Mae was startled awake by a knock on her door, she then stirred from her sleep ready to answer. But as she tried to move, she realized she couldn't budge. Confused, she listened intently and heard a deep, manly groan beside her. Before she could process what was happening, she felt herself being pulled even tighter.Then, a groggy voice spoke next to her. "Go back to sleep, wife," it said softly.Mae's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar voice. Panic surged through her as she pushed back, nearly screaming but managing to whisper urgently, "Kai?! What are you doing here?!"Kaius chuckled softly, amused by Mae's reaction. He sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair before calling out to the attendant to enter. The attendant promptly came in, carrying a tray filled with an assortment of desserts, their sweet aroma filling the room.Mae's eyes lit up at the sight of the desserts. Despite her composed exterior, she couldn't hide her excitement. Sweets had always been
After a few hours, the plane finally touched down at their destination. Kai was roused from his sleep by a gentle knock on the door from his consigliere, Hanz."Sir, we've arrived," Hanz informed him quietly.Kai glanced down and realized Mae was still fast asleep, curled up against him. Instead of responding, he tapped on the wall to signal to Hanz that he was awake and had heard him. Hanz nodded in acknowledgment before stepping out.As Kai watched Mae sleep, he couldn't help but smile at her peaceful expression. His fingers instinctively brushed against her cheek, disturbing her sleep.Mae gasped, her eyes fluttering open halfway. "What? What? I'm awake!" she mumbled groggily before drifting back into sleep, her voice barely audible.Kai chuckled softly as he found her response cute and funny. He decided to let her rest a bit longer, knowing she needed it after the long flight.After a moment, Kai gently lifted Mae into his arms, cradling her like a child. Her head rested on his s
Mae finally settled into the place her friend Nick had prepared for her. The only luggage she brought with her was the only thing that gave life to the empty apartment. Yet, the place was surprisingly nice and tidy. The whole place smelled of fresh paint, and every nook and cranny looked clean. It was a good temporary place to stay while she searched for a larger house to accommodate her, Jane, and Jane's baby, who would likely start running around in about a year.Mae immediately heads straight to her bedroom and throws herself on the bed. With a deep breath, she smiles and whispers to herself, "You're going to have a good life here. Trust yourself and leave behind what has hurt you in the past. You'll be fine."With renewed determination, Mae abruptly gets up and unpacks her luggage so she can head out to buy groceries for dinner.~Calix, whom Mae left behind and the one who woke up without her in his arms was fueled by anger as he discovered that Mae had actually left him. After t
As Mae busied herself in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and stirring pots, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. She over her shoulder and found Kai seated at the table, his eyes never leaving her. He was leaning on his hand, with his chin propped up as he observed her every move with an intensity that made her cheeks flush.She could feel the weight of his gaze and it made her clear her throat hoping to focus on her cooking, but Kai's presence was undeniably distracting. With an annoyed sigh, she finally spoke up, "You know, you could help instead of just staring."Kai grinned mischievously, "Oh, but I'm providing moral support from here. Besides, I'm enjoying the view."Rolling her eyes playfully, Mae shook her head, "You're incorrigible."While Mae continued to cook, Kai's playful talks persisted, much to her annoyance as he stood up and walked towards her, standing beside her"You're doing great. Just a pinch of salt, and it'll be perfect," Kai remarked with a smi
Jane took a deep breath and with a calm sigh, she turned the doorknob to her house. "I'm home," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. Now that she had finally recovered and been discharged from the hospital, Jane decided to slowly resume her normal routine. However, with her newborn still in the hospital's NICU, she couldn't shake off the constant worry for her baby girl.She carefully stepped inside and closed the door behind her as she made her way to the couch. She sat down and glanced around the room. Despite only being a few days since Mae left to work abroad, the house seemed tidy and well-maintained.But without her cousin's presence, the house felt emptier than ever, and Jane couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. The once comforting walls now echoed with silence, and the bright lights seemed almost blinding.Jane was lost in her thoughts when she was startled by a knock on the door. "Uhm... Who is it?" she called out, her voice tinged with uncertainty,
The room was quiet, the air cold and heavy with tension. Kaitlyn sat across from Dean, both clutching their cups of coffee, nerves buzzing in the silence. Before Kaitlyn could find her words, Dean spoke up."Kaitlyn..." He gently called her name, setting his coffee cup down on the table.His gaze locked with hers, a look she'd never seen from him before, stirring something deep within her. Those eyes seemed to plead and hope, stirring emotions within her."I need to tell you something," Dean began, reaching for her hand and taking the cup from hers, holding her hands in his."I... I'm doing this again. But this time, I know I won't regret it," he stuttered. Kaitlyn looked at him in confusion but with understanding in her eyes, and gently squeezed his hand."It's okay... I can handle it," she replied softly.Dean hesitated, then nodded, his resolve firm."Let's divorce. I'll face the consequences. I'll do whatever it takes," he said softly, a statement that made Kaitlyn scoff in disbe
The tension in the room was abruptly shattered by the creak of the door, revealing a stern figure in glasses."Mr. Castellan. The investors are here," the newcomer announced.A moment of eerie silence hung in the air, broken only by Mr. Castellan's chilling laughter reverberating within the enclosed space. He rose to his feet, picking up a knife with a predatory smirk."I'll be right back. Make sure to say your goodbyes," he sneered before striding out of the room.As the door clicked shut behind him, Jane wasted no time, inching her way toward her baby. Relief flooded her as her eyes settled on the peaceful form of her sleeping infant."Oh Zoe... My little girl..." Jane's sobs were soft but carried the weight of unbearable pain. Her trembling hands strained against the bindings that held her back, her heart wrenching at the thought of missing precious moments with her daughter.With resolve born of maternal instinct, Jane leaned down to press a gentle kiss against Zoe's incubator, lo
In the sleek and opulent conference room of Castellan Enterprises, Mr. Castellan, adorned in his signature tailored suit, stood at the head of the polished mahogany table, exuding an aura of authority and confidence. Around him sat a gathering of investors and stakeholders, their faces expectant, their eyes fixed on him.Mr. Castellan with his practiced eloquence, began his presentation, painting a picture of prosperity and opportunity, extolling the virtues of his company and the potential for lucrative returns on investment. He spoke of growth, innovation, and profitability, his words laced with persuasive charm.However, his spiel was abruptly interrupted by a voice from the crowd, crisp and incisive. "I heard Ashenwood Corps. pulled back from investing," the foreign investor interjected, his tone cutting through the air like a knife. "This company has been a great contributor to your company, Mr. Castellan. And the reason why we're here is because we thought we could have a connec