Mag-log inThe night has grown quiet by the time Travis finally steps away from the Ivan's apartment complex's corridor. The chaos from earlier has dulled into a low hum of fluorescent lights, distant footsteps, and murmured conversations behind closed doors. He leans against the wall near a window, loosening his tie slightly, exhaustion settling deep into his bones. His phone feels heavy in his hand as he scrolls once before tapping a familiar contact.It rings only once.“Travis,” his mother’s voice comes through, calm but alert. “We were just about to call you.”He straightens instinctively. “How is Tiara?”“She’s resting,” Mrs. Ericson replies. “The doctor checked on her again. Her fever hasn’t risen. She finally looks peaceful.”A breath Travis didn’t realize he was holding escapes him slowly. “That’s good. I was thinking… should I come over? I can meet you both there.”There is a brief pause, followed by a firm but gentle response.“No,” his father says, stepping into the call. “You’re no
The hospital parking lot glows under pale yellow lights when Mr. and Mrs. Ericson arrive. The drive has felt longer than it actually is, every red light stretching their nerves thinner, every passing second filled with quiet prayers neither of them voices aloud. Mrs. Ericson clutches her purse tightly on her lap as the car comes to a stop, her knuckles white, her shoulders stiff with restrained fear. Mr. Ericson exhales slowly, turning off the engine, his jaw set but his eyes anxious behind his glasses.They barely step out of the car when a familiar voice calls out to them.“Mr. Ericson. Mrs. Ericson.”They both turn at once. Their family doctor, Dr. Hale, stands near the entrance, his coat draped over one arm, his expression gentle but serious. Relief and dread mix instantly in Mrs. Ericson’s chest.“Doctor,” she breathes, rushing toward him. “How is she? Please tell me how she is.”Dr. Hale offers a reassuring smile, subtle but sincere. “She’s stable,” he says calmly. “You don’t
The atmosphere inside the study turns heavier the moment Lawyer Jean arrives. The sharp click of the door closing behind him sounds louder than it should, sealing the tension inside the room. The man removes his coat slowly, his movements calm and measured, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside Travis.Jean is in his late forties, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed, eyes sharp behind thin-rimmed glasses. He has handled enough high-profile cases to recognize when something has crossed the line beyond repair. One look at Travis’s rigid posture and clenched fists tells him this is not a simple matter.Ivan stands near the desk, laptop still open, the screen glowing faintly in the dim light. Travis doesn’t bother offering pleasantries.“Sit,” Travis says, his voice low but commanding.Jean nods once and takes the chair opposite him, setting his briefcase down. He opens it carefully, taking out a notepad and pen, his eyes lifting back to Travis. “Ivan briefed me on the basics. I
The entire house is on fire the moment Mrs. Ericson informs everyone that Tiara has collapsed. Panic spreads like smoke through every corridor, seeping into every room, clinging to every breath. Voices overlap, footsteps rush, and the once calm house turns restless and loud. Dawn, who has been feeding Asher in the nursery, freezes mid-motion when she hears the commotion. The spoon pauses inches away from Asher’s lips as her heart drops heavily into her stomach.She hurriedly places the bowl aside, wiping her hands on the hem of her shirt as she scoops Asher into her arms. Her movements are rushed but careful, instinctively protective. Asher squirms, confused by the sudden change, his small fingers clutching her collar. Dawn presses him against her chest, her pulse racing, and walks inside the elevator to go downstairs, her steps uneven and hurried. Her brows knit together, her lips parting slightly as anxiety settles in her chest. She only knows about the situation briefly. No one
Tiara barely looks up to Danny who is sitting on the chair, leaning towards her. Her lashes flutter faintly before dropping again, as if even lifting her gaze costs too much strength. His brows stretch with the concern that can puzzle anyone. A shallow breath slips past his lips, uneven, restrained. Not friendly, not family-like or anything else, just... the one when someone feels guilty, someone who thinks that fails to protect the very person they have sworn to protect forever. His jaw tightens for a split second, the muscle ticking as he looks at her.He extends his hand, but hesitates to move. His fingers hover mid-air, curling slightly as if unsure whether he deserves to touch her at all. He can see the bead of tears in the corner of her eyes. The sight makes his chest constrict painfully. The weight pull towards the intention of wiping it off her red cheeks is stronger than he has expected. His thumb twitches, betraying the restraint he is trying so hard to maintain." Should I
" You are saying someone sent some inappropriate pictures of her to a group?" Travis's words were like venom, spitting out with its utmost sharpness. His jaw flexed as each syllable left his mouth.Danny nodded quietly before handing Tiara's phone to him. He had been keeping it with him just to make sure the screen didn't go off. His fingers trembled slightly as he let it go.Travis stared at the group messages where those students and a few professors didn’t go kind on her. His eyes darkened with every line he read, the muscle beneath his eye twitching. They were blaming her for creating messes in an important group.Travis sat on the chair in front of the ER, the chair creaking under the sudden weight of his tension. David followed, his face full of concern. He watched Danny and Travis losing their expressions to something colder and cruel, both of them stiffening like predators catching a scent.Travis grabbed his phone while typing something in Tiara’s phone. His fingers moved sha







