Alex “You mean… there was a procedural error in my divorce?” I stared at the papers in my hand, my voice barely above a whisper.Fred nodded, his face grim.“How is that even possible?” I asked, my chest tightening.“I was with Daniel yesterday,” Fred began. “I told him about Emily… and how you both met. That’s when he told me he made a mistake when he was processing your divorce papers.”Daniel is our family lawyer. He has been with us for as long as I can remember.“What?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Why didn’t he tell me this?”Fred just shook his head.I raked a hand through my hair, trying to breathe, but the walls felt like they were closing in. If this is true… if the papers were never done right… It meant I am still legally married to Emily.God. I didn’t even know whether to be happy or sad.One thing is certain: I had to see Daniel myself. I needed to hear it from his mouth. I needed him to explain exactly how something like this happened and he didn't bother to tell me.F
AlexI drove into the driveway and parked in the parking lot, but for a moment, I didn’t move. My hands stayed on the steering wheel as my eyes stared at the familiar front door like it was the entrance to a war zone.This is my house. My own home, but funny enough… I am scared to go in at all because of Vanessa. Or rather… because of what happened in my office.I have been calling her since she left my office with anger, to explain to her that it's not what she thinks but she wasn't picking up.I sighed heavily and rubbed my temple. “God… I’m in this mess because of you, Mom,” I muttered under my breath.Finally, I pushed the door open and stepped out. My guards moved forward immediately, bowing slightly.“Welcome back, sir,” one of them said.I gave a brief nod and handed over my car keys before making my way up the front steps. My chest felt tight with tension.As soon as I stepped into the living room, I scanned the space for Vanessa, but I breathed a sigh of relief when I didn't
EmilyI froze.The scene before me felt like something out of a nightmareI was shocked when I saw two men lying motionless in pools of their blood, Uncle Carlos clutching his bleeding arm as the police dragged him toward the van. And it was because of my… my Lucas, my brave, foolish, precious son.My body shook as I ran to him, pulling him into my arms. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst.“God, Lucas… I was so scared,” I whispered, clutching him tighter. “So, so scared.”When he didn’t pick up my call earlier, I thought I was losing my mind. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and my legs felt like they couldn’t hold me. It was Nathaniel who finally called one of Lucas’s guards, and that’s how we found this place. But the whole drive here, I could barely breathe.Now, with him in my arms, I still couldn’t stop trembling.I wouldn’t have survived it...If anything happened to him.I pulled back just enough to look at his face. “Yes, what you did was brave,” I said softl
LucasThe moment the call ended, I stared at my phone for a long time.Uncle Carlos?The name wasn’t new. I have heard Mommy mention him a few times, usually in whispers, like saying it too loud would summon a ghost. I didn’t know much, but I knew the name always brought fear to her face, and that told me everything I needed to know.But why would he want to meet me?Why didn’t he want me to tell Mommy or Uncle Nathaniel?My heart began to pound harder in my chest. Something isn't right.I sat at the edge of my bed, gripping my phone tightly.My mommy endured a lot raising us as a single parent, even though she doesn't say it. The last thing I ever want is to see my mother afraid. And the way her voice trembled on the phone earlier when I spoke with her… it shattered something in me. I’m just a kid, yes. But I’m not useless. I can’t stand there while danger crawls toward my family.I needed to know the truth. I needed to know more about Uncle Carlos. I left my room and went downstai
EmilyMy hands wouldn’t stop shaking as Nathaniel drove me home. My heart thumped so loudly, I was sure he could hear it too.I stared out the window, but nothing looked real anymore. The trees, the road, even the sky, all felt like a blur. My head pounded with fear, questions, and anger.Uncle Carlos, that bastard, that monster. How dare he try to contact Lucas?What does he want from my son?What is he planning?I clenched my fists as tears threatened to fall. He already tried to hurt my grandmother. Now he wants to drag Lucas into this? Why?Is he trying to kidnap him?I ran my hand through my hair, frustrated and scared. My brain was moving too fast for my body to keep up.“Are you alright?” Nathaniel’s voice broke through my storm of thoughts. His eyes were full of worry as he looked at me from the driver’s seat.I nodded quickly. “Yes.”But that was a lie because deep inside, I was far from okay. I mean, how can I be okay when my family is being hunted like animals?First, my
VanessaDid I just hear that right?I stood in the hallway, frozen as I listened to the conversation happening inside Alex’s office.My blood boiled.How can Alex’s mother, the same woman who once called Emily useless, shameless, and unworthy of her son, now tell Alex to go after her?Is it because she is now rich? Because she is the heiress of Kings Empire?My hands balled into fists.So this is what the world has become: fake affection, flipping sides like pancakes the moment money enters the room. The same woman who used to sit beside me, complaining endlessly about Emily, now wanted her back in the family?I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. My body was trembling not from sadness, but from rage.What did she take me for? Another version of Emily, she could walk all over?No. I am not Emily.She may have treated Emily like garbage and gotten away with it, but I am going to remind her that I am not that soft-hearted fool.I kicked the door hard, and it slammed against the wall, ech