LOGINLucian Blackwood's POVIt was late at night, but the light in Ethan's room was still on.I sat in a chair by the window without really looking outside. The curtains were half-open, revealing the dark backyard, lit only by dim garden lights. The shadows of the trees moved slowly in the breeze, but my mind was far noisier than the scene outside.The tablet.The email.The digital trail.It all felt too coincidental. Too neat.There was no way Mom had sent the wrong coordinates for Selene. Yet I still couldn't find her.I leaned my head back, closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them again without feeling any calmer.The sound of the bathroom door opened, followed by Ethan's leisurely footsteps as he stepped out, drying his hair with a towel. He glanced in my direction, then stopped mid-step."You're still here?" he said casually.I didn't answer.Ethan walked to the closet, grabbed a T-shirt, and put it on without rushing."When are you going home?" he continued. "Or have you alrea
I stood frozen in place while my mother remained standing in front of me, as if unconsciously trying to shield me from the man standing in the living room.His face looked older than the last time I'd seen him.The thin mustache that used to be neatly trimmed was now growing in a haphazard manner. His eyes were red, not just from fatigue, but also from the smell of alcohol that hit me immediately, even from a few steps away.He smiled, but it wasn't a warm smile.Not like it used to be."Didn't I tell you?" he said casually."I'd find you eventually."I swallowed hard."How… did you know we were here?"He chuckled softly, then pointed toward the room where Noah was sleeping."Your little brother still likes to draw, huh?"My heart immediately started racing."What do you mean?"He raised an eyebrow, as if enjoying my confusion."I once gave him a drawing set when I met him at school."My hands clenched into fists.How could he have done that?Ever since Noah was born, he'd left with h
My sobs gradually subsided, but my chest still felt tight, as if every breath had to be forced out with great effort.I remained leaning against my mother's shoulder while her hand continued to stroke my head with slow, repetitive movements, just like when I was a little girl.No one spoke for quite some time.There was only the sound of the wall clock ticking softly in the corner of the room, and occasionally the night breeze seeping through the cracks of the old wooden window.I took a deep breath, then slowly released the embrace.Mom didn't pull away immediately. She kept holding my shoulders, staring at my face as if to make sure I was truly calm.A few seconds passed before she finally said softly, "I want to ask you something… but you don't have to answer if you don't want to."I gave a small nod, even though deep down I could already guess what the question would be.Mom's gaze shifted toward the door, as if to make sure Noah was truly asleep in the front room. After that, she
The sound of the car's engine grew louder in the humid afternoon silence.I had just set foot on the steps of the stilt house when my body froze in place.The black car stopped across the street.There was no way I could have mistaken it.My blood ran cold instantly.Without a second thought, I immediately gripped my mother's arm."Mom… go to the back. Now."Mom didn't ask any questions. Her face went pale, but she followed my lead. Noah, still holding his small bag, looked confused, but I quickly put my finger to my lips.Don't make a sound.We moved quickly along the side of the stilt house. At the back, there was a narrow passage leading under the wooden house, which stood on tall stilts. The ground beneath was damp, littered with stones and old planks, but it was enough to hide in if one wasn't looking too closely.I helped Mom duck down, then pulled Noah to squeeze in behind a pile of old, rotten wooden crates.Footsteps sounded above.The front door of the house opened.My heart
Selene Cole's POVWhite roses. I still remember receiving these flowers that day. The day I first met Damian. I also still remember the day Lucian asked Damian to remove the flowers from our room.The petals are still intact; it seems Damian has taken good care of them. It seems he really likes me. And that doesn't make me happy at all.Something has been bothering me for the past few weeks."Did you ever really like Nivara?" That was the question I asked Damian the other day."Selene… can you not ask that for now? I… don't want to answer it right now." And that was Damian's answer back then.I still remember the somber look on his face. The positive aura that usually surrounded him had vanished into thin air at that moment.Then, I suddenly recalled something Lucian had told me a long time ago."Your name is Selene Cole, but before your parents divorced, your name was Selene Ward. It's possible Damian is getting close to your stepsister because her last name is Ward—"What Lucian sai
Lucian Blackwood's POVThe camera lights were still on as I stood up from my chair.The questions hadn't stopped, even though the moderator had already declared the conference over."Mr. Blackwood! Can you confirm that the divorce rumors are completely false?""If your relationship is fine, where is Mrs. Blackwood right now?""Is this marriage really just for the sake of the company?""Why did you marry a former employee who was once accused of stealing data?"I paused for a moment before stepping off the stage.Not for long.Just long enough to turn around.The room fell instantly silent.All their gazes were fixed on me, waiting.I had already said everything that needed to be said.That our relationship was fine.That there was no divorce.That the news was untrue.Yet they remained unsatisfied.Of course.They are never satisfied."What was your reason for marrying Selene Cole?"The question came from the front row.The tone of her voice was sharp.As if waiting for an opening.I







