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
“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
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
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
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
Daniel & Lucy (estate, Crestwell City) The silence in the penthouse was loud. Rain splattered lightly against the glass as Lucy closed the door to Nathaniel’s empty room. She lingered there, staring at the little dinosaur plush toy on the shelf, her nails biting into her palm. “Do you think he misses us?” she asked, her voice soft and hollow. Daniel, seated on the couch with his tie loose and his phone untouched beside him, didn’t look up. “It’s been two weeks.” “That’s not an answer.” Daniel rubbed his temples. “We made the right choice, Lucy. He’s safe in the UK. Far from all this.” “All what?” Her voice cracked, sharp now. “Far from his mother’s shadow? Or far from the mess we created?” He turned toward her, finally. “You want him here? In this circus?” “I want to stop pretending like we didn’t throw our own son into exile because we’re afraid o
The courtroom smelled of old paper and newer tension.Jane sat straight-backed in the wooden seat, her palms sweaty against the fabric of her skirt. Beside her, Jullie shuffled a stack of documents with quiet purpose, her lips pursed, heels crossed neatly beneath the table. The room wasn’t full, but the presence of reporters from outside, along with Orlov’s legal counsel and a few curious spectators, made the air feel tight, dense with anticipation.On the bench, the judge adjusted her glasses and cleared her throat. “We are here today to review Petition 08-9342, regarding the reversal of a previously issued Certificate of Death, bearing the name—” she looked up at Jane, “—Jane Francisca Stadler.”Jane’s breath hitched in her throat. That name hadn’t been spoken in a courtroom in over six years. Not without “deceased” beside it.Jullie stood. “Your Honor, we’ve submitted full medical records from multiple institutions, DNA verification,
The courthouse was a monolith of glass and steel, an impersonal beast swallowing stories whole. Jane stood in the hallway outside Hearing Room 2C, clutching the lapels of her blazer like armor. Her eyes flicked across the waiting benches where whispers slithered between reporters and interns, all pretending not to recognize her.She wasn’t a secret anymore — Jane Stadler was alive, but the law had yet to catch up with the truth.Inside the hearing room, the buzz of tension settled like static against her skin. Jullie stood at her side, chin high, expression carved in marble."Try not to let the prosecutor’s face fool you," Jullie muttered under her breath. "He’s paid to look constipated."Jane stifled a smile.Across the aisle, the public prosecutor, Harris Wren, was already flipping through Jane’s file like it insulted his intelligence. Silver-haired and sour, he tapped the paper slowly and looked up at the judge.“With all due respect, Your Honor, we cannot simply erase a legal deat
The corridor leading to the public records office smelled of stale air and forgotten stories. Jane walked slowly, her steps measured, yet her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The fluorescent lights buzzed above her head. Each flicker echoed the pounding in her chest. Behind her, Jullie walked with a crisp, professional pace, her heels clicking against the linoleum floor like a metronome keeping time with Jane's dread.The receptionist barely looked up. “Name?”Jullie answered before Jane could. “Jane fransica Stadler.”There was a pause — not of recognition, but of confusion. The receptionist’s fingers stilled above the keyboard. “You must be mistaken.”“I’m her attorney,” Jullie said, sliding a folder across the counter. “We’re here to begin the process of correcting an erroneous death registration.”The woman stared at Jane. “That’s… not possible.”“It is,” Jullie replied coolly. “Rare, but not impossible.”They were sent to a back room, where a thin man with wire-rim glasses
"Surprise? For me?" Jane blinked in disbelief, looking between Dante and Diego. She followed Dante up the stairs, heart racing. Something about his expression—like he was barely holding back a grin—told her this wasn’t just some casual shit, what could it be , she wondered When they got to her door, Dante stepped aside. “Go on,” he said, lips twitching.Jane opened the door—and before she could even process what was happening, someone jumped out from behind the curtain."JULIEEEEEEE!" she screamed, eyes wide in total shock.Julie, her childhood best friend, flung her arms open and caught her in a tight hug. The two of them twirled around the room, squealing and laughing like teenagers, overwhelmed with joy.Jane jumped, danced, her hands clutched tightly in Julie's. “I can’t believe this—how are you even here?!”Julie was laughing, tears in her eyes. “Diego, that fool, finally reached out to me last week. Do you know I almost passed out when he said you were alive?! I dropped everyth
"You've been saying that for close to a year now. Tomorrow makes it exactly one year since you woke from that coma, but you still don't want to take that bold step." Diego’s voice cut through the silence, low and firm. He paused, his gaze locking onto Jane. "The other day when you went missing... you tried to harm yourself. You did things, Jane."Jane turned away, tears drying on her cheek as she rolled her eyes with a bitter scoff. "You think it's so easy, right? Some days I’m happy. Some days I just want to find them and kill them both. But then I think of my sister’s child—Nathan. And I can’t help but feel soft."Diego moved closer, his expression hard. “Did they think of you when they pushed you off that rooftop? Did they care then? You spent years lying in a hospital bed while your so-called mate fulfilled his dreams—his plans. While Lucy played the perfect assistant.” His voice cracked with restrained emotion. “And you’re talking about feeling soft?”Jane flinched at the truth o
Life had a strange way of playing with you, bending and twisting your reality into shapes you didn’t ask for, never wanted. Before Lucy came to live with us, before she stepped into our world and offered me a glimmer of hope, my life had been a shadow of what it could have been.Daniel’s behavior had turned darker, more suffocating with every passing day. It was like I was drowning in his control. At first, I thought it was all just part of the marriage, the adjustments two people make when they come together. But soon, I realized that it wasn’t just adjusting—it was subjugation.From the moment we married, Daniel insisted on a certain kind of order in our household. He believed it was my duty to take care of everything. I was supposed to manage the house, cook his meals, and take care of all the mundane, soul-draining chores that most husbands would help with or at least share. But not Daniel. No, he wanted to make it clear who was in charge.I washed his clothes by hand, every singl
The day I turned 18 felt like the beginning of a new chapter, a fresh start. But I had no idea just how much it would change my life, how the decisions I would make in the next few weeks would irrevocably alter everything I had known.Daniel Crestwell was no stranger to me. He was known for his brilliance, his ability to resurrect dying companies and make them thrive again. At first, it seemed like the perfect match—he had a reputation for being a savior in the corporate world, a man with a vision and an iron will. The kind of person who didn’t back down from challenges. And for someone like me, who felt as if she were drowning in her family’s debts, the thought of being with someone like him seemed like the lifeline I so desperately needed.My parents, too, had been drawn to him. He had made them promises—promises that he could save their company, that he could restore their family’s legacy. In exchange for his efforts, they were willing to allow him into our lives, not just as a par
Jane’s POV, Diego’s ReflectionI sat in the dimly lit room, the weight of the past pressing down on me, suffocating in its intensity. Diego sat across from me, his expression a mixture of concern and something else I couldn’t place. His dark eyes, usually so steady and calm, now held a softness I had never seen before. It was as if he had just peeled back a layer of my soul, and what he found, he didn’t want to leave unspoken."You must have been through a lot," he said, his voice low, gentle. I nodded silently, unsure if I could even begin to explain the turmoil that had defined my life for the last few years. His words—simple, straightforward—felt like an acknowledgment of all the pain I had carried alone. Maybe he saw it in me. Maybe he knew the weight of the silence that had followed me for so long. Whatever it was, it made me feel... seen.I couldn’t help but glance away. The memories of the last few years played in my mind like a film I couldn’t stop watching. My time with Danie