Clover entered. As soon as the warm familiar ambiance enveloped her, tears welled up in her eyes. She pursed her trembling lips and glanced around the minimalist house that kept her in when she had nowhere else to go. She ran her fingers over the cushion and let out a soft chuckle, recalling how Brandon stuffed his mouth with chips while trying to chase her away. "You know..." Brandon whispered, lingering behind her on purpose. He was trying to block her view from Danise, who was unknotting his shoelaces in the back. "Maybe—" "Don't..." She sucked in a deep breath. "Don't say anything..." Right then, Stella stormed out of the kitchen, her azure satchel bag dragging along the floor. Clover quickly composed herself and noticed that the red gift box was still inside Stella's bag—neatly wrapped. Upon catching a glimpse of the wet tracks on her face and the redness at the tip of her pointed nose, Clover frowned. However, before she could open her mouth to say anything, Stella returned
The table was set under the hanging gray pendant lamps. Steaks were served; champagne corks were popped. The birthday party was about to start. "Clover!" Kyle called while craning his neck to look past the wall. "It's all done!" Clover shook her head and blinked a few times, regaining her composure before she stepped out. Any hints of tears on her face might ruin her entire plan—the fake birthday plan. "Put on a good act, Clover Hon." She exhaled a silent breath, patted her cheeks, and got on her feet. With his arms folded, Kyle stood by the table and stared at the condiments—honey garlic sauce, salad dressings, and mustard. He seemed to have trouble selecting the sauce to go with Clover's steak. After a while of hesitation, he finally picked up the mustard bottle and opened its cap. Just as he was about to pour a small portion of it on her plate, he changed his mind again at the last second and took the honey garlic sauce instead. However, the honey garlic sauce wasn't flowing o
After what felt like an eternity, Clover woke up to the incessant buzz of insects in the air. With a groan, she sat up, her eyes struggling to open. She cast a wary glance around.Brandon and Danise reclined on the opposite couch, soundly asleep with their legs intertwined. Fan cards littered the floor, one caught between Kyle's fingers.Clover gazed out of the casement as the soft, early light enveloped the tranquil street in its gentle embrace.She heaved a bitter sigh. As much as how she slow she wanted it to be, tomorrow had officially arrived. She knew now was the best time for her to leave— when no one else was awake, when Kyle was still asleep. However, the moment she stood up, something pulled her back onto the couch once again. Upon turning around, what came into her view stunned her on the spot. Her hand. His hand. She gasped, almost forgetting about the game yesterday. The colorful paper chain binding their wrists surprisingly remained intact after a night. She looked
It wasn't the first press conference Kyle had, nor was it his first scandal. But this time, Kyle was uneasy. Somewhere, somehow, it just didn't feel right. The connection was missing. How did their photos leak? Why did Clover suddenly want to leave? And when Brandon saw her packed luggage, instead of feeling shocked, a slight disappointment flashed across his face. He bit his nails, staring at the big mirror in front of him. He didn't want to make any assumptions. However, it seemed that Brandon and Clover knew the presence of the photos way before him, way before they were revealed to the public. 'Where is she?' Kyle asked with his gaze. 'Where did you bring her?' Brandon averted his eyes from him and didn't say anything. Kyle slammed his hand onto the table and jerked his head in frustration. Startled, the stylist in beige stopped doing his hair at once and sensibly went away upon receiving a look from Brandon.In an instant, only two of them were left in the dressing room. Sho
Sitting at the long bar table facing the sunlit sky, she stared blankly ahead, lost in thought. Scenes from ten years ago began to flicker in the depths of her mind. Brown netted leaves swaying from the tree outside blurred into her memories. The nutty smell of her caramel macchiato slowly dissipated, replaced by the overwhelming stench of her shameful past. Before long, she found herself transported back to the days when she sold her pride and dignity... He was in his usual apparel—black suit, black pants, black striped tie, and a pair of black Crocodile shoes. It wasn't the first time for her to be here. In fact, she had lost the number of times she stepped into this office. "Make use of that girl to steal the information," he ordered, drawing deeply on his Cuban cigar before exhaling a plume of smoke. "B-But she's just a kid..." "It's exactly because she is still a kid." He slammed his foot onto the edge of the desk and cast her a piercing gaze. "Only by making use of her can t
A growing stack of orders at the counter demanded immediate attention, and some customers wore expressions of impatience. Raymond shot a look at the waiters, telling them to serve the customers some freshly baked macaroon cupcakes first while he quickly looked through the orders. They were all signature desserts. Raymond hurried into the kitchen to check out the situation inside. As soon as he slid the door open, he breathed a sigh of relief when the tantalizing smell of pastries wafted into his nose. Mango soufflés were left to rest to get their perfect fluffy textures. Chocolate mud cakes would be out from the built-in ovens in another minute. The scones and croissants were done too. All that remained were the cream puffs. Raymond quickly searched the fridge, retrieving packs of fresh aloe vera as he got to work.The tall chef in a black apron cast him a brief look and asked, "Are you doing the puffs, 'mond?" "Yeah. Leave them to me." "Great," he muttered, carefully placing the
In the heart of the bustling Sengrilla city located a luxurious mansion, adorned with pristine glass windows and an expansive second-floor swimming pool that stretched outward. A path of polished black granite meandered through a lush floral garden, leading to a contemporary patio. Bathed in the soothing radiance of the setting sun, the outdoor oasis resembled a perfect spot for a quick escape from reality. Evelyn took a deep breath and patted her cheeks to summon up the usual smile. Upon pressing the numbers on the smart lock, the door swung open effortlessly like she was the owner of the mansion. One more step to go, and she could bid a forever goodbye to this facade she had been putting on over the years.She could do this... right? "Aunt Evelyn!"Evelyn's heart trembled, and at that instant, her legs couldn't seem to move any forward. Something was holding her back. Was it her last shred of conscience? Again, that voice was making her waver again. "Aunt Evelyn?" Evelyn reco
Clover curled herself up on the chair in the deluxe room, her face buried into her knees. She was trembling all over. "Clover?" Danise offered her a glass of warm water. She didn't respond. From the moment they left DreamMare until they checked into the hotel, Clover hadn't been saying a word, and on top of that, she was ashen. Danise couldn't help but worry about what was wrong with her. Thinking about the sudden change in Clover after Evelyn's appearance, he asked with hesitancy, "Do you happen to know... Kyle's mother?" Clover gasped. "Clover?" Danise called again, gently patting her on the shoulder. That touch startled her so much that she jerked and fell off the chair directly. "Clover!" Danise hurried to help her up, but she remained seated on the floor. He furrowed his brows and immediately froze in his tracks when he saw the tears coursing down her wobbling cheeks. "What is it, Clover? What happened?" He bent lower to meet her eye, his voice filled with concern. "Dan
Sirens blared, cutting through the air, as Jack and his henchmen, hands cuffed, walked out of his mansion. The evening sun descended in a blaze of warm hues, casting a mesmerizing orangy glow that bathed the city in a soft, amber radiance. Was it to celebrate their victory? Well, perhaps it was. Pausing her steps in front of the entrance, Clover tilted her head and looked up at the sky. "It's finally a bright day." "I can finally live with myself now." Upon hearing that, Clover turned around, and the first thing that caught her eye was the sight of cuffs encircling Evelyn's hands. A relieved smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "I've surrendered to the police. This is what I owe you, Clover. I don't seek your forgiveness, but I hope you won't hate my child. I can tell that he cares a lot about you," Evelyn said, darting her eyes from Clover to Kyle at the back and back to Clover again. Clover tried speaking, but words couldn
"Kyle!" Clover screamed. Her face was filled with fear."Don't be scared, Clover. I'll bring you out," Kyle uttered, his eyes emanating a murderous aura as he glared at the man standing before him. "Tsk. What are you talking about? You're gonna die right here, right now," said that man. In a flash, he shuffled to the left and pinned his ankle to Kyle's, tripping him down the next second. Before Kyle had the time to react, the man swiftly seized him by the hair, unleashing a flurry of punches on his face.Clearly, Kyle wasn't his match, and in no time, his face was awash with blood.Tossing Kyle aside, the man grabbed the bat at the corner. As he dragged it across the ground, sparks danced at its edge, their eerie screeches piercing the tense atmosphere. Clover paled, watching him hold it above his head and thrust it down with all his might. "No..." She wept, shaking her head frantically. “Wait, Andrew.” A cold, familiar voice came through. As obedient as a dog, Andrew dropped the
The wind chime gently tinkled, and there sat Kyle, staring at the huge Amethyst Geode next to the 105-inch television. Its purple hues dazzled brilliantly. He flicked his gaze around. The walls were adorned with perfectly framed certificates, newspaper articles, and magazine covers featuring the nation's lawyer for everyone to admire.His uncle was indeed very successful."Oh my my my! Look who's here!" "Uncle Jack!" Kyle stood, reaching out for a warm hug."My boy!" He laughed, tightening his arms around him. "Life's good? I heard you just had your comeback not long ago."Kyle returned him an awkward smile and didn't say anything much. "What's wrong?" Jack asked, bending down slightly to meet his nephew's lowered gaze. "Want some drink?""My friend has gone missing, and I'm really worried." He sighed, his sentence trailing off with a rise in tone as he cast a doubtful look at his uncle. "WHAT?! MISSING?" Jack freaked out. Kyle arched his brows. Was he wrong about his uncle being
As fate would have it, Clover was back on the icy bed, her gaze vacant. She made no attempt to struggle or free herself, almost as if she had submitted to her destiny and abandoned all hope of leaving this place. She had been escaping since the tragic death of her parents. Yet until now, her efforts had proven futile. Exhausted and disheartened, she grew weary of everything. Jack tied Evelyn to a cross. "You lured me out for this, huh?" he hissed, sending a slap across Evelyn's face. "Who gave you the guts to go against me, slut?" "You should've seen this coming when you spilled the story. Did you really think I'd turn to you for help?" Her intense gaze remained fixed on him. "I'm tired, Jack." He smirked. "Don't you think it's a bit too late to regret things, considering all that you've done?" Jack casually walked over to the bed and sat beside Clover, tenderly stroking her from her hair down to her curves. Needless to say, he was craving for her body. Clover swallowed hard and
Clover followed closely behind Evelyn as they walked up the stairs.When they came to a stop, Clover stood on tiptoes and looked past the woman in front. A ray of light fell onto her cheeks like a comforting touch to her intimidated soul as Evelyn pushed open the ceiling.That was the exit and also the entrance to the hidden basement of the mansion. Poking her head out, Evelyn scanned the room, sweeping her glance across the piles of documents, the switched-on laptop, and the watercolor paintings adorning the marble wall. No one was in sight. She crawled out and reached back into the darkness for Clover's hand."Careful," Evelyn said. Clover joined her soon after. She darted her widened eyes around and paused at the hanging grandfather clock with the pendulum swaying at the bottom. The ticks were louder than usual; she couldn't help but be distracted. As her curious mind processed the surroundings like a buffering stream, Evelyn abruptly tore the maroon curtain, sending it cascading
Evelyn descended the curly stairs, shifting most of her weight onto the steel railing. She breathed through her lips. Creaks mustn't be heard, lest she end up doomed. As she moved forward, her heart pounded against her chest so hard that she thought it was just a matter of time before it leaped out. When she finally reached a grey stone wall, she hid behind it and stole glances at the view ahead. The men were there, standing with their feet apart while guarding the room in the corner. They didn't realize her presence. 'What should I do?' she thought, looking at her weaponless self. She darted her dreadful eyes around. The moment her gaze fell on a metal bat left abandoned underneath the dusty steps, a glimmer of hope illuminated her expression. Crawling on her fours, she dragged her body through the dirt and stretched out her arm. The weapon was too far. She couldn't reach it, but determination fueled her. Gritting her teeth, she hauled her body forward for another time, finally h
The middle-sized rented room reeked of aged furniture, a blend of alcohol and cigarette smoke lingering in the air.Frowning, Stella waved her hand over her nose as she glanced around, disgusted with the smell. In one corner, the uncleaned pans and pots were left huddled with the trash. Meanwhile, on the bed was a jumble of inside-out T-shirts that were stained by broths. Kyle took each step with full precaution. If he accidentally tripped and fell, he might need to spend hours in the bathroom getting rid of the stench. Obviously, this didn't seem to be the living place of a normal person, let alone the manager of a superstar. "Check around and see if we can find anything," Kyle said, casting a wary look at the broken cupboard that seemed to be toppling at any moment.As he pulled it open, a rusted hinge clinked to the ground, and a wave of musty clothes tumbled onto him within seconds. He flopped onto the bed, his hands now smeared with an unknown green slime—totally gross. Danise
Kyle stood by the window, biting his fingers as he waited anxiously for her to show up. She sounded thrilled when he called her just now. Brandon sat cross-legged at the table with Danise, busy skimming through their phone contacts to reach whoever they could. Clover was missing. And they were on their own. "Heyy guys!" Stella's voice resounded from a distance. "It's me—" Before she could finish speaking, she was forcefully dragged into the house. There wasn't even a need to knock. Her heels were flung off from her feet like there was a magnet repelling them away. Startled, she looked up and saw the three men staring at her. "W-What's wrong?" Nobody said anything. They moved closer, their intense gazes pushing her back against the long couch. "Guys... What's the matter?" Unable to bear the sudden overwhelming presence they exuded anymore, she quickly hopped over to the opposite seat. "Where's Clover?" Kyle asked. "C-Clover?" She darted her eyes in panic for a moment before s
The air hung heavy with a peculiar, musty smell, enveloping her in the clammy atmosphere. Each of her limbs was cruelly tied wide apart, leaving her vulnerable and exposed. Yes, Clover was undeniably awake, acutely aware of her dire situation. Her fingers subconsciously recoiled as water droplets seeped from tiny cracks above and fell onto them. The drug's effects were starting to wear off, and she slightly regretted that it did.She craned her neck to look out of the glass panel on the steel block that confined her. Two men were there; one on the left, and the other on the right.A continuous shudder coursed through her veins, every second reminded her that she was awake and was more conscious than ever. She shut her eyes, struggling to stop them from flickering. A glimmer of light shone onto her lids as the gray door opened, accompanied by the ominous sound of steps approaching. She dared not picture who they belonged to. Her heart leaped to her throat, and her muscles tensed. The