LiamMy jaw dropped. Everything happened so fast. Seconds passed, and I couldn’t bring myself to shut my mouth, yet I wasn’t saying a word. My brain was devoid of logic. What just happened? The apartment in front of mine has been vacant for a month now. I only just found out that somebody moved into it two days ago. Never would I have thought it would be Loretta Maxwell—the same woman I’ve been trying to get rid of.Our paths kept crossing since the day we met. First, it was at my place of work, and now she stayed next door. She was my neighbor.This couldn’t be a mere coincidence. I was a hundred percent sure that she was the one behind everything that had been happening—our constant meetings and encounters.My ears turned red, and my feet stayed rooted in place. I couldn’t move. What just happened wasn’t just a slap to my face but a punch to my chest. I couldn’t believe that I had embarrassed myself so many times in front of her.“You are stalking me.” That statement echoed in my ea
LIAMI could feel her eyes on the nape of my neck as I walked back home. A pair of eyes prodded into my skin and made me alert and uncomfortable. Still, I didn’t turn. I thought she would swerve to the other side when we got to the junction, but she didn’t. Instead, she spun to the same path as me.At this point, I knew Loretta had been caught. There was no way she wasn’t stalking me. Why the hell was she following me around? What did she want from me?Shutting my eyes, I sighed and turned so that I could face her. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me, and her brows raised in a questioning manner. She wasn’t merely surprised—she wasn’t scared.“Did you forget something at the mart?” she asked, her expression laced with confusion and astonishment.I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat. What did she think she was doing? Trying to deceive me? She wanted me to believe she was truly concerned about me when she was stalking me? How dare she pretend in front of me?“Stop the pretense,
GENERALLiam got out of bed weakly, rubbing his eyes and yawning. It was the weekend, and there was no work, so he had all day to sleep, and he made sure to use it well. The only reason he was getting out of bed was because of his grumbling stomach. He had been reminded of food.He went straight to the bathroom, took a quick bath, and got into an oversized T-shirt and a pair of shorts.Walking into the kitchen, he strolled directly to the cabinet above and opened it. His eyes widened when he couldn’t find what he was searching for in the cabinet.“Gosh! I finished all the noodles last week,” he muttered, closing the cabinet weakly.At the same time, his stomach made another grumbling sound. This time, the hunger made his body tremble, but it stopped again.Dejectedly, he hissed and went to the refrigerator. If he couldn’t get noodles, he should be able to get some fruit to eat. He remembered keeping some fruit there a few weeks ago.To his shock, the refrigerator was empty and filled
VIOLETMy body trembled vigorously, even though it had already been hours since the incident happened. I held onto my children tightly, afraid that they could drown if I released my grip on them.Different thoughts serenaded my head. They weren’t pleasing. They sent chills of trepidation over my body. Different what if questions raised themselves in my brain.What if Stewart and the other swimmers weren’t there to save Nyla?What if Stewart and the other swimmers weren’t able to save her after doing everything?The hand of cold gripped me tightly, causing me to shut my eyes and throw my head backward. The children were still on my chest, and my arms were protectively around them.After two hours of driving, our car stopped, and the side door was opened a few seconds later. “Don’t worry. I will take them,” Stewart mumbled, scooping the children, who were fast asleep, into his arms, and we headed inside.He went straight into their bedroom and tucked them into their beds one after the o
GENERALEverything happened so fast that it was almost too late before they could comprehend what was going on. The little girl was throwing her hands up as she struggled with the violent wave and sea.“My baby! Nyla!” Violet cried out, her voice shaky and filled with fear. Her body trembled as though she were an epileptic patient. She wanted to dive forward, but Stewart held her back. He acted faster than she did.He dove into the sea and hurried toward the young girl. Before he could see where she was, her head was no longer visible.Violet’s vision blurred, and she felt a thick lump clog her chest, making breathing difficult and erratic.“My baby! Somebody save my baby! Please, save my baby!” she shouted, holding onto Nathan tightly as she staggered backward. Her knees weakened, and tears streamed from her eyes uncontrollably.Everyone at the beach moved closer and gathered at the scene. A few swimmers joined Stewart and began to search for the little girl.Everyone was tense. Ever
– GENERAL –The golden sun hovered low on the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow over the sea. The waves whispered against the shore, their rhythm steady and soothing, while the sky above was painted in soft streaks of orange, pink, and lavender. It was the kind of evening that made everything feel right.Violet stood barefoot at the edge of the ocean, the foamy water licking her toes as she laughed, watching Nathan and Nyla dart between the waves like little bolts of joy. Stewart, a few paces behind her, was crouched beside a growing sandcastle, his hands covered in damp sand and seashells as he pretended to be the royal architect of “Castle Nathan and Nyla.” He hadn’t finished building the castle as the children wanted.Violet couldn’t stop grinning as she watched how serious he seemed when it wasn’t even a real house.“Dad! The tide is coming! You have to finish the wall!” Nathan yelled, eyes wide with urgency. He waved at his father.“I need more shells for the towers!” Stewart r