AdrianThe tension was unbearable. I sat in the living room, staring at the half-empty glass of whiskey in my hand. Kelly was upstairs, undoubtedly still reeling from whatever seeds Olivia had planted earlier. I could see it in her eyesโsome questions she didnโt ask yet.Olivia. Her name alone was enough to trigger memories I had no desire to revisit. Sheโd always been the wildcard of the family, unpredictable and sharp-tongued. Growing up, weโd been close, closer than most siblings but that closeness had been built on shared secrets and silent promises. Promises I had broken long time ago. The last time I saw her before she left for LA, weโd had an argument that left a permanent scar on our relationship. She accused me of choosing silence over loyalty, of letting Davis dictate our lives. And in a way, she wasnโt wrong. Iโd made choices back then to protect her, to protect us all, but Olivia never saw it that way. The sound of heels clicking against the hardwood floor pulled me fr
AndersonThe streetlights blurred as I sped through the quiet roads, gripping the steering wheel tighter with each passing mile. Momโs words replayed in my mind, every word digging deeper into the pit of my anger. โShe had a past, Andersonโ Betrayal. It was a bitter pill to swallow, and now it was coursing through my veins, poisoning every thought. My own mother, complicit in a web of secrets that I was only now unraveling. Kate, the woman I had loved, had kept her connection to Davis hidden from me. How could they both do this to me? I pulled into the parking lot of โCucina Italianaโ, Kateโs newest restaurant venture. The soft glow of the sign above the entrance seemed mocking, it brought back memories of our stay in Italy.The moment I stepped inside, the rich aroma of Italian herbs and freshly baked bread greeted me. The restaurant was quieter than usual, a few diners scattered across the tables. Kate was by the open kitchen, speaking with her staff. Her eyes met mine, and I
OliviaThe weight of everything pressed heavily on my chest as I walked into the police station. Every step felt like a declaration of defiance. I had promised myself I would get answers, no matter the cost, and now I was here, ready to put my cards on the table. The station was bustling with phones ringing, voices raised, officers moving purposefully from desk to desk. My resolve nearly faltered, but then I saw him. He stood near the far end of the room, his uniform tailored to perfection, radiating a calm demeanor. His presence demanded attention, though he wasnโt speaking. I caught myself staring. It was as though everything else faded, leaving only him in focus. Hid name wasnโt spoken until one of his colleagues called out, โLucian, got a second?โ The sound jolted me from my thoughts, but not enough to ignore the way my heart fluttered. โExcuse me,โ I said, approaching cautiously. His sharp blue eyes moved to me, and I felt as if he could see right through me. โYes?โ he
KellyThe tension in the house was suffocating. Adrian had been distant ever since Oliviaโs arrival, and I couldnโt take it anymore. Every word Olivia said seemed to carry a hidden meaning, like she wanted me to know something but she wouldnโt just say it.I found him in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with his phone in hand. He looked up as I walked in, his face guarded. โAdrian,โ I said, crossing my arms. โWe need to talk. Now.โ He sighed, setting his phone down. โI figured this was coming.โ I stepped closer, my voice low but firm. โWhy does Olivia seem to know more about your past than I do? What is this connection to Davis that she keeps hinting at?โ Adrian stiffened, his jaw tightening. โKelly, itโs... complicated.โ โNo,โ I snapped, cutting him off. โItโs not complicated. Itโs your family. Itโs your life. And itโs my life too, Adrian. I deserve to know whatโs going on.โ He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. โYouโre right. You do. But itโs not some
KellyThe call from Anderson had shattered the little thread I was holding onto. Aiden, my sweet, innocent Aiden, was missing. Panic clawed at my chest as I paced around the house, unsure of what to do. Adrian was making calls, organizing a search, but I couldnโt stand still. I needed to act. โKelly, stop,โ Adrian said, his hand on my palm. โWeโre doing everything we can. Just stay here.โ I shook him off, unable to contain my panic. โYou donโt understand. I canโt just sit here! What if somethingโs happened to him? What ifโโโKelly, I know. Iโm scared too,โ Adrian said, his voice strained. โBut we canโt make any rash decisions. We need to think this through.โ I looked at him, eyes wild with fear, and then I bolted for the door. I didnโt care what Adrian thought; I had to find Aiden. I needed help. .The police station was busy when I arrived. Officers were running in and out, but none of them seemed to take much notice of the frantic woman pacing back and forth in front of the
Kelly โWho is he?โ I asked, my voice cracked as I stared at the grainy image Olivia had handed me. Her expression was cold and unyielding, her lips twisting. โI donโt know, but I think heโs the key to finding Aiden.โ The photograph trembled in my hands, my vision blurring as fear tightened its grip on my chest. Aidenโs face, pale and tear-streaked, was in the background of the photo, and the man standing in front of him was a stranger. A tall figure, his face partially scarred, but the malice in his posture was unmistakable. โWhere do we find him?โ My voice barely audible. Olivia glanced at me, then to Lucian, who stood a few steps away, watching us intently. โI donโt know yet,โ she admitted, but her tone carried the weight of determination. โKelly,โ Lucian said, stepping closer. His voice was calm, but his eyes were firm. โWeโre going to get him back.โ I wanted to believe him, to hold on to the small hope his words offered. But the heart wrenching guilt in my chest wou
AndersonI followed my mom into the dimly lit restaurant, staying far enough behind to avoid suspicion. The private dining room she entered was shielded by frosted glass, but I could see her silhouette as she sat across from a man I recognized immediately: Davis. The man who had turned my life into chaos. There was no doubt Davis took Aiden. I clenched my fists, my pulse racing as I debated my next move. Every instinct screamed at me to storm in, to demand answers, but I couldnโt risk tipping myself off. Not without knowing what my mom had to do with all Aiden disappearance.I slipped into a booth near the back, my line of sight angled to catch glimpses of their conversation through the glass. My mom leaned forward, her voice just loud enough to carry over the low murmur of the restaurant. โYou shouldnโt have taken the boy,โ she said, her tone sharp and accusatory. Davis shrugged, his lips curling into a smirk. โYou made this mess, Evelyn. Iโm just cleaning it up.โ She slamme
KellyI followed Adrian through the dark streets, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and dread. His earlier phone call had been short, but the urgency in his tone was unmistakable. He thought I was asleep, but I wasnโt about to sit back while Aidenโs life was in danger. He turned towards an alley and disappeared through an unmarked door. I hesitated for a moment, swallowing my fear, before slipping inside after him. The air was heavy with the scent of damp concrete and stale cigarettes, and muffled voices echoed from somewhere below. Keeping to the shadows, I crept down a narrow staircase, my steps careful. Adrianโs voice filtered through the air, sharp and desperate. โGive me more time,โ he pleaded. โIโll resign after this is done, I swear. But I need to get my son back first.โ A deep, gravelly voice responded, dripping with condescension. โTime? You think Boss is the kind of man who waits? Youโre either in, or youโre out. And if youโre out, youโre as good as dead.โ I f
Dear Readers, I canโt believe weโve reached the end of Kellyโs story. Writing this book has been an emotional rollercoaster, and I know many of you have felt the highs and lows just as deeply as I have. Kellyโs journey wasnโt easy, there was pain, heartbreak, and moments where it seemed like happiness was out of reach. But through it all, she found strength, love, and a future worth fighting for. To everyone who stuck by this story, who cried, laughed, and rooted for Kelly, Aiden, Adrian, and even the complicated characters like Anderson and Kate, thank you. Your love and support mean everything. Though this book has ended, Kellyโs story will always live on in our hearts. And who knows? Maybe one day, there will be more to tell. But for now, I hope this ending brings you the closure and warmth that Kelly fought so hard to find. With love and gratitude, MOONCHILD.
Kelly The sun is warm against my skin, the sky a perfect colour of blue. A soft breeze carries the scent of roses and fresh-cut grass. The sound of distant laughter and murmured conversations fills the air, blending seamlessly with the soft notes of a violin playing somewhere nearby. Itโs perfect. Everything about this day feels surreal, like stepping into a dream I never dared to imagine. A real wedding. Not a hidden ceremony. Not a desperate attempt to silence rumors. Just love. I close my eyes for a brief moment, taking it all in. The gentle rustling of the trees. The faint sound of conversation. The quiet presence of everyone who matters. Adrianโs family is here. After months of resentment and distance, they came. His mother, his father, Olivia, both watching with cautious but genuine smiles. Susan is here, standing with them, her expression warm, proud. And in the distance, I see Aiden straightening his suit, looking nervous and determined at the same time. Harper,
KellyNine months. Nine long, exhausting, emotional months. And now, Iโm here. In a hospital bed, drenched in sweat, gripping Adrianโs hand so tightly that Iโm sure Iโve cut off his circulation. My body feels like itโs being torn apart, and yet, I push. โJust a little more, Kelly!โ the doctor encourages. Easy for them to say. They arenโt the ones feeling like their body is being split open. Adrian leans close, his lips brushing my forehead. โYouโre almost there,โ he murmurs, his voice steady, calming. โIโve got you.โ Tears sting my eyes. I donโt know if itโs from the pain or the overwhelming feeling that this moment is actually happening. And then, a sharp cry fills the room. My breath catches. The world seemed to stop. The doctor lifts a tiny, wriggling body into the air. โItโs a girl!โ A sob escapes me. I collapse back against the pillows, my whole body trembling. Tears slip down my temples as I hear my daughterโs first sounds. I did it. Sheโs here. Adrian presses a
Kelly The morning is cold, the kind of D.C winter chill that seeps through the layers of your clothes and lingers deep in your bones. I clutch my coffee cup tighter, trying to soak in the warmth as I step out of the cafรฉ. The city is alive as always, cars honking, people hurrying past, lost in their own worlds. And then I see her. At first, I didn't recognize the figure crouched near the side of the building, wrapped in an oversized hoodie, the fabric frayed at the edges. Her hair is tangled, falling over a gaunt face. Her fingers, red from the cold, clutch a small cardboard sign. โHungry. Please help.โMy breath catches. Kate. Sheโs thinner than I remember. A shell of the woman she once was. She sits with her knees pulled close, gaze darting to every passerby, but no one stops. No one even looks at her. And I realize, this is what rock bottom looks like. For a long moment, I just stood there. Then, before I can talk myself out of it, I move. She doesnโt notice me at fir
Kelly It happens on a quiet afternoon. Adrian and I are sitting on the couch, Harper curled up between us, absentmindedly flipping through a picture book while Adrian scrolls through emails on his phone. Itโs peaceful. And then, I see his posture stiffen. I glance at him. โWhatโs wrong?โ His brows are furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line as he reads whatever message is on his screen. For a long moment, he doesnโt answer. Then, finally, he exhales, setting the phone down on his thigh. โMy parents,โ he says, rubbing his jaw. โThey want to talk.โ I blink. I wasnโt expecting that. โTalkโฆ as in?โ โAs in dinner. A sit-down conversation.โ He shakes his head slightly, as if heโs still processing it himself. โThey sent an invitation. No conditions. Justโฆ a request to see me.โ I canโt tell if thatโs a good thing or a bad thing. His parents and I became a sore subject, one of the few places where his love for me had cost him something. I know how deeply it hurt him when they rej
KellyThe call came in the middle of the night. I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. My first thought is that itโs Adrian, maybe heโs checking in from the living room where he sometimes falls asleep after reading. But when I grab my phone and see Susanโs name glowing on the screen, my stomach twists. I answer on the second ring. โHeโs gone,โ she says softly. Two words. Just two words, and for a second, I feel absolutely nothing. I sit there in the dark, the phone pressed to my ear, my mind blank. I should have expected it, Andersonโs health had been failing, and yetโฆ hearing it, knowing itโs real, knowing there will never be another word, another regret-filled gaze, itโs different. Susan stays quiet, as if she knows I needed a moment. Then, like a wave finally crashing, it hits. A sharp, aching weight pressing down on my chest. My throat tightens, my vision blurs, and before I can stop it, I let out a small, choked sob. I feel Adrian shift be
KellyI grip Aidenโs hand tighter as we walk down the hallway, past closed doors and nurses who barely glance at us. His fingers clutch mine, his other hand curled into a fist at his side. I wonder if heโs nervous. If he regrets coming. Because I do. I swallow hard as we stop outside Andersonโs room. The door is slightly ajar, but I donโt move. Aiden looks up at me, uncertain. His dark eyes are searching, waiting for me to give him permission to go inside. I force myself to nod. โAre you ready?โ He hesitates, then nods back. I push the door open. And we stepped. Anderson looksโฆ different. His skin is pale, almost gray under the harsh hospital lights. The strong, confident posture he once carried is gone, replaced by sunken shoulders and frail limbs tangled in hospital sheets. But his eyes, the sharpness in them, the smug curve of his lips, thatโs still him. His gaze drifts past me, landing on Aiden. And his smirk, despite everything, still appears. โThanks for coming.โ Hi
Kelly The call came in the middle of the night. My phone buzzes against the nightstand, dragging me from sleep. I blink, groggy, confusion heavy in my head as I fumble for it. Adrian stirs beside me, mumbling something unintelligible before rolling over. I donโt recognize the number. But the moment I press the phone to my ear, Susanโs voice, low and weighted with something different fills the silence. โKelly, Iโm sorry for calling so late.โ I sit up instantly, dread curling in my stomach. โWhatโs wrong?โA beat. Thenโฆ.โItโs Anderson. He doesnโt have much time.โ The words donโt sink in right away. My fingers tighten around the phone. โWhat do you mean?โ Susan exhales. โHis condition worsened tonight. The doctors donโt think heโll make it much longer. If youโโ She hesitates. โIf Aiden wants to see him, it has to be soon.โ The room feels colder. I glance at the clock. 2:17 AM. The world outside quiet by this moment. But my body knows. My body feels the shift, I felt goo
KellyHarper was avoiding me. It wasnโt like the usual tantrums when she was upset over bedtime or not getting a second helping with ice cream. This was different. It had been days now, long enough for the silence to settle like a weight in my chest. She wouldnโt sit next to me at breakfast. Wouldnโt let me brush her hair. Wouldnโt even look me in the eyes when I spoke to her. But she clung to Adrian. If Adrian walked into a room, she was at his side in seconds, grabbing his hand, leaning against him, giggling at every little thing he said. She held onto him like he was her safe place, like she was afraid of something. Or someone. And that someone was me. I didnโt know what I had done. But I knew it was breaking me. โฆโฆIt was bedtime when I finally couldnโt take it anymore. Adrian had just tucked Harper in, but instead of curling into her blankets the way she usually did, she turned away from me when I walked into the room. I swallowed the hurt and sat on the edge of her be