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The Smiling Tiger

Author: Mayemura Special
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-11-21 18:11:38

Adrian’s POV

I had not meant to stay outside her room that long. But even after I left, my feet wouldn't move. I stood in the hallway, watching the rain crawl down the windows, trying to steady the pulse that had been thrumming in my throat since I saw her.

She is alive. Three words that should have filled me with relief. Instead, they felt like a blade twisting slowly in my chest. Because seeing her breathing, broken, and unaware of who she truly was… that was not peace. That was punishment. For both of us.

When I finally walked away, I did not go far. My bodyguards, Marco and Kane, were stationed by the corner, pretending not to look nervous. They had seen me angry before, but never like this, never silent because they knew that my silence meant danger.

“Boss,” Marco began carefully, “we’ve confirmed Mason Burkely’s transfer. The police took him into custody an hour ago. He’s being kept isolated under your, uh...‘suggestion.’” I nodded once. “And the daughter?” “She’s in Pediatrics
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  • A Kiss For Every Bruise    Watching Her Begin

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    AdrianI told myself I was only there to observe. That was the agreement, half day, limited interaction, no pressure. Kayla’s first real immersion into a structured world again, and my role was meant to be peripheral. A shadow at the edge of the room. A contingency plan disguised as a father.St. Aurelia International Academy did nothing to soothe that instinct.The campus was immaculate in the way institutions designed to shape future power always were. Pale stone buildings softened by ivy, wide windows meant to signal transparency, manicured lawns that looked untouched by chaos. Flags from half a dozen countries lined the entrance. Multilingual welcome signs. Quiet confidence. Elite. International. Controlled.Miguel had called it “an environment worthy of her mind,” which was his careful way of saying that anything less would suffocate Kayla. I hadn’t disagreed. I had simply delayed. Delay was my specialty.I stood at the back of the observation gallery overlooking the lower primar

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    Gwen The message came just after dawn, when the villa was still pretending to sleep. I had been awake for hours. I lay beneath silk sheets that felt more like restraints than comfort, staring at the faint line of light creeping along the ceiling while the ocean breathed steadily beyond the balcony doors. The house held its breath with it, quiet, alert, always listening. Camilla liked mornings. She said they were for renewal. For gratitude. I had learned they were for surveillance. My phone vibrated once on the nightstand. I did not reach for it immediately. In this house, every sound felt borrowed. Every object felt observed. My room. My time. My so-called healing. All curated. All managed. All quietly dictated by a woman who smiled like salvation and hid rot beneath perfume and benevolence. Then I saw the name on the screen. Adrian. My chest tightened sharply, like a muscle pulled too fast. There was no text at first. Just a single video attachment. My fingers hovered above

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