Thalassa felt tears burning her eyes, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. “Are you done?”“You aren't even going to deny it, so it's true?" A bitter smile stretched across his lips as he pointed a finger at Zeke. “You moved in with this man just a few days after our divorce. For someone who was so desperate for me to take you back, you sure didn't waste any time jumping onto your next prey."Zeke realized what Kris was driving at and stepped in to try and clarify. “Thalassa is not the woman you think she is. Things didn't happen the way-”“Zeke," Thalassa raised her hand to cut him off. “I don't owe this man any explanation."Kris's gaze hardened. “If you think you don't owe me any explanation, then you also have no right to come after my family with your bogus accusations."Thalassa sucked in a breath. “It was your child too."“My child? How do I know that?" Kris demanded. “Even if you were truly pregnant, how can I be sure that the child was mine when you
Luisa’s smile wiped off when she turned to the spot and realized that the camera wasn’t there. “Where is it? Or have you already gotten rid of it like you said?”“Yes. This morning,” Thalassa said regretfully.She’d known that her enemies could hack into the camera and use it to spy on her and her plans. That was why she’d decided to get rid of it.“I’m such a fucking idiot,” she cursed as she slammed her hand onto her desk.Now she wished she hadn’t taken out the camera. It would’ve been the perfect evidence to put Karen and Linda behind bars.“Don’t call yourself that. You couldn’t have known what would happen,” Luisa said.“Besides, that footage would’ve also served as evidence of how much you beat her up in case she decides to report you for assault, and that wouldn’t be good,” Zeke added, trying to pacify her.Luisa was suddenly worried. “Lassa, what if that bitch decides to report you?”༺❀༻༺❀༻༺❀༻Karen claimed to still feel dizzy so she couldn’t use her car. Hence, Kris felt for
“Goodness gracious, Karen! What happened to your face?” Aunt Cynthia exclaimed as soon as Karen walked into the house.“Don’t tell me it was that stupid bitch,” Tyler hissed, his face contorting in anger.“She gave you your share too?” Susan said.Karen didn’t respond as she made her way to sit on one of the couches, but they all knew the answer to Tyler’s question.“The marks on your face look horrible,” Cynthia commented, her voice filled with disgust.Karen glared at her. “Why, thanks for making me feel so good about myself.” She looked at Susan. “What do you mean by my share?”Susan turned her head to show Karen the mark on her cheek from Thalassa’s ferocious slap. Then she pointed at her mother’s cheek.Karen’s eyes widened, not believing that Thalassa had laid a hand on Linda. “Where did she get so much boldness from?”“We need to do something to put her in her place,” Aunt Cynthia said.“But what?” Karen whined bitterly. “I wanted to press charges against her, but Kris told me
Kris was furious because his family had lied to him. They’d told him that Thalassa had slapped his mother unprovoked. Now it turned out that it was his mother who had slapped her first.“You lied to me, Mum. Why did you tell me that she hit you first when that wasn’t true?”Regret filled him as he remembered all the hurtful things he had said to Thalassa. He’d gone to her office, angry from what his family had told him, as well as the discovery of her relationship with Zeke. That was why he’d said all those things to her.Now it turned out that he’d been lied to.“Kris, why are you speaking to your mother like that?” Karen said, trying to touch him on the arm, but Kris shook her touch off and ignored her.“I can’t believe you’re really speaking to me like this because of that woman.” His mother suddenly broke into tears. “I only went there to fight for our family because that woman is obviously intent on destroying us. That was why I hit her, but she hit me back so hard.”Seeing his m
At TT Fashion House, paparazzi and reporters from all the major news outlets had gathered in front of the building, waiting to speak to Thalassa.Ever since the real footage was released, public opinion had shifted in Thalassa's favor, but she knew she could take more advantage of this. That was why she'd called for this press conference. As soon as she stepped out of the building onto the street, cameras began flashing, and all the reporters began throwing their questions at her simultaneously. She was accompanied by Luisa, who stood beside her."One at a time, please," Thalassa said calmly but loudly enough to command respect."Miss Thompson, what do you have to say about the anonymous video accusing you of mistreating Linda Miller and her family members?" a reporter asked.Thalassa elegantly flipped her hair before answering. "As has already been proven by the original footage I released, those claims are nothing but false. It was obviously posted by someone who wanted to hurt me,
When Luisa stepped out of Thalassa's office, she went to stand by Juana, the secretary's desk.Suddenly, she felt a stare on her. It was so focused that the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She quickly whipped her head to the side to find the guy who had been walking beside Kris.He blanched, embarrassed at being caught staring, and Luisa glared at him, feeling uncomfortable.Seeing that he’d been caught, Alden decided to move forward, flashing Luisa a smile she didn’t return.“Hey, I’m Alden. Alden Richards,” he said, outstretching his hand.Luisa merely stared at his hand before looking away. “Okay.”Alden was caught off guard by the bit of unfriendliness he sensed. He chuckled lightly to cover the embarrassment of his hand being left hanging in the air.“I’m a friend of Kris’s,” he said.Luisa’s expression soured even more. “Believe me, you shouldn’t be saying that as a flex.”“No… What… I’m not saying…” Alden frowned in confusion before everything clicked in his head. “Oh.”
Thalassa had given Kris that reply out of impulse, but once it left her mouth, she wasn’t willing to take it back. She’d wanted to hurt him, and judging from the forlorn look in his eyes, she’d achieved just that.Kris felt like a knife had been shoved into his chest as he finally stopped pinning her to the wall and stepped back.“I see,” he said slowly, the pain weaving through every syllable and his voice. “If you knew the baby wasn’t mine, then why did you try to use it to stop me from divorcing you?”He shook his head slowly. “What sort of woman are you? You wanted to deceive me into taking care of another man’s child. And just yesterday, you tried to guilt me about kicking you out of my life and not caring what happened to you.”Thalassa ensured that her expression was stoic. “Now that I’ve said what you want to hear, can you leave my office?”“Who was the father?” Kris questioned instead of doing as she’d said. “Was it Zeke Mathews? How long were you two lovers before we divorce
Kris dropped Alden off at his company before driving to his own, Miller Textiles.“Sir, your mother is inside waiting for you,” Millie, his secretary, informed him when he arrived at her desk. “I told her you didn't say when you would come back, but she insisted on waiting.”“Thanks, Millie,” Kris nodded before making his way into the office.As soon as his mother saw him, she got up to give him a hug. “Oh dear, I really don’t like it when you're upset with me.”Kris sighed, hugging her back. “I don't either, Mum.”“Will you forgive me for not telling you the truth?” his mother asked once they pulled back from the hug. “I thought I was doing what was best for our family.”For her sake, Kris flashed a smile. “You know I can't be mad at you for long.”They hugged again before his mother said, “But that's not the only reason I came here.”Kris went to sit in his chair as his mother also sat down in one of the visitor chairs. “Why are you here then, Mum?”A knock sounded on the door, and
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
Luisa opened her mouth to speak again, but Alden’s light squeeze on her hand stopped her. She turned to look at him, confused, but his subtle shake of the head made her pause. She clamped her mouth as she turned back to Kris. She could see it in his eyes—he knew the truth, but he wasn’t ready to face it. Thalassa stayed buried in Kris’s chest, unmoving except for the shallow rise and fall of her shoulders. She was too numb to cry anymore, too overwhelmed to speak. Kris’s hand rubbed her back in slow, soothing circles, but even that felt like a distant echo in the storm raging inside her. Without a word, they all walked back to the waiting area. The minutes stretched into hours. Somewhere during that time, a police officer came to take Bridget's statement regarding the attack.Midnight came and went, but no one felt even a little bit sleepy. Every nurse or doctor who passed by was met with hopeful eyes, but no one stopped to give them any news. Finally, after four grueling hour
The air in the hospital waiting room was suffocating with tension. Thalassa was leaning against Kris, her head heavy on his shoulder, while Luisa sat beside Alden, clutching his hand. After a while, Luisa’s voice cut through the silence. “How is it even possible for a prison transport to get hijacked? Aren’t there protocols to prevent this?” Alden nodded slowly, his expression grim. “There are, but law enforcement isn’t infallible. Sometimes, things slip through the cracks. And sometimes… they get blindsided.” Luisa’s eyes narrowed, her thoughts spiraling. “What if… what if she wasn’t kidnapped? What if she escaped? What happens then?” Kris exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “If she escaped, she’s already out of the country by now. Prison was her worst nightmare, and there’s no way she’d miss an opportunity to avoid it.” Luisa sagged against Alden, her exhaustion evident in her trembling frame. Alden wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “You need to rest, babe,” he
After turning off the TV, Bridget scanned her eyes around the empty space. Her eyes fell on Rita’s phone which was lying on the couch, face down. She'd forgotten to take it along.She smiled faintly, shaking her head, “Poor thing. She’s thinking about too much.” She picked it up and tucked it in her hand before making her way to the hall to flip off the lights. Then she made her way upstairs.When she reached her Rita's door, she knocked lightly, calling, “Madam?”There was no answer. She waited a beat, then knocked again, a little louder this time, her brow furrowing as she listened for any sign of movement. Silence.Bridget frowned, a little puzzled. Her boss had gone upstairs not even four minutes ago. Could she have already fallen asleep? It seemed unlikely, but maybe she really had been more tired than Bridget realized. “Well,” she mumbled to herself, “I can give it to her tomorrow.”She turned to head down to her room, but something stopped her. She turned back toward the door