Nobela ni Tumininu

ELENA’S POV The rest of the afternoon passed in a fog. Noah chattered endlessly, his tiny hands waving as he described every detail of his day, while I forced my attention on him, pretending the storm of thoughts in my head wasn’t threatening to drown me. Maria’s words echoed: Master Roland. The fight. Morris switching allegiance. Five years ago… I sank into the quiet corner of the living room after Noah had gone to bed, nursing a cup of tea that had gone cold. My mind replayed every fragment of memory I’d managed to suppress for years. Roland. That tattoo. The hotel room. The night that had shattered my world. And now he was here, in the same city, in the same orbit as me… and Noah. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. How could the universe be so cruel, bringing him back into my life without warning? My fingers trembled as I ran them over my face, desperate to shake the nausea that had settled deep in my stomach. I couldn’t let him know I remembered. Not Just

ELENA'S POV. For hours, I stayed in my room with my head bent down in deep thoughts. I lost track of time and just kept staring into space. The information I had received earlier had messed with my mind.I asked those questions in the hope of getting answers only for me to get the complete opposite. All of it started five years ago, coincidentally the most unfortunate year of my life.The maid from earlier had said Morris worked as Roland's driver until five years ago. The brothers got into a fight and Morris was fired. How did a mere driver get involved in the fight between his Master and his half-brother?Maria said he had worked for the Hunts longer, I was sure he knew better than to get in between the two brothers. "Focus Elena" I muttered to myself. "None of this is your business, you just need Justin on your side" I further said.Even if Roland turned out to be the father of my child, it didn't matter. Not anymore. All I want now is for the truth to be revealed and I want t

ELENA'S POV.If this keeps going on, it's only a matter of time before he finds out. I needed to do something. "Your family is well-off. Why didn't you go back home?" he said again, his gaze unrelenting.I hesitated, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "I grew up with a stepmother, sir. An evil one," I said, letting a hint of bitterness edge my voice. "Going back isn’t an option."His brows furrowed, and for a moment, I thought I’d found a crack in his armour. He had his own history with stepmothers, after all. Surely, he’d understand. But instead of dropping it, he leaned back, arms crossed, his expression calculating."And the father?"The question caught me off guard. What father? My father? What did he have to do with any of this?Before I could respond, Justin’s lips curled into something resembling a smirk. "The father of your child. You could have gone to him."The words hit me like a slap, sharp and unexpected. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.My composu

ELENA’S POVI stepped out of the car and adjusted my bag on my shoulder, my eyes sweeping over the towering structure in front of me. The building was massive, a testament to power and ambition, its glass facade reflecting the morning sun. Justin’s secretary had sent me a message earlier: “Report to Mr Justin’s office immediately.” What could possibly be wrong?Josh, Noah’s driver, gave me a curt nod before pulling away, leaving me standing there with my thoughts swirling like a storm. I entered the building. Inside, it was a symphony of movement—workers rushing past, their faces a blur of purpose, phones ringing in a constant rhythm, and the faint hum of machinery in the background. The air smelled of coffee and polished wood, mingled with the faint tang of disinfectant.Pulling out my phone, I double-checked the message before heading to the elevator. My reflection in the polished doors caught my eye—poised and ready.The ride was agonizingly slow, each floor bringing a fresh wave

ELENA'S POVThe ride to Noah’s school felt endless. Silence wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket, my thoughts louder than the hum of the car engine. Justin had said he would be dropping Noah off himself, so I rode in another car with the other maids.My gaze stayed fixed out the window, the passing scenery a blur. "It is just a tattoo, Elena. Anyone could have it. A thousand people might bear the same mark." I told myself, clinging to the thought like a lifeline. But the reassurance rang hollow. My mind would not stop racing, piecing together fragments of a puzzle I didn’t know I was solving. That gnawing sense of familiarity—so persistent since the very first day—suddenly sharpened into focus. This morning had brought clarity, yet it left behind an unsettling residue.And then there was Morris. The driver.He worked for Justin now, yes. But five years ago… My chest tightened as the memory resurfaced, vivid and raw. That night, after my stepmother cast me out like I was noth

ELENA'S POV. The moment I entered the living room, the weight of their stares hit me like a brick wall. Every eye in the room turned my way, some sharp with judgment, others indifferent but no less intrusive. The knots in my stomach tightened.Why were they all staring at me? After years in the mental hospital, I’d grown used to being invisible. This sudden attention felt suffocating, every glance like a spotlight I hadn’t asked for.“Good morning…” I said softly, bowing slightly in an attempt to ease the tension.“I can’t figure out why you were hired,” Hailey—Justin’s mother—spoke without preamble, her tone cold and cutting. Her sharp, piercing eyes met mine, brimming with unspoken disdain. “But let me make one thing clear. If you fail to take proper care of my grandson, not only will you be fired, but I’ll make sure you go to jail for it.”Her words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a guillotine suspended above my head. I swallowed hard, unsure if I could trust my voice