle, but I believe I left a leave request on your desk." Jordan touched his forehead, then checked his desk drawer and found a brown envelope addressed to Raisa. "Mr.
"Would you like a drink?" Although she wasn't thirsty, seeing Jordan's attentive care for the twins, Clara agreed. Especially since Jordan was offering her current favorite drink. Clara was surprised he remembered her preference. "Thank you," she murmured. Clara took the drink from Raffaele, though a row of beer bottles stood before her. Jordan assumed Clara enjoyed the drink, but while he was occupied with the twins, no one suspected Clara would replace Jordan's offering with a bottle of beer when they weren't looking. Clara wasn't usually a drinker, but she craved it intensely. She glanced at Jordan before taking a sip, their closeness causing her to smile as she drained the clear green glass bottle. Unconsciously, she enjoyed it and wanted more, regardless of the consequences. "Mommy, wake up!" Lucas's small cry startled her, but Clara was already asleep, overcome by the alcohol... THE NEXT MORNING... "Mommy, why aren't you awake yet?" The twins' whimpers roused Clara, but
"Lara... Lara..." The apartment door was pounded loudly, diverting the focus of the small family enjoying their breakfast. Clara stood up from her chair and went to open the door. "Raisa..." "Why are you so slow to answer? Have you forgotten me as a friend?" Clara was truly annoyed by Raisa's rude outburst. But her arrival this morning made Clara curious. "Sorry, I was busy cooking, what's up?" Instead of answering, Raisa barged in uninvited until she reached the dining room and saw a pair of twins with Jordan, all looking grim. "Raisa, have a seat. Won't you join us for breakfast?" Clara spoke kindly. "Let me talk to Jordan for a moment." Raisa's voice and gaze seemed cold. The man who was Clara's husband glanced at his wife briefly before answering Raisa. "Why not just stay here? There's no one else..." "In private, this is very important." Her answer was so forceful, Clara muttered, 'What kind of conversation do they want to have?' However, Clara didn't expect Jordan to ag
"Doctor, we have a gunshot wound victim! Code red!" A nurse, breathless and frantic, burst into the doctor's consultation room."Right, I'm on my way. Cover for me."The nurse immediately obeyed the doctor's sharp command.The doctor arrived to find a woman lying pale and still, blood staining the sheets. Her family, huddled behind the observation window, looked on in panicked silence."Her heart rate's plummeting. Get her on oxygen, stat!""Yes, Doctor!"The doctor emerged, facing the distraught family. "Excuse me, who are you...?"A man, massaging his temples, spoke quickly. "I'm Alessandro, her husband. How is my wife, Doctor?" His voice was thick with panic."Please, try to remain calm. She's receiving treatment, and while her condition is critical, we're doing everything we can.""Can't you give me a proper diagnosis? I just want my wife to live, Doctor." His eyes welled up.The doctor offered a strained smile. "We'll do our best, but we can't make any guarantees…"Three d
Mischa let his henchman revel in his moment of triumph, then retreated. "Wait! You haven't been paid yet."Mischa's steps faltered. He smiled, raising an eyebrow. "How much do you want?""One hundred thousand dollars."Without hesitation, Mischa produced the cash. "However-" Before the man could snatch the money, Mischa continued, "Forty thousand will do for today! After all, haven't you got a new toy to play with?" He tossed the money at the man's feet.The man grumbled, protesting. "But this isn't what we agreed on! You don't know how hard I fought to get past those CCTV cameras-""Ahh, that's irrelevant. Go. If you don't want the money, give it back. This is the last time I'll pay you.""Can't you show some mercy-"His plea was ignored. Mischa walked away, the man trailing behind.Meanwhile, Giselle, still bound and terrified, frantically tried to break free. She scraped her hands against the rough wall, her skin bleeding. She had to escape, to find a way out...."I'll give Gis
Louis grabbed his chin viciously and received fierce stares from him. "Why—" Mischa still thought, if I tell the truth, would everything change?"Actually—" when Mischa tried to speak, Louis interrupted him. "I'll hear your words if it makes sense!""I-I just want the baby in my womb to have a father. Even if he is not your flesh and blood, do you just hope that you will consider him your son?""What?" Louis reacted in shock and squeezed his hair roughly, "Enough Mischa! Don't go any further, this is already a great insult to me and my family." Deep expressions of disappointment were clearly visible on his face. She couldn't believe it, and Mischa instead made her a cover for her disgrace. Really, a very heartless woman! "Forgive me Louis, I mentioned this reason for the sake of our relationship. Ever since Netty was by your side, you didn't even glance at me at all...""Unfortunately I'm too stupid to trust people like you so easily. If I had known from the beginning, I wouldn't
Louis wasn’t driving himself home. He’d opted for a cab, pulling up in front of a bar he hadn’t visited in ages. Stepping inside, the place was a whirlwind of young, reckless revelers and dancers grooving to the thumping DJ music. He weaved through the crowd, grabbing a drink the moment he spotted an empty stool.“Louis! What the hell are you doing?” Lucas appeared, his voice sharp, as he caught sight of his twin brother knocking back shots of hard liquor.“Louis, have you lost your mind? Your wife’s waiting at home, and you’re here, getting plastered?”Lucas tried to snatch the shot glass, but Louis held firm, his voice surprisingly calm. “Why the rush? Let’s relax and drink this stuff until we’re happy. Don’t worry about the cost.”This was getting out of hand. Louis wasn’t usually a drinker; this change was unsettling. Lucas needed to get him out of there before the alcohol did more damage. “Damn it! How do I even contact Mischa? My phone’s still in the car.”“Still want to wa
Louis’s words hung in the air, sharp as a threat. Mischa wondered if the woman with the long nails and platinum blonde hair was deliberately trying to drive a wedge between them. Giselle watched the woman discreetly. When Louis excused himself to make a call, Mischa casually pulled a cigarette from her purse and lit it, the acrid smell of tobacco instantly filling the room. Giselle coughed. "Excuse me, but this is a non-smoking area. There's a sign right over there."Mischa glanced at the sign Giselle indicated, then rolled her eyes. "And I care?"Giselle took a deep breath, composing herself. Just as Louis returned, Netty's doctor emerged from the room. "Doctor, how is my sister-in-law?" Giselle asked anxiously."She's still unconscious. We'll be monitoring her hourly. Please, try to stay calm."Louis was about to enter Netty's room, but Mischa stopped him. "Can't we just go home? You've already done so much…" Her plea hung unspoken in the air."No! Can't you see someone's life is
In her apartment, Mischa still couldn't sleep and kept shifting positions restlessly. Her eyes darted to the wall clock, then she mumbled, "It's already 2:00 AM." Slowly she sat up and leaned back against the pillow, blinking several times before glancing at her phone, which hadn't flashed since earlier. Her breath came out heavy, and her alertness heightened. Louis was going to meet Netty. "I have to make sure Netty keeps her distance from my husband." Mischa picked up her phone, planning to distract herself by opening social media. As she saw a post, her anxiety deepened when she noticed her husband's location was at the hospital! "This feels strange; I need to find out what he’s doing there." *** 2:05 AM "Ms. Netty needs type B blood. So we are currently looking for someone willing to donate..." Louis still remembered the doctor's words while talking to his sister Giselle, so he immediately went to see the doctor after making his decision. "Excuse me, doctor, I came to don
A social media post stopped Netty in her tracks. The photo showed a back – a very familiar back. She wanted to guess, but fear of being wrong gnawed at her. She checked the account’s owner, a name she recognized: "L Mischa." So familiar, but why the single 'L'? Could it be…? Should she guess it stood for Louis? Was it true, then? Were she and Louis meant to be? Before Netty could dwell further, a notification popped up. A new post from the same account, instantly showered with likes and supportive comments. "My guess is right, the 'L' stands for Louis. Is this the answer to my prayers? If we aren't meant to be, then help me find someone else, someone to help me forget his kindness and our memories." A text message arrived, advertising a part-time night shift job. "I guess this is it. Time to quit my old job and take this new one, even if it's just as a convenience store clerk, only six hours a day." Netty made up her mind. She told her family, grabbed her bag, and left to apply. S
Frustration, anger, and pent-up emotions boiled over after a failed plan. Louis vanished without a trace after that day, disappearing from circulation and ignoring all calls, both business-related and from his parents.His mind was consumed by the desire to apologize to Netty. If he went to her house and asked her family about her, would they tell him? But what if Netty wasn't home?He could barely imagine what would happen if he found out Netty wasn't home. Although he had called her several times, there was only a forwarding message.He spent his days alone, exhausted, without a confidante to vent the frustrations that had been building for days.Today, Louis unknowingly stopped near Mischa's family home. Before getting out of the car, he sat contemplating, murmuring, "I wonder how Mischa's doing?"Suddenly, he thought about the woman he admitted he didn't love at all. His expression was somber. Should he see Mischa now? Doubt clouded his eyes, but what would he say if he did?It
The whispers followed Giselle like a shadow. "They say she never got her mother's love, not even as a baby," one voice hissed. Another chimed in, "Really? Where'd you hear that?" Giselle’s cheeks burned. The judging stares felt like knives. But the whispers died down abruptly as a figure appeared – Alessandro, her husband. "Al-Alessandro..." breathed the gossips. Their attention shifted back to their shopping, the initial purpose of their visit to Giselle’s grocery store. Alessandro’s arrival transformed Giselle's frown into a radiant smile. Serving her customers, she was noticeably more relaxed. Alessandro, however, watched her with a tender gaze, a small smile playing on his lips. Netty, noticing this exchange, chuckled softly. Despite the storms they’d weathered, Giselle felt incredibly fortunate to have him. And now, cradled in her arms, their beautiful baby boy, Leon, completed their picture. Once the last customer left, Giselle