LOGINBlood dripped onto the floor. The once spotless marble slowly turned red. Elmy stared at Michella’s bleeding wrist. The sleeve of her pale yellow blouse had darkened into a vivid crimson.The knife slipped from Michella’s hand. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her injured arm. Behind her, Anderson raised the gun in his hand and pointed it at the two men holding Lyra and Gianna.“Let them go, or I’ll shoot you like I shot that woman,” Anderson threatened.Elmy pulled Theo into her arms as his body trembled. She gently rubbed his back while whispering soothingly to him. “It’s okay. We’re safe, Theo. We’re safe,” she murmured softly against the top of his head.For a moment, Elmy glanced at Theo’s pale face. He wasn’t crying anymore, but his body was stiff and shaking. Honestly, she was more terrified of Theo getting hurt than herself. Holding him tighter, she slowly backed away.Taking advantage of the distraction, she tried to make her way to the kitchen to grab her phone. At the
“Now, don’t be naughty while you’re staying at Uncle Zayne’s house. If Uncle Zayne calls me because of something you did, I’ll make sure you don’t get a birthday present this year,” Dennis threatened while crouching down to meet Theo’s eyes. The little boy nodded innocently as if he actually understood every word.Theo was probably around two or three years old now. The last time Elmy saw him was when Zayne was sick, and he’d clearly grown since then. His cheeks were rounder, and his body looked chubbier too. Jane had taken good care of him.“Unca…” Theo called in his cute little voice. Whoever taught him that word, he seemed to love saying it. Probably Jane.“Yeah, starting today, you’re staying with us for a while, okay Theo?” Zayne crouched in front of him, looking genuinely happy. And deep down, Elmy felt a sting in her chest seeing that, because she still hadn’t been able to give Zayne a child.“Kay, Unca,” Theo replied before raising his arms, asking to be carried. Zayne happily
Zayne stared at the files in front of him without really reading them. His mind had drifted back to the large house his parents left behind.“You’re thinking about moving into your late parents’ house?” Gion asked while placing another file onto the desk. He skillfully gathered several folders into his arms. Zayne watched him quietly with his arms folded across his chest.“Yeah, that’s the plan. The house we’re living in now... I might rent it out or sell it later,” Zayne said casually.“Why the sudden move?”“That house would be perfect for my big family someday,” Zayne replied. The image of little kids running around and playing there made him smile faintly. He couldn’t wait for that day to come.Gion smiled knowingly. “Is Elmy pregnant? Is that why you’re acting like this?”The question immediately snapped Zayne back to reality. He lowered his gaze to his intertwined fingers. Without saying anything, he shook his head slightly. That alone was enough of an answer.Gion instantly loo
“Where are you going today?” Zayne asked as he suddenly wrapped his arms around Elmy from behind. He pressed soft kisses along the curve of her neck. Goosebumps rose on Elmy’s skin along with the warmth spreading between her thighs.Zayne’s body heat burned against her, making Elmy catch her breath when she realized his arousal was pressing against her hip. But neither of them made the first move. Instead, Elmy ignored it on purpose and dragged the moment out.“Nowhere. I think I just want to lie around today.” Elmy leaned her head against Zayne’s chest. “I’ve been dealing with a lot these past few days.”“What’s it like handling projects and all that stuff? You’re even involved with your mother’s restaurant now, right?”Elmy turned around and wrapped both arms around Zayne’s neck, catching him off guard. A wide smile immediately spread across his lips, as if he was satisfied with how close they had become now.“It’s exhausting. I can’t even imagine how tired you must get running arou
“You’re not even going to give him a chance?” Zayne’s weak voice broke the silence. Elmy looked up toward the top of the stairs where the man stood. “You don’t look relieved at all after doing that,” he said. It sounded like a jab to Elmy, but she ignored it.Instead of answering, she quickly walked over to him. “Forget it. You need to rest. Didn’t the doctor say you shouldn’t push yourself?”“Commenting on your attitude right now isn’t exhausting at all.”“Zayne…”“I know you’re disappointed, but can’t you give your father a chance to make things right? Just like you gave me a chance with this relationship,” Zayne said.Elmy’s grip on his arm loosened. She hadn’t expected Zayne to defend Dante instead of her.Even so, Elmy stubbornly held onto her decision. She would let Dante leave again. No second chances. No fixing what had already been broken between them.“This is different, Zayne.”“What’s so different about it?” Zayne asked firmly. “Because he suddenly showed up after all thes
“So, are you happy now that your father’s in prison?” Vincent asked sharply.Hearing that, Elmy stayed silent. Her heart had already been shattered beyond repair. There was no room left to forgive what Vincent had done to her mother, to Zayne, and to herself.Instead of feeling guilty, Vincent blamed everything on Elmy, who sat across from him with a thick glass wall separating them.A criminal and an ordinary civilian.Elmy stared coldly at Vincent. “You haven’t even apologized for any of this. You hit my mother. You poisoned Zayne until…” The memory of Zayne’s confession from a few days ago resurfaced in her mind. Her throat tightened before she forced herself to continue. “You hurt the people I love.”“And you reported me. You broke your promise.”“Because you’re not my father. What’s the point of protecting you anymore?” Elmy replied, no longer caring about Vincent’s feelings. After all, he had never cared about hers.Vincent let out an amused laugh. He slammed his hand against th
“How did it feel inside? Tight? Did she squeeze you so hard you felt like you were about to explode?” the man asked crudely. He was still able to mock Zayne even though his face was badly bruised from the brutal beating. His shrill laughter sent blood spilling from his mouth, staining his teeth.Za
Type?Was someone like Dennis Wesson really Elmy’s type?Zayne nearly cursed out loud at Elmy’s blunt admission, but he managed to keep himself in check. All he showed was a faint, amused smile before finishing the rest of his sandwich.No more words were exchanged. Zayne was already irritated, and
One word—crazy.What the hell was that? What kind of behavior was that, Zayne? And why was he so tense?Zayne hurriedly turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature to cold until he started shivering under the spray. His fist slammed into the wall again and again until it hurt. He lowered his he
Elmy’s eyes widened. Zayne’s hand, which had been resting on her cheek, slid to the back of her neck, gently pulling her closer until their lips pressed together. His tongue brushed against hers, slow and soft. Elmy touched his arm, then his chest, before pushing him away.Her breath came in short,







