Hayle slowly opened her eyes, still seeing blurred shapes. She vaguely saw a man with his back turned to her, swaying as if he were cradling a baby. Seeing this, Hayle couldn’t help but smile slightly. She was sure it was her husband, gently holding their newborn son.“Jax?” Hayle felt her voice was very weak. Her condition was still so depleted that she found it hard to move her body.But even though her voice was so faint, the man in the white shirt and black pants seemed to hear her quiet call. His movements gradually slowed, and at a certain point, he slowly turned around.Hayle was shocked to see that the man cradling the baby was covered in blood. The man grinned as if he was delighted by what had happened, and half of his face was covered in bloody wounds. This immediately made Hayle’s heart drop to her stomach.“Lucas!” Hayle screamed, suddenly waking up from her nightmare with a face filled with panic.Her eyes darted around the room with labored breaths. She carefully scanne
“Ah! Why do you have to leave so soon?” Jacob asked, clearly reluctant to let his friend go.“Yes, we’ll be back as soon as possible. Zave will need to see the pediatrician a few more times,” Hayle glanced at Jaxter, who was still in deep conversation with Roberto, indicating something very important between them.Jacob shifted his gaze to where Hayle had looked. “It seems like they have something important going on.”Hayle nodded slightly before meeting her husband’s gaze, which conveyed understanding. Jaxter gave Roberto a gentle pat on the arm before walking over to his wife and affectionately placing his arm around her shoulders.“Are you sure we don’t want to stay a bit longer? Zave still needs to see the pediatrician a few more times,” Hayle said, looking at her husband, who regarded her with a serious expression, though Hayle could feel the underlying tenderness.“No, we need to go home,” Jaxter said firmly.Hayle nodded slightly, knowing her husband had surely considered what
Three months later.“Good morning, Sir. It’s nice to see you like this,” Roberto said, slightly incredulous as he saw Jaxter holding his three-month-old son.He had just started learning to carry his son, who was now much chubbier than when he was born. Additionally, Hayle had insisted that Jaxter spend more physical time with their child."His mother is in the kitchen. So, I’m doing this,” Jaxter explained why he was currently holding their son.“It’s fine, Sir. I’m sorry to disturb you,” Roberto replied.Jaxter nodded slightly. “Come in.”Roberto nodded and followed Jaxter, who was still carrying Zave, who appeared comfortably asleep on his father's shoulder. They walked towards the living room, where the aroma of delicious cooking filled the air. Soon, Hayle emerged from inside the house.“Oh! Hi Roberto, have you arrived?” Hayle smiled at Roberto, who was indeed awaited by Jaxter. “Is he asleep?” Hayle asked, noticing that their son wasn’t moving at all in his father’s arms.Her h
“Arghh!!” Jacob screamed in pain, jolting awake from his unconscious state due to the intense pain in his thigh. He looked down to see Ice working on his injury. “What are you doing?”“Be quiet. You’re acting like I’m mutilating you,” Ice replied, glancing at Jacob. His face was still pale but now covered in sweat from enduring the severe pain.“But what are you doing?!” Jacob asked, noticing Ice holding surgical clamps and wearing gloves that looked unsterilized. Was she trying to treat his wound? Jacob looked at his leg, where a gunshot wound was bleeding profusely. “Take me to the hospital! Don’t try to do this yourself.”Ice frowned at Jacob’s insistence. She had intended to help him, not leave him alone in the garage while he regained consciousness. Now, he was being demanding about going to the hospital.“We never go to a hospital for gunshot wounds. It causes problems AND...!” Ice emphasized the word "AND." “I don’t want to babysit you there because they’ll definitely find you.
“Take it slow,” Roberto instructed his subordinates as they helped Jacob out of the helicopter before transferring him to the car. “We’ll drive from here to Mr. and Mrs. Jaxter’s house.” Roberto briefly explained this to Jacob, who then settled into the car.“Alright,” Jacob said, watching Roberto close the door. He took a deep breath and suddenly remembered something. “Roberto!”Roberto, who had just been about to walk away to finish his tasks, stopped when he heard Jacob’s call through the car window.“Yes, sir?”“Um, is Ice coming here?” Jacob asked again. For some reason, he couldn’t get the image of the woman out of his mind.“According to Laurence, she’ll be coming by road.” Roberto looked at Jacob, who nodded slowly.“Okay. Thank you.” Jacob gently closed the window, and a thin smile soon appeared on his lips, giving his face a sweet expression. Their car then drove off, and about forty minutes later, after passing through the beautiful forest, they finally arrived and were imm
“We’ll be going now,” Laurence and Roberto said their goodbyes to Jaxter, who returned the gesture with a slight nod, then was greeted by his wife.“Aren’t you staying for dinner?” Hayle asked with a faint smile.“Sorry, ma’am, but we need to leave before it gets completely dark,” Roberto said with a hint of reluctance.“Oh, very well.” Hayle couldn’t insist if Roberto and Laurence needed to leave now. They must have other pressing matters that she didn’t want to interfere with.Roberto and Laurence gave one last nod of farewell before getting into their car, which soon drove away. The couple watched the car until it disappeared from view.“How is he?” Jaxter asked as he put his arm around his wife and turned to enter their home.“He’s fine. Not as bad as he made it seem. I told you, he tends to exaggerate.” Hayle recalled how Jacob described the severity of his leg injury, which made her think it was as serious as Jaxter’s past injuries. It turned out to be just a regular gunshot wou
“Let me go! Let go of me! You should know who I am! I’m a member of the Golden Circle, which means no matter who you are, you can’t touch me! Or you’ll see the consequences!” shouted the young man, who seemed like a typical student with a rather ordinary appearance.His eyes were wide with fear as he glared at the two guards standing stiffly beside him. He had been suddenly ambushed and brought to this unfamiliar place—a place he didn’t recognize at all.“Just wait. Once you’re free, you can try to destroy this place. Remember that!” he yelled in frustration.“That is, if you have any time left,” came a voice that silenced Richo instantly. He turned to find the source of the words.His eyes widened further when he saw Roberto, who had come up from behind, walking past him with a brief, intimidating glance. The cold look from the Latin-faced man made Richo’s earlier bravado disappear instantly, as though he had seen a demon. Richo’s confusion grew as he noticed Roberto heading towards
Jaxter got out of his car and quickly entered his house when he saw a vague shadow of his wife, who appeared to be showing a gesture of fear.As the door to their house opened, Hayle, who seemed still in shock, was startled and stared at her husband, who squinted his eyes. He could tell something was wrong by the expression on his wife's face."What’s wrong?" Jaxter asked, causing Hayle to immediately rush into his arms."He knows about Zave." Hayle looked at her husband with a trembling face. She had never felt fear like this before."Who?" Jaxter asked, feeling panic rise at his wife’s state. He knew Hayle was not easily frightened, but the look in her eyes made Jaxter uneasy, especially with their son’s name involved in her words."Lucas! He suddenly sent a message to Jacob’s account and knew Jacob was with us. He even said he would definitely come to pick up me and Zave. How does he know Zave’s name?"Jaxter heard this, said nothing, and immediately approached the laptop Jacob had
"How was it?" asked Hayle approaching her husband. Seeing Jacob only gave her a faint smile. Of course it made Hayle very curious. How did the man meet his wife.Actually Hayle really wanted to witness it. But, she had her own business to take care of Zave's lecture that she had promised a few weeks ago. Therefore, she could not cancel this."They just talked for a while." Jaxter answered his wife's curiosity."And then? What did they talk about? Did they talk about bringing Rui?" Hayle with a very curious face.There was actually one thing that made Hayle a little worried about all this. They were going to take Rui and keep the two of them apart. Because after all Hayle -she knew this was very selfish- had taken care of and loved Rui with all her heart."I don't know what they're talking about. I wasn't inside with them.""Ha?" Hayle wrinkled her forehead with an incredulous face. "Why aren't you even with them. I want to know what they're talking about." Hayle was really upset why e
"You put her in the Isolation room?" Jacob asked with a deep frown on his face."It's better to keep her from escaping. There are many things that will happen if she gets out of here. I don't think I need to explain, do I?" Jaxter seemed to just stare straight at the hallway that would lead them to a room that was quite secluded there.Jacob played with his lips. He slowly walked, fortunately Jaxter was understanding enough to match his pace."Thank you for hosting her here." Jacob lifted the corner of his lips before glancing at the man whose facial water had not even changed. "I know that you intentionally put her here for her own good too. You must know that her enemies are everywhere. Even my family is after her.""I just wanted to fulfill my wife's wish. To live in peace." Jaxter didn't seem to care what Jacob said. They stood in front of the steel door that was tightly closed."You can imprison him anywhere. Maybe underground, in a secluded place. You could have even just elimin
"Rui a lot of things happened before you were born. Both your adoptive family and your biological family. We may not be able to be like most parents. Our previous lives will leave you dumbfounded. But, you don't have to think about what happened before you were born. I just want to say, whatever ever happened to me, I will do it again as long as I can get a daughter like you." Jacob held the princess's hand very tightly. Staring at her hazel nets that looked so beautiful and drowning."I knew you would ask about what happened to your real mother." Jacob pursed his lips. He took a deep breath and grabbed something from the nightstand drawer beside his bed. That made him frown. "This is a picture of your mother. I don't want you to not know her."Jacob handed over the cell phone he took earlier. He asked Roberto to find any photos of Ice that might still exist. And, luckily, there was one of her when she was still undercover in Laurence's group.Rui took the cell phone in her father's ha
"Eh? You." Rui was startled when she came out of her father's hospital room and saw the figure of a man who seemed to be walking towards her place."Yes. I heard your father was taken to the hospital, is he okay?" asked Arzhiel who immediately came to this hospital when he heard the news."Yes. But he's fine, he just woke up." Rui smiled faintly at this man who could make her heart feel uneasy."So, why aren't you inside?" Arzhiel wrinkled his forehead. "Do you want to do something?""No, I didn't. Mrs. Hayle and Clay's father wanted me to go out for a moment. They want to talk to Jacob's father. So I'll just go out." Rui said it in a slightly mischievous tone. I don't know, it's hard to act casual in front of people we like."Oh, I see, so I can't go in there yet either." Arzhiel looked at the door of the room. "I saw this little cafe near the hospital garden. It's not far, want to wait there instead?"Rui hearing that was a little startled and raising her eyebrows, she nodded slowly
"Rui ...." Hayle stared at her daughter to which Rui immediately responded."Yes? Mom?" Rui showed a subtle streak on her face, following the question that fell from her lips."I know that Rui probably has many things to ask. But, is it okay if you, Mom, and Jacob's father talk first?" Hayle gently tried to give understanding to her daughter. She knew that it was not difficult to usually talk to this sweet girl.Rui pursed her lips and nodded for a moment. Although there were indeed a lot of questions in her head but Rui couldn't force herself to stay there. One of her principles said that it was better not to know what she shouldn't know. Or maybe not yet.Jacob smiled proudly at how the princess behaved. Although he was reluctant to release the delicate grip of his daughter. But it was something they had to do. The three of them stared at Rui's departure who soon disappeared behind the door of the infirmary."I'm glad you guys took care of her to become such a great girl. I don't th
The door slowly opened. Making all the hearts of the people outside the door beat faster.When Jacob saw the figure of a woman sitting at the end of a fairly narrow room, on an old-looking bed. Curled up as if frightened with her hair loose over her face.Jacob frowned, not really having any expectations about how the woman who was predicted to be his wife was doing."Ice." Hayle walked into the room. Leaving the two men who seemed to be still observing the situation inside Ice's hospital room.As usual, Hayle sat at the end of the bed closest to her. Always trying to communicate well with the woman who never even looked at her."I'm here again, but this time I'm not alone with my husband. Would you like to see who came with us?" Hayle said it as gently as possible. It was always like that if she was dealing with this woman because according to Hayle, that was how to treat someone like this Ice.But, even though Hayle had seduced the woman. Of course Ice didn't seem to understand what
"Good morning!" the cheerful, friendly voice filled the room where Hayle was on duty, if not the kitchen.The woman raised her eyebrows and smiled slightly. "Good afternoon, Jac.""Yes! Yes! No need to emphasize it. But it's early in Alaska. I guess it is." Jacob rubbed his face. He still looked sleepy."The time difference between here and there is only an hour Jac, so I guess it's already daytime in Alaska." Hayle shook her head. Even at this age, she still couldn't let go of her innocence."Yeah. Every now and then make me happy Hayle by just following what I say." Jacob made a little annoyed face at being corrected by this woman."Eat your breakfast, or actually brunch. After that take your medicine. You have to take it, right?" Hayle said. Yesterday she saw him taking his medicine after their warm dinner."Not really. It's just for pain relief. Yesterday's flight made my leg ache, so I took it. It's quiet, even though four bullets have gone through my body. I'm overall very healt
"Why did you say something like that earlier Jax?" asked Hayle who glanced at her husband as she rubbed lotion all over her body after she finished putting on her clothes after cleaning herself."About what?" Jaxter took off the shirt he was wearing one by one. After his wife it was time for him to take a shower."About Ice."Jaxter did not answer immediately. Tickling the curiosity and attention of Hayle who immediately tried to see what happened to her man's face."Do you still suspect that Ice might betray us again?" Hayle asked."There's no harm in being on guard. We already have the life we dreamed of all this time, I won't let a single person ruin it." Jaxter glanced at his wife with a rather sharp gaze. Making Hayle unable to say anything. In a life like the one they lived. Tranquility was a high price they had to pay with so many sacrifices before."So about when will you let us see him. I'm sure Jacob and Rui will want to see Ice." Hayle tried to be cooperative with her husba
"At first I can't remember anything, I woke up in a hospital bed in Hawaii. All I knew was that my whole body was in a lot of pain and I couldn't get out of bed at all. The doctor who treated me said that I had been in a coma for more than half a year." Jacob recounted what he experienced after what happened to him. Everyone in the house was silent, they were listening to what this man was saying. Even so, his hand continued to hold Rui's hand."Then when did you get your memories?" asked Arzhiel who was even more curious about this man's story. Moreover, what he knew was that this man was not in an accident as told by his parents. Instead, he was attacked by people they didn't know."It took a long time for me to remember. About 3 years after the incident, I had a serious memory disorder. I even forgot everything. And, suddenly I woke up with a terrible headache, then I remembered my name and some glimpses of my previous life.""At that moment you remembered Rui?" asked Hayle now who