Jane watched Lucy walk away, her wretched outfit swaying awkwardly as she left the cafeteria with her head slightly bowed, as if trying to portray the perfect image of a grieving sister. Jane let out a faint chuckle under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief.“Oh wow… what a story, Lucy,” she murmured, leaning back in her chair, her eyes following Lucy until she disappeared from view.The cafeteria felt a little colder now. Jane’s fingers unconsciously tapped the surface of her cup. Her instincts told her Lucy hadn’t changed—not even a little. If anything, she’d only gotten smarter at pretending.Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Lucy:“I just got home, Nathan said hi.”Jane stared at the screen for a few seconds, her lips twitching slightly. She didn't want to accuse anyone yet without proof, but something about Sylvia had been off lately.“Okay. Glad you got home safely. I’ll talk to you later.” she replied briefly.Meanwhile, Lucy had just exited the building and was sli
"Why are all these happening to me, huh?!" Jane screamed, her voice breaking as she cried uncontrollably. Dante reached over, trying to calm her down."Jane, we can only save ourselves now. Although I’ll try my best to save you, please, tighten your seatbelt. Try to hold yourself together, okay? I won't let you injure yourself again," Dante encouraged her gently while struggling to maintain control of the steering.Luckily, Dante spotted a massive pile of trash ahead. “Hold on, Jane!” he shouted, then swerved the car with precision and crashed it into the heap, forcing it to a halt.Immediately, he turned back. "Jane, are you alright?"She nodded slowly. "Yes... and you?""I'm fine," he assured her, exhaling in relief. He quickly pulled out his phone and called John, requesting help.John didn’t waste time. He contacted Liam, one of Diego's trusted bodyguards. Liam brought a car and picked up both Dante and Jane. Even though they insisted they were okay, he still drove them straight t
Diego caught Jane just as she was about to slip away from the crowd. He held her hand firmly, drawing her close. Her eyes were red from tears and anger, yet she tried to appear calm."I didn’t mean to interrupt you," she managed, her voice wavering. "I just… I don’t want to be in the middle of all of this."Diego noticed the fresh bandage on her head. His tone softened, laced with concern. "What happened to you?" he asked, his eyes searching hers for the truth.Jane’s voice trembled as she replied, "Not that it matters. Enjoy yourself—it's not as if there's anything here I should be jealous of."Diego’s eyes flashed as he interrupted, "You are mistaking me. Let me explain."But Jane was not ready to let him speak. "She's someone who doesn't want to leave my side, even though she's married. I have nothing to do with her!" Her words tumbled out, anger and hurt mingling in every syllable.At the mention of the word "married," Jane’s expression softened slightly, though anger still simmer
The night was quiet. The moonlight spilled through the windows of Jane’s room, painting silver shadows on the floor. She sat cross-legged on the bed, her eyes red from the whirlwind of everything—Diego’s kiss, his confession, her past, and that lingering question that refused to die inside her."How did you know my name was Rose?" she whispered again, softer this time, not with anger but with a quiet ache.Diego didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked to the shelf on the far side of the room. With calm hands, he picked up a wooden photo frame, then another, and another. He brought them over and sat beside her.“Because I’ve known you… long before you ever knew me again,” he said quietly. “Before you became Jane Stadler… you were Rose. My Rose.”Jane frowned slightly, confused, eyes falling on the photos in his hands. Her breath caught.There, in the center of one picture, was a younger version of her. Her face was rounder, cheeks full, hair in two short pigtails. And standing bes
Jane stood on the rooftop, trembling with panic. She could not believe what she had just seen. Tonight was meant to be a celebration of their anniversary—a night of love and tenderness, not betrayal. Earlier that evening, Jane had found a set of divorce papers. Though she had tried to convince herself they were not meant for her, a dark suspicion had grown. Determined to confront her husband, she had gone searching for him. Instead, what she witnessed filled her with terror.Jane’s chest tightened, and she struggled to breathe as if a vise gripped her heart. Every desperate gasp felt weak. She refused to let him see her break down. Before Daniel could turn around, she had bolted for the rooftop—anywhere but where he might catch her.Not wishing to draw attention from below, Jane quickly took out her phone and texted Lucy, her adopted sister and the one person she trusted. The message read:"Lucy, please come to the rooftop. I’m stranded. I don’t know what to do."After what seemed lik
The first thing Jane noticed was the sharp smell of antiseptic and the cool, sterile air. She tried to move, but a dull ache spread through her body—as if she had been beaten for days. Her limbs felt heavy, and her throat was dry.Weakly, she raised her hand. That’s when she saw it: a cannula. A shiver ran through her. This was not a nightmare."Where... am I?" she croaked in a hoarse whisper.She tried to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate. Panic bubbled beneath the surface as her mind raced with questions. Was this the afterlife? No—it could not be. If this were heaven, why did everything hurt? Or was this already hell?"I'm finished," she murmured.Before she could think more, the door creaked open. A nurse entered, carrying a tray. Her steps faltered, and the moment their eyes met, the tray clattered to the floor. The nurse bolted out of the room and returned seconds later with a doctor in tow.The doctor stepped closer and shone a light into Jane’s eyes. Squinting, she met
She cried harder than ever before after hearing that, as if her chest were being ripped apart—the same agonizing feeling she’d experienced the night she lost her family. But this pain, this betrayal, cut deeper. Daniel’s disloyalty hurt, but Lucy—she wasn’t just her best friend; Lucy was the only family Jane had left. Jane had begged her husband to take Lucy in when she had nowhere else to go. She’d pleaded for him to give Lucy a job, to keep her safe. And now, this was how she was repaid? A strangled sob tore from Jane’s throat as she clutched her chest, gasping for air. “Doctor, please,” she managed between ragged breaths, her voice thick with panic. “can you run the check up again, can you Check if my heart is okay…I—I think something’s wrong. Why does it hurt so much? or do I need a heart transplant too?” she urged for answers for explanations The doctor’s expression softened with pity. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way. We wanted to wait until you were stronger before te
It had been a month since Jane woke up from her coma, and things were slowly starting to get better. One thing she was especially grateful for was that Dante and Diego never left her side. She would be lying if she said she was okay—her heart still felt terrible—but she reminded herself to be grateful for life once again.Leaving her room, she went to meet Dr. White for her final checkup. His response brought a sense of relief. "Congratulations, Miss Stadler. You are back on track. I will process your discharge now, so get ready to leave. I hope we don’t meet again unless it’s for something great, okay?" He had given her the best news she could have hoped for.After leaving his office, she returned to her hospital room and found Dante sitting there. "Miss Stadler, how are you doing today? I was ordered to come pick you up and also give you this," he said in his usual professional yet charming tone. Dante always had a way of passing messages, something Jane liked about him. But what ha
The night was quiet. The moonlight spilled through the windows of Jane’s room, painting silver shadows on the floor. She sat cross-legged on the bed, her eyes red from the whirlwind of everything—Diego’s kiss, his confession, her past, and that lingering question that refused to die inside her."How did you know my name was Rose?" she whispered again, softer this time, not with anger but with a quiet ache.Diego didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked to the shelf on the far side of the room. With calm hands, he picked up a wooden photo frame, then another, and another. He brought them over and sat beside her.“Because I’ve known you… long before you ever knew me again,” he said quietly. “Before you became Jane Stadler… you were Rose. My Rose.”Jane frowned slightly, confused, eyes falling on the photos in his hands. Her breath caught.There, in the center of one picture, was a younger version of her. Her face was rounder, cheeks full, hair in two short pigtails. And standing bes
Diego caught Jane just as she was about to slip away from the crowd. He held her hand firmly, drawing her close. Her eyes were red from tears and anger, yet she tried to appear calm."I didn’t mean to interrupt you," she managed, her voice wavering. "I just… I don’t want to be in the middle of all of this."Diego noticed the fresh bandage on her head. His tone softened, laced with concern. "What happened to you?" he asked, his eyes searching hers for the truth.Jane’s voice trembled as she replied, "Not that it matters. Enjoy yourself—it's not as if there's anything here I should be jealous of."Diego’s eyes flashed as he interrupted, "You are mistaking me. Let me explain."But Jane was not ready to let him speak. "She's someone who doesn't want to leave my side, even though she's married. I have nothing to do with her!" Her words tumbled out, anger and hurt mingling in every syllable.At the mention of the word "married," Jane’s expression softened slightly, though anger still simmer
"Why are all these happening to me, huh?!" Jane screamed, her voice breaking as she cried uncontrollably. Dante reached over, trying to calm her down."Jane, we can only save ourselves now. Although I’ll try my best to save you, please, tighten your seatbelt. Try to hold yourself together, okay? I won't let you injure yourself again," Dante encouraged her gently while struggling to maintain control of the steering.Luckily, Dante spotted a massive pile of trash ahead. “Hold on, Jane!” he shouted, then swerved the car with precision and crashed it into the heap, forcing it to a halt.Immediately, he turned back. "Jane, are you alright?"She nodded slowly. "Yes... and you?""I'm fine," he assured her, exhaling in relief. He quickly pulled out his phone and called John, requesting help.John didn’t waste time. He contacted Liam, one of Diego's trusted bodyguards. Liam brought a car and picked up both Dante and Jane. Even though they insisted they were okay, he still drove them straight t
Jane watched Lucy walk away, her wretched outfit swaying awkwardly as she left the cafeteria with her head slightly bowed, as if trying to portray the perfect image of a grieving sister. Jane let out a faint chuckle under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief.“Oh wow… what a story, Lucy,” she murmured, leaning back in her chair, her eyes following Lucy until she disappeared from view.The cafeteria felt a little colder now. Jane’s fingers unconsciously tapped the surface of her cup. Her instincts told her Lucy hadn’t changed—not even a little. If anything, she’d only gotten smarter at pretending.Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Lucy:“I just got home, Nathan said hi.”Jane stared at the screen for a few seconds, her lips twitching slightly. She didn't want to accuse anyone yet without proof, but something about Sylvia had been off lately.“Okay. Glad you got home safely. I’ll talk to you later.” she replied briefly.Meanwhile, Lucy had just exited the building and was sli
Later that evening...“Did he tell you, or you just assumed?” Lucy asked, arms folded as she stared Daniel down. He couldn’t say a word, his lips parting but no explanation coming forth.“Go check on Nathan with the nanny,” she ordered coldly, turning away. “I’ll handle her myself.”That night, Lucy sat on the edge of her luxurious bed in the Crestwell estate, dressed in a silky pink nightie. Her hair was packed into a neat bun, a green face mask clinging to her skin. With a glass of wine in one hand and her phone in the other, she scrolled through her social media feed with slow, deliberate swipes.Her eyes suddenly widened.Jane.She had stumbled across Jane’s profile.“The Jane I used to know never posted anything,” Lucy muttered under her breath. “I can see so many posts now... must be her assistant handling it.”Curious and burning with jealousy, Lucy tapped into Jane’s likes and comments. Almost all were from high-ranking officials, influencers, and elites. Her brows furrowed de
From Lucy and Daniel’s perspectiveThe morning sun barely filtered through the heavy drapes of the Crestwell estate, but the house was already awake. The silence was broken only by the faint hum of a lullaby playing from a child's toy in the corner of the nursery. Nathaniel sat cross-legged on the plush navy rug, his little hands fiddling with colorful wooden blocks. A small toy car lay forgotten beside him.The boy, only five years old, had the unmistakable Crestwell features—dark brown hair that curled slightly at the edges and sharp eyes that carried more depth than most children his age. His expression was unreadable, serious even, as if he were born into the weight of secrets he didn’t yet understand. Dressed in a neatly ironed white shirt with tiny suspenders clipped to his navy trousers, he looked like a miniature version of his father. The only softness to his appearance was the stuffed bear he clutched to his side—a quiet contradiction to the world he was being raised in.His
“I just...Diego…” Jane’s voice was quieter now, softer. “When you held me like that, it felt like I was safe for a second. I felt comfort and these zeal inside of me" these time around she was sure of what she was feeling but she doesn't want to ruin the friendship they have, she doesn't want distraction from her plans.He looked up at her, brushing strands of hair away from her tear-streaked face. “like I said You’re not alone princess Not as long as I’m here.”“But I don’t understand you sometimes,” she whispered. “sometimes you are sweet, sometimes you are possessive, sometimes you don't care, how many personalities do you even have, and why do you have so much secret?”Diego stood up slowly, as if the weight of her question sank deeper than the floor beneath him. He sighed, raking a hand through his hair, then turned to face the window.“I’m not used to this,” he said, voice low. “Letting people in… I’ve spent most of my life building walls.”Jane stood up. “I’m not asking you to
Shocked, Diego's eyes widened, his hands dropping to his sides. The moment Jane realized what she had done, she turned and ran. Without hesitation, Diego ran after her.As she neared Dante and John, who were standing by the car, she shouted, "Open the door for me!"Dante and John exchanged confused glances, unsure of what was happening. Jane reached the car, yanked the door open, and jumped inside. "Drive!" she commanded.Before Dante could get in, Diego caught up and stopped him. "Don't," he ordered firmly.Dante and John stood frozen, caught between Diego and Jane, unsure whose orders to follow."I'm your boss. Do as I say," Diego told them.Jane, from inside the car, countered, "And I'm your boss too. Follow my orders!"Diego reached for the door handle, but it was locked. He turned to Dante. "Open the door. Now."John hesitated, then clicked the unlock button on the key fob. Diego instructed him, "Drive us home. Dante, bring the other car you came with."Jane was about to step out
Back at the estate, when Ms. Rose was on a call with Clarita earlier, Diego was passing through the lobby when he overheard Ms. Rose saying, "What do you mean you are looking for Miss Stadler? She is not at home! I thought you were with her! Hello??" But Clarita ended the call. Diego turned and went straight to Ms. Rose."What were you saying just now, Ms. Rose?" he asked. Even when Ms. Rose tried to deny knowing anything and attempted to divert Diego's attention, it wasn’t working."I heard what you were saying just now. You can't lie to me. I have ears, so answer me—what happened to Miss Stadler?" he demanded.Ms. Rose hesitated but finally admitted, "Dante and Clari have been searching for her for a while now."Diego’s expression changed. He rubbed his head and then dropped his hands. "What do you even mean by Jane not being home? I saw her a few hours ago, and she isn’t even feeling well. So what do you mean by that?" he asked Ms. Rose.Trying to escape Diego, she said, "I have so