LOGINDiane's povWe left before sunrise.The rain had stopped.But the sky remained dark.Clouds stretched across the horizon as though the night refused to disappear.Three vehicles waited near the abandoned harbor.A small fishing boat rocked gently against the pier.Michael stood beside it.Richard checked the equipment.Ropes.Medical supplies.Food.Water.Flashlights.Everything we might need.Everything except certainty.---I stood at the edge of the pier.The ocean stretched endlessly before me.Somewhere beyond it...My parents were waiting.Thirty years.Thirty years of believing they were gone.Now...They were alive.I should have been happy.Instead...I was terrified.Zephyr came to stand beside me."You don't have to hide it."I looked at him."Hide what?""That you're scared."I smiled weakly."What if they're different?""They will be.""After thirty years?""Of course."He took my hand."But they'll still be your parents."I looked at the ocean."I don't know what I'm go
Diane's pov"Take me to them."The words had barely left my mouth before Victor stepped forward."No."I turned toward him."No?""You don't know what you're walking into.""I don't care.""You should."His voice was firm."You've spent your entire life wondering whether your parents were dead.""If Michael is lying..."He paused."...you'll have to live through that pain all over again."My eyes burned."I already live with it."---Michael remained near the doorway.He didn't argue.He didn't defend himself.He simply waited.That made me trust him even less.Richard walked toward him."You want us to believe Jonathan and Amelia are alive."Michael nodded."Then prove it."Michael reached into his coat.He removed a small photograph.He placed it on the table."Taken six months ago."I stared at it.Two people stood beside a wooden cabin.Older.Gray-haired.But unmistakable.My mother.My father.Alive.My hands began shaking."No..."I picked up the photograph.Their faces were ol
Diane's pov The silence after the gunshot felt heavier than the sound itself. No one moved. No one breathed. Rain tapped softly against the windows. Richard stayed low beside the doorway. Abe crouched near Sarah and Marcus. Zephyr remained in front of me. Protecting me. Always protecting me. Then... Footsteps. Slow. Measured. Coming toward the cottage. Victor closed his eyes. "It's him." Richard tightened his grip. "Are you sure?" "I've heard those footsteps before." Victor whispered. "Thirty years ago." --- The front door opened. An older man stepped inside. Tall. Gray hair. Dark coat. Calm eyes. No weapon in his hands. No fear in his expression. He looked around the room. At Victor. At David. At Richard. Then... At me. His gaze lingered. Not with hatred. Not with anger. With sadness. "My goodness." He said quietly. "You have Amelia's eyes." The room remained silent. I stood slowly. "You're Michael Whitmore." He nodded. "Yes." The name
Diane's povMy biological father created The Circle.The words didn't make sense.They couldn't.I stared at David.Waiting for him to laugh.Waiting for him to admit it was a lie.He didn't.Instead...He looked at me with something that almost resembled pity."You're lying."My voice shook.David tilted his head."Perhaps."Victor stepped forward."Don't listen to him."David smiled."Still protecting her, Victor?""Yes.""Even now?""Especially now."---Richard raised his weapon."Enough."He looked at David."You have ten seconds to explain yourself."David laughed softly."Still the policeman.""I'm not a policeman.""No."David's smile faded."You're something worse.""What?""Someone who believes the truth is enough to save people."---Abe stepped forward."Then prove your claim."Everyone looked at him.David's eyes narrowed."You doubt me?""I don't trust you."Abe replied."There's a difference."David smiled."Thomas would have been proud."Abe's expression hardened."Don
Diane's povThe lights went out.Instantly.The room disappeared into darkness.Someone gasped.Then came the sound of glass breaking."Everyone stay where you are!"Richard's voice cut through the room.I couldn't see Zephyr.I couldn't see Abe.I couldn't see anyone.But I could feel my heart pounding.Then a hand found mine.Zephyr."I'm here."I exhaled."Don't let go.""I won't."---A flashlight snapped on.Richard stood near the doorway."Nobody move."Another light came on.Then another.Peter looked toward the windows."Someone cut the power."Olivia checked her laptop."No."She frowned."The generator isn't responding."Richard looked at Victor."Can they get into the system remotely?"Victor shook his head."Not from outside."His expression hardened."Someone is already inside."---Evelyn suddenly grabbed my arm."Diane.""What?""You need to leave."Her voice trembled."Now."I stared at her."Why?""Because they know you're here.""Who?"She looked toward the darkness
Diane's povThe car engine roared outside.Everyone froze.Richard immediately moved toward the window."Nobody goes outside."Marcus slowly lowered the curtain."Was that car here before?""No."Peter checked the security camera.Nothing.The screen remained black.Olivia frowned."Someone killed the entire system."Richard looked at her."Can you bring it back?""I'm trying."Abe moved toward the door."I'll check the perimeter."Richard stopped him."Not alone.""I wasn't planning to."Zephyr stepped beside him."I'll go."Diane looked at both of them."Be careful."Abe nodded.Zephyr squeezed her hand before leaving.---The door closed.Silence returned.I stared at the folder on the table.My birth records.The photograph.The message.Everything seemed impossible.Someone had wanted me dead before I could even speak.And my parents had spent their entire lives protecting me from them.I swallowed."Who is Michael Whitmore?"Victor looked at me."That's the question.""No."I sh
“Good morning, Ms. Cooper,” the receptionist greeted me with a bright smile.“Morning, Tessa.”I walked past the front desk and toward the elevator, coffee in hand and confidence wrapped around me like an expensive perfume. My reflection stared back at me from the mirrored walls once the elevator d
Chapter SixToo LateAbeRegret was a funny thing.People always talked about it like it arrived all at once.Like a lightning strike.Like some dramatic realization that changed everything overnight.In reality?Regret came in pieces.Tiny little reminders scattered throughout your day.A song.A
Abe's pov"You look like shit."I glanced up from my whiskey."Good to see you too, Marcus."My best friend dropped into the chair across from me and smirked."I mean it. You've looked miserable for a week."I took another drink.The expensive liquor burned all the way down.Unfortunately, it wasn'
“ Ohh wow that was amazing babe” zephyr in ecstasy“ so same time next week” with an iron hope so look“ don't get ahead of yourself ill be busy this week” I spoke as I entered the bathroom to wash the oil and his cum of me “ okay the week after that” “ end of discussion zephr” as I closed the d







