"Hey, kiddo," Michael’s brother said, winking at the camera. His voice was light, but his tone carried a weight that only Michael could understand. The room was tense, with reporters leaning in, pens poised, cameras zooming closer to catch every flicker of emotion. The atmosphere was suffocating, but Michael’s mother took her seat seating tall in her chair, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her face carried a mixture of regret, determination, and hope. She took a deep breath, the kind that seemed to pull her soul to the surface. "I… I don’t blame my son for arresting me," she began. "I deserved it. I made mistakes, terrible mistakes. Firstly I went as far as having his boss, Marianne, arrested for kidnapping. I thought I was protecting him from her, but I wasn’t. I was wrong. I was blind to what was really happening... To his struggles, to everything."The room, once buzzing with whispers, was now silent. Even the reporters seemed captivated by her vulnerability. She swallow
Sophia stared at her phone as it buzzed relentlessly with Jayson's calls. She intentionally ignored them, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest of her chair. Letting out a deep breath, she murmured to herself, "I gave you a chance to make the right decision, Jayson, but you didn’t. Don’t blame me for any of this." Her gaze drifted to the television, the interview still playing. Marianne and Alexander’s composed demeanor annoyed her, their story plastered across every screen. "How boring," she muttered, reaching for the remote. With a quick click, the screen went dark, and the room was plunged into silence. Setting the remote aside, she leaned forward and grabbed her phone from the coffee table. After a moment's hesitation, she dialed Elena’s number. The phone barely rang once before it was answered, as if Elena had been waiting for the call for years.Sophia chuckled softly. "You picked up faster than I imagined. I can tell how you’re feeling about this.""Don’t tease me, Sophia.
Marianne shot a sharp glare at Alexander, her lips pressed into a thin line, a look of feigned annoyance playing across her face. But Alexander, unfazed, bent to her level with a mischievous smirk, leaning closer to her ear."You know," he whispered, his voice teasing, "we got Emilio on our first try... I think I’m ready to try again."Marianne bit down on her lips, fighting back a smile. Who would’ve thought Alexander could be this cheeky?With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, she turned on her heel and strode toward Michael and his mother. By the time she reached them, her expression had softened into a warm smile. Michael greeted her with a smile of his own, one that she immediately mirrored. "So," Marianne began with a playful tilt of her head, "I was thinking... what about dinner at our place?" Michael nodded without hesitation, the suggestion clearly pleasing him. His mother, however, shifted her gaze toward Marianne, studying her for a while before stepping closer. The
Marianne and Alexander had finished getting dressed and were ready to leave the quiet comfort of the room behind. Just as she moved toward the door, Alexander’s hand gently caught her wrist. He pulled her back into him, his chest pressing firmly against her back.Her breath hitched when she felt him, his growing arousal undeniable as he held her close. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he lowered his head to her neck. The soft press of his lips against her skin sent a warm shiver through her. A smile tugged at her lips, but she kept her composure. "They’ll be here soon, okay?" Her voice was a soft murmur, filled with fondness. "We can always get back to this after everything is done." Alexander’s arms tightened briefly before he loosened his hold, but instead of stepping back, he spun her around slowly. His eyes searched hers, brimming with desire tempered by affection. He leaned in, his lips hovering just above hers, his breath warm against her mouth The knock came abruptl
Jayson stood motionless over Sophia’s body, the bloodied dagger still gripped tightly in his hand. Her eyes, once full of life, now stared blankly into the void, her face twisted in an expression of terror and betrayal. The room was eerily silent except for his own ragged breathing. He wiped his brow with a hand before looking down at her one last time. Then, he wiped the blade against his trousers with an eerie calm, his lips curling into a dark, satisfied smirk."Goodbye, Sophia," he whispered, his voice devoid of emotion. He leaned in, capturing her lips once more."You were such a great girlfriend, but you had to fuck everything up. Blame yourself for all of this," he muttered, stepping away from her.He knelt beside her, his movements disturbingly calm and precise. Grabbing the bedsheet, he folded it carefully around her, tucking it tightly as if preparing a package. The blood stains seeped through the white fabric, but Jayson paid no mind. When he was done, he carried her dead b
"I don’t know who you are, but if you think you can outplay me, watch your back, you’re mistaken. I'll find you if I want and send you to hell."He hit send without hesitation, his words simmered with a threat, but it wasn’t fear that coursed through him...it was amusement. He ran a hand through his hair, the corners of his mouth lifting into a dangerous smirk. A moment later, his phone vibrated in his hand. A reply came in from the unknown."I dare you."The response made his smirk grew to an even widen grin...one filled with dark amusement. He chuckled under his breath, a low, dangerous sound that built into a full laugh. He didn’t just find the message entertaining; he found it pathetic."Is that all you’ve got?" he whispered to the empty room. His laugh echoed off the walls as he ran a hand through his hair, tossing the phone onto the desk like it was no more than a toy. His eyes gleamed with something far more dangerous than mere anger. This wasn’t a game to him. What if someo
Jayson forced a small smile, but the irritation in his eyes betrayed him. He moved to a seat, leaned back in it, and crossed his arms as he watched Marianne move around the place with calm ease. His silence didn’t last long. "Are you afraid of me now?" he asked, his voice low.Marianne paused briefly, giving him a curious glance before returning her attention to the tray of food she was setting on the table."Why would I be afraid of you?" she replied with a shrug. "I’m still the same Marianne who’s spent countless nights here. Nothing’s changed." Alexander, standing near the window scoffed loudly. He turned to face Jayson with a pointed glare. "She’s not your maid, you know. You could try showing a little appreciation. It’s hard enough watching her act like one without so much as a thank you." Jayson’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to Alexander’s bait. Instead, he met his gaze with thinly veiled irritation. "If you weren’t here, she’d be with me," he muttered under his brea
Jayson turned away from the bathroom without a second thought, his feet moving with quiet precision. He strode down the hall and entered a room tucked away at the end. The door clicked shut behind him as he stepped into the darkness. He didn’t bother switching on the lights... the familiarity of the space were enough. He moved to the desk, settling into the chair like a man who had done this many times before. His fingers brushed the cool surface of the keyboard as he retrieved his phone. With practiced ease, he connected it to the computer. The screen hummed to life, and the faint blue light cast shadows across his face. Jayson leaned forward, his eyes sharp, focused. His jaw clenched as he opened the message again. The words still lingered, daring him to react."Are you going to turn yourself in, or are you giving me the pleasure of doing it?"A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He wasn’t amused...no, this was something darker, a satisfaction born from the thrill of a cha
The next day, Marianne and the others were at the hospital, except for Dylan and Michael, who had prior commitments but promised to visit later that evening. Grandma Emma arrived at the hospital, her warm presence immediately filling the room. She gently picked up Emilio and held him in her arms before turning to Jake. “Once again, I’m so proud of you,” she said, reaching out to ruffle Jake’s hair affectionately. Jake swatted her hand away with a playful grin. “I’m not a baby, Grandma!” he whined, eliciting laughter from everyone in the room. Marianne smiled faintly at the heartwarming scene, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Her mind lingered on Alexander, still lying unconscious in his hospital bed. Suddenly, Romeo burst into the room, a bag of ice cream in hand and urgency written all over his face. “Something’s going on,” he announced, hurrying to grab the remote. The TV flickered on, and the image of a news anchor appeared. “This just in,” the reporter began. “A ship
An ambulance was called immediately. Marianne, Jake and Emilio were carefully placed inside as the sirens wailed into the night, and the vehicle sped toward the hospital. Meanwhile, Vincent and the other officers stayed behind to survey the area, but there was no sign of Jayson. He had escaped. "What now? If he gets out of here, gets another surgery… we’ll have a much bigger problem on our hands," one officer muttered, glancing nervously at Vincent, who ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Meaning Sophia and Elena would have died for nothing? No," Vincent growled, his eyes hardening. "We finish this. He doesn’t walk away." Determined, Vincent moved away from the group, scanning the area for any sign of the fugitive. Still, Jayson was nowhere to be found. "We should issue an announcement," another officer suggested. Without hesitation, the team dispersed to their vehicles to alert the public and organize a citywide manhunt. The head of the police approached Vinc
Vincent tore the small plastic seal open, revealing the flash drive hidden inside. He stared at it for a moment, his mind racing with curiosity. "Where can I plug this in?" he asked, his tone calm but urgent. The officer pointed him toward a desk with a computer. Vincent inserted the drive, his fingers steady, but his heart pounded as the files loaded onto the screen. Rows of folders appeared...documents, images, and most notably, a series of videos. One caught his attention immediately..."Confession by Sophia Latino."He clicked play. The screen flickered to life, showing a young woman with sharp eyes and a determined expression. Her voice was firm, but there was a trace of fear behind her words. "I, Sophia Latino, documented all of this because I don’t trust Desmond Howard..." Vincent froze as the name struck a chord deep within him. His brow furrowed as he whispered it aloud. "Desmond Howard? Why does the name sounds familiar?"The officer beside him, Sergeant Miller, narr
"Elena," Jayson whispered, his voice sharp with bitterness. His eyes darkened as he stared at the screen, the tension in his jaw tightening with every second. Rage blurred his vision, making it hard to focus on the task at hand. He wanted to smash the screen, but a sudden knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. With a sigh, he set the food aside and walked to the door. When he opened the door, one of his men stood waiting. "Boss," the man greeted him, bowing slightly. Jayson nodded in acknowledgment. His expression remained cold "I have a job for you," he said, pulling out his phone, tapped a few times, and handed it over. "This is her number. Track her down." His gaze hardened, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. "Silence her." The man gave a nod, his eyes glinting with understanding, before turning to leave. Jayson closed the door quietly behind him. His mind raced, but there was no time for hesitation. Instead of returning to Marianne, he moved swiftly to his bed
Across from her, Jayson found a seat and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes a dark, endless abyss. "You deserve the truth," he began, his tone eerily soft, like a lover sharing a secret. "You always did."Marianne felt her heart thudding painfully in her chest. "What are you talking about?"He smiled, but it wasn’t warm. It was hollow, devoid of humanity. "Who I really am," he said slowly. "You’ve known pieces of me...the parts I’ve let you see. But that’s not the whole story. It never was."She sniffed but he sighed, a sound filled with false regret. "I grew up in a house where pain was currency, where love was a weapon. My parents… they weren’t just abusive. They were the kind of monsters that lived behind closed doors with smiling faces for the world. They crushed me until there was nothing left. But one night, I heard someone say, ‘If you can’t escape your suffering, end it.’ I took those words to heart. I went home, and I ended it." He met her gaze, unbli
The sirens of the police car blared in the distance, growing faint as Vincent watched it disappear down the street. He exhaled slowly, his eyes filled with determination. The officers had taken over the scene just as planned. Now, there was only one place left to be. The hospital "Let’s go," he muttered to the others before slipping into his car as they drove off.The minute he arrived, he rushed through the sterile corridors, searching. His eyes found Charlotte standing near the waiting area. She looked small and fragile, her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold herself together. "Where’s Jake? And what about Alexander? Is he not out yet?" Vincent asked as he strode toward her. Without answering, Charlotte threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly like a scared child. Her grip was so firm it surprised him. Vincent sighed heavily, patting her back with gentle impatience. "You’re an expectant mother. Cut the child act and start acting like a woman.?" Vincent c
“I’m sorry, Marianne,” Jayson muttered under his breath as he drove away.In a matter of minutes, Jayson reached his apartment, the tires of his car screeching to a halt. He stepped out swiftly, lifting Emilio from his mother's side. The child stirred lightly, leaning against Jayson’s chest as he carried him inside and settled him in a room.Without a moment's pause, he returned for Marianne’s unconscious form, and also carried her. Just as he turned toward the house, Elena appeared, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her. "Well, I’m not here for this," she said, drawing his attention. "Why the hell did you get Alexander involved in an accident?" Jayson said nothing. He kept his expression blank as he carried Marianne past her as if he wasn't the one being questioned.Elena chuckled softly, trailing after him. "Are you ignoring me now?" she asked. "Did you forget I have evidence that could destroy you? Ruin everything you’ve built? And maybe... Lead to your death?"
Elena stepped into the house, her eyes immediately landing on Hailey sitting at the dining table, chattering away with her nanny. The little girl was so absorbed in their conversation that she didn’t even notice her mother’s arrival. The nanny, amused, chuckled softly at whatever Hailey was saying. "Ma’am... you’re back," the nanny murmured, rising to her feet. Hailey turned her head just in time to see her mother fully enter the house. Her eyes lit up. "Mom!" she beamed, abandoning her food as she jumped off her chair and ran toward Elena. Elena knelt down, gently ruffling her daughter’s hair. "How have you been, my love?" she asked, cupping Hailey’s small face before kissing her forehead. "I’m fine, Mom. But I missed you so much last night," Hailey muttered, her lips forming a small pout. "Where did you go? You’ve never slept outside unless you were traveling." Elena smiled, brushing a stray curl away from Hailey’s face. "I had to look for a job yesterday. Since we moved
Charlotte left Jake’s place that morning, her mind already set on collecting her belongings. Not that she’d be moving in with Jake...no, Grandma Emma had graciously offered her one of her mansions to stay in until the case with her mother was resolved. Charlotte had been overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking Emma profusely for her kindness. Jake had offered to accompany her, but she declined. "You’re expecting Alexander, remember? It wouldn’t be nice if he came by and found the house empty," she reminded him. Still, Jake had made her promise to be careful. She assured him she would. Now, as she sat in the cab, her head rested against the window, lost in thought. The city blurred past, but her mind was miles away. She knew her family loved her dearly...there was no question of that...but her mother… Her mother would be a whole different story. To her, Charlotte was still a baby, and the idea of her own baby carrying another child would be a shock. "I hope Mom doesn’t scold me,"