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THIRTY-FOUR
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2025-02-04 23:50:25
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Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-FIVE
ReignaI needed air.He kept on giving me signals I keep on mixing up—and in the end? I am stuck with my own thoughts, troubled by my own fault, and bothered by the anxiety that barely kept me focused on my work, or anything I do for that matter,One minute, I was fine, doing my job. The next, I was being called out in front of everyone, the weight of his judgment pressing down on me. Like I had embarrassed him. Like I had embarrassed myself.I spent the rest of the day avoiding him.I kept my head down, finished my work, and ignored the way he watched me—because I knew he was watching. I could feel it. Every time I spoke to someone, every time I moved past his office, every time I so much as laughed at something Venice said, his gaze was there.It made my skin burn.Not because I was ashamed. Not because I was guilty. But because I didn’t know why he cared so much.And I hated that I cared about that.So when Venice appeared in the break room near the end of the day, hands on her hip
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-05Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-SIX
ReignaThe drive home was suffocating.The tension inside the car was too thick, lingering between us like an unseen force, crackling with everything that hadn’t been said. Carlisle’s hands gripped the wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white, and his jaw was clenched like he was holding himself back from saying something he knew he shouldn’t.I refused to speak first.My heart was still racing, my skin still burning from the scene at the bar—from the way he had pulled me away from Axle, from the way his fury had been barely contained, and from the way he had looked at me.Not just with anger. Not just with control. But with something else.Something undeniable.I turned my head toward the window, watching the city blur past us in streaks of neon, trying to steady my breath. I couldn’t let myself think about it too much. Couldn’t let myself fall into the trap of reading into something that might not be there at all."Do you even understand what you're doing?"His voice was low, stra
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-06Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-SEVEN
I just got here after bringing the photocopy of the documents she asked of me, and yet her smirk is annoyingly smug as she sits comfortably across from Carlisle’s desk."Oh, good. You’re here," Violet hums, tapping her nails against the armrest. "I was just about to tell Carlisle about our little chat earlier."I stiffened. “I don’t think it’s necessary, Miss Harrington.” I murmured.Carlisle frowns, eyes flicking between them. “What chat?”Violet’s smirk widens. “The one where we talked about how she’s not supposed to think everything you give her will last long.”I froze at how straightforward she was. “I-it is improper to talk about something not work-related.” I tried to sound stern and righteous, but the shake of my voice gave away my anxiety with how this conversation is going on.Carlisle’s eyes darken instantly, his expression hardening. “Violet.”Violet shrugs. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, darling. I’m just trying to help her manage her expectations.”…Expectations? My ex
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-EIGHT
ReignaThe night was endless.I had spent hours pacing in the penthouse, my fingers clutching my phone so tightly that my knuckles ached. Sleep was out of the question. How could I close my eyes when everything I had built—everything Carlisle had given me—was on the verge of destruction“She’s sending it out tomorrow, Reigna.” Axle’s words echoed in my head over and over again.I left work early to rest after being emotionally challenged all day, and yet here I am, on the verge of tears. Emma’s email was waiting to explode, and once it did, there would be no undoing it.I could already picture the headlines, the articles twisting my existence into a scandal, the whispers about how I had seduced my boss for power and wealth.I could handle humiliation. I had survived worse.But Carlisle? His reputation wasn’t just a title—it was a kingdom he had built through blood, sweat, and ruthless ambition.And Erwin? He was innocent. He didn’t deserve to wake up one day and have the world whisper
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-NINE
Reigna“I don’t trust my son around you.” Stern, Carlisle blocked Violet from approaching Erwin, her smile faltering as he bruised her ego.Because the school bus won’t come over because, apparently, it is “full”, Violet offered to drive Derwin to the daycare, and it left the twins, Lilly and Christy, left with no choice but to come back to the penthouse and tell us how Erwin will be riding a different vehicle today.“He is my son too.” she spoke, her soft voice sounded genuine, yet her eyes held no affection which tells me to interfere.“Carlisle can’t delay any more time because he’s got a scheduled meeting half an hour from now.” I spoke, making their attention fall on me.“But our son?”“I’ll accompany him.” I blinked. “Violet and I,” I paused, keeping my face straight and certain. “The two of us will go and bring him to school.”***I was confident in saying that because I don’t want to leave Erwin alone, or keep Carlisle even more occupied. But dang it, the tension in the car wa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY
ReignaI think we never really ran out of problems.“You don’t really have to go there, princess.” Carlisle sighed for the nth time, dressed casually in his white shirt and black sweatpants, and beside him in Erwin, copying his father.“Yeah mommy, don’t leave.” He sighed.I laughed at their reluctance of letting me go in this Sunday evening—well, if I were them, I would also be unconvinced that my parents who, unfortunately, disregards me all my life, is suddenly asking for me to come home and have a hearty family dinner with them.But…I can’t say no.“I’m sorry, boys. But as much as I hate to admit it, I really, really, wanted to go.” I smiled, pausing midway of curling my hair to turn and face them. “My parents asked me to come home for the first time. And it was father who messaged me.” I softly spoke.“It wasn’t every day I could receive a text, let alone an emoji.” I laughed, thinking I’m being too childish to think big of such a trivial thing.“I don’t trust them at all.” Carli
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-ONE
Carlisle“Maybe mommy will be home soon?” Erwin’s soft voice rang from his play room, making me sigh for the nth time this evening.I knew this dinner was a mistake.There’s no way in hell that the same family who birthed that sister of hers who sneers and steals her boyfriend, will actually feel and welcome her in their house—not when I pulled enough strings to ruin a part of their pride through their wealth.But Reigna…My princess laughed, genuinely, as if this meant something. She who worked for her life and not depend on her family.I had wanted to tell her the truth—that this wasn’t a reunion, that they weren’t suddenly welcoming her back out of love or regret.But I couldn’t bring myself to break her heart before she even stepped out the door. So instead, I let her go, forcing myself to watch as she walked away with a hopeful heart.And in return, I spent the evening with Erwin, making preparations.“Dada, should we put more pillows?” Erwin asked, struggling to carry one of the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-TWO
Carlisle“Dada, why is mommy still sick?” Beside me, a sleepy Erwin stirred awake after a fixed the blanket on him, thinking it’s better if he’s not lying down beside Reigna of he might catch the cold. “I get better after some sleep, but is she still sick?”“Buddy, it’s just been two hours.” I sighed, picking him up. “Maybe we should have you sleep in your room, yeah?” I stood up, carrying him who is too sleepy to argue.“But dada, mommy…”“I’ll take care of mommy, don’t worry.” I reassured him, then I glanced down Reigna’s sleeping form, his breathing unsteady as she tried to breathe through her mouth.“I’ll just bring our son to bed, and I’ll come back after.” I spoke softly for permission before leaving her room.Once Erwin has settled down his bedroom, he gave me one last advice. “If mommy won’t wake up soon, maybe she needs dada’s kiss, like the princess in fairytales.”***I sat beside her, the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting uneven shadows across her face, highlighting the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10
Bab terbaru
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
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
