What can they do now? Play petty games and act like bullies again? Dawn exhales sharply, her fingers gripping the edge of her phone as Travis's message flickers on the screen. His words carry a weight of guilt and concern. He has arranged for her to attend the reunion with bodyguards. She wants to be angry at him for being so overprotective, but deep down, she knows his actions stem from love. He’s been working himself to the bone, determined to clear his schedule before the final month of her pregnancy. The pressure he carries is palpable, his desire to protect her and their unborn son consuming him. After everything they’ve endured—the threats, the near-misses—he refuses to take any risks. Dawn sets her phone down, her chest tightening. She wishes Travis could be here tonight, but she doesn’t dwell on the thought for long. Tiara, stepped in at the last moment, eager to take his place. Tiara’s presence feels like a shield, a reminder that Dawn doesn’t have to face her past al
"My Lady!" Dawn flinches at the sound of a female voice behind her. The running faucet muffles the words, but she turns to find a female waitress standing there. Before Dawn can say anything, the waitress places a folded piece of paper on her purse and quickly leaves the restroom. Confused, Dawn picks up the note and glances at it. Her expression hardens, but she remains silent. Moments later, some of her classmates enter the bathroom. Among them is Nora Brown, her unmistakable presence commanding the room. Not wanting to waste energy on people she deems unimportant, Dawn turns to leave. But just as she reaches the door, a hand blocks her path. "So, you got pregnant!" Nora’s smirk widens as she shoves Dawn against the wall. "I wonder if the man who knocked you up knows how worthless you really are." Dawn gently shields her belly, her expression calm and composed. Her lack of reaction only fuels Nora’s rage. "Nora!" one of her underlings hisses, glancing nervously at the
"Dawn! Let's have dinner together!" Jake approaches her after finding her alone in the corner of the room. She has been trying to find Danny, who has yet to arrive. The sole purpose of coming here is to meet Danny, so it's upsetting that he hasn’t shown up yet. "Thank you. But I am a bit busy!" she says while trying to message Danny. "I don't know what happened between us, Dawn, but I don't want to ruin our friendship. Millie misses you too!" Dawn looks at him, clearly uninterested in his words. "Mr. Jake, I don't think we have any friendship." "Jake! What are you doing?" Spring approaches them and wraps her hand around his arm. "Oh! Dawn? Sorry! In this room, staying five feet apart is impossible since we're at the same party. Anyway, I think you’ve met my boyfriend. This is Jake." She grins. "So rest assured, I won’t come after Travis!" She chuckles, pressing a kiss on his cheek. Dawn looks unbothered once again and dials a number. The only friend who always had her back w
Surprisingly, the rest of the party goes smoothly. Danny is overly protective of Dawn, and even Tiara can’t stop talking about it. However, there are visible walls of friendship between them. Dawn feels overjoyed to spend what she believes might be her last moments with Danny. She knows he will soon become sick and pass away, which breaks her heart. Danny has turned into the kind of sweet friend she has always wanted. Meanwhile, Spring keeps her distance and avoids Dawn entirely, choosing instead to hang out with her own friends. Tiara is busy replying to Travis’s endless messages—about the bodyguards, the female waitstaff he sends, and everything else. Tiara is shocked when Travis first confides in her about his plan. He knows he won’t get much time to stay with Dawn, but he wants to ensure that everyone working at the event is replaced by his own people. So now, all the female staff and male security guards are part of the Ericson security team. “So, what about you coming to
The car pulls up in front of a vast expanse of land. At first glance, Dawn is confused by the darkness. She glances at Travis as he steps out of the car. Her heart starts thumping. She trusts him, but this scenario—away from the city, shrouded in darkness, the sound of crickets echoing in the air, and no one else around—makes her tremble slightly.She cradles her belly, trying not to let doubts creep in about whether Travis would ever hurt her or the baby."Why are we here? This doesn’t look like a date!" she asks, her jaw clenched tightly.Travis notices the troubled expression on her face. He opens her door and gently pecks her cheek. "We’re here!" he says with a grin.She tilts her head, trying to understand what’s happening, but her eyes widen in shock as the surroundings suddenly become illuminated by thousands of lights.The entire path is lined with glowing lights and vibrant flowers, forming arches that look like floral gates. At the end of the road stands a giant tent."What’
Travis’s eyes open with a panic when he feels the wetness on his arm. Thinking that it’s pouring and the raindrops are dripping off the ceiling of the tent, he almost jumps until… He finds Dawn crying silently in her sleep, tears streaming down his arm. “Dawn!” he mutters, looking worried. Gently wiping her face, he shakes her slowly, careful not to frighten her. “Dawn! Wake up! It’s fine,” he whispers, rubbing her back. “Do-Don’t kill him. Don’t kill my baby boy,” she sobs, wrapping her arms around her belly. Travis’s eyes moisten as she cries in his arms. He holds her without disrupting her dreams, whispering softly, “It’s just a dream. You are alright!” It has become a common occurrence for them. Travis shares the same nightmares, watching her and Asher dying constantly. It has become a part of his life, an unrelenting reminder of everything he must do to protect her and Asher. His heart echoes his sadness as he pulls her closer into his arms, resting her against his c
Spring's expression shifts to seriousness as she shakes the glass of wine. Her eyes are settled on her reflection in the counter. Beads of sweat gather at the corner of her left brow, with a deep frown between her eyebrows. "Don't worry!" A cold tone comes as she takes a glance at the sushi master. "She wasn't as important as you thought she would be." Spring looks up at the man. His blonde hair and dark blue eyes don't match the Sagari he has adorned himself with. She lowers her gaze, then reaches for the sliced raw squid sashimi he just prepared. "Fanny is my ex-boyfriend's sister. She was one of the most cunning people I have ever met," she says calmly, clenching the chopsticks. "So?" the man retorts. "She crossed the line—blackmailing us. How stupid!" Spring leans into the chair and meets his eyes with a sharp sigh. "You should have at least used her before killing her. Whatever. When will your brother be here?" The man grins playfully while cleaning the knife. "He won
Travis stands firm behind her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder as she sits upright on the couch. Across from her, Jasmine reclines with an air of superiority, her sharp eyes glinting with judgment. The corner of Jasmine’s lips twitches upward into a smug smirk as she glances briefly at Dawn before redirecting her attention to Travis.“So, tell me,” Jasmine begins, her tone laced with disdain, “what made you marry her, Travis? I introduced you to countless women—highly qualified, stunning women. And yet, you chose... this?”The room plunges into a suffocating silence. The weight of unspoken words hangs heavy in the air as all eyes shift to Jasmine. The glint in their gazes sharpens like predators zeroing in on prey.Travis’s fingers move in slow, soothing circles on Dawn’s shoulder, his voice steady but firm. “Because she’s the one I want to be with.”Jasmine scoffs, loud and dismissive. Her gaze sweeps over Dawn like a disinterested interviewer appraising a candidate. “So,” sh
Travis takes a deep breath while he loosens his tie in his office. Each hour feels like forever to stay away from his family. Asher is thriving. Thanks to Dawn's memories of her previous life, she has been taking care of Asher. From vaccines to doctor appointments, everything has been handled by Dawn.Travis wants to be a part of everything, but his responsibility as the CEO makes it hard. However, Dawn keeps a record of everything so that Travis doesn't miss anything.Right now, opening the baby monitor, he rests himself in the chair. Since morning, he has been attending meetings and has had no time to eat. Watching his son grow up closely feels different than it did in his previous life.Every weekend visitation wasn't enough if he thinks about it now. Resting his head on his arm, he looks at his laptop.Soon, his smile deepens, his eyes moist with a gentle gaze when he notices Dawn sleeping in the bed, holding Asher on her chest. Asher is awake and trying to nibble his mother's chi
" He rejected?" Dawn asks, surprised. " Yes. He said he can't love anyone right now!" The smile remains on her lips but the bitterness feels so palpable. "I am sorry, Tia!" Dawn gently holds her into her arms, " Danny has been hurt by his wife and might be in bad mood. Maybe you can try-!" " No!" Tiara whispers softly... " He was genuine. I saw those eyes. They didn't lie. He wasn't interested in me." " You want to give up? Isn't it too early?" Dawn asks softly, knowing that Tiara is in pain. " It's not like I am giving up. I am protecting my feelings from getting hurt and being hoped for. I will nurture them on my own!" Dawn's eyes widened. Tiara looks so calm about the entire situation. The Rejection must have affected her. " Are you sure you will be fine? It's your choice. But what if ... All I want is to see you being happy with someone who loves you and cherishes you!" Tiara smiles, throwing her long hair behind, " Actually, yesterday, one of my professors of
Next morning, Tiara has woken up with hundreds of calls and messages from her friends. Her sleepy eyes have failed to understand the context of the messages. But the moment all the memories rush back to her mind, she stiffens. Not only has she cancelled everything, but she has also confessed her love and has gotten rejected. Her hand reaches her forehead, gently rubbing between her brows. Tears fight to gather around her beautiful cerulean eyes. Not only has she lost those friends she thought of as true friends, but she has also been rejected. "What a shitty day!" She takes a deep breath and forces herself to smile. "But I am proud of myself!" She gently taps her own cheeks before walking to the washroom. But her movements halt midway when the phone rings again. This time, she has decided to face reality instead of running away from everyone. The caller ID is registered under her best friend's name, who didn’t care slightly yesterday and was the one who initiated pushing h
Danny’s face says everything. He isn't shocked or disgusted by her. He is surprised. Someone else was happy to see his wife die? It makes no sense unless there’s something behind those feelings. Jealousy? For what?The silence lingers between them, thick and unyielding. Tiara's fingers tremble around the neck of the empty wine bottle resting beside her. The flickering light above them casts shadows on her face, highlighting the strain written across her features.However, Tiara, who has been drowning herself in guilt, keeps talking with her drunken voice. As if the walls that have been building up around her with guilt and unrequited love crumble like a sandcastle.Her words are slurred but painfully sincere. There’s no pretense, no filter left. Her cheeks are flushed, not from the alcohol, but from the weight of shame and the courage it took to speak."I am sorry for your loss. And I apologize for thinking that way. I am a selfish and disgusting human being who felt so happy to hear
Crowds and loud noises are what Danny hates most. The moment he steps into the bar, with people chattering, loud music, and drunk people throwing tantrums, the first thought that crosses his mind is, "I regret coming here."His blue eyes dart around, a frown forming between his brows. He can’t see anything properly because of the people dancing on the floor. Almost avoiding the touch of others, he somehow makes his way to the bartender, who is talking to another woman."Excuse me. You called me, right? With the woman called...""Tiara Ericson?"Danny nods, his gaze annoyed as he looks around the bar."Please follow me. We have realized that she is a VIP customer here, which we failed to recognize. She is now sleeping in one of our rooms. We apologize for our rudeness.""Is she alright?" Danny asks, following the bartender who opens the elevator."Yes. Our manager’s girlfriend helped her. So don’t worry about anything inappropriate."Danny nods quietly. The question lingers—why is he i
After a few months, life settles into a sense of normalcy, with the exclusive addition of Asher. He grows fast and healthy, surprisingly more active than in his previous life. Travis returns to work but never misses a night with his wife and the son for whom they would do anything. Danny moves into his private apartment in a skyscraper, enjoying the privilege of being the youngest scientist and professor at a top university. Tiara studies at the same university, but luck doesn’t favor her—she hardly ever sees Danny, who spends most of his time locked away in the lab. Meanwhile, Spring and Taylor’s reality is nothing short of cruel. In their minds, Mary and Henry have escaped punishment by dying, leaving all the mess for them to suffer through. It destroys them slowly. Travis wants exactly that. The people who hurt them most were Spring and Taylor. Spring killed Asher. In their previous life, she orchestrated everything so meticulously that he had no choice but to admire
Spring collapses on the cold marble floor, her knees buckling beneath her as if the ground itself has pulled her down. The chill of the floor snakes under her skin, crawling up her spine like icy fingers. Her phone slips from her shaking hand, landing with a dull thud beside her. Her lips quiver uncontrollably, her fingers tangling into her hair as her chest rises and falls in uneven, frantic breaths. She can’t stop the tremor in her body, her panic consuming every inch of her like wildfire.The front door clicks open. The sound of rustling shopping bags and hurried footsteps fills the hallway."Spring?" her mother’s voice calls out casually at first, but freezes mid-sentence when her eyes land on her daughter crumpled on the floor.Bags tumble from her hands without a second thought as she rushes toward her, panic twisting her expression. "Spring! What’s wrong!? What happened?" her voice shakes, her hands reaching to steady her daughter’s trembling shoulders.Ever since Dawn exposed
The situation has indeed taken an unexpected turn that Travis didn't quite think about before. The initial plan was to make Taylor, Mary and Henry being banished from their own life while Travis or his father would help to get rid of Butler Jacob and Spring. However, after submitting the information about Mary and Henry, Danny decided to wrap things up and then will return to the USA. He even bought a house in the next city, closer to the University where he has studied. But things have taken an unexpected turn when the next call comes from Danny right when Dawn's in her labor. " Hey! Danny!" Travis huffs while rushing towards the elevator. The medical team is in the private clinic on the 19th floor and Dawn is on her labor. " Hey! Are you busy?" Danny asks, noticing Travis's heavy breathing. "Ah; Yeah. It's Dawn. She is on labor. What's up?" He asks, trying to calm down. " Then I will talk to you later. It's not more important than the situation right now. You shoul
Travis leans back in his chair, fingers tapping against the wooden armrest as he listens to the detective on the other end of the call. His expression remains cold, but there is a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "What makes you think so?" His voice carries an edge, daring the detective to continue. "Isn't it obvious?" Detective Williams asks, his tone filled with forced patience. "Your wife was supposed to receive eighty percent of the shares. Maybe Mr. Parker—or even you—found out that they were planning something against you. And then… Mr. Danny suddenly decides to change the will. Otherwise, why would he make such a drastic change? On top of that, why is Danny Parker giving such a huge amount of money to your wife?" Travis scoffs, shaking his head as he lets out a low chuckle. "Pfft! Do you know who you're talking to, Detective Williams?" "Do I need to?" The detective’s tone remains firm, but there is a slight hesitation. "No, certainly not," Travis replies, his voice