Mag-log inHey there.... I heard all of your frustration. Maybe you have borne it for days or maybe weeks. That's why I decided to upload all the drafts at once, so you can feel happy and satisfied. I never planned to make Nerissa end up with Sam. I understand that her demeanor is annoying right now, but well... she's just trying to deal with her trauma, and everyone has a different time and ability to heal, right? So please don't hate her too much.But the bad news is... as I've already uploaded all my drafts, I will take some days off to develop the further plot. Now that Vance is already with Nerissa, we will soon see how he tries to fight for Maya with Nerissa's help. I'm not a fan of bad endings... but I am a fan of angst stories. So sorry for every broken heart previously.Anyway, until I return with the next chapter, I hope you will still be here with me. Give me your thumbs up 👍, gifts, and gems to support this story. Your opinions matter, and all of your kind words and support will enc
The door clicked shut behind Vance.Nerissa and Sam stood facing each other in the warm light of the kitchen. The house was quiet. Maya was asleep. Evelyn had retreated to her room. But the space still felt too small, too crowded with unspoken words.Sam looked toward the window. The night was dark. The sea was a distant murmur."Sam," Nerissa said.He held up his hand. "Not here," he said quietly.Nerissa nodded.He opened the back door. The cool air rushed in. She followed him out.They walked in silence. Past the vegetable garden. Past the low stone wall where Vance had sat with Maya. Down the narrow path toward the beach. The gravel crunched beneath their feet. The moon was pale, casting silver light on the sand.Sam led her to a large piece of driftwood, smoothed by years of tide and wind, half-buried in the sand. He sat down. She sat beside him. Not close. Not far.The waves lapped at the shore. Soft. Steady. Indifferent.For a long moment, neither spoke.Sam stared out at the
WARNING: This chapter contains explicit sexual content.He kissed her.And she kissed him back, but this time, her fingers left his hair and found the buttons of his shirt. She unbuttoned him slowly, one by one, their lips never parting. He helped her, shrugging the damp fabric from his shoulders, letting it fall somewhere behind them.Her palm pressed flat against his bare chest. She felt his heartbeat beneath her fingers. Strong. Steady. Real.He pulled her blouse over her head. His fingers found the clasp of her bra—one hand, practiced even in his desperation. It came loose. He pulled it away. His hands cupped her, his thumbs brushing her nipples, and she shuddered."May I?" he asked her, but didn't wait for answer.His mouth left hers. He kissed her jaw. Her throat. Her shoulder. Lower. His lips closed around her breast, his tongue teasing, and she moaned, her head falling back.His other hand slipped beneath her skirt, tracing up her thigh, finding her. She was ready. She had bee
WARNING: This chapter contains explicit sexual content.He kissed her.And she kissed him back, but this time, her fingers left his hair and found the buttons of his shirt. She unbuttoned him slowly, one by one, their lips never parting. He helped her, shrugging the damp fabric from his shoulders, letting it fall somewhere behind them.Her palm pressed flat against his bare chest. She felt his heartbeat beneath her fingers. Strong. Steady. Real.He pulled her blouse over her head. His fingers found the clasp of her bra—one hand, practiced even in his desperation. It came loose. He pulled it away. His hands cupped her, his thumbs brushing her nipples, and she shuddered."May I?" he asked her, but didn't wait for answer.His mouth left hers. He kissed her jaw. Her throat. Her shoulder. Lower. His lips closed around her breast, his tongue teasing, and she moaned, her head falling back.His other hand slipped beneath her skirt, tracing up her thigh, finding her. She was ready. She had bee
The rain hammered the roof. The windows fogged. Their breaths mingled in the small, enclosed space. The kiss deepened. Her fingers tangled in his wet hair. His hands pressed against her back, pulling her closer, as if he could erase five years of absence with the pressure of his palms. "Vance," she murmured against his lips. He pulled her. She moved without thinking—swinging one leg over the center console, then the other, until she was straddling his lap on the driver's seat. The steering wheel pressed against her back. She did not care. His hands found her waist. Her hips. The curve of her spine. Everywhere. He could not stop touching her. She kissed him harder. He met her with equal hunger. Then, breathless, she broke away. She rested her forehead against his. Her chest rose and fell. His did the same. She lowered her head to his chest. She listened to his heartbeat—fast, strong, alive. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. The rain softened. "Nerissa," he s
“It is not a threat. It is a promise.” Vance straightened. “Horizon Global has worked with governments across six continents. We have the resources, the legal team, and the public trust. You have a dying reef and a mountain of denials.” Nerissa added, “We have the data. We have the law on our side. And now we have the backing to take you all the way.” Silence. The legal director whispered to the CEO. The CEO’s hands curled into fists. “We need time to consider.” Vance shook his head. “You have had years. We are filing by the end of the week. If you want to negotiate, you know where to find us.” He turned and walked out. Nerissa followed. Behind them, the boardroom erupted in panicked whispers. They did not speak until they reached the car. Vance opened the passenger door for her. She slid in. He walked around to the driver’s side and started the engine. “They will not change,” he said. “Not until they are forced.” “I know.” “Then why did we come?” She looked at him. “Bec
Zane was finally catching up.The anonymous emails had stopped after the third one—just enough information to point him in the right direction, then silence. He didn't know who had sent them, b
The printed email sat on my keyboard. I picked it up. The words were careful, but the meaning was clear. Chen was trying to cause doubt. He was trying to hurt the project, and to hurt me.The handwritten question mark at the bottom was the only note. It wasn't an order. It was a test.I didn't feel
The ride home was silent. Zane drove with both hands clenched on the wheel. He kept looking over at Nerissa, his eyes red and worried. She stared out her window. The city lights slid past, not really reaching her. The pain in her body was a steady, deep ache. But the feeling in her chest was worse.
Zane was in the kitchen when she woke up.She knew before she opened her eyes. The smell of coffee. The soft clink of a mug. The sound of eggs cracking against the side of a bowl.







