Nobela ni Setemi

She couldn't sleep.The clock read a little past midnight when Naomi gave up pretending she could sleep. The air in the guest room felt too heavy, pressing against her chest, every breath catching like it didn’t belong to her. She sat up, running a hand through her hair, and for a long while she just stared at the faint line of moonlight spilling across the floor.It wasn’t the house that felt unfamiliar, it was the silence. Or maybe it's just how messed up her thoughts were. Her throat ached. She told herself she just needed water, maybe milk. Anything to help her sleep. She slipped out of the room quietly, wearing the same oversized T-shirt she’d thrown on hours ago, the same one Damon gave her the night before. The hallway light was dim, the only illumination coming from the kitchen and the entire floor was empty. Even the staff called it a day already.Naomi shut her door with a sigh, good. The last thing she wanted was to talk to anyone. She'd crossed paths with Patrick when s

Naomi closed the door of the guestroom behind her and leaned against it, breathing hard. She had left work as soon as the day was over, she didn't want to run into him by accident. He'll, she knew she'd break down in tears again and she already did that. The house was too quiet, too still. She could hear the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen and the staff in the distance. Now that she was all alone, she really wanted to cry, scream, break down but she couldn't for some reason. She kicked off her heels and walked barefoot toward the wardrobe. The house staff had kept her room clean and neat, the sheets crisp and untouched, but the faint scent of Damon’s cologne lingered somewhere in the room. That same cold, subtle fragrance she once used to love.Her chest tightened.She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, hands resting limply in her lap. For a moment she didn’t move. Then, slowly, her shoulders began to tremble.Tears slipped down before she even realized

Naomi sat at the dining table, still in Damon's shirt, fingers curled around a mug of untouched coffee that had long gone cold. She couldn't sleep last night and deluding herself that she might this morning or later in the day was silly. Damon’s footsteps echoed faintly from upstairs. He was getting ready for work, she thought. He probably slept so well last night while she could barely shut her eyes! He was just too…composed. And maybe that was what irritated her most. How could he be so calm when her entire world felt like it was folding in on itself?She didn’t want to stay another second under the same roof. The air here was heavy, too filled with ghosts of memories and arguments they’d never finished. Not to mention the answered questions in her head. Before he could come downstairs, she was already on her feet.Naomi changed into a simple white blouse and grey skirt, clothes she had requested one of the house staff to fetch from Damon's room, tied her hair into a low bun, and

The elevator doors opened with a dull chime, and Naomi stepped out into the dim corridor of Soonie’s apartment building. It's been one hell of a day and all she wanted was to go straight to bed after having one of those delicious soups that Soonie often makes. It's so funny how quickly she falls asleep right after. Whatever it is, she needed it. The rain had followed her from the office, slicking her hair against her face and soaking through her clothes despite the umbrella she’d half-heartedly carried.Just great. If only her day couldn't get anymore! It was late, almost 9 p.m. and all she wanted was a shower, a change of clothes, and sleep.Her mind drifted off yo Amanda for a second amd she shook her head as though trying to waves put the information sje had just learnt from her head. Even though she didn't want to admit it, she knew Amanda was onto something. The revelation about Jack and Clara had lodged itself deep in her chest. She had always known Clara hated her but Jack?

The rain had finally stopped by the time Naomi reached her office that morning, but the grayness hadn’t lifted.The city looked washed-out through the tall windows; slick streets, blurred cars, and a sky still heavy with clouds that refused to break. The kind of morning that made her feel small, like the world had quietly moved on while she stood still.She’d come in early, hoping the work would distract her. It didn’t. She ran into Damon instead and tossed the divorce papers in his face. That was what she wanted right? Why did it feel so hollow?Her desk was littered with reports and proposals, her laptop still open to a half-finished email, but she couldn’t focus. Her head throbbed faintly, a lingering side effect of the explosion and the faint smell of burnt metal still lingered in her mind, no matter how much she tried to shake it.She had tried not to think about Damon, but that was like trying not to breathe. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face.The look of panic

Damon stood motionless at the end of the table, every inch of him perfectly still, but the tension in his body was violent, ready to break. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner and the steady tick of the clock mounted on the far wall. He scanned the room slowly, one face at a time. The board members, men and women who had once cheered his every victory. Not one of them met his gaze now. They shifted uncomfortably in their seats, eyes darting toward Jack like he was some savior who had come to restore order. Cowards. “Step down?” Damon finally repeated, his voice low, too calm. “You want me to step down from a company I built from the ground up?” The chairman adjusted his glasses. “Mr. Sinclair, please understand this isn’t personal…” “Oh, it’s personal.” Damon’s voice sliced through the air. “Everything about this is personal. You think I don’t see what’s happening here?” He turned his glare to Jack, who was lounging casually in the seat that had always b

The rain had turned the world into a blur of gray and shadow. He wasn't going to let him slip. Now that he had a child involved, he wouldn't let Donald slip away and let him haunt his family ever again. The chase ended at the old bridge just outside the city. Rain had begun to fall, the wind howling through the girders.“Donald!” Seth shouted, his voice echoing through the storm. “Stop!”He didn't until headlights cut through the darkness. Arian’s black SUV screeched to a stop across the slick asphalt, blocking his path. He slammed the door and ran forward, his breath forming white clouds in the cold night air.He had been following since he saw Donald run out of the house. Donald stood at the center of the bridge, coat soaked, hair plastered to his face. His hands trembled, but not from the cold. In one hand gleamed a knife, slick with rain and blood.“Donald!” Arian’s voice rang out like a warning. “It’s over. The police are already surrounding the place.”Donald turned his head

The rain had turned the world into a blur of gray and shadow. He wasn't going to let him slip. Now that he had a child involved, he wouldn't let Donald slip away and let him haunt his family ever again. The chase ended at the old bridge just outside the city. Rain had begun to fall, the wind howling through the girders.“Donald!” Seth shouted, his voice echoing through the storm. “Stop!”He didn't until headlights cut through the darkness. Arian’s black SUV screeched to a stop across the slick asphalt, blocking his path. He slammed the door and ran forward, his breath forming white clouds in the cold night air.He had been following since he saw Donald run out of the house. Donald stood at the center of the bridge, coat soaked, hair plastered to his face. His hands trembled, but not from the cold. In one hand gleamed a knife, slick with rain and blood.“Donald!” Arian’s voice rang out like a warning. “It’s over. The police are already surrounding the place.”Donald turned his head

His heart pounded in his chest as she adjusted his tie, eyes staring down at her with more fear than she'd ever since in his eyes. She met his gaze, a smile on her lips. “What?” “I didn't know you were this..brave.” Thea chuckled. “There’s more to me than you know. And you're going to spend forever finding out.” “Is that a deal?” He smiled and she nodded, eyes glowing. The morning light fell softly across the kitchen, painting the marble counter in shades of gold. Thea was standing right in front of Seth, eyes fixed on his suit and then his tie before giving a satisfied nod. “You're good to go.” Seth glanced at the standing mirror behind her, crisp shirt, dark tie, hair pulled neatly back. He looked way better than he did weeks back. “I don’t have to go in today,” he said without meeting her gaze. She smiled faintly. “If you don't, we will never get this over with."Seth’s eyes met hers, calm but shadowed. “I just need to make sure everything stays in place. The police have

The air inside the courthouse was heavy, tinged with the sharp scent of polished wood, coffee from the vending machine in the lobby.It smelt of something else as well, anticipation and fear..Seth’s hand brushed against hers as they walked through the entrance, his grip firm and grounding.“We’ll be fine,” he whispered, though she knew it was more for her than for himself.“I hope so,” she murmured back, adjusting the lapels of her blazer.The courtroom was already buzzing. Reporters scribbled notes, cameras flashed, and the occasional whisper drifted across the rows of chairs. Thea’s chest tightened. She could feel every gaze on her, every expectation weighing down on her shoulders.Seth stayed close, he was going to keep her promise of keeping her safe. She had asked that they attend the trial; it would be their first public appearance after Celine's death. His fingers tightened in her as they settled down, waiting. The trial had already begun when they entered. The defendant, R

The first thing that hit him that morning wasn’t the light, it was the silence.The house felt too still, too quiet. The kind of calm that only came after a storm had exhausted itself. The curtains swayed gently, letting in fractured sunlight that painted lazy shapes across the bedroom floor. For a moment, Seth didn’t move. He just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the faint hum of the city seep through the walls.Is this the right thing to do? Coming back here? Would Celine forgive him for not giving her a proper goodbye? If he's going against Donlad, will the people he cares about be safe?The bed dipped beside him. A reminder that he wasn’t alone.Thea was curled up next to him, the sheets tangled around her waist, her hair a soft, chaotic halo on his chest. She was breathing evenly, one hand resting over his heart as if it belonged there. Seth’s fingers brushed over her knuckles lightly, careful not to wake her as if any firmer touch would break the illusion that she w

It's been three weeks. Donald was nowhere to be found, Celine had undergone autopsy and the police were doing their jobs. The rain began the moment the last words of the funeral service faded into the hollow silence of the cemetery.It was soft at first, hesitant drops tapping against the sea of black umbrellas. But soon, the sky broke open, heavy and merciless, as though the heavens themselves mourned for Celine Blackwood.Thea stood still under the gray downpour, her hand gripping the handle of her umbrella so tightly her knuckles whitened. Her heart sank with a sudden reality as Celine was lowered into her grave, she was really gone. She was battling a terminal illness but she was supposed to have more time. More time with her, more time to do everything she wanted to do. She could have met her grandchild….The scent of wet earth and roses hung in the air. Around her, people began to drift away. Family friends, old acquaintances, business partners who whispered condolences.Adam