تسجيل الدخول(Kelvin)I place the flowers carefully among the others, my fingers lingering for a second longer than necessary. My eyes lift to the glass, locking onto their photo.“Mom… Dad…” My voice comes out as a whisper.My fingers curl slowly at my side.The memories do not ask for permission. They come anyway.Laughter filling the house. My mother’s voice calling from the kitchen. My father pretending to complain while stealing food before it was ready. Evenings that felt too short because we were happy.That night.They had come home smiling. Proud. Excited. Talking over each other about topping the couple’s program.Everything was perfect.Until it wasn’t.My chest tightens. My fist clenches as their faces flash through my mind. Then his voice follows, just like it always does.“I’m sorry, son… we won’t be able to watch you grow.”My breath turns hot, uneven.“I promise you,” I whisper, my voice breaking despite me trying to hold it steady. “I will avenge your death.”Movement beside me pu
(Amara)“Hold on, I’m coming.”My voice comes out sharper than I intend as I drop the kitchen towel and head for the door. The bell rings again, impatient this time.Who could be here now?I pull the door open—and freeze.“Maya?”The word slips out before I can stop it.She doesn’t answer. She just walks past me, brushing my shoulder like I’m not even there.I frown, shutting the door behind me. “Aren’t you on a three-day leave?” I follow after her. “So why are you back already? I hope everything’s okay.”She presses her fingers to her temple. “Yes, everything’s fine, Amara. It’s just…”Her voice trails off.I slow down as I approach her, studying her face. Something is off.“Is this about your mom?”She shakes her head slowly.A quiet breath escapes me. At least it’s not that.“Then what?” I step closer, pulling off my apron and tossing it aside. “You were meant to return tomorrow. And if you’re here… who’s with your mom?”“Agatha is there, remember?”“Oh.” I nod. “Right.”“My mom’s
(Amara)“O.M.G!”My head snaps up.Rita.She’s already staring at me, eyes bright with excitement. “Look who we have here.” She drops into the seat beside me like she’s been waiting for this moment all morning.I force a small smile, even as my mind drifts back to Rayner’s voice from yesterday.Make sure to come to the office today.I shake the thought away, about to respond—“Amara, my goodness, you’re here.”Olivia joins us, sliding her tray onto the table. Her eyes scan my face carefully. “Do you know how worried we’ve been?”She leans in slightly, lowering her voice. “Tell us… what’s really going on?”I pause.“We saw the company doctor go into Sir Rayner’s office,” she continues. “Did something happen?”“Oh please,” Rita cuts in, tapping the table lightly. “Something definitely happened. The way ma’am Helena marched into his office? It was terrifying. I’ve never seen her like that before.”Her gaze sharpens on me.“Did she hurt you?”Her spoon clatters softly against her tray.“W
(Amara)I slowly lift my gaze toward the room.For a split second… I see her.Walking toward me.A soft smile on her lips. My fingers tighten instantly, nails biting into my palm as my breath catches in my throat. My chest constricts, heartbeat spiking so fast it almost hurts. It feels real—too real—like the air itself has shifted around her presence.I shut my eyes.Hard.I draw in a slow, shaky breath, holding it like I’m trying to steady something breaking inside me. Then I open them again.Empty.Nothing.Just the same quiet room staring back at me.A hollow feeling settles deep in my chest, heavy and disorienting. My body is still tense, still braced like she’s standing there… but she isn’t. It was only my mind—twisting memories and fear into something that almost felt alive.A phantom.And for a moment, I almost lose myself in it.I swallow, grounding myself. She’s not here. She had left for an emergency trip back home.Good.Because if she were… I’m not sure I’d be able to han
(Rayner)I’m still speaking with my mom when I feel it.Her hands on me.I still for a moment—but before I can process it, her body presses against mine.My eyes snap open wide as I turn.“Amara!”My voice rises as I reach for her, catching her just before she hits the ground.But the weight of her pulls me down with her.We fall.My arm wraps around her instantly, pulling her close, shielding her without thinking.“Amara…”My voice drops now, rough, urgent.I shift slightly, trying to steady us both, my hand coming up to her face, gently tapping her cheeks.“Open your eyes. Look at me… come on.”Nothing.The fear creeps in fast. Sharp. Unwelcome.I look up.“Call the office doctor,” I say, my voice tight, controlled—but barely.My mother doesn’t move.Instead, she stares.Like this is entertainment.“What?” she says after a pause. “You’re going to call the office doctor because of her? That’s unnecessary. It’ll draw attention. I’m sure she’s just pretending—”“You’re going to do as I
(Helena)“She’s settled in now, ma’am.”The voice fades as the call ends, but I remain still, fingers resting on the edge of my desk. For a moment, I just stare ahead, letting the silence settle around me.Good.Isha is where she needs to be. Away from here. Away from everything that could spiral out of control.I won’t allow another situation to slip through my fingers.I have worked too hard for that.The door opens.I don’t need to look up to know it’s Lydia. I feel her hesitation from the doorway, the careful steps, the way she breathes like she’s walking into fire.When I finally raise my head, my gaze sharpens.She knows.She knows exactly what she has done.But I am not in the mood to deal with her yet.“Ma’am,” she says quietly.“Yes.” My voice cuts through the air. “If it’s about Isha, I already know. You can leave.”“No, ma’am.” She swallows. “It’s about Amara.”My body stills.Something cold slips into my chest.“What about her?”“She’s… here. At the office.”For a second,
(Amara)“Why didn’t you tell me?”The words leave me the second I step into Rayner’s office.Rita’s and Olivia’s reactions replay in my head. The smiles. The excitement. The congratulations.Nothing like what I expected.Rayner doesn’t answer.He just stands there, his back to me, staring out the w
(Rayner)I sit in my office, drumming my pen against the desk.Once.Twice.Again.She’s not here yet.My gaze flicks to the clock.Why is she late?A thought crosses my mind.What if she’s already here… and just hasn’t come in yet?I push up from my chair immediately and step out.Her desk comes i
(Amara)My eyes dart to them—and I still.“Ray… Rayner?”His name slips from my lips before I can stop it.He stands right there, watching. Brows drawn, confusion and something sharper flickering in his eyes.Michael’s grip loosens slowly from my hand as they walk closer, closing the space between
(Rayner)A scoff slips out of me as her words keep replaying in my mind. She doesn’t know anything, yet she’s already coming for me. Hesitating? Seriously?“What makes you think you’d do any better, huh?” I ask, folding my arms.No answer.I huff out a quiet laugh. “See? You can’t even defend your







