The night sky had already turned dark when Ariana arrived at the old park near the lake. The place was almost unchanged. The weathered wooden bench, the drooping willow trees by the water’s edge, and the calming sound of the rippling lake—all of it seemed to summon memories from the past.Ariana wore a long gray coat, her scarf pulled slightly to obscure her face. Her hand clutched a small locket—Axel’s gift from long ago—that she had secretly kept all these years.The night air bit at her skin, but she stood still in the middle of the park, waiting.The clock struck 8:03 p.m.Three minutes late.Her mind kept spinning—would Axel actually show up? Or was this just a cruel game played by someone trying to stir up her past?Footsteps.Ariana turned swiftly, her heart pounding. From behind the stone bench, a man emerged wearing a black jacket and a hat pulled low over his face. But as he stepped closer, the park lights illuminated his features just enough.Time seemed to freeze.It was A
Ariana sat on the rattan chair in Nathaniel’s living room, her fingers trembling as she turned the flash drive Axel had given her. Fear, hope, and anger churned inside her. The rapid tapping of Leonard’s laptop keys echoed as he opened the first file from the drive.“This is insane,” Leonard muttered after a few minutes. “CCTV footage from the hospital. The date matches the day you were rushed there after the accident, Ariana.”Ariana leaned in, holding her breath. On the screen, she saw herself lying on a hospital bed—pale and unconscious. A nurse entered with some documents, and shortly after, two men in suits—one of them her father—walked in and signed something.“No…” Ariana’s voice cracked. “That’s… my father.”Nathaniel stood behind her, eyes fixed on the screen. “They hid everything. Even your child.”Leonard continued digging, opening more files—altered medical records, fake reports of a miscarriage, and one barely legible adoption document. The adoptive parents’ names were ma
The rain fell in soft drizzles as Ariana sat inside the private genetic lab, her fingers clutching the DNA test results that had just been handed to her by the technician. Nathaniel sat beside her, his face tense, nearly expressionless.Ariana took a deep breath before opening the envelope. Inside, two sheets of paper with graphs, numbers, and one sentence that made her body nearly collapse:"The DNA results show a biological match between Subject A (Ariana Valen) and Subject B (child in the matching system data). Matching degree: 99.98%."Ariana closed her mouth, her sobs breaking free. "He... he's alive, Nate. He's really my son..."Nathaniel held her tightly, allowing Ariana to cry out her overwhelming joy. But within the embrace, his thoughts drifted—her child was out there, living under a new name and with a new family. And if the people who adopted him had been hiding the truth... then this was just the beginning of a much bigger storm.---Leonard opened the door to his office,
That morning, the air in Seattle felt cold and fresh. Ariana gazed at the towering buildings veiled in a thin fog, her emotions a tangled mess inside. She and Nathaniel stood in front of their lawyer's office, ready to embark on the long legal process to meet her son, Elio. Yet, despite the certainty of their steps, Ariana couldn't shake off her doubts. What if Elio rejected her? What if he felt threatened by her presence?“Ari, you ready?” Nathaniel's voice broke her from her thoughts, pulling her back to the moment.Ariana nodded. "I can't wait any longer, Nate. It's been too long."They entered the meeting room, filled with lawyers and staff who would assist them. Leonard was already there, standing by the meeting table, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. "We've got the permission to meet the child directly. They can't refuse anymore."However, what seemed like a smooth plan to meet Elio soon encountered a stumbling block. As they stepped out of the building, Ariana's phone vibr
Ariana felt her breath catch when Axel stepped closer. His sudden presence reminded her of all the chaos she had gone through. The man was still as handsome as ever, but there was a hardness in his eyes, a hardness she had never forgotten. Axel was the man who had abandoned her during her most difficult times, and now he stood before her, his demeanor far from friendly.“Axel…” Ariana’s voice was weak, almost a whisper, but enough for Axel to hear.He looked at her with a vacant expression, as if he didn’t recognize the woman standing before him. “You dare come here?” His voice was flat, emotionless.Ariana swallowed hard. “I just want to meet Elio,” she said, trying to keep her composure, though her heart was breaking. “He’s my son. I have the right to see him.”Axel let out a sarcastic laugh, the sound like a knife to Ariana’s heart. “Right? You have no rights anymore, Ariana. I’m the one who’s raised him, I’m the one who’s taken care of him.” He stepped closer, his gaze full of war
"Go away! Don't ever dream of sleeping in the same bed with me!" Nathaniel pushed Ariana away after fulfilling his desire, as if she was nothing more than an item that was no longer needed. Ariana's body staggered, almost losing her balance, but she remained still. No resistance, no protest. With trembling hands, she picked up her clothes that were scattered on the floor, then walked to the sofa that had been her bed since the first night they were married. Her tears fell silently. Every night was a new wound for her. "Nathaniel, why do you still treat me like trash after you've completed your desire?" Nathaniel, who was already lying down with his eyes closed, just sighed lazily. "I never wanted this marriage, Ariana. So don't expect you to earn my love." His voice sounded cold, like a sharp wind slicing Ariana's heart. Ariana bit her lip, holding back the sob that was about to break. She didn't expect much. Love might be too much of a luxury for a woman like her-a woman force
Elanor held a social gathering at her mansion, inviting socialites who, despite their age, still tried to look glamorous. Expensive dresses clad their bodies perfectly, diamond jewelry glittered in the light of crystal chandeliers, and their loud laughter echoed in the room, mingling with the scent of luxurious perfume. Meanwhile, in the corner of the house, Ariana was busy washing clothes in the back area. Her thin hands kneaded the cloths that were now submerged in the soapy water that had begun to turn cloudy. Every day, she went through this grueling routine without complaint. She was so busy with her work that she didn't even realize that her mother-in-law had been calling her over and over again. "Ariana! Make some food and drinks for my friends!" Elanor shouted from the living room. There was no answer. Elanor frowned, annoyed. "Ariana! Are you deaf?!" her voice rose, but there was still no response. Annoyance filled her chest. With quick steps, Elanor walked towards the la
That night, the air was bone-chillingly cold, as if describing Ariana's mood that had been frozen in years of suffering. Ariana stood in front of Nathaniel with her hands clenched into fists, her body trembling not from fear, but from the anger she had been harboring. The dim lights in the living room reflected her fragile silhouette, but behind it, there was a fragile blaze of love. "Nathaniel, in the five years I've been married to you, you've never given me more money," she said, her voice soft but filled with pain. "Can I ask for money for plastic surgery?" Nathaniel who was leaning back casually on the sofa looked up, his brows furrowed. His cold eyes looked at Ariana as if she had lost her mind. "Plastic surgery?" he asked, his tone scornful. Ariana nodded. His eyes, which had always radiated sincerity, now contained only despair. "Yes. I want to be a wife you can consider! I'm tired of this face, Nathaniel! I'm tired of being insulted! I want to change!" Nathaniel snorted.
Ariana felt her breath catch when Axel stepped closer. His sudden presence reminded her of all the chaos she had gone through. The man was still as handsome as ever, but there was a hardness in his eyes, a hardness she had never forgotten. Axel was the man who had abandoned her during her most difficult times, and now he stood before her, his demeanor far from friendly.“Axel…” Ariana’s voice was weak, almost a whisper, but enough for Axel to hear.He looked at her with a vacant expression, as if he didn’t recognize the woman standing before him. “You dare come here?” His voice was flat, emotionless.Ariana swallowed hard. “I just want to meet Elio,” she said, trying to keep her composure, though her heart was breaking. “He’s my son. I have the right to see him.”Axel let out a sarcastic laugh, the sound like a knife to Ariana’s heart. “Right? You have no rights anymore, Ariana. I’m the one who’s raised him, I’m the one who’s taken care of him.” He stepped closer, his gaze full of war
That morning, the air in Seattle felt cold and fresh. Ariana gazed at the towering buildings veiled in a thin fog, her emotions a tangled mess inside. She and Nathaniel stood in front of their lawyer's office, ready to embark on the long legal process to meet her son, Elio. Yet, despite the certainty of their steps, Ariana couldn't shake off her doubts. What if Elio rejected her? What if he felt threatened by her presence?“Ari, you ready?” Nathaniel's voice broke her from her thoughts, pulling her back to the moment.Ariana nodded. "I can't wait any longer, Nate. It's been too long."They entered the meeting room, filled with lawyers and staff who would assist them. Leonard was already there, standing by the meeting table, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. "We've got the permission to meet the child directly. They can't refuse anymore."However, what seemed like a smooth plan to meet Elio soon encountered a stumbling block. As they stepped out of the building, Ariana's phone vibr
The rain fell in soft drizzles as Ariana sat inside the private genetic lab, her fingers clutching the DNA test results that had just been handed to her by the technician. Nathaniel sat beside her, his face tense, nearly expressionless.Ariana took a deep breath before opening the envelope. Inside, two sheets of paper with graphs, numbers, and one sentence that made her body nearly collapse:"The DNA results show a biological match between Subject A (Ariana Valen) and Subject B (child in the matching system data). Matching degree: 99.98%."Ariana closed her mouth, her sobs breaking free. "He... he's alive, Nate. He's really my son..."Nathaniel held her tightly, allowing Ariana to cry out her overwhelming joy. But within the embrace, his thoughts drifted—her child was out there, living under a new name and with a new family. And if the people who adopted him had been hiding the truth... then this was just the beginning of a much bigger storm.---Leonard opened the door to his office,
Ariana sat on the rattan chair in Nathaniel’s living room, her fingers trembling as she turned the flash drive Axel had given her. Fear, hope, and anger churned inside her. The rapid tapping of Leonard’s laptop keys echoed as he opened the first file from the drive.“This is insane,” Leonard muttered after a few minutes. “CCTV footage from the hospital. The date matches the day you were rushed there after the accident, Ariana.”Ariana leaned in, holding her breath. On the screen, she saw herself lying on a hospital bed—pale and unconscious. A nurse entered with some documents, and shortly after, two men in suits—one of them her father—walked in and signed something.“No…” Ariana’s voice cracked. “That’s… my father.”Nathaniel stood behind her, eyes fixed on the screen. “They hid everything. Even your child.”Leonard continued digging, opening more files—altered medical records, fake reports of a miscarriage, and one barely legible adoption document. The adoptive parents’ names were ma
The night sky had already turned dark when Ariana arrived at the old park near the lake. The place was almost unchanged. The weathered wooden bench, the drooping willow trees by the water’s edge, and the calming sound of the rippling lake—all of it seemed to summon memories from the past.Ariana wore a long gray coat, her scarf pulled slightly to obscure her face. Her hand clutched a small locket—Axel’s gift from long ago—that she had secretly kept all these years.The night air bit at her skin, but she stood still in the middle of the park, waiting.The clock struck 8:03 p.m.Three minutes late.Her mind kept spinning—would Axel actually show up? Or was this just a cruel game played by someone trying to stir up her past?Footsteps.Ariana turned swiftly, her heart pounding. From behind the stone bench, a man emerged wearing a black jacket and a hat pulled low over his face. But as he stepped closer, the park lights illuminated his features just enough.Time seemed to freeze.It was A
As noon approached, a thick, overcast sky loomed above the villa where Ariana stayed. The atmosphere grew heavier by the minute, as if echoing the weight of her thoughts. Nathaniel was deep in discussion with Leonard in the study, while Ariana sat alone in the living room, staring out the rain-speckled window. In her hand, she held an old photograph—one of her and Axel.She stared at it for a long time until her eyes began to sting. Axel’s smile in the photo now mocked the false sense of peace she had tried so hard to maintain. His face hadn’t changed, but the meaning behind his gaze felt foreign now. Once, Axel had been her whole world. Now… he was a mystery she longed to bury, yet he kept clawing his way out of the graveyard of her past.Time seemed to stop when the front door was knocked on.Three times. Soft, but firm.Ariana turned her head sharply. Her breath caught in her throat. “Did you hear that?” she asked, half-rising from her seat.Leonard hurried out of the study and mot
Evening WhispersThe evening sky was painted in shades of orange as Ariana sat on her bedroom balcony, cradling her growing belly. A gentle breeze swept through her hair, but her heart felt unbearably heavy. This baby… the only thing keeping her going amidst the chaos surrounding her.Nathaniel stepped out from the house, carrying a cup of warm tea. “You haven’t had dinner,” he said, placing the cup on the small table beside her.Ariana let out a deep sigh. “I’m not really hungry.”Nathaniel sighed as well before sitting in the chair next to her. “Ariana, you need to take care of yourself. This baby needs you.”A weak smile played on Ariana’s lips. Her hand gently caressed her belly. “I know. It’s just… I can’t stop thinking about all of this. If Axel is really alive, what does that mean for my child?”Nathaniel remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. He wanted to reassure her, but he knew Ariana needed more than just words.“Have you ever considered… what if he wants this baby?” Aria
Chasing ShadowsAriana sat in her office, her hands still trembling after last night’s phone call. That voice… Axel. The man who was supposed to be dead.Nathaniel stood near the window, his expression tense. “We need to make sure this isn’t a trap.”Ariana shot him a sharp look. “You think I misheard?”Nathaniel sighed. “That’s not what I mean. But we’re dealing with an enemy who doesn’t play by the rules. If Axel is truly back, then someone has been covering up his death all this time.”Ariana ran a hand over her face, trying to calm herself. “I can’t just sit still.”Leonard entered with a serious expression. “I’ve looked into it. There’s no record of anyone named Axel still being alive or using a new identity. But there is something strange.”Ariana tensed. “What is it?”Leonard handed her a brown envelope. “This was delivered this morning. No sender.”Ariana tore it open and pulled out its contents—several black-and-white photographs. Images of her in different places.At the off
The Game Isn't OverAriana sat in her office, staring at her computer screen with a cold expression. Serena had fallen. Jonathan Pierce had disappeared. But she knew this game wasn’t over."He must be planning something," she muttered.Nathaniel walked in, his face serious. “I have news.”Ariana turned to him. “Jonathan?”Nathaniel nodded. “Yes. He hasn’t truly disappeared. I just received intel that he was spotted at a luxury house on the outskirts of town.”Ariana’s eyes narrowed. “He’s hiding there, plotting his next move.”Nathaniel leaned against her desk. “What’s your plan?”Ariana met his gaze. “We make him come to us.”Nathaniel smirked. “I like the way you think.”---Night InvestigationThat night, Ariana, Nathaniel, Leonard, and Mason approached the luxurious house Nathaniel had mentioned. The place was dark, only a few dim lights glowing at the front.“Are we sure he’s here?” Mason whispered.Ariana raised her hand, signaling for silence.They crept closer, peering through