LOGIN[Elara]The flight back to Sun Tech City was just as long as it had been when the trip was the other way around.But somehow, it felt longer. Not because I was bored out of my mind or had nothing better to do, but because I was tired of looking at Vera and meeting a dead end every time I tried to talk to her.Conversations with her were always one-sided. She only responded to whatever I asked, did what I told her to do and the way I told her to do it. Other than that, she had no personality of her own. She didn’t bounce around the private plane the way Cora would have. She didn’t ask millions of questions. She didn’t smile or giggle or point at anything that caught her eye, but it didn’t make sense, because it was something new for her.She did nothing like that.Just sat in her seat, eyes either glued to the screen in front of her, or tightly shut, as if she was catching up on some much-needed sleep.I sighed deeply into my chest, peeling my gaze off her after what felt like hours, a
[Elara]Even long after I returned to my hotel room, Griffin’s words kept echoing in my head.“You’re a victim, too,” he had said, and that too as fiercely and protectively as possible. It was as if he wanted me to brand those words in my brain, as if he wanted me to believe them—believe him—with everything I had.And I did. Or at least, I wished I could with just as much confidence as he did.But there was one thing that he wasn’t completely wrong about, though.There was no denying that it was the Blackwoods who were solely responsible for this—for turning my Vera into this robotic six-year-old girl who didn’t even know she was just a child.And that made me angry. So damn angry.In my heart, I knew I would never forgive them for this. That I would make them pay for what they did to my daughter. That I would make them feel what helplessness and desperation feel like when you’re at someone else’s mercy.When the next morning arrived, and the soft rays of the rising sun filtered throu
[Elara]During the dinner, Vera doesn’t complain about anything. She doesn’t act spoiled or picky or plain disgusted at the sight of something she would rather die than eat.She eats everything I put on her plate. Never questioning. Never doubting. Never making a scene.It’s like watching a robot do something that simply needs to be done, and not because it finds any joy in it.She just eats. Moves her jaw. Blinks. And then repeat.It hurts just looking at her.From across the table, I feel Griffin’s eyes on me. Frowning and probably wondering why I would look like someone who might cry any moment now.Hence, I’m not surprised when he asks me to meet him in his room after Vera goes to sleep.I stand at the door, watching and waiting to see if she needs anything else.When she does nothing but take off her white jacket, fold it neatly, place it on the foot of the bed, and lie down with her eyes immediately shut, I realize there’s nothing I can do to make this situation any better for n
[Elara]After I revealed that I was her mother, Vera’s reaction was nothing but a blink.A blink.That’s all. That’s it.I couldn’t help but stare at her with all the confusion in the world, wondering if there was literally anything that could get her to react like a normal child, a child no more than ten years of age.She was nothing like Cora. That much was obvious.My Cora was bubbly, playful, naughty, yet wise for someone her age.But Vera? Vera was a whitewashed wall. With nothing but one singular emotion painted across her face. The emotion of no emotion at all.At least, that’s how my brain surmised after spending the next twenty minutes with her in the car, while we drove back to the hotel.She didn’t say a word. Not a single word at all. Just sat there with her eyes fixed ahead, interested in nothing but existing.When we entered our room, and Griffin reminded me that we would be leaving in the morning, and I should get some rest, my eyes stayed glued to the back of Vera, onl
[Elara]After the agreements were signed, Adrian kept his word and asked Petra to complete the formalities on their end and bring my daughter to us.The moment Petra left the conference room, my hands started to shake. My chest ached with pure, raw nervousness, and my head swam for a few seconds.To even think that I was this close to seeing her—right in front of me—made me nauseous and jittery.I wondered if she looked the same as in the picture. I wondered if she would recognize me as her mother, or maybe feel some instant connection like they show in old movies.I wondered if she would feel happy to know that she had a family—that she could finally leave this dreadful place and never have to come back here. Ever.I even wondered if, instead of being glad, she would get angry with me, accusing me of leaving her all alone when she needed me the most.I curled my fingers around my knees, squeezing so tightly that I could feel my nails cutting into my skin.It didn’t hurt. Not when the
[Elara]I don’t think I heard him right.Because there’s no way he said what I think I heard.I wait for him to correct himself, to apologize for the obvious slip of tongue, and restate his condition.But he does nothing like that. His dark gaze stays glued to Griffin, his fingers still slowly tapping on the table.I turn to see Griffin, wanting to know whatever the hell is going on, but find him staring back at Adrian instead. For some reason, it seems like I’m the only one who is clueless about the situation, and everyone else seems to have gotten to the point where every word spoken has a universal meaning that everyone understands.Finally, after what feels like forever, Griffin leans slightly forward. “Is this your only condition?”“Yep!” Adrian nods offhandedly. “Pretty much.”“How many do you want?”“How many can you give?”“One.”“I never knew you had such a sense of humour.” He chuckles, but his eyes never leave Griffin. “I know you have developed quite a few. So, let’s just
[Damon]Sometimes I wonder how my life would have been if Hannah hadn’t run away on the day of our wedding. If she were my wife. If this morning were just like any other day—instead of me feeling guilty as hell for sleeping with her.I don’t know how to describe this feeling in my chest. It’s as he
[Elara] The door shuts behind me, and when I search for my bag—patting my side, hands fumbling for the strap—I realize I don’t have it on me. Shit. Where the hell did it go? I remember picking it up from the table. But then another realization dawns, and I end up sliding down the wall with my
[Damon]I watch Elara leave with Cora.When I try to follow her, wanting to stop her and explain myself, Hannah holds my arm, pulling me back.“Where are you going?” she says, while my eyes stay glued to Elara’s back. “We still need to attend Danny’s PTM. Remember?”That, we do. I did make a promis
[Hannah]During the entire ride home, Damon stays terrifyingly quiet.No matter how much I try to spark a conversation—or distract him—he doesn’t say a word. His gaze remains glued to the road, his fingers tightly wrapped around the steering wheel.When he finally pulls the car over, he punches the







