Kris trudged toward his car, numb. Reaching, he tossed the bag of evidence into the back seat, then slumped into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. His hands trembled, his breaths shaky as he started the engine, staring blankly ahead. He felt sick to his stomach. As he pulled out of the lot, the streets seemed to rush past him in a blur. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, each beat harder, faster. He could barely focus on the road, the suffocating weight of the truth pressing down on him. The longer he drove, the worse it became. His chest tightened, and his vision blurred again. A loud horn honked as another driver sped by, jolting him back into focus. By the time he reached the Miller mansion, his body felt like it was running on autopilot. As he entered the house, he could hear the low murmur of voices in the living room. His family was gathered there; Susan, Tyler, and aunt Cynthia. Karen was sitting with them.As soon as Tyler saw him, he storm
Kris’s steps felt heavier with each one he took up the stairs to Tessa’s room. His heart pounded painfully in his chest. What was he supposed to feel when he saw her now? What would he say? He didn’t even know if he could face her, not after what he had just learned.Memories started flooding back. Holding Tessa in his arms for the first time—so small, so fragile, and so full of life. He could still remember the sound of her first cry. It had been one of the sweetest sounds he’d ever heard. Then, there was her first smile, lighting up her face and making his heart soar. Her first steps, wobbly but determined, with him right there to catch her when she fell. And the first time she called him “daddy”—a moment he thought would stay with him forever, but now it felt like a cruel joke.His chest tightened, the knife twisting deeper with each memory. She wasn’t his. None of those milestones were truly his.When he reached Tessa’s door, he stopped. His hand hovered over the doorknob, tremb
With his mind made up, Kris stormed down the stairs, his rage evidenced by the heavy thumps of his steps.In the living room, Karen was still crying with her head bowed in shame as Aunt Cynthia, Susan and Tyler threw every insult at her.Kris didn’t bother to stop. Stepping outside, his hands trembled as he got into his car, slamming the door shut. He didn’t bother glancing back at the house. The moment he jammed the key into the ignition, he was gone.The drive to Henry’s company blurred into a haze of fury. His knuckles turned white against the steering wheel.Pulling into the parking lot, he sat for a moment, staring at the building. It wasn’t large, and it compared in no way to Kris’s company.How ironic, Kris thought bitterly. Over the years, Henry had constantly needed help, soliciting financial assistance from both him and Alden. Kris had written off most of the loans for the sake of their ‘friendship’. Now, all he could see was how Henry had been taking advantage of him, usin
Kris didn’t even flinch as the cold metal of the handcuffs clicked around his wrists, despite the strain that was put on his shoulder joints by how violently the officer pulled his hands back. He felt nothing except the dull, aching void where his heart was supposed to be. He was subconsciously aware of the phones on him, but he could barely pay any of it any mind.A minute later, the other police officer emerged from the elevator walking towards them.“Confirmed? Is he dead?” The officer holding on to Kris's arm asked.The other officer shook his head. “No, but it's not really looking good for him." He indicated with his chin at Kris. “Wonder if his fists are made of steel because damn. The guy is barely breathing with his broken nose and his pulse is very weak.”“You think he will make it?" The officer shrugged. “I'm not a doctor, but I've already called the paramedics. They're on their way to get him. In the meantime, you can send this one to the station and lock him up. I'll sta
Aunt Cynthia's eyes widened in disbelief at her audacity. "You’re shameless, Karen. After everything you’ve done, you still have the audacity to claim that title for yourself?”Susan crossed her arms on her chest. “Don't worry aunt. She can blabber or she wants." She turned her steely gaze to Karen. “If you and your daughter aren't out of here by tomorrow, then prepare to be kicked out.”Before Karen could respond, a quiet voice interrupted them. "Karen."They all turned to see Rita approaching them, her face pale but composed. Cynthia’s gaze immediately shifted to Karen’s mother, her anger rekindled."Rita," she snapped, her voice full of contempt. "Do you know what your daughter has done? Do you know how she’s humiliated this family? She made fools of us—" Her voice rose, but Rita cut her off, speaking softly."I know," she said, her voice strained, eyes locking onto Karen’s tear-streaked face.Cynthia’s eyes narrowed. "You knew? You already knew about your daughter's deception?" Sh
Linda paced her small cell, her hands clenched tightly at her sides, her mind racing with thoughts. Every second she stayed in that stink cell, the more she felt like she was losing her sanity. And the stupid judge had also denied her bail just that morning.She could hear the faint footsteps of the guard approaching."Visitor," the guard called out.Linda’s face lit in expectation hoping it was her lawyer bringing her good news, but the moment she saw who it was, her expression soured. Karen stood on the other side of the bars, her face pale and drawn.If Linda cared even a little bit about her, she would've asked how she was doing."What are you doing here?" Linda questioned, pressing her hands against the bars as she stared through at Karen. "Did you come to gloat about your so-called advantage over me? The one that’s going to be very short-lived, I assure you."Karen’s eyes were red, her body trembling slightly as she shook her head. "I don’t have an advantage anymore, Linda. Kris
The next morning, Kris was sitting on the cold, narrow bed in his holding cell, staring blankly at the floor.He hadn’t slept a wink last night, but he didn’t feel the effects because he still felt numb. However, he knew it was his body’s mechanism to keep him from feeling the immense pain again, even if just for a while. “You have your first visitor, Miller.” The voice of a cop cut through the silence.Kris looked up and saw Alden standing on the other side of the cell bars, his face a mixture of concern and disbelief. “I was here last night but they wouldn’t let me because it was late.”He put his hands against the bars. “Why didn’t you call me, Keis?”Kris exhaled, looking back down. “How did you find out?”Alden hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “You’re all over the news, Kris. People are talking about it everywhere.” He paused, then added, “You’ve got some supporters, but… most people are comparing you to your mother. Saying crime runs in the Miller fami
Thalassa woke up with a start, her hand instantly reaching for her phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up, and she scanned it for any missed calls or messages from Kris. There were none.She sighed heavily, sinking back against the pillows, disappointment settling in her chest. Why hasn’t he called yet? Almost the whole of yesterday, she’d waited for him to call her or even text her. At first, she didn’t want to bother him by calling, knowing he’d said he’d be spending some time with his daughter, Tessa. But later, when she tried to call, his phone had been unreachable. Why hasn’t he contacted her? She placed a hand over her heart, a strange unease brewing in her chest. He'd told her that he would call, and he couldn't have just forgotten.Something felt off. She glanced at her phone again, the time revealing it was already mid-morning. She tossed the covers aside and slipped out of bed, her feet padding quietly across the floor.Downstairs, the aroma of breakfast greeted her. B
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
At Rita's revelation, Kris swallowed hard against the tightness in his throat. He thought he should feel shock or anger, but he didn't feel that. Not even disappointment. All he felt was a crushing sadness and a hollow ache in his chest that made it hard to breathe. Deep down, he'd known. He'd known his mother was behind it.But had it been too much to wish for his mother to prove not to be a monster for once? How far was Linda going to go? His jaw tightened as he looked down at Rita's frail form, her skin pale and her breaths shallow."I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. He stepped closer to Rita, his hand hesitating before lightly brushing against hers. "I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve this. None of this." His throat burned as he forced the words out. "I promise you, I’ll get justice for you." Rita’s eyes fluttered open slightly, her gaze cloudy yet still warm. She gave him the faintest smile, her voice a faint rasp as she whispered, "Wha
Thalassa sat in the hard, plastic chair by the wall in Rita’s ICU unit, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The sterile scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils, but she barely noticed it anymore. Her eyes were fixed on the frail figure lying in the hospital bed. Rita was surrounded by machines—a heart monitor that beeped steadily, an IV drip that fed her weakened body, and a nasal cannula that provided oxygen through thin, clear tubes resting against her pale face. She had always been so strong, so full of life. Seeing her like this, so still and vulnerable, made Thalassa’s chest ache. The machines keeping her alive felt intrusive, cold, and mechanical—so unlike the warm, loving woman who had been her pillar through so much. She rubbed her tired eyes. She hadn't slept a wink since last night, but sleep was the last thing on her mind. Her gaze darted back to Rita every few moments, desperate for any sign of movement. Nothing. A soft knock came at the door, pulling her from