I stared at him, my heart hammering in my chest. “What the hell are you talking about?” I barked, my voice raw with anger and confusion. Damien let out a slow, mocking laugh that irritated me. “Oh, Jaxon. Always so quick to play the hero. But this isn’t a fairytale, big brother. If you don’t back off now, her secrets will come crashing down on you, and when they do, you’ll lose everything you’ve ever worked for. Everything.” “ Stop with the cryptic bullshit!” I screamed, and without another word, I stormed out of his office, slamming the door behind me. Damien's mocking laughter echoed in my ears like a taunt. Outside, I leaned against my car, my breathing ragged, and my mind racing. Myla was out there, somewhere, and Damien’s cryptic words only fueled my determination. Whatever it took, I would find her. But as I pulled out my phone and dialed her number again, her voicemail greeting was the only response. “Myla,” I said, my voice cracking as I left a message. “Please, just call
The tension in the air was thick as I stood protectively in front of my son. My heart pounded in my chest as I locked eyes with Vanessa, whose sinister smile sent chills down my spine."Why are you here, Vanessa?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and fear.She tilted her head, her lips curling into a smirk. "Why, Myla, is that the right way to greet your dear mother?""You are not my mother!" I spat, my voice shaking with anger. "Why are you really here? What do you want from me? Haven't you caused enough damage already?”Her expression darkened, and for a moment, I saw something wild in her eyes. "I'm here to see my grandchild," she said sweetly, her voice laced with threat."Your what?" I asked, unable to believe it. My body stiffened as I instinctively stepped forward, shielding my son from her gaze."You heard me," she replied coldly. "My grandchild. And I’ve come to take him with me."Her words sliced through the air like a knife. "Stay away from him. Stay the hell away fr
“Myla?” Cynthia called, her voice cutting through the chaos in my mind. I blinked, realizing I’d been staring at the crumpled letter in my hands. Her concerned face hovered over me, and her hand rested gently on my shoulder. “I…I can’t do this, Cynthia. I just can’t…” My voice cracked, raw with emotion as I clutched the letter tightly in my trembling hands. “I can’t go back… Never!” I screamed until my voice cracked, hot tears streaming down my face as I let out all the pain and anguish that had been building up inside me. Cynthia reached out, her hand brushing my shoulder as we walked home. “Myla, breathe. Please.” Her voice was soothing, but the fear gripping my chest was undeniable. I shook my head fiercely, stepping away from her touch. “No, you don’t understand! What If I go back to Georgia, and Jaxon’s parents find out about Liam? What if they take him away from me? What if Vanessa…” I trailed off. My words caught in my throat as the terrifying images of my nightmare flashed
He sat with Mr. Clark, laughing and talking like they were close friends. It was clear they’d known each other. My chest tightened as I stepped into the room, unsure of how to proceed. Then Mr. Clark turned to me with a smile. "Myla, meet my nephew, Jaxon Brooks," he said, his words slicing through me like a blade.I froze. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might shatter my ribs. My palms grew clammy, and I struggled to control the tremor in my hands. Jaxon Brooks! Of all people. Of all places. Never in my wildest nightmares had I imagined I’d see him here. It felt like I'd been punched in the gut. My breath caught, and my heart raced wildly, Jaxon was actually standing in front of me - the man I had spent six years trying to forget. The man whose memory haunted me every single day. The man I had lied to everyone about.Jaxon.I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. My gaze locked onto his, and for a moment, it was as if the world around us faded. His face hadn’t changed. His pi
Mr. Clark gestured toward Jaxon, his smile never faltering. “Yes, Coco. Jaxon is your boss. He’s the one you’ll be reporting to once you move to Georgia.”The air left my lungs, and my knees wobbled as the room began to tilt. My boss? Jaxon was my boss? No. This had to be some cruel twist of fate, a joke the universe was playing on me.As I risked a glance at Jaxon, my stomach twisted into knots. His lips was curled into a slow, sly smile that sent shivers racing down my spine. But it was his eyes—those piercing, stormy eyes—that really unsettled me. They seemed to hold something, an emotion I couldn't quite decipher... Was it amusement?... Or Curiosity?He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, his gaze never leaving mine. “Looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more, Coco,” he said, his voice low, dripping with something I couldn’t name.I wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but my throat had gone dry. The words were trapped, strangled by the overwhelming wav
"How did this happen?" I mumbled under my breath, pulling Liam closer to my side. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. I hated this. I hated that Jaxon had followed Liam home. I hated that he was standing here, staring at me with that arrogant smirk, as if he had the upper hand.How did they even cross paths?I forced myself to breathe, to stay calm, but the way Jaxon’s intense blue eyes held mine made it impossible. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to see Liam. And he wasn’t supposed to look at my son like that—like he already knew the truth.I swallowed hard, pushing down the lump in my throat. “Stay calm, Myla. Don't panic. Don't let him see you break.”"Good day, Sir Jaxon," I greeted stiffly, adjusting my veil again, using it as a shield between us. I needed a barrier, something to keep my face locked in.His smirk deepened."Oh, no need for the formalities, dear Coco. Besides, we’ll be working together soon, right?" His voice dri
"I'll strangle you and kill you, so leave this minute!" I hissed, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. I pray Cynthia doesn't appear now. Jaxon has no business being here. So what the fuck does he want?But instead of backing down, he smirked. That infuriating, cocky smirk that made my blood boil."Really? That's interesting," he mused, as if I'd just said the weather was nice. Then, without another word, he reached out, and pried my hands from the door where I had been standing my ground to block him. He stepped inside like he owned the damn place. My body shook as he strolled into my living room with a quiet, effortless confidence—like he belonged here.And then, to make things even worse, he sat down. Not just anywhere. He sank onto the couch – my favorite couch – the one closest to Liam.My Liam.He had no right. No right to be here, no right to sit there, no right to…"I... fucking... hate... you. " I spat, my voice laced with anger.Jaxon, the arrogant bastard, didn't eve
My heart pounded violently against my chest, each beat echoing in my ears like a warning. My legs gave out beneath me, and slowly, I crumbled onto the cold floor. My gaze locked with his, and for a moment, the world faded. It was just us—me and Jaxon—two souls tangled in a mess of love, pain, and the memories of the past.Tears glistened in his eyes, and when he finally spoke, his voice was raw, trembling."Myla... why did you leave?" His voice sliced through me, each word laced with a sense of grief so deep it made my chest ache.I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. My body refused to obey me, paralyzed by the weight of the emotions crashing over me. But Jaxon… Jaxon never looked away. His gaze was relentless, demanding answers I wasn’t ready to give.He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his grip on my hands tightening as though he was afraid I would slip away again."That night, Myla… that one night we had together," he whispered, his voice so broken it made my chest ache. "Di
Different screams tore through the air. The sharp scent of gunpowder burned my nose, mixing with the smell of blood. My ears rang as the deafening blasts of gunfire echoed around me.I gasped, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My fingers numb as the gun slipped from my grip and clattered to the ground.No. No, no, no.My body refused to listen. My legs wobbled, barely able to hold me up. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break through my ribs.Boom! Another shot fired.I flinched, instinctively covering my ears, but it didn’t stop the noise. It didn’t stop the fear. It didn’t stop the sheer terror clawing at my throat.I needed to move, to get my child. But I couldn’t as my muscles were frozen.Then I heard Cynthia’s scream. A sound so raw, so filled with pain, that it sent shivers through my veins.“This was never meant to happen! You all will pay!” she shrieked, her voice cracking with anger and pain.My legs gave out beneath me, and I crashed to the ground, helpless. M
Liam sobbed uncontrollably, his body trembling violently. His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled in vain against the chair he was tied to, desperate to break free. His flushed face turned red from all the screaming, and his tiny hands twisted against the ropes, begging to be free.My chest tightened, and before I knew it, tears blurred my vision. I wanted to walk out and yank Sophia’s hair, make her pay for all the pain she had caused me and Liam. But I couldn’t, I couldn’t destroy everything Cynthia and I had worked so hard for. My hands trembled as I raised the gun, my finger brushing against the trigger.Then, just as I was about to do it, Sophie moved. Without another word, without a single flicker of pity, she lifted her hand and let the lighter slip from her fingers.Liam was still clutching his toy, his tiny fingers wrapped so tightly around it that his knuckles had turned white. Tears streamed down his red, swollen face.Sophie didn’t hesitate. She walked over to one
Cynthia’s eyes burned with urgency as she pointed toward the back door. “Now, go!” she commanded, leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for my response, she spun on her heels and strode toward the front door. Panic swirled inside me. “Cynthia, wait!”She halted, her shoulders rising and falling with each breath. Slowly, she turned to face me, her brows furrowed in frustration. “What is it?” she snapped, “Do you not understand what’s at stake? Every second we waste, the risks increase. We don’t have time for this!”I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “And how do you plan to protect yourself when you’re out of bullets?”Silence.Cynthia stiffened. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. The flicker of realization in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.She was tough, fearless—always the one to take charge. But now? Now she had no answer.“It’s not about me. It’s about Liam. And I’d lay my life down for him without hesitation.”The words hit me like a punch to the gut. S
We sprinted to the back of the warehouse, our breaths ragged as our hearts slammed against our ribs. Behind us, the man's screams tore through the air, raw and filled with agony.I grabbed Cynthia’s arm the moment we stopped, my fingers digging into her skin. "Cynthia, what the hell did you just do?" My voice came out in a harsh whisper, but I couldn’t control it. Fear and shock tangled inside me, making my hands shake.She turned to me, her chest rising and falling. "I had no choice.""No choice?" I hissed, my eyes darting around the warehouse as I scanned for any signs of movement. The man’s agonized screams still tore through the air, each one making my stomach twist. I turned back to Cynthia, my voice barely controlled. "You nearly killed him, Cynthia! Do you even realize what the hell you’ve just done?""He had what we needed," she said, her voice sharp. "We don’t know what’s waiting for us in there. It’s better to be ready."I wanted to argue, to tell her that this was insane, t
Cynthia pulled into the parking lot near the airport, her knuckles white against the steering wheel. The car engine hummed beneath us, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart. My fingers trembled as I reached for the door handle, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. We had come too far to back out now."Are you ready?" Cynthia asked, her voice steady, but I could see the tension in her eyes.No, I wasn’t. But I nodded anyway. "Let’s do this."We stepped out of the car, the afternoon sun beating down on us, making the air thick and suffocating. I wiped my sweaty palms against my trousers and glanced at Cynthia. She was scanning the area, her gaze sharp and calculating.The warehouse loomed ahead, its towering structure casting a long shadow over the ground. Every instinct in me screamed that things might not go as planned, but I ignored it anyway. We had a mission to accomplish.As we approached, my stomach twisted. The gate was locked. Not just locked—chained and padlo
As I pushed open the heavy glass door, the crisp afternoon air slapped my face, a refreshing relief from the suffocating conversation I had just escaped.My heart pounded, not from fear, but from the weight of it all. I needed to leave. Fast. Thank God I hadn’t run into Jaxon on my way out. Then, just as I stepped onto the pavement, a familiar voice echoed through the air, “Hey! You’re leaving already?”I turned to see Linda standing a few feet away, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning my face like she could read every thought running through my mind.I forced a smile. “Yeah, I have to pick up my child from school—plus, I’ve got an appointment to get to.”She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer. “That’s it? You just suddenly have to go?”I tightened my grip on my bag strap. “Didn’t you hear me, Linda? That’s it. I have to go.”She studied me, her gaze piercing, like she could see right through my lie. And she was right, I wasn’t just leaving for my child or some appointment. I was ru
The moment my eyes landed on the wall, my breath hitched. There they were. Pictures—dozens of them.Photos of me as a child, my small hands clutching a toy, and my toothy grin wide and innocent. Pictures of me in high school, frozen in time, caught in moments I barely remembered—laughing with friends, lost in thought, staring out of a classroom window. Some were crisp and clear, others slightly faded, as if they had been touched too many times, held too close, cherished beyond reason.A lump formed in my throat.Why?How did he even get these?My fingers trembled as I reached out, tracing the edges of a picture, one from my first year in high school. He had been watching me all along.The realization sent a shiver down my spine, but it wasn’t fear that took hold of me—it was something deeper, something raw. Love. Devotion. An obsession that felt both overwhelming and terrifying.Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision as I stepped back, taking in the sheer magnitude of what I was
The soft hum of machinery filled the air, low and almost hypnotic. Then, with a faint click, the chandelier above flickered to life, casting a silver glow over the space.For a moment, I thought it was just a passageway—a shortcut leading somewhere else. But as the light spread, the shadows melted away, revealing something far more striking.This wasn’t a passage.It was a restroom.No—more than that.My heart pounded as I took it all in. This wasn’t just a place to freshen up; it was a quiet display of wealth and power. Every inch of it felt intentional, untouched, as if nothing ever moved unless it was meant to.To the left, a long, sleek rack held an immaculate collection of tuxedos, each hanging with precision. Black, white, dark grey—every shade exuded elegance, the kind of suits worn by men who didn’t just follow rules but created themJust below, a row of polished dress shoes rested on a glass shelf, each pair lined up perfectly. The leather shone under the light, spotless and
Oh, shit. My heart pounded like a war drum. Before I could react, Cynthia yanked me down with her, making me slide off the chair in one sharp movement. My back slammed against the cold wood of the desk, breath hitching as we pressed ourselves against it.The air felt thick, suffocating. I turned my head so slowly, and the moment I saw Jaxon, a cold knot tightened in my stomach.He stood at the doorway, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the room. My heart pounded, my breath hitchng in my throat. He hadn’t seen us. Not yet. But every second dragged, stretching unbearably, like a rope pulled too tight, ready to break.If he took even a few steps closer… if he pulled out the chair and sat, then—We were screwed.Exposed.Doomed.The thick desk barely shielded us and there wasn’t enough space to crawl underneath, so we pressed our backs against it, gripping each other’s hands so tightly that my knuckles ached.Every second felt like an eternity, the silence stretching, heavy and