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2025-02-27 22:49:04
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Seven Minutes in Heaven SIXTY-SIX
CarlisleEveryone is testing my patience.I sat beside Violet, my posture relaxed, my fingers grazing the rim of my whiskey glass as I listened to Devereaux retell a story I had already heard twice this evening. I had no real interest in the conversation, but I made the occasional comment when necessary, maintaining the effortless control expected of me.Violet, meanwhile, was in her element.She laughed, leaned in closer than she needed to, brushing her fingers against my arm as if she had every right to. And I let her—because letting her act familiar with me, letting her bask in the attention, was the easiest way to keep her content."Remember when we stayed in Paris that summer?" Violet mused, swirling the golden liquid in her glass. "That tiny villa overlooking the Seine? We were barely indoors."I nodded, but said nothing.Violet hated silence, and true to form, she filled it."But then again," she sighed dramatically, "you’ve always had a habit of leaving things unfinished, have
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27Seven Minutes in Heaven SIXTY-SEVEN
CarlisleShe stumbled out of the elevator, her bare feet padding against the plush carpet, the soft giggle that left her lips laced with both defiance and exhaustion.I should have let her go. Should have let her retreat into whatever messy, alcohol-induced thoughts were swirling in her head. But I didn’t.Instead, I followed.The suite was dimly lit, the glow from the city lights outside casting faint shadows across the room. She walked—no, wobbled—toward the sitting area, her movements slow, almost hesitant, as if the weight of tonight was pressing down on her all at once.“You’re going to regret drinking this much in the morning,” I said, closing the door behind me.She scoffed, collapsing onto the couch with an exaggerated sigh. “Good. Maybe a hangover will distract me from the bigger problem.”I exhaled sharply, slipping off my suit jacket and tossing it over the armchair. “And what problem is that?”Reigna lifted her gaze, her expression a mix of frustration and sadness. “You.”
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01Seven Minutes in Heaven SIXTY-EIGHT
Reigna“I shouldn’t have drunk all that last night.” I sighed, not remembering a thing from last night,Carlisle had left early for a meeting, leaving me to navigate the battlefield alone. I was accustomed to the treatment by now—the sidelong glances, the backhanded comments disguised as politeness. But today, it was worse.Because today, I was expected to be silent.The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and saltwater as I made my way toward the poolside lounge. Guests were scattered across the area—some reclined on plush sunbeds, others gathered in small groups beneath the canopy, engaged in conversations I had no part in.And at the center of it all, Violet.She was draped effortlessly on a chaise lounge, a delicate flute of champagne resting between her fingers. Dressed in an elegant ivory wrap dress, she looked like she belonged here, like she was the centerpiece of the entire world.And, in many ways, she was.Her soft laughter carried across the terrace as she c
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-02Seven Minutes in Heaven SIXTY-NINE
ReignaThe heat of the midday sun bore down on my skin, but I felt nothing but the ice curling around my veins, spreading like poison. The murmurs grew, swelling like a tidal wave, each whispered accusation crashing against me, pressing me down until I could barely breathe.“She actually pushed her…”“I always knew something was off about her.”“This is exactly why people like her don’t belong here.”No. No, no, no.I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms, my breaths coming in short, uneven gasps. My entire body trembled—not with fear, not with guilt, but with the suffocating, helpless frustration of knowing that nothing I said would matter.Because they had already made up their minds.Jonathan Devereaux, standing like some self-appointed judge, let out a disappointed sigh, shaking his head."Harrington has been nothing but gracious to you, and this is how you choose to repay her?" His voice was coated with condescension, as if he were disappointed in me, as if
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-02Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY
Reigna“Miss Harrington shouldn’t go back by herself.”“I agree. She’s still shaken up from what happened yesterday. Please take care of her.”That is the picture: Violet Harrington is on the same ride as us.Carlisle’s private plane was luxurious—pristine leather seats, gleaming mahogany tables, the scent of aged whiskey lingering faintly in the air—but to me, it felt suffocating. Every breath I took was thick with tension, every glance stolen across the cabin a reminder that I didn’t belong here. Not anymore.I sat rigidly in my seat, hands clasped tightly in my lap, nails pressing into my skin hard enough to leave marks. Across from me, she lounged, draped in a silk blanket, her damp hair cascading over her shoulder in soft waves, her complexion artfully pale. Violet.She looked weak. Delicate. Like a woman who had suffered greatly.It was a lie. Every inch of it.I dug my nails deeper into my palms, forcing myself to stay quiet, to keep my expression neutral, even when the urge to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-ONE
CarlisleThe moment the wheels touched the tarmac, I felt the shift. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but I felt it. The way Reigna straightened in her seat, the rigid tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers curled against the armrest as if bracing herself for impact. Not from the landing—but from everything that came after.She hadn't spoken a word to anyone since our confrontation in the lounge, not to me, not to Violet, not even to the flight attendants who offered her a drink she didn't acknowledge. She had locked herself in silence, a fortress built in mere hours, and I—I was the reason why.I want to believe her…I wanted to take her side and stop people from spreading malicious rumors about her. But I just can’t do it.Violet won’t drown herself on her own, right?Or she won’t lie and pretend she didn’t fell accidentally on her own, right?I just can’t see the point of her harming herself to paint Reigna bad. But I can’t truly convince myself that Reigna purposely hurt
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-05
Bab terbaru
Seven Minutes in Heaven SPECIAL CHAPTER: UNNAMED SPARKS
Third person[RED WARNING]Reigna glanced over at Carlisle, seated on the sleek leather sofa with a tumbler of top-shelf scotch in hand. He cut an imposing figure even now, his broad shoulders set with tension despite his best efforts to appear unruffled.Sensing her gaze, Carlisle set down his drink and rose to his feet in one fluid motion. In a few strides, he had crossed the room and pulled Reigna into his arms, his large hands settling on her hips."Easy there, princess," he murmured, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "I know it's a lot to take in, but we'll get through this together. I promise."Reigna leaned into his embrace, savoring the solid strength of his body even as her mind raced with worries about the future of their unconventional relationship. She could feel Carlisle tense as he sensed her restlessness."Here," he said firmly, stepping back and taking her by the hand. "Why don't we play a game to take your mind off things for a bit?”The game they haven’t played
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-THREE
CarlisleI had barely stepped back into the penthouse before the first barrage of calls started rolling in.My phone buzzed in my hand like it was possessed, relentless with notifications, each one more damning than the last. I didn’t need to look at the screen to know what they were about. The moment I saw the photo—Reigna, Erwin, and me, sitting under the spring sun with our fingertips barely touching—it was like watching the beginning of a forest fire: quiet at first, until everything was engulfed in flames.The media hadn’t wasted a second.They were calling it everything from a scandalous reappearance to a shameless PR stunt. My name was being thrown around in headlines with words like cheater, liar, and executive playboy as if the truth could be painted with gossip and hashtags.Worse than that, Reigna was being dragged again—her name splashed across articles as the “former assistant turned lover,” a woman who used her position to claw her way into my personal life.And the wor
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-ONE
ReignaLucy had outdone herself.When she had gently suggested we “step outside for a while” this morning, I hadn’t realized she meant a whole setup—picnic basket, Erwin’s favorite snacks, a thin quilt patterned with smiling whales, and even sunhats she claimed were packed by Christy and Lilly “just in case.”The maids had flitted around the penthouse all morning, pretending to clean but really maneuvering me and Carlisle into the same room more than once. I should’ve been irritated.But I wasn’t.Because for the first time since I returned, the air didn’t feel as stifling, and the picnic they orchestrated for us was not as bothersome as I initially thought either....The sun was soft against the tops of the trees, painting everything in a golden hue that made the world look gentler than it felt. I stood beneath the shade of a tall maple tree, watching Erwin run through the trimmed grass, his tiny hands waving his toy sword in the air as he yelled some nonsense about conquering dr
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-ONE
ReignaSunday mornings at the Amoroso penthouse used to have a rhythm. Erwin’s soft footsteps pattering down the hallway before the sun was fully up, his squeaky giggle bouncing between walls while Carlisle tried—and failed—to act annoyed at being woken up too early.There was always the scent of fresh-brewed coffee, the low hum of news playing on the television, and the comfortable hush of a home that was too neat to feel lived in but too warm to be unloved.But this morning?This morning was different. Because I came back to the place I subconsciously started to call my home.I sat at the far end of the breakfast bar, stirring my tea for the fourth time even though it had long gone lukewarm, while Carlisle stood near the kitchen counter, his sleeves rolled up, fiddling with the toaster like it personally offended him.The air between us wasn’t hostile—it wasn’t anything dramatic or violent. It was stiff. Awkward. The kind of silence that came from two people pretending they weren’t
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY
EIGHTYReignaHow many promises has Carlisle made and broken?I should’ve ran away and didn’t come along—but when I was looking up at him, something stirred within me: the memories I had with him as a boss, as a father of a lovely kid, and as a partner, all flood down, and before I knew it, I had no words to decline and my body already gave away my permission to be brought home.…but where exactly is my home?“You must’ve been scared earlier.” Breaking the silence, Carlisle spoke in a low, gentle voice, filling his car with tension that is an unsteady mix of hoping to come closer, and the fear that the boundary between us has gone much bigger than before.“I know I am too much, following you around, but princess, I-” stopping his own words, his pause caught my attention, but I refused to look at him and just stared outside the window, keeping my eyes on the dim streets.“-we miss you.”Hearing the words he spoke nearly made my breath hitch. We? I know Erwin definitely is looking for m
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
