"Aurora," a soft voice whispered, gently tapping my cheek. I stirred, feeling extremely weak as I slowly opened my eyes. My cheek throbbed painfully, probably from the dried blood that had already stopped from streaming down my face. The last thing I could recall was being hit on the head, and after that, they'd placed a sack over my head. "Can you run?" Lucas whispered softly. I shook my head. "Who's with you?" I asked, straining to hear any sounds around us. "You can ask that later," he replied, and he quickly undoing the ties on my legs and arms. I left with no choice when he suddenly pulled me off without any words and started running to leave that area. Despite my knees feeling like jelly, I did my best to keep up, knowing that if I didn't, we could both die. Panic surged in me when I heard two people approaching from where Lucas and I were currently hidden. "There are people," I whispered in alarm, even though I knew that he could hear them too. "Damn it," he muttered, pu
"You seem to be moving a bit slowly, Martin," Haze chuckled. "You might as well accept that I beat you to it before you can tell your wife— well, you're not married anymore, but it seems like... you're chasing after her," he added with an insulting tone. I glanced at Lucas, not hearing any response from him. But I couldn't detect any emotion on his face, quite the opposite of how shocked I was by these events. He was just looking at Iris, who smiled at him and appeared to feel sorry for not being able to get closer to Lucas. I was still in a daze, trying to process what was happening. All this time... They were all around me. How could I be surrounded by people I've long been puzzled about why I was experiencing things that shouldn't have happened? How? I turned my eyes back to Haze, who was now laughing and looking at both Lucas and me. He looked completely different from the Haze I had known. "Are you... Red?" I asked in disbelief. He tilted his head while looking at me. "Yes,
I desperately wanted to go back to Lucas, but I couldn't. Chris was too strong to pull me away from where Lucas was. I almost tripped from the hurry, unable to go back to where Lucas at as I could only hear the gunshots in the distance. "Stay here," Chris ordered as he gently pushed me behind some large barrels. I couldn't even speak as he ran away from me, opening fire with his gun. My vision was getting more blurry, and I felt utterly useless. Fury welled up inside me as I saw Iris hurrying away with a few of her men. I quickly grabbed the gun held by a man who was shot and died in front of me. "Iris!" I tried to get her attention, but the gunshots drowned my voice. I raised my arm and aimed the gun at her. What I didn't expect was Chris yanking me and quickly pushing me behind some barrel to shield us. "Are you out of your mind?!" he shouted in anger. I blinked when Chris stood up and fired his gun. I could only follow him as we moved to another hiding spot. "Wait for me he
I sat in a daze, staring out of my bedroom window. The incidents that happened from that night were still fresh in my mind, and when I looked back on them, it felt like it had happened just yesterday. Despite the time that had passed, everything still felt so fresh. A bitter smile crossed my face when my mom's news replayed in my mind. I looked at the stars above, sparkling in the night sky. They seemed to be whispering to each other, a beautiful sight to behold. I slowly closed my eyes and felt the cool breeze brushing against my face. Tears welled up in my eyes again. Chris and Lucas were on the brink of death, and so was I. We were all disrupted due to Haze's thirst for revenge. But then... if I hadn't left the condo that night to meet Haze, none of this would have happened. There's no one to blame but me, right? I don't really know the exact reason behind Haze's actions, apart from the death of his younger sister and his blaming Lucas for it. I had stayed in the hospital for a
"What are you doing here?" I stepped aside to let Lucas pass. It had been a few minutes since I arrived at his condo, and he had just returned. I couldn't bring myself to look at him directly, overwhelmed by a sense of shame. I wasn't even sure if I should be feeling that way. I was taken aback when he pushed me aside as I followed him. Our eyes met, and it was at that moment that I felt compassion as I looked into his eyes, which seemed weary. The surroundings were dark, and it appeared as if he hadn't had a proper rest yet.My heart ached. "Leave," he told me, gesturing for me to go. I shook my head. "I'll stay here," I said. He shot me a glare. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "I was waiting for you to visit me, you know—""Are you dead?" he asked, cutting me off before I could finish what I am saying. "If I were dead, would you visit me? Would you visit me and your child?" I tried to catch his expression after I say it but I saw no reaction in his eyes, and he didn't see
"Then abort it!" Lucas shouted. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you even hearing yourself?" I asked. My voice were trembling. "Lucas, this is your child! It came from you, and you're telling me to abort it? What kind of father are you?" I questioned him. "You're asking me what I should do with that? Fuck that child. If you don't want to take care of it on your own then might as well kill it. As simple as that. Stop pestering and involve me in your nonsense problems. I have a lot of more important things to prioritize than that damn child," he retorted. I couldn't help but laugh as I looked at him. "More important things? Seriously, Lucas! Is drinking alcohol more important to you? Is that what matters to you? Are you saying that our child is not important? We're talking about your child here! Our child! I am willing to stand by your side, especially in your difficult times, but right now—" "We're already divorced, Aurora. What more do you want? You used to drive me awa
I lightly slapped Lucas's thigh, which I had a firm grip on when he thrust himself into me with all his length. I blinked as my eyes watered. I took a deep breath when he released me. I felt like I was about to vomit. "Put it in your mouth," he ordered, knocking his manhood on my closed lips after what just happened. When he wasn't satisfied, he slapped my face with it, causing me to instinctively grab my cheeks and nose where it had landed. "Damn it! Can't you hear me? I said put it in your mouth!" he commanded angrily. I had no choice but to obey his wishes. I was speechless as I felt his manhood rapidly entering my mouth. I wanted to give up as he thrust it again in deeply.I could feel the sensation of my throat tightening each time he pushed it in. Even though it was painful, I didn't complain. He started groaning and moaning, experiencing the sensation. I was forced to look up at him when he tugged at my tangled hair to prevent it from obstructing my mouth. My eyes seemed t
It was around three in the morning when I received a call from Lucas, who hadn't contacted me after he had kicked me out the previous night. Half-asleep, I groggily answered the call. "Lucas," I mumbled, still half-asleep. "Come there at my condo," he ordered. My eyebrows furrowed, and I struggled to open my heavy eyelids that which were a little bit blurry cause of the sudden waking up. I had just fallen asleep due to my busy schedule, taking care of my parents, who had been extremely busy in the past few weeks. I wasn't sure what exactly they were working on, but I am sure that it was a hundred percent related to the case that they are solving. Nothing new about it but the only difference was that, they are too busy in this certain case that I don't even have a chance to talk to them because sometimes I'll wake up and they're gone, they'll come home when I'm already asleep and sometimes they're almost here at home for a while as if they don't have time to rest. Despite their e
I was sore down there. When I woke up, Lucas was still sound asleep. I rummaged through his clothes to find something to wear and cover my body. My outfit was ruined from the outside down to my underwear. He was a beast! Even though I could barely walk properly, I felt no regret. I wanted it, and I won't deny it. He didn't stop until I was begging him to. I only managed to rest for a bit, but I woke up to him making love to my body again. I went straight to the kitchen to get some water. I must have run out of fluids in my body because of what he did. He was trying to hold himself back earlier, but when he laid me down on his bed, it was like he was going to tear me apart. I coughed when I felt his arms wrap around my waist and Lucas burying his face in my neck. "One more?" he asked, pulling me slightly, causing me to feel his hardness against my back. "I'll cut that off," I threatened him. I hadn't even had a proper rest! He just laughed while teasing my breasts, and
"You want more?" I brought the pasta closer to her that I hadn't touched. I was busy watching her enjoy the food I made. She hesitated to look at it. "Don't you want it?" she asked. I shook my head. "I'm not hungry," I replied. "You're wasting food. You shouldn't have cooked so much," she complained, although she was smiling as she took my plate. "Take it easy on the wine. You have low alcohol tolerance," I reminded her. She just smiled at me and gave her full attention to the pasta she was eating. "Does your fiancé know that I'm the one you're visiting here? Does he even know me? Who I am in your life?" She stared at me for a long time while chewing slowly, as if she was thinking. "Of course," she eventually answered. "Do I know him?" "You do," she replied affirmatively. "I'm just going to change my clothes," I said as I left her there. How I envy her for being able to move on and heal her heart that fast while here I am, still stuck on the day when she left me. I quick
"Put me down!" she complained as I carried her like a sack of rice. "Stop squirming!" I said, starting to get annoyed. When I opened my car, I finally put her inside. She looked at me with such anger in her eyes that it felt like she wanted to kill me. "I dare you to open that damn door. It is not funny, Aurora," I said seriously. "Why are you forcing me to go with you? I already said I want to go home—" "And I insisted to take you to your hotel. Yet, we need to talk first." "We have nothing to talk about, Lucas." I turned to the driver's seat. "Yes, we do. You haven't told me why you came here. Was it so important that you flew here when you could have just called me—" She laughed, which made me turn to her. "Call you for what? So I wouldn't see your girlfriend?" "She's not my girlfriend," I corrected her. "You kissed, and now she's not your girlfriend? Damn, what? Are you going to throw your girlfriend away?" "That was an accident, Aurora! I didn't kiss her," I defended
I gasped a breath before facing her. She was silently looking at me while I faced her. A mix of anxiety and fear consumed my system, but I didn't let it show. "Aurora," I said her name. "Lucas," she called me. I could see the surprise in her eyes as if she didn't expect to see me in front of her now. Her eyes pierced through me and looked behind. Even without looking, I knew she was looking at Justine. "You left your girlfriend," she said, now unable to look directly into my eyes. "What are you doing here?" I asked her. After four years, here she is... in front of me. I don't know how to act because I was too shocked by the situation and the fact that she saw me in such a bad state. If... If I could just hug her tight, I would. My attention shifted to her lips as she bit them, something she does whenever she is holding back from saying something. I tried to follow her eyes, but it seemed she was avoiding our eyes meeting. "I got a job offer somewhere here. The driver dropped m
I had been staring at her face for a long time. I was controlling myself not to make a move just to avoid scaring her. She was crying in front of me, and God knows how hard I was trying to hold back the urge to pull her into my arms. Seeing her cry made me want to cry too. As much as I didn't want to see her in tears, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't blame her because I knew she was carrying a heavy burden in her heart. She left the Pines without clarity about what happened before. She planted anger, and it seemed that it hadn't gone away until now. I am not asking her to forgive me anytime soon. I just want to apologize for what I did. I know that forgiveness isn't easy. I never planned to say goodbye to her. It was never on my list to talk to her before I leave, but I had no choice; it seemed this was meant to happen. "Goodbye," I love you. I could no longer hold back the tears streaming down my cheeks, so I hurried back to my car. I cried quietly as I watched her in front
"Aurora left her kids here. I can't leave them," Chris began as he answered my call. "Where did she go?" I asked, raising my eyebrows in concern. She still hadn't gotten over what happened before. She still leaves our kids anywhere. "I told you I can't leave the kids. How will I know? I am in front of Aurora's parents' house. The kids are playing outside," he reported. "I'm heading there now," I replied and ended the call. I turned the steering wheel to go back. Christian had said he was going somewhere, and I couldn't leave my children unattended. I wouldn't forgive myself if something bad happened to them. This is the only way I can ensure their safety. I had been away for a long time, though not literally since there were times I visited Sitel even when they weren't aware. "Thanks," I thanked Chris as he said he was leaving. "Superman!" shouted a familiar child's voice that made me turn. I looked back to see who was calling. Liam had a big smile on his face. Looking at his
"What are you doing here?" Noah asked. He was in front of me. If looks could kill, I would have been lying dead a long time ago. There were just some police around us, and I know how it feels like. The difference is that I was imprisoned because of Aurora's wish for me to be locked up, while this guy in front of me was here because he tried to kill someone. "Did Aurora visit you?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. I was hearing updates about what was happening with Aurora. Chris was helping me keep an eye on her. It's not that I wanted to invade her privacy, but I needed to. The last time I decided to stop checking on her, in just a span of a fucking second, her life was in danger again. "She has already been discharged from the hospital, for your information. It seems your mother didn't tell you or give any updates about Aurora yet," I added. I smirked when I saw that he seemed to be interested in what I was saying. I felt pity for this friend of Aurora's. He had
I was left sitting here outside the house. Several hours have passed, and until now, Lucas and my children have not returned yet. I have peeked multiple times at the passing vehicles, hoping that one of them carries Luna and Liam. I wanted so much to rest, but I can't. I will wait for them to come back here. I can't bear it if my children were to disappear from me as well. They are my only family. Lucas cannot just steal my kids away and hide them from me. I have more rights than he does if we are going to talk about the kids, but what can I do if he has completely kept them away from me? I wiped the tears that flowed from my eyes. I am getting tired of crying. If I had known this would happen, I would have just stayed inside the house. If I knew that leaving my children just to talk to their father would lead to being separated from them, I wouldn't have left them. I messed up my hair again. Thoughts keep racing through my mind. I swear to God. I could spend all my money just to
I was almost ready to fly my car. The problem was that due to rush hour, I was having a hard time weaving in and out. I had been honked at by the cars I was overtaking, but my desire to catch up with Lucas prevailed. I couldn't explain why I felt anxious. I had just said earlier that I would keep my kids away from him, yet here I was, nearly crashing my vehicle just to reach his condo building. Why didn't he tell me he was leaving? If Noah hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known at all. After everything, he was going to leave? He would just abandon everything and bury it all? Did he want to start a new life and live more quietly? I exhaled forcefully through my nose. I grabbed my hair in frustration while staring at the car in front of me. Those few seconds felt like several minutes. "Damn you, Lucas," I muttered angrily. I kept glancing at my cellphone. I couldn't sit still as time kept ticking away. I didn't even know if I would still catch Lucas at his condo. My eyes we