MasukElsieI had been watching Mrs. Chavez closely since morning. Every Thursday she went to Mr. Malcolm Lancaster’s bedroom to clean it, and today was no different. She had her usual bucket, mop, and cleaning rags in her hand. I knew what I was about to do was terrible, but I didn’t see any other way. That red file might be in there. That file could be the only thing that can help me. I waited until she began walking towards Malcom’s door, then I quietly slipped a small bottle of oil from the kitchen shelf. My hands were shaking so hard that a few drops spilled on my fingers. “God, please forgive me,” I whispered, then poured the oil right by the edge of the corridor tiles and stepped away quickly.Mrs. Chavez didn’t notice anything. She stepped right on it.“Ah!” she screamed, slipping so fast her bucket flew from her hand. Water splashed everywhere as she hit the ground with a loud thud. I rushed to her immediately, my heart racing so loud it almost drowned her groan.“Oh my God! Are y
Caleb And then there was her. One girl, hit by a bullet during the frantic chase and struggle. Before she fail in the street a motorbike hit her. Aiden happened to be carelessly riding his bike that night. When he found her, he thought he had run her down and killed her with his bike. The family covered it up completely. The police were paid. The murder was officially ruled a terrible traffic accident. They made sure to remove all the CCTV footage and focused the entire blame and guilt onto Aiden. Father said it was better that way. It protected the family business, especially the fact that she was a victim of human trafficking. But I knew the truth. I was responsible for her death, because I started the escape. I watched them fall. I thought I was helping them but ended up killing some of them. Those who were captured faced worst fate. When father found out what I did, he was mad. He banned me from ever nearing the casino. I still wake up some nights feeling the weight of th
Caleb The perfect, polished life of the Lancaster Law Firm was nothing but a heavy disguise. It was a coat I wore every day. No one, not the people who worked for us, not our competitors, and definitely not my brothers, would ever guess the real, ugly secret that paid for our luxury cars, expensive suits and fancy houses. They saw the successful lawyer, the family heir, the man of clean ethics. They never saw the truth beneath the surface. I drove the car into the damp, grimy loading dock of what looked like a completely abandoned warehouse downtown. I held up my special access card for the huge man guarding the inner door. He didn't smile, his eyes were cold and empty, and the heavy steel door slid open with a sharp, grating noise. Stepping inside felt like walking into another world. This was the entrance to the underground casino, but it was also the engine room of our family’s true business. The noise hit me first, a chaotic, loud roar of shouting and excitement. This
Aiden The long drive to the Harrington estate felt heavier than any trip I had ever taken. I knew every curve of the road, every stretch of smooth asphalt, but tonight, the journey was slow and choked with the weight of my own failures. The Harrington estate sat on the far end of the city, perched like a predator on a hill. I’d been there countless times before, but tonight it felt heavier. I parked in the long, stone-paved driveway and killed the engine. For a few seconds, I just sat there, my hands gripping the steering wheel, trying to steady the chaos that had been eating through me all week. I hated being here. I hated everything about what this visit meant. My father had made it clear that if I didn’t make peace with the Harringtons, the Judge would reopen every old case with our name on it, and that would destroy us. So, here I was, crawling into the lion’s den to beg for forgiveness I didn’t mean. If it weren’t for Malcolm Lancaster’s threats, I wouldn’t be here at all.
Elsie Rosa and I stood side by side, preparing the evening meal—roasted lamb in red wine sauce, the special dish that Mr. Malcolm Lancaster liked to have before dinner every Saturday. Rosa was humming softly as she peeled onions, her cheeks flushed from the heat. After a while, she sighed dreamily. “You know, Elsie,” she said, “Sir Caleb is so handsome.” I glanced at her, surprised by the sudden topic. “Caleb?” “Yes,” she said with a shy laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “He’s so tall and confident. The way he talks, the way he walks. I don’t know, I just… I can’t help it. I think I have a crush on him.” I smiled faintly, slicing the carrots. “Really?” She nodded eagerly. “Of course! Every time he passes through the kitchen or speaks to Mrs. Chavez, I feel my heart beating fast. He’s not like the others. Aiden is too quiet, and Jacob always looks angry, but Caleb…” she giggled. “He’s the perfect one. If only he’d notice me.” I let out a soft laugh. “Maybe he
Elsie Mrs. Chavez’s fingers dug into my arm as she dragged me down the marble hallway. My bag hung limply from her other hand, swinging against her leg. “You stubborn child,” she hissed. “Do you want to get yourself killed?” “Mrs. Chavez, please—” “Quiet!” she snapped. “I warned you. I told you not to wander, not to do things that weren’t your concern. But you never listen!” She yanked me toward the front door. I stumbled after her, my breath shaking, my heart pounding against my ribs. “Please, I can explain—” “You can explain to the driver,” she said coldly. “He’ll take you far from here.” I tried to pull back, but her grip only tightened. “Please, don’t do this—” “Enough!” The voice came from behind us—deep, steady, commanding. Mrs. Chavez froze. We both turned. Caleb stood at the end of the hallway, his expression hard and unreadable. “Let her go,” he said. His voice was calm, but his tone carried something that made even Mrs. Chavez hesitate. “She stay







