Novels by Cacabayu127

Carissa's POV I wondered if Dylan had ever imagined such a simple life—flowers on the table, small laughs in the living room, light conversations without the shadow of secrets?Until finally, I sat down on the sofa, writing again in my diary. I wrote about Dylan, about how one small sentence from him could change the feeling in my chest. About how I learned to love not from grand promises, but from the small presence he gave me.The writing stopped when I heard the key turn in the lock. My heart pounded. Dylan rarely came home early, but this time was different.He walked in slowly, setting his bag on the table. His face was serious, but there was a sense of determination in his eyes.“What’s wrong?” I asked.He sat beside me, looked down for a moment, and then said, “I can’t promise I can tell you everything now. But I don’t want you to continue to feel like a stranger in my life.”I was stunned. Those words were more profound than anything he had ever said before.“Dylan…” my voic

Carissa's POV A small smile appeared on his lips, a smile I’d rarely seen lately. A smile that made me want to believe that whatever he was hiding, I could bear it with him.We finished our meal in a warmer silence. Afterward, Dylan reached for my hand across the table, his grip tightening. There were no additional words, just a touch that spoke louder than anything else.I let the silence envelop us, feeling that perhaps this was his way of showing love, even in secret, even in fear.His hand remained in mine as he took a deep breath. For a moment, I thought he would return to his usual silence. But then, he loosened his grip, looked down, and then looked up hesitantly.“I was thinking,” he said, his voice heavy. “About my work.”I raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress my surprise. Dylan rarely talked about his work directly. Usually, it was just a brief, necessary answer.I waited without interrupting. “Sometimes…” he paused, his finger tapping lightly on the table surface, “…some

Carissa's POV I paused for a moment in front of the door, feeling the cool air from the slowly rotating fan. My heart felt as if I had just found something I had been searching for.“Welcome,” a woman’s soft voice greeted me. She stood behind the counter, wearing a simple cream-colored apron. Her smile was friendly, her eyes serene.I nodded slowly.“Hello. The flowers are beautiful.”“Please take a look around. If anything catches your eye, let me know.”I walked slowly, down the small aisle between the shelves. My eyes moved from one flower to another. There was something serene about the room. It was as if the world outside had stopped for a moment, replaced by a mix of colors and fragrances.My hand stopped on a white rose. Its petals were tight and soft. I imagined it on the table in the living room. But I felt hesitant, roses were too formal, too full of symbols I might not be ready to embrace.I shifted, and my eyes fell on a sunflower. The yellow was so bright, the stem sturd

Carissa's POVI just smiled faintly, staring at my reflection in the mirror in front of me. My hair was wet, sticking to my skin. The faint circles under my eyes were becoming more visible.“But your hair is nice,” she said again, “thick, easy to manage. It’s just a bit dry at the end. You straighten it often.”I turned my head slightly.“Rarely. I tie it up more often. Sometimes I forget to use vitamins.”“Yeah, that’s normal. Most people do that. We’ll give it vitamins to make it softer. It’s a shame to let your hair dry out if it’s long.”I took a deep breath.“Yes, you can. Thanks.”There was a moment of silence. I felt strange because I usually don't like to talk much during treatments. But there was something about the

Carissa's POVDylan left early today. The shirt he’d ironed the night before still clung to his shoulders, his hair neatly combed, his face focused. I could only watch from the dining table as he sipped his coffee, his steps occasionally hurried as if something were chasing him.“I’ll go now,” he said curtly.I nodded, trying to hide my mixed feelings. “Be careful, okay?”He paused briefly in front of the door, looking at me as if wanting to add something. But then he just smiled faintly, then left. The door closed softly, leaving a long silence.I sat in the chair for a long time, staring at his coffee cup, still faintly steaming. There was a part of me that wanted to chase him, hug him from behind, tell him I could be his home anytime. But there was also a part that chose to remain silent, to let Dylan have his space.Since Raiha

Carissa's POVI woke up later than usual. The bed was still warm beside me, a sign that Dylan hadn't moved long ago. From the kitchen came faint sounds, plates touching, spoons scraping against glasses. I smiled slightly, got up, and walked over.Dylan was pouring hot water into two cups. His back was straight, but his movements were slow, as if he was careful not to make a loud noise.“It’s rare for you to go first,” I said, sitting down in the chair.He glanced over briefly, a faint smile appearing. “Take turns. You looked tired last night.”I chuckled. “I’m not that strong. Talking a lot, laughing a lot, can actually make you tired.”“Seems,” he replied briefly, then placed the cup in front of me. The aroma of tea wafted warmly. I stared at the steam rising, feeling a comfortable, if slightly awkward, sil

Anya brought back her doll and placed it on Jessica's lap. "This is for the baby. When the baby arrives, this doll will be the first gift."Jessica was stunned, then hugged Anya tightly. "You're so sweet, honey. Thank you." Jonas, sitting beside her, watched the scene with warm eyes. He knew this simple moment would linger. It wasn't just about congratulations, but also about a small bridge being built between their past, present, and future.After a while, Kevin finally stood up. "We have to say goodbye. It's time for Anya to rest."Jessica nodded, still holding Anya's small hand. "Thank you for coming. I'm happy to share this news with you."Kevin smiled. "We're happy to hear it."Anya hugged Jessica once more, then whispered innocently, "Auntie, take good care of the baby."Jessica nearly shed tears. "Yes, honey. I promise."As they left, the house fell silent. Jessica stared at the newly closed door and then leaned against Jonas. "It feels so good I can finally say that calmly. S

Laughter occasionally filled the room, making the house feel more alive than usual. Nothing was rushed, nothing too serious. Everything flowed like a calm river, carrying small waves of joy.In a quiet moment, Jessica looked at her father with deep eyes. “Dad, I want my child to really know you. I want them to grow up hearing stories about my childhood, about how you always protected me.”Mr. Randy held her gaze, then slowly nodded. “Of course, sweetheart. I’ll make sure my grandchild knows how amazing their mother is. How much love has already surrounded them, even before they were born.”Jonas felt a warmth he couldn’t put into words. He realized this was one of those memories they would carry forever. A simple beginning, but filled with meaning.When they finally got ready to leave, Mr. Randy hugged his daughter again, tight, as if reluctant to let her go. “Take good care of yourself, Jessica. Remember, you&rsq

They finished their dessert with smiles that never faded. That little restaurant stood witness to how two people celebrated their new beginning not with a grand party, but with glances, handholds, and genuine laughter.As they rose to leave, Jessica squeezed Jonas’s hand once more. “I’ll always remember this day. The first day we truly celebrated our little one’s presence.”Jonas bent down, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her hand. “And this is only the beginning. We still have so many days to celebrate together.”They walked out of the restaurant, side by side. The city lights accompanied their steps, but the warmest glow came from the bond of their joined hands.“Jonas, I want to go to my father’s house to share this good news,” Jessica said.“Alright, let’s go there now.”The drive to Jessica’s father’s house felt different that time. The car mov

Jessica looked at him for a while, then let out a small laugh. “Are you serious? We just got the news, and you’re already thinking about celebrating?”“Yes,” Jonas nodded firmly. “Because today isn’t just an ordinary day. It’s the day we were given news that will change our lives. I don’t want to just let it pass.”The car drove on a little further until it finally stopped in front of a small restaurant tucked at the corner of the street. It wasn’t fancy, but it had a warm atmosphere, with soft golden lights and large windows showing the simple wooden tables inside.Jessica smiled as soon as she saw it. “I love this place. It’s not over the top, but it feels cozy.”Jonas looked at her as he opened the car door. “That’s exactly the point. I want us to celebrate in a simple but meaningful way.”They stepped inside, greeted by the aroma of dishes rich

The first bite went into her mouth, making her wince and smile at the same time. “So sour but so good.”Jonas could only sigh, then kept driving. To his ears, the sound of Jessica chewing and occasionally giggling was music more beautiful than anything.The car crossed a small bridge. From above, a river flowed calmly. Jessica stared at it for a long while, then spoke softly, “I want us to walk by that river someday. Maybe with a child running beside us.”Jonas was silent for a moment, then glanced at her. His eyes softened. “I want that too.”Jessica exhaled slowly, as if imagining something distant yet so real. She unconsciously placed a hand on her stomach, then turned back to the window.The road grew busier. Other vehicles moved around them, yet inside the car, time seemed to run more slowly. Jonas switched on the radio, and soft music filled the cabin. Jessica hummed along lightly, making Jonas smile withou

Jonas stood behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder. He didn’t ask what she meant. He knew Jessica was speaking not only to the plant, but to something greater within herself.They returned inside with lighter hearts. No parties, no celebrations just quiet gratitude. They closed the day leaning against each other, without excessive promises.Jessica turned on the small lamp in the living room, its soft yellow glow spreading around them. The house felt warm not because of the temperature, but because of the togetherness that filled every corner. Jonas sat on the sofa, while Jessica walked briefly into the kitchen, returning with two glasses of warm water.“To close the day,” she said simply, handing one glass to Jonas.Jonas accepted it with a small nod. They sipped slowly, exchanging smiles that needed no explanation.When the glasses were empty, Jessica rose first. She walked toward the bedroom, flicking her hair as if brush

“I won’t say anything yet,” he finally replied. “But I already sent my men to the hospital and the crash site. I want a full report within an hour.”Madeline covered her mouth, fear creeping back in. “Nathaniel if someone targeted Sonia does that mean it’s connected to us?”“It could be,” Nathaniel said, still steady. “Or it could be tied to something Sonia was hiding. She wasn’t clean. And whoever worked with her might not want their secret exposed.”Madeline shut her eyes, her heart pounding again. “I don’t know if this makes me feel relieved or even more afraid.”Nathaniel took her hand and pressed a brief kiss to the back of it. “What matters is that you’re not alone. I’m here. And I won’t let anything touch you.”His words were comforting, yet the silence that followed was filled with a tension so subtle i

The thought crashed into Madeline like a giant wave.Her left hand rose to her chest, gripping her blouse as if trying to pull out the sudden pain stabbing from within. Her chest felt heavy. Her breaths are shallow. Her vision blurring at the edges.“No, don’t panic, don't panic,” she tried to reach the water bottle near her laptop, but her fingers trembled so badly that the bottle rolled off and fell to the floor.Madeline flinched, her breath catching for a moment.Her hand lifted to cover her mouth. Her eyes started to glisten. Guilt and shock mixed inside her, making her whole body feel cold.She stood up, but her steps faltered. Her chair scraped loudly as it slid back. Madeline braced herself against the table, making sure she wouldn’t collapse.“This can’t be happening. I didn't even Sonia. Why did it have to be like this?”Her shoulders shook as tears began to fall one by one.

Madeline closed her office door slowly, making sure no one had followed her inside. Ever since the meeting ended that afternoon, the way employees walked through the corridor had changed. It was quicker, more cautious, filled with whispers. She could feel their eyes sticking to her back every time she passed, as if calculating whether the woman who had been married to the CEO for only a few weeks truly deserved the position of General Manager.Of course, not all of their comments were said directly. But Madeline was sensitive enough to read people’s expressions. Smiles that were too stiff. Nods that looked forced. Whispering that stopped abruptly the moment she appeared.Sonia was already fired, but her shadow still lingered in the air.Madeline took a deep breath and placed the stack of internal audit reports on her desk. She had gathered every document herself, without assistance from the staff. Not because she didn’t trust them but because she knew some of them were still loyal to

With a firm answer, Sonia stated, "Both and perhaps an assurance that I won't experience this catastrophe alone."Ethan regained his chair, silently looking at his reflection. He then turned around.He held his head down briefly as if reassessing all options. "One day is enough," he whispered. “You know what happened."A grimace and a worried look were seen from Sonia's face. Maybe enough to make this story go viral. A scandal on the line can change the media's reaction.A tingling panic filled Ethan's eyes as his composure became increasingly faint. With his phone in his pocket, he gazed at the screen for a few seconds as if searching for unaccounted for help. "I can communicate with certain people. Find a solution. But not under threat."Moving closer, Sonia whispered something incredibly sharp to him: "This isn't an empty threat, Ethan. Backup copies of the evidence have been made and kept in various locations. You should

Sonia circled the desk and went for the locked drawer Ethan kept, he'd shown her before how full it could be of neat envelopes. Her hands moved quickly, opening the drawer with a mix of force and fury. She held up a thick envelope as if to test its weight. “I want a number that lets me survive. No sweet promises. Cash. Now.”Ethan stared at her for a long beat; his face showed no confusion, only cold assessment, as if weighing costs and benefits. Outside, the city shimmered beyond the window, their glamorous lives and tangled intrigues reflected in the glass.Sonia continued, her voice growing more urgent. “If you care even a little about what’s happening to me, if you have a shred of conscience don’t make me sue you in a way that can ruin you too. Do you want to stay safe? Give me a way out. Give me my freedom. Give me the money.”The office tightened; only the ticking clock and their breathing cou

“This is your fault, Ethan,” Sonia thought bitterly. “You said I’d be safe. You said everything was under control.”The memory of their last conversation flashed through her mind. Ethan, with that cold smile, had been standing on the office balcony, a glass of wine in hand, and he’d said,“Relax, Sonia. No one will find the trail. And if they do, I’ll take care of it.”She had believed him. God, how foolish she had been to trust that man.The elevator kept climbing, the numbers on the digital panel ticked upward. Each ding at every floor felt like a blow reminding her of everything she’d sacrificed her integrity, her reputation, even her dignity.She bit her lower lip hard, holding back the fury that threatened to spill over. If it weren’t for Ethan, she wouldn’t have lost her job. She wouldn’t be the subject of gossip across the company. Worst of all, she wouldn’t

Amelia's POVA small, tired smile tugged at my lips. “You’re the one who taught me that.”He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly. “Then I guess we’ll face the fallout together.”Together. The word echoed in my mind like a quiet promise.For a long while, we just sat there with two broken pieces caught in the soft afterglow of a storm. The light coming through the curtains was thin and uncertain, like it wasn’t sure if it wanted to commit to a new day. Maybe that was fitting. I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to it either.Xavier’s hand was still warm around mine. Every few seconds, his thumb brushed idly against my knuckles, like he was reminding himself that I was still there. That I hadn’t run.“I should probably start drafting a statement,” I murmured eventually. My voice sounded strange in t

Amelia's POVXavier sighed, thumb brushing away a tear from my cheek. “You’re not just a liar, Amelia. You’re scared. And maybe you made the wrong choice but you were trying to survive. That’s human.”Something in my chest cracked open at his words. For so long, I’d been bracing myself for anger for him to pull away, to throw the truth back at me like a weapon. But instead, he stood there, calm and steady, even when my world felt like it was collapsing.“You’re too good,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t deserve ”“Stop.” His voice was gentle, but firm. “Don’t say that. You don’t get to decide what I feel, Amelia.”I swallowed hard, looking up at him. “Then what do you feel?”He hesitated, his jaw tightening slightly. “I’m

Amelia's POVXavier turned to me, and this time his voice was sharp. “Don’t say that. I do have to. Because whether you lied or not, you’re still my wife.” He paused, then added, quieter, “At least for now.”That last line hurt more than I expected.Before I could reply, a loud knock echoed from the front door. Once. Twice.My heart jumped into my throat.He glanced toward the sound, then at me. “Are you expecting someone?”I shook my head.The knock came again, louder this time.Xavier walked to the door, his posture tense, while I stood frozen. When he opened it, the sight that greeted us made my breath catch.“Amelia.”My mother’s voice. Cold. Familiar.Behind her stood my father Rinov, his expre

Amelia's POVI hesitated. “Freeing, I guess. But also terrifying. Like walking barefoot on glass and realizing it’s the only way forward.”He nodded slowly, as if he understood every word. “Freedom’s always sharp at first.”I let out a quiet laugh. “You make it sound poetic.”“Maybe it is,” he said. “Pain and poetry aren’t that different.”For a while, we just sat in silence, sipping coffee, listening to the soft hum of conversation around us. It was strange how normal everything felt when my whole life had just come undone.When the waiter returned for our order, I glanced at Xavier. “You choose. I can’t even decide what I want right now.”He raised a brow but smiled. “Still trusting me, huh?”“Agai

Amelia's POV When Xavier returned from his study later, I was still sitting on the couch, phone clutched in my hand.He noticed instantly. “Something wrong?”I looked up, unsure of how to begin. My voice came out barely above a whisper. “Someone just texted me. About my parents.”He froze, his expression shifting. “Your parents?”I nodded, my grip tightening. “I don’t know who it is, but ”The phone buzzed again.Another message.[You deserve to know the truth before they come to find you themselves.]The blood drained from my face.Xavier took a step closer, reading the words over my shoulder. His jaw tensed. “Amelia, what’s going on?”I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “I think… they know.”He frowned. “Know what?”I met his eyes, and for the first time in days, I couldn’t hide anymore. My voice trembled as I said it.“That our marriage wasn't real.”The silence that followed was sharp enough to break something inside me.But I didn’t look away. Not this time.Xavier didn’t speak.Fo

Amelia's POVEach word felt like exhaling after holding my breath for too long.I didn’t know how long I sat there before realizing that the tears had started to fall quiet, unforced. But they didn’t hurt anymore. They felt cleansing.When Xavier peeked into the room hours later, I wiped them away quickly.“Hey,” he said softly. “Lunch?”I smiled faintly. “In a minute. I just need to finish this paragraph.”He nodded, and as he turned to leave, I heard him murmur, “You look more like yourself today.”When the door closed, I let out a shaky breath.For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the door he’d just closed. His words echoed quietly in my mind “You look more like yourself today.”Myself.It had been