MasukSynopsis At twenty-five, Emelia thought marriage to August—a devout, respected thirty-one-year-old—would give her stability, love, and a safe future. But beneath the vows lies a secret that binds her to Ethan, August’s charming cousin whose reckless presence ignites desires she cannot fully bury. Meanwhile, August’s younger brother, Tobi, struggles to balance the life he has with Francesca and the pull of what he once shared with Chisom . Between them stands Rachel, Chisom and Tobi’s four-year-old daughter—innocent yet powerful, the fragile bond that ties broken hearts together in ways no one expects. As family loyalties blur and forbidden passions resurface, each choice threatens to unravel the delicate fabric holding them all together. Love, betrayal, faith, and survival collide—leaving everyone to face the question: How far will you go to protect your heart when every desire demands a sacrifice?
Lihat lebih banyakHer eyes stung, but no tears came. Only silence. A silence heavy with the fear that one day, no matter how hard she fought, she would lose a battle she had never been meant to win.The morning light filtered weakly through the cream curtains, painting soft stripes across the bed. Emelia lay still, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the night pressing on her chest like a stone.August’s arm was draped over her waist, his breathing steady, content. To him, last night had been another step toward their dream—a child, an heir, a family made whole. To her, it had been another surrender, a promise to herself broken before it could breathe.Beside her, August stirred. “You’re quiet,” he murmured, his voice warm with satisfaction. “I feel peace today… like we did the right thing.”Emelia forced a small hum of agreement, though her lips quivered. The memory of Ethan’s eyes in the dark, the unspoken bond that clung to her even as August touched her, twisted her insides.“I’ll speak with Ethan
Tobi kissed Rachel’s cheek, his voice soft but firm. “Your mommy isn’t here, and Francesca is part of this family too. You should let her help.”Rachel clung tighter to his neck. “No. Please, Daddy. You do it.”Tobi sighed, glancing at Francesca, who gave a small, brittle smile. “It’s fine,” she said quickly, waving him off. “She’s just… tired.”But the hurt in her voice betrayed her.He set Rachel on the counter and rolled up his sleeves. “Alright, princess, Daddy will do it today. But you have to promise to let Francesca help next time.”Rachel giggled, not promising anything.As Tobi knelt by the tub, dipping the sponge into the soapy water, he started humming an old tune—off-key, but familiar. Rachel’s eyes widened.“That’s Mommy’s song,” she said softly, her stubbornness melting.“Yes,” Tobi smiled faintly. “Daddy remembers too.”Rachel slipped into the water, splashing him playfully. He laughed, wiping his wet shirt. “See? Easy. Nothing to it.”Francesca stood by the door now, ar
Before Chisom could answer Tobi’s teasing words, the front door burst open. Rachel darted in, her laughter carrying through the living room.“Mummy!” she cried, rushing into Chisom’s arms.Chisom bent instantly, her coldness melting as she gathered the little girl close. She kissed her forehead, inhaling the scent of her hair like it was the only pure thing left in her world.“I missed you,” Rachel said, muffled against her chest.Chisom smiled faintly. “I missed you too, my baby.”Rachel looked up, eyes shining, then turned toward Tobi. “Daddy let me win at the game!” she announced proudly.Tobi grinned, leaning forward. “Correction—your brain beat mine fair and square.”Rachel giggled, wrapping one arm around Chisom’s neck and pointing the other at Tobi. “Mummy, you should’ve seen him! He was pretending to be serious, but I knew he was losing on purpose.”Chisom’s jaw tightened. She didn’t want the reminder—this picture of father and daughter laughing together, as if nothing had eve
Night pressed thickly against the windows, the compound quiet except for the distant bark of a stray dog. Emelia sat at the edge of the bed, her wrapper pulled tightly around her frame, as though fabric alone could shield her from what lay ahead.August leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, watching her. His expression carried no malice, only conviction.“It’s for us, Emelia. For the child we’ve been praying for. Just one more time with Ethan. After that, we’ll know.”His certainty pierced her like a blade. She nodded faintly, unable to trust her own voice. Inside, her vow burned: This will be the last time. Never again.Moments later, she crossed the hallway with slow steps, her feet betraying none of the storm in her chest. The door to the guest room stood half open. A faint glow spilled out, the low hum of Ethan’s voice humming a tune to himself. He had been waiting.When she entered, his eyes lit up with that familiar fire, the one that unsettled her, the one she both loathed






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