As night fell, Kaitlyn, newly awakened, decided to test her legs with some gentle exercise. Despite sensing them, the feeling was peculiar, likely a result of their extended inactivity.Attempting to stand, she sought support from any sturdy object. Her efforts, however, led her to lean against the wall for stability. When she reached for the doorknob, it unexpectedly swung open, causing her to land on her backside. Lucas, the amused culprit, laughed and swiftly lifted her up."What are you aiming for, silly?" he inquired, settling her back on the bed to sit.Embarrassed and still feeling the discomfort in her bottom, Kaitlyn looked down and asked, "I wanted to try leaving the room without relying on you. Is that not allowed?" Her tone carried a hint of hesitance."Of course, it is, but first..." Lucas paused, producing a bouquet of flowers he had concealed behind him and handed it to her.Perplexed by the gesture and curious about the occasion, she accepted it, marveling at the blue
Meanwhile, Dean, having returned home, lies sprawled on the floor of his penthouse, succumbing to the numbing embrace of alcohol.In the weeks that have elapsed since he learned of Kaitlyn's tragic fate, Dean, a man of considerable influence, spared no effort in scouring the city in search of her. However, his pursuit yielded only a disheartening discovery – a city surveillance video capturing Kaitlyn limping towards the sea, ultimately disappearing beneath its depths.With authorities closing the case and deeming it a suicide, the absence of a recovered body added another layer of torment to Dean's anguish, leaving him ensnared in a labyrinth of unanswered questions and unresolved grief.Dean, disheveled and inebriated, was interrupted by a knock on his door. Abby, his secretary, cautiously entered, concerned about her boss's state. "Where's Trina? I asked for her, not you."Dean, disheveled and clearly inebriated, glared at Abby, his secretary, demanding an explanation."I'm sorry,
He came into her, withdrawing slowly and removing the belt. "Sarah!" He called out to his housemaid, who responded and came to unlock the basement door. The old woman, seemingly accustomed to such occurrences, looked down at the woman before her with a sense of pity."Handle her. Take her to one of the rooms upstairs, bathe her, then tie her up again," he commanded, giving a warning look to ensure Jane remained under close supervision.He adjusted his appearance and left the basement first.Sarah approached Jane with sympathy, gently fixing her dress and removing the gag. Jane gasped for air as the older woman spoke, "Oh dear... I'm sorry I couldn't do anything." Sarah then helped Jane to her feet.Jane walked, limping and hissing in pain. Though she remained silent, a flood of words filled her thoughts. 'god... Have I still not paid my sin enough? If that is so, then break my will, and then I will know that I've paid it completely.' Tears streamed down her face once more.Sarah car
Jane wished she could utter, "Yes, I am. But you need not worry. This is not yours. You can keep going with your punishments," but refrained, unwilling to add lying to her sins. Instead, she asked Dean, "If I were pregnant, would that change anything?" with a hopeful undertone.Dean, momentarily taken aback by her question, pondered, 'Ah. Would it change anything? The fact that it cannot bring back Kaitlyn, then no. It won't change anything.' Jane, aware of his unspoken response, smiled and continued descending to the basement, seemingly accepting her fate and martyrdom.Observing her disregard for his words, he hurriedly approached and halted her."But are you pregnant?" he demanded, his grip on her arm intensifying, leaving a bruise in its wake.Jane, still uncertain, cast her gaze downward. She harbored a lingering desire to win him back and secure her unborn child's right to be acknowledged by its own father."Yes, I have been pregnant when you decided that you did not want me aft
Jane wished she could utter, "Yes, I am. But you need not worry. This is not yours. You can keep going with your punishments," but refrained, unwilling to add lying to her sins. Instead, she asked Dean, "If I were pregnant, would that change anything?" with a hopeful undertone.Dean, momentarily taken aback by her question, pondered, 'Ah. Would it change anything? The fact that it cannot bring back Kaitlyn, then no. It won't change anything.' Jane, aware of his unspoken response, smiled and continued descending to the basement, seemingly accepting her fate and martyrdom.Observing her disregard for his words, he hurriedly approached and halted her."But are you pregnant?" he demanded, his grip on her arm intensifying, leaving a bruise in its wake.Jane, still uncertain, cast her gaze downward. She harbored a lingering desire to win him back and secure her unborn child's right to be acknowledged by its own father."Yes, I have been pregnant when you decided that you did not want me aft
Lucas gazes at Kaitlyn, questioning, "What's on your mind?""I was just... wondering," she hesitates."Is Zeke Castellan..." Before she can complete her sentence, Lucas abruptly steps closer, his teeth gritted."Yes. That cursed old man is my father," he responds with intensity, causing Kaitlyn to flinch in fear."You're... Dean's brother?" She inquires, growing more apprehensive as she retreats, eventually pressed against the wall."He'll never be my brother. That wretch," Lucas seethes, startling Kaitlyn. Quickly realizing her fear, he apologizes, "I'm... sorry. I was just so angry."She awkwardly coughs in surprise as he sits at the chair beside her."Here," Lucas suddenly places a golden locket on the table.Kaitlyn gazes at it with curiosity and then shifts her attention back to Lucas."What's this?" she inquires."A locket, obviously," he responds with a hint of sarcasm."Yeah, I know that, but...""Open it," he instructs, cutting her off. She complies, revealing a seemingly old
Kaitlyn was awakened from her slumber by a gentle tap on her shoulder. She stirs, emitting a soft moan, and yawns before her eyes snap open at the sound of a girl's giggles. With a quick, abrupt movement, she sits up."Good morning, miss! The young master told me to wake you up! You have an appointment today!" The lively teenage girl, dressed in a maid's uniform, informs her.Still a bit dazed from waking up, Kaitlyn replies, "Ah, yes. Thank you for waking me up.""I'm Jenny! I was assigned by the young master to help with your preparations," she adds, prompting a nod from Kaitlyn, who is still trying to shake off sleep."I'm awake! I'm awake!" Kaitlyn blurts out suddenly."Did you have a good night with the young master last night, miss?" Jenny teases, raising her brow with a hint of suspicion."What? We did not do anything!" Kaitlyn defensively responds."Oh well, I'm rooting for you, miss!" Jenny pauses, checking the door to ensure no one is coming before whispering, "I've never se
Kaitlyn, shocked by the sudden grab, turned to see Kyle. His presence was unexpected and brought back bitter memories she wished to forget."Kaitlyn, you're alive! Thank God! I... " Kyle began, but Kaitlyn cut him off, acting indifferent.Lucas observed from a distance, choosing not to intervene, curious about how Kaitlyn would handle the situation."I'm sorry. Do I know you?" Kaitlyn's words hit Kyle like a sting. His disbelief was evident as Kaitlyn pulled her arm away."What?" he asked in disbelief."You might've got the wrong person," she awkwardly stated, distancing herself."You are Kaitlyn! You... You might've changed a bit, but you are still Kaitlyn! You're the woman I love... Please don't play games on me, Kaitlyn..." Kyle pleaded, on the verge of tears, feeling as if the woman he loved was denying their shared memories.His words affected Kaitlyn, but she remained composed and headstrong. As Kyle attempted to reach for her cheek, Lucas swiftly intervened, addressing Kaitlyn
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