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
“Miller, your lawyer is here to see you." A guard informed Kris before he walked away. Kris barely reacted, remaining seated until the familiar figure appeared in front of his cell.“Mr. Miller,” his lawyer said, sounding both horrified and mortified. “Why didn’t you call me earlier?”Kris slowly stood, approaching the bars, his expression void of emotion. “Did Alden give you the bag?” he asked, ignoring the question.The lawyer nodded, still looking shocked. “Yes, he did. It’s already being processed. Within a few days, your mother will be transferred to prison to await trial.”Kris merely nodded, his face a mask of cold indifference, though the mention of his mother sent a painful squeeze through his heart. Linda was finally going to face justice, and yet, all he felt was a numbing emptiness.His lawyer sighed, changing the subject as he tried again. “Mr. Miller, seriously. Why didn’t you call me? You know I could’ve had you out of here within an hour. Instead, you’ve spent the wh
Thalassa's heart stuttered at his words. He was still looking away, but she forced him to look at her, cradling his face between her hands. "What are you talking about?" she asked, searching his tired eyes.His gaze dropped to the floor, and his voice came out in a hoarse whisper, barely audible. "This is my punishment. For everything I did to you years ago."Thalassa froze. "Kris..."Kris pressed on, his voice thick with regret. "I betrayed you. I put everyone else above you. I believed Karen. I believed my mother. Henry... But I refused to believe you, the woman I loved." His eyes squeezed shut, the pain seeping out of him. "When you told me you were pregnant... I called you a liar. I didn't trust you. I... I pushed you away."Thalassa's breath hitched as she remembered the ache, the heartbreak of that time. Kris's voice cracked as he continued, "We lost our child because of me. I am as much responsible as my mother was. And then I married Karen for a child I thought was mine. The
Karen stood beside Henry’s hospital bed, her stomach churning as she looked at his bruised, swollen face. His skin was an ugly mix of purples and blues, a stitched wound ran above his eyebrow, and his eyes were so swollen they seemed glued shut. His nose was heavily bandaged after the realignment surgery, and the sound of his labored breathing filled the sterile room. Guilt pricked at her heart. She knew kris would be angry but she hadn’t expected Kris to get so violent, to nearly kill Henry in a rage. She needed Henry alive—for now, at least—until she figured out how to get Kris back.Henry stirred, groaning awake, his face twisting in discomfort. Karen leaned over, her voice soft. "How are you feeling?"Henry grunted, trying to shift in the bed but clearly regretting it. "How do you think I feel?" he muttered, his voice gravelly. "I feel like shit. That bastard broke my nose. I can barely breathe, and I can't even open my damn eyes."Karen tried to sound reassuring. "The doctor sa
The room fell into a suffocating silence after Thalassa pressed play on her phone and the voice recording started.*THALASSA: Do you remember when I was arrested? You and your accomplice framed me and had me jailed. I spent three days in the same cold, bare cell. Not a single person came to visit me. KAREN: I had nothing to do with your arrest! That was all Linda’s doing. THALASSA: Just like what you did to me on my wedding night was also Linda’s plan?KAREN: Yes. You’ve got to believe me, Lassa. I didn’t want to do it because I never wanted to hurt you, but she made me. I don’t know how she convinced me. Thalassa, I could have let that man rape you. That’s what Linda wanted, but I didn’t. I strictly warned him not to because, despite everything, you were still my friend, and I didn’t want to harm you.The room grew Impossibly colder as the recording played on. Henry’s eyes darted between the two women his expression as tense as Karen’s.Thalassa stood tall and resolute, her voice
Henry looked at Karen, his mind racing. Karen stared back, her eyes pleading, her face twisted in fear and desperation.Thalassa waited patiently, her expression calm, confident, and completely in control.Henry’s teeth ground together, and through gritted teeth, he spat, “You bitch.”Thalassa rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You already called me that, Henry. Try something new next time.” She crossed her arms, her gaze never leaving his battered face. “Now hurry up and make a decision.”Karen stood frozen beside the bed as she stared at Henry. Why was he taking so long to decide? “Henry?”He looked at her, his jaw clenched. “What? What do you want me to do, Karen? Just let Kris go scot-free after he did this to me?” He pointed at his bruised face. His voice rose, filled with anger and frustration. “I can barely breathe. He destroyed my face. You want me to just let that slide?”Karen’s hands trembled as she clenched them into fists at her sides. “But they’ll put me
SEVEN YEARS LATERThe warm, salty air of Jamaica greeted Tessa as she stepped off the plane, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor of the airport.She adjusted her sunglasses and smoothed down her sleek blazer. On the outside, her aura exuded confidence, but on the inside, her nerves were all over the place.She'd come to Jamaica for her best friend Maya's destination wedding, so she was supposed to feel nothing but excitement, right?Of course, she was happy for her best friend, but there was nothing remotely exciting about having to spend a whole week with him in the same house.Tessa balled her hands into fists. Seven years later, and the thought of him—or the sight of his face—never failed to fray her nerves.If it were up to her, she would never have to deal with him again, but of course, it was just her luck that out of all the people Maya could've fallen in love with and decided to marry, she'd settled on Jace, Gendry's best friend.Yes. Gendry Graham.And since Gen
Inside her room, Tessa was pacing anxiously. It was already past seven, and Gendry hadn't come yet to pick her up.By 8 PM, Tessa stopped pacing. Gendry was supposed to have picked her up an hour ago, so why wasn’t he here yet? Maybe he was running late for some reason.She immediately grabbed her phone from the dining table and dialed Gendry's number. It rang for a few seconds before the loud beep indicated that he’d hung up on her.Tessa swallowed the lump in her throat, her excitement fading. The blue dress that had made her feel special now felt like it was mocking her.At 8:30 PM, her bedroom door finally opened. Tessa shot to her feet, hope welling inside her. Surely, Gendry had finally arrived, and her mother was here to take her downstairs.However, it wasn’t only her mother who entered the room. She was followed by her father and brother.“It’s obvious that the bastard isn’t going to come,” Alex said, as if it wasn’t already clear enough.Tears stung Tessa’s eyes. Her brother
Tessa Miller stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her usually straight hair was curled at the ends, framing her face in a way that made her feel quite pretty. She smoothed the soft fabric of her light blue prom dress for the hundredth time, feeling both excited and nervous. "Relax, Tessa," Maya, her best friend, said. She was perched on the edge of the bed with a makeup brush in hand after doing Tessa's makeup. "You look perfect. Gendry Graham is going to lose his mind when he sees you." Tessa glanced at her best friend. Maya’s bold red dress and confident smile were the opposite of Tessa’s nervousness. "I just… I can’t believe he asked me," she admitted. She'd decided to skip prom altogether because no one had asked her to be their date. Most of the boys in school saw her as a boring, nerdy girl, while the others didn't want to get close to her because of her overprotective brother, Alexander. But two days ago, Gendry, the only boy Tessa had had a crush
Dear readers, Oh wow, it has been quite a while, haha. I want to thank everyone once again for getting this far. If you read to the end, then I appreciate you so much. I said I would update you guys on my next story, and so here I am. The next story is going to center around Tessa! Here's a little plot. **** PLOT Tessa Miller doesn't like holding a grudge. Except when it comes to Gendry Graham. How can she not hold a grudge against him after he asked her to be his date on prom, only for her to find out it was all a cruel joke meant to humiliate her? Years later, Tessa still wants nothing to do with Gendry. But fate has other plans. As the maid of honor at their mutual friends’ destination wedding, she finds herself stuck with Gendry, who just happens to be the best man. Worse, their meddling friends are determined to play matchmaker, pairing them up at every opportunity for wedding preparation responsibilities. But what's worse than being constantly paired with the man you ha
“What’s wrong with my wife, doctor? Is she okay?” Kris questioned at the hospital after the doctor was done examining Thalassa. The doctor offered a reassuring smile. “Mr. Miller, please calm down. Your wife is perfectly fine.” Kris’s heart slowed just a little. “Then why did she faint?” Thalassa was sitting up on the hospital bed. Her brow furrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line. “Doctor, it’s probably menopause,” she said matter-of-factly. “I haven’t had my period in two months. I know it happens earlier for some women.” She wasn't exactly pleased that she was having her menopause at 40 years old, but she had been expecting it. The doctor shook his head gently, a knowing smile on his face. “Mrs. Miller, it’s not menopause, I assure you.” That didn't help to assuage Kris's worry. “Then…what is it?” The doctor looked between them, savoring the moment before delivering the news. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. You’re three months pregnant.” For a long second, sile
THIRTEEN YEARS LATERIt was the thirteenth anniversary of Kris and Thalassa’s remarriage, and as had become their tradition, it was a time for celebration with loved ones.The familiar hum of laughter and clinking silverware filled the air, creating a cozy, joyful atmosphere.At the adults’ table, Thalassa sat with her chin resting on her hand, her smile gentle as her gaze lingered on the people who had become their family. Alden and Luisa were seated across from her.Their three children—Andrew, the 12-year-old charmer; Matthew, the mischievous 9-year-old; and Emma, their 5-year-old firecracker—were occupying their seats at the kids’ table.Beside Alden and Luisa were Zeke and Millie, who had flown in from New York with their boisterous 10-year-old triplets, Max, Mia, and Miles.Alex and Tessa were sitting at the adults' table. No longer children, they'd blossomed into young adults. Alex had grown into a tall, broad-shouldered, and cool-headed teenager, much like his father. While Te
The car pulled into a luxurious beachfront resort, its white walls gleaming against the backdrop of the turquoise ocean.Thalassa blinked, the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore stirring something deep in her memory.They were in Cabo San Lucas.The moment it clicked in her mind, her breath hitched. She glanced out at the golden sands stretching endlessly before her, the rugged cliffs towering in the distance, and the sparkling waters that seemed to stretch into infinity. This wasn’t just any place.It was the place she'd thought she and Kris would be going for their first honeymoon while getting married five years ago. But of course, right after their wedding, Kris had cancelled their honeymoon.Her chest tightened as a surge of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She turned to Kris, her voice barely above a whisper. “You remembered.”Kris’s lips curved into a soft smile as he reached for her hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles.“Of course I remembered,” he said
After his aunt disappeared from sight, Kris made his way back to Thalassa on the dance floor. She stood there, her eyes soft and grateful, watching him approach. Her expression said everything—how much his unwavering defense against Cynthia meant to her. When he reached her, she tilted her head and whispered, "Thank you."Kris cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb against her skin. “You don’t have to thank me, love,” he murmured.Straightening, Kris raised his voice to the room, announcing, “Alright, everyone! Let’s get back to celebrating!” The guests cheered, and almost immediately, the jovial atmosphere returned, laughter and clinking glasses echoing in the air.As the music played on, Kris slid his arms around Thalassa’s waist, pulling her close. Before she could react, he dipped his head, nuzzling her neck with deliberate passion. The soft tickle of his lips against her skin sent a shiver down her spine, and she let out a surprised laugh.“Kris,” she whispered, her laughter bub
Kris’s fingers trembled slightly as he slid the delicate band onto Thalassa's finger, his gaze locked onto hers.Her lips quivered, tears glistening in her eyes, and when she looked down at her hand adorned with his promise, she sniffled and quipped through her tears,“Now how am I supposed to top that vow?”A ripple of laughter echoed through the guests, softening the intensity of the moment. Kris chuckled along with them, his own eyes wet as he mouthed, I love you.Zeke stepped forward with the second ring, offering it to Thalassa with a small nod of encouragement. She took a deep breath, steadying her emotions as she began her vows.“Kris,” she started, her voice trembling but firm. “We’ve been through more than a lot of couples ever have since we fell in love. We've experienced more heartaches than a lot of couples have. We've cried more tears than a lot of couples have. But we’ve also survived more than most couples could ever dream of surviving. Despite everything, every obstacl