Ellaya was taken to the emergency room, leaving Iden waiting outside, surrounded by doctors and nurses. He was injured and still bleeding but was hell-bent on not getting treated until he was sure she was mended. "Iden, you need to wrap up your wound first," Annabel said, clasping his shoulder and squeezing lightly to ground his lost soul. Iden sat on a chair, his fingers clasped together, head hung low, legs spread apart. His shirt was dyed with red and dark blood, not only his. He was amidst a quest for revenge, yet here he was, tortured by the woman he sought vengeance upon. His eyes flicked toward the operating room, and his fingers tightened. His lips stretched in a straight line, and his eyes were bloodshot. The cold metal gate stared back at him as if mocking him. Inside, Ellaya was surrounded by doctors and nurses. Each moment stretched like an eternity, piercing him like a knife cutting through his very soul. Kaito stood in the corner, arms folded, eyes fixed on his brothe
Iden returned to the hospital, his clothes clean and looking noble and handsome, as if the accident meant nothing and was just a passing moment. But the scrapes on his knuckles hinted at a fierce battle he had fought, as if he had gone through hell and back. He pushed open the door, and the sight still stung his eyes, hurting him like hell. His footsteps were light on the floor as he approached her bedside. Sitting down beside her, his fingertips touched her. She was pale and warm against his skin, still unconscious, still in a coma. He caressed her cheeks, noting the bandages on her head and the faint marks of several small cuts. "I am sorry, princess. I should have done better," he whispered, his voice cracking with sheer emotion. He had beaten the shit out of the person who caused her condition, but the flame in his heart still burned fiercely, and he knew why. If only he had not allowed her to sit in the car and wait for her death. If only he had never left. But he knew th
The hand under his trembled slightly, her eyelashes flicked. Iden's body stiffened, rigid, and his heart throbbed violently. He clenched his hand, his eyes focused on her. Her eyes weren't focused, but she slowly opened them and tried to say something. "Laaya," he whispered. Finally, the tear he had been holding back fell down his cheeks, and he didn't even realize it. "Iden," she spoke softly. Her eyes were still not focused and fluttered twice before she finally shut them again. "Ellaya," he called out, his voice laced with panic. The doctors rushed in. "She... she just opened her eyes," he said anxiously, gently rubbing her hand. "Don't worry, Mr. Ruan. She's out of the coma now," the doctor reassured him. Iden exhaled deeply, nodding silently, his gaze fixed on her pale face and the steady rise and fall of her breaths. Every passing moment felt like agony to him. Guilt, a sensation foreign to him until now, gnawed at his insides, tormenting him with every breath. At
"I plead guilty." The courtroom was hushed, the air thick with anticipation. Ellaya Stone stood tall, her gaze unyielding as she uttered those damming words: The judge, a stern figure in black robes, raised an eyebrow."Ms. Stone, are you certain you do not wish to say anything in your defence?" Ellaya's lips curved into a sardonic smile "I, Ellaya Stone, accept responsibility for all of my crimes. As Mr Iden Ruan's personal assistant at Ruan Corporation, I stole and sold the company's proprietary information to the M&D group. I also poisoned Mr Alex Ruan, leaving him comatose." Her admission hung heavy in the room. The man opposite her, Iden Ruan himself watched her with eyes that held both anger and something deeper- a glint of melancholy. "Life in prison sentenced for Ms Ellaya Stone." the judge declared. Ellaya's pride remained intact as she extended her hands to be handcuffed, stepping alongside two police officers. But her gaze lingered on Iden, that mocking smile sti
In the dim moonlight, his breath hitched as he reached for the doorknob, fingers trembling. The wood groaned in protest and the door swung open, revealing a room steeped in memories. there, on the wall, a faded photograph captured a moment frozen in time: a radiant woman beside a man, their smiles etched into the paper. But an ache in his chest told a story beyond the frame. His knuckles whitened, clenched fists trembling like fragile birds. The room's air thickened, anchoring him to the floorboards. His gaze fixed on the photograph fading with age, But words eluded him trapped in his throat, a silent plea. "Ellaya," he rasped, the syllables etching pain across his chest. His trembling fingers brushed the frame, a whispered against time's canvas. The curtains swayed, revealing an emptiness that echoed through his chest. The photograph clung to the wall, sepia hues softening the edges of memories. She, radiant in lace, defied the years. He traced her counters the curves of her cheeks,
It's her, he exclaimed, his voice trembling as he threw her hand in the air and bolted from the cafe'. His eyes darted left and right, scanning the empty road. Just a moment ago, those doe-like purple eyes had locked onto his, but now she was gone-vanished into thin air. It couldn't be his imagination, right? Not another delusion. Ana burst out of the cafe', her face etched with concern."Iden... what's wrong?" He turned to face her, his expression hardening "Nothing," he murmured, hesitating, before taking her hand and pulling her away "Let's go." With determined strides, he led her away his mind racing. He couldn't afford to waste any more time or reveal anything. As they hurried off, a shadowy figure emerged from behind a large tree near the cafe'. She leaned against the tree, lighting a cigarette. With a single trough puff, half of it turned to ash, scattering into the air and falling to the ground.................................................................................
"You, what are you doing here" The woman jolted awake and shouted at the person standing at the door. The man at the door stepped forward, his face etched with worry. "She is back... She is back from prison." her heart pounded in her chest."How is that possible isn't she in the cell for life imprisonment? How could she possibly return? You must be mistaken." he shook his head, his expression resolute."No, my informant can't be wrong." His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed his anxiety. With unsteady steps, he moved to the bed and wrapped his arms around the terrified middle-aged woman.She trembled uncontrollably, the breath coming in short, panicked gasped, Words failed her as the weight of he husband's revelation sank in. In the dark corner of the room, the woman in black sneered, her eyes glintered with disdain. She lurched away silently uninterested in the conversation behind her.She entered a vast library, the air thick with the scent of old books. Thousand of vol
The tall, obstinate trees swayed gently in the light breeze and the sounds of passing birds as the dew on their leaves kissed the morning sun. The curtains in the white-painted room lifted a speck, and sunbeams fell on the sleeping man on the bed. His eyes quivered twice as he heard greetings from his associates. The first view he saw was not the beautiful one he dreamed about every night, but a white ceiling, and he realized he was in a hospital room. "What am I doing here?" His voice was croaked, and his head was heavy. A dull pain throbbed in his neck. "Boss, we found you unconscious last night. You had a fever, the doctors said, you need to stay under observation and rest for a few days." He was taken aback. The night before, he remembered seeing her, holding her in his arms. It felt so real. How did he end up fainting in the street? Where had she gone? Was it all just a dream? No, it couldn't be. he felt her warmth and heard her voice calling his name in the cold, wet night. I
The hand under his trembled slightly, her eyelashes flicked. Iden's body stiffened, rigid, and his heart throbbed violently. He clenched his hand, his eyes focused on her. Her eyes weren't focused, but she slowly opened them and tried to say something. "Laaya," he whispered. Finally, the tear he had been holding back fell down his cheeks, and he didn't even realize it. "Iden," she spoke softly. Her eyes were still not focused and fluttered twice before she finally shut them again. "Ellaya," he called out, his voice laced with panic. The doctors rushed in. "She... she just opened her eyes," he said anxiously, gently rubbing her hand. "Don't worry, Mr. Ruan. She's out of the coma now," the doctor reassured him. Iden exhaled deeply, nodding silently, his gaze fixed on her pale face and the steady rise and fall of her breaths. Every passing moment felt like agony to him. Guilt, a sensation foreign to him until now, gnawed at his insides, tormenting him with every breath. At
Iden returned to the hospital, his clothes clean and looking noble and handsome, as if the accident meant nothing and was just a passing moment. But the scrapes on his knuckles hinted at a fierce battle he had fought, as if he had gone through hell and back. He pushed open the door, and the sight still stung his eyes, hurting him like hell. His footsteps were light on the floor as he approached her bedside. Sitting down beside her, his fingertips touched her. She was pale and warm against his skin, still unconscious, still in a coma. He caressed her cheeks, noting the bandages on her head and the faint marks of several small cuts. "I am sorry, princess. I should have done better," he whispered, his voice cracking with sheer emotion. He had beaten the shit out of the person who caused her condition, but the flame in his heart still burned fiercely, and he knew why. If only he had not allowed her to sit in the car and wait for her death. If only he had never left. But he knew th
Ellaya was taken to the emergency room, leaving Iden waiting outside, surrounded by doctors and nurses. He was injured and still bleeding but was hell-bent on not getting treated until he was sure she was mended. "Iden, you need to wrap up your wound first," Annabel said, clasping his shoulder and squeezing lightly to ground his lost soul. Iden sat on a chair, his fingers clasped together, head hung low, legs spread apart. His shirt was dyed with red and dark blood, not only his. He was amidst a quest for revenge, yet here he was, tortured by the woman he sought vengeance upon. His eyes flicked toward the operating room, and his fingers tightened. His lips stretched in a straight line, and his eyes were bloodshot. The cold metal gate stared back at him as if mocking him. Inside, Ellaya was surrounded by doctors and nurses. Each moment stretched like an eternity, piercing him like a knife cutting through his very soul. Kaito stood in the corner, arms folded, eyes fixed on his brothe
Iden gently lifted Ellaya out of the wreckage, holding her close as he carried her away from the burning car. Ellaya felt delicate and weightless in his arms, her skin warm to the touch. Despite the searing heat from the flames, Iden pressed on without hesitation. His sole purpose was to ensure Ellaya's safety. Ellaya, can you hear me?" he gasped, his voice trembling with fear and anxiety as he hurried to a safe distance, Annabel right beside him. His heart raced in his chest as he rushed away from the burning wreckage, holding Ellaya close. Each step felt like a race against time, every movement fueled by desperation and a fierce resolve to save her. Ellaya's body seemed so delicate and weightless in his arms, her skin radiating warmth against his own. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment, meeting his gaze with a hint of recognition before gently closing again. "Stay with me, Ellaya," he murmured, his words thick with emotion. "Please, stay with me." Tears welled up, clouding
Sitting rigidly in the car, Ellaya watched in horror as her husband, holding her best friend, jumped out, leaving her utterly alone in the speeding vehicle. Her face lost all color, and her body shivered uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her cheeks like raindrops, and her grip tightened around the car seat as fear crept into her bones, sending chills down her spine. Her fingers trembled as she grabbed the handle of the car door, contemplating jumping out to save her own life. But as if something shifted within her, she dropped the idea. She retreated, folding her legs to her chest and hugging them tightly, hiding her face between her knees as if shielding herself from impending harm. She felt cold and numb, her mind unable to process anything but her past—her abusive and manipulative parents, her struggles in childhood to live a normal life, her desperate craving for parental love, and then Iden, who had entered her life like a sweet melody. Everything had seemed surreal at th
Iden's knuckles turned white as he cranked the wheel at the upcoming bend, but the car careened ahead, unyielding to his desperate pressure on the brakes. An unfamiliar terror clawed its way up his chest, betraying the battle-hardened warrior within him. This wasn't a battlefield with enemy fire; this was a different kind of war, one where his allies' lives hung precariously in the balance. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his jaw clenched in determination, and his eyes widened with raw fear, a stark contrast to the steely resolve usually etched on his face. Iden had always been a warrior, unflinching in the face of battles and bullets, his resolve unwavering even in the shadow of death. Yet today, a different kind of fear seized him, one that clawed at his insides with icy fingers. It was not his own life he feared for, but for the women who stood beside him. The weight of the promise he had made to his dear friend pressed down on him, a solemn vow to protect Annabel at all costs.
Ellaya wiped her tears as she exited the washroom, trying to regain her composure. Her eyes were red and puffy, evidence of the emotional storm she had just endured. She took a deep breath, hoping to steady herself, when she was suddenly startled by a voice. "Hello, rockstar." The deep, husky male voice came from the shadows. Ellaya looked up, her eyes narrowing. The man seemed familiar, but she couldn't place him. He had long hair tied neatly, and he was extremely handsome. "Had a rough night, I see?" The voice carried a hint of mockery. Ellaya saw the man leaning against the wall, arms crossed and smirking at her. His dark eyes seemed to pierce right through her, making her feel even more vulnerable. She tried to mask her emotions, but the pain was still evident in her eyes. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. Kaito pushed himself off the wall and took a step closer, his smirk never wavering. "Just here to enjoy the party, like everyone else. B
Fuck the marriage. Fuck the damn woman Fuck this feeling. It was the fifth bottle of whiskey—maybe rum or vodka, who knew? The burn, the goddamn burn, was still there. He tried to soothe it with alcohol, but the more he drank, the more the unbearable fire engulfed him. It was an inferno that never dimmed, swallowing him whole. His coat jacket was thrown somewhere in the corner, necktie dangling loosely, shirt buttons ripped and lost. His disheveled hair mirrored his total mess of a state. His phone rang, and for a second, he wished it was her—the woman who had turned his world upside down. At first, he married her for revenge, to show her what poverty felt like, to make her realize the sting of broken trust, to leave her surrounded by people yet utterly alone in darkness. To make her feel heartbreak. But now, whatever was happening was totally different from what he had planned. He didn't know when and how he had fallen into the dark grave he had dug for her. Not only was sh
Ellaya moved with deliberate grace, the clinking of dishes softly counterpointing the morning stillness. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, mingling with the scent of warm pastries. Iden's gaze bore into her, his body tense, betraying the storm brewing within. As he sipped his coffee, the ceramic cup clinked against the saucer, harsh against the quiet tension. His eyes, dark pools of emotion, followed her with an intensity that made her skin prickle with unease. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken words, each gesture laden with meaning. After their latest confrontation, he didn't leave the house. Instead, he sought refuge in the guest room. Anger boiled inside him, driving him to smash everything in sight. Despite hating to waste money, he took out his frustration on the furniture. Each blow was intense, showing his inner turmoil. The room echoed with his destruction. From the adjacent bedroom came muffled cries, fueling his rage even more. Breaki