LOGIN“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
“Zayne?”The voice made Zayne lift his gaze from the screen toward the bedroom door that had just opened. The corner of his lips curled up slightly.“You’re home?” he said as Elmy slipped off her bag and hurried toward him, where he sat on the sofa scrolling through his phone.Zayne wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. The exhaustion from work instantly faded away. Ignoring Hiro’s messages, he tossed the phone onto the sofa beside him.“Zayne, I haven’t showered yet,” Elmy said.But he ignored her. His arms tightened around her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder.“Doesn’t matter,” Zayne whispered.He buried his nose in the crook of her neck, breathing her in. A floral scent mixed with fabric softener and the faint trace of sweat after a long day filled his senses. Strange, but that was exactly what he liked.Elmy’s scent.Familiar. Addicting.“My wife’s scent.”“Zayne, that tickles!”“Just for a minute. I need to recharge my energy.” Zayne kissed her n
The room grew noisy again. More people had arrived. They were drunk and smoking, making the air even more suffocating. Zayne’s chest swelled with fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins. This was the final round. The deciding moment.Across from him, Ray crushed his cigarette stub against th
The sharp smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol burned Zayne’s nose. Wild, vulgar cheers filled Midnight Vault. Across from him, the casino owner shuffled the cards—far too fast for Zayne’s eyes to follow.This bet wasn’t fair. He knew that. Zayne had zero experience, while the other man had been run
The loud noise coming from Elmy’s phone made Zayne pull it away from his ear and stare at the screen. Once things quieted down, he called her name repeatedly. But all he got was silence. Just seconds ago, Elmy had called his name before something strange happened.Zayne’s blood boiled, heat spreadi
“Dennis, just send me your address.” Elmy sent the message after successfully buying the medicine at the pharmacy. She slipped the medicine into her bag. For a moment, she glanced at the sedan parked behind her car.A man sat behind the wheel, wearing a black jacket and a black beanie, staring at h







