The golden rays of the setting sun slanted through the glass window, casting a warm glow across the tabletop. The café's air conditioning had chased away the last traces of summer heat. Cynthia and Marius sat across from each other, a delicate silence hanging in the air between them.
Cynthia took a small sip of coffee, her gaze still fixed on the street outside.
"You asked to meet me. I assume you have something to say?"
Marius looked more worn than usual—gone was the carefree arrogance he once carried. Turning his head slightly, his voice came low and hoarse.
"I came to apologize."
"If I hadn't taken Harley without permission, none of this would've happened." His fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of his cup. "I owe you an apology."
Cynthia's fingertip slid slowly along her own cup, her tone calm.
"Even if it hadn't been you, Jacqueline would've found another way. She hated me far too much to ever let it go."&nbs
Time rewound to the days they spent in the hospital.Cynthia, having sustained mostly bruises, was the least injured of the three. Lucien had a fractured right hand, and Harley was still recovering from his neck injury. To be safe, the family of three had to remain in the hospital for several more days.Ironically, the sterile white hospital room became an unexpectedly warm haven, a place where they could savor the simple joy of being together.After coming so close to death, both Harley and Lucien grew unusually attached to her. Whether they were heading to a check-up or simply strolling the halls, the trio was inseparable. These few days became the happiest moments Cynthia had experienced since reuniting with Lucien—no, since their remarriage. Of course, it would have been even more perfect if the Brown family hadn't kept turning up uninvited.Thomas only visited once, then disappeared entirely. Jay, Leo, and Kirk came by in turns, but Cynthia qui
The golden rays of the setting sun slanted through the glass window, casting a warm glow across the tabletop. The café's air conditioning had chased away the last traces of summer heat. Cynthia and Marius sat across from each other, a delicate silence hanging in the air between them.Cynthia took a small sip of coffee, her gaze still fixed on the street outside."You asked to meet me. I assume you have something to say?"Marius looked more worn than usual—gone was the carefree arrogance he once carried. Turning his head slightly, his voice came low and hoarse."I came to apologize.""If I hadn't taken Harley without permission, none of this would've happened."His fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of his cup. "I owe you an apology."Cynthia's fingertip slid slowly along her own cup, her tone calm."Even if it hadn't been you, Jacqueline would've found another way. She hated me far too much to ever let it go."&nbs
Cynthia gently pressed her fingertips against the back of his hand, her voice soft but resolute."Don't be angry. I believe Hogan didn't mean to play a joke on me."After this terrifying ordeal, she finally saw her heart clearly—her feelings for Lucien ran far deeper than she had ever admitted to herself.Lucien's gaze burned into her, the warmth in his eyes reigniting. Seeing her goal accomplished, Erica tactfully slipped away."What if I really died?" he asked suddenly, his voice low and rough.Cynthia's heart jolted. In that moment when she'd believed him gone, she hadn't known what she would do. The only thought that had consumed her was to bring him home—back to their home, and stay by his side with Harley.Lucien had once said that if she died, he would follow her in death. Was he now expecting the same promise from her?She held Harley closer. The little boy looked up at her with his clear, innocent eyes. Cynthia stroked his hair gently, her voice calm and clear."I would bury
Lucien's fingertips traced the contours of her face, and just the memory of leaping from the plane made his heart twist in pain all over again.He had never once regretted that decision.Watching her jump, powerless to stop her, had seared a terror into his soul that still haunted him. If he'd been even a second later, if he'd missed by a single step, he would've been holding a lifeless body instead.The very thought made his blood run cold.Six years without her had already been torment enough. There was no one else in this world who could drive him to the edge of hatred and obsession the way she did. If he had to face a future without her again—even with Harley by his side—he couldn't promise he'd remain sane.Losing her once had pushed him to the brink. He would not allow it to happen again. Not even death would steal her from him.Cynthia felt his arms tighten around her, holding her as if she might disappear again. They stayed like that, locked together, as if time itself had fro
Lucien's furious roar exploded in the hospital room. The veins bulging on his forehead made his face look almost demonic."Get out!" he shouted, hurling the glass beside him at the wall. It shattered into a spray of shards. "Now! All of you—get the hell out!"For a moment, time froze.Thomas's gaze lingered on Cynthia before he spoke in a low, commanding voice, "Everyone out.""Grandpa—""Dad!"Janet and Stacey stared in disbelief. They had brought the entire Brown family here to drive that wretched woman away from Lucien. But instead of achieving their goal, they'd been humiliated in front of everyone.Thomas slammed his cane against the floor, his eyes cold and piercing. "This isn't over." With that, he turned and left."Out!" Lucien roared again, his voice brimming with a fury that brooked no resistance.Stacey flinched, and Janet quickly tugged her toward the door. Erica gave Cynthia's shoulder a gentle pat and said softly, "We'll be right outside." She then picked up Harley from
When Simon recounted the harrowing events to Erica, her pupils contracted sharply and her face went deathly pale. Just imagining the kind of despair Cynthia must have felt when she thought Lucien was dead made Erica's entire body go cold. What kind of agony could drive a person to seek death while carrying their lover's "corpse" on their back?Erica's nails dug deep into her palms, her knuckles turning white from the force. "Who told Cynthia that Lucien was dead?" she demanded, her voice sharp as ice. "Is that the kind of thing you can say so casually? What if something really had happened? Who would take responsibility?!"Simon stayed silent, offering no defense for Hogan. As much as this cruel "joke" had inadvertently kept Cynthia by Lucien's side, the emotional cost had been far too high.Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. Erica looked up, and her heart sank—Thomas was marching toward them with a dark, oppressive entourage. Stacey's eyes w
Cynthia stood by the hospital bed, her fingertips trembling as they brushed against Lucien's pale lips."We're going home," she whispered.She removed the oxygen mask and gently hoisted his heavy, unresponsive body onto her back. His arms hung limp over her shoulders, and his leather shoes dragged long scuff marks along the sterile floor.The hallway lights flickered a cold white overhead. Cynthia spoke softly, almost to herself. "Harley's waiting for us… You promised to take him to Disneyland…"Outside the hospital, the screech of brakes shattered the silence. Cynthia walked straight into the traffic with Lucien on her back, car horns blaring all around her like a rising tide."This time… I really will marry someone else…" she murmured, her voice swallowed by the roar of engines.Suddenly, a warm breath grazed her ear."Where are we going?"Cynthia froze."Home," Lucien rasped, his voice raw and hoarse. "Harley's waiting.""Ma'am, stop!" Simon shouted from behind her. "Lucien's alive
The moment Marius appeared at the rooftop entrance, the air seemed to freeze. His eyes locked onto the gleaming knife in Jacqueline's hand, his voice low and restrained."Jacqueline, let the child go. I'll take you home."Her fingers tightened, then loosened, around Harley's neck. Her eyes flickered wildly."You… you still want to love me?" The blade in her hand trembled. "You're not like the others? You won't lie to me?""I swear."Marius took a step forward, palm open under the sunlight. "Let's leave this place. We'll go anywhere you want."Harley's sudden wail shattered the fragile moment.Jacqueline jerked back, the blade pressed against the boy's throat again."Liar! You're all bewitched by that whore!" she screamed, her voice slicing through the wind. "Jump, Cynthia! Or I'll slit his throat right now!"Blood trickled down Harley's neck.Cynthia turned to Marius, eyes full of resolve."Give him to Lucien… tell him…"The rest of her words were ripped away by the roaring wind as sh
Cynthia was deep in thought, trying to finalize the theme for the next issue of the magazine, when her phone suddenly buzzed. Vicky's name flashed on the screen. The moment she answered, a tearful voice burst through the speaker."Harley is missing!"The phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a loud smack. Cynthia's legs buckled. She snatched up her bag and bolted out of the office, slamming hard into Gina at the corner of the hallway."What happened?" Gina grabbed her, alarmed by how pale she looked."Harley… Vicky said my son is missing…" Cynthia's teeth chattered uncontrollably. Her nails dug into her palms. "Tell them I'm taking a leave." She shook off Gina's hand and sprinted toward the elevator."Son?" Gina stared, stunned. "Since when did Cynthia—" The elevator doors shut before she could finish. Turning around, she bumped into Pearl. The two women exchanged startled glances.Under the cold, sterile lights of the underground garage, Cynthia stumbled toward her car.