"I can't let you in," Kimberly said firmly as she stepped out of Hunter's hospital room, blocking Aleah's way.
"Doctor, I think you're crossing the line," Aleah shot back, her hands balling into fists."Clearly, you don't get it. And no, I'm not crossing any lines. Between the two of us, I'm the one who has the real connection to Hunter. I know him better than you. You're just his wife on paper. But me? I'm his soulmate. The real deal. I won't let someone like you mess things up for him. You've done enough damage," Kimberly replied, her tone sharp. Aleah bit her lip and clenched her fists harder, feeling Kimberly's words hit a nerve. Her mind was too clouded with worry for Hunter to fully process what was being said. But one thing was painfully clear—Kimberly had a point. Trouble seemed to follow Hunter because of her, and it stung to hear it out loud."You don’t have to come here. I can take care of him," Kimberly added with conviction. "While I&rsquAs Aleah wandered aimlessly along the street, she had no idea where she was going. Lost in thought, she didn’t realize her feet had carried her back to a place from her past—their old flower shop. When she saw it, she froze. The shop she and her mom once called their own was no longer there; in its place stood a sleek coffee shop. She stood outside the door, staring, memories flooding back. Her chest tightened as she thought, If I hadn’t met Hunter, if I hadn’t married him...would Mom and I still be here, running this place together?“Aleah?” A familiar voice broke through her thoughts, startling her. She turned and saw Director Kim, her mom’s boyfriend, walking toward her with a curious look.“What are you doing here?” he asked gently. His eyes shifted to the coffee shop. “Did you miss your old flower shop? It looks like the new owner turned it into a café,” he added with a soft smile, trying to read
As Hunter lay asleep on the hospital bed, vivid and chaotic images filled his mind like a dream he couldn’t quite piece together. There was a young boy, bruised and scared, sitting in a corner. Then more kids—some fighting brutally, others working with computer tech and strange formulas. The scenes overwhelmed him, leaving him feeling heavy, hot, and drenched in sweat. He struggled for breath, feeling trapped.“Zen.” A familiar voice broke through the chaos, along with a smile he recognized. Just like that, the haunting images faded away, and reality pulled him back. He jolted awake, sitting upright in the hospital bed. His eyes scanned the room—bandages on his body and sweat clinging to his skin. It took him a moment to piece together where he was.“What the hell was that about?” he muttered under his breath.The door creaked open, and Rafael walked in with some of their crew in tow.“Hey, you're up! We brought foo
Aleah woke up in a room she didn’t recognize. Sitting up, she took in her surroundings with a puzzled look. The last thing she remembered was going home with Director Kim—and seeing her mom there. She felt a wave of shame and frustration sweep over her as memories resurfaced. With a deep breath, she got out of bed and made her way out of the room.On her way down the stairs, she caught sight of her mom and Director Kim through the glass wall. They were in the garden, grilling food and laughing. Aleah froze mid-step, her gaze locked on her mom. She’d never seen her look this happy before—not even back when they lived in her grandfather’s mansion. That smile? It was rare, and it made Aleah hesitate for a moment.Clearing her throat, Aleah stepped outside. “Morning,” she said casually as she approached them. The pair stopped chatting and looked up, her mom’s face lighting up.“Lei, you’re awake! Hungry? We&rsquo
Aleah let out a sigh before walking into the hospital. She stopped in front of Hunter's door, hesitating for a moment before finally pushing it open. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside and froze when she saw Hunter staring straight at the door.“Took you long enough,” Hunter said with a slight smirk.“Sorry, I was with Mom and Director Kim,” Aleah replied, walking closer. “You don’t look so great. Are you okay?” she asked as her eyes scanned him. She couldn’t miss the dark circles under his eyes and the exhausted look on his face. He was supposed to be resting, but he looked worse than before. Sure, he had a back injury, but could that really be why he looked this bad?“I’m fine,” Hunter said sharply, narrowing his eyes at her. “But what about you? Your eyes are all puffy. Were you crying?”Aleah blinked, caught off guard. Was it that obvious?“Uh, no. I overslept, that
"What’s going on here?" Kimberly blurted out as she stepped into Hunter’s room, her eyes landing on him and Aleah, who was busy tidying up. Hunter was already on his feet, dressed, and looking surprisingly well."You were sick last night! Why are you up already? You need rest," Kimberly said, rushing over to him and placing her hand on his forehead. Aleah glanced at Kimberly briefly, then quickly shifted her gaze elsewhere.Bold of her, Aleah thought, a hint of amusement in her mind. She didn’t even hesitate to step in and fuss over him while I’m here. Treating him like he’s fragile."I’m fine," Hunter said, flashing a small smile. "My fever’s gone, and I slept great last night." His gaze shifted to Kimberly, who met his eyes. Aleah felt her heart skip as Kimberly looked her way, catching her off guard. Memories of last night flashed through Aleah’s mind—falling asleep in each other's arms—and her cheeks turn
"Glad you’re here together," Rafael said as they walked into the house. Rafael, Charles, and Trisha were at home, catching up after dinner with Damian and Sebastian. They had all headed back to their place in the compound, and everyone seemed happy to see them together."Finally out and about, Alpha Hunter! Good for you," Trisha said with a grin."Totally agree. Another day there and I’d have gone stir-crazy," Hunter said, shaking his head. "Where’s everyone else?" he asked."Joyril and Carlos are finishing stuff up at the base," Trisha replied. "Michael, Jeremy, and Joyril are at the hospital. They’re playing bodyguards for Dr. Stuart right now," she added."Great, good to know," Hunter said. His thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing. When he answered, Michael's voice came through the line, telling him Kimberly was missing. She’d been taken by strangers, and despite following them, they’d lost track of her.&ldqu
Hunter's group had been searching for Kimberly when suddenly, his phone rang. Kimberly's voice came through, shaky and broken, with muffled sobs between words. “I... I’m at a telephone booth...” she managed to say before the call dropped.When Hunter finally reached the booth, his breath hitched. “Kimberly?” he called out in shock, seeing her slumped inside. Bruises marked her face and body, her clothes were torn—it was obvious she'd been through hell. Without a second thought, he shrugged off his long-sleeved shirt and draped it over her shivering frame.“What happened to you?” he asked, crouching to her level. His voice wavered, trying to mask his worry.“Zen!” Kimberly cried out, her arms flinging around Hunter’s neck. He froze. Aleah was the only one who ever called him by that name—not even his closest friends dared. Still, Kimberly's sobs were relentless. How could he push her away?Whi
Hunter arrived at Darylle Kim's house, standing outside the gate, his heart racing as he repeatedly rang the doorbell. No one answered until finally, Darylle emerged and opened the gate.“Come in, Aleah’s upstairs resting,” Darylle said, motioning for Hunter to follow him. Hunter nodded, staying quiet but determined, his footsteps purposeful as he followed Darylle into the house.Elara was in Aleah's room, sitting at the edge of her daughter's bed. Aleah hadn’t left her room since they arrived—she had been staring blankly at her laptop earlier, and now, she simply gazed at the walls.“Lei, are you sure you're alright? Why don’t we go downstairs for a bit?” Elara asked softly, concern evident in her voice.“I’m fine, Mom. I just need some time alone,” Aleah replied, her voice barely above a whisper.Elara sighed, brushing her daughter’s hair gently. “Alright, but if you get hungry,
"What are you doing out here?" Aleah’s soft voice broke the silence. She found Lucinda sitting outside, staring off into the distance."Just getting some air. Why are you here?" Lucinda asked, her tone distant and detached."I needed some fresh air too. I’ve been feeling a little suffocated," Aleah replied gently."You’re doing better now, aren’t you? So why haven’t you left yet?" Lucinda asked suddenly, her words sharp and unfiltered."Huh?" Aleah blinked, surprised by the shift in her tone. Lucinda’s bluntness caught her off guard."You don’t remember anything, sure, but you’re not helpless. Why don’t you go look for your family?" Lucinda said, frustration creeping into her voice."And where am I supposed to start? You know I have no clue!" Aleah shot back.Lucinda narrowed her eyes. "Maybe you’re just using your memory loss as an excuse to stick around here. Be honest—do you like
"You're so stupid!" the furious woman exclaimed as she struck Lucinda on the head. "I told you not to put vegetables in the sinigang because I can't stand their smell, but you still did it!" she said angrily. In her rage, she flung the contents of the bowl, its freshly cooked soup still steaming hot. Some of it spilled onto Lucinda's hand."Ouch!" Lucinda cried out as the scalding liquid touched her skin."What? Does it hurt? Are you complaining?" the woman sneered."N-no, ma'am," Lucinda replied weakly."I can't understand Jonathan," the woman went on. "How could he marry someone like you? My son is intelligent, but I can't fathom why he chose you—uneducated and dumb," she spat out venomously.Lucinda stood there quietly, listening, but inside, she was overwhelmed by pain. This was just another day of enduring her mother-in-law's cruelty. Ever since she and Jonathan had married, the woman had been nothing but harsh to her.Aleah happened to walk
The rain was pouring heavily, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Aleah didn't know where to go; she kept running aimlessly. The area was covered with grass and thick bushes, making it difficult for her to move. Her clothes got caught on the plants, and she stumbled several times. Her arms and legs were scratched and wounded by the sharp foliage.Because it was dark and she had no idea where she was heading, Aleah didn't notice the cliff in her path. She tripped over a protruding rock and fell, rolling down uncontrollably. Her clothes got snagged and ripped during the fall. When she finally stopped tumbling, she landed in a single spot—at the bottom of the cliff."Zen," Aleah called out her husband's name as she fell. That was the last thing she remembered before her vision went black.“Hah!” Aleah jolted awake, her chest heaving. “Ow, my head...” she groaned, instinctively reaching for her scalp. Her fingers brushed against a bandage.
Hunter got a call from Rafael, saying the senator fought back when they tried to arrest him at his house. He managed to escape, and now the cops were on his tail. Without a word, Hunter grabbed his things and left. Michael and Samuel didn’t ask questions; they just followed their Alpha like always.Hunter headed straight for the airport, like he had a sixth sense about where the senator might be. He wandered around, scanning the crowds, until his eyes zeroed in on a man in a big hat and a scruffy beard."Hey, where do you think you’re going?" Hunter said sharply, stepping in front of the man. Michael and Samuel exchanged puzzled looks, wondering why Hunter was stopping him.Out of nowhere, Andrew stepped forward and landed a solid punch on the guy. The impact sent him flying, knocking his hat clean off. Michael and Samuel stood frozen in shock—it was the senator, the very man they had been hunting down. Hunter’s fists clenched, his anger boilin
During a conference, Hunter announced that a warrant of arrest had already been issued against the senator, along with solid evidence to prove the senator's crimes. Hunter also revealed that they would not only file charges for rape with murder, but would also include kidnapping in the list of cases stacked against the senator. However, the senator vehemently denied the allegations against him.The senator claimed that the prosecutor was merely doing this for attention. He also accused Hunter of aiming to make a name for himself. Furthermore, the senator denied the accusation that he abducted the family of Hunter's older brother.“Why did you bring us here?” Aleah asked in confusion when the senator and his men took them to the wilderness.“Your husband is too stubborn. He doesn’t care even though we told him we have you; he still pursued the case against me,” the senator snapped angrily.“He’s not a weak soldier, Mr. Sen
"Miss Aleah, there’s a client outside,” the paralegal said as she peeked into Aleah’s office. “He’s asking to meet you here.”“Alright, let him in,” Aleah replied without glancing up. Because of this, she didn’t notice the armed men quietly standing behind the paralegal, guns pointed at her. Moments later, the "client" entered her office.“Mrs. Bryant. Finally, we meet. And they weren’t exaggerating—Hunter’s one lucky guy to have such a stunning wife.” Aleah looked up, her eyes widening in shock. She hadn’t expected to see the senator in her office, of all places. With Dennis out handling a case, she was completely on her own.“Don’t even think about doing anything stupid, Mrs. Bryant,” the senator warned as she started to move. “See these men? They’re armed. One wrong move, and today might just be your last.”“What do you want from
"Zen!" Aleah called out, practically running to Hunter as they arrived at the Bryant mansion. She threw her arms around him, holding on tight. "What’s going on? Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice full of worry. Hunter let out a sigh and began explaining the mess they were in—how Isaac, Aurora, and Francis had been kidnapped. He added that Bernard, his kids, and Clarisse managed to escape, with Clarisse leaving the island earlier. The kidnappers were demanding Hunter drop the case in exchange for their safety."You’re not seriously thinking about dropping the charges, right?" Aleah asked, her tone a mix of concern and disbelief."And what’s that supposed to mean?" Michelle chimed in, rolling her eyes. "You think it’s okay to just leave Francis, Aurora, and Isaac with those scumbags? Come on, Aleah, you of all people know what it's like to be in the hands of kidnappers!" Her words were sharp, cutting through the tense air."Guys, sto
Hunter spoke to Francis, urging him to make time for his child and explaining why his child had been acting out. At first, Francis was reluctant to listen, arguing that it wasn’t Hunter’s place to interfere in their family issues, especially since Hunter wasn’t a "true Bryant." But Hunter didn’t let that stop him from making Francis understand his shortcomings as a father.Francis eventually promised to make time for his child. He said he would bring Isaac along on their next outing with Aurora, Bernard, Clarisse, and Bernard’s children for a chance to bond. However, this being the family's first vacation together, Francis struggled from the very first day due to the emotional distance between him and his son. Fortunately, Aurora stepped in to mediate, and Bernard and Clarisse also helped bridge the gap. Perhaps due to their experience with Aleah and her family, they found it easier to adapt to the situation.Francis felt unsure of what to say
“Why aren’t you and Dad more alike? He’s so harsh with me,” Isaac muttered, frustration clear in his voice. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but wonder—did his dad even love him? All he wanted was to be the kind of son his father could proudly acknowledge, someone he could hold up like his other children.Hunter leaned against the bars with a small smile. “Trust me, your dad’s a lot kinder than I am. People don’t call me the Demon Alpha for nothing, you know?” He smirked. “I mean, let’s face it—I’m the family rebel. I went off on my own path, completely ignoring what they wanted for me. Your dad, though? He’s the golden child. He’s spent his whole life trying to protect our family’s reputation and live up to being the eldest. You’ve got to cut him some slack, kid.”Isaac stayed quiet, though the faint growl from his stomach betrayed him. Aleah, standing nearby, look