"I'm sorry that I just came to see you even though I know it's been almost a month since..." Cailynn looked doubtful. She let out a long breath, then continued her sentence. "I always pray for you, Eve." She said as she clasped Eve's hand, which fell limply on her lap.Cailynn came—that woman came to her apartment. And to be honest, Cailynn's arrival sent a little hope that... the man who filled Eve's every dream at night had also come along with the woman.However, it had been almost 10 minutes since Cailynn had been in her room, and there was no sign that anyone else had come with her.Eve and all her hopes faded away along with her labored breathing."I'm fine." She forced a smile that she knew looked very fake on her face."Taylor and Cassy left you something," Cailynn pulled out a box of pies from her bag, and Eve instantly wanted to cry when she remembered her time with Taylor and Cassy at Axel's mansion.Eve knew that she would probably never have the chance to repeat what she
Axel Angelo Murdoch.Axel was sure that almost everyone who worked in the underground had heard his name at least once in their lives.Axel wasn't the most famous underground lord in the country, and he wasn't the highest leader with the most power, but he knew the people behind his name, which made him powerful.The clan he led was not the biggest in the United States, but he not only had the Murdoch name behind his name but two big names that helped make his name.Someone once said that she didn't like living under her parents' names because she wanted to stand on her own feet. She wanted to fly on her own wings and live on her own pats because she knew that she... had the ability to do so.However, Axel was not a naive person who would throw away the power he had behind his name just to have something in the middle of his world.He chose to use the power in that name—standing up to the power of those around him and making it his own.Why did he do it? Why doesn't he choose his own
When she first came to Seattle two years ago, Eve prayed that she would not leave the city with a broken heart.Seattle was the image of the new chapter of life that was part of her dream—her freedom.Seattle is proof that she can stand on her feet and fly with her wings.Seattle is the shape of the decision she made for herself and by herself.Seattle is a piece of courage that she never dared to show anyone.Seattle was the first step she took towards the next new step.However, this time, Seattle is also proof of the biggest failure in her life.Seattle is now part of her worst heartbreak—every wound she let remain there without trying to heal."I really want to say that I will come to New York often to visit you, but I realize that my annual leave will not increase, and I still need my salary to pay the rent on my apartment." Kaira let out a long breath as she grasped Eve's hand tightly, stepping through the crowds of people walking in the bustling airport.Eve couldn't remember t
Eve let out a long breath as she adjusted her seat position—making herself as comfortable as possible while sitting on her parents' private plane with luxurious facilities that she didn't get every day.The weather in Seattle was clear, and that meant they would have a pleasant flight—hopefully.She had forgotten the last time she used her parents' private plane because she was too busy enjoying her life in Seattle and preferred to use commercial airplanes when she traveled.Yes, everything in Seattle seemed more normal when she first came there. And now, two years after she decided to stay in Seattle, she made another decision that she thought she would never make."Is there anything you need, Miss?" A flight attendant came to her with a trolley of food and drinks.Eve shook her head briefly. "Thank you, I don't need anything." She said."You can call me whenever you need anything, Miss.""Sure." After that, Eve closed her eyes again, letting herself leave Seattle asleep because she
Germany was a pleasant place to live.The air in this country felt different and Eve realized that she would be the weirdest person in the world if she said that she... remembered memories of somewhere through the air she breathed."You can cry now," Josh—her father, came to Germany as soon as he could after he got the call from her mother that her grandmother had passed away. And as was always the case, the first thing her father did was to run to her mother and hug her tightly to let her cry in his arms.Eve silently observed everything that was happening around her—letting herself stay lost in her own world when she knew that the people around her were busy with theirs."I should have come here sooner," her mother let out a cry just as her father arrived.Once again, Eve looked it all in her silence.Since the maid had woken her up at 3 am because her grandmother had died, Eve had not seen her mother cry at all.Her relatives had arrived hours ago, and all they did was cry under he
Axel didn't know what could hurt more than the fact that... today he lost both of his parents.Two years after his mother's death, his father passed away, and Axel always knew that day would come soon in his life from the first second he faced his mother's death.There was nothing that his father would have wanted and Axel had always seen the reluctance in his eyes whenever Alexandrov realized that he still had to continue his life alone without Beatrice.And today... they had literally left him alone to be back together in a place that... well, Axel wasn't sure where they were. He believed that there was life after death, but he didn't know exactly where that place was. Wherever it was, at least he knew that his parents were back together in an eternity that no living person could ever see."Axel," Cailynn grabbed his wrist and leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked out of the cemetery. "You're going home with me, aren't you?"Axel let out a long breath.Not far from him
Axel thought that dreaming of meeting Angeline—touching her hand and hugging her all night when he knew his body lacked the strength to open his eyes was a pleasant dream.He cried. Yes, he did.Just as Chloe had said more than ten years ago, Axel finally found a hug that allowed him to cry there.He found that hug, and he honestly cried there.Many things he let out through his tears—the pain he had let stay in his heart for years, along with every anger, disappointment, and pain that burdened him.Yes, Axel hugged her tightly and cried there after letting his body endure a fever for the past week.Throughout the night, he kept his eyes closed because he feared the dream would end right when he opened them. So, rather than letting himself realize what was happening, he preferred to stay in the illusion that burdened him.Unfortunately, what he thought was a dream—an illusion that appeared in his mind because his body could no longer bear the pain- turned out not to be the dream he th
Eve couldn't describe how she felt when her feet stepped through the large pillars in front of the main door of a mansion that was not unfamiliar to her—a mansion she once called home.It had been a month since her last memory of that place. A month had passed, and she thought she would keep counting every day as she woke up alone in her bedroom."Eve," Cailynn reached out her hand to her.Eve looked up and glanced at Cailynn's outstretched hand for a moment.In front of the mansion's door, there were two men who were not strangers in er memory. And not far from them, Anthony stood with Cassy and Taylor."Come on, Eve," Cailynn repeated her sentence.She still remembered what happened when she first arrived.No. No one greeted her. She came with fear of death—afraid that something bad would happen and she would lose her baby.At that time, fear dominated her heart more than anything. But now, she was not afraid of death or losing her baby. A month ago, she walked through death, and sh
Eve spent many years of her life thinking she might end up with the man who became her fiancé months ago. She never felt that there was anything wrong with her life or the plans she had laid out in her mind. Everything went normally, but perhaps she had to accept the fact that in her life, she not only had to face heartbreak but also witnessed a great betrayal that left a deep scar.Despite all the bad things that had happened in her life—loss, disappointment, pain, and sorrow that crushed her—he would never forget any of it. She would embrace every wound she had endured and carry it with her throughout her life, keeping a part of it alongside every happiness she might experience with the man she chose.And she was certain that happiness would be perfect if she spent it with Axel—together with all the flaws and scars they had faced together.The bright morning sun with white clouds adorning the blue sky was the best thing she could ask for on her happy day—one of the happiest days of
As Axel said last night, he had indeed been at her house since this morning. Eve had to admit that he woke up earlier and came to her house before she even had a chance to wake up.Well, her sleep was not as sound and easy as before—just as she thought last night. However, she managed to sleep by 3 AM, which was a decent achievement considering she once thought she couldn’t sleep until morning.“You always wake up late,” Axel teased her with a playful smile as he spread chocolate spread on his whole-grain bread. “You like chocolate spread, don’t you?” He asked while placing the bread on Eve’s plate.Eve knew her parents were quietly observing what Axel was doing. And it seemed they were also trying to find answers to their conversation last night—a conversation that was still not fully resolved.“The maid didn’t prepare much because Eve didn’t say you were coming for breakfast. If we had known, we would have prepared better.”“That’s not necessary at all, Mrs. Meadow. I like what’s pr
Eve still remembers every detail of the streets in New York even though it has been a long time since she visited her hometown. This place still remains a part of her life, although she realizes that another part of her life has settled in Seattle with all the complications she left behind.Her parents welcomed her as Axel's car entered the spacious yard of her family's mansion. There are a few details that are different from what she last remembered, but this place is still the mansion where she grew up from childhood to adulthood. She recalls every dream she once thought of as she walked through the mansion's yard. She remembers planning to leave her parents' mansion and live on her own—flying with her own wings.Now, she is no longer a teenage girl who carries a notebook everywhere to write down everything she wants to do. Now, she chooses to live freely—following whatever is in front of her and trying to get through each day with slow steps. Not because she has lost her dreams and
Axel seemed to have forgotten the last time he visited his parents' graves. He used to come here every time he visited New York on his birthday—exactly on the anniversary of his mother’s death. He would come with a single flower and place it on his mother's tombstone, leaving his father's grave empty because he didn’t know what flowers the man liked. After all, his father probably wouldn’t care about any flowers placed on his tombstone since the only thing that mattered to him was being reunited with his wife, Beatrice.However, this time, Axel did something different. Instead of a single red rose, he brought a large bouquet—something he clearly did not buy based on his own decision. And not just one but two bouquets with the same content and size as if they were intentionally made to be identical.“Ah, if Aunty Beatrice knew the mess Axel has made recently, I’m sure I’d see him scream in pain from pinching him. He deserves a spanking for troubling everyone,” Cailynn complained like a
Waking up early and starting her day ahead of her usual routine was highly unpleasant for Eve. If she could, she would have preferred to lie in bed all day, wrapped in her blanket. Sunlight was beginning to filter through the window, but she would have ignored it, keeping her eyes closed all day.Unfortunately, last night, she made a promise she couldn't break, and she had no intention of breaking it."Wait," Eve turned her head, somewhat confused, as Axel led her towards a helicopter parked on the mansion's helipad. "We're using a helicopter?""Do you mind?" Axel extended his hand and helped her into the helicopter, which was all black—a signature look for anything associated with Axel."I don't mind helicopters." She shrugged. "Aren't we taking Cailynn with us?" She furrowed her brow as Axel climbed in and sat next to her, closing the helicopter door."She's already there," Axel answered calmly. "We'll meet her later."Eve had no other questions to ask, so she remained silent in her
"It's funny because these horses look so excited when you come here and give them apples."Eve turned her head and saw Cassy walking towards her with a few apples in her hands, joining her in feeding the horses from a close distance."I often come here in the morning when I don't have work. However, they seem uninterested in my apples, whereas now I see them scrambling for a chance to get apples from your hand." Cassy extended her hand, and magically, none of the horses scrambled to eat the apples from her hand. "See? They really frustrate me, and I promise I won't come here to give them apples anymore," Cassy said while laughing briefly.Eve snorted and took the apples from Cassy's hand, then started feeding the horses.She didn't know how long she had this new habit of giving apples to the horses. However, she felt she liked this new habit very much. It felt delightful to see the horses in front of her finish the apples and water she provided."Winter is over. Don't you want to go h
If Axel had known that life would lead him to a complicated fate and life story, he might have chosen not to let himself get too deeply involved in a life he always called a duty. Whatever he did in his life, he only went through everything because he knew it was his duty. He never had the opportunity to make decisions, no one ever gave him a choice when Lucas decided to give him the leadership of the clan, no one ever asked if he liked his life full of dangers that always followed him, and no one knew if he wanted the life he was living. Everything that happened to him was what he could never decide. He got everything because it was destined for him—all the things he had to go through, even if he didn’t want them.Then, for the first time in his life, he let himself be immersed in his desires—something he longed for with all his heart and mind. Did he know that this desire would lead him to a life full of complexity? Did he know that the consequence of his desire was that he brought
Eve has loved silence her entire life—as far back as she can remember.She loved the quiet she found at her desk with piles of books and a pen in her hand. She loved the breeze that blew her hair as she spent the afternoon on her bedroom balcony with a cup of tea and a thick book on her lap. She cherished every quiet corner of her mansion, far from the hustle and bustle of New York and the paparazzi cameras. She appreciated the silence her parents offered because of their guilt over what New York society had done to her.Yes, Eve loved every definition of silence because it was the hardest thing to obtain throughout her life.Years passed, and she hoped she would find the silence—the peace she craved—once she moved from New York to Seattle with every dream and hope in her grasp. She had big plans and was confident they would succeed as long as she worked hard.However, time taught her many things, and now she understood that not everything she desired could be obtained with her hands
Axel glanced at the round watch on his right wrist—ensuring that everything was in order according to the calculations he had made over the past week.Midnight came, and there was a change of guards throughout the base. At that moment, the first assault would certainly proceed a bit easier due to their complacency. But what about the second assault? Of course, the second assault would be much easier if the first team had completed their mission."What are you doing here?"Axel turned his head when he heard Adeline's voice behind him.Adeline...Whatever crazy notion was in this woman's mind that led her to remove Andres and become the leader of the rebellion was hard to fathom. It was difficult to believe that this was the same woman who had saved him and brought him to the secret base—far from Andres' reach with no access to this territory.Compared to Andres, Adeline was much more terrifying.She harbored secrets and immense danger—something hidden behind her angelic face."Nothing,"