Karen’s face twisted in disbelief as she sputtered, “You can’t do that.”Kris tipped his head. “Oh, I can. And I will.”Karen shook her head vehemently. “Tessa isn’t even your real daughter.”For a moment, Kris felt a rush of pain flicker, but he pushed it down, hardening his expression as he looked at Karen.“I'm still her father by law. And trust me, the fact that she isn’t my blood won’t matter once I prove just how unfit you are to take care of her.”Karen opened her mouth to argue, but Kris had already turned away, moving toward Boatemaa and Tessa. He leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to Tessa’s forehead. “I have to go, sweetheart, but I’ll come see you very soon.”Tessa’s face fell, her small fingers clutching his sleeve. “You promise, daddy?”“I promise.” Kris smiled, trying to ease her worry, his heart aching as he pulled away. Tessa waved, her gaze shifting to Thalassa.“Bye-bye, pretty lady,” Karen’s eyes narrowed in irritation as she glared at Thalassa.Kris walked back
“Would it bother you if I did have feelings for him?”Zeke’s mind buzzed at Millie’s question, his mind pulling up a blank initially. Finally, he looked at her and said softly, “Of course, I would’ve been bothered.”Millie’s heart raced as she stepped closer, her voice almost a whisper. “Why, Zeke? Why would it have bothered you?”“Because… I wouldn’t want Kris to hurt you. Not the way he hurt Thalassa.” Zeke answered. The words fell flat, and he knew it. Why wasn't he satisfied with his own answer?“Oh,” Millie murmured, stepping back with a forced smile. “Of course.” Her shoulders slumped just slightly as she glanced down, hiding the sting of disappointment. Zeke cleared his throat, trying to shake the odd sensation in his chest. “You know I care about you, Millie.”She looked up, her heart heavy. “Yes.”'Just not the way I want you to,' she thought bitterly. Out loud, she replied, “Thank you for caring, Zeke.”Zeke nodded, but his chest still felt tight. Why had the thought of Mi
The sound of the lillies falling made Kris and Thalassa break the kiss. Thalassa pulled away from Kris, her eyes widening as she rose to her feet. “Zeke.”Zeke stared at her in disbelief, his face a mask of hurt and confusion. “You are… back together with Kris?” His voice was quiet and pained.Thalassa’s steps were hesitant as she moved toward him. “Yes… Kris and I were together again.”Zeke’s hands curled into fists by his sides, his knuckles white as he whispered, “Why?”She stopped, frowning slightly. “What do you mean?”He swallowed hard, fighting to keep his voice steady. “Did Kris guilt-trip you into this? Did he tell you that you had to make up for keeping Alex from him by being with him? Or did he threaten to take Alex away from you? Is that it?”Kris stiffened, his jaw clenching with fury, but before he could say anything, Thalassa stepped forward, her voice firm. “Do you think I’m a puppet, Zeke? That I could just be manipulated into this? No,” she shook her head, holding
Millie sat on the edge of the couch in the living room, her gaze fixed on the new phone Zeke had bought her just a few days ago. She chewed her lip, worried. It was late, and Zeke still wasn’t home. He’d mentioned having dinner at Thalassa’s, but he hadn’t said he’d be staying out this long—or that he wouldn’t answer her calls. She’d tried dialing his number several times, and each time, her stomach had clenched when he didn’t pick up. She couldn’t exactly call Thalassa or Luisa for reassurance, either. They still didn’t know she was staying here or about everything with Francis. So, she was left alone with her restless thoughts, glancing at the time every few minutes.Finally, the door clicked open, and she jumped to her feet. Relief flooded her as she saw Zeke walk in. But that relief quickly faded when she noticed the lost, weary look on his face. His hair was disheveled, his shoulders slumped, and his eyes looked far too heavy for someone who'd left in such high spirits.“Zeke,
As soon as her lips touched his, Zeke became as stiff as a board. Millie's heart pounded inside her chest, but she didn't pull away, her lips moving subtlety against his.Then it began to happen; his lips started moving in sync with hers. It was a slow, hesitant response, but to Millie it meant the world. His tongue slid over her lips, but just when Millie thought he wanted to deepen the kiss, he suddenly tore his lips away from hers.“Millie...” he breathed, gazing at her with stunned, confused eyes.Millie's heart lurched painfully as she placed her finger over his lips and shook her head. “No. Please don't reject me, Zeke. I beg you.”Taking her finger off his lips, she thought he was going to get up and move away from her. Instead, his palm fell on her cheek, caressing it lightly as he gazed into her eyes.“You're so... gorgeous, Millie. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen,” he said, his voice raspy.The words hit her like an embrace. She placed her palm over the back o
Zeke's eyes opened with a start, the faint morning light slipping through the curtains and casting a soft glow across the study. He blinked, disoriented. Then he froze. Beside him, still nestled under his arm on the couch, was Millie. Memories from the night before flooded his mind, and he immediately felt a pang of regret tighten in his chest. How could he have let this happen?Millie began to stir from his movement, her eyes fluttering open, and she looked up at him with a soft smile, which faded as she took in his expression. "Millie..." He pulled his arm back gently, sitting up and running a hand through his hair, which was still slightly mussed from sleep. "Oh, fuck Millie. I'm so sorry. This... last night... it shouldn't have happened. I'm so sorry."Millie slowly sat up, brushing her hair back, as she swallowed back the stab that went through her chest. This was exactly what she'd expected to happen. She knew he would regret it, and yet it still burned."Good morning to you
Zeke sat at the head of the long mahogany table, staring blankly at the screen where the presentation slides clicked on and off. Figures and graphs danced across the screen, but none of it registered. His mind was elsewhere—stuck on Millie’s soft voice as she’d whispered, 'I love you, Zeke. I've loved you for a long time. I know you'll never look at me the way you look at Thalassa, and I've accepted that. But last night... it was the best night of my life.'He clenched his fists under the table, barely aware of his surroundings as the memory of Millie’s words played in his head. In love with him. How could he not have noticed? Had she really been that good at hiding her feelings, or had he just been too blind—or worse, too unwilling—to see it?Before last night, everything had been so good. He remembered her smile yesterday as they cooked together in the morning, the way she’d laughed, the ease between them. It had felt…right. And now he’d ruined it.Why hadn’t he stopped himself?
Zeke bolted down the hallway of his office, ignoring the startled glances from employees as he made his way to the elevator. He jabbed at the button, tapping his foot impatiently until the doors finally opened. Once inside, he pressed the ground floor and leaned back, running a hand through his hair, his heart hammering in his chest. How had he not seen it? How had he missed something so painfully obvious?Thoughts of Millie swirled through his mind, one memory tumbling after another. He remembered the sinking feeling he’d had months ago when he realized there was something seriously wrong with her relationship with Francis.The pain he'd experienced the first time he’d seen bruises marking her pale skin, even when she'd tried to make excuses for it. And yet, each one had made his blood boil and his heart ache.His overwhelming need to protect her, to shield her from anything and anyone who might hurt her. The helpless feeling whenever she looked even a little sad and the sheer joy h
The bullet hit Linda square in the shoulder. Linda crumpled to the floor, clutching her arm. She groaned in pain as the blood seeped through her fingers, mixing with the gasoline pooling beneath her. Karen didn’t hesitate. She immediately rushed towards Thalassa’s chair, her movements frantic but determined. “Hold still,” she muttered, her trembling hands fumbling with the ropes binding Thalassa’s wrists. After some seconds, the ropes finally loosened. Thalassa pulled her hands free and immediately bent down to help Karen untie her legs. The knot slipped, and she finally stood, her heart pounding wildly. “We need to leave, Karen,” she said, her voice sharp with urgency. “Yes.” Karen nodded, breathless. “Let’s go.” Neither of them saw Linda reaching into her handbag and pulling out a pistol. Just as they turned to run, a gunshot exploded in the air. Thalassa froze as Karen let out a gasp of pain. “Karen!” she screamed. Karen staggered, her hand clutching her stomach where blood
After spreading one gallon of the gasoline. Linda moved to the next, then the next. And the next.The pungent liquid soaked into the cracks of wooden members, splattered against the cardboard boxes strewn around the room, and puddled near Thalassa’s chair.Thalassa’s heart hammered violently in her chest, but she kept her face a mask of defiance. No. She had to do something. You couldn't die. Not today.She needed to get back to Alex and Kris. They were waiting for her. Alex needed her. But no matter how she wriggled her wrists, the rope refused to loosen.Linda finished pouring the last gallon, letting the empty container clatter to the floor. Straightening up, she brushed her hands against her dress, a twisted smile curling her lips as she turned to face Thalassa.From a nearby chair, she grabbed her handbag and pulled out a somewhat small device. Then she walked back toward Thalassa, holding it up like a trophy.“This,” Linda began, her voice laced with cruel amusement, “is a deto
Thalassa's heart pounded violently in her chest as the thugs came closer and closer.She kept her face hard, her jaw clenched. Every instinct screamed at her to panic because she knew this was no joke, but she refused to give Linda or her thugs the satisfaction."Don't you dare come closer," she spat through gritted teeth, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.One of the thugs threw his head back and laughed. "She's trying to act hard.” His lips curled into a lecherous grin. "Don't worry, sweetheart. We'll break you in no time. Turn you into a nice, docile little bitch begging for our cocks."Thalassa jerked her chair back as far as it could go, her muscles straining against the ropes that bound her. But one of the thugs circled behind her, his rough hands already reaching for the knots securing her wrists to the chair.She could feel his breath on the back of her neck as he muttered, "Don't make this harder on yourself by resisting.”He had begun untangling the ropes
Kris paced back and forth in the living room like a caged animal, his jaw clenched and his hands tugging through his hair in sheer frustration and desperation.His voice was low, barely above a hiss, as he spoke into his phone. “What do you mean the surveillance ends at that spot? And the car is never seen again? Did it fucking disappear into thin air?”His steps quickened as his anxiety surged. “Listen to me, Smoke. The next time you call me, you better have something useful to tell me.”He ended the call with a sharp tap and flung the phone onto the couch, his breath coming in uneven gasps. Alden and Luisa were sitting on the couch across from him, their expressions tense as they silently watched.Tessa was curled up in Luisa’s arms, her small chest rising and falling as she slept. Luisa stroked her hair absently, her eyes rimmed with exhaustion, but no one said a word.It had been hours since Thalassa’s car was found in the middle of the road with bullet holes and shattered glass.
Karen hesitated in front of the door, her hand hovering over the knob. Her breathing was shallow, her chest aching. She was in front of the door to her mother's room.It was the first time she’d stood here since her mother’s death. No, not just her death. It had been years since she’d stepped into this room. Her fingers tightened around the knob, turning it slowly. The door creaked open, and Karen stepped inside. Everything was exactly as her mother had left it: spotless, warm, yet eerily silent. Her eyes scanned the familiar space, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her, nearly knocking her off her feet.She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, taking in the faint scent of lavender that still lingered in the air.Her throat tightened as memories came rushing back. She remembered when she was eight years old and her father’s death was plastered across the news. He'd died while cruising on the sea.She hadn’t understood it at the time, but the image of the wrecked yacht
Thalassa groaned as consciousness crept back to her. Her head felt heavy, like a storm had taken up residence in her skull. She blinked her eyes open, and she was greeted by nearly pitch-black darkness.The air was cold and stale, tinged with the metallic scent of rust and dampness. She was sitting in a chair, and it didn't take long for her to realize that her wrists and ankles were bound tightly to the chair.She wriggled her wrists, trying to see if she could free her hands from the ropes, but they only dug painfully into her skin. The knots didn’t budge.The sound of footsteps broke the silence, sharp and deliberate against the concrete floor. Then the voice of the woman she hated more than anything in the world echoed through the space.“Don’t bother, darling. You’re only wasting your time.”Thalassa froze, her breath catching in her throat. The dim light overhead flickered on, falling on the woman in front of her.Linda.She was standing a few feet away, a satisfied smirk on her
The engine’s steady hum filled the car as Thalassa leaned back against the plush leather seat, her phone pressed tightly to her ear.She barely registered the bodyguards seated in the front, their voices muffled as they exchanged words about security measures. Her focus was solely on the call.She'd been dialing Betty's number since Kris left a few minutes ago, but the other woman wasn't picking up. Finally, the tone of the call being answered came through.“Thank God you finally picked up, Betty,” Thalassa said, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves.“Thalassa?” Betty’s warm, familiar voice came through the line. "Oh, sorry, I was in the shower. Is something wrong? You sound... tense.”Thalassa closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “Please,” she begged, her words rushed. “Tell me my son is safe.”There was a short pause before Betty chuckled lightly. “You called to ask that an hour ago. Alex is fine, I promise. Safe and sound. He’s having the time of his life with tha
Kris groaned, the dull ache in the back of his head pulling him from the haze of unconsciousness. His vision blurred as he blinked rapidly, trying to focus. A small, trembling voice broke through the fog.“Daddy, please wake up,” Tessa sobbed, her tiny hands clutching at his arm. She was hunched over his body, tears streaming down her cheeks, her whole frame shaking.Kris forced himself upright, wincing as his fingers pressed against the throbbing lump on his head. His heart clenched at the sight of his daughter’s tear-streaked face.“Tessa,” he rasped, pulling her into his arms. “I’m okay, baby. I’m here. Don’t cry.”He cradled her against his chest, rocking her gently, ignoring the sharp pain in his skull. Her sobs slowly subsided as he murmured soothing words, stroking her hair.After a moment, Kris pulled back to look at her. “Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?”Tessa shook her head, her lip quivering. “No… but I was so scared, Daddy. They had guns.”Kris swallowed hard, h
Kris’s fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles white against the smooth surface. For a moment, the world around him seemed to freeze, his mind struggling to process Karen’s words. Tessa. Taken. His breath caught in his throat. Then, the cold reality slammed into him like a freight train.“What do you mean they took her?!” Kris hissed, his voice sharp and rising in panic.Karen’s voice came through the speaker again, shaky and tearful. “They— they shot the guard, Kris. They came into the house with guns. They said they’d hurt me if I didn’t give them Tessa.”His stomach churned, dread twisting his insides. “And you did?” he bit out, his voice breaking with a mix of anger and desperation. “I didn’t have a choice!” Karen cried. “I tried to stop them, but they hit me—I couldn’t—” Her words dissolved into sobs.Kris raked a hand through his hair, feeling like he was going crazy. “I told you! I told you to let me take her!” His voice cracked with raw emotion, his anger barely mas