Before Racheal and Chloe could even finish their playful conversation, a loud, jarring thud echoed from down the hallway, cutting through their laughter like a knife. The loud sound came from Jamal's room. “What was that?!” Racheal’s voice was sharp with panic, her heart jumping into her throat as
Racheal sat there, her heart pounding in her chest as the sound of the sirens grew louder, closer, yet it felt like time had slowed to an agonizing crawl. Her trembling hands were stained with blood, her son’s blood. The cold realization settled in her bones, twisting her stomach into knots. This
They moved quickly, efficiently, strapping Jamal to a stretcher, securing his head. “We need to get him to the hospital immediately. There’s significant head trauma, and we’ll need to run tests to determine the severity.” Head trauma. The words hit her like a sledgehammer. Racheal’s mind swirled wi
“Maam?” His voice was calm, steady, but Racheal could hear the tension behind it. “Yes, I’m here. Is Jamal okay?” Her voice cracked, barely holding it together. She took a step forward, her hands trembling as she wrung them together. The doctor’s expression was unreadable, and that terrified her m
Racheal froze . She had expected anger, but this... this was different. This wasn’t the man she knew—this was something raw, untamed, and terrifying. Her breath caught in her throat, her fingers gripping the phone tightly as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. "Damian, I—" sh
He gestured to the hallway. "We’re not doing this here." Numbly, Racheal followed him out of the waiting room, her mind a whirlwind of panic and dread. The moment they stepped into the empty hallway, Damian stopped and turned to face her. His eyes bore into hers, filled with a mixture of pain and f
As Racheal was dealing with everything in the hospital, Victor’s house was figuratively on fire. Victor leaned against the window, staring out at the meticulously landscaped garden, his face set in a hardened expression. He had made up his mind. The house, with its three excessive living rooms a
Daisy’s tearful eyes pierced through him, making him realize just how far things had gone. He had let his temper control him, and now his daughter was looking at him like he was a monster. “I—I didn’t mean to, Daisy,” Victor stammered, his voice hoarse, but Daisy wasn’t listening. She clung to her
Racheal's eyes widened, filled with horror and disbelief. She recoiled, instinctively clutching Anna closer to her chest. "No… no, you don’t mean…" Her voice trailed off, her mind racing to deny the awful truth. "Oh my God!" She staggered, pressing a hand against her mouth, her fingers trembling as
Damian took a slow, hesitant step forward, his gaze never wavering from her. His eyes were filled with a longing so intense it could have brought the stars to their knees. He reached out, his hand trembling as he brushed his fingertips against her cheek, his touch warm and achingly real, grounding
But Anna kept crying, her tiny voice piercing through the calm rhythm of the ocean waves, rattling Racheal’s nerves. She tried everything—bouncing, rocking, singing softly. Nothing eased the crying. Feeling defeated, she finally set Anna down on the sand, her heart heavy, only for the little girl
**A Year Later** He was gone. Two words. They carry the weight of a world collapsing, the brutal truth that life can end without warning, without mercy. Death is so final, so unforgiving. They say it’s a thief that steals more than just a heartbeat. It takes away laughter, shared secrets, future
Victor’s eyes gleamed with delight, an almost feral hunger as he watched Damian crumble. He tilted his head, studying Damian’s broken form with a twisted satisfaction. “Oh, Damian,” he purred, relishing each syllable. “Look at you… crawling, sobbing, like a dog begging for scraps. It’s delicious.
What’s the matter, Rachel? Suddenly shy? I said fucking strip bitch! Fucking strip you fucking slut!” he taunted, cocking his head with cruel amusement. “Or do you need another… reminder?” Her breath hitched, her eyes darting to the man Victor had just killed, the blood still pooling on the cold fl
Rachel’s heart seized, her chest tightening painfully. “No!” she gasped, her voice cracking, terror rushing through her veins as she tried to grab her son swiftly before victor got a hold of him. But before she could move, Victor’s hand shot out, grabbing Jamal’s arm in a crushing grip. Jamal strug
Rachel’s chest heaved as she clung to Damian, her fingers digging into his arm as if he were the only thing anchoring her in this nightmare. Tears streamed down her face, her breath catching in her throat with each sob. Every fiber of her being screamed for Victor to leave, to take the darkness he
The chapel’s heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing Uncle Clark standing with a quiet strength. His arm was steady as he offered it to Rachel, his aged eyes glistening with emotion. His smile, both proud and bittersweet, told her everything: he had seen her rise from the ashes of a life that nea