"Hey, what are you two talking about?" A curious Joe approached them, then looked at Lara. “You haven't even finished your breakfast, Lara.” "You don't need to know." Clara pulled Raisa away from her husband. “But Lara… how about we go out for a while? I want us to talk outside.” Clara snapped her fingers in agreement. “Well, I have to take you somewhere.” Clara winked, then said goodbye to everyone at home. IN A CITY PARK “What's with that expression on your face?” A long sigh was heard, but there were no signs of Raisa speaking. "Do you have a problem? Or are you feeling unwell from exhaustion?" Silence; only Raisa's gloomy expression was visible on her face. Clara didn't comment anymore; she looked around until an idea came to mind. "Hey, dear, do you want dumplings? I'm still not full.” Clara's words broke the stiff atmosphere. Raisa's mind seemed enlightened. After Clara finally brought two bowls of dumplings, Raisa couldn't resist the tempting aroma. She couldn't help
A wave of anxiety washed over Clara. This was the umpteenth time she’d shuttled between the police station and the hospital. After the call ended, she excused herself from the officers, her heart heavy with a desperate hope for Raisa’s recovery. That hope clung to her as she reached Raisa’s room. “Joe, Seira, how is Raisa?” Their downcast eyes spoke volumes, fueling her apprehension. “What is it?” Seira shook her head weakly, her eyes swollen. “She… she couldn’t be saved.” The words hung in the air, silencing Clara. “No, it’s impossible! This can’t be happening!” Regret gnawed at her. She’d mistaken Anna’s call for good news; instead, it heralded the devastating loss of her friend. Her heart shattered, a profound grief tearing through her. Tears streamed down her face as she saw Raisa’s body, veiled in white. “Raisa, why did you leave so soon? I never imagined yesterday was our last meeting.” Clara sobbed uncontrollably. “Please, stop crying,” Joe said gently. “She won’t rest pea
“I know this might seem like a joke to you, but I regret leaving you to fend for yourself without parents.” Jordan’s heart clenched, a surge of anger coursing through him. “Why are you telling me this now? Where’s Mother?” “You won’t understand, but your mother was murdered by Russian mobsters.” The old man hung his head, remorse etched on his face. He then gazed at the child’s photo on the wall. “Your daughter… don’t you see how much she resembles your mother?” Jordan looked at the picture again. While it was true Giselle resembled his mother, that wasn't what preoccupied him now; it was the old man's unbelievable confession. “If Raisa is truly your daughter, does that mean our marriage…” Again, he received a nod. “That’s right…” The words sent a jolt through Jordan. He stared at the man, searching for honesty in his eyes. But Matteo quickly averted his gaze, pleadingly saying, “I’m sorry. I’ve kept this secret for decades, and this is the truth. I know I’ve reaped the karma o
Clara switched off the TV after watching the same breaking news story across all channels. “Seriously? All the news is the same crap?” She tossed the remote onto the couch with a frustrated sigh.“What’s up?” Joe wasn’t sure he’d get a straight answer, so he turned the TV back on. “So, this? You still got a thing for Jordan?”“What the heck are you talking about?”Clara snorted. “Think I’m two-timing you? That’s never gonna happen.”Joe grinned, then pulled up a romance movie on his phone. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. Aren’t all your fave dramas on here?”Joe knew his wife had been extra sensitive lately, thanks to her pregnancy.“So, Matteo’s Jordan’s dad?”Clara choked on her words. “How would I know? Why don’t you just ask him?” she snapped. Joe’s loud chatter was seriously disrupting her drama marathon; he just couldn't break his annoying habit.Instead of apologizing, Joe chuckled, pointing at her. “Your face was priceless. Too bad I didn’t get it on video.”Clara w
“Sorry, sir, that’s all I wanted to say. The rest is up to you.” The man bowed slightly before leaving.After he’d gone, Clara turned to her husband, demanding an explanation. Joe didn’t even say a word.“I heard you talking about Uncle Steve. Does he need help? He’s your uncle, why aren’t you helping him?”Joe rubbed his face, sighing. “Leave him to face the consequences of his actions, Lara. Maybe he’ll learn his lesson.”“What if Uncle Steve regrets what he’s done and wants to change?” Clara asked, hoping for a change of heart from her husband.But Joe didn’t want to discuss his uncle in front of Clara. He just walked away without another word.Clara felt a pang of guilt, but she let him go, giving him space to process things.In the quiet, she heard a commotion outside. Hysterical screams echoed through the apartment complex.From her open window, Clara saw the chaos unfolding beyond the gates. She even saw Joe amidst the hubbub.Curiosity got the better of her.“Stop! What’
Selena awoke to a cool breeze from the wide-open window. She looked out, taking in the opulent building from her bed. “Where am I?” She scanned her surroundings, trying to piece together what had happened, struggling to sit up. “Ouch! Why does everything hurt so much?” Despite racking her brain, Selena couldn’t remember. She noticed a blanket draped over part of her body. As she tried to stand, her legs felt numb. “Holy crap! I still have to…” Her words trailed off as she spotted her bag on the nightstand. Pulling back the blanket, she gasped. She was completely naked. Selena’s memory flickered, and she bit her lip anxiously. “What did Raffaele do?” But why had he left? Why was the room so empty now? The thought spurred her into action. She saw her clothes on the edge of the bed and quickly dressed. “You’re awake,” a man with a scarred face said, entering the room. Selena ignored him, turning her back and massagin
Two security guards roughly shoved Selena out of the hospital. She sighed, then turned to find Raffaele standing before her. “What took you so long?” he grumbled. “You said this wasn’t my business! You’re so busy defending Stave, but he doesn’t even appreciate you…” “Stave isn’t like that…” Selena countered, her face cold. “Enough!” Raffaele snapped after a moment. “What are you clinging to? Money? Power? Position?” He scoffed. “Isn’t it all gone? The auditors took away his position, right? The guy’s broke. Did you know he’s been supporting you with embezzled funds all this time?” Raffaele’s eyes blazed as he spoke. Silence fell. Selena crossed her arms, staring intently at Raffaele. “Satisfied? Has my husband’s shady dealings been bothering you this much?” “Selena…” Raffaele stopped, not wanting to be a spectacle any longer. “Let’s talk somewhere else. See how they’re staring?”
At the police station, Selena was being questioned. She looked more distraught than ever. The atmosphere was thick with tension as detectives revealed that the death of a high-ranking official like Stave wasn't a simple accident. When her name was called, Selena looked up. “Following the investigation, we need to inform you of something. The investigative team has found evidence pointing to premeditated murder.” Selena’s brow furrowed. “Excuse me? What do you mean?” The officers exchanged glances. “We’re not accusing you directly, but our investigation suggests you’re a prime suspect. Especially since you were the first to discover Mr. Stave’s body.” Selena scoffed. “What kind of reasoning is that? I didn’t do anything! Why am I being accused? Stave was my husband, my provider. There’s no way I would do that.” Selena tried to defend herself. “I swear, I never even thought of killing Stave.” They produced documents and a phone
"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