MasukA YEAR LATER.âI can't believe this is truly happening,â Gerald whispered into Anna's ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine as his arms wrapped around her waist from behind.âMe too,â Anna murmured, a smile lighting up her face as she stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Her white wedding gown clung to her in all the right places, flowing gracefully to the floor. She felt like a queen, a goddess, a woman who had finally come home to herself.Geraldâs face was a picture of unrestrained joy. His blue eyes shimmered like morning stars piercing through dawn, and Anna felt heat rise to her cheeks. Her heart fluttered, skipping beats like a song with a missing chord.âYou look so beautiful,â Gerald said softly, pressing a tender kiss to the nape of her neck.âThank you,â she whispered, the pink creeping across her cheeks like a sunrise over a calm lake.âSomebodyâs blushingâŚâ he teased, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.Anna swatted at his hands
âHoly Mary, mother of God!â A collective gasp tore through the hall.Gerald froze, his legs trembling beneath him. He swayed, almost collapsing. AnnaâŚ? Could it really be her? My Anna⌠alive? His throat tightened, and a lump of disbelief lodged in his chest. Tears blurred the edges of the world. Every nerve in his body screamed at him: Donât let her go, donât let her disappear again.Annaâs lips curved into that soft, radiant smile he knew too well, the one that had haunted his dreams for years. Every memory, every longing, came rushing back in a violent, intoxicating wave. Her voice, that warmth, that familiar gentleness⌠it was all real. She was alive.Penelopeâs heels clattered against the marble as she stumbled, frozen in shock. Her eyes widened like a cornered animal. âNo⌠no⌠this canât be,â she whispered, shaking her head violently. âAnna⌠Anna is dead. She⌠she canât have survived that fire!âAnnaâs chuckle cut through the room, cool and sharp, carrying a weight of satisfactio
The next morning, sunlight streamed into Annaâs mansion as she stood before her full-length mirror dressed in a stunning champagne-colored gown. The shinny fabric hugged her curves beautifully, the high slit showing off her gorgeous leg. Her hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail that fell like a golden waterfall down her back.Today was the opening of P and M Jewelry.Today was the day she would rain fire, smoke, and destruction on everyone who had wronged her.She would kill many birds with one stone.âIs everything ready?â she asked her team: her guards and the newly employed tech expert, Fiona.Fiona adjusted her glasses and nodded. âEverything is ready, ma.ââGood.â Anna checked her reflection. The makeup was glamorous yet sharp, giving her the aura of a VIP stepping straight out of a magazine. Confidence radiated from her like heat.Aiden walked in wearing a tiny tuxedo that fit him perfectly. He looked like a miniature gentleman, beautiful and adorable.Annaâs heart softened. Sh
Anna stood in front of her entrance doors as the convoy of black cars sped through the open gates like arrows finally reaching their target. Her heart thudded in her chest so hard she could feel the vibration in her fingertips. Cold morning air brushed against her champagne-scented skin, and she exhaled shakily as the tires screeched to a stop.The guards jumped out quickly, coordinated like shadows slipping into place. One of them opened the back door. And the moment Aidenâs little shoes touched the ground, Annaâs knees buckled from the swell of emotion rising inside her.She opened her arms wide, trembling. Tears broke loose from her eyes even before she could stop them. Hot. Fast. Blinding.Aiden blinked around with a deep frown carved into his small face, his eyes darting left and right like a frightened deer. He looked tense, confused, his breathing sharp and quick. His voice was small when he finally spoke, laced with suspicion and fear.âWhy did these people kidnap meâŚ?âBut th
The snowfall had quieted that Saturday morning, leaving the world outside looking like it was wrapped in soft cotton. Everything felt slow and sluggish in Andy Robertsâ house, as though the cold itself had seeped into the walls. Andy made breakfast for the familyâtoast, eggs, a bit of steak. The smell filled the dining room. Penelope sat quietly, picking at her meal, while Andy tried to shake off the heaviness in his chest. Aiden eventually shuffled downstairs, bundled in his little pajamas, rubbing sleep from his eyes. But he didnât touch his food. Andy frowned and lowered his fork. âWhatâs the problem, boy?â Aiden shook his head slowly. His tiny shoulders drooped, and his sad eyes lifted to Andyâs face. âI donât want to eat,â he murmured. âI want to go to the park.â âWhat?â Andyâs fork clattered against his plate. Aidenâs lips trembled, and tears welled instantly, shocking both adults. The boy looked like he was about to crumble if anyone breathed wrong. âAlright! Alright, Iâl
Andy woke up with a throbbing head and a body that felt as if he had been hit by a slow-moving truck. His tongue tasted like rust and cheap alcohol. He blinked hard, forcing his vision to focus on the unfamiliar ceiling above him. The sheets around his waist were tangled, still faintly scented with perfumeâsweet, sugary, nothing like Penelopeâs floral fragrance.His heart lurched.He jolted upright, eyes darting around the dim room. Empty. The woman from last night was gone. No note. No trace. Not even a goodbye.âShit,â he muttered under his breath as he checked his phone. The screen lit upâpast morning.Panic clawed up his throat.He scrambled off the bed, barely giving himself time to shove on his crumpled clothes. He rushed out, crossed to the bar opposite where heâd abandoned his car, and drove home like a guilty man fleeing a crime scene.---The moment he stepped into the living room, Penelopeâs voice sliced through the air.âWhere are you coming from?âShe sat on the sofa like







