LOGIN(Stefan)“Why does it feel like everyone’s just staring at us?” Rita asks, bringing her coffee cup close to her nose.“Yeah, it sure looks like it,” I say, darting my eyes around to catch their prying eyes.“Oh jeez!” She exclaims. “This is why I said we should keep our distance at the office. Now they’re already suspecting us.”“I did, Rita. But you don’t expect me to keep my distance from you all the time. We barely even have time for ourselves.”My voice lowers.“Oh, really?” she says sarcastically. “I guess you’ve finally gotten what you want then. Now they’re all gonna keep staring and talking about office romance between us.”“Well, that’s not a bad story either.”“Stefan…” she calls, frustration already filling her voice as a chuckle escapes me.Then I look at her and say, “Maybe it’s just you who keeps thinking about it. Because take a look…” I signal toward the people around us. “We’re just here having coffee. Who would begin thinking something else?”“Then why do they keep s
(Maya)“Ama… Amara.”I lunge forward just in time to catch her as her knees give out. She slides off the side of the bed, her body going limp against mine before she can hit the floor.“Maya…” Her voice comes out broken. She slowly lifts her tear-filled eyes to me. “How can she do that to me? She made me miscarry my child. I…” Her words catch in her throat. Her gaze darts around the room before settling back on me. “I could never have imagined Grace would do this to me. She killed my child, Maya. She planned it all.”“I knew she was up to no good.” I tighten my jaw, lowering my gaze. “She has never liked you. Never treated you well.”Guilt crashes into my expression.“It’s all my fault. I should never have let you drink that juice.”“No.” Amara shakes her head frantically. “I’m the one to blame.” Her fingers wrap tightly around my arm. “You warned me, Maya. You tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen.” Fresh tears spill down her cheeks. “It’s my fault this happened. It’s my fault.” Her
(Amara)I’m led into the large living room, my mom helping me inside when a familiar voice reaches us.“Amara… you’re home.”I slowly lift my head, my gaze landing on her.Grace.My jaw tightens.“I…” She takes a cautious step toward me. “Let me help you.”“Don’t you dare touch me!”My voice slices through the room.She freezes, shock flashing across her face as though she hadn’t expected my reaction. As though she expected me to simply let her after what she’d done.My fists clench.Maya’s words replay in my head.She did it on purpose.She made Amara lose her baby.It was all her plan.“Amara…” Her lips tremble. Her mouth opens, then closes again, no words coming out.I stare directly at her.“Why?”A bitter scoff escapes me.“Were you really thinking I’d forgive my child’s murderer?”Her eyes widen.“Mur… murderer?” A shaky breath leaves her. “You’re mistaken, Amara. I didn’t do it. I swear, I’m innocent.”“Oh really?” I pull free from my mother’s hold and close the distance betwee
(Martha)“What are you saying, Aunt Martha?” Rita’s trembling voice echoes through the corner. “How could Maya ever do something like that?”“Exactly,” Olivia adds in disbelief. “You have to be mistaken. Maya would never do that. She’s Amara’s best friend. The person Amara trusts the most.”Rita steps closer and gently turns me to face her.“I know Maya’s way of caring can be a little… intense sometimes. But she’d never do something so cruel to Amara. If anything, she loves her like a sister.”“That was exactly what I thought too,” I say quietly.A bitter smile touches my lips before disappearing.“I’ve never really liked Maya. There was always something about her that never sat right with me. Something I could never explain.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “But never… not even in my wildest dreams, did I imagine she was capable of something this monstrous.”I draw in a shaky breath.“Maya doesn’t love Amara.”The words leave my mouth slowly.“She doesn’t care about Amara the way
(Rita)“I really feel for Amara.”The words leave my lips as Olivia and I walk out of the hospital room.“She didn’t even realize we were there.”I glance back at the closed door, my chest tightening.“She looked so… empty.”I swallow the lump forming in my throat.“What if this turns into something worse?”“What if she needs help?”Olivia lets out a weary sigh.“I know Amara.”There’s quiet certainty in her voice.“She’s stronger than most people think.”“She won’t let herself disappear into the pain.”She offers a faint smile.“She’s going to get through this. That’s just who she is.”A heavy silence settles between us as we continue down the corridor.Then another thought strikes me.“And now…”I hesitate.“It seems this has affected her relationship with Sir Rayner too.”Olivia turns to me.“I saw him leaving just before we came in.”“The look on his face…”I shake my head.“He looked completely shattered.”“It made me think Amara must’ve told him to stay away.”I frown.“Do you t
(Rayner)My hands tighten around the steering wheel as I press harder on the accelerator.Stefan’s voice won’t stop replaying in my head.“I think something terrible happened. You weren’t around, so she wanted you to have this. She said the letter would explain everything.”I slam my palm against the steering wheel.Her final words from that letter stab at me all over again.“Let’s end everything here. Don’t come looking for me. And don’t bother trying to find me.”No, Amara.I grip the wheel until my knuckles turn white, refusing to take my eyes off the road.I can’t do that.I won’t.Forgive me…Because I can’t stay away.I’m coming to you.And nothing is going to stop me.*******I reach her hospital room and shove the door open.For a split second, I brace myself for someone to stop me.A nurse. Her family. Anyone.But the room is silent.Empty.Except for her.She looks so small sitting on that hospital bed.Fragile. Broken.The moment our eyes meet, my heart clenches.I see it a
(Felix)“Selina!”My voice crashes against the walls as I stride through the living room, anger boiling over with every step.I find her sprawled in one of the chairs like she owns the place. Her legs are propped casually on the table. One hand rubs slow circles over her stomach, the other lifts an
(Amara)The moment feels suspended until his voice breaks through it.“Are you okay?”His words are low and close, brushed against the side of my neck. There is a thickness to his voice, something steady and concerned, as if the question leaves him instinctively before he can think better of it.Sl
(Amara)Her eyes flicker.“Selina?” she repeats slowly, like the name itself doesn’t belong anywhere in her memory. For a brief second, there’s nothing behind her gaze. Then, recognition dawns. Slowly, her lips curl into a smile.“Ah yes,” she says lightly. “She’s a distant relative.”She lowers th
(Amara)I watch as Felix slowly turns toward me, his movements careful, almost hesitant. His eyes search my face before he speaks.“What’s come over you, Amara?”He steps closer, reaching for my shoulders, his hands warm and familiar in a way that makes my chest tighten. “This isn’t the Amara I got







