SHAWNALiam has been keeping me waiting here for some minutes now and I've been here since, he just kept telling me that I should please hold on for him.The most annoying and infuriating part of this is that he's not telling me what's keeping him waiting, he just keeps telling me to calm down.I sipped on the coffee before me with anger thrumming through me, I'm trying so hard to suppress the anger in me right now but nothing seems to be forthcoming.He said we should meet at a coffee shop and now I'm on my second cup of coffee yet there's nothing from him. I just kept scrolling through my phone till I felt a presence before me.I looked up from my phone to see Damien standing before me, he had his hand dipped into his pocket.“Damien?" I mumbled, almost as if I couldn't believe that he was standing before me.“Can I sit?" He asked me, gesturing at the chair opposite me, the one he was currently standing beside.I didn't even know what to say, Liam could come in anytime soon, and if
SHAWNA“What the actual fuck?" I cussed out loud, frozen on the spot with my mouth hung open. Liam acted immediately, he ran past me and started running after the guy.I couldn't even move at some point, it got to a point that I had to move. Just as I wanted to run after Liam, I saw him running back without my bag in his hand. He was panting heavily as he got to me, his eyes still looking around as though he was looking for someone. “You didn't see him?" I asked him with my heart racing. “It's as though he vanished into thin air, I didn't even see anyone that looks like him at some point." He replied warily. This just looks like a movie to me, the bag got collected from me in not up to five seconds and now it's gone just like that? Just vanished into the thin air.His eyes glanced down to my hand and a relieved look came up on his face.“Thank God your phone is with you, is there anything valuable in the bag?” He asked.I didn't bring the debit card with me today, "No, just a litt
SHAWNAI was more than shocked at her words, I was speechless for some seconds till she made a sound from the other end of the phone.“Of course, yes! When is the meeting starting? I'll be on my way now.” I rushed out the words."It's in thirty minutes. Make sure you come with enough documents to back up your claim, it's not going to be an easy session at all,” She said.“Of course, I'll be there very soon." She hung up almost immediately. Liam was looking at me with a look that was asking me to explain everything to him already.I told him everything she said and we were out of the hospital building in no time."I need to confirm if the document I had in that bag was the original one, or even if I put it there at all. I need to confirm now because I need the document." I narrated to Liam as he drove. “I’ve been thinking about it too, and I don't think you'd put something as important as that in the bag. Let's just keep hoping and praying till we get back home." Liam said back.“Exac
SHAWNAHe walked over to the front of the room, avoiding my eye contact. Maybe I heard wrong, or he meant to say ‘Shawna’ instead of the ‘Eugene’ he said.Because there's no way he just declared her as the heiress, he signed those documents himself. And I'm very sure he couldn't have forgotten my face, I don't even resemble Eugene one bit.“I have the documents to back up my claim here.” He said as he went to stand beside Eugene. She still has that smirk plastered on her face."Barrister John?" I mumbled, but it came out very loud that he looked up from those papers.“Yes, how may I help you ma'am?" He asked me casually, so formally."I think you made a mistake with the names, I'm Shawna and not Eugene, I think you forgot or something,” I said to him,"Allow the lawyer to do his work, don't disrupt him. Please go back to what you were doing." Eugene's mother interrupted and the lawyer did just as she said.“What's going on, Shawna?" Liam stood up from the chair too, confusion bare in
EUGENEExcitement thrummed through me as Shawna was dragged away by the policemen, she wasn't violent but she was fighting in their strong grip.I heaved a sigh of relief as she was eventually dragged away, it felt like a major problem in my life was being taken away. At least I won't have to worry about her for a while.“Congratulations Miss Shawna. You're good for the position already, it fits you." The guy who was exchanging words with Shawna earlier said, he had a huge smile plastered on his face.“Thank you.” I mustered up a fake smile at him, he just irks me in a kind of way. I don't know if it's because he just admitted to wanting to get married to Shawna before, he had even declared her children as his.Or if it's just because I'm not currently attracted to any male at the moment except for Damien of course. I won't rest till he realizes that I'm the right person for him.“Congratulations Miss Shawna, welcome onboard.” The man who anchored the meeting said to me as he left the
SHAWNA“Let me go! I'm not guilty! You all should do your fucking job and investigate this instead of just arresting!!" I spasmed around in their hold.It was like I wasn't even saying anything, they didn't stop till we got to their car. Liam wanted to come after me but he was pushed back.After I was forced into his car, I saw him starting his car and coming after the police car. That didn't make me relaxed, it just provided a kind of mental assurance that I'm not alone in this at all.The least these retards would have done is to carefully look into this, but no! Eugene has bought everyone with Lancster's money.Even the lawyer who's meant to be the one who says the truth and erases the confusion is working for her. Am I ever going to get out of this? Now the whole country knows me, everybody has seen my face and heard everything. I feel more weak and helpless than ever, I just want to end it all already.But the thought of leaving my kids behind makes me rethink that decision. And
LIAMI've never been this restless and unsettled. I guess it's because I always knew she was safe, but now being in the police station just crested this sense of hopelessness in me.“I shouldn't be this way, I have to get her out there and not mop around," I mumbled to myself as I got to the car.I feel all shades of useless right now, I can't wait to up my game in the business world and have enough power that speak volumes than ordinary words would.It was not for anything but for Shawna. I want to be useful to her, not just anyone who would be pushed away from her anytime something comes up.We've been through so much to still be suffering at the hands of people to not come out victorious. I honestly can't wait for both of us to be successful.But for now, I have to get out of there and make Eugene suffer for what happened today. I drove towards the penthouse and got there in no time.I entered the apartment to see Shawna's mother pacing the room. She rushed over to me the moment sh
DAMIENI heard some kind of commotion outside while I was inside, I tried to ignore it, but whoever it was still probably going away.But at this point, I had to just stand up. I told my security men at the gate to not let anyone in, I didn't just want to receive any visitors right now.But who could it be? All I just had to do was go downstairs and stand by the porch. I called the other guy at the gate over, leaving the other one to deal with the person.“What's going on there? What's causing the commotion?" I asked him."Someone is out there, he said he wants to see you. He refused to go away, saying it's very urgent.” He answered.A frown came up on my face at his explanation. I'm not expecting any visitors, most especially a male.“What's his name?" I asked him.“He didn't say, but he said it's concerning… Shawna I think.”That has to be that guy who's always with Shawna, it's no one else but him. Liam, that should be the name.“Let him in," I ordered him. He nodded briskly, runni
SHAWNAMy hands shook as I stared at the phone screen. A strange number. My heart pounded.Liam leaned closer. "Answer it."I swallowed hard and pressed the button. "Hello?"There was silence for a second, then…"Mommy?"My breath caught in my throat. "Jasper?! Baby, is that you?""Mommy!" His little voice was filled with excitement. "I found the police! They helped me!"Tears streamed down my face as I clutched the phone. "Oh my God! Where are you, baby? Are you okay?"A deep voice came through the line. "Ma'am, this is Officer Reynolds from the Oakridge Police Department in Washington. Your son was found a few hours ago. He came to us himself and reported that he had been kidnapped."Liam exhaled sharply beside me. "Is he safe? Did you get the kidnapper?""We’re still searching, but he’s unharmed. We need you to come immediately.""We’re on our way!" I said quickly. "Please don’t let him out of your sight!""Understood, ma’am."I hung up and turned to Liam, gripping his arm tightly.
JASPERI blinked my eyes open and sat up, rubbing the sleep from my face. This wasn’t my room. My Spider-Man nightlight wasn’t glowing. My big, fluffy blanket wasn’t here. I looked around. The bed was too big, the walls were gray, and the air smelled weird, like old socks and something burnt. Where was I?I slid off the bed, my bare feet touching the cold floor. My tummy felt funny, like when I got scared watching scary cartoons. I walked to the door and pushed it open. The hallway was long and empty.“Hello?” My voice was small.Nothing.I took slow steps, my heart thumping fast. Then I saw him, the man who took me. He was sitting at a table, eating chips, and watching something on his phone.I walked up to him, my fingers curling into fists. “Where are we?” I asked, trying to sound brave. Mommy always said I was her brave little soldier.The man looked up, surprised. “You’re awake.”I nodded. “I had a bad dream. I want my mommy.”The man sighed, putting his phone down. “Kid, your mo
SHAWNAMy hands wouldn’t stop shaking. My breath came out in ragged gasps as I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, gripping Damien’s hand like it was the only thing keeping me from collapsing.“Damien, baby, please wake up,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “You have to wake up. You have to fight. I can’t do this without you.”His face remained still, pale, lifeless. The beeping of the machines was the only sign that he was still with me. The doctors had told me he was stable, but stable wasn’t enough. I needed him awake. I needed my son back.The thought of Jasper sent a fresh wave of panic through me. I covered my face with my hands, trying to control the sobs wracking my body.“You’re falling apart,” Eugene’s voice cut through my grief like a blade.I snapped my head up, my vision blurring with rage. “Shut up.”She smirked, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. “Still fighting? You’re exhausting to watch.”I tightened my grip on Eugene’s collar, my nails digging into
SHAWNA The beeping of the monitors was the only sound in the sterile hospital room. Damien lay still, his face pale, his body unmoving. I clutched his hand tightly, my voice trembling. "Damien, please..." My throat burned with emotion. "I can't do this without you. Jasper needs us. I need you." I clutched his limp hand, squeezing it tightly as if my grip alone could pull him back. His face was pale, his breathing steady but weak. The machines around him beeped rhythmically, a constant reminder of how fragile this moment was. "Damien, wake up!" My voice cracked, thick with desperation. "He's running out of time! I can't lose both of you!" Still, nothing. Not even the slightest movement. My chest tightened, a crushing weight pressing down on me. I bit my lip, willing myself not to break down. I had to be strong, for Jasper, for Damien. But how could I be strong when everything was slipping through my fingers? Tears blurred my vision as I rested my forehead against our joined hands
SHAWNAThe beeping of the monitors was the only sound in the sterile hospital room. Damien lay still, his face pale, his body unmoving. I clutched his hand tightly, my voice trembling."Damien, please..." My throat burned with emotion. "I can't do this without you. Jasper needs us. I need you."I clutched his limp hand, squeezing it tightly as if my grip alone could pull him back. His face was pale, his breathing steady but weak. The machines around him beeped rhythmically, a constant reminder of how fragile this moment was."Damien, wake up!" My voice cracked, thick with desperation. "He's running out of time! I can't lose both of you!"Still, nothing. Not even the slightest movement. My chest tightened, a crushing weight pressing down on me. I bit my lip, willing myself not to break down. I had to be strong, for Jasper, for Damien. But how could I be strong when everything was slipping through my fingers?Tears blurred my vision as I rested my forehead against our joined hands. "Ple
SHAWNAEugene’s scream cut through the sterile air of the hospital, a sound so sharp and guttural that it sent a shiver down my spine. I turned the corner and saw her on the floor, her arms wrapped around herself, shoulders shaking as sobs wracked her body. Nurses whispered, exchanging pitiful glances, but no one dared to approach her.I took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Eugene…""Don’t." Her voice came out raw, thick with grief. She lifted her head, her tear-streaked face twisted with rage. "Don’t you dare come near me."I stopped in my tracks. "I just…""You just what?!" she snapped, pushing herself to her feet. Her eyes burned with fury. "You just came to see the damage you caused? You came to gloat?!"I clenched my jaw. "I came to console you. I know you’re hurting…""Oh, now you care?!" She let out a bitter laugh, her hands trembling. "Where was your care when you dragged my mother into this mess? When you kept pushing, kept poking, until it all spiraled out of control?!"
SHAWNAI turned to Eugene, my voice low and sharp. "This is all because of you."Eugene, who had been rubbing her temples as if she were the one suffering, looked up at me with narrowed eyes. "Excuse me?""You keep lying. Twisting things. Escalating everything!" My hands curled into fists at my sides. "And now look where we are! Jasper is missing. My son is running out of time. Damien was shot trying to save him. And your mother…""Don’t," Eugene snapped, stepping forward. "Don’t even dare bring my mother into this."I scoffed, shaking my head. "Why? Because the truth hurts? Because now, suddenly, you want to play the victim?" I gestured wildly. "You had a chance to tell the police the truth, but instead, you lied. Again."Eugene’s nostrils flared. "You think the police would have helped me? Would’ve believed me?" She let out a bitter laugh. "You have no idea what I’ve been through.""I don’t care what you’ve been through!" I snapped. "You put us all in danger. And for what? To cover
SHAWNAI sat at the long metal table in the hospital’s private meeting room, my fingers gripping the edge so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The air was thick with tension, the dim lighting doing nothing to calm the storm inside me. Across from me sat two police officers, a cybercrime specialist, and two professional hackers. They all had the same grim look, the kind that made my stomach twist into painful knots."Time is running out," I said, my voice tight. "You don’t understand, this isn’t just a normal kidnapping. Jasper is in a place where the air is restricted. Do you hear me? He might not have much longer."Detective Harris, the lead officer, nodded, his eyes sharp. "We’re doing everything we can, ma’am. Our teams are already tracking possible locations…""Not possible locations," I snapped, cutting him off. "You need to find the exact place. Because if you don’t, my son is dead."The hacker on the left, a young woman with short black hair and piercing green eyes, adjust
EUGENE I walked out of the police station with my mother by my side, a victorious smirk playing on my lips. "That was easier than I thought," I muttered. My mother scoffed, adjusting the sleeve of her expensive coat as we walked toward our car. "Of course it was. Shawna is too emotional to think straight. The police saw what we wanted them to see—a desperate, grieving mother grasping at straws." I smirked, brushing an invisible speck of dust off my dress. "Pathetic, really. She walked in there thinking she had some grand case against us, only to end up looking like a crazy woman." We approached our sleek black car, the engine already humming as the driver waited. But before sliding inside, I turned back, my gaze locking onto Shawna. She was still standing there, her body trembling with barely contained fury. Her eyes blazed with hatred, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. If looks could kill, I would have been dead on the spot. I grinned, savoring the way he