“Miss me?” he asked, which made me stop. That familiar voice seemed to jolt my drunken senses awake. I took a deep breath before looking at him. It was Haze. He was smiling at me and appeared to be waiting patiently for me to see him. I scanned around, trying to find someone to ask for help, but there was no one. Lucas was gone as well. My heart pounded hard as I looked at him. The grin on his face was terrifying. He held a cigarette in one hand and a gun in the other. “Dare to shout, Aurora. I swear, that will be your last word,” he threatened. “Haze,” I said, almost stuttering with fear. He shook his head. “How soft my name sounds when it’s you who says it.” My head was forced to follow him as he yanked my hair. I could see a mix of emotions in his eyes—rage, anger, pleasure, and more that I couldn’t name. If you looked at him now, Haze was far more frightening than before. He was much skinnier, and the dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced. If I didn’t know him
I woke up feeling like I was running out of air. I struggled to free myself from Haze’s tight grip around my neck. My hands were tied, so no matter how much I wanted to remove his hands from my throat, I couldn’t. My feet were also bound to the chair. I coughed as he released my neck. “I’ve been trying to wake you up for a while now,” he said angrily. I looked at him with sharp eyes. Armed men surrounded me. My situation was the same as when I first fell into Haze’s hands. They were smiling at me like demons who was ready to kill. I groaned in pain when Haze kicked the chair I was sitting in, causing me to fall to the cement floor. "Eat," he ordered, kicking the slop of what looked like pig food in front of me. The placement was haphazard, and even the container was dirty. "I'd rather die than eat the food you're giving me—" Before I could finish, he pointed his gun at me. I swallowed hard in fear and lowered my head. "Go ahead, pull the trigger. It won’t make a differ
Luna and Liam's eyes widened in shock, just like mine, as they witnessed me without any clothes on. I couldn’t stop myself from crying anymore. "You’re such a monster, Haze!" I screamed. My children ran towards me, but they were quickly blocked by the men guarding the area. He walked closer to me with a smirk on his face. I wanted to sever his hands as he laid them on my skin. It wasn’t enough for him; he even pinched my breast. "Nice body. No wonder everyone seemed to enjoy themselves." I breathed heavily as his hand traced a path towards my most sensitive area, but before he could touch it, I quickly gathered my saliva and spat it in his face. My head quickly turned as Haze struck my head with the gun he was holding. Things happened so fast, and the next thing I knew, I was staring into his dark eyes, gasping for air because of his tight grip around my neck. "Mommy!" Liam cried out. I heard Luna's little sob. I tried my best to plaster a smile on my face to make her feel at
My eyes adjusted as a bright light greeted me. The familiar scent of medication filled my nose. The sound of machines filled my ears. I felt like my throat was completely dry. I tried to move but was failed due to a lack of strength. I felt the heaviness in my body. I felt like a wilted vegetable that had been neglected. I groaned in pain when I tried to move even just a little. The brace around my neck was making it difficult for me to see my condition. I stared at the large clock in front of me for a long time before the door finally sounded, signaling that someone was coming in. I just looked there and waited for someone to enter. It wasn’t long before a nurse appeared. She seemed surprised to see me awake. "You’re awake, Ms. Aurora," she greeted with a smile. Her calm aura added to the reason why I also felt calm at this very moment. "I’ll just check your vitals," she said. I let her move around. I couldn’t even open my mouth because it felt so heavy. "Dr. Oscar, ICU Room 51
"Aurora," Auntie. Gia called out to me as she came in. I thought no one would visit today since it was already evening when they arrived. "Mommy!" Luna called out to me and hurried to my side. Liam quickly blocked his sister and shook his head. "Mommy isn’t fully well yet, Luna. She can’t carry you," he reminded her. Luna pouted but didn’t insist further. They were talking, and here I was, just looking at them. My eyes glistened as I watched the two of them. I don't know how long a year felt for them to grow up so fast. Liam was taller than before, as was Luna. "Can you hug Mommy?" I said, almost in tears. Without hesitation, they both hugged me. I held back my tears when they embraced me. I can clearly remember how they were thrown into that room. They were too young to experience that, yet I had no choice but to save them from that traumatic experience. "I'm sorry," I apologized. Luna was already crying on my shoulder, and Liam remained silent while hugging me. I trusted
"Am I still not allowed to be discharged?" I asked Nurse Trina. Two weeks had passed since I woke up, and up until now, Noah hadn’t visited me with Luna and Liam. I do have people I consider family, but I feel like I’m all alone. I was so tired of waiting for nothing. "You can. Everything is normal for you now; your surgical area is fully healed. Do you want to be discharged? Just let me know so I can take care of it, and I'll update you on the progress," she said. I nodded. "I also feel like I’ll just get sicker if I stay here. As a mother, I need to get back to my usual routine. It’s been a year since I was away from my children. A year without being there for them, and I can’t take it any longer. I miss my kids so much." Nurse Trina smiled slightly. "I’ve noticed that you rarely get visitors, even when you were in the ICU. They seem like very busy people." "Everyone has their own life, and there’s really no one left to take care of my kids. I’m just grateful that my fiancé’s
Minutes passed, but neither of us spoke. Like me, he was quiet and seemed to be sensing his surroundings. "Don’t look at me," he ordered. I noticed the scars on his arms and legs. I wasn’t sure why he was in a wheelchair. A year... a year before I woke up. Does that mean something worse happened to him, which is why he’s still here in the hospital? "I just want to rest for a while. If you can, please leave me alone—" "You seem fine, just like Chris said," I interrupted him. Even without him saying it, I could feel his avoidance. If I could just act out, I would have. I didn’t even know why they were avoiding me. Is it because I heard what they were talking about earlier? If I hadn’t heard all of that, would he act like this in front of me now? It’s frustrating to feel like they don’t want to see you, talk to you, or even acknowledge your presence. I was already missing my child, and then I had to deal with this guy. I just wanted to see that he was okay and know that he was f
I greeted Noah's father when I saw him here in their living room. He was busy with the laptop in front of him. It was the same day I was discharged. I insisted on leaving the hospital, and thankfully, Nurse Trina took care of me right away. The truth is, I was thinking about the bill I would have to pay because it was surely going to be very high. After staying in the hospital for so long, I will not be surprise if my bank account would take a hit, but when I saw the bill, it said "fully paid." It was already paid by Lucas. However, I didn’t want to have any connection with Lucas. I also didn’t want to increase my debt of gratitude to him, so I would take care of that tomorrow or as soon as possible to return the money to him. Money can be earned back and saved. What I couldn’t stand was being in debt to someone I didn’t ask for help from. He seemed not to expect me, but even so, he remained seated. "Aurora," he mentioned my name. "When did you wake up?" he asked. My brows furr
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