LOGINAfter five years away, Anna had no plans to return to New Jersey but when Clayton Fisher, the family who saved her is on the brink of bankruptcy, she finds herself face-to-face with the one man she swore to forget—Simon Parker. The same man who destroyed her life. Now known to the world as Vectra – the best cyber security expert in the country, Anna is back with one goal – revenge. She will make him pay for taking everything away from her. Anna knew keeping the truth from the triplets was a dangerous game, but nothing prepared her for the shock when they told her – Mummy we are going to make him pay!
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「待って、樹(いつき)! そんなに走ると危ないわよ!」
柔らかな朝の光が降り注ぐ、地方都市の穏やかな並木道。小さな恐竜のアップリケがついたリュックを揺らし、4歳の息子がきゃっきゃと笑いながら駆けていく。その後ろ姿を、早乙女結菜(さおとめ・ゆな)は少し息を切らしながら追いかけた。
保育園の門の前でようやく追いつくと、くるりと振り返った息子は、満面の笑みを浮かべていた。額には、うっすらと汗がにじんでいる。
「ママ、はやく!」
「もう、元気すぎなんだから」
結菜はしゃがみ込み、息子の小さな手を握る。自分とよく似た柔らかな髪の下で、あの人から受け継いだ銀灰色の瞳が、期待に満ちてきらきらと輝いていた。
「だって、きょうは先生に、きょうりゅうの絵本を読んでもらうんだもん!」
無邪気な笑顔に、結菜の胸がきゅっと愛しさで満たされる。彼女は樹を優しく抱きしめた。小さな子供特有の甘い匂いが、結菜の心を安らぎで包む。
「ママ、お仕事に行ってくるからね。先生の言うことをちゃんときいて、いい子で待ってるのよ」
「うん!」
元気な返事と共に腕の中から抜け出して、樹は友達の元へと駆けて行った。その小さな背中が見えなくなるまで見送ると、結菜はふっと表情を和らげ、自分の職場である市立図書館へと歩き出す。
(この温かい宝物が、私のすべて)
今の穏やかな暮らしは、彼女が胸の奥にしまい込んだある一夜の美しい思い出と、引き裂かれるような痛みの上に成り立っていた。
その始まりは、5年前。大学を卒業して間もない頃。就職に失敗し、派遣社員として働いていた秋のことだった――。 ◇【5年前】
オフィスライトの白い光が、規則正しく並んだデスクを無機質に照らし出す。 結菜は、モニターに映し出される数字の羅列を目で追っていた。聞こえるのは、カタカタ、と響く自分のキーボードの音と、周囲の社員たちの当たり障りのない会話だけ。その声も、自分とは無関係などこか遠いもののように感じる。(今日も、同じ一日が終わる)
定時のチャイムが鳴った。結菜は誰にともなく小さく会釈をして、席を立った。
派遣社員である彼女のデスクには、私物と呼べるものはほとんどない。契約はいつ切られるか分からず、そのために周囲の社員と打ち解けることもない。空っぽの引き出しを閉めるたび、自分の居場所がここにはないのだと、改めて突きつけられる気がした。もう秋だというのに、東京の気温は高いままだ。
帰りの電車は、一日の熱気を吸い込んだまま、けだるそうに線路を滑っていく。窓に映る自分の顔は、ひどく色褪せて見えた。柔らかな茶色の髪も、自分では穏やかだと思っている瞳も、この灰色の都会では何の個性も放たない。(このままで、いいのかな……)
街角で楽しそうに笑い合う家族連れが、ふと目に入る。
既に両親を亡くした結菜にとって、眩しすぎる光景だった。胸の奥が、きゅう、と小さく痛む。天涯孤独という言葉が、冷たい風のように心を吹き抜けていった。感傷を振り払うように、結菜はいつも同じ路地へと足を向けた。
都会の喧騒が嘘のように静まり返る、入り組んだ裏通り。その先に彼女の聖域はあった。蔦の絡まるレンガ造りのレトロな建物が、裏路地の片隅に佇んでいる。アンティークな木製のドアに手をかけると、カラン、と澄んだベルの音が鳴った。
『書斎喫茶 月読(ツクヨミ)』
一歩足を踏み入れると、古書のインクと深く焙煎されたコーヒーの香りが、結菜の心を優しく包み込む。壁という壁を埋め尽くす本棚と、静かに流れるクラシック音楽。
カウンターの奥で、無口なマスターが黙って頷いた。結菜を迎える。Anna stared straight at Gideon, holding his gaze for a few seconds before looking at the judge."I don't know." Anna responded at last."That would be all, your honor," Elliot said, sighing in relief under his breath."Defense, cross-examine?" the judge asked."No, your honor, we would like to bring Mr. Simon Parker to the stand." Oliver responded."I heard you the first time; go ahead." The judge replied.Simon kissed the heads of the triplets one after the other, ruffling their hair as he walked towards the stand."Mr. Simon, would you tell the court your whereabouts for the first hour of the court session you missed?" Oliver asked."I had to go bring my kids." Simon responded."And why did you have to go bring them? Were they not at home?" Oliver asked."They were kidnapped." Simon responded."And is it Mr. Gideon Parker, your cousin, who kidnapped them?" Oliver asked."Objection, your honor, is is irrelevant and leading." Elliot interjected."Sustained, defense, please rephrase yo
Gideon took in a sharp breath as his face became as white as a ghost. The whole room was quiet as they watched, unsure of what was going on.Anna stood up slowly, her hands trembling as she moved away from her seat towards them."James? Jasmine? Jayden?" Anna called in shock as tears of relief flooded her eyes."Mom!" The kids shouted and ran over to her, plunging headfirst into her chest."My Lord, we would like to present the evidence and witness now." Oliver said, looking at the judge.The judge looked at Oliver for a while, looked over at the kids still in Anna's arms, and then at Simon, who stood right behind them."Objection, your honor, the case is as good as closed; interruptions like this are only to stop you from making the right decision." Elliot argued, his voice almost pleading.The judge's brow squeezed in displeasure as he asked him, "And what right decision do you think I was about to make?""Hmm, your honor, I …" Elliot started."Last time, Oliver. "After this, any mo
**********Three Days Later**********It's been three days since Anna had uttered the name, and now the courtroom was in chaos."Order in the court!" The court clerk called out to dispel the chaos that had ensued in the room."What? Did he really do it?""How are the kids connected to this case? Look over there, Anna Howard is sitting there.""The Howard family is here too."Murmurs of what could be flew around the court as everyone stared in awe at the proceeding."Any objections from you again will result in you being removed from court." The judge warned, glaring down at Paul.Oliver had a satisfied smile on his face as he stood there calmly before glancing over to look at Noah.Days after David's outburst at Simon's house and Anna's reveal, here they were, battling it out and hoping to win."Apologies for the outburst from my client, your honor, but the defense's attempt to accuse my client of being a suspect comes without any clear evidence." Elliot argued.The judge looked down hi
David stood there panting as the sky darkened again and lightning struck, casting a brief glow of white on his face.His eyes were bloodshot, glaring fire and brimstone at everyone staring at him."David," Anna called, her voice small and weak.David turned to her and said, "It was all his fault; he took you like you were nothing and offered money like you were just some commodity."Simon took a step forward, but Steve stopped him, placing a hand on his rigid shoulder."Simon, don't. I know right now you're filled with rage, but don't. Think of the triplets; we have no idea who is behind it yet." Steve whispered."You are behind the accident?" Anna asked, her face white like a ghost.David raked a hand through his hair and shouted in frustration as he walked backward a few steps."If you had stayed dead, none of this would be happening, the kids wouldn't be missing, and Anna wouldn't be in this pain." David shouted, pointing at Simon."Did you cause the accident?" Sophia asked, both h
Anna read the text, stood up from the desk, and said, "I'll see you guys at home.""Where are you going?" Clayton asked."To solve a case." Anna responded, smiling at them as she walked to the door.Everything was falling into place one piece at a time; all that was left now was to find out the mons
By the time they got downstairs, the kids were nowhere to be seen, while outside they heard the sound of footsteps walking towards the door."You were expecting guests, and you asked the kids to come over?" Anna asked, looking pissed."Look for them while I sort out whoever is at the door." Simon c
Simon walked back to his office and opened the letter that had been sent directly to his office from the court.“Hmm,” he murmured as he read through the content.At that same moment, his father walked into his office, holding some files.“Dad?” Simon called in surprise.“Yes, I know how this looks
Michael paused, then shook his head and continued, saying, “Anna, I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”For a second Anna sat there without saying a word and only stared at him with her brow raised. The room pulsed with silence, thick and suffocating like smoke.“I know and hear all you say, but I can’t












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