"Nothing happened between us when she showed up," Damian quickly added, his eyes pleading with her. "I shut her down. Told her to leave, that there was no place for her in my life anymore. “ But... I didn’t tell you. And that was my mistake. I thought if I could just keep it buried, we could stay h
“J-Jamal?” Her voice cracked, trembling with fear and hope all at once, the words barely escaping her lips. “Baby, where are you?” Her heart raced faster, pounding in her ears so loud it almost drowned out her own voice. Her pulse thrummed, the anxiety climbing higher with each second, her chest ti
"I’ll find him, Rachael," Damian said, his voice a low growl, determination lacing every word. "We’ll get him back. I swear it." But even as he said the words, he felt the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. The stakes were too high. Victor was dangerous, unpredictable. Rachael pulled away
Damian had already left to go to the police, but every second he was gone felt like an eternity. Racheal was alone in the house, the silence deafening, except for the sound of her own erratic breathing. She was waiting patiently for feedback while on a call with her uncle. "Uncle Clark Victor to
“I promise,” Uncle Clark said, his voice deep with conviction. “But first, we have to get smart. We have to be ruthless. And if Victor thinks he’s walking away from this, he’s dead wrong.” Meanwhile, Victor had taken Jamal to his house, a place that was far from welcoming for the boy. The moment th
"Well, well, well," Daisy's voice slithered into the room, sharp and mocking. "Look who’s hiding in the kitchen like the little rat he is." Jamal clenched his jaw, pretending not to hear her. He just wanted to finish his food in peace. But peace was never an option when Daisy was around. She strut
Jamal's heart raced as disbelief and horror surged through him like a tidal wave. His chest heaved, blood pounding in his ears, drowning out the sounds of the world around him. “What? No—no, Daisy, that’s not true!” he stammered, his voice cracking with desperation. His words, raw and trembling, hun
Racheal tossed and turned in her sleep, her dreams plagued by shadows and fleeting images she couldn't quite grasp. And then she saw him—Jamal—standing far ahead, just beyond her reach. His body was small and fragile, his face pale, his eyes hollow with terror. Blood smeared across his skin, drip
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