Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVENCHAPTER SIXTY-SEVENCHLOE’S POV“Thank you for your order,” I smiled at the young girl, handing over her cup of matcha and a croissant. She gave me a tip and left, allowing the young gentleman to step in front. “Hello.”“Hi,” I smiled. “What do you want this morning?”“A cup of iced coffee, with some squashed pineapples and some blackberry pie,” he replied, his voice cool. He leaned across the counter and I could see deep into his blue eyes. “Do you mind bringing it over to my table?”“No at all,” I breathed, my voice cracking. “I'll get all that sorted out.”He gave me a wink and walked away, going to sit down at the back. “Girl,” my colleague sauntered up to me. “If you don't get your man, I'll go after him myself,” she laughed.I rolled my eyes and tossed my hair up.into a high bun. “Yeah, my man that came to order a whole tray of complicated food.”I made his order, carefully placing them all on a tray. He was still there when I was done, typing furiously on his phone.“Here it i
Last Updated: 2026-01-14
Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTY-SIXCHAPTER SIXTY-SIXSERA’S POV“Just like that,” Klein said, giddy. “Yeah, yeah, that's it. That's it, kick his ass.”I spun my avatar, crashing on the online opponent I was playing. “Let fucking gooo,” Klein screamed, dancing around the room.“Language, Coach,” I laughed, signing out. Klein rolled his eyes. “Sorry, I keep forgetting I am a coach,” he grinned. “That was amazing.”I had to agree. The past few weeks has been amazing training under him. His coaching style was way better than Agatha, focusing on building individual mechanics and team communication, rather than barking out commands and expecting everyone to cower as he said it. He actually cared and listened to his team members, and he was a quick learner too, fast to spot someone dealing with something.It's late at night, but I felt so relaxed with him alone. We choose to train at the boot camp, away from everyone else.“This was fun,” I grinned, standing up to stretch. I felt his eyes on my body, but my cardigan covered e
Last Updated: 2026-01-14
Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVECHAPTER SIXTY-FIVENarrator’s POV“Gather close, students,” Dean Jacqueline’s voice echoed across the sports department building. “Can we all take a seat?”The e-sports students troped into the hall, whisperings rising amongst themselves. Dean Jacqueline sighted Seraphina, and waved at her, before turning back to them.“Can we have silence please?”The entire hall grew silent.“First of all,” Dean Jacqueline said, “I want to apologize for a lot of changes that have happened this year in the department. Agatha's case is a sad one, and until the investigation is over, I am afraid she will not be coming back.” She sighed.“Marcus was our most reliable coach, but due to the nature of his injuries, he had to retire,” Jacqueline continued. “I know you all have been training by yourself for the last three weeks since Agatha has been gone, and I must say I am really impressed,” her lips tugged up into a smile. “I mean, every single match has been won. A huge round of applause please.”The stu
Last Updated: 2026-01-14
Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTY-FOURCHAPTER SIXTY-FOURSERA’S POV "I cannot believe Agatha got suspended,” Romeo said for what seemed like the millionth time. “Do you have any idea what she did?”“Now a clue,” I sighed, opening the door leading to our department. “It is kind of sad though, championships are so close.”The dean had announced Agatha’s suspension to us yesterday. My teammates had groaned and sighed, but I stepped up to the challenge. “Until we get an interim coach, we have to train ourselves,” I told them.This morning, everyone was meant to be here by ten a.m. “Do we have any scrims this week?”“I think we have a couple,” Romeo replied. My teammates strolled into the room, greeting as they walked past. ‘Hey,” Louise said, walking up to us. “What is the game plan?”I bit my lips. “I think we should do things differently today,” I answered. “You remember how coach Marcus used to have us train?”Romeo nodded. “Identify the other team's tactics from watching one of their games, and playing against each other
Last Updated: 2026-01-14
Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTY THREECHAPTER SIXTY THREENarrative POVDean Jacqueline Keith stepped into the large conference room. “Let's all try to be quick,” she spoke to her assistant. “Did you send the mail to all the lecturers?”“Yes, Dean Keith,” the young assistant answered. She has also made sure the room was clean and all the dean's papers were in order. It was the annual sports and athletics committee board meeting, and everything had to be exact, or she would get fired.“Dean Jacqueline,” the young assistant said. “Before the meeting starts, I just checked your mail and there is something that you need to see, and attend to yourself.”“Can it not wait?” Jacqueline asked, her forehead twisted into a frown.“No.”She sighed and took the tablet from the girl, sitting down at her spot in the head of the table.“Oh my God,” Jacqueline gasped. “Send a mail to Coach Agatha, quick. Tell her the meeting had been cancelled. Call her if you need to.”The assistant left the hall to do as she was instructed, while Jacque
Last Updated: 2025-12-22
Chapter: CHAPTER SIXTY-TWOSera’s POVI grinned heavily. My first stream with K/DA was going amazingly. “Guys, it's so awesome to have you here,” I squealed, racing against a volunteer. “We’ll soon be going on a break, where I will be accepting calls, okay?”I finished the race quickly, squealing when I saw the series of gifts my followers had given me. “Okay, first call.”Donations rolled in every minute, and in the three hours, I had managed to make more money than I had seen when tutoring people.My screen glitched, and a young girl's face was there. “Hi, Seraphiona,” she screamed.“Hello to you, angel. Do you have any questions for me?”“I am a girl, and I am interested in e-sports like you,” she said. “My school's coach refuses to let me play because it's a male sport.”I rolled my eyes. “Your coach is a liar, and he is just sexist. Can you tell me his name and the name of your school so that I can start a hashtag?” Her eyes twinkled. “Oh, would you? Thank you. My school's name is Graceton High, and his na
Last Updated: 2025-12-22
Chapter: Chapter 126. THE ENDThe morning of Angela's wedding dawned clear and bright, with the kind of golden September light that made everything look like it had been touched by magic. Bella stood at the kitchen window of the farmhouse, watching the catering crew set up tables and chairs in the backyard where Angela would marry David in just a few hours.Twenty-six years old now, Angela had grown into a confident, accomplished woman who worked as a journalist for the state newspaper and had met David, a fellow reporter, while covering a story about local education initiatives. Their love story had unfolded over two years of shared deadlines, late-night conversations, and a mutual passion for truth-telling that reminded Bella so much of her own journey with Killian."Mom, have you seen my earrings?" called twenty-one-year-old James from the hallway, his voice carrying the slight panic of someone running late. Home from art school for his sister's wedding, James had grown into a tall, thoughtful young man whose p
Last Updated: 2025-08-14
Chapter: Chapter 125The sound of sixteen-year-old Angela's bedroom door slamming echoed through the farmhouse, followed by the muffled sounds of tears and what Bella was pretty sure was furniture being moved in frustration. From the living room where she sat grading papers at the kitchen table that had become her makeshift office, Bella sighed and looked up at Killian, who was helping nine-year-old James with his science project."Should I go up?" Bella asked quietly, mindful of seven-year-old Emma doing homework nearby and five-year-old Liam building an elaborate tower with blocks on the floor."Give her a few minutes," Killian suggested, his voice equally low. "She's been wound pretty tight lately."Two-year-old Grace looked up from her coloring book, her dark curls bouncing as she turned toward the stairs. "Sissy sad?" she asked with the concerned expression that had become her trademark whenever any family member was upset."Sissy's okay, sweetheart," Bella assured her, though she wasn't entirely con
Last Updated: 2025-08-14
Chapter: Chapter 124The morning sun streamed through the kitchen windows of their renovated farmhouse, casting golden light across the breakfast table where controlled chaos reigned supreme. Five-year-old James sat in his booster seat, carefully arranging his pancakes into a tower while twelve-year-old Angela helped three-year-old Emma cut her fruit into tiny pieces. At the head of the table, Killian bounced one-year-old Liam on his knee while trying to drink his coffee and read work emails simultaneously."Daddy, James is playing with his food again," Emma announced with the serious tone of a child who took rule-following very seriously."I'm not playing, I'm building," James corrected with the patient air of someone who had explained this many times before. "This is the Leaning Tower of Pancakes.""It's going to fall," Angela warned, reaching over to steady the wobbling stack."That's the point," James said matter-of-factly. "Then I get to eat the ruins."Bella smiled as she flipped more pancakes at th
Last Updated: 2025-08-14
Chapter: Chapter 123The first contraction hit Bella at three in the morning on a snowy February night, jolting her awake with a sharp pain that radiated across her lower back and around her swollen belly. She lay still for a moment, breathing through it, wondering if this was finally it or just another false alarm like the ones she'd been having for the past week.When the pain subsided, she glanced over at Killian, who was sleeping peacefully beside her, one arm thrown across his eyes to block out the soft glow from the nightlight they'd started keeping on for late-night bathroom trips. She didn't want to wake him yet – not until she was sure this was real labor and not just more Braxton Hicks contractions.Twenty minutes later, when the second contraction gripped her with unmistakable intensity, she knew this was it. Their baby was coming."Killian," she whispered, gently shaking his shoulder. "Killian, wake up."He was alert immediately, the way he'd been sleeping for the past month – ready to spring
Last Updated: 2025-08-14
Chapter: Chapter 122The autumn leaves crunched beneath Bella's feet as she walked through the park, her hand resting protectively over the gentle curve of her growing belly. Six months had passed since the wedding, and life had settled into a rhythm she had never dared to dream possible. The morning sickness had finally subsided, leaving her with that radiant glow everyone talked about but she had never quite believed in until now.Killian walked beside her, his arm wrapped securely around her waist, occasionally glancing down at her with that same look of wonder and protectiveness that had become second nature to him. He still couldn't quite believe it sometimes – that they were married, that they were expecting their first child, that all the chaos and danger was truly behind them."I can't believe how much everything has changed," Bella said softly, watching Angela run ahead of them, chasing fallen leaves with unbridled joy. The little girl had grown so much in just these few months, both physically a
Last Updated: 2025-08-14
Chapter: Chapter 121The day of the wedding had finally arrived. The morning sun streamed through the windows as everyone prepared for the ceremony. After all the chaos and danger they had faced, this day felt like a gift - a chance to celebrate love and new beginnings.The guests filled the chairs that had been arranged in neat rows, all facing toward the altar where Killian stood waiting. He looked handsome in his dark suit, but there was nervousness in his eyes as he watched the aisle, waiting for his bride to appear.When the music began to play, everyone turned to watch Bella walk down the aisle. She looked absolutely radiant in her mother's wedding gown. The dress fit her perfectly, as if it had been waiting all these years just for her. The lace caught the light beautifully, and the train flowed behind her like a river of silk.Nora walked beside her sister, holding a beautiful bouquet of white roses and baby's breath. She had insisted on being the one to walk Bella down the aisle, since they were
Last Updated: 2025-08-14
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTY-THREECHAPTER CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: LAW SCHOOL BEGINSSophia’s POVI rushed into class, late for the third time this week. My lecturer frowned deeply, but he said nothing while I went to my seat, looking down.“Sorry,” I said, pushing through people to get to my seat. My friend Jessica was smiling, and she lifted her bag for me to sit down.“Long night?” She asked.I rolled my eyes. “Tiffany is going through a phase,” I said. Jessica was a single mother of a five-year-old. “Damien had to go out all night, and she was very agitated.”“Refused daycare, eh?” she asked.Yes, it had gotten to the stage where my daughter cried every time she had to go to school. We listened to the rest of the lecture, and then Jessica followed me home.“Would you like a cup of coffee?” I asked.“Yes, please,” Jessica replied, setting her bag on the table. “It's so nice, coming home to an empty house.”I laughed. “Yeah, I barely have time for myself again. Being a parent is amazing, but Christ.”
Last Updated: 2025-12-18
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTY-TWO:CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: NEW BEGINNINGS SOPHIA’S POVOne Year Later“Damien,” I shrieked. My husband came into the study, followed by my toddler. “Look at it,” I pushed the laptop screen towards him. “I'm so scared I can't look.”“You were amazing in school, baby, I am sure they would want you,” Damien replied, shooing me away. K got out of the seat and went behind him, picking up Tiffany.I graduated from school with my B.sc degree in criminal studies. Damien was so proud of me, and he was shocked when I told him I wanted to apply for law school now.“I want to help women like me,” I had said.He supported me, helped me get the forms, and write the entrance examinations. Now, the results were here. “What does it say?”Damien rolled his eyes. “I am trying to log into your portal.”He pressed a bit, and then turned to me with a huge grin.“I…got in?”He stood of and lifted me, spinning I am Tiffany in the air. “You got in,” he shouted. “My wife's going to be a defense At
Last Updated: 2025-12-18
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTY-ONECHAPTER FORTY-ONE: THE PAST RESURFACESSOPHIA’S POVI pushed the cart, looking for the bag of chips Damien liked. She was inside her stroller and pushing both things was quite difficult. Unfortunately, Damien had a meeting today, and we were running seriously low on groceries.“Here it is, baby,” I cooed. “Here's your Daddy's favorite chips.”I sighed. “Okay, next stop, cashier's counter,” I said with a smile. I grabbed both the cart and my baby stroller and turned, looking down at Tiffany.When I raised my head, a man was standing in the produce section. I smiled first, trying to be polite, but then he dropped what he was holding and started walking towards me.When he was closer, my blood went cold.I let go of my cart and grabbed just the stroller. “Let's go,” I hissed, spinning around. I could grocery shop somewhere else, not where that…bastard was.I sighted the exit, and just before I moved, the man blocked my path. “Sophia Kane,” he said.I looked up at Charlie
Last Updated: 2025-12-18
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTYCHAPTER FORTY: NEW IDENTITIESDAMIEN’S POV“Are you certain?” I whispered, looking back at my child and her mother. “Is it safe now?”“Yes, Mr. Kane,” Agent Chen said. “It was easy to do, along with the testimony of your wife. The entire Kane organization has been dismantled. Your father is in prison, and he'll be there for a long long time.”I nodded. “What about the rest?”“Multiple heads have been arrested too. You should have seen them, scrambling to escape and running into us at their private airstrips,” I heard someone shout in the background and the detective pulled her phone away from her ears. “You're free to resurface.”I sucked in a deep breath. “That is good news then,” I said.“It's the same offer. Free brand new identities, and you all can be in the witness program if you want to.”I didn't but I couldn't not make the decision alone. “I will get back to you. My wife and I, we need to discuss.”I hung up the call. “Who was that?” Sophia asked, bouncing Tiffany on her laps
Last Updated: 2025-12-18
Chapter: CHAPTER THIRTY-NINECHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: THE BIRTHSOPHIA’S POVIt has been three months of bliss. I was finally approaching my ninth month slowly, baby Tiffany got checked every week—because of her meddling father —and we finally settled into a life of no drama.The Kane case was still at court, and because of that, we were still very careful dealing with the outside world. Dr. Martinez managed to get a job at the hospital here in Florida, and I still suspected Damien had something to do with it.“Where are you going?” Damien asked half asleep.I had even barely moved. “I need to pee,” I replied, wincing. “Tiffany thinks my bladder is a ball.”“I'm sorry,” he mumbled. “Let me come with you.”I smiled. “No, it's fine. I can still waddle to the bathroom and pee,” I got up from the bed and walked slowly to the toilet. I had been having a little false contractions, and Dr. Martinez assured me it was nothing to worry about.“Okay,” I pushed the oversized sweatpants down my legs. “Time to pee.”A huge amount
Last Updated: 2025-12-18
Chapter: CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHTCHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: RECOVERYDamien’s POV It has been a month since I finally got rid of my brother. The aftermath was messy, yet, I welcomed it.I could not escape the feds, so when they stormed the apartment, demanding to speak to me, I agreed. I protested when Sophia decided she wanted to talk too, but she ignored me.Adrian was arrested a few days later in the hospital, on the charges of breaking and entering, violation of home arrest, and attempted murder with assault. His lawyers tried to spin a narrative of a husband going to rescue his wife from a deranged kidnapper, but Sophia was the final nail in his coffin.She agreed to testify, but not in court. That day, the little Chinese agent I had been working with was the one in charge, along with a couple of heads watching from outside.“Let's begin,” Agent Chen started. “Please state your name loud enough, so it would be recorded.”Sophia nodded. I stood outside, watching her through the glass, but I had no choice. If I influe
Last Updated: 2025-12-07