LOGINRaven’s Point of ViewFor one dangerous second, I almost defend Zerra.But that would be a disaster in this conversation, so instead, I force myself to let it go.I place a hand on my father’s shoulder lightly.“We should head back downstairs.”“Nice try.” He points at me immediately, amused. “You’re not fooling me.”I raise a brow.“You just want to get back to your wife.”I let out a short laugh, mostly because denying it would only make things worse.“You definitely got me there.”My father looks entirely too satisfied with himself as we leave the office together.Halfway down the hall, his phone rings.He slows to answer it, but I continue walking ahead.Then I hear laughter.A woman’s laugh.Soft.Bright.And unfamiliar enough coming from Azzmi that it immediately catches my attention.I round the corner,and stop.Romel is standing far too close to her.Close enough that my jaw tightens instantly.He’s leaning slightly toward her while she laughs at something he said, and the si
Of all the things her father-in-law could have mentioned tonight…grandchildren were the last thing Azzmi expected.And now Raven was beside her choking on his drink.“Aren’t you going to help your husband?” Amy laughed.Azzmi moved before she could even think.She quickly took the glass from Raven’s hand while he coughed roughly beside her. Then, without hesitation, she placed her hand gently against his chest.“I’m fine,” Raven said between coughs, covering her hand lightly with his own.The contact caught her off guard.“Are you sure?” she asked softly, unable to hide her concern.His coughing eased slightly as he looked at her.And suddenly the noise around them faded.“I’m okay,” he murmured, his voice quieter now. “I was just surprised.”For one brief moment, neither of them looked away.Her heartbeat stumbled painfully inside her chest.Because this didn’t feel like acting anymore.Not completely.And that terrified her a little.“Well,” her father-in-law said with a chuckle, u
Raven’s Point of View“Now’s the time to speak up,” I tell her, my voice tighter than I intend. “Because we’re almost there.”For a second, I think she’ll stay quiet again.Instead, Azzmi exhales softly and begins explaining everything that happened with her mother… and the bear.The irritation inside me fades with every word.Her voice never fully breaks, but I hear the strain underneath it. The effort it takes for her to stay composed. And somehow, that makes it worse.I almost reach for her hand.Almost.But I stop myself before I can.Too much.Too soon.As she talks, something ugly settles heavily in my chest.I remember our wedding night. The tears in her eyes. The way she avoided looking at me.Back then, I’d thought she cried because she didn’t want me enough.Because she regretted marrying me.God.The realization hits harder than it should.She hadn’t been mourning our marriage.She’d been mourning her mother.And I’d made it about my pride.“So yeah,” she says finally, forc
Raven’s question catches Azzmi so off guard that for a moment, she just stares at him.Is he serious right now?There had only been one time he’d ever genuinely intimidated her, the night in the car when he warned her to watch her tone after she snapped back at him.But this?This was ridiculous.And she refused to let him stand there acting like he had any right to interrogate her.Azzmi steps closer to the table, stopping just across from him.“Are you seriously asking me that right now?” Her disbelief is impossible to miss.“Yes.” Raven tilts his head slightly, whiskey glass still in hand. “So answer me. Where were you?”Azzmi lets out a sharp scoff.“I don’t remember ever questioning your whereabouts for as long as I’ve known you.”“That’s because you never asked.”His answer irritates her immediately.“As if you would actually tell me.”Raven sets his glass down harder than necessary.“Stop avoiding the question.” His eyes narrow slightly. “I called several times. Your phone was
At Raven’s blunt question, Zerra straightened in her seat so fast it almost looked rehearsed. One hand pressed dramatically against her chest, outrage flashing across her face.“And you think Azzmi actually cares about the children?”“Yes,” Raven said without hesitation. “She does. I saw it myself.”Zerra’s expression tightened. “Ugh. Are you seriously taking her side now?”“I’m not taking sides.” His voice sharpened slightly. “I’m saying she genuinely cares about them. You admitted yourself that you don’t.”The tension in the room shifted instantly.Raven pushed himself off the couch and walked toward the window, dragging a hand through his hair. The conversation was already exhausting him.Behind him, Zerra quickly stood and caught his wrist before he could pull too far away.“Babe…”Her voice softened immediately.The change was so smooth it would have impressed anyone who didn’t know better.“You know what I went through in my marriage,” she said quietly. “You know how badly he tr
On his way to meet Zerra and make things right between them, Raven decides to speak with Raicko first. While he could warn him over the phone, he feels it won’t be enough. Raicko needs to see that Raven is serious.“I shouldn’t take long,” Raven thinks. “Afterwards, I’ll be with my girl until tomorrow. I never want to see her look so upset again. All that because I didn’t pick up her calls or messages? That won’t happen again.”He hasn’t even bothered to check the articles that have been posted. He knows some of them are about Myca, but others are about his actions as a caring husband to his wife.As he thinks about it, Raven remembers how he felt when he carried Zerra in his arms and spoke to the press. It was a moment of truth, but does it even matter?Still, he can’t forget how Zerra hid her face in his chest after his speech. It was a powerful act, one he won't easily forget.When he pulls up to the mall, Raven sees Raicko’s car in the parking lot. Raicko is leaning against it, bu
“Whee… no wonder he doesn’t like me,” Shantal giggled, her voice soft and slurred. “He’s a beast… I’m human… different species… we can’t be together. Whee…”Her innocent smile twisted something in Marilyn’s chest.But before Marilyn could speak, Shantal grabbed her hand, her grip surprisingly tight
Shantal took a spoonful of oatmeal, her face full of disdain. Before she could swallow, Wilma's words made her freeze.“Mrs. Ray Ford, I didn’t change your clothes. Mr. Ray Ford did.”Cough!Shantal choked, oatmeal stuck in her throat. But the oatmeal wasn’t the problem. Wilma's words hit her harde
Roger and Susan immediately realized something was wrong with Regina. They both jumped from their seats, panic flashing across their faces.“Regina… Regina, are you okay?” Roger’s voice trembled as he leaned toward her.Regina’s face was pale as a sheet, her lips turning an ominous shade of blue. H
"You know what? It seems like you're playing hard to get."Ullysis's cold, deep gaze held a biting irony that felt far too familiar to Shantal , familiar enough to make her chest tighten. The sarcasm in his voice was clear, but her expression stayed blank. No hint of embarrassment. No anger.Ullys







