"Can't you understand? I said I'm not leaving until my parents get the damn justice that they deserve!" I argued with Noah. It had been two days since he told me to leave the country for my baby's safety. "I don't even know if you actually filed for another hearing or if you're just saying that to calm me down and get me to follow your orders to leave all of this behind!" He pulled at his hair, looking at me with frustration, as if he didn't know what else to do. "Don't you trust me, Aurora?" he asked. "You know I love your parents just as much as you do because they never treated me differently in the first place. They cared for me as if I were their own son, so don't please ever think that I'm lying or that I'll just let this case go!" I glared at him, not knowing what to say. He was determined to send me away even though I wanted to stay. Why can't he understand me? These were all about my parents—does he expect me to just obey him when he tells me to leave? I've missed so many
"Luna! Liam!" I called out to the kids who were happily playing outside. "That's enough! Come here!""Coming, Mommy!" Luna chirped in response.I sighed as I watched them approach me, bathing with their sweat. Yet, I can't help to smile when their giggles enveloped my ears as they hugged my legs."You're both drenched in sweat again!" I scolded softly. I really disliked how they seemed to practically bathe in it. "Go to your room, both of you go shower now," I instructed, and they promptly obeyed.I closed my eyes and looked upwards. After a moment, I felt arms wrap around my waist."No wonder your wrinkles are appearing so fast," Noah teased.I rolled my eyes and gently removed his arm from around me. "Maybe I should just cut off that arm of yours. You're taking it too far," I joked."What?" he chuckled. "Come on, it's been six years. Aren't you used to it yet?" he added."How about I make you used to my punches?" I grinned, leaving him behind as I returned inside our house.I couldn
I quietly watched my children, sound asleep in their beds. It was already noon, yet they hadn't stirred. It wasn't a problem, though, since it was weekend and they had no school.I gently brushed Luna's hair away from her face, smiling at her innocent expression. She inherited all my features—the shape of her face and her overall appearance.My heart twinged as I glanced at Liam. We never expected to have twins. We were only expecting a child, but I gave birth with two. A twin. I didn't tried to consult my ob-gyne for ultrasound so I wasn't really aware. The fact that I don't want to continue my pregnancy after my parents died but Noah never made me carry it for nine months and let the baby out. That's also the reason why I just let myself carry it in my womb without any clue. Looking at his peaceful face, guilt washed over me. Liam had borne the brunt of my pain from when they were baby. It was all so fresh, and I could hardly forgive myself because I knew it all began with me. Luca
"I can't wait to see Lola!" Luna happily said while squirming in the backseat with Liam. I heard Noah laugh a little. "You don't know how much they want to see you both too, Luna," he replied to my daughter. We’re now heading to Noah’s house, and yes... I still decided to go home. It wasn’t easy for me to make that decision. I had a lot of worries and questions in my mind, but I also wanted to find answers to all of it. It was nice that Noah didn’t argue with me anymore after he apologized for our fight. I’ll admit, I got really annoyed because of that, especially when he kept insisting that I still had feelings for Lucas. That was just way too impossible! Who in their right mind would still love someone who ruined their whole life? I sighed a little and turned my attention to the other cars on the road. Since it’s rush hour, it’s sure to take a while before we reach Noah’s house. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. Until now, I still carry a mix of emotions and
I stopped walking and looked at the person sitting in front of my parents' tombstone. I could feel my blood boiling with anger. Even after all these years, I still couldn’t deny that I recognized every detail of Lucas—his build, his movements. I could tell, and I could prove that it was him sitting there. After all the years we were together, I had memorized his posture. I just didn’t expect that we’d meet today, and in this exact place. How could he have the nerve to sit right in front of my parents' tombstone when he’s the very reason they’re buried beneath the ground? As much as I could, I calmed myself while walking closer. I wanted to hurl insults at him, I wanted to hurt him, but out of respect for my parents' resting place, I didn’t. I was alone; Noah was with Bernadette, and my children were with Noah’s parents. Bernadette wanted to bring the kids along, but Uncle had already taken the twins out for a walk. "Do you ever think that maybe it should’ve been you who died?"
"I said I’d go with you, but you didn’t call me," Noah complained when I arrived at their house. Luna and Liam were already asleep upstairs which help me to feel relief. My planned was to bring them with me but it was such a good choice that Uncle and Auntie Gia get them. I don't know what to do if Lucas ever trapped us in that field. I sighed and hurriedly washed the dishes. I didn’t stay long there earlier. Technically, I should have stayed and seize my time to be with my parents but because of what he said... he leave me without any choice. Everything still felt so fresh, like I was back in the living room watching the incident with my parents unfold. The memory of being in the CCTV room, watching Lucas’s barrage of bullets, came flooding back. Even now, I can’t accept the reality that he could actually destroy my life. I can’t accept that someone my parents trusted so much was the one who ended their lives. I had believed that his threats were just words but now that..
"Are you okay?" Noah asked. He was looking at me intently. I could feel his gaze earlier, and I was trying to keep myself together in front of him, despite being troubled by the fact that Lucas was also here at the resort. What a fucking small world. "You seem restless. You keep wandering your eyes. What’s wrong?" he worriedly asked. I shook my head. "I’m just feeling a bit suffocated," I explained. His eyes narrowed as if trying to read my mind. I sighed and turned to Liam, who was busy eating seafood in front of me. "Auntie Gia, you should eat too. I’ll take care of them," I said since she was the one constantly looking after my kids. "No, it’s okay. I’m done anyway." I was about to speak when I felt Noah’s hand on mine, resting on my lap. "You’re making me worried," he said almost in a whisper. "Tell me what’s bothering you, please." "Noah, I’m really okay. You don’t have to worry—" "Is it because you don’t see anyone else here?" My eyebrows furrowed, and I glanced arou
I stood in a daze on the veranda. Even now, it feels like my mind still hasn’t processed what just happened. What the hell just happened? I agreed to go with Noah to the resort to avoid upsetting the kids, but I never expected that by the time we left this resort, I would be engaged to my one and only best friend. I sighed and looked down below. I don’t know where this decision will lead me, but one thing is for sure, Noah won’t let me down. Noah is a good man, but if I’m being honest, I don’t really see him as my husband or life partner. Yet, I don’t want to hurt his feelings over and over again. All of this even feels wrong. It feels like marrying the guy you treat as your closest sibling. Damn it. This feels incest. I grabbed at my hair in frustration. They were all asleep, and I was the only one awake. I couldn't bring myself to sleep because of what happened earlier. I barely spoke to them when we got back here because I honestly didn't expect things to turn out that way. I
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