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Huling Na-update:
2024-12-03 23:55:18
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Seven Minutes in Heaven SIX
ReignaNight has soon come and we are still in Carlisle’s office, rushing the documents to be presented tomorrow on a client who suddenly changed the schedule and wanted to meet with us immediately.“This is endless.” Muttering to myself, I blinked and pulled my reading glasses of to take a short break.Glancing at him, the sight of his loosened tie, well-kept hair, and glasses on his masculine face, made me admire him—a little too much. “You want to go home already, princess?” he spoke, snapping me out of my trance.Blinking, I shook my head no. “Want some coffee, then?” he offered, making me ponder for a moment before nodding.With that, he stood up and started to fold his sleeves until above his elbows. As I watched, it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve been fascinated so much that one could think I’m a weirdo.Averting my gaze, I stood up. “It’s the secretary’s job to serve the boss, sir. Let me do it.”Carlisle didn’t argue as I insisted on making the coffee, though the small smi
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-04Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVEN
Reigna“Tomorrow is family day, Ma’am. Can you and Sir Carlisle attend?” While waiting for Erwin to come down with Christy, Lilly spoke to me with a gentle, worried, tone.The sincerity in her voice for the little one’s sake made me smile. “I’m not sure, but we will try.” Hearing that, she heaved a sigh of relief.“Lilly! Do you have my dinosaur?!” from upstairs, Erwin’s loud voice echoed, followed by his loud excited footsteps, making the two of us turn from the opened front door where we are standing.“Yes, young master.” She crouched down and showed the dinosaur pencil case in her hand, then helped Erwi to turn around so she could place it in his bag. Once done, she stood up and held his hand, ready to accompany him to his school.“Bye mommy! Make sure to come tomorrow, okay! We have booths!” he excitedly announced, jumping up and down. “It’s called family day!”“Ah yes, I’ve been told, baby.” I laughed, kissing his forehead and patting his fluffy hair. “Dada and I will do our bes
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-05Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHT
ReignaI had a dream. A nightmare, rather.“Babe, look. This is-” Axle’s voice rang so loudly in my head as I ran away, my feet is damp from the pouring rain, and my tears are mixing along the cold droplets from the sky. When I turned on a nearby alley, there stood Carlisle with his eyes mirroring the hatred he has for Violet.“I need you to do your job and stay out of things that don’t concern you.” His voice, as loud as Axle’s, made my heart throb and my head ache. The rain poured more, with storms lighting up the pitch black night.In that world, I was standing in front of him, but for some reason, he can’t seem to feel anything as he stared back at me.That was a short, painful, nightmare.Morning arrived far too quickly, pulling me from the restless haze of a sleepless night. My body felt heavy, my chest still knotted with the emotions from last night’s confrontation. Carlisle’s words, the unspoken distance between us, and the bitter taste of my own feelings made it hard to even
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-06Seven Minutes in Heaven NINE
ReignaIf there is one thing I could do right now—it is to not be left with Carlisle alone at all cost.I stepped into the office that morning, clutching a warm coffee cup in my hands like it was armor. The sterile white walls of XCC Corp. had never felt so unwelcoming. Usually, the hum of printers and soft clicks of keyboards grounded me in routine, but today, the air was heavy, as though everyone was waiting for something to snap.Or maybe that weight was just me, dragging in the unresolved tension from Family Day. “It’s okay. You can do it, Rei.” Encouraging myself, I went on with work, hoping nothing will go wrong.Entering his office after three knocks, I kept my professionalism as I conversed with him. “Your schedule for today,” I said quietly, sliding the folder toward him.For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t respond at all. Then his voice came, low and restrained. “Reigna.”I stilled, my breath catching. There was an edge of something personal in his tone, something tentative.
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-07Seven Minutes in Heaven TEN
Reigna“Maybe I should try to talk to him once and for all.” As an emotional woman myself, I am having trouble deciding whether to guard myself from further pain from his words, or approach him and face this directly so I could heal and understand.This is just a game…who cares if he’s still affected by his ex?“This is making my head ache.”The morning air was heavy with anticipation. A I sit on my desk, my nerves are buzzling with anxiety and hesitancy to face them because today was the day Violet Harrington would step back into Carlisle Amoroso’s world—and mine.She, as the head architect for this project, will be working with us for three months until the proposal is finalized, and they could proceed with the discussion of investments and construction.Her reappearance wasn’t just a ghost from Carlisle’s past; it was a wrecking ball aimed at the fragile balance we’d been trying to maintain since Family Day.I hadn’t seen Carlisle smile in weeks, and every interaction between us ha
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-08Seven Minutes in Heaven ELEVEN
Reigna“What else do you think will happen?” smug, Carlisle spoke in a shameless manner. “You left. My son needed a mother.”With those words said, the subtle visibility of hurt in her face somewhat pained me too—no one wants to be replaced, after all.“You think that’s easy?” she asked, scoffing with her arms crossed, looking back and forth between Carlisle and I. “He’ll grow and realize it all.”Just thinking of that future scares me, but… “That future is still far.” I spoke, determined to prove my place.No matter how unstable we are, I am still, for now, Erwin’s mother.Laughing humorlessly, she looked at me from head to toe. “You look nothing like my son. He’ll raise that question soon enough.” Smirking, she stepped closer, her blue eyes piercing on me like daggers aim to shatter me whole.“Secretaries really like being side chicks.” She sneered. “No wonder the tension’s high at work.”“You’re talking all high and mighty as if you didn’t chose to walk out of their lives on your o
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-09Seven Minutes in Heaven TWELVE
ReignaJust think of this is a normal day, Reigna.I stood outside the old house, the porch light flickering like a broken heartbeat. My hand hesitated on the doorknob, the chipped paint and worn wood feeling foreign, though I’d spent most of my life here. The weight of the call from Axle still clung to me, my chest tight with a mix of dread and defiance.I pushed the door open, stepping inside the familiar yet unwelcoming space. The living room was exactly as I remembered—dated furniture, faded wallpaper, and the suffocating air of disapproval that seemed embedded in the walls. My mother’s sharp voice greeted me before I even saw her.“Look who finally decided to show up,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain as she appeared from the kitchen.She looked the same—pristine makeup and a floral apron, as if she were trying to play the perfect hostess. “The prodigal daughter graces us with her presence.”“Mother,” I greeted stiffly, keeping my tone neutral.Her lips thinned as she eye
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-10Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTEEN
Reigna“Mommy, hurry up!” he called me as I helped Lilly wipe the dishes clean, while Christy washes them.“Hold on, baby!” I replied back, smiling as I focused on my work.“Young master really loves you, ma’am. We’ve never seen him like this.” Christy respectfully spoke, Lilly nodding in agreement.“He wasn’t like that with anyone. Young master rarely acts like a child, but with you, he truly is a little boy.” Lilly added, warming up my heart.The morning light painted soft streaks across the hardwood floors, the warmth of the sun mirrored by the gentle laughter that bubbled from Erwin as he played with his toy cars. Today is Sunday, giving us the liberty to be free from our own responsibilities.It had been a long time since a day felt so calm, so normal. For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to breathe, the weight of our complicated lives momentarily lifted.“I just wish this peace will stay forever.” I spoke, but as if I had called a disaster instead of a blessing, that sp
Huling Na-update : 2024-12-11
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Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-NINE
SEVENTY-NINECarlisle"Marcus." My voice cut through the stagnant air, low and sharp. "I want updates. Every fifteen minutes. If there’s nothing, find something. I don’t care how you do it — just find her.""Yes, sir." Marcus answered without hesitation, though the tension in his jaw betrayed the weight of my command. I know that right now, he is keeping his senses alert, waiting for instructions as night continuously gets darker over time."Teams are already in position. We'll know if she moves, sir, traffic cameras, subway stations, even the taxi cabs. The only locations without hacked surveillance are the area directly under the mayor’s influence"Good.But it wasn’t good enough. None of this was.I should’ve been the one to stop her. I should’ve forced her to listen, made her understand that she wasn’t walking away from me.As much as I regret being such a fool, I’d let her slip through my fingers. And now, the city was swallowing her whole."Expand the radius," I growled, the wor
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-EIGHT
CarlisleDamn it. I should’ve stopped her and run after her no matter what she said, wanted, or did—all to bring her back home.But I didn’t.And now? Now I was left with nothing but the bitter taste of regret clinging to my tongue.The car’s interior was suffocating. Marcus sat tensely in the front, his phone pressed to his ear as he barked orders to the security team. They were searching every corner of the city. Every street, every café, every possible place she could have gone. But none of it was enough. None of it would be until I saw her standing in front of me again."Status?" My voice was low, but the crack of it was unmistakable.Marcus shifted slightly, lowering his phone. "No updates yet. Surveillance spotted her near the park earlier, but she’s not there anymore. We’ve widened the search, and more cameras are being pulled."I clenched my jaw, the familiar sting of frustration settling deep beneath my ribs. "Not good enough.""We’re doing everything we can, sir," Marcus re
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-SEVEN
ReignaMy steps were hurried, driven by the unbearable pressure lingering behind me — the weight of Carlisle’s stare, the tension that had coiled itself around us, choking out every rational thought.I could still hear the low murmurs of the gathering crowd, the harsh clicks of camera shutters echoing faintly against the distant hum of traffic. People were watching. People were judging.But none of that mattered.All I could think about was the way Carlisle had looked at me. Not with the cold detachment I had braced myself for. Not with the calculated authority he wore like armor. No, this time, it was something far more dangerous. Something I didn’t know how to face.He was broken.And it wasn’t because of Violet or the scandal or the relentless public scrutiny. It was because of me.“Reigna,” Axle called from behind, his voice cautious, like he was afraid I’d disappear if he spoke too loudly. I didn’t slow down. Not until his fingers brushed against my wrist, pulling me to a stop. “
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-SIX
ReignaThe air between us was charged, thick with words neither of us could say. Axle’s hand lingered near mine, a silent reassurance I didn’t ask for, but couldn’t bring myself to pull away from.“Reigna.” His voice was low, rough around the edges like it always was when he wanted to sound sincere. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m not here to push.”I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Because even if I wanted to believe him, I knew better. Axle Daniels had always been good with words.“Please don’t push me away too.” The way they slipped from his lips — tender when I needed comfort, sharp when he wanted to win. But right now, those words were neither. They were just… there.Floating in the space between us like fragile glass. And I didn’t know whether to shatter them or cradle them like they meant something.But before I could decide, the air shifted.At first, it was subtle. The sound of distant footsteps, the faint hum of engines idling nearby. Then, a presence — heavy, watchful, unm
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-FIVE
CarlisleShe was gone.Reigna had walked out without a second glance, her parting words echoing through my mind like a relentless drumbeat. “Just once, I wanted you to believe me.”My hands curled into fists at the memory. I should’ve gone after her. I should’ve stopped her the second she turned her back, but instead, I stood there like a goddamn coward. I let the silence consume us both, even though I knew exactly where it would lead.And now?Now I didn’t even know where she was. I tried looking for her but to no avail, which ended up with me coming himeafter receiving Lucy’s distressed call that Erwin was crying.…should I track her down?"Sir?" The driver’s voice broke through my thoughts, hesitant but firm. "We’re approaching the building."I didn’t respond. Instead, I shifted my gaze to the looming silhouette of the Veil Hyde Residence, its glass exterior gleaming under the city lights. Normally, the sight of it brought a certain sense of authority — a reminder of everything I’d
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-FOUR
ReignaThe words hung in the air between us, weighty and unshakable, settling deep into my chest like a stone sinking to the bottom of a river. I could still hear them echoing in my mind, could still feel the way they wrapped around my ribs, squeezing too tight, making it hard to breathe.I should have dismissed them. I should have rolled my eyes, thrown his words back in his face, reminded him of every way he had shattered me and walked away without looking back. But instead, I sat there, gripping my coffee cup like it was the only thing tethering me to reality, feeling the weight of Axle’s gaze pressing against my skin."You can’t just say things like that," I finally murmured, my voice quiet, controlled—forced.Axle tilted his head slightly, a flicker of something unreadable flashing across his face. "Why not?"I exhaled sharply, shaking my head as I set my cup down, fingers tightening around the ceramic. "Because it’s unfair. Because it’s a lie. Because if you really never stopped
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-THREE
ReignaI just needed space.I had thrown on a simple dress before leaving, one of my older ones from when my life had been normal, before Carlisle Amoroso had rewritten my entire existence. It was plain, nothing remarkable, but as I wandered past a group of people huddled near the park entrance, I caught the way their heads turned, their whispers slicing through the air like knives.At first, I ignored them.But then—“Wait, isn’t that—?”“Oh my god, it’s her.”“Is she seriously walking around like nothing happened?”My heart slammed against my ribs, my throat tightening as I quickened my steps, pushing forward, hoping—praying—that they would just let me pass. But the whispers only grew louder, venomous, laced with amusement and cruelty, the kind of sharp-edged mockery only people who had never lived a second in my shoes could wield so easily.“She has some nerve showing her face after trying to Violet Harrington.”“I hope Carlisle Amoroso finally saw her for what she is.”“Me too. Sh
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-TWO
Carlisle“Dada! Mommy said she’ll see you later, but I told her it should be now!” he declared, completely oblivious to the suffocating tension between us.Reigna let out a slow breath, reaching up to smooth his hair with a trembling hand. “Sweetheart,” she murmured, her voice soft, tired. “Maybe another time, okay?”Another time.I clenched my jaw, stepping further into the room. “Erwin, come here,” I said, my voice quiet, measured.He pouted but obeyed, slipping off the bed and running over to me. I placed a hand on his head, smoothing down his curls, before finally shifting my gaze back to Reigna.She was already looking away.It irritated me more than it should have."You’ve been in here all morning," I said evenly, my eyes never leaving her. "And now you’re avoiding breakfast. How long are you planning to keep this up?"Reigna flinched, but she masked it quickly, schooling her features into a calm, unreadable expression. "I just need time," she said, echoing the same words she ha
Seven Minutes in Heaven SPECIAL CHAPTER: IN A CHILD’S PERSPECTIVE
ErwinWhy was it that after they came back home from a long, long, trip, mommy was sad and dada is being unusual?I knew it.I could feel it.Even though she smiled when I woke up this morning, even though she kissed my forehead and brushed my hair like she always did, something felt wrong. Her smile wasn’t the same as before—it was stretched too thin, her voice a little too soft, like the way grown-ups talked when they were trying to hide something.And Dada—Dada was acting so odd too.Usually, when he came to see me in the mornings, he would look at Mommy in a way that made me feel warm inside. Like the way he looked at me when I did something good. Like she was special.But today, he didn’t.He barely even looked at her.And she barely looked at him.I didn’t like it.“Mommy, let’s eat breakfast with Dada today!” I said, kicking my feet while she helped me put on my socks. My words came out excitedly, hoping she'd say yes right away.She paused—just for a second. Then, she smiled a
