LOGIN"What did you fucking do!" Jake roared.His fist flew forward, smashing hard into Emmett’s jaw. Emmett stumbled backward, his eyes widening in shock as Jake stepped into his space, his face contorted in pure, blinding rage."I told you specifically to kill Anthony!" Jake screamed, driving another brutal punch right into Emmett's face. "Why the hell did you shoot my mother-in-law?!"Emmett hit the floor, coughing violently as dark blood sprayed from his mouth onto the linoleum. "It was an accident!" he wheezed, clutching his broken jaw, his voice cracking with pain. "I didn't mean to shoot her! Anthony was right there, and she just came out of nowhere! I promise you, Jake, I didn't mean to hit her!"Jake ripped his hands through his hair, pacing the room like a caged animal. His chest heaved. He was completely suffocated by panic."You killed her. She is fucking dead," Jake whispered. He stopped pacing, his knees suddenly shaking so badly he could barely stand. "No... no, this... my fu
The wheels of the stretcher rattled violently against the tiled floor."Mom, listen to me, you can't close your eyes," Anna sobbed, stumbling alongside the metal bed. Her mother lay beneath a plastic oxygen mask, her chest barely rising. Dark blood soaked through her shirt at the stomach. Her eyelids fluttered, heavy and drifting. "Mom, please. Look at me. Just keep looking at me.""Ma'am, you can't go in there," a nurse said, placing a firm hand on Anna's shoulder as they reached the double doors of the operating theater."Mom! Please stay awake!" Anna screamed. The doors swung shut, cutting her off."Anna," Anthony’s voice sounded right behind her. He reached for her hand."She will be fine, right? She has to be okay." Anna turned to him, her vision blurred by thick tears."She will be alright," Anthony said, pulling her into his chest.Anna collapsed into him, her fists gripping his jacket as heavy, muffled sobs shook her whole body. "Why? Who could have done this to her? Who shot
Anna stepped into the office. Anthony’s face lit up the moment he saw her. She narrowed her eyes at him, stepping closer to his desk with the file clutched in her hand.“Here is the file, sir,” she said.He chuckled, standing up from his chair. “Sir?” he repeated, walking around the desk toward her.“Yes,” she said.He closed the distance between them and wrapped his hands around her waist.“What are you doing?” She tried to twist away, her eyes darting toward the door. “We aren’t doing any of this here, remember?”He didn't answer with words, choosing instead to run a thumb gently across her cheek. “I have missed us so much. I realize I have been spending a lot more time at the hospital than with you.”“And I truly understand. I mean, you just got your mom back after so many years, so it makes sense,” she replied.But Anthony wasn't listening. His gaze dropped to her bright red lips. He leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers. She tapped his shoulder to push him away, but the gesture
Stella stood in the doorway, her fingers twisting the edge of her worn cardigan as she watched Jason knot his tie with steady, practiced movements. The silence between them felt heavier than the morning air.“What are we going to do?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly.He didn’t answer. Didn’t even glance at her.“Can you hear me speaking?” she pressed, taking one hesitant step closer.Jason let out a long, tired sigh, his shoulders tensing.“What do you want, Mother?” His tone was flat, detached, like she was background noise.“I want you to bring my daughter back home,” she said, her words tumbling out with quiet desperation.Jason scoffed, the sound sharp and bitter. He turned to face her, and for a moment a cold smile tugged at his lips.“Anna and I are divorced.”Stella’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. The room seemed to tilt.“What did you say?”“You heard me right,” he continued, jaw tight as he fought to keep his voice even. “That monster made us sign th
A smirk curled on Mr. Jeffery’s lips as Jake stepped into the room, his face pale and slick with sweat. The young man’s eyes darted around nervously, taking in the circle of armed men standing like shadows against the walls, rifles gripped tightly in their hands.“You might be wondering why you’re here,” Mr. Jeffery said at last, his voice smooth and low.“Yes, sir,” Jake replied, his words trembling.“Good. You should thank me for bailing you out.”“Thank you so much, I—”“That’s enough.” Mr. Jeffery cut him off sharply, irritation flashing across his face. He pushed back his chair and rose, walking slowly toward Jake until he stood just inches away. “You seem like a man who always returns his favors, Jake. I didn’t pull you out of that hole because I’m generous. I did it because you’re going to be useful to me.”A cold smile played on his lips as he studied Jake’s reaction.“What do you mean?” Jake asked, swallowing hard.“You were married to Anna, weren’t you?” Mr. Jeffery asked. J
"What are you doing here?" she asked again, her voice a fragile whisper that barely carried across the space.Her mother took a tentative step forward, her hands hovering in the air as if reaching for something already lost. Tears pooled in her eyes, making them glisten under the harsh light. "I’m lonely, Anna," she breathed, her voice cracking with a raw, desperate edge. "Every single day, it feels like I’m drowning. I miss you. I miss my daughter so much." She swallowed hard, the jewelry on her wrists clicking softly as her hands trembled. "I’m sorry. For everything. I swear to you, I won’t force you to be with Jake anymore. I just… I want my daughter back."A sound tore from Anna’s throat—a sharp, hollow half-laugh that carried the jagged edges of a wound that refused to heal. It wasn’t a sound of amusement; it was the sound of a heart breaking all over again."I wasn't joking when I said I was breaking all ties with you," Anna said, her voice dropping into a dangerous, steady cal
"You can hear me clearly, Mrs. Anna. I want to see what you have prepared for this meeting," Anthony said. His voice was clipped, cutting through the silence of the room. Anna froze. Her heart hammered against her ribs. What was she supposed to present? She looked around the long table, her pul
"You're back early," Jake muttered. He backed away from the woman, his body slackening as the heat of the moment died. Anna’s fingernails dug into her palms, drawing blood. She bit her lip so hard she tasted copper, fighting the urge to scream. "You couldn't even take it to a motel?" Her voice
"I am sorry I am late," Anthony said, sliding into his chair. Opposite him, Mr. Jeffery didn't look up; he simply deepened the scowl etched into his face."I have been sitting here for over thirty minutes," Mr. Jeffery muttered, his voice dropping to a low, sharp edge. "You have never shown up to a
“Wa...wait... wh... what?” Jake stuttered, his face twisting. “What is yours?” Anthony’s eyes turned pitch-black as he loomed over him, casting a long shadow.“You heard me loud and clear. Don’t you dare get close to what belongs to me,” Anthony growled. Jake scoffed and stumbled back a step, wipin







