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TWENTY-SIX
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2025-01-26 23:08:03
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Seven Minutes in Heaven TWENTY-SEVEN
CarlisleI barely got any sleep last night.Sighing, I blinked away the drowsiness so I could focus on my work. Suddenly, a soft knock on my office door made me glance up from my laptop.“Come in.” The sight of her standing there, her face pale and her hands wringing nervously, caught me off guard.“Carlisle,” Reigna began, her voice unsteady. She didn’t call me “sir” this time—she used to be stubborn on addressing me informally during work hours. That alone made me pause. “I need to talk to you.”“I’m listening,” I said, closing the file I was working on and leaning back in my chair.She stepped inside, shutting the door quietly behind her. Her eyes darted around the room before settling on me. “I... I have a favor to ask.”I raised an eyebrow. “A favor?”She nodded, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag. “My family is hosting a reunion party this weekend, and as cliché as it sounds, I know they’re expecting me to bring my... boyfriend.”The word hung in the air, sharp and heavy
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-28Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-30Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-01Seven 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.""
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-01Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-02Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-02Seven 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-04
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
