But before I could voice my thoughts, our attention was drawn to the door as the doctor entered the room, his expression grave and somber. My heart sank as I saw the look on his face. A sense of dread settled over me like a heavyweight."I'm sorry," the doctor began, his voice tinged with sorrow. "We did everything we could, but... Mr. Sandoval is now brain dead."A gasp escaped my lips as the words washed over me, the world around me spinning as I struggled to process the devastating news. Brain dead. The words echoed in my mind, a harsh reminder of the cruel twist of fate that had robbed us of our future together.Trence's grip on my hand tightened, his expression mirroring my shock and grief. "No," he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. "It can't be." I cover my mouth with trembling hands, trying to stifle the sobs threatening to escape. The doctor's sympathetic gaze met mine, offering a silent understanding of the pain that now consumed us both.But the doctor's words left
I bristled at her accusation, my fists clenched at my sides as I fought to maintain my composure. Trence held my hand and whispered calming words in my ear, reminding me to breathe and not let her words get to me."And what secrets are you talking about?" I asked, my voice sharp with anger.But she simply smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Some things are better left buried, my dear," she replied enigmatically before turning to leave.Trence stepped forward, his expression was dark with fury. "You're not fooling anyone," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "We know you had something to do with what happened to Vince."She paused, her smile widening into a smirk. "Prove it, my husband," she taunted before disappearing into the crowd, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and lingering suspicion.I felt Trence let go of my hand. I turned to Trence, my heart heavy with sorrow and uncertainty."What are you going to do?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.Trence's gaze
Over the years, I have focused on managing Vince's money and business. It was hard at first, without Vince there to help. But I learned and got better at it, using what Vince taught me.Now, sitting in the CEO's office, I looked out at the busy city and felt proud of how much I'd grown. After grieving for Vince, I became strong in business, earning respect from others. But even with success, I still missed Vince and wished he was here with me.I wondered where Vince was and wished he would come back to me. Memories of him filled my thoughts, making me miss his laughter, kindness, and support. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find him. It was like he disappeared, leaving me feeling empty."I already forgave you, Vince, for betraying me." I whispered to myself, hoping he could hear me wherever he was. I knew that forgiveness was the key to moving forward, even if he never returned.I sat lost in my thoughts. A gentle knock on the door pulled me back to the present. With a slig
As we sat in the car, the weight of the DNA test results hung heavy in the air between us. I couldn't shake the feeling of disbelief as I stared down at the paper in my hands. "It's negative."How could it be possible that Trence wasn't Maxine's father?"I don't understand," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper."How could this happen?"Trence reached out to gently take my hand, his touch offering a semblance of comfort amidst the turmoil of my thoughts. "I wish I had answers, Friah," he admitted, his confusion mirrored in his expression. "But right now, all we can do is face the truth and figure out what comes next."I nodded, the reality of the situation sinking in with each passing moment. "I just... I can't believe it," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "All this time, I thought... I thought you were her father, Trence."Trence squeezed my hand reassuringly, his eyes filled with empathy. "I understand, Friah," he said softly. "But no matter what the test says, I wi
I let myself go last night and chose my happiness. Trence and I got into some fire that no one could put out. We danced under the stars until the early hours of the morning, feeling free and alive."I need to go, Trence," I whispered to him while his arm was wrapped around my waist. We were in my bed, under the heavy blanket.He slowly opened his eyes. "Can't we just stay here?" he huskily whispered back, pulling me closer. I smiled and shook my head, knowing that reality was waiting for us outside the cozy cocoon we had created together.I stroked his hair. "The company needs me," I said softly, trying to convince myself as much as him. Trence nodded reluctantly and kissed me on the forehead.I was about to rise, but he pulled me back, and I ended up in his top. "Trence!" I exclaimed, laughing as he wrapped his arms around me tightly."Can I have breakfast in bed?" he pleaded, his warm breath tickling my ear. I couldn't resist, so I snuggled closer."What do you want?" I asked playfu
When Vince passed away, I realized that he was right—that all this time I was denying what I felt to Trence. I always chain myself to the past because I don't want to make the same mistakes again. When Trence came back to us, my heart told me that I should follow her and that maybe this time I should allow myself to feel love and happiness.With the shining diamond on my ring finger, I decided to take a chance and be vulnerable with Trence, knowing that it was worth the risk of potentially getting hurt again. Embracing the present moment and being open to new possibilities felt like the right choice for me.Maxine was on Trence's shoulder while enjoying looking at some animals in the zoo. I was at their back, looking at them with a smile on my face. The laughter and joy shared between Trence and Maxine filled me with hope for a brighter future ahead.Maxine looked at me and said, "Mommy, look at the baby giraffe! It's so cute!" I couldn't help but join in on their excitement, grateful
We picked a restaurant and decided to eat there. Maxine was the one to pick it up, and she decided to go to a place where my favorite foods were. The last time I ate here was when I ate with Drenver. The place never changed, but the memories flooded back as we sat down at our table. Maxine looked up at me with a small smile and a silent apology in her eyes. I reached out and squeezed her hand. Trence smiled warmly at her."Mommy, this was your favorite, right?" She showed me the burger the same size as her face. She used both of her hands to pick it up.She knows because when I was unpacking some of my things, she saw different pictures; one of them was of this restaurant while I was eating with Drenver. The guy she said that she talked to was Drenver, but it was not true; maybe it was just her imagination.I smiled and nodded. Her nanny took the burger and sliced it into smaller pieces so she could eat it. The table was silent as we all enjoyed our meal. My daughter's eyes lit up wit
I run, trying to find my daughter, my heart pounding in my chest. Panic set in as I called out her name, the fear of the unknown creeping up on me. I asked her nanny where she was, but when she pointed out where Maxine was, she was not there.I felt my breath quicken as I frantically searched every corner of the room, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The realization that my daughter was missing sent a wave of pure terror through me, causing me to break out in a cold sweat."Why did you leave your sight with her?" I demanded, my voice shaking with a mixture of anger and fear. The nanny's apologetic expression only fueled my panic further, as I struggled to keep my emotions in check while desperately trying to think of where she could have gone.Trence walked towards me. "What's happening?" he asked when he saw the look of distress on my face."I can't find my daughter." I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I anxiously explained the situation to him, my heart pounding in
We all thought that after meeting someone who would cherish us, love us, respect us, and protect us, it'd all have a happy ending, but I learned that sometimes people come into our lives to teach us valuable lessons and help us grow, even if they are not meant to stay forever.I was sitting on the edge of my bed, absentmindedly tracing the patterns on my quilt. The room was so quiet that I could hear the distant hum of traffic outside my window. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the sharp ring of my phone. Glancing at the screen, I saw my attorney's name. My heart skipped a beat as I answered."Friah," his voice came through the line, heavy with gravity. "I have some news. Drenver has been found guilty of murder. The jury has sentenced him to life in prison for the murder of Julia."I felt like I couldn't breathe. Even though I'd been bracing myself for this moment, the reality of it hit me like a tidal wave. "I... I don't know what to say," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"I take Maxine Marviz to be my daughter." His eyes were filled with tears as he looked at her. He slowly turned to me.Our world was finally at peace. I was standing here in front of him, trying not to ruin my makeup behind this facade of calmness. His words were a balm to my soul, bringing closure to years of uncertainty and fear."As I finally marry her mother, who captured my heart through the years—the woman who makes me go crazy, loves me, and changes me to be a better person—together, we will create a new chapter in our lives filled with love, happiness, and unity. Our family is now complete with Maxine as our daughter, bound by love and commitment." His voice cracked with emotion as he reached out to hold my hand. As I looked into his eyes, I knew that all of the challenges we had faced together had led us to this moment of pure happiness and love.With tears in my eyes, I whispered, "I love you," and felt his grip on my hand tighten, solidifying our bond forever."Thank you fo
"I want my daughter back, Friah," Drenver said with a determined edge to his voice, his eyes flickering with mixed emotions. We were alone in the kitchen. I told Trence I could talk and face Drenver because I knew he was just in the house if something happened. "Whose daughter are you talking about?" I asked without leaving his stare. "You have no daughter here." Drenver was leaning on the sink. "I know you already know what I'm talking about. Trence was not the father of Maxine," he said. He slowly walked towards me. I stepped back as he went near me. "I am," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "And I'll do whatever it takes to get her.""No, I would never let you take her away from us," I said firmly, my heart racing with fear and anger. Drenver's eyes darkened as he reached out to grab me, but I quickly dodged his touch. "Get out of my house," I firmly said. Drenver's face twisted into a sinister grin as he backed away, his eyes never leaving mine. "You can try to stop me,
Days went by, and the doctors told me that I could already be discharged from the hospital. I was relieved to finally be able to go home and see my daughter, whom I missed dearly during my time in the hospital. I couldn't wait to hold her in my arms and make up for lost time."Are you sure you are okay already?" Trence asked concern etched on his face. I assured him that I was feeling much better and couldn't wait to get back to our normal routine with our daughter by our side.I nodded. He guided me towards the wheelchair. Trence wheeled me out of the room; the tension in the air was palpable, overshadowing the relief of finally leaving the hospital. My heart skipped a beat as I heard the urgent call from the doctor, the words "code red" sending a shiver down my spine. They were running towards the ICU.I exchanged a worried glance with Trence, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on both of us. Could it be? Julia? The thought sent a wave of mixed emotions crashing over me.
I'm holding my son's hand while we are walking the path filled with roses. The sun was shining brightly overhead, casting a warm glow on the vibrant flowers. I couldn't help but smile as I watched my son's eyes light up with wonder at the beauty surrounding us. The sweet scent of the roses filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere as we strolled together. At that moment, I felt grateful for this simple yet precious moment with my son."'Mommy, it's time," Max said. "Maxine was waiting for you." I knelt to hug my son, feeling a mix of pride and sadness as he prepared to let go of my hand. With a bittersweet smile, I whispered, "I love you, Max.""I love you, Mom," he whispered back.He let go of me and started running away from me. As I watched him go, all I could think was that he would run like that with Maxine by his side. He left me in the middle of the field. I stood there, not knowing where to go next, feeling a sense of emptiness. The sun began to set, casting a warm glow o
"I already talked to the security. He can't go near you again." Trence said. He laid me down on the bed, leaning on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat against my back—steady and reassuring. Trence gently ran his fingers through my hair, soothing me with his touch. I closed my eyes, feeling safe and protected in his arms."He said something," I whispered, my voice barely audible. Trence paused, his fingers stilling in my hair as he waited for me to continue. "He said that he was Maxine's father."Trence's grip on my waist slightly tightened, his expression turning serious. "Maxine's father?" he repeated, his voice laced with concern. I nodded."We never did it, even when we were in a relationship. I don't know how this could have happened." Trence pulled me closer, his embrace providing comfort and support."Should I believe him?" I could feel his heart beating against mine, a steady rhythm that reassured me. "I don't know," Trence finally said, his voice soft but firm."Maybe he's
Our moment was interrupted by a sudden call, but neither of us wanted to let go. "Ignore it," he mumbled against my lips, his hands moving with urgency. I couldn't resist him any longer, giving in completely to the passion that consumed us both.The call wouldn't stop ringing, and eventually, we had to reluctantly pull away, both of us breathless and wanting more. "We'll continue this later," he promised, his eyes filled with desire as he finally answered the call.As he spoke on the phone, his facial expression changed from desire to annoyance, clearly irritated by someone he was talking to."What do you mean, he was out?" Trence exclaimed, his voice rising in frustration. His body tensed as he listened to the response, and I could see the anger building in his eyes.I could tell he was struggling to keep his composure; his jaw clenched tightly as he tried to maintain control. After hanging up the phone, he turned to me with a forced smile, but I could see the tension still lingering
I run, trying to find my daughter, my heart pounding in my chest. Panic set in as I called out her name, the fear of the unknown creeping up on me. I asked her nanny where she was, but when she pointed out where Maxine was, she was not there.I felt my breath quicken as I frantically searched every corner of the room, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The realization that my daughter was missing sent a wave of pure terror through me, causing me to break out in a cold sweat."Why did you leave your sight with her?" I demanded, my voice shaking with a mixture of anger and fear. The nanny's apologetic expression only fueled my panic further, as I struggled to keep my emotions in check while desperately trying to think of where she could have gone.Trence walked towards me. "What's happening?" he asked when he saw the look of distress on my face."I can't find my daughter." I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I anxiously explained the situation to him, my heart pounding in
We picked a restaurant and decided to eat there. Maxine was the one to pick it up, and she decided to go to a place where my favorite foods were. The last time I ate here was when I ate with Drenver. The place never changed, but the memories flooded back as we sat down at our table. Maxine looked up at me with a small smile and a silent apology in her eyes. I reached out and squeezed her hand. Trence smiled warmly at her."Mommy, this was your favorite, right?" She showed me the burger the same size as her face. She used both of her hands to pick it up.She knows because when I was unpacking some of my things, she saw different pictures; one of them was of this restaurant while I was eating with Drenver. The guy she said that she talked to was Drenver, but it was not true; maybe it was just her imagination.I smiled and nodded. Her nanny took the burger and sliced it into smaller pieces so she could eat it. The table was silent as we all enjoyed our meal. My daughter's eyes lit up wit