Kris agreed with the doctor to stay for a few more hours and leave in the evening. Luisa went ahead to prepare a room at the house, while Alden went to his apartment to grab a few things for him.When it was time, Alden drove Kris to Thalassa and Luisa's house. As they pulled up in front of the building, Kris’s heart raced.The first time he'd been here, he’d snuck in and climbed up Thalassa’s balcony after suspecting she was the woman behind the mask. But today, he was going through the front door.His shoulder ached despite the painkillers, but that was the least of his concerns.He couldn’t deny he was nervous. Thalassa clearly didn’t want him here; that much was obvious. She hadn’t even returned to the hospital after leaving in the morning. Yet, despite everything, he couldn’t shake the hope that maybe, just maybe, the few days he’d be staying here would change things between them for the better.As they reached the porch and rang the doorbell, Luisa answered with a warm smile.“C
After dinner, Alden insisted on doing the dishes along with Luisa who reluctantly agreed to let him help. Once they were done, the three of them gathered in the living room to chat for about an hour.Well, the "chat" mostly consisted of Alden and Luisa flirting, while Kris sat quietly, his mind occupied with thoughts of the woman upstairs. Thalassa hadn’t bothered to come down even once.When Luisa finally decided to call it a night, Kris headed upstairs to take a shower. Alden stayed for a bit and helped him with his bandage and sling before finally leaving the house.Hours later, Kris lay on his bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. No matter how hard he tried, sleep refused to come. Apart from the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about Thalassa, his shoulder was hurting like a bitch.The doctor had warned him the pain would worsen at night, but he hadn’t expected it to hurt this much. It was more agonizing than when he was first shot.He had taken two aspirin tablets, but
The next day was Saturday, which meant neither Thalassa nor Luisa had anywhere to be.Kris, still dealing with the ache in his shoulder, had only managed a few hours of sleep. Stretching carefully, his arm still secured in the sling, he got out of bed. His wound still hurt, but it wasn't as bad as it had been the previous night.In the bathroom, he brushed his teeth and washed his face before heading downstairs. Thalassa and Luisa were nowhere in sight, but the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lured him into the kitchen.Luisa was sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter, her gaze fixed on her phone as she sipped her coffee. She glanced up when she saw him."Oh, hey Kris," she greeted with a smile. "I thought you would wake up much later. How did you sleep?"Kris hesitated, his mind drifting to his late-night encounter with Thalassa. "I’ve had better nights."Though sleepless nights had become a normal for him over the last three
Thick tension hung in the air as Kris and Thalassa worked together to prepare breakfast. Thalassa kept her distance, focusing on chopping vegetables while Kris rinsed the potatoes and placed them in a bowl as instructed. "I'm done," Kris announced after a few minutes. He wished he could peel them himself, but that was impossible with one arm in a sling."You can hand them over," Thalassa said, her voice as stiff as ever.Nodding, Kris took the bowl and reached it out to her. She was so intent on avoiding their hands touching that the bowl nearly slipped from her hand. "Careful," Kris said, quickly placing his hand under hers to keep the bowl steady, feeling her tense up.The position brought them close, their breaths quickening as they stared into each other’s eyes until Thalassa cleared her throat and freed her hand from his, setting the bowl onto the counter.The rest of the cooking passed in silence, with Kris stealing glanc
“No. Why would it bother me?” Thalassa replied curtly, crossing her arms tighter across her chest, but not before Kris noticed her hardened nipples slightly poking against her tank top.Heat rushed down his body, settling in his dick, but he made no effort to hide the evidence of his desire for her.He leaned in slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. “If it doesn't bother you, then why are your cheeks so flushed? And why is your breathing a little heavier than usual?”Thalassa scowled, taking a step back. “It’s all in your head because you think too highly of yourself.”“Mm-hmm,” Kris hummed. “If that’s true, then you won’t have any trouble helping me with this bandage, right?”She rolled her eyes, her irritation clear, but there was something else in her gaze—something that made his heart race.“Your tricks aren’t going to work on me, Kris.”“No tricks,” Kris smiled as he waved the bandage and sling. “Just asking f
The ringing of his phone jolted Kris awake. Groaning, he shifted slightly and picked it up from the nightstand. He froze when he saw the caller ID—it was his mother.Kris stared at the phone for several seconds before tossing it onto the bed beside him, unanswered. It rang again, but he simply watched until it stopped.Then he sank back into his pillow with a sigh. He knew he would have to speak to his mother sooner or later.Remembering the day of the Fashion Awards show, when he accused her of being behind the sabotage, guilt twisted his stomach.She had been telling the truth that she had nothing to do with it, and yet he’d refused to believe her and said all those horrible things to her.He owed her a big apology for assuming the worst, but he would do it later. Right now, his focus was solely on winning Thalassa back.Remembering their conversation last night, guilt consumed him. He had seen the pain mixed with anger in her eyes. The pain he had caused. God, he had so much to ma
Zeke’s jaw tightened. “What bothers me is that you’re harassing Thalassa. It’s obvious she doesn’t want you around.”“Harassing her?” Kris raised an eyebrow. “And what makes you think I’m ‘harassing’ her?”“When someone wants nothing to do with you and you keep trying to insert yourself into their life, that’s called harassment.” Zeke took his time to explain like he was speaking to a child.Kris smiled in amusement, but before he could respond, Zeke turned to Luisa, his voice rising slightly in frustration. “And you! Why would you even think of bringing him here, Luisa? What were you thinking?”Luisa let out a sigh. “Zeke, have you forgotten that it was Kris who saved my life? I’m just trying to do something in return. He’s injured because of me, and I’m helping him out until his wound heals a little.”The cold look on Zeke’s face faltered for a moment, his shoulders dropping slightly as he turned back to Kris, clearing his throat.“Er...I haven’t properly thanked you for that. But I
Kris’s good mood evaporated the moment he stepped out of the kitchen; Zeke hadn’t left the house. And, to Kris’s further annoyance, he didn’t look like he had any intention of leaving.He was sitting in the living room beside Thalassa, and they were talking. Kris’s jaw clenched.To make matters worse, Thalassa was smiling. Kris’s chest tightened as jealousy reared its head.He knew he should be happy to see that beautiful smile of hers, but it hurt that she was only smiling in Zeke’s presence even though with him, she was nothing but cold.Swallowing the bitterness rising in his throat, he forced himself to walk to the dining table, knowing Thalassa wouldn’t like it if he went to the living room.A few minutes later, Luisa came out of the kitchen and announced, “Breakfast is ready. Kris, can you help me set the table?”Nodding, Kris got up and helped her. Once they were done, Zeke and Thalassa moved to the table.Kris could barely focus on his food as they ate. Zeke kept talking about
Karen stared back at Kris. For a moment, her expression faltered as her mind raced, remembering the threat Linda had given her at the jail that she was going to come after her daughter.She wasn't stupid. She knew Linda could very well carry out her threats, and she didn't know what would happen to her if something happened to Tessa. But was giving her to Kris the best.Remembering that just a few days ago, Kris had vowed to take Tessa completely away from her, her expression hardened again.He was just trying to manipulate her into keeping Tessa with him, and she wasn't going to allow it.“I’m not stupid, you know,” she finally said sharply, breaking the silence. “I know your mother might target us. That’s why I’ve already taken precautions.” She straightened her posture. “I’ve requested for bodyguards from an agency. They’ll be here soon, and they'll protect Tessa and me. I can protect my daughter as much as you or even better.”Kris drew in a sharp breath of frustration. “Karen...
Karen’s face twisted into a mask of disbelief. “And who the hell is Alexander Thompson?”For a moment, she looked as though the wind had been knocked out of her. She turned sharply to Thalassa, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.“You have a son?” Karen’s voice was filled with disbelief. “How the hell is that possible? You...you lost your pregnancy when Linda sent that man to attack you. So how the hell do you have a son?”And how come her mother knew but never told her?Thalassa stood, her expression calm, but her voice edged with frost. “I don’t owe you any explanations, Karen.”Karen laughed bitterly. “You’re wrong,” she snapped. “You owe me more than that! You owe me an explanation for how you managed to make the will say this! There’s no way this could’ve come from my mother in her sane mind! I am her only daughter. I deserve to have everything!”Kris had been silent till now but was tired of the sheer unreasonableness. “Tessa was given half of everything too, Karen.”Karen whippe
Karen paced the living room like a storm brewing in a too-small teacup, her arms folded tightly across her chest. She shot a glare toward her mother's lawyer who sat calmly with his briefcase beside him, waiting.“I don’t understand,” Karen snapped. “You’re already here, so why aren’t you reading the will? In fact, why do we even need to read it? I was her only daughter. I'm sure she's giving everything to me anyway.”Mr. Sawyer adjusted his glasses. “Ms. Blade, I ask for your patience. There is one more person who needs to be present before I proceed.”Karen’s nose wrinkled as she tilted her head. “What are you talking about? Who else could possibly need to be here?”As if on cue, the doorbell echoed through the house. Karen’s lips thinned, her irritation clear.“I’ll get it,” Bridget murmured, hurrying toward the door. Moments later, the click of heels and a deep, familiar voice caused Karen to freeze.Kris stepped inside first, his hand resting protectively on Thalassa’s lower back
As Thalassa stepped down, the room was filled with sniffles and silent tears. Though she wasn't crying, the devastated look on her face and her touching words brought tears to everyone's eyes. All except for Karen, who was glaring at her from across the aisle.The somber mood in the chapel persisted as Bridget stood up and walked to the altar.“You were my boss,” Bridget began, her voice breaking slightly, “but also my best friend. A person with the rarest heart—one who could make anyone feel seen and valued.”She paused, swallowing back the lump in her throat. “You loved with your whole being. That’s who you were. To lose you… is to lose a light in this world. But I take solace in knowing you're at peace now, somewhere you can finally rest after all the pain life threw your way. You'll never be forgotten, dear madam.”The room was silent, save for the occasional muffled sobs of mourners. When Bridget sat down, the priest returned to the altar, gesturing for everyone to bow their head
“You signed Mum’s death sentence. It’s your fault she’s dead!”Karen’s tear-streaked face twisted in raw pain as she turned to Thalassa, her voice rising like a jagged knife.“That's not true!” She shouted, her hands shaking. “I didn’t know this would happen! How could I have known?”Thalassa’s eyes narrowed, her body trembling with barely restrained fury. Before she could speak, Kris stepped behind her, his jaw tight.“So it is true, Karen?” he asked, each word laced with disbelief. “You told Linda it was your mother who gave me the evidence? What the hell were you thinking?”Karen’s lips quivered, and she stumbled over her words. “I didn’t mean to! It just… slipped out while we were talking. I couldn’t take it back!”Thalassa let out a bitter laugh that was chilling to the bone. “Oh, I’m sure that’s the excuse you told yourself to sleep at night,” she snapped. “But we both know the truth. You knew exactly what you were doing. You were scared Linda would come after you, so you decide
Karen gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove, her frustration building with every mile. It had been three days since her mother last called her.Since the day she told her mother that she didn't want anything to do with her, the woman would call at least twice a day. But she'd gone three days without doing so, and it was grating on Karen's nerves.Had she given up already? Karen was damned if she would allow that.Right now, she was driving to her mother’s house, but she wasn't going there to reconcile. She just wanted to remind her of her betrayal and make her beg for her affections again.Pulling up to the gate, she frowned. The gate didn’t open like it always did. She waited a moment, growing impatient before honking the horn. Nothing. Annoyed, she picked up her phone and dialed Bridget’s number. “Why is the gate locked?” she demanded when Bridget answered. “And why isn’t anyone opening it?” Bridget’s voice was quiet, but the exhaustion in it was evident. “Because no
The room was quiet for a moment after the doctor’s announcement. Juana’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked up at him. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “Thank you so much.”Upon waking up and being unable to move her legs immediately, she'd truly been terrified, but this had given her so much hope.The doctor gave her a kind smile. “You’re a fighter, Ms. Juana. But remember, no stress. Rest if your head feels heavy. If it worsens, inform us immediately.”Juana nodded as tears spilled down her cheeks. Thalassa and Luisa exchanged a glance before speaking in unison, their voices filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Doctor.”He nodded again and excused himself, leaving the three women alone. Luisa and Thalassa moved to either side of Juana’s bed. Luisa gently placed her hand over hers. “I’m so happy to see you awake and well,” she said softly, her voice filled with relief.Thalassa bit her lip. “Juana, I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you saved my
Thalassa’s hands trembled at her sides as her furious words hung in the air. The weight of what she had just said, what she had admitted she wanted to do, filled the room with shock.Luisa placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, her voice trembling with worry. "Thalassa... please don’t talk like that. You don’t mean it." But Thalassa’s cold, unwavering gaze shot through her. "I mean every word," she bit out, her voice low and steely. "I want to kill her. I would be doing the world a favor by getting rid of someone as vile as Linda Miller. She’s a waste of a human being." Luisa swallowed hard, unease crawling up her spine. She had seen Thalassa enraged before, but never this murdurous rage. It scared her. "I know you’re upset," Luisa said, her voice soft but firm. "You have every right to be angry, but this isn’t you. You’re not a murderer, Lassa. You’re nothing like Linda Miller." Thalassa shrugged off Luisa’s hand with a sharp jerk. Her jaw tightened, and her eyes burned with fu
Thalassa buried her face in Kris’s chest, her sobs muffled against his shirt. His arms wrapped tightly around her.She clung to him, trembling, her mind screaming against the reality she didn’t want to accept. Rita was truly gone. The door creaked open, and Kris lifted his head. The doctor entered, followed by a nurse. This time, he didn’t ask them to leave. Instead, he approached Rita’s still form, his expression solemn as he checked her vitals. After a moment, the doctor straightened and glanced at the nurse. His voice was steady as he said, "Time of death: 7:21 AM." The words felt like a punch to Thalassa’s chest, knocking the air from her lungs. Her knees threatened to buckle, but Kris tightened his grip, holding her upright. The doctor turned to her, his face filled with sympathy. "I’m very sorry for your loss," he said softly. "It happened quicker than I expected. I’ll prepare the death certificate and arrange for her body to be transferred to the morgue whenever you’re