Sharp cries echoed through the hallway."Felix, Felix…"Felix opened the door just as Stella collapsed into his arms, trembling, tears streaming down her face like rain."Felix, I dreamed of Lily! I saw her crying, screaming in pain. Please, Felix, help me. Help me save her."Suddenly, she pushed him away and, barefoot, ran down the stairs, her voice frantic. "I heard her. She’s crying. Lily, don’t be afraid. I’m coming to find you!"She rushed from room to room, flinging open doors as she went."Lily, where are you? Mommy has chocolate for you. I promise, this time, you can eat as much as you want, okay?"Her voice trembled, thick with emotion, a mix of tenderness and guilt.Lily had always loved sweets, but her weak health had kept her from having too many. Now, Stella’s words felt like a net tightening around Felix’s chest, making it hard for him to breathe."Enough!" Felix grabbed her wrist, his gaze heavy. "I’m taking you back to bed."In the bedroom, Stella lay quietly
Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room.Felix slowly opened his eyes on the European-style bed, feeling disoriented. For a brief moment, he couldn’t even remember where he was. His gaze fell on a framed photo by the bedside.It had been taken at sunset by a creek in the countryside."Come on, just one smile!" Luna had begged, holding up a finger, her face full of playful innocence.Faced with such a joyful Luna, Felix’s heart had softened in an instant.The shutter clicked, freezing the moment in time.In the photo, Luna clung to his arm, grinning at the camera, while he looked down at her, his smile soft and gentle.It was the only photo they ever had together.A bitter smile tugged at Felix’s lips.They had been married for five years, but he had never even taken a proper wedding photo with her.Back then, his heart had been consumed by hatred. Every second spent with her felt like torture.Each time he saw her laug
Felix sat down on Orion’s small bed, his fingers gently tracing the angel-patterned sheets, which had been Luna’s favorite design and color.“You said I was your angel,” Luna’s voice echoed in his mind. “But I hope one day, our child will be the angel for both of us.”He lay back on the bed, trying to feel closer to her, as if lying there could somehow bridge the distance between them.Then, something caught his eye. A black edge was sticking out from beneath the pillow.It was her notebook.Almost without thinking, Felix picked it up.For a moment, he just stared at it. A voice in his head told him not to open it, but his hands moved on their own, flipping the notebook open.“Today was Orion’s first day of school. My little boy is growing up. He’s starting preschool. Time flies so fast. It’s been three years, and every day I’ve been wishing he would grow up faster. But now that he’s getting bigger, I feel strangely empty.After dropping him off, I stayed in his room, feeling p
On the 28th floor of City Center Tower, the floor-to-ceiling windows provided a panoramic view of the city. Felix stood by the window, a cigarette between his fingers, lost in thought.A man with glasses stood in front of the desk, his head slightly bowed. “Mr. Lincoln, based on the samples you provided, we’ve thoroughly tested the DNA sequences. The results show that the child’s DNA is complete and accurate. The only way there could be a mismatch is if the child was never yours or Ms. Stella’s in the first place.”Felix turned around, his expression unreadable. “How accurate are these results?”The light from the window outlined Felix’s sharp figure, casting his face in shadow. His emotions were impossible to read, making him seem even more formidable.The man had expected this question. After a brief hesitation, he placed the report on the desk. “Mr. Lincoln, with today’s medical technology, the chance of error in a DNA test is extremely low.”“I just need to know how low,” Feli
The wait felt excruciatingly slow. Felix turned toward the window, trying to occupy his mind.Outside, he heard the sound of laughter floating up from the garden below.He opened the window, and the view expanded before him, the joyful sound of laughter carried clearly by the wind.A little boy was giggling, clutching a ball as a young man chased him, both of them lost in their playful game.“Daddy, come catch me!” The boy giggled, darting behind a tree. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes wide with mischief as he scanned his surroundings.The young father pretended to be puzzled, calling softly as he walked past the tree, “Where could you be, little one? You’re hiding so well.”The boy’s face lit up with delight, barely able to contain his laughter. Just as he was about to laugh out loud, his father spun around, swooping him up in his arms, making the boy burst into even louder, contagious laughter.Snap.The window handle broke off in Felix’s grip. He looked
In a nearby city, Golden Bay Gardens, the street was deserted, not a soul in sight. Occasionally, the wind stirred, sending leaves swirling through the air. One gently landed on a young man’s head.He reached up, plucking the leaf between his pale fingers. As the sunlight filtered through the leaf, a smile, warmer than the sun itself, spread across his face.Bailey glanced at the takeout in his hand, his smile growing even softer as he walked toward his destination.He stood at the door of Apartment 301, Building 6, and pressed the doorbell. Footsteps hurried inside.“I’m coming,” a familiar, cheerful voice called. The door opened, revealing Luna’s smiling face.Bailey stepped inside, placing the takeout on the dining table, moving with a practiced ease. “Luna, how are the kids doing? Any discomfort today?” he asked softly.Luna rubbed her temples, looking exhausted but smiling gently. “No, the baby was good today. Lily, too. But seeing her take so much medicine at such a young a
Heaven sure knew how to play tricks on people. In Luna’s darkest moments, she was reminded that she had a daughter.Was this some kind of compensation?Luna gazed at Lily’s innocent little face, gently kissing her forehead and cheeks. With their foreheads pressed together, she laughed and cried at the same time. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to call me ‘Mom.’ As long as you’re by my side, that’s all I need.”Lily blinked her big eyes, staring up at Luna’s tear-filled gaze. She didn’t quite understand why Aunt Luna was acting this way or how she suddenly became Aunt Luna’s daughter.Seeing the confusion in Lily’s expressive eyes, Luna wiped her own tears and hugged her tightly again, her voice hoarse. “Lily, it’s okay if you don’t want to call me ‘Mom.’ It’s my fault for not being there for you all these years. But from now on, I’ll always be by your side.”In her heart, Lily softly whispered the word, “Mom.”Somehow, Aunt Luna becom
On the 28th floor of City Center Tower, Felix sat behind his desk, his pen moving swiftly across document after document. Each one, once signed, was shifted from his right to his left, creating a steadily growing pile of completed work.Knock, knock.The office door opened, and his assistant entered holding a package. "Mr. Lincoln, your package."Felix didn’t look up until he signed the last document. Tossing the pen onto the desk, he leaned back in his chair and gestured toward the stack of papers. "Send these to the departments immediately. By ten o'clock, I want the Quinn Corporation acquisition contract on my desk."The assistant nodded, gathered the documents, and left.Felix reached for a cigarette and was about to light it when the package caught his eye. Casually, he picked it up and opened it.One glance, and his entire body froze. The cigarette slipped from his fingers, landing silently on the carpet.Inside the package was an ultrasound report.And the name on it was
Felix stood in the middle of the bustling airport terminal, watching as people hurried by with their luggage, each one with someplace to be. The whole world felt like it was spinning, endlessly, leaving him disoriented. A chill ran down his spine, even though he felt like he was burning up inside. He wanted to move, to chase after them, but his feet felt rooted to the spot, lost.Then, just at the edge of his vision, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure holding a little girl’s hand, slipping through the security checkpoint.“Luna! Lily!” he shouted, sprinting towards them.A security guard in uniform stepped in front of him, saying politely, “Sir, I’m going to need to see your boarding pass and ID.”“Move!” Felix snarled, swatting the man’s arm aside as he tried to push his way through.Two more guards quickly blocked his path, their expressions firm. “I’m sorry, sir, but by regulation, we need to see your boarding pass,” one of them said, resolute.Felix pointed toward the
Felix watched, dazed, as Luna and Lily’s figures grew smaller in the distance. He heard footsteps behind him and turned, holding out his hands with a cold, steely expression. “Let’s go.”The guard hesitated as he brought out the handcuffs. Just as he was about to lock them around Felix’s wrists, he asked casually, “Mr. Lincoln, that woman who came to visit you, she’s the new CEO of Lincoln Corporation, right? I heard she’s planning to leave the country with her kids. Was this visit just to hand over the reins? Will you be resuming your role as CEO once you’re out?”What? Luna’s leaving with the kids?Felix’s head snapped up, his jaw tightening, and a vein throbbed on his forehead. Grabbing the guard by the collar, he demanded, “Where did you hear that?”The guard trembled, visibly shaken. He had expected this kind of reaction. Felix’s icy stare and whole demeanor practically screamed stay away. All he wanted was to turn around and make a run for it.But he couldn’t. Fate had pic
Seeing the sincerity in Felix’s eyes made Luna’s heart tighten. She pressed her lips together and nodded firmly.A weight seemed to lift from Felix’s chest. He reached out, covering Lily’s eyes with his hand as he leaned in, his lips brushing against Luna’s. That familiar blend of tobacco and cologne filled her senses, and her eyes stung with tears.She pressed a hand to her nose, her voice soft. “Felix, come back soon. Let’s leave the past behind us. After this, it’ll be you, me, and the kids together, as a family. Okay?”Felix’s expression faltered.Lily wrapped her little arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “Daddy, I don’t care if it’s tough. I just want to be with you.”In the stroller, James stretched out his tiny hands, laughing. Felix reached for him, but his hands slipped through the air. James began to fuss, his cries growing louder, and Felix jolted awake, realizing it had only been a dream.Now here was Luna, offering a future together: “Let’s put everything
Lily leaned against the car window. Her face was full of excitement as she watched the scenery zip by. But as the landscape grew more and more desolate, she grew bored. Grabbing her doll, she hugged it close and turned to Luna. “Mom, where are we going?”Luna glanced over, noticing Lily's rosy cheeks and big, inquisitive eyes that reminded her so much of Felix. “We’re going to see your dad,” she replied with a smile, though her fingers tightened around the strap of her purse.Lily stopped fiddling with her doll, her brow furrowing as she thought for a moment. “But, Mom, didn’t you say Dad was far away? And that James and I had to grow up first?”Luna’s mind drifted back to when they’d first left for another country. Lily had asked, “When will I see Dad again?” Luna had stroked Lily’s hair, finally saying, “Dad’s far away. When you and James grow up, you’ll see him.”“Mom!” Lily tugged on Luna’s shoulder, jolting her back to the present. Luna smiled softly, reassuring her, “Aren’t
In the brightly lit private dining room 1608 at the Century Glimmer Hotel, Luna took a deep breath, then raised her glass with a smile as she addressed the man at the head of the table. “Commissioner Griffin, a toast to you!”She downed her glass in one go. Deputy Commissioner of Corrections Mark Griffin raised his own, chuckling. “Miss Emily, we’re not strangers. If you’ve got something on your mind, just say it. I’ll help if I can.”The implication was clear. If he couldn’t do it, she shouldn’t bother asking. Silently cursing him as an “old fox,” Luna kept her smile as she continued, “It’s really not a big deal. Just a small favor, something that should be easy enough for someone like you.”Seeing his expectant look, she went on, “Here’s the thing. I have a friend in prison, but it wasn’t really his fault. If I wanted to get him out, what would I need to do?”She slid an envelope across the table. Commissioner Griffin’s eyes flickered as he glanced at it, swirling his glass with
“Is Boss crying?” Mr. Zimmer thought to himself.He was stunned. To him, Luna had always been the symbol of strength, resilient and unbreakable. Yet, here she was, tears streaming down her face. “Boss, I didn’t mean it. Maybe it’s not true. Yeah, it could all just be a trick!” he stammered. Seeing Luna’s tear-streaked face, Mr. Zimmer was completely at a loss as sweat beaded along his forehead. What was Felix up to? How could someone as tough as her end up breaking down over just one comment from Mr. Zimmer?Wiping the sweat from his brows, he thought, “If the others find out I made Boss cry, they’ll tear me apart.”“It’s not fake. I know why he did it…” Luna’s voice faded as she broke down. Her uncontrollable sobs were tangled with a mix of regret, anger, and frustration.Mr. Zimmer stood there, helpless, pacing back and forth until her sobs finally started to subside. Luna wiped her nose, her voice raw and broken. “He never believed I was dead. He knew I wouldn’t just dis
Knock, knock—At the sound of the door, Luna pressed her fingers to her temples, her pen still moving over the documents in front of her. Mr. Zimmer quickly stepped forward, placing an express package on her desk. “Boss, you’ve got an urgent delivery.”As soon as Luna opened it, her eyes fell on three bold words at the top: *Equity Transfer Agreement.* She quickly pulled out the document, her gaze fixing on the signature at the bottom.Felix Lincoln.That familiar signature, once so strong and powerful, now felt heavy and confining to her. It was almost as if it was pinning her down, immobilizing her like nails in a chair.She glanced down, and the date stopped her cold. It was from a year ago.The document clearly stated that Felix had voluntarily transferred 90% of his shares in the company to her.Mr. Zimmer noticed his boss’s face go pale and hesitantly asked, “Boss, what is it?”Taking a deep breath, Luna replied in a strained voice, “It’s the equity transfer agreement f
Deep inside, a voice kept screaming, “Luna, it's over. Just leave. End it all here and now.” But somehow, her legs felt as if they were weighed down with lead, refusing to move even a single step.“Luna, you know what I’m talking about.”Felix looked at her, his expression softening as a thought crossed his mind. His eyes took on a pleading tone. “Can you please promise me one thing?”Luna glanced at him, almost amused. The powerful Felix, begging?He reached out as if to touch her, then pulled back, letting his hand drop to his side. His voice was low and steady. “Luna, I know I put you through hell, made you serve time. I owe you for that, and I’m paying for it. But when I’m in there, don’t marry anyone else. Don’t let our kids call another man ‘Dad.’ Just wait for me until I come back.”A sharp pang hit her, like acid rising from her stomach to her throat, bringing tears dangerously close. She felt both anger and bitter amusement.They weren’t even together anymore. How coul
In the courtroom, the judge struck the gavel solemnly. “This is session number 101 at Carson City Intermediate Court, Room 3. Both sides may begin their arguments.”The moment Felix entered the courtroom, he realized just how much he had missed her. His gaze locked onto Luna, as though he wanted to etch every detail of her face into his memory.Sensing his stare, Luna’s brow furrowed slightly before she cast her eyes down, listening quietly to her lawyer’s impassioned statement.Bang—The gavel fell once again.“Defendant, answer the prosecutor’s question!”Felix hadn’t listened to anything being said. It was irrelevant. His eyes stayed on Luna as he spoke, his tone calm. “I plead guilty. I admit to betraying the company and to all charges brought against me. I deserve this.”A wave of shock swept through the room. Faces registered the same emotions: surprise, disbelief, and confusion.This was what he had promised, wasn’t it?But as Felix confessed, Luna felt as if she had be