INICIAR SESIÓNBefore Olivia could respond, the classroom door opened and Mr. Kola walked in quickly. "Get back to your seats and let’s start the class now."The students ran back to their seats, but Tyler didn’t move right away. She’s back? What does she mean? he wondered, lost in his thoughts."Tyler!” Mr. Kola barked. “I said sit down.” Tyler walked to his seat quietly. After school, Olivia rushed out of the class angrily. Tyler went after her but she had gone before he got close.Charles arrived and picked up the kids for rehearsals, and on their way he noticed Tyler’s mood.“Hey T,” Charles said, watching him through the mirror. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” Tyler muttered.“He’s lying. His girlfriend yelled at him.” Johnson teased from the back seat.The kids laughed. Charles turned sharply. “Knock it off. You don’t mock a teammate.”He turned to Tyler. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?” “Can I skip rehearsals today?” “What’s your reason?” Charles asked.“I don’t feel too good.”“Okay,” Charles tu
The next day, after school, Tyler was watching Olivia when he saw James talking to her. He waited, hoping their conversation would end soon, but it didn’t, instead Olivia laughed harder.He finally walked up to them gently.“Hey, Olivia. Can I speak to you quickly?”Olivia didn’t even look at him. She kept talking to James, like Tyler wasn’t standing there at all.James raised his hands slowly and stepped back.“Woah… I’ll leave you guys to it,” James said, and walked away.Tyler swallowed. “Olivia, you’ve been avoiding me. If it’s about what I told my mom, I’m very sorry.”Olivia finally turned to him.“You’re sorry?” Olivia snapped. “I told you it was a secret.”“And I said I'm sorry, Olivia.”“You’re sorry? You ruined everything by running your mouth to your mom.”“Olivia, but It’s not my fault. She found the picture in my bag.”“Not your fault T? Do you know the mess you’ve caused?”“And that's why you don't want to talk to me but you're talking to James?” Tyler said, his voice fi
“Boss, can I come in?” Chad said, knocking on Austin’s door.“Come in,” Austin replied.“Boss, we’ve checked everywhere. She’s nowhere to be found.”Austin’s expression darkened.“What do you mean she’s nowhere to be found? No information on her?”“No, boss. She must be out of town.”“Out of town? I see.” Austin murmured, nodding slowly.“Yes, boss.”Austin’s eyes narrowed.“Are you sure? I made you a leader because you’ve proven worthy.”“Yes, boss. I’m sure.”“Good. What about Robin? Is he cooperating with you?”“Yes, boss. He doesn’t have a choice. I’ll kill him if he disobeys me.”“Okay. Remember—once you see them, you bring them to me first. Understood?”“Yes, boss.”Chad bowed his head and left.Austin looked outside the window, lost in his thoughts.Where the fuck is she?Meanwhile, Rose was still in town, laying low. On her way to pick Tyler up from school, a Tesla slowed and parked beside her.She froze and turned sharply.It was Charles.He was dressed in a plain white top a
Rose cried silently on the call as Michelle told her story. “She reminds me of him, I couldn’t bear living with her, so Freda accepted to raise her for me.”The call was quiet for a moment, until Rose cleared her throat, “nobody deserves to go through what you went through in his hands, but Olivia is just a child and she doesn’t deserve to suffer for this.”“But she caused everything!” Michelle snapped, her voice cracking.“No! Austin did and Olivia shouldn’t suffer for that.”“Rose, I’m sorry, I can’t,” she cried.“Please, Olivia needs you.”“I’m sorry, Rose,” she whispered, and she cut the call quickly.Rose tried to call her back, but it went straight to voicemail.”Days passed, and Rose kept trying Michelle’s number, but still the same thing. “Hi, you’ve reached Michelle. I can’t come to the phone now. Please, leave a message.”Rose sent several messages, but they didn't deliver.Sonia too kept calling Frank, hoping he would finally pick, but his line was not reachable. She pani
Rose jerked up from the bed. Her sleepy eyes cleared immediately.“Michelle?” she whispered, stepping out of the room quietly so she wouldn’t wake Tyler up.“Yes, Rose. Are you alone?”“Yes, I am. I never knew you got my message. I’m so sorry to scare you with it, but I needed to speak with you.”“How did you know about my daughter?” Michelle asked firmly.“You mean the same daughter you abandoned?” “Look, if Austin sent you to me, tell him to back off, okay,” Michelle snapped.“Austin didn’t send me, I’m only concerned about Olivia.”“Then tell me how you knew about my daughter.”“Okay, I’ll answer.” Rose inhaled and spoke quickly. “Olivia and my son have been good friends. I saw a picture of you and Olivia in his bag. I recognized you immediately and he told me everything.”“You have a son now?” Michelle asked quietly.“Yes, I have had him since but I kept him a secret.”“Why?” Michelle asked.“Look, Michelle, I need to know if I can trust you and I need to know the truth too.”“T
He slid the letter into his pocket.“Anything?” Sonia asked, catching the movement.“Ohhh, th-aat?” He stuttered, forcing a shaky laugh. “It’s the receipt from the hospital,” he muttered, his hands trembling.“Austin, are you good?” Sonia asked, frowning.“Yes, yes. I’m alright.”“But your hands are shaking.”“Oh thh-aa-tt,” he said, forcing another laugh. “It’s just hot in here.”“Sorry, I’ll switch on the air conditioner.”“Thank you,” he said. No trace of him?” he added, trying to sound calm.But deep down, he was boiling inside. All he wished to do was smash Rose’s head against the wall. Rose had fooled him and Sonia had lied to him too, saying Tyler was Rose’s cat.“Austin, are you even listening?” Sonia asked softly.“Oh, sorry…what did you say?”“You didn’t hear me?”“I’m sorry. I just feel dizzy because it’s hot.” “So sorry, give it some time,” Sonia said, lowering the temperature.“Take it easy on yourself,” Austin said, noticing the look on her face.“Easy? Rose and Tyler







