LOGINChapter 95 — Far from HellTaylor LaurentMy mother had some interesting metaphors. I grew up hearing them and believing that maybe one day, one of them would make sense to me. One was: “Life is a Ferris wheel; one minute we’re down, and the next we’re up.” My wheel of life must have been broken, because I lived at the bottom. But one night—it only took one night for it to suddenly spark to life and place me at the top.It was crazy, I know, but I finally managed to get out of that hell. I’m not at the bottom anymore; I’ve moved up. Or so I thought, until I walked into the living room and saw Declan. My chest tightened; I’ve seen this scene before, I lived it for years. The limit of pain, a scream of despair—this guy can’t take it anymore. He needs to let it out, and that’s exactly what he did.Jenny wanted to intervene, but I stopped her. At times like this, it’s better to just let it happen.He’s going to hit things, scream, hit them again, and scream… until he realizes that none of
Chapter 94 — Despite EverythingJenny CullenI cried, I worried, I tore at my hair. I didn’t sleep a wink all night, and I couldn't even manage to do my work—something I take very seriously. Because of him, thinking of him, fearing for him.And when I arrive at his house, what do I find?Another woman.Of course I’m going to think the worst—that I’ve been deceived, betrayed. And that’s why I’m leaving, because if I stay, I’m just a fool in love who’s going to fall for his act again and let myself be tricked one more time.At least, that was the plan I formed in my head the moment I stepped out of Declan’s bedroom, but nothing went as planned. Seeing him covered in blood, his face hidden by that hood like someone masking their shame, and hearing the “woman in question”—who goes by the name of Taylor—explain what happened, I gave up on leaving. I wanted to hear his side, to know the truth. In short: “Letting myself be tricked one more time.”And I even felt a connection with the girl, a
Chapter 93 — Together or NotDeclan ReedI leapt to my feet.“DAMMIT, BLAKE, I TOLD YOU NOT TO BRING HER!” I shouted.“I didn't bring her, she came on her own!” he shot back, and I ran after my woman.She was heading down the hallway, and I caught up to her.“Jenny, love, please. It’s not what you’re thinking.” I pulled her toward my chest.“Shut up, Declan, you don’t even know what I’m thinking,” she said, crying.I turned her toward me, cupped her face in my hands, and began to wipe away her tears with my thumb. I hated seeing her cry, and I hated even more that I was the one causing it.“Then tell me what you’re thinking,” I asked, pleading.“That you’re an asshole.”“Fair enough,” I replied.“And that I hate you for deceiving me, for making a fool out of me.” Her tears came with a vengeance.“Little one, don't hate me. I love you. I’m an idiot, and I hid where I was, but I never deceived you.” I rested my forehead against hers. “Please, let me explain.”“No,” she answered, pulling
Chapter 92 — It Never LastsDeclan ReedThe night seemed perfect; my little one was in my arms after I had taken her twice. Who would have thought an angel like that would be so insatiable? But I learned from a young age that all good things must come to an end. And my "good thing"… it ended far too quickly.My phone rang and the message was there, clearer than crystal water.“He’s in town.”Without giving much of an explanation, I told Jenny we couldn’t spend the night together. I left her apartment, got into my car, and replied to the message.“Location.”As soon as the phone rang again, I saw where the scumbag was.“Stupid old man,” I muttered.I started my car and headed toward him. The bastard was in some fifth-rate nightclub with women who were worth less than the perfume they wore. I feel sorry for his wife, having to live beside a piece of trash like that, who picks up street walkers and lives on a diet of whiskey and dirty money.I met my source at the door. We spoke little;
Chapter 91 — What the Fuck is This?Noah BlakeJuliet and the kids have been living with me for a week now. Two nights ago, I had one of my nightmares. I thought they had left me… but I was wrong.The truth is, our minds are deceptive, yet at the same time, brutally honest. They trick us into thinking we can forget the things that scarred us deeply, but remain honest enough to bring to the surface—in the nightmares and the silences—the truths we try to bury.Once again, Juliet, even as scared as she was, had all the patience in the world with me. Deep down, I know what happened. The day I’ve never been able to erase from my memory is approaching. The day I met hell, and then… never truly climbed back out of it.But I can’t let this influence my life anymore. I’m not alone now; I have people who need me. My wife and my children.I talked it over with Ju, and we decided to move the kids to a new school. I’m enrolling them in one of the best in Manhattan; they cover everything from kinde
Noah BlakeWhat is the meaning of love?That was the question I asked myself every single day. And it had been that way since my childhood. When I was fifteen, I went to a friend’s party from school and saw him with his family — the way his father treated his mother, not caring that we were all there. With affection, attention, always touching her, declaring his love. That same day I came home and asked Marisa:“What do you think love really is?”I had a strong feeling for my brother — care, tenderness, an immense desire to see him well, to make him happy. I felt the same for Marisa. But never for my parents.I remember her looking at me with those pitch-black eyes that sometimes seemed to shine, and answering me with all the patience in the world:“Love is when your heart recognizes home. It doesn’t matter about blood, history, or even time… When you love, you simply know. Because being with that person feels like being home.”Back then, I understood that what I felt for Norton, and
Juliet PierceI know Noah likes and cares about my children—now he calls them his—but deep down, I knew what was really boiling in his head were the photos.“I’m all ears,” he said, without taking his eyes off mine.“When Heitor got out of the hospital, I went back home and pretended nothing seriou
Juliet PierceI was never prepared for this moment—the day people would discover just how far my desperation had gone. How far a mother is willing to go for her child, how far a woman will go to survive. And the worst part is that now it’s still being used against me. People won’t want to know the
Noah BlakeMy head was still racing from the conversation with Lawson, from the photos, and from the audacity of that damn George. But even so, I tried to push all that aside and enjoy a “family” moment the way my woman wanted.I’d never had this—conversations and laughter at the table, things like
Christopher LawsonI closed the bedroom door behind us, and for a second, the outside world dissolved into the mosaic of burning eyes that Penelope returned to me. The troublemaker had this irritatingly challenging way about her, but there, in the narrow hallway of the guest room, the provocation g







