"Ms. Kelly!" Rachael’s voice trembled as it left her throat, louder than she intended. Panic was already creeping into her chest, winding tighter with every second that passed. She hurried across the playground, her eyes scanning every inch. Where is he? She kept thinking, her pulse racing faster th
The call went to voicemail. Rachael nearly screamed in frustration. She dialed again, her hands shaking so badly she could barely press the button. Ring. Ring. Voicemail. She let out a strangled breath, her body feeling like it was on the verge of collapse. What if Victor had taken him? What if—
She bolted out of the office like a mad woman, clutching her chest as though it could stop the painful crack forming inside her. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision, but she didn’t care. Her breaths came in sharp gasps, each one like a knife cutting deeper into her already shattered
Her body trembled uncontrollably, not from fear but from the overwhelming mixture of rage and sorrow. She had been so broken already—this was too much. Too much to bear. “It’s not what you think, babe,” Damian’s voice trembled as he desperately tried to close the distance between them, his hands ou
She clutched at her heart, her breath caught in her throat. “Damian!” she screamed, her voice raw and broken. “You shattered my heart!” The sound echoed through the empty hallway, full of fury and devastation. Tears flowed freely now, unchecked, her body trembling as she curled into herself, clutch
For a moment, the world seemed to stop. The air in the dimly lit hallway grew thick, suffocating, as Damian stood frozen. Blood stained his lips, a cruel smear against his ghostly pale skin. His eyes, wide and glassy, brimmed with disbelief—shock etched into every line of his face. He didn’t mov
They say death has a way of sneaking into your life when you least expect it. Racheal thought she had felt its cold grip already, pulling her down into that endless void. “This is it, she had told herself in those fleeting moments as she lay on the cold, wet pavement. This is how it ends. The rea
Chloe leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, as if holding onto her own anxiety. “You fell, Racheal. You were running in the rain, and you tripped. You hit your head pretty hard.” Her voice trembled, and Racheal could see the sheen of tears threatening to spill over again. “They said
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