They had rushed Hellena to the hospital, afraid her head injury might have taken a turn for the worse. Jeanne was left behind at first, her hands slightly trembling from guilt—and the haunting thought that Edgar might’ve believed she was trying to hurt Hellena.When Jeanne finally arrived, a small group from Edgar’s team stood outside the hospital room door, visibly tense. They were worried about the only female officer on their team.Jeanne didn't react outwardly. But inside, a bitter weight settled in her chest.“Mrs. Villiers...” one of them greeted, his tone polite but restrained.“How is Miss Trouvé? Is it serious?” Jeanne asked, trying to keep her voice even.“The doctor just came out and asked to speak with one of us,” one of the men replied.Mark, awkward as ever, stepped forward. He gave her a small, uncertain smile—clearly aware of how much it must’ve stung to see Edgar wasn’t there waiting for her.Jeanne returned the smile, though it was tight and bitter. It took effort to
Hector and Jeanne parted ways shortly after; Jeanne could not linger with Hector. She headed for Edgar's office. It was like any other police station; nothing special—just filled with people who were busy dealing with crime and the law. It had been a long time since Jeanne had come to this place. Everything felt like a stranger again after the tragedy, and Jeanne didn't expect anything. In the corridor leading to Edgar's room, Jeanne stopped when someone greeted her. "Mrs. Villiers, it's been a long time since I saw you come here." Jeanne didn't recognize him for a moment, but she remembered him as someone on Edgar's team-someone who had come to pick her up that night from Hector's house. "I'm Mark Endo—in case you already forgot." "Ah, yes, Mr. Endo. I only slightly forgot your name, but I didn't completely forget you." "I know that, ma'am." Mark was a friendly person, Jeanne remembered that. She felt guilty for forgetting Mark. "So, do you need help getting to Mr. Edg
Edgar going back to his job meant that Jeanne would go back to those long days without Edgar by her side. It was just her, in that spacious house filled with silence; the ticking of the clock in sync with her heartbeat. Jeanne kept herself busy with other things; she cooked more, making snacks to fulfill her cravings. She had a sweet tooth now, and she had never missed muffins more than this moment. The warm muffins with a strong chocolate aroma, the smoke on top like a replica of her memories and the image of Hector pulling out a tray of muffins from the oven made Jeanne speechless. Jeanne was busy with her better life, but she still liked to pause suddenly just to ask the silence; how is Hector doing now? Was he okay? Was his wound treated properly that night? Jeanne rubbed her face, sighing heavily; "My fears are becoming more and more real; he is slowly becoming the person I miss being with." Jeanne knew this was wrong; she had also regained the life she wanted. But her
Celine stopped counting the hours she’d spent under Hector’s control. Her body knew his rhythm too well now—the ruthless game he played with her bare skin. They moved in sync, switched positions, not for love, but to chase some cruel satisfaction in each other’s exhaustion.Hector’s hands clamped hard around her waist as he pulled back, his expression carved from stone. His brows furrowed, eyes sharp—not like a man losing himself in a woman’s body, but like a soldier mid-siege. Focused. Detached. Dangerous.He slipped out of her, his breath steady, movements cold. Celine wasn’t even sure what she was feeling—pleasure had long left the room. Still, she grabbed him as he stepped away, refusing to be left sprawled across the wrecked table like a forgotten plaything.“Are you going to her now?” she asked, voice rough, lined with defiance. Her lipstick was smudged, mascara streaked from sweat and hours of being tangled with him. She didn’t care. His scent clung to her skin like a second la
Celine returned to Hector’s house just as the sky began to bruise into twilight, the weight of the day clinging to her shoulders. The past week had been unforgiving—Hector’s recovery had left a temporary void in leadership within the family, and as always, she had stepped in without hesitation. Decisions, confrontations, damage control—each task taken with the practiced sharpness of someone who knew this world far too well.Despite the exhaustion pressing at her spine, a chuckle escaped her lips as she climbed the stairs to the second floor. One memory from earlier played vividly in her mind, its ridiculousness cutting through the day’s fatigue. “I should’ve recorded his face,” she muttered, laughing softly to herself. “God, it was hilarious.”Her hand reached the doorknob to Hector’s room and twisted it open—only to be greeted by silence. The bed was undisturbed. The room empty.Celine stepped inside, blinking. “Hector?” she called, her voice cautious at first. No reply.She moved qu
Edgar reacted with the precision of instinct honed by years in the field. In one fluid motion, he intercepted the man’s wrist just as the blade came within inches of Jeanne. His grip was unrelenting, steel around flesh, forcing the attacker’s arm back with a sharp twist. The man stumbled, his body turning involuntarily as Edgar used his own momentum against him. With another calculated movement, Edgar wrenched the weapon free, the knife clattering harmlessly to the floor as gasps filled the lobby.Before the man could recover, Edgar spun him around and locked his arms behind his back, securing him with a practiced, effortless force. The would-be assailant grunted and struggled, but Edgar had already subdued stronger men with less effort. The tension only broke when a woman—young, breathless, and clearly shaken—rushed forward from the crowd.“Oh my God, my phone! My phone!” she cried, her voice frantic.Edgar, expression taut with focus, shoved his hand into the inside of the man’s hea