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Last Updated:
2025-02-09 00:38:20
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Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-ONE
Carlisle“Maybe mommy will be home soon?” Erwin’s soft voice rang from his play room, making me sigh for the nth time this evening.I knew this dinner was a mistake.There’s no way in hell that the same family who birthed that sister of hers who sneers and steals her boyfriend, will actually feel and welcome her in their house—not when I pulled enough strings to ruin a part of their pride through their wealth.But Reigna…My princess laughed, genuinely, as if this meant something. She who worked for her life and not depend on her family.I had wanted to tell her the truth—that this wasn’t a reunion, that they weren’t suddenly welcoming her back out of love or regret.But I couldn’t bring myself to break her heart before she even stepped out the door. So instead, I let her go, forcing myself to watch as she walked away with a hopeful heart.And in return, I spent the evening with Erwin, making preparations.“Dada, should we put more pillows?” Erwin asked, struggling to carry one of the
Last Updated : 2025-02-09Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-TWO
Carlisle“Dada, why is mommy still sick?” Beside me, a sleepy Erwin stirred awake after a fixed the blanket on him, thinking it’s better if he’s not lying down beside Reigna of he might catch the cold. “I get better after some sleep, but is she still sick?”“Buddy, it’s just been two hours.” I sighed, picking him up. “Maybe we should have you sleep in your room, yeah?” I stood up, carrying him who is too sleepy to argue.“But dada, mommy…”“I’ll take care of mommy, don’t worry.” I reassured him, then I glanced down Reigna’s sleeping form, his breathing unsteady as she tried to breathe through her mouth.“I’ll just bring our son to bed, and I’ll come back after.” I spoke softly for permission before leaving her room.Once Erwin has settled down his bedroom, he gave me one last advice. “If mommy won’t wake up soon, maybe she needs dada’s kiss, like the princess in fairytales.”***I sat beside her, the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting uneven shadows across her face, highlighting the
Last Updated : 2025-02-10Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-THREE
ReignaThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was the empty space beside me, the cold sheets a stark contrast to the warmth that had been there last night.“Rest for a while, princess. I just have to finish something, so you’ll be okay once you wake up.”I can still recall his voice, lulling me to sleep as e tells me every little thing he does whenever he leaves my side. His gentle caresses, soft kisses, and even his murmured prayers—one so faithful that it got my fevered head wonder: Is he taking care of his trusted person, or his…The second thing I noticed was the ache in my body, not just from the fever that had drained me for hours, but from the emotional weight of everything that had unraveled yesterday.I pushed myself up slowly, my limbs weak but functional, my breath coming out in a quiet sigh as memories of last night crept back into my mind. “I have to go to work.” I mumbled, steeling my resolve to leave my bed.A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts, and Lilly’s
Last Updated : 2025-02-11Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-FOUR
ErwinI didn’t go to school today. Nanny Lucy told me I’d be staying home, but she didn’t explain why.“Can I at least go play with my friends later once their class was done?” I looked up, but she just gave me a little smile, and then ruffled my hair.“No, baby. I think it’s better for you to stay at home today.” She softly said, patting my cheeks since I huffed and crossed my arms as soon as I heard ‘no’.“Come on. You’ll like it! Didn’t you always say that you wanted to skip classes so you can stay with your mommy and dada?”“But mommy and dada aren’t here!” I stomped my foot, making her pick me up from where I was playing legos with, and then brought me to sit at my desk when my math is waiting. “This isn’t what I want when I said I want to skip school.” I pouted.“Your mommy is still recovering, Erwin.” She crouched down. “Your dada is taking care of her. Besides, don’t you like math and arts? How about you answer all of this,” points at the page that’s currently open. “And then
Last Updated : 2025-02-11Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-FIVE
ReignaWhile Carlisle and I are in the middle of…erm, kissing, we heard a little voice that made me push him away.“No!I barely had time to react before he ran into the room, his tiny arms wrapping around my waist, clinging onto me as if I’d disappear if he let go. His small fingers dug into the fabric of my dress, holding on for dear life, his tiny chest heaving from holding back sobs."Mommy don’t leave! You and Dada have to get married so no one will be mean to you!" he wailed, pressing his face into my stomach.The weight of his words hit me like a brick wall.Married?Carlisle and I—?I looked up, my breath shallow, my eyes locking onto Carlisle’s. He looked just as stunned, his entire body rigid, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as if he wasn’t sure what to do. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out.I crouched down slowly, my hands shaking as I cupped Erwin’s chubby cheeks, forcing him to look at me. His big, teary eye
Last Updated : 2025-02-12Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-SIX
ReignaThe best way to counter public announcements are through public announcement—where? In the charity event where Carlisle Amoroso is a prominent name.Carlisle had made it clear before we arrived.“This will be good for you,” he had said, adjusting his cufflinks before stepping out of the car. “We clarify your role, fix your image, and this scandal dies. You’ll only be seen as my secretary. A close friend, at most.”“Yes,” I breathed, trying to condition myself as I close and opened my fists.Taking my hand, I watched him kiss my knuckles. “Whatever I’ll say outside, don’t believe it.” he spoke, intertwining his fingers with mine. “Do you understand, princess?”***The grand ballroom of the Green Dale Foundation Charity Gala was nothing short of breathtaking. Golden chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a soft, luxurious glow over the sea of high-profile guests dressed in their finest attire.The rich and powerful were all gathered here, their laughter a polished melody
Last Updated : 2025-02-14Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-SEVEN
CarlisleReigna looked uncomfortable being talked to with the private journalists that received invitations to attend tonight’s gala. If things weren’t as they were, she should’ve been beside me—yet there she is, carrying the glasses of water she fetched for us, stuck with a reporter.“She’s quite a doll, isn’t she?” A long-time business partner asked.“Indeed. She looks just like her grandmother, Adelaide. I can recall attending all the fashion week with my wife just to see her.” a fellow businessman, far more veteran than I, spoke, grating my nerves upon how sensualizing it sounded. “If only she took modelling too, no?”I wanted to reply or punch them in the face—but tonight, I can’t. Not as her boss.The Green Dale Foundation Charity Gala was designed for the elite. A night where power met influence, where money dictated alliances, and where the press lingered at the edges, waiting to sink their claws into any slip of scandal.This year, I was the scandal.The moment I entered the
Last Updated : 2025-02-14Seven Minutes in Heaven FORTY-EIGHT
ReignaThe ride home was silent.Carlisle’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his jaw locked in tension. The glow of the city lights flickered across his face, casting sharp shadows over the unreadable expression he wore. He hadn’t said a word since we left the gala, and I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or frustrated by it.I turned my head, staring out the window, watching the blurred streets pass by. My reflection in the glass looked just as lost as I felt. Tonight was supposed to fix things. To prove that the rumors were nothing more than fabricated noise.But instead, Carlisle had played his part so well—cold, distant, dismissive—that I almost believed it myself.And yet…Twenty million.A man like Carlisle Amoroso didn’t throw that kind of money away unless he had something to prove. But what? To whom?To Violet?To the press?To himself?I swallowed hard, fingers curling into the fabric of my dress. I hated this. This uncertainty. The way my heart twisted at th
Last Updated : 2025-02-15
Latest chapter
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-FIVE
ReignaMorning came gently, the soft gray light filtering in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse like a whispered apology.The city beyond was waking up, but I wasn’t ready. My limbs were heavy beneath the silk sheets, my eyes open but unfocused, and for a few quiet minutes, I just lay there—listening to the faint hum of traffic, the distant clink of dishes from the kitchen, the sound of footsteps muffled against the carpeted floor.When I finally rose and padded into the hallway, the scent of toasted bread and strawberries hit me first. The second thing was Erwin’s laughter—high-pitched and breathless, coming from the living room where Lucy knelt beside him, helping him arrange toy soldiers across the rug.He wore his usual pajama set, mismatched socks, and the cardboard pirate hat Carlisle had made him last weekend."Fire the cannons!" Erwin yelled, tossing a pillow dramatically into the air. Lucy gave an exaggerated gasp and collapsed to the side, feigning defeat.
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-FOUR
Carlisle“Good day to be a sleepy princess, huh?” I mumbled under my breath, brushing a few strands of Reigna’s hair away from her face as she peacefully slept beside me, tucked neatly under the blankets which left only a few of her marked skin on display.I hadn’t slept. Not really. After I comforted her, I’d spent most of the night buried in calls, my team scrambling to pull down photos, issue cease-and-desist orders to entertainment outlets, and threaten defamation suits where needed.But the internet moved faster than any of us, and by the time dawn broke, the damage was already done.Reigna’s face was everywhere—our picnic captured through a stranger’s lens, twisted into a story we hadn’t written. Some photos were from paparazzi way back too.Violet started all of this because she thinks she has the upper hand.She emerged like a phoenix from ash she ignited herself, posting three photos to her social media: One of her cradling Erwin as an infant, another of him asleep on her sho
Seven Minutes in Heaven SPECIAL CHAPTER: UNNAMED SPARKS
Third person[RED WARNING]Reigna glanced over at Carlisle, seated on the sleek leather sofa with a tumbler of top-shelf scotch in hand. He cut an imposing figure even now, his broad shoulders set with tension despite his best efforts to appear unruffled.Sensing her gaze, Carlisle set down his drink and rose to his feet in one fluid motion. In a few strides, he had crossed the room and pulled Reigna into his arms, his large hands settling on her hips."Easy there, princess," he murmured, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "I know it's a lot to take in, but we'll get through this together. I promise."Reigna leaned into his embrace, savoring the solid strength of his body even as her mind raced with worries about the future of their unconventional relationship. She could feel Carlisle tense as he sensed her restlessness."Here," he said firmly, stepping back and taking her by the hand. "Why don't we play a game to take your mind off things for a bit?”The game they haven’t played
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-THREE
CarlisleI had barely stepped back into the penthouse before the first barrage of calls started rolling in.My phone buzzed in my hand like it was possessed, relentless with notifications, each one more damning than the last. I didn’t need to look at the screen to know what they were about. The moment I saw the photo—Reigna, Erwin, and me, sitting under the spring sun with our fingertips barely touching—it was like watching the beginning of a forest fire: quiet at first, until everything was engulfed in flames.The media hadn’t wasted a second.They were calling it everything from a scandalous reappearance to a shameless PR stunt. My name was being thrown around in headlines with words like cheater, liar, and executive playboy as if the truth could be painted with gossip and hashtags.Worse than that, Reigna was being dragged again—her name splashed across articles as the “former assistant turned lover,” a woman who used her position to claw her way into my personal life.And the wor
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-TWO
ReignaLucy had outdone herself.When she had gently suggested we “step outside for a while” this morning, I hadn’t realized she meant a whole setup—picnic basket, Erwin’s favorite snacks, a thin quilt patterned with smiling whales, and even sunhats she claimed were packed by Christy and Lilly “just in case.”The maids had flitted around the penthouse all morning, pretending to clean but really maneuvering me and Carlisle into the same room more than once. I should’ve been irritated.But I wasn’t.Because for the first time since I returned, the air didn’t feel as stifling, and the picnic they orchestrated for us was not as bothersome as I initially thought either....The sun was soft against the tops of the trees, painting everything in a golden hue that made the world look gentler than it felt. I stood beneath the shade of a tall maple tree, watching Erwin run through the trimmed grass, his tiny hands waving his toy sword in the air as he yelled some nonsense about conquering dra
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY-ONE
ReignaSunday mornings at the Amoroso penthouse used to have a rhythm. Erwin’s soft footsteps pattering down the hallway before the sun was fully up, his squeaky giggle bouncing between walls while Carlisle tried—and failed—to act annoyed at being woken up too early.There was always the scent of fresh-brewed coffee, the low hum of news playing on the television, and the comfortable hush of a home that was too neat to feel lived in but too warm to be unloved.But this morning?This morning was different. Because I came back to the place I subconsciously started to call my home.I sat at the far end of the breakfast bar, stirring my tea for the fourth time even though it had long gone lukewarm, while Carlisle stood near the kitchen counter, his sleeves rolled up, fiddling with the toaster like it personally offended him.The air between us wasn’t hostile—it wasn’t anything dramatic or violent. It was stiff. Awkward. The kind of silence that came from two people pretending they weren’t
Seven Minutes in Heaven EIGHTY
EIGHTYReignaHow many promises has Carlisle made and broken?I should’ve ran away and didn’t come along—but when I was looking up at him, something stirred within me: the memories I had with him as a boss, as a father of a lovely kid, and as a partner, all flood down, and before I knew it, I had no words to decline and my body already gave away my permission to be brought home.…but where exactly is my home?“You must’ve been scared earlier.” Breaking the silence, Carlisle spoke in a low, gentle voice, filling his car with tension that is an unsteady mix of hoping to come closer, and the fear that the boundary between us has gone much bigger than before.“I know I am too much, following you around, but princess, I-” stopping his own words, his pause caught my attention, but I refused to look at him and just stared outside the window, keeping my eyes on the dim streets.“-we miss you.”Hearing the words he spoke nearly made my breath hitch. We? I know Erwin definitely is looking for m
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-NINE
SEVENTY-NINECarlisle"Marcus." My voice cut through the stagnant air, low and sharp. "I want updates. Every fifteen minutes. If there’s nothing, find something. I don’t care how you do it — just find her.""Yes, sir." Marcus answered without hesitation, though the tension in his jaw betrayed the weight of my command. I know that right now, he is keeping his senses alert, waiting for instructions as night continuously gets darker over time."Teams are already in position. We'll know if she moves, sir, traffic cameras, subway stations, even the taxi cabs. The only locations without hacked surveillance are the area directly under the mayor’s influence"Good.But it wasn’t good enough. None of this was.I should’ve been the one to stop her. I should’ve forced her to listen, made her understand that she wasn’t walking away from me.As much as I regret being such a fool, I’d let her slip through my fingers. And now, the city was swallowing her whole."Expand the radius," I growled, the wor
Seven Minutes in Heaven SEVENTY-EIGHT
CarlisleDamn it. I should’ve stopped her and run after her no matter what she said, wanted, or did—all to bring her back home.But I didn’t.And now? Now I was left with nothing but the bitter taste of regret clinging to my tongue.The car’s interior was suffocating. Marcus sat tensely in the front, his phone pressed to his ear as he barked orders to the security team. They were searching every corner of the city. Every street, every café, every possible place she could have gone. But none of it was enough. None of it would be until I saw her standing in front of me again."Status?" My voice was low, but the crack of it was unmistakable.Marcus shifted slightly, lowering his phone. "No updates yet. Surveillance spotted her near the park earlier, but she’s not there anymore. We’ve widened the search, and more cameras are being pulled."I clenched my jaw, the familiar sting of frustration settling deep beneath my ribs. "Not good enough.""We’re doing everything we can, sir," Marcus re
