Malisa's POV Doubt still lingered in my heart. "But what if this just leads to repeating the same mistakes? Am I really ready to face that possibility?"Mariana smiled slightly, looking at me with confidence. "Every decision carries risks, Ma'am. But if you feel there’s a chance for growth and change, it’s worth trying. No one can guarantee the outcome, but at least you’ll know you’ve made an effort. If not now, when?"I pondered Mariana’s words, struck by her insightful reasoning. "Yes, you’re right, but..." I said, still feeling uncertain about Eric."Enough, Ma'am Malisa. You can give him a chance. He’s just an ordinary human, like us. But it’s up to you, and the decision is yours," Mariana said with a smile.Hearing her words made me feel a bit more open. Perhaps it was indeed true that everyone deserves a second chance. Eric wasn’t a monster; he also had weaknesses and made mistakes. If I could forgive him, maybe I could also find a way
Malisa’s POV This night was quite heavy for me, but after dialoguing with myself in the stillness of solitude, I began to find definite answers that came from within. I felt this decision was ripe. I would take Mariana's advice. Although I didn’t know what would happen between me and Eric moving forward, my inner self clearly said that I had to do it. After coming to a conclusion from my relatively brief reflection, I lay down on my bed. I felt a little relief and could breathe in the cool air. My chest slowly felt lighter, no longer tight. I closed my eyes very peacefully, allowing my mind to rest. I let myself drift into sleep for the remainder of the night. By early morning, I immediately contacted Mariana to meet me that very morning. I wanted to discuss the outcome of the decision I would make today. Mariana came, and we talked at length. She understood my thought process and had empathy for the feelings within me. Finally, we began to handle everything according to my wishes
Malisa’s POV"Honey, come have breakfast. I made it especially for you," Eric said softly, bringing the food to me like he always did, with that gentle, caring smile. I felt a chill run down my spine.Eric had been a stay-at-home dad ever since we got married, taking care of me and our daughter, Serena. He was meticulous, thoughtful, and always made sure we had everything we needed. My friends would constantly tell me how lucky I was to have found such a perfect, gentle man, and I used to agree.But lately, something felt off. The way he looked at me sometimes, the intensity in his gaze—it was as if he were watching me for signs of something he feared. As I sat down at the table, I tried to shake off the unease. The aroma of pancakes and fresh fruit filled the air, sweet and inviting. Yet, the warmth of the breakfast contrasted sharply with the cold knot forming in my stomach."How did you sleep?" he asked, pouring syrup over my pancakes with a steady hand, his movements deliberate a
Malisa’s POV Just like any other day, I finished breakfast. When Eric was about to take Serena to school, I stopped him.“Serena’s hair is a bit messy. Let me fix it.”I took my daughter to the bathroom, closed the door, and lifted up her shirt. Her skin was smooth and flawless, without a single bruise. Nothing like the scarred body I had seen in my previous life.So, what was going on? How could her body be covered in fresh and old bruises just hours later?“Honey, are you done yet? Serena's going to be late,” Eric called from outside the door, interrupting my thoughts.I opened the door and looked at him. “I’ll take her to school today.”Eric looked a little confused but smiled and said, “Alright, thanks, babe.” He didn’t hesitate, turned around, and started cleaning up the table. His reaction was so normal that it didn’t raise any suspicion.But the more he acted like this, the more determined I became to uncover the truth.On the way to school, I couldn’t help but ask Serena, “Ha
Malisa’s POV I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what had gone wrong. All I could do was replay everything that had happened in my previous life, trying to grab onto any tiny clue to unravel the mystery. After forty minutes of racking my brain, it finally hit me.I immediately called my assistant.“Quick, I need you to investigate something for me.”After giving instructions, I sat anxiously in the car, my heart racing. I needed to know if I was finally close to the truth. Ten minutes later, my assistant called back with the results of his investigation. As I listened to the report, my hands shook uncontrollably.It was exactly what I thought!I gave one last instruction, my voice cold and firm.“Take care of it, as quickly as possible, at any cost. And remember—tell no one.”With that, I drove away from the school.Two hours later, the calls from Serena’s teacher started coming. One after another, as if she was in a full-blown panic. When I didn’t pick up, the texts followed.“Seren
Malisa's POVEric stared at me with eyes full of anger that pretended to be sincere, like an actor who almost believed too much in the role he was playing. There was something sharp in his gaze, like a flash of fire that was trying to be hidden behind a forced smile. His eyes were scornful. I could feel the tension pent up in his demeanor, an inner battle that he was trying to hide behind a mask of fake anger. Every movement of his body was tense, as if he was on the verge of exploding, but trying to hold himself back. On the other hand, Serena's homeroom teacher tried to maintain a calm face, but I could see a faint uncertainty emerging. Her lips were tightly closed, her eyes focused on the crowd, trying to control the increasingly unruly situation. But her fingers that held the microphone were shaking slightly. The subtle movement, though small, showed that she was not as strong as she tried to appear. There was panic slowly creeping beneath the surface of her calm, like an invis
Malisa’s POV After leaving the scene, I sat in the car quietly. In my hand, my phone vibrated non-stop. Eric's number flashed on the screen repeatedly, but I had no intention of picking it up. I just sat there, letting the sound of the vibrations become the background to my busy mind. A small smile spread across my face, as my thoughts drifted to my next move.The secret footage had been uploaded. I imagined the world connected through their screens watching a short but devastating video. In it, Serena’s homeroom teacher was seen receiving a thick brown envelope from someone. The face of the person giving the envelope was not clearly visible—intentionally—but anyone could see that the transaction was full of secrecy and deceit. The envelope opened the door to serious doubts about her role in this whole mess.My phone vibrated again. This time it was a text from Eric. I skimmed it.“Malisa, we need to talk. It’s urgent. Please answer my call.”I snorted softly. How ironic, he was be
Flash back Malisa POV I feel a bit relieved now after thoroughly berating Eric. Someone I once trusted deeply in my life. But now, in my mind, he is a master manipulator whom I want to push into the pit he has dug for himself. However, on the other hand, my disappointment in him is immense. Yet, there is still a glimmer of sweet memories that I clearly remember from our time together. Especially during our family gatherings. The warmth in the house, and occasionally going out to have fun together with Eric and Serena. Our laughter and jokes seemed to be a balm for our sorrows, but now everything has vanished, swallowed by time and the evil that has long been hidden behind my ignorance. The pain stings every time I recall those beautiful moments. On one hand, I want to forget everything, but on the other hand, those memories continue to haunt me. What happened to us? How could someone I loved become such a stranger? Now, I stand at a crossroads. I have to choose between moving
Malisa’s POV This night was quite heavy for me, but after dialoguing with myself in the stillness of solitude, I began to find definite answers that came from within. I felt this decision was ripe. I would take Mariana's advice. Although I didn’t know what would happen between me and Eric moving forward, my inner self clearly said that I had to do it. After coming to a conclusion from my relatively brief reflection, I lay down on my bed. I felt a little relief and could breathe in the cool air. My chest slowly felt lighter, no longer tight. I closed my eyes very peacefully, allowing my mind to rest. I let myself drift into sleep for the remainder of the night. By early morning, I immediately contacted Mariana to meet me that very morning. I wanted to discuss the outcome of the decision I would make today. Mariana came, and we talked at length. She understood my thought process and had empathy for the feelings within me. Finally, we began to handle everything according to my wishes
Malisa's POV Doubt still lingered in my heart. "But what if this just leads to repeating the same mistakes? Am I really ready to face that possibility?"Mariana smiled slightly, looking at me with confidence. "Every decision carries risks, Ma'am. But if you feel there’s a chance for growth and change, it’s worth trying. No one can guarantee the outcome, but at least you’ll know you’ve made an effort. If not now, when?"I pondered Mariana’s words, struck by her insightful reasoning. "Yes, you’re right, but..." I said, still feeling uncertain about Eric."Enough, Ma'am Malisa. You can give him a chance. He’s just an ordinary human, like us. But it’s up to you, and the decision is yours," Mariana said with a smile.Hearing her words made me feel a bit more open. Perhaps it was indeed true that everyone deserves a second chance. Eric wasn’t a monster; he also had weaknesses and made mistakes. If I could forgive him, maybe I could also find a way
Malisa’s POVClearly, I felt sad because the current situation regarding this conflict did not align with my hopes and expectations. Everything felt far from what I had imagined. Initially, I just wanted to live my life peacefully, but now, I was trapped in a complicated and emotional conflict.Eric started it, and now I had to resolve it. In my mind, there was a mix of emotions. On one hand, I felt angry and disappointed that everything wasn’t going according to plan. Yet, on the other hand, I also felt this was a responsibility I had to bear. This had already happened, and whether I liked it or not, I had to get involved in a matter that clearly dragged me in.Every time I thought of Eric, there was a battle between hate and pity within me. He might be responsible for many problems, but I couldn't ignore the fact that he was also a human being struggling. The dream about Serena deepened my doubts, as if urging me to consider various possibilities that I had never wanted before.I kn
Malisa’s POVI sighed heavily."I know, but sometimes I wonder if the right punishment can erase all this pain. Is there another way? Perhaps, behind all this, there are lessons to be learned, not just punishment."Mariana looked at me seriously. "Justice isn't just about punishment; it's also about the process of understanding and repairing. But sometimes, we must remember that actions have consequences. Whatever happens tomorrow, it will be part of our journey."I fell silent, contemplating Mariana's words. Perhaps she was right, but still, this feeling of uncertainty was hard to ignore. In that silence, I knew that whatever happened in tomorrow's hearing, my life and the lives of those around us would never be the same again."Mariana, I feel like there’s something weighing on my heart. It’s a feeling that’s hard to explain," I said, confused by my suddenly shifting emotions. "What is it, Ma'am? If you don’t mind, share it with me. Don’t hesitate if you want to share your story w
Malisa's POVEverything feels strange and very odd. Seeing the closeness between Eric and Lina is truly unnatural. In my view, they both seem too familiar with each other, and that makes me suspicious. I have no doubt that they must have something hidden, something they want to keep from those around them. This uncertainty continues to haunt my mind.I feel the need to uncover all the secrets between them. Only by knowing what really happened can I achieve peace of mind. I am sure there is more than just friendship between Eric and Lina. That's why I decided to ask for help from Mariana, my reliable best friend.Mariana is known for being clever and resourceful. She has a sharp instinct for finding the information needed. I gave her the task of investigating the closeness of Eric and Lina, hoping she could find clues that would lead me to the truth. Without hesitation, Mariana accepted this challenge and quickly got to work.Day after day, I waited for news from Mariana with hope. Eve
Eric's POV Trying to maintain my composure, I attempted not to show my fear. "I'm here to serve my sentence," I replied softly, trying to convey that I didn't want to get involved in any conflict. They laughed, their voices filled with mockery. "A sentence? Here, we set the rules. You need to learn to respect your elders!" one of them said, moving closer in a menacing manner. I looked at them one by one, hoping to find at least one person who wasn't too bad and could befriend me. However, all the long-term inmates here appeared fierce and intolerant toward newcomers like me. Despair began to fill my mind, and I knew I had no choice but to accept this reality and situation. "Nice to meet you," said someone right in front of me before delivering a hard punch to my stomach. "Ouch," I exclaimed spontaneously, groaning in pain. The pain shook my body, and I had to bend over to lessen the impact of the sudden attack. The laughter from the other inmates filled the air, adding to the sh
Eric's POV As we walked, I tried to reflect on everything that had happened. Thoughts about the future, about how I could rectify my mistakes, began to fill my mind. Although it felt very heavy right now, I realized there were lessons to be learned from all of this. I followed the officer, trying to stay focused on the next step. In my heart, I promised not to give up and to seek ways to rebuild my life, even though the challenges ahead were still great. As the door to the room opened and I took just two steps forward, I saw faces filled with joy, mocking my situation. Some even looked ready to spit in my direction. Feelings of shame and heartache washed over me, but the officer quickly shielded me, ensuring I didn’t receive mistreatment from the people I was passing. "Come on, pick up the pace!" the officer said, directing me to hurry. I nodded my head, signaling that I understood his instructions. With quick steps, I tried to ignore the voices around me, even though every lau
Eric's POV As the trial proceeded, I tried to focus, listening to every question and statement made. However, my thoughts always returned to Malisa and Roby, wondering how they were feeling about all of this. I wanted to fix everything, but I knew this journey wouldn't be easy. The trial process went relatively smoothly, although there was a bit of chaos midway. The atmosphere became tense, but I tried to stay focused. Among the crowd present, Malisa's gaze was directed at me. The sparkle in her eyes hinted at feelings I could interpret, but could not express. Anxiety washed over me as I sensed something strange in her stare. I felt that she still harbored feelings of love and affection for me, despite the vast distance this situation had created between us. That look reminded me of the beautiful memories we once shared, when everything felt simpler and full of hope. Now, we were in such a different place, and everything felt so foreign. I didn't know how long this situation woul
Eric's POVWithout hesitation, I began to step forward after the cell door was unlocked. The creaking metal signaled the start of this journey. The police officer was ready to escort me to the courtroom, affirming that all of this was a step toward accountability."Are you ready, Mr. Eric?" the officer asked as he turned to me."Yes, I’m ready," I replied, taking a deep breath to calm myself before facing what was to come. My eyes looked straight ahead, trying to ignore the anxiety that clouded my mind."Alright, let’s go!" the officer said, signaling for me to follow his lead. We walked down the cold, empty hallway, our footsteps echoing against the walls. Each step felt heavy, carrying the weight of regret and fear of what would happen in the courtroom.The courtroom was getting closer, and my heart raced. I knew that behind that door, many were waiting to hear my story, to understand the reasons behind everything that had happened. This was