Daniel's POV
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. Stanley and I used to hang out all the time, grabbing drinks, catching a game, or just shooting the breeze about life. But ever since the divorce with Tasha, he had been angry with me, not that he'd ever say it outright. It was in the way he looked at me, the way his voice got tight whenever her name came up. He blamed me for it, I knew. Hell, I blamed myself too, most days. But none of us were prepared for what happened after. After Tasha left, it was like she vanished off the face of the earth. Every line of contact we had for her was disabled. No phone number, no email, nothing. I had my people try to track her down, but she was always... not found, leaving no trace behind. Stanley and I even tried some old friends, mutual acquaintances, but no one knew. It was like she didn’t want to be found. And maybe that was for the best. She deserved her freedom, her spaceTasha's POV As the plane began its descent, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The flight attendant's voice came over the intercom, a calming and professional tone that broke through my thoughts. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now beginning our descent into New York City. We hope you’ve had a pleasant flight with us today. Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your seats are in the upright position as we prepare for landing. The local time is approximately 3 PM, and the weather in New York is clear and pleasant. We hope you’ve enjoyed your flight and have a great time in the city." I looked out of the window as the skyline of New York began to come into view. The city's iconic landmarks and bustling streets were spread out below. Ethan, sitting beside me, looked out the window with wide eyes. “Mum, is that New York?” he asked, his exciteme
Panic surged through me as i rushed to the elevator, my hands trembling as i pressed the button. The elevator seemed to take forever, each second stretching into an eternity. when the doors finally opened, i bolted out and ran to the building’s security desk. "Excuse me, please," i panted, barely able to catch my breath. "my son, he's missing. did you see a five-year-old boy come through here?" The security guard looked up, his face calm but serious. "no, ma'am. we haven't had any children come through today." My heart sank, and i fought to keep my voice steady. "are you sure? he’s only five, dark hair..." The guard nodded, checking the logs. "i’m sorry, but no one matching that description has been seen leaving or entering the building." My vision blurred with tears as i turned to leave, desperately trying to calm myself. i neede
Daniel's POVI woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand. My head throbbed from last night’s drinks, but it wasn’t the hangover that had me feeling uneasy. It was the fact that I’d completely forgotten to pick up the designer shoes Venessa had asked for. My eyes drifted over to her sleeping form beside me, her back turned toward me. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath. Venessa had been talking about those shoes for weeks, reminding me at every possible opportunity. And yet, here I was, waking up next to her with empty hands. I knew I was in for it. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I needed to fix this before she woke up and realized. Maybe I could get them first thing Monday morning, or maybe I could find a way to make it up to her right now. Carefully, I slid out of bed and made my way around to her side. She was still asleep, her hair fanned out over the pillow. I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder. "V
Daniel's POVI stared at the text, my heart pounding in my chest. I got up quickly, throwing on a shirt and a pair of shorts before dialing Mike's number. I slipped out of the bedroom and quietly made my way to the main door, hoping not to wake Venessa. As the call connected, I couldn't keep the urgency out of my voice. "What's the news, Mike?" I demanded. Mike had been the only one still actively searching for Tasha, even after all this time. I'd instructed him to keep looking, but so far, every lead had turned up empty. "Sir," he began hesitantly, "she left the country." I froze, my mind racing. "What do you mean she left the country? You said you found her!" My voice rose, anger and frustration bubbling up. I was on the verge of losing it, ready to unleash my fury on him for giving me false hope. But just then, the elevator chimed open, pulling my attention away. I was caught off guard by the sight of a small figure stepping out of the elevator. My initial frustrat
Tasha's POV I rushed out of the elevator, headed for the door Just when I opened the door, my eyes met Ethan playing with his toys, I dropped to my knees and pulled Ethan into my arms, holding him tight as relief washed over me. "Ethan, you scared me so much," I said, my voice trembling. "Where did you go? I was so worried." "I'm sorry, Mommy," he murmured into my shoulder. "I got lost. I know I should have stayed put, but the man on the upper floor brought me home." He pulled back just enough to look up at me, his eyes wide and earnest. "He'll be my new friend." I felt a mix of emotions relief, frustration, and a twinge of curiosity. "What man, sweetheart?" I asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "The man on the up floor," Ethan repeated. "He found me and helped me get back here." My heart skipped a beat. Who was this man? And why was he helping Ethan? I hadn't seen anyone in the hallway when I rushed out, but then again, I was too panicked to notice muc
"Ethan?" I called out, trying to keep my voice calm despite the sudden rush of panic. "Who are you talking to, sweetheart?" He glanced up at me, a little guilty smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, hi, Mum," he said cheerfully. "I'm talking to my new friend." "Your new friend?" I repeated, confused. "Ethan, who gave you the phone?" He pointed toward the coffee table where the phone had been resting. "The man from upstairs told me to call him if you weren't back. So I did." I walked over quickly, gently taking the phone from his hand. "Ethan, you shouldn't be using the phone without asking me first," I said softly, not wanting to scare him but needing him to understand. "It's important to let Mommy know before you call anyone, okay?" "Okay, Mum," he replied, looking down at his feet. "I just wanted to say hi." I put the phone to my ear, wondering who exactly was on the other end. "Hello? This is Ethan's mother," I said cautiously, not sure what to expect. But the call had a
Tasha's POV The meeting had barely started when Venessa began to challenge every decision I proposed. It was almost as if she had come prepared to undermine me at every turn. Her posture was rigid, her gaze cold and calculating as she interrupted me during my presentation. “Hold on a second, Tasha,” Venessa said, raising her hand to stop me mid-sentence. The rest of the team shifted in their seats, sensing the tension between us. “I don’t quite understand the rationale behind that strategy. It seems a bit…rushed, don’t you think?” I looked up from my notes, locking eyes with her. There it was, the subtle yet condescending tone I remembered so well. But I wasn’t the same person I had been all those years ago. I wasn’t going to let her rattle me. “With all due respect, Venessa,” I began, keeping my voice steady and professional, “this strategy has been carefully planned and takes into account the current market conditions. The timeline is designed to capitalize on a unique window
Author's POV “Venessa’s older cousin sister,” Claire confirmed. Tasha’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Claire’s laptop screen, still absorbing the surprise from earlier. “Venessa Steele...” she muttered under her breath. “What are the odds she’s working on this project?” Claire, who was still seated beside her, shrugged casually. “Turns out she’s related to Vivienne Steele. Older cousin. That’s probably how she got looped into the Paris team. Small world, right?” Tasha shook her head, unable to hide the slight irritation at the coincidence. “Of course. That explains why she’s here.” Claire smirked. “Yeah, I think she’s got family connections. I thought you might find that interesting.” “I don’t find it interesting,” Tasha replied, a small, amused smile tugging at
Tasha sighed as she pulled into the driveway, rubbing her temples. Work had been brutal today back-to-back meetings, endless reports, and a malfunctioning coffee machine that had nearly driven her over the edge. All she wanted was to kick off her heels, change into sweatpants, and curl up on the couch with Ethan. But the moment she opened the door, she froze. The entire house was bathed in warm, golden candlelight. The air was thick with the scent of fresh roses, and red, pink, and white petals created a soft, delicate path across the floor. Tiny fairy lights twinkled around the living room, casting a magical glow. Tasha’s heart pounded. What was going on? She stepped inside cautiously, her eyes scanning the room. The familiar space now looked like something out of a fairy tale. Then— “Mommy, Mommy!” Ethan came running full speed toward her, his face glowing with excitement. Tasha barely had time to brace herself before her little boy wrapped his arms around her legs,
Life didn’t just pause after Vanessa’s downfall. There were still wounds to heal, relationships to mend, and a future to rebuild. And for Tasha, that meant family. If there was one thing Tasha was sure of, it was Ethan. He was her heart, her purpose, the one thing that had kept her going through everything. And after all the chaos, after all the battles she had fought, she refused to let any of it touch him. She wanted Ethan to grow up safe. Happy. Whole. So she made a choice. She put him first. She started taking time off work, something she had rarely done before. Instead of long nights drowning in stress and exhaustion, she spent evenings reading Ethan bedtime stories. Instead of constant worry, she took him on weekend trips, just the two of them, exploring places he had always wanted to see. Instead of being lost in the past, she focused on his future. One night, as she tucked him into bed, he looked up at her with those big, curious eyes and asked, “Are we going to
The psychiatric wing of the prison was cold, clinical. The walls were painted a dull gray, the air thick with the sterile scent of disinfectant. Every step down the hallway felt heavier than the last, as if some invisible force was pushing her back, telling her to turn around. But she didn’t. A guard led her into a separate observation room, where a thick pane of bulletproof glass separated her from Vanessa Steele. The woman sitting in the padded cell was a ghost of who she had been. Gone was the polished, confident Vanessa who once walked into a room owning it. This Vanessa was frail. Her once flawless hair hung in uneven strands, her nails bitten down to nothing. She sat on the floor, rocking back and forth, her knees pulled to her chest. And her lips… They never stopped moving. Tasha knew what she was saying before she even heard it. “Tasha… Tasha… Tasha…” A chill ran through her spine. Vanessa hadn’t even noticed her yet. She was lost in her own world, whispe
The court psychiatrist leaned in and whispered something to the judge. The judge nodded grimly before banging his gavel. “Enough,” he said. His voice was final. “The defendant will undergo a full psychological evaluation.” As the guards dragged Vanessa from the courtroom, her screams echoed off the walls. “This isn’t over, Tasha!” she shrieked. “You hear me?! IT’S NOT OVER!” But it was. Two weeks later, the courtroom was silent as the judge read the final decision. “Vanessa Steele, this court finds you guilty on all counts,” he declared. Murmurs spread through the room. Vanessa sat, expression blank, her fingers twitching. “For the crimes of attempted murder, conspiracy, and the murder of Mike Anderson, you are sentenced to forty years in a high security psychiatric prison.” Vanessa didn’t move. The bailiffs approached, preparing to escort her away. That was when she began to laugh. Soft at first. Then louder. She threw her head back, cackling. It was the laugh
A sharp cry. Both Tasha and Daniel moved closer just in time to see Vanessa thrashing against the officers restraining her. But something was different now. Gone was the cold, calculating woman who had threatened Tasha moments ago. In her place was someone frantic, unhinged someone unraveling before their eyes. “No! No, Tasha is the real culprit!” Vanessa shrieked, her voice rising in hysteria. “You should arrest her! She took everything from me!” Tasha’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Vanessa’s wild eyes dart between her and Daniel. It was as if something inside Vanessa had finally cracked, something that had been holding her together just long enough to get to this point. Daniel tensed beside her, his jaw locking as Vanessa’s attention snapped to him. “Daniel—” she pleaded, her voice turning desperate. “Daniel, tell them! Don’t let Tasha take everything from me! You know you still love me! I know you do! She came between us! She ruined everything! She—” Her w
Vanessa’s breath came in sharp, ragged gasps as she glared at Tasha, her eyes burning with pure hatred. Her fingers twitched as if itching to grab the gun again, but Daniel stood between them now, his stance rigid, protective. “You should have stayed away from me and my family,” Tasha said, stepping closer, her voice like ice. “You should have accepted Daniel’s offer and left to start over.” Vanessa let out a bitter laugh, her face twisting in anger. “Start over?” she spat. “While you get to have everything? While I’m left with nothing?” Tasha’s jaw clenched. Enough. Without warning, she struck her palm cracking against Vanessa’s cheek in a sharp, resounding slap. Vanessa’s head snapped to the side, but before she could react, another slap landed, harder, making her stumble slightly. “Don’t ever mess with my family,” Tasha warned, her voice low and deadly. “Or next time, there will be no next cause you won’t even get the opportunity to do that.” Vanessa’s lips curled into
Vanessa’s eyes blazed with long buried resentment, her voice dripping with venom. “Do you know why I’ve always hated you?” she asked, her tone low but vibrating with raw emotion. Tasha didn’t flinch, her gaze steady. “Of course,” she replied coldly. “You said it yourself, it’s always about Daniel.” Vanessa’s lips curled into a bitter snarl. “Not just that,” she spat, her voice trembling with anger. “You took everything away from me. You stole my future. You and that bitch, Vivienne.” Tasha’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Vivienne. A cold wave of realization passed through her, but she stayed silent, letting Vanessa unravel. Vanessa continued, her voice rising with each word. “Do you remember the full ride scholarship to the fashion school Mr. Sterling offered you back then? That scholarship was supposed to be mine!” Her fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. “I worked for it, I earned it. But then you showed up, some nobody from the gutter and took it from me!”
Tasha’s footsteps crunched softly against the damp earth as she neared the back of the Edge Café. The old, weathered building loomed silently in the early morning mist, the neon sign above flickering faintly as if struggling to wake up with the rest of the world. Beyond the café, the narrow path led down toward the stream, the gentle sound of flowing water growing louder with each step. Her heart pounded, every beat echoing in her ears as she slowed her pace. The air smelled of earth and dew, a crispness that clung to her skin. She scanned the area, her eyes sharp beneath the shadow of her hoodie. The place was eerily still. No movement. No sign of Vanessa. Yet. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, her stomach twisting. It was a message from Daniel: I’m on my way. Stay where I can find you. Tasha’s thumb hovered over the reply button, but she
He hesitated, clearly torn between his duty and her command. “Ma’am, please—” “I’ll be fine,” she interrupted gently but firmly. “No one follows me.” The guard clenched his jaw, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, but reluctantly nodded. “Be careful,” he muttered, watching as she slipped through the gate and disappeared into the early morning haze. The air outside was crisp, almost biting, but Tasha barely felt it. She pulled the hoodie over her head, tucking her hair inside as she walked briskly down the street. Every step echoed in her ears, mingling with the rapid beat of her heart. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she quickly pulled it out. A message flashed across the screen. I knew you’d come around. Meet me behind the café, down to the stream. Tasha scoffed softly, shaking her head. She glanced at the time 5:20 AM. Time was slipping fast. Without thinking too much, she opened her messages and typed quickly to Daniel. Meet me behind the café, down to the str