The door creaked open, and Damien slipped back into the room, the tension in his movements palpable. Flora looked up from her bed, her heart sinking at the sight of his tight jaw and the flicker of frustration in his eyes. He shut the door behind him and crossed the room in a few long strides.
As he settled into the chair beside her bed, Flora couldn’t help but ask, “What did the superintendent say?” His gaze held hers. "The good news is, they finally have a name for the attacker." Flora's breath hitched. "Who is it?" Damien took a deep breath, the harshness of his expression easing. “The woman who attacked you has been identified as Tilly Goodman. She has a record—petty theft, blackmail, things like that. Nothing too violent, though. The police are interrogating her, but she’s refusing to admit to the attack in the parking lot a few days ago.” A frown etched itself onto Flora's forehead. "Doesn't seem like she'd be willing to risk aThe hospital discharge process was swift, thanks to Damien’s arrangements. By the time they stepped outside, a sleek black car was waiting to take them to Flora’s house. The drive was quiet, the city passing by in a blur of buildings and people. Flora found herself gazing out the window, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.When they arrived at her house, Damien helped her out of the car, his hand steady and reassuring on her arm. The house loomed before them, a familiar yet daunting sight. As they walked up the driveway, Flora couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia mixed with trepidation.Inside, everything was just as she remembered it, but with a few noticeable changes. The security cameras were discreetly placed, their presence a silent reminder of the precautions that had been taken.Damien noticed her looking at the cameras, a frown twisting her lips. “They'll be removed today,” her murmured, placing a hand on the small of her back. ”I promised you, didn't
Flora stirred awake, a sliver of streetlight filtering through the blinds and dancing across her eyelids. Unlike the restlessness of her afternoon nap, this time sleep had offered a semblance of renewal. The throbbing pain in her neck had dulled to a manageable ache, and a wave of cautious optimism washed over her.Her thoughts were clearer than they had been earlier in the day. She sat up, stretched, and looked around the room, noticing how clean it was. Her thoughts drifted to Esther whose fidgety behavior had left her uneasy. She chastised herself for entertaining suspicion towards the poor maid. The woman's hesitation, the nervous fidgeting, could have been attributed to a hundred different reasons, none of them sinister. Perhaps a personal issue had left her on edge. Or she could have been simply overwhelmed by Flora's sudden return and the accompanying presence of the guards. With a sigh, Flora resolved to apologize for her accusatory tone later. She pushed the t
Flora's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "A quarrel? About what?"Caterina avoided Flora's gaze. She wiped her hands on her apron, clearly uncomfortable. "Well, it wasn't physical or anything. Just a heated argument.” Flora leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "Caterina, you can tell me. Was it something about me?"Caterina finally met her eyes, a hint of defiance softening into concern. "No, not really. It's just… when I came to visit you at the hospital, I asked Esther to come along. You know, for moral support."Flora nodded, recalling Caterina's presence in the sterile hospital room. It had been a welcome sight."But she declined," Caterina continued, her voice laced with a hint of irritation. "She said you were strictly her employer, and not her friend, and there was no need for her to go to the hospital."Flora was taken aback. She blinked, surprise momentarily robbing her of speech."Really? She said that?"Caterina nodded vigorously, her cheeks flus
"Hard at work, Mr. Hayes?" she said, leaning against the doorframe with a mischievous grin. Damien's head snapped up, a startled look flickering across his face before it was replaced by a genuine, warm smile as he saw her. "I didn't hear you come in. How are you feeling?" "I rested well, thank you," Flora replied, stepping into the room. She walked over to him, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "But I should be the one asking you that. You're always telling me to rest, yet here you are, buried in work. I'm not sure I should have listened to you if you don't take your own advice." Damien shrugged, a touch of self-consciousness creeping into his eyes. "Guilty as charged," he admitted. "I just wanted to catch up on some backlog. Didn't realize I'd been at it for so long." Flora crossed the room, her steps light and silent. “Doesn't look like the backlog is going anywhere," she said, peering over his shoulder at the docume
After dinner, Flora felt more at ease than she had in days. She was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Tilly and her accomplice, but for now, she was content to bask in the warmth of the moment, surrounded by those she loved. When they finished cleaning up, Damien turned to her with a smile. "How about we take a walk in the garden? It's a beautiful evening, and I think some fresh air would do us both good." Flora nodded, feeling a sense of excitement at the prospect. "I'd love that." They walked hand in hand through the garden, the cool evening air refreshing against their skin. The stars were just beginning to appear in the sky, and the gentle rustle of the leaves provided a soothing ambience. The sky above them was a deepening shade of twilight, with the last hues of sunset lingering on the horizon. Flora’s steps were slow and measured, her hand gently br
Flora sighed, closing the book she had been reading. It was a thriller she had picked up to inject some excitement into her monotonous days, but even the plot twists had failed to hold her interest. The initial comfort of being home had given way to a gnawing boredom and the house now felt like a gilded cage.She set the book down on her bedside table, pushing herself up from the pile of pillows that Damien had carefully arranged to make her comfortable. It had been a week since she had come home from the hospital, and the excitement of returning to the comfort of her own bed had quickly worn off. The police were moving forward with prosecuting Tilly Goodman, despite her refusal to confess, but the sense of justice was cold comfort in the face of her growing boredom. Damien had returned to work at the company, and though he visited often, his presence was never as constant as she wished. While Flora appreciated his dedication to his company and making up for the work he was
“Welcome home, Whiskerton,” Flora said softly, stroking the kitten’s head. Whiskerton nuzzled into her hand, his tiny body vibrating with each purr.They moved into the living room, Flora carrying Whiskerton while Eva and Catarina followed. Catarina excused herself to check on dinner, leaving Flora and Eva to settle on the couch with the kitten. Its soft fur was a comforting weight against her skin.“Tell me everything,” Flora said, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “What’s been happening in the outside world?” She raised her fingers to imitate air quotations as she said the last two words.Eva leaned back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, Olivia is still sulking at your father’s place. Apparently, she’s convinced that Henry is going to come crawling back to her any day now. It’s pathetic, really.”Flora rolled her eyes. “Honestly, she needs to move on. There are better men out there than Henry.”Eva smirked. “Speaking of Henry, he’s been keeping a low p
Flora lounged on the couch, her eyes following Whiskerton's playful antics. The little ginger kitten was leaping at dust motes, swatting them with his tiny paws, his tail flicking with intense concentration. The kitten's boundless energy and childlike wonder were infectious. An urge to spoil this little ball of fluff welled up within her. Flora chuckled softly, entertained by his simple joy. It was a welcome distraction from the monotony of her recovery period. Suddenly, an idea struck her. Whiskerton needed toys and treats to keep him entertained, and she decided it wasn’t too late to make a quick trip to the pet store. She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was 8:41 PM. Surely, she thought, it wouldn’t take long to pick up a few things and be back home. The pet store was only a short drive away. With a sense of purpose, she sprang up from the couch, her mind made up. She hurried up the stairs, her feet padding lightly on the carpet. Catarina, hearing the move
Hello everyone, Ena here! Phew, this has been quite a journey. I can hardly believe that we've reached the end of this story together. What started as a simple idea has grown into something so much more, and that’s all thanks to you readers and your support. Thank you for sticking with me and I'm grateful to every single one of you. Though we’re closing this chapter, I hope this isn’t goodbye. I have more stories to tell, and I’d love to share them with you. I'll be back soon with an even better book. Until next time 💛 All my love, Ena Starr.
Two Weeks Later The evening had settled into a comfortable warmth as Flora parked her car in the driveway of Damien’s estate. The sky was a gentle gradient of fading sunset hues, a perfect close to what had been a long but fulfilling day with Eva. They had been going over the offers from several publishing houses and TV studios, that wanted to monetize Flora's experience with Alice and Janice. It had been exhausting, but there was a sense of peace that came with knowing everything with Alice was truly over. Justice had been served, and Flora was finally free. With a content sigh, she gathered her things, pushing open the front door. The house was unusually quiet, save for the faint rustle of the breeze outside and the distant clinking of glass from the kitchen. A cozy warmth greeted her, the familiar scent of home wrapping her in comfort as she stepped inside. "Hello?" she called out softly, slipping off her shoes and setting
Flora’s breath caught in her throat, but she held her composure, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She cast a glance across the courtroom and met Alice’s eyes. There was no fire in them, no anger or hatred. Only resignation. This was her fate, sealed and unchangeable. Alice would spend the rest of her life in jail. There would be no escape, no return to the life she once knew. She would die there, alone. The judge then turned her attention to Janice, who sat trembling in her seat. “As for Janice Holden,” the judge said, her tone unwavering, “for the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, and for the misuse of her professional authority as a nurse, resulting in the death of Vera Wicks, this court finds the defendant guilty.” Janice sobbed openly as the judge delivered her sentence: twenty-five years to life, with the possibility of parole only after serving the minimum term. But even with parole, Janice would never fully escape her crimes.
The next few days blurred together, filled with a whirlwind of action and emotion as Flora set the final stage for justice. Filing the formal report against Alice was both cathartic and devastating, but it was something Flora knew she had to do. This was the final step in a journey that had begun when her life was torn apart by betrayal, and now, she was finally fighting back. Alice was arrested almost immediately after Flora's report, and to everyone's surprise, she didn’t resist. For the first time in their long and painful history, she didn’t fight back. There were no screaming matches, no attempts to manipulate or twist the situation in her favor, no venomous remarks hurled in Flora’s direction. Instead, Alice turned herself over with an unsettling calm, submitting a written confession detailing her involvement in both the death of Flora’s mother and the accident that had left her father a prisoner in his own mind. Flora knew Alice’s cooperation wasn’t born
A chill ran down her spine, and she stammered out the first question that came to mind. “Olivia…are you—”Before she could finish, Olivia let out a bitter laugh, the sound filled with a weight of sorrow and exhaustion. It wasn’t a happy laugh, but one of disbelief at her own situation.“Yes, I’m pregnant,” Olivia confirmed softly, cutting off Flora’s stumbling attempt to find the right words. She rubbed her palm lightly over her stomach as if to comfort herself more than anything else. “And before you ask, it’s Cyprus’s.”Flora’s breath caught in her throat. Cyprus. Of course it was his. Her mind flew to that one disastrous night that Olivia had had with the arrogant vice president of Defendwise Ventures.“Olivia…” Flora whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. “What are you going to do?”The question hung in the air like a fragile thread, and for a moment, Olivia seemed lost, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the supermarket, beyond the immediate rea
Olivia’s face was puffy, her eyes rimmed red and swollen from crying. She looked utterly devastated, her usual composed demeanor shattered. Her bottom lip quivered as she attempted a smile, but it was weak, trembling at the edges. "Flora," Olivia whispered, her voice cracking. Flora stepped forward, unsure whether to close the distance between them or keep some space. She could see the exhaustion written across Olivia’s features, the turmoil swirling behind her eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of what had brought them here pressing down on both of them. Olivia broke the silence first, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—I didn’t know.” She choked on the words, shaking her head as fresh tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t know what my mother was capable of. I swear to you, Flora, I didn’t know any of it.” Flora stood still, absorbing Olivia’s words. She wanted to believe her. Desperately. But the betrayal of the past day,
The buzzing of Flora’s phone startled her out of her thoughts. It was Olivia. The message read:“Can you meet me in thirty minutes? There's a small 24-hour supermarket called "Pinegrove Market" not far from the estate. I’ll be there. Please, Flora, I really need to talk.”Flora’s pulse quickened as she read the message. Thirty minutes? She glanced at the clock. It was late, and while her body still ached with exhaustion, the urgency in Olivia’s words cut through any hesitation. Something in her gut told her this couldn’t wait. Without overthinking it, she typed a quick reply:“I’ll be there.”She stood up from the couch, assessing her loose pants and short-sleeved top. They would have to do for such an impromptu meeting. She padded quietly upstairs, not wanting to disturb the peaceful quiet of Damien’s home. He was fast asleep, one arm draped over his eyes, his breathing steady and calm. Flora felt a pang of guilt for slipping out, but she had to do this. Bending dow
Just as the words left Eva’s mouth, the kitchen door opened, and Damien stepped inside. He looked at Flora, his gaze soft and warm, and without a word, he crossed the room and kissed her gently on the temple. “Eva’s already started drafting the court papers,” he said, finishing Eva’s sentence. His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, as though they were discussing something far less monumental.Flora blinked, still processing everything. “Has Alice made a move since we left the estate?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady.Damien shook his head. “No,” he replied. “I think she knows this is the end for her.”The weight of his words settled over the room, and for a moment, there was nothing but the soft sound of the stew bubbling on the stove and Whiskerton’s contented purring. Flora exhaled slowly, a mixture of relief and exhaustion washing over her.That night, after dinner had been cleared away and Catarina and Eva had gone off to bed, Flora sat alone on the couch in t
Flora blinked, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. She knew who had orchestrated this—who had called Catarina and Eva, who had made sure that when Flora woke up, she wouldn’t be alone. It had to be Damien. He had seen how close she was to breaking, how much she needed the people around her now. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Flora looked between Catarina and Eva, her lips trembling with a bittersweet smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for coming.” Catarina patted her cheek affectionately. “You’re stuck with us now,” she said with a soft almost motherly smile, before turning back to the stove to finish serving the stew. “Now, sit down and eat before you collapse. I made your favorite.” Flora’s stomach growled again in response, and she let out a soft laugh. Their presence, combined with the savory aroma of the stew, filled the room with a sense of comfort that Flora hadn’t realised she'd been craving .