As Mae busied herself in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and stirring pots, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. She over her shoulder and found Kai seated at the table, his eyes never leaving her. He was leaning on his hand, with his chin propped up as he observed her every move with an intensity that made her cheeks flush.She could feel the weight of his gaze and it made her clear her throat hoping to focus on her cooking, but Kai's presence was undeniably distracting. With an annoyed sigh, she finally spoke up, "You know, you could help instead of just staring."Kai grinned mischievously, "Oh, but I'm providing moral support from here. Besides, I'm enjoying the view."Rolling her eyes playfully, Mae shook her head, "You're incorrigible."While Mae continued to cook, Kai's playful talks persisted, much to her annoyance as he stood up and walked towards her, standing beside her"You're doing great. Just a pinch of salt, and it'll be perfect," Kai remarked with a smi
Jane took a deep breath and with a calm sigh, she turned the doorknob to her house. "I'm home," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. Now that she had finally recovered and been discharged from the hospital, Jane decided to slowly resume her normal routine. However, with her newborn still in the hospital's NICU, she couldn't shake off the constant worry for her baby girl.She carefully stepped inside and closed the door behind her as she made her way to the couch. She sat down and glanced around the room. Despite only being a few days since Mae left to work abroad, the house seemed tidy and well-maintained.But without her cousin's presence, the house felt emptier than ever, and Jane couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. The once comforting walls now echoed with silence, and the bright lights seemed almost blinding.Jane was lost in her thoughts when she was startled by a knock on the door. "Uhm... Who is it?" she called out, her voice tinged with uncertainty,
The room was quiet, the air cold and heavy with tension. Kaitlyn sat across from Dean, both clutching their cups of coffee, nerves buzzing in the silence. Before Kaitlyn could find her words, Dean spoke up."Kaitlyn..." He gently called her name, setting his coffee cup down on the table.His gaze locked with hers, a look she'd never seen from him before, stirring something deep within her. Those eyes seemed to plead and hope, stirring emotions within her."I need to tell you something," Dean began, reaching for her hand and taking the cup from hers, holding her hands in his."I... I'm doing this again. But this time, I know I won't regret it," he stuttered. Kaitlyn looked at him in confusion but with understanding in her eyes, and gently squeezed his hand."It's okay... I can handle it," she replied softly.Dean hesitated, then nodded, his resolve firm."Let's divorce. I'll face the consequences. I'll do whatever it takes," he said softly, a statement that made Kaitlyn scoff in disbe
The tension in the room was abruptly shattered by the creak of the door, revealing a stern figure in glasses."Mr. Castellan. The investors are here," the newcomer announced.A moment of eerie silence hung in the air, broken only by Mr. Castellan's chilling laughter reverberating within the enclosed space. He rose to his feet, picking up a knife with a predatory smirk."I'll be right back. Make sure to say your goodbyes," he sneered before striding out of the room.As the door clicked shut behind him, Jane wasted no time, inching her way toward her baby. Relief flooded her as her eyes settled on the peaceful form of her sleeping infant."Oh Zoe... My little girl..." Jane's sobs were soft but carried the weight of unbearable pain. Her trembling hands strained against the bindings that held her back, her heart wrenching at the thought of missing precious moments with her daughter.With resolve born of maternal instinct, Jane leaned down to press a gentle kiss against Zoe's incubator, lo
In the sleek and opulent conference room of Castellan Enterprises, Mr. Castellan, adorned in his signature tailored suit, stood at the head of the polished mahogany table, exuding an aura of authority and confidence. Around him sat a gathering of investors and stakeholders, their faces expectant, their eyes fixed on him.Mr. Castellan with his practiced eloquence, began his presentation, painting a picture of prosperity and opportunity, extolling the virtues of his company and the potential for lucrative returns on investment. He spoke of growth, innovation, and profitability, his words laced with persuasive charm.However, his spiel was abruptly interrupted by a voice from the crowd, crisp and incisive. "I heard Ashenwood Corps. pulled back from investing," the foreign investor interjected, his tone cutting through the air like a knife. "This company has been a great contributor to your company, Mr. Castellan. And the reason why we're here is because we thought we could have a connec
"What?" Dean's voice trembled in shock."What do you mean, 'had' a child?" He asked, hoping his father could clear up his misunderstanding."It's true. The moment Kaitlyn gave birth to your daughter, the baby just didn't survive since it was a premature birth. Oh, my precious grandchild... All I wanted was to have a little one running around the house," Mr. Castellan feigned sorrow.Dean couldn't process the information properly. Although the woman in his dream did say that he would be a good father. It must have been his memory reminding him.But all of his confusion was blotted out the moment the door opened and in came Kaitlyn with a worried look on her face.Mr. Castellan immediately rushed towards Kaitlyn to halt her from going straight to Dean, fearing she might say something that would jog his son's memory."Ah, Kaitlyn, you came," Kaitlyn's father-in-law spoke, stopping her."Father-in-law," she greeted, causing Dean to realize that his father really was telling the truth."I
"How is she?"A man's muffled voice stirred Jane from her sleep."She's finally healing. We're just waiting for signs of consciousness. I hope she'll wake up soon," another man answered.Jane slowly fluttered her eyes open, her vision adjusting to the light. She heaved a deep breath, almost a gasp, that caught their attention."Baby... My baby..." were the first words she spoke as her mind finally woke up completely. Her lips quivered, and her hands trembled as soon as she saw the men inside the room, thinking they were the ones from Castellan's."Shhh... It's alright... We're good people. We won't hurt you," the shorter man hushed Jane, trying to calm her down.Then the tallest in the group, who looked like someone with the highest authority, stepped in and spoke."What happened to you?" he asked, sounding like he was investigating.Jane, still hesitant to trust them, didn't answer, which made the man sigh as he dragged a chair and sat facing her."I'm Lucas DeMarco. I'm an adopted s
After nearly a month, Dean had finally recovered, though the scars of his recent wounds still adorned his body. Despite this, he moved with freedom unlike before.Their decision to divorce had been put on hold due to unforeseen circumstances. Determined to address the situation, Kaitlyn approached her father. As the only beloved daughter she was, he promptly understood her intentions and began reinstating investments in Dean's father's company.In the weeks that followed, Kaitlyn and Mr. Castellan found themselves growing closer. She couldn't forget his words from a week prior."When my son is fully recovered, I'll host an extravagant party in his honor, announcing his takeover of the business as he reconciles with you."Despite harboring guilt for withholding the truth from Dean, Kaitlyn found relief in the unfolding of events. Everything seemed to be falling into place as it should.Kaitlyn watched Dean on the treadmill and she couldn't help but feel excitement. As Kaitlyn watched
Kai immediately ordered Calix to resume driving towards their intended destination. As the car lurched forward, Kai swiftly reached for his handkerchief, expertly knotting it around Mae's wrists to secure her hands behind her back.Mae's heart pounded in her chest as she felt the fabric cinch tightly around her wrists, her movements restricted by the tight bindings. She shot a furious glare at Kai, her eyes blazing with defiance."What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Mae seethed, her voice laced with anger and fear.Kai's expression remained impassive as he tightened the knot, ensuring that Mae's hands were securely bound. "I'm making sure you don't do anything stupid," he replied curtly, his tone brooking no argument.Mae struggled against her restraints, her frustration mounting with each futile attempt to free herself. But Kai's grip was firm, his resolve unwavering as he maintained control over the situation.As the car finally came to a stop, Calix stepped out and opened th
As the evening drew to a close, Mae and Brian left the restaurant together, laughing at each other's jokes. The cool night air greeted them as they stepped out onto the street. Mae was feeling quite content until she suddenly flinched, her eyes landing on two familiar figures standing a short distance away.Her heart skipped a beat. It was Kai and Calix. Both of them seemed to be waiting for her, and the sight of them together filled her with anxiety and confusion.She quickly tapped Brian on the shoulder. "Brian, can you go ahead without me? I need to handle something."Brian looked at her with concern. "Are you sure everything's okay, Mae?"Mae forced a reassuring smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Really. It's just something I need to deal with."Brian hesitated, his worry evident. "Are you positive? I can stay if you need me to."She shook her head gently. "It's okay, Brian. Thank you for tonight. I’ll be fine."Though he was reluctant to leave her, Brian nodded. "Alright, if you're sure. But
The weekend finally arrived, and Mae, who usually cherished sleeping in on her days off, found herself waking up early. She stretched lazily and walked out of her room. She had a quick breakfast and she to get a head start on some chores.Mae moved through her apartment, tidying up and organizing. She washed the dishes, did a load of laundry, and straightened up her living room. The simple tasks helped settle her nerves as she thought about the date tonight. Despite her initial reluctance, she found herself growing curious about the kind of man she could possibly meet. Around mid-morning, Mae took a break and turned her attention to her bedroom closet. She carefully took out the dress she had bought a few days ago, laying it out on her bed. The navy blue fabric shimmered softly in the morning light, and Mae who weren't really a fan of wearing dresses somehow felt excited. The dress had felt perfect then, and now, as she looked at it, she felt reassured. It was the right choice.Afte
Days passed since Mae last saw Kai and Calix flew back home. Her life had settled into a quiet routine, though she couldn't deny being annoyed by the constant attention from the two men. Yet, in a strange way, she had grown accustomed to their presence and the trouble they brought.Mae sighed as she continued typing on her computer when her coworker, Sebastian, approached her with a cheeky smile and a cup of coffee in hand."Yo, Ms. Delgado," Sebastian greeted. "Busy as always, huh?"Mae smiled at Sebastian's greeting, setting aside her work momentarily. "Hey, Sebastian," she replied, returning his cheerful demeanor. "Yeah, you know how it is, always something to keep me occupied around here."Sebastian chuckled. "Tell me about it. So, any exciting plans for the weekend?"Mae shrugged. "Not really, just the usual. Probably catch up on some reading and maybe binge-watch a new series."Sebastian nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Sounds relaxing. I might hit up a party my friend's th
Mae stood up and looked him straight in the eyes."I don't want men who toy with me, and you're no exception. If I had the guts to leave behind the man I have loved for years, imagine what I can do to someone like you, whom I know nothing about except his name." Her words shocked Kai."So get the fuck out of here and don't show your face to me ever again. I am not obligated to answer to you. I owe you nothing.""Ha! Are you seriously doing this right now?" Kai chuckled bitterly, ruffling his hair."Yes. But if it's inconvenient for you, why don't you stay here for the night? I mean, I'm kind enough to at least care for someone's life," Mae spoke rudely."So you're choosing your... I don't know? Childhood love?" Kai mocked, displeased at the possibility that she might choose Calix. He was confused as well. Why would he even go after someone like Mae? Why would he feel this much pain from just words? Why does he feel like he is currently being dumped? He couldn't stand it.And so Mae a
But before she could even give a response, the door burst open, revealing Kai, who immediately dropped his smile the moment he saw her with another man.Kai's expression darkened as he took in the scene before him, his eyes flickering between Mae and Calix. She raised a brow at Kai's reaction, "Why are you here?" She asked nothing out of disrespect but just simply curious. Calix who was still weak from his fever, shifted uncomfortably on the couch, "This guy?" he murmured out of disbelief and rose from his seat defensively. There was an obvious tension in the room as Calix knew well who Kai is. "You're living with this guy?!" Calix scoffed that made her stand up, alarmed that a fight might break out."Calix, calm down. It's nothing like that." Mae pleaded and immediately blocked her arm in front of him only for Kai to take the chance to grab her. "It's exactly like that. So get out of this fucking place before I burn this down with you in it." Kai warned with predatory eyes starin
After checking out of the hotel, Mae immediately took a taxi back to her apartment.As she thought she had already gotten away from her problems, another one sprung up. Because as soon as she arrived at her apartment door, she caught sight of Calix sleeping on the floor.Calix was all curled up, looking pale, wearing only the clothes he wore yesterday.Just then, a neighbor passed by and saw Mae, unable to resist intruding."He's been there since last night," the lady informed Mae."What?" Mae flinched, surprised and worried."Yeah. I told him you and the other guy were out and that he should go home. But he said he wanted to wait for you. I guess he got worried when I said you're living with a guy," she shrugged and went inside her own apartment.Mae sighed and conceded to give Calix a proper apology after everything she had said yesterday. But the moment her hand touched his skin, Mae's eyes widened as she realized that Calix was hardly breathing because of his high fever.Without w
And so, Mae ended up sleeping beside Kaius. Although she was against it at first, she had no choice, such that Kaius never wanted to sleep anywhere else aside from Mae's side.He acted like a clingy child.It was a scary experience for Mae.Yet she was so deep in their sleep that she couldn't notice herself snuggling into Kai's arms, and it woke him up.Turns out, Mae had already unconsciously gotten used to sleeping with Kai beside her. Or more like, she had already gotten attached to the man.Kai stared down to look at what was causing his breathing to be compressed, and there he saw Mae curled up against his body. His throat down to his chest vibrated as he chuckled, enjoying the sight."And you wanted me to go home?" He mumbled almost in a whisper and brushed off a few strands of Mae's hair away from her face."Look at how much you've gotten used to me. Are you sure you want me away?" He added and carefully, gently pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her."Ah, your quick l
Later that day, as the sun dipped, Mae decided to stay at a hotel rather than go back to her apartment because either she was going to meet Calix on the way, or Kai would be in her living room.She didn't really want to see either of them right now. It was a good thing she brought her phone and wallet with her.As soon as Mae entered her hotel room, she instantly jumped on the bed to cool her head off. She looked at her reflection on her phone screen and groaned, seeing how red and puffy her eyes looked."Yep. I look ugly," she confirmed, agreeing with what the little boy had said earlier.She turned and lay down on her back to stare at the ceiling."You know what? Damn those two. Grr! I couldn't even stay in my own apartment 'peacefully'," Mae complained and started flailing out of frustration.Eventually, she calmed down and let out a long sigh. "I need to figure out how to deal with this," she muttered to herself, staring back at the ceiling as if searching for answers. After a w