تسجيل الدخولROSALINE PIERCE“Hurry,” I almost screamed at the panting man who was digging hard. “I can't go faster than this.”“It's almost dawn,” I worried while heightening my phone’s flashlight for a better view of the ground. “And my shoes are suffering right now.” No matter how I tried to stay calm, I just couldn’t stop my legs from pacing the muddy ground, and sadly, my Fike brand shoes were feeling the dirt a bit too much.“How about ya bury the body, then?” he spat as he tossed the spade we found lying around when we decided to move the body to bury it in the nearby woods.“Clawford, focus,” I almost growled. “There's no time.”“We can still take him to the hospital.” Clawford continued with digging. “He might be alive.”“Oh, right.” I laughed at his stupidity. “Can you handle the heat when everyone finds out about this?”“Why me? I wasn't driving.”My eyes narrowed at him. “I will make everyone believe you were the one driving. . So, dig deeper and let's forget this ever happened.”“Fuc
SARAH PIERCEAfter hearing all that, I had to find somewhere to sit. But the moment I did, I found it hard to form words because the truth about my father reminded me of my gruelling past. And as I started to replay all the times I managed to push myself to survive, the thought that I suffered through all that because I was not Nolan Pierce’s daughter didn’t sit well with me. I started to reason that there was another purpose behind his wickedness. I should find a day to confront him and find out why he was so terrible to me. But, if he really did all that because he wasn’t my biological father, for the sake of punishing my mother and an innocent me, that would be the worst. It would seriously be the worst.“So,” my brows twitched with great perplexity when I finally broke the long silence and turned to my mother, who was seated next to me, “are you the reason I got that job?” The million thoughts in my head were still racing, so a shaky breath left me. “Did you… Did you ask Vaness
SARAH PIERCE“My love,” she called out again, and even though I wished to rush into her arms, I couldn’t. The fact that I allowed myself to believe that she was dead weighed upon my heart, and all I could do was stream tears while my eyes showed her how much I missed her. My mother, on the other hand, seemed to understand what I was battling with, so she stepped closer and engulfed me in her embrace. Like that, my high walls crumbled and I became a child in her arms. “Sarah.” Her hand rested against the back of my head while my right hand ensured that Raya was still next to me. “I know you hate me, but-”“Hate you?” I asked through tears. “Why would I hate you? I just…”“I left without a word. I left you in that terrible house,” she explained, her eyes showing me that she also carried her form of guilt. “I know saying this might be an excuse, but I tried to come back for you. I really did. But your father,” she exhaled with a shiver, her fingers caressing my hair, “after he pushed
SARAH PIERCEMonday came faster than hoped. Unfortunately, the stress over the weekend was still weighing down my soul. And as usual, my lack of sleep worsened matters.I went to work with that burden, and now that I am done, I’m hoping that sleep is around the corner because my head is now in a space I don’t understand. You know what, I just can’t wait for Raya’s bus to arrive. We’ll lock ourselves in, and I might end up taking an impromptu leave tomorrow to force myself to find the rest I need. Raya might also stay in, or maybe I’ll ask Nathaniel to take her to school since she’s all about being in that learning environment right now. If it were possible to go on Sundays, she would be first in the line. “Hey,” a gentle voice caressed my ears, and I oddly felt a grip around my waist.“Uh…” My eyes, which I wasn’t aware were closing, flung open. “What are you doing?!” I pushed the stranger holding me and staggered backwards. “What do you think you are doing?” I questioned again.“M
NATHANIEL STORM“Your mother did what?” Amir queried, his cup of whiskey almost spilling off the table. We decided to have a brief discussion after the end of the second quarter meeting, which I had with other executives and department heads. Working on a Sunday already annoys the hell out of me. Add Sarah’s decision echoing in my head, and it’s worse. So, I’m a little grateful for our chat, which started because Amir was curious about the weird package Sarah messaged him about.“What can I say, Amir? My mother surprises me in the worst way.” With a determined frown, he said, “You need to do the same to her. You know, tit for tit.”I gave him a long, deadpan look. “That’s not the right phrase.”“It should be.” He shrugged. “Feels accurate.”My eyes narrowed, and I replied, “Dealing with my mother is easier said than done. Who knows what might get worse if I decide to kidnap my mother for a few hours? I am not willing to deal with that.”“She needs to pay,” he insisted. “Sarah is st
NATHANIEL STORM“Sarah,” my ragged breath returned as I glimpsed the spreading redness on her cheek, “allow me to apologise about my mother. She-”“Why is Raya wearing this?” she firmly asked as she lifted Raya onto her lap, her eyes narrowing at the blue gown. “It’s not familiar.”“I bought it.” I leaned to get a look at the emotions in her eyes. “How are you feeling?”“How do you think I feel?” She rested her head against her daughter’s and a little shaky exhale left her. That pointed an arrow of guilt at me. It is my fault she faced abduction and slaps, both verbal and physical, from my insane mother. “Sarah-”“When are we canceling the contract?” She was quite intent on interrupting me. But that question doubled the arrows pointed at me and released them into my chest. “What?” I asked, my voice barely audible.“When? I need a date.”“I was hoping we would think about that a little more.”“I made myself clear yesterday, Nathaniel.” She closed her eyes and seemed to search for







