All Chapters of Secrets, Seduction, & Serenity: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Linda’s POVAs the car approached the airport, I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath, steeling myself for the journey ahead. My mom held my hand tightly, offering silent comfort as we navigated through the bustling terminal. My Dad was leading the way, he always tried to make sure that we were as relaxed as possible when we were traveling. He would often try to do everything so we would not have to do them. Checking in my luggage felt like a blur, my mind still reeling from the emotional whirlwind of the past few hours. Boarding the plane was not too smooth but my parents and I made our way to first class soon, settling in. As we soared through the clouds, I found myself lost in thought, reflecting on the events that had led me to this moment. The love, the betrayal, the heartache—it all seemed like a distant memory, yet it still lingered in the recesses of my mind, refusing to be forgotten. But amidst the pain and uncertainty, there was also a glimmer of hope—a hope that m

Linda’s POVThe pain intensified, sending waves of discomfort coursing through my body. I clutched my stomach, feeling a sense of panic rising within me. What was happening? Was it something I ate, or was it something more serious? Could this be the bullet? Gosh, my baby. Please god, don’t let anything happen to my baby. Right when I was about to let out a cry for help, the pain stopped. Just like that, it stopped. I was left breathing deeply, trying to calm myself. It stopped as if nothing had even been going on. What in the world had just happened?I had intended to take a long shower, but to hell with that! I needed to know if I was okay. I needed to know if my baby was okay. Had the bullet punctured something in me? Maybe an organ? The thought sent waves of fear inside of me. I quickly showered, grabbed a towel from the heated rack, and dried my skin and hair before stepping out of the bathroom. I got dressed and ready in ten minutes and then headed right out of the room. I

Chris’s POVIt was quiet, way too quiet for my liking. I mean, I was someone who liked it when it was quiet, but not this type of silence.I think what I should be saying was that I missed Linda. She was gone, she was already out of the country.I could get on a plane right now and go to her, falling to her knees to beg her to forgive me. But I think that I had gotten the fact in my head that I could not force someone to heal when I wanted them to do so.As much as I hated to say this, she needed time. She needed time away from me. I think what felt more awful was not just the fact that she had left but the fact that I did not know when she was going to be coming back.It could be next week, or it could be next year. Or it could even be after five years. The fact that I did not know scared me, it gave me anxiety.Walking down the stairs and heading to the living room, my footsteps echoed in the empty villa. I still had not told the workers to come back to work yet. I wanted to be alo

Chris’s POVEntering the cafe, I was immediately greeted by the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of conversation. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, a stark contrast to the chaos of my own thoughts. Spotting Aunt Maze sitting at a corner table, surrounded by notebooks and pens, I could not help but smile. Despite everything that had happened, seeing her brought a sense of calmness to me. Making my way over to her table, I greeted her with a warm hug, taking her by surprise. “Hey, Aunt Maze. Long time no see.” LolShe returned the hug, surprise plastered on her features, but happiness soon replaced it. “Chris, dear, it’s been too long. How have you been?” She asked, her eyes running over me. I took a seat opposite her, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. “I have been…” I did not know how to tell her that my life had been a mess. There was just so much to unpack. “...navigating through some rough waters, to say the least.” Her smile faltered slightly,

Chris’s POVI took in her words, this meant some good news, to be honest. This meant that she knew what I had come to find out about. This meant that she knew about my real family. I had already made peace with the fact that my father was never going to tell me anything about where I was really from. I nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. “I know. But I can’t keep living this lie, Aunt Maze. I can’t keep pretending to be someone I’m not, someone my father wants me to be.”It was much easier when I did not know that I was not a true Kingston, but now that I knew, I just needed to do something about it. She sighed, closing her notebook and setting aside her pen, her facial features weary yet resolute. “Very well. What is it that you want to know?” Wait, was she serious? Was she really going to tell me? I tried my best to hide my excitement and to keep a straight face. Taking a deep breath and steeling myself for what was to come, I tried to find the perfect question to ask