LOGINThe silence that swallowed the shop felt so heavy it was almost ridiculous. If not for the apprentice groaning on the floor and the fact that Madam Cherry’s driver had just been knocked unconscious with a single kick, you would have thought nothing had happened at all. Sam, who had been forcing his eyes to stay open through the pain, looked up the moment he saw me. Relief flashed across his bruised face and he gave me a weak, exhausted smile before his body finally gave out completely, collapsing back onto the floor unconscious. Madam Cherry’s eyes narrowed into slits as she stared at me carefully, like she was trying to remember my face. When she couldn’t, irritation turned across her features. “Who the hell are you?” she snapped. I sighed softly, running a hand through my hair before casually pointing toward Sam’s unconscious body. “I’m his new boss.” The second those words left my mouth, the entire shop seemed to freeze again. Madam Cherry’s face darkened instantly. “And
Madam Cherry was just about to leave her shop. Dressed in a long fur coat with dark sunglasses resting on her face, she stood beside her car while her driver opened the backseat door for her. The entire shop buzzed around her as usual, people greeting her respectfully, apprentices running around carrying fabrics and customers trying to catch her attention before she left for the day. Just as she was about to enter the car, one of her minions came sprinting down the road from Sam’s shop holding a bundle of dirtied fabric tightly against his chest. “Madam!” he screamed. Before anyone could react, he tripped over his own feet and crashed face first onto the ground. The fabrics flew out of his hands, landing directly on Madam Cherry’s expensive shoes with a wet splat. A horrible smell immediately filled the air. People around them covered their noses at once, stepping back in disgust. Madam Cherry slowly looked down at her ruined shoes, then at the gutter-soaked fabrics lyin
Closing the door behind Bianca and setting the umbrella aside, I reached to brush the rainwater off her shoulders. “The rain got you good,” I said, smiling. “Go in and change before you catch a cold.” Bianca giggled as she kicked off her shoes, then suddenly spun around and threw her arms wide open. “Where are my favorite nieces and nephew?!” The kids, who had been gathered around the dining table waiting for dinner, turned instantly. “Aunt B!” Billy shouted, running straight into her arms. She lifted him up easily, spinning him around as he laughed loudly. Gracie squealed from her high chair, tiny hands reaching out toward Bianca, her face lighting up. Anna rushed over next, wrapping her arms around Bianca tightly, almost knocking into her. Even Rebecca and Mary stepped out of the kitchen, smiling as they carried plates and spoons to the table. Jerry, sprawled on the couch watching football, barely looked away from the screen, completely distracted. It had only been two weeks s
After looking around the restaurant and not finding Bianca, Alexander figured she had already left. He got into his car and drove slowly along the road, keeping close to the pedestrian lane until he finally spotted her. She was walking aimlessly, her eyes unfocused, like she wasn’t really seeing anything in front of her. He pulled over beside her and pushed the passenger door open, watching as she stopped and turned to look at him. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. “Get in,” he said. She let out a tired sigh and walked over before dropping into the seat. The moment the door shut, she leaned forward, burying her face in her hands as her shoulders began to shake, the sobs coming out hard and uncontrollable. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Raindrops began to tap against the windshield, slow at first, then heavier until the rain came down in sheets, drumming against the car. Alexander didn’t move. He stayed in the driver’s seat, silent, letting her cry without interrupt
Alexander Sterling had never really understood his father. Not as a child, and certainly not now. While other children waited eagerly at the school gates, excited to see their fathers at the end of the day, Alexander had felt the opposite. The last person he ever wanted to see was him. For years, he wondered if that would change. If growing older would somehow make things clearer. If one day he would finally understand the man who raised him. Maybe see the logic behind his choices. But as time passed, it only became more certain that that day would never come. “You cannot be serious.” Bianca stood up so fast that her chair scraped harshly against the floor before tipping over with a loud crash. Her hands trembled at her sides, her eyes turning red as she stared at her father in disbelief. “Tell me what you just said is a joke.” Edward rolled his eyes dismissively. “Here you go again with your theatrics. Sit down, Bianca. Now is not the time for your bad manners.” That word s
Bianca slowly placed the glass of wine back on the table . The irritation on her face was clear as she turned to her father. “So if it’s not work, what is it?” Her voice was cold like she was talking to a stranger. “I have clients. I get paid. I built something for myself and it’s successful. Are you still going to call it a hobby?” Edward let out a dry scoff, raising a finger as he pointed at her, shaking his head in disappointment. “I sent you to the best schools. Gave you the best education money could buy. And this is what you choose to do with it? Cutting hair?” His voice raised even higher. “You should be working in the family company, standing beside your brother. Instead, you waste it all on something so… trivial.” Bianca let out a short laugh in disbelief. “Trivial?” she repeated. “There is nothing wrong with being a hairdresser, Dad. It’s honest work. It makes me happy.” “Happiness doesn’t build a legacy. It doesn’t protect the family name.” “It’s my life!” Bianca sho
I was released the next day. One night in the cell felt like I’d been stuck in a cage for a year. It was dirty, smelly, and so uncomfortable I barely slept. But the moment I stepped out of the station, all of that stopped mattering. Because the first thing I saw… was my family. They were standin
Gerald’s face drained of colour. “Rebecca, have you lost your mind?!” “Yes!” she shot back, spinning toward him. “I must have been crazy to think you were a good enough man to marry! That was the worst mistake of my life! The only reason I don’t regret it is because I had my precious daughter. Ma
“So this is where you were hiding, you disgraceful child.” Gerald’s voice dripped with disgust as he looked Mary up and down. “Have you and your useless mother completely lost your minds? Why on earth would you stay in this apartment when your father’s place is only a few doors away? What do you
“Here comes the choo-choo train…” I held the spoonful of porridge up to Anna’s mouth, making a soft train sound as I tried to feed her. She stared at me like I’d grown five heads. “Have you lost your mind?” “Why? You don’t like porridge?” I said without missing a beat, dipping the spoon back in







