LOGINORIONPulling up outside Eudora’s house, I killed the engine but remained seated behind the wheel, my eyes instinctively drifting toward her bedroom window.I stared at it for several long seconds, wondering if she was already asleep.It was well past eleven at night. Most people would be in bed by now, especially after a long day. Yet here I was, sitting in my car like a nervous teenager.The moment my plane landed, I had driven straight here from the airport without stopping anywhere else.I just wanted to see her.God, I missed her.The past few days felt far longer than they should have. No matter how busy I kept myself, thoughts of Eudora kept finding their way back into my head. Her smile. Her laugh. Even the stubborn way she argued with me.Resting my forearms on the steering wheel, I lowered my head and released a slow breath.Should I go inside?Would she even want to see me?The last time things hadn’t exactly ended on a good note. We had argued, and knowing Eudora, there wa
DESMOND My head felt like it was seconds away from splitting open. Too much had happened in such a short time, and my mind is struggling to process it all.For years, I had been living a lie.I had believed the wrong person saved my life that day. I had spent years feeling grateful to someone who never deserved my gratitude. I had carried a sense of loyalty and debt toward her, all while treating the woman who had actually rescued me like she was the enemy.The truth made me sick.While I was thanking one woman, I was destroying another.Eudora had suffered because of me.Not only had I put her through physical pain, but I had also stolen something that rightfully belonged to her. I had taken from her while convincing myself that I was justified.Jesus Christ.By the time I reached the SUV, my jaw was clenched so tightly that it hurt.Herbert immediately stepped forward and pulled the door open for me. He bowed his head respectfully, but I barely acknowledged him as I climbed inside.
DESMOND “Why are we stopping here?” Mum asked slowly as she peered through the car window at the small restaurant sitting by the roadside.The moment she got a proper look at the building, her face twisted into a deep frown of disapproval.“Please don't tell me this is where you're planning to take us for lunch,” she said, sounding personally offended by the idea.Beside her, Mrs. Dawson leaned forward and glanced out of the window as well. Her reaction wasn't much different.Her eyebrows immediately knitted together.“I have to admit,” she said carefully, “I didn't take you for someone who would choose a place like this to eat.”I bit back a smile.Neither woman looked impressed.From the outside, the restaurant wasn't exactly the kind of place people would brag about visiting. The building looked old, the paint was fading in several places, and the sign hanging above the entrance had clearly seen better days.“Her food is amazing,” I said, stretching the truth a little. I have neve
ORIONA business emergency dragged me back to New York for a few days, and while I was there, I decided I might as well pay the witness a visit. It had been on my mind for a while, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally get some answers.The address led us to a small, aging restaurant tucked away on a quiet street.Not wanting to walk in, ask questions, and immediately make the old woman suspicious, Cartier and I took a table and ordered two bowls of soup. I had no intention of actually eating. The food was simply an excuse to sit down and make ourselves look like regular customers.Cartier, however, appeared to have completely different plans.I leaned back in my chair and watched with amusement as he attacked the bowl in front of him. Spoon after spoon disappeared into his mouth at an alarming speed. Within minutes, half the soup was gone.I raised an eyebrow.“When was the last time you actually ate something?” I asked with a chuckle. “You’re eating like a man who
ORION“I’ve been thinking about moving away.”My eyes shifted from Ariel, who was laughing happily with her friends a few feet away, to Eudora.“Are you running away because of Desmond and Camellia?” I asked bluntly.Keeping her eyes on Ariel, she released a long, tired sigh before slowly shaking her head. “No, I’m not running away. I’m protecting my daughter.”“Sounds exactly the same to me.”The thought alone irritated me. The fact that she was considering leaving the life she had built…leaving me, made my jaw clench.She turned away from Ariel and looked at me.“Desmond has shown up,” she said softly. “Camellia has shown up too. And sooner or later, her parents will find me as well.”She paused for a moment.“If they keep appearing one after another, it’s only a matter of time before they discover the truth about Ariel.”The fear in her voice was subtle, but I heard it.“You can’t hide forever,” I clasped my hands together tightly, stopping myself from reaching for her. Every insti
DESMOND“It’s been approved,” Victor announced, though there was a noticeable caution in his voice.I leaned back slightly and stared out the window of my hotel room. Returning to New Zealand again has to be insane.“Remind me again,” Victor continued, “why exactly are you arranging a meeting with your ex-wife?”I rubbed a hand across my jaw. “It’s nothing personal.”He scoffed. “Is that what you keep telling yourself? Or is that the lie you're feeding yourself so you can sleep better at night?”I exhaled slowly. “I just need an artwork from her.”“And where exactly are you planning to put this artwork?” he demanded. “Your house? Because if you do, your wife is going to rain down fire and brimstone on your head. Your office? Then that means you're hiding it from her, which is somehow even worse.”“Victor_”“No, listen to me,” he cut in. “There are thousands of artists in the world. Thousands. You have more money than most people can dream of. You can buy artwork from anyone. So why do
EUDORAMy brows furrowed immediately.I exchanged a brief glance with Ariel before helping her down from her chair carefully.Just as I approached the door, I saw Kathy standing outside, dressed in a black pant, a black sheer top, and a nipple patch.Folding my hands across my chest, I took a slow
ORIONI watched the woman standing beside me, her fingers twisting together nervously like she didn’t know what to do with them. The way she kept glancing at me made me almost laugh. It was clear she was waiting for an answer I had no intention of giving.I didn’t owe her anything. Whether I bought
EUDORA“How did it go?” Aria asked the second I stepped through the front door.The exhaustion on my face must have been obvious because her voice carried both excitement and worry at the same time.Before I could answer, Ariel abandoned the colorful building bricks she had scattered all over the r
EUDORAThe moment we arrived outside the auditorium, I quickly stepped out of the car and rushed around to the back seat to retrieve my canvas.The young man, still a complete mystery to me, since I still didn’t even know his name, got out of the car just after me.Almost instantly, the security gu







