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TWELVE
Last Updated:
2024-12-10 23:51:51
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Seven 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Seven Minutes in Heaven FOURTEEN
ReignaThe office was quieter than usual, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the rhythmic tapping of keys on my laptop. I shifted in my seat, pushing my thoughts away as I worked on the report Carlisle had asked me to prepare.“Do I have to print this for tomorrow’s meeting, sir?”“No need. I’ll do it myself later.” He was across from me, focused on his paperwork, his brow furrowed as usual. His aloof demeanor was something I’d grown used to, but there was always an unspoken pressure that lingered in the air whenever we shared the same space.As I try to return to my work, I couldn’t help but sneak glances at him.“Eyes on your paper, princess.”Snapping out of my trance, I blinked, instinctively rushing to look back at my work.Carlisle had his moments—rare, subtle moments—when he let his guard down. The small things. Today, he had gotten up from his desk and walked over to my side to grab the stack of papers I was holding."You’re doing great," he had said quietly,
Last Updated : 2024-12-12Seven Minutes in Heaven FIFTEEN
Reigna“Mommy, do you know that dinosaurs are real?! I had a dream I was riding one!”Erwin who visited us out of nowhere this evening is now busy with his own drawings, rambling as he colored with his tongue sticking out, adorable as always.“Well, you know what they say, sweetheart. Dreams only put things that are real in your heart.” I smiled, answering from my desk as I focused on this final document.Carlisle, as always, was seated at his desk, his sharp gaze flicking between the documents in front of him and the occasional glance at Erwin. His presence was steady, grounding, though his silence spoke volumes. He was watching—always watching—but never intruding unless absolutely necessary.And then there was Violet.She sat perched on the chair closest to Erwin, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the armrest as she observed him with a mixture of fascination and discomfort. Her attempts to bond with Erwin were… misguided, to say the least."Erwin, dearest," Violet cooed,
Last Updated : 2024-12-14Seven Minutes in Heaven SIXTEEN
Reigna“After you.” Opening the car door for me, I smiled at Carlisle before stepping in.He did everything—starting from packing up Erwin’s things, picking up the sleepy child, and even the task of driving us home“I really should’ve just taken a cab home.” I spoke as he started the engine. It was tough, trying to hide Erwin, being discreet, and even lying to my best friend, Venice!But for the child’s sake, and for my involvement of Carlisle’s secret, I must endure.“And have this brat whine about his mommy being away?” he grumbled, a low chuckle erupting afterwards. “No thanks.”The soft hum of the car engine filled the silence as we made our way home. Outside, the city lights flickered like a kaleidoscope of color, but my gaze lingered on the rearview mirror. Erwin was fast asleep in the back seat, his small hands clutching the edges of his blanket, his face relaxed in a way that only deep, innocent sleep could bring.“He fell asleep so quickly,” I murmured, breaking the silence.
Last Updated : 2024-12-16Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTEEN
Reigna“Did you really think you were good enough for me?” Axle’s voice was ice, slicing through the tension like a dagger.“What?” I whispered, my throat dry, my voice trembling as I stared at him. “Axle, I—”“Stop.” He raised a hand, silencing me. “You’re pathetic, Reigna. Always have been. Clinging to me like I was your lifeline, thinking you could actually keep up. Look at yourself.”I glanced down instinctively, my reflection in the mirrored walls mocking me. My office clothes hung loose and unflattering, my makeup smudged as if I had worked all day and tried too hard to look presentable.“You’re not worth anything,” Emma added, her tone saccharine, though her eyes gleamed with malice. “You never were. That’s why he came to me. Isn’t that right, Axle?”He smirked, nodding without hesitation. “That’s right. Emma was everything you could never be—beautiful, successful, confident. I needed a real partner, not some sad excuse of a woman trying to play house.”I staggered back a step,
Last Updated : 2024-12-16Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTEEN
ReignaToday, our setting is a bit...dramatically different.The evening air carried a chill, but stepping into the grand ballroom was like entering another world. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, their golden light reflecting off the glittering gowns and sleek tuxedos of the city’s elite.“Representatives for the XCC Corporation, CEO Carlisle Amoroso!”Applause echoed as the host announced his arrival.Carlisle Amoroso stood tall beside me, his presence commanding as always, dressed in a sharp black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, a subtle rebellion against the formal atmosphere.I adjusted the delicate strap of my dark emerald gown, the satin fabric cascading over my figure like water. I felt Carlisle's gaze linger for a moment before he turned his attention back to the crowd, his expression unreadable.“You’ll be fine,” he murmured, his deep voice low enough for only me to hear.“I know,” I replied, though my heart was po
Last Updated : 2024-12-17Seven Minutes in Heaven NINETEEN
ReignaThat scene from five days ago is stuck in my head!“Stop it.” mumbling to myself, I gave myself a few pats on the cheek, waking my system up to focus on my work. “He remembered nothing of it…Like I expected.” Sighing, I kept on walking a frustratingly slow pace on my way to take my break, feeling dejected even when I convince myself not to.Why am I so caught up with Carlisle?“Enough with it. I have much more problems at hand.”My birthday.Birthdays were overrated. Or maybe that was just what I told myself to feel better about the fact that no one ever made a big deal about mine. No family. No plans. Just another year marking time in the office, the air filled with the hum of keyboards and the endless scent of coffee.And tomorrow would be no different.Sighs. “Guess I’ll be swamped with work tomorrow again.”As I entered the break room during lunch, Venice was already there, stirring her coffee with a thoughtful look on her face. She glanced up when I walked in, her expressi
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Seven Minutes in Heaven TWENTY
Reigna“Happy birthday to you…happy birthday, dear Reigna…”The apartment felt colder than usual, even with the heater humming faintly in the background. I sat at the small table in the kitchen, staring at the flickering candle atop a store-bought cake I hadn’t even bothered to cut. The flame wavered, much like my resolve not to cry.“Happy birthday to me.” Finishing the song that I sang for myself, I blew the candle, my eyes watched as the flames disappeared and smoke replaced the one bright light atop the cake.Birthdays weren’t supposed to feel this empty.A sudden knock at the door startled me, shattering the heavy silence. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Rising cautiously, I peered through the peephole, and my breath caught.“Axle.” I whispered.lMy ex. The man who had shattered me into a million pieces and left me to pick up the shards. He was drenched from the rain, looking oddly out of place yet annoyingly confident, as if he belonged here.I hesitated before opening the door. “Wha
Last Updated : 2024-12-24
Latest chapter
Seven 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
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
Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-FOUR
CarlisleThe morning crawled by at an agonizing pace, my body still weak from the fever, but my mind refused to rest.It wasn’t the headache that bothered me. It wasn’t even the lingering exhaustion weighing down my limbs. It was her.Reigna moved through the office as if nothing had changed, as if last night hadn’t happened, as if she hadn’t stayed by my side, wiping my forehead, keeping me steady, whispering words of comfort. She was back to being composed, efficient, and perfectly normal—and it bothered me more than it should.I knew I wasn’t acting normal either. I was distracted. Too aware of her. Every time she walked past my office, every time I heard her voice, every time she tucked her hair behind her ear—I noticed everything.I was never the type to waste time on useless emotions. And yet, here I was, unable to focus on a single thing because of a woman who wasn’t even trying.A knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts."Sir?" Reigna’s voice came through, calm and prof
Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-THREE
CarlisleThe drive home was quieter than usual.Reigna sat in the driver’s seat, her hands gripping the wheel tighter than necessary, knuckles slightly white from the pressure. I could tell she was still upset, still thinking about Violet’s words, about how she didn’t know enough about me.She was wrong.She knew too much—knew how to push my buttons, knew how to break through the walls I built, knew how to crawl under my skin in ways I didn’t understand.And yet, she thought she didn’t know enough.I exhaled slowly, my body slumped against the passenger seat, the fever making my limbs feel like lead. My head was pounding, and my throat felt raw, but the worst part wasn’t the sickness—it was her silence.The windshield wipers hummed softly against the glass as light rain pattered outside, blurring the city lights in the distance. The car’s interior was warm, wrapped in a soft glow from the dashboard."You’re driving too fast," I murmured, my voice hoarse.Reigna glanced at me, her brow
Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-TWO
Reigna“Deep breaths, Rei. Deep breaths.” I mumbled to myself.Carlisle had never looked this fragile before.His usual imposing figure was reduced to something completely still, his body slumped against the couch in his office, face flushed from fever, breaths slow and uneven despite falling asleep, all because his temperature spiked after an hour of finding him sick.I knelt beside him, carefully pressing a damp towel against his forehead, feeling the heat radiate from his skin like a furnace. Even in his sleep, his brows furrowed, as if even sickness wasn’t enough to rid him of his perpetual state of frustration."Idiot," I muttered under my breath, adjusting the blanket over him with delicate fingers, making sure it covered him properly. "You run an entire company, handle million-dollar contracts, and yet, you can’t even take care of yourself properly."I’m scared. For him. This is just a fever but I could barely stop myself from crying.Carlisle stirred slightly, his lips parting
Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY-ONE
ReignaCarlisle Amoroso was impossible.The moment I stepped into the office that morning, I knew something was off. He wasn’t his usual, cold and calculating self—he was worse.I should’ve seen it coming. He had not forgotten about last night, about me staying out late instead of running home like a good little secretary. And now, he was punishing me the only way he knew how—by making my day a living hell."Miss Amethyst," his voice rang from his office for what felt like the tenth time that morning.I exhaled sharply before stepping inside. "Yes, sir?"He barely glanced up from his screen. "Redo the meeting minutes from this morning."I frowned. "Redo?""Yes," he said flatly, still typing. "They don’t meet my standards."I folded my arms, staring at him. "Sir, I wrote them exactly how you—"Carlisle finally looked up, his stormy gray eyes locking onto mine, sharp as steel. "Are you questioning my instructions?"I gritted my teeth. "No, sir.""Good. Have it done in twenty minutes.""
Seven Minutes in Heaven THIRTY
ReignaThe city was alive with the quiet hum of passing cars, the distant chatter of evening pedestrians, and the occasional rustle of leaves in the crisp evening air. I sat on a worn wooden bench in the park, staring at the pavement as if it held all the answers I couldn’t find.I should’ve gone home.Carlisle had told me to. But after everything—after the disaster at work, after his confusing words, after the way his arms had felt around me—I couldn’t bring myself to return to an empty apartment.I needed air. I needed distance."Miss Reigna?"I jumped slightly at the familiar voice.Turning my head, I saw a petite figure standing a few feet away, blinking at me in surprise. Nanny Lucy.She was still in her university uniform—white blouse, navy skirt—her backpack slung over one shoulder. Her red hair styled in curls were tied up in a messy ponytail, and her face, always so warm and gentle, was filled with concern."Lucy?" My voice came out softer than I intended. "What are you doing
Seven Minutes in Heaven TWENTY-NINE
ReignaThe office had never felt so suffocating.To be fair, when I was a kid, I was always told that I am too sensitive and it’ll make everything hard on me. I think I really am sensitive.I sat in our floor’s lounge, fingers frozen over the keyboard, staring at the numbers on the screen that refused to make sense. I had done this report a hundred times before—hell, I could usually do it in my sleep—but today, my brain was sluggish, uncooperative.I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples. I hadn’t been able to focus all morning. Ever since last night. Ever since... him. Last night.The memory of Carlisle’s arms around me, the warmth of his breath against my skin, the way he had held me—not out of obligation, not out of a game, but out of something real—it lingered, messing with my head in ways I couldn’t afford.And now, I was paying the price.I wonder what I really am to him…"Miss Amethyst?"I flinched at the sound of my name, my eyes snapping up to see one of my coworkers, Patrick, s
Seven Minutes in Heaven TWENTY-EIGHT
ReignaErwin is asleep in his room, but here we are, seated in the penthouse’s bar and occupied by thoughts that none of us has yet to speak of.I stood a few feet away, watching him from behind as he leaned against the bar, his broad shoulders rigid with an unspoken weight. His fingers tightened around the whiskey glass before he brought it to his lips, taking a slow sip.“Carlise? It’s okay, I will listen about…about whatever runs in your mind.” I finally said, breaking the silence.Carlisle didn’t turn around. “Listen?”I let out a frustrated breath, but chose not to retort in his seemingly disinterested tone. “Yes. About what happened earlier. About Axle. About you punching him.”He exhaled sharply, setting his glass down with a little too much force. “It was nothing.”“Nothing?” I stepped closer, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor. “Carlisle, you punched him in front of everyone. You nearly lost your temper. That wasn’t nothing.”He let out a humorless chuckle, swi
