The security guards glanced up briefly but didnât seem to pay her much attention.Now standing just outside the hospital, Sirena breathed in a lungful of air, tasting freedom.She glanced around for a means of transport.She had to act fast, before the hospital discovered she was gone and alerted her parents.***Alessiaâs eyes fluttered open to the soft glow of morning light filtering through her curtains.She groggily reached for her phone, blinking away sleep, and checked the time.BuzzBeat awaited.A quick shower, a sleek power suit, and she was ready to face the day.Arriving at the office, she was greeted by a chorus of cheers.Colleagues surrounded her, their eyes dancing with excitement.Apparently, Albertâs announcement was still in the news.âCongrats on the wedding, Alessia! We canât wait!âThey exchanged sly grins, fishing for an invitation.Alessiaâs smile faltered.How could she tell them the wedding was off?Luckily, Leeâs arrival rescued her.The photographer handed Al
Naomi stirred the simmering chicken soup, the aroma filling the kitchen with warmth.She glanced at Ralph, who was grabbing his keys.âReady to head to the hospital?â he asked.âAbsolutely,â Naomi replied, wiping her hands on her apron. âHand me the thermos.âThey were only allowed to visit Sirena once each day, the visit lasting no longer than half an hour.The doctor explained that the restricted visits were important to establish routine in Sirenaâs life.As they prepared to leave, they heard a knock on the door.Surprised, they exchanged a puzzled glance before opening the door.Standing on their doorstep was Logan. âCan we talk?âNaomi and Ralph exchanged a wary look but nodded, allowing him inside.Logan took a deep breath, eyeing them both. âIâm sure you know why Iâm here. I need Sirena to sign those divorce papers.âIt had been almost three days since Sirenaâs hospitalisation, and Logan had waited long enough.Naomiâs lips trembled. âLogan, we canât believe youâve moved on so
âRalph! Naomi, call an ambulance!â Loganâs urgency cut through the stunned silence, and Naomi, her face pale with shock, fumbled for her phone.Panic swirled in the room as Ralph clutched his chest, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.He toppled backwards.âRalph!â Logan caught the old man in time.Within moments, the wail of an ambulance echoed through the quiet neighbourhood.Naomi and Logan hurriedly helped Ralph onto a stretcher, his face strained with agony.The ambulance doors slammed shut, trapping the trio in a suffocating bubble of uncertainty.The ambulance tore through the cityâs arteries, its siren piercing.Inside, the confined space thrummed with urgency.Naomi clung to the edge of her seat, her eyes unblinking as she watched the paramedics work on her husband.Ralph lay supine on the stretcherâhis heart just stopped.The heart monitor emitted a relentless warning beep.Naomiâs hands trembled as she tried to steady herself, the medical jargon exchanged by the paramed
Naomi scoffed, bitterness lacing her tone. âMake things right? Can you bring back the peace we had before you barged in with your promises and complications?âLogan shook his head. âI canât change the past, Naomi, but I can help with the present. Let me take care of Ralphâs medical bills. Itâs the least I can do.âHer expression hardened, and she retorted, âMoney wonât fix the damage youâve caused. Sirena is missing, Ralphâs heart is failing, and our lives are in shambles. Donât pretend you can fix it with a cheque.âHer words were still ringing in his head hours later.Logan stood on the roof, smoking, lost in thought, until his phone rang with an urgency that cut through the air like a serrated blade.He glanced at the caller ID, and a sinking feeling gripped his stomach as he answered.âLogan, what the hell is going on?â Albertâs voice, usually a bastion of calm, resonated with a furious edge. âAlessia called me, all cold and distant, calling me Mr Wilde instead of Grandpa. And she
The Veridian airport bustled with a kinetic energy that only a major transport hub could exude.Travellers weaved through the expansive terminal, navigating a sea of bustling crowds and rolling luggage.The air hummed with the constant murmur of announcements, the clatter of footsteps, and the intermittent symphony of departure gates chiming to life.Alessia, her eyes scanning the digital departure board, stood amidst the organized chaos.The Veridian airport, a sprawling architectural marvel, boasted high ceilings adorned with sleek modern designs.Concourse shops beckoned with an array of luxury goods, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air from the bustling cafes.It had been a long time since she flewâjuggling a job and raising two kids hadnât left a lot of time for the luxury of flying.âHey, I thought that was you.â Someone tapped her on the shoulder.Alessia, startled, turned around to find Vince, a smile playing on his lips.âVince, what are you doing he
The room was cloaked in a muted glow from the bedside lamp, casting a warm light on the framed photographs that adorned the walls.Sirena moved silently, her eyes scanning each corner of her parentsâ room as she began the meticulous search for anything of value.Ralph was still in intensive care, which meant Naomi wouldnât leave his side, giving Sirena the time she needed for a thorough search.Her fingers brushed against the cool surface of a polished wooden dresser, adorned with small trinkets that echoed the laughter of her childhood.A porcelain figurine, a relic from a family vacation, stood alongside a faded picture of her parents and a much younger Sirena.The memories were bittersweet, a reminder of the life she had left behind.As Sirena opened drawers with deliberate care, the soft rustling of papers mixed with the creak of aged furniture.In one drawer, she found a stack of handwritten letters tied together with a ribbon.Memories of birthday wishes, expressions of love, an
Loganâs office at Wilde Enterprises was a haven of order in contrast to the chaos unravelling in his personal life.The sterile hum of fluorescent lights bathed the room as he sifted through paperwork, attempting to find solace in the routine of his professional responsibilities.His phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with Heathâs name.Loganâs heart skipped a beat as he answered the call, the outside world fading away as he focused on the voice at the other end.âHeath,â Logan greeted, his tone carrying the weight of worry.âWe found her,â Heathâs voice crackled through the phone. âShe was at the BuzzBeat office. Got into a bit of a scuffle with Alessia.âLoganâs temples throbbed in response, the news striking him like a physical blow. âAlessia? Is she okay?âThere was a pause on the line, and Logan could almost feel the hesitation in Heathâs response. âAccording to the colleague who filed the police report, sheâs got a couple of scratches, but otherwise, sheâs fine.âRelief washed
The city lights glittered below as Alessia and Vince sat in a trendy rooftop bar in Hamborough, taking in the breathtaking view.The change of scenery had indeed granted Alessia a temporary escape from the complexities of her life back in Veridian.Alessia raised her glass, sipping a colourful cocktail. âHereâs to new beginnings and escaping the chaos,â she said with a half-smile.Vince clinked his glass with hers. âTo new beginnings,â he echoed, a faint smile playing on his lips.As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere became more relaxed.The city buzzed around them, providing a backdrop for a momentary reprieve.Alessia found herself enjoying Vinceâs company, appreciating the unspoken connection they had cultivated over the years.Amidst the clinking of glasses and the distant hum of the city, Alessia sensed an opportunity to share the intricacies of her life.She turned to Vince, her eyes reflecting a mixture of weariness and determination.âYou know, Vince, Loganâs first marriage
The city lights shimmered through the window, casting a soft glow over Alessiaâs hotel room.She sank into the plush armchair, exhaling a weariness that settled deep into her bones.The day had been a whirlwind of interviews and deadlines, leaving her both physically and mentally drained.With a flick of her wrist, she loosened the tight bun that held her long hair, letting it cascade down her shoulders in unruly waves.The laptop on the polished mahogany table beckoned, a testament to the professional demands that consumed her day.Alessia leaned forward, fingers dancing across the keys as she organized her interview notes, a meticulous symphony of clicks and clacks.She paused, her gaze shifting to the phone by her side.Two missed calls from an unknown number flashed on the screen, and her heart skipped a beat.For a moment, hope surged through herâperhaps it was Logan.But as she listened to the voicemail, disappointment settled in.It was merely a wrong number, a mundane interrup
With the briefcase in hand, Logan left the office and got in his car.He did not involve Terence; the meeting could be dangerous.Besides, he had backup.Logan raced through the city streets, weaving through traffic with a desperate determination.The clock was ticking, and the warehouse loomed ahead like a dark, ominous secret.As he approached the entrance, the flickering neon lights buzzed overhead, casting eerie shadows on the crumbling walls.Logan stepped into the darkness, the echoes of his footsteps the only sound in the desolate space.A figure emerged from the shadows, wearing a hooded jacket to conceal their identity.Loganâs pulse quickened, his senses on high alert.âI brought the money, now show me Sirena,â he demanded, his voice steady but edged with a simmering rage.The figure chuckled, the sound echoing eerily through the cavernous space. âImpatient, arenât we?âHe pulled out a phone from his pocket.With a swift motion, he tapped the screen, and a small screen on th
The city lights glittered below as Alessia and Vince sat in a trendy rooftop bar in Hamborough, taking in the breathtaking view.The change of scenery had indeed granted Alessia a temporary escape from the complexities of her life back in Veridian.Alessia raised her glass, sipping a colourful cocktail. âHereâs to new beginnings and escaping the chaos,â she said with a half-smile.Vince clinked his glass with hers. âTo new beginnings,â he echoed, a faint smile playing on his lips.As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere became more relaxed.The city buzzed around them, providing a backdrop for a momentary reprieve.Alessia found herself enjoying Vinceâs company, appreciating the unspoken connection they had cultivated over the years.Amidst the clinking of glasses and the distant hum of the city, Alessia sensed an opportunity to share the intricacies of her life.She turned to Vince, her eyes reflecting a mixture of weariness and determination.âYou know, Vince, Loganâs first marriage
Loganâs office at Wilde Enterprises was a haven of order in contrast to the chaos unravelling in his personal life.The sterile hum of fluorescent lights bathed the room as he sifted through paperwork, attempting to find solace in the routine of his professional responsibilities.His phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with Heathâs name.Loganâs heart skipped a beat as he answered the call, the outside world fading away as he focused on the voice at the other end.âHeath,â Logan greeted, his tone carrying the weight of worry.âWe found her,â Heathâs voice crackled through the phone. âShe was at the BuzzBeat office. Got into a bit of a scuffle with Alessia.âLoganâs temples throbbed in response, the news striking him like a physical blow. âAlessia? Is she okay?âThere was a pause on the line, and Logan could almost feel the hesitation in Heathâs response. âAccording to the colleague who filed the police report, sheâs got a couple of scratches, but otherwise, sheâs fine.âRelief washed
The room was cloaked in a muted glow from the bedside lamp, casting a warm light on the framed photographs that adorned the walls.Sirena moved silently, her eyes scanning each corner of her parentsâ room as she began the meticulous search for anything of value.Ralph was still in intensive care, which meant Naomi wouldnât leave his side, giving Sirena the time she needed for a thorough search.Her fingers brushed against the cool surface of a polished wooden dresser, adorned with small trinkets that echoed the laughter of her childhood.A porcelain figurine, a relic from a family vacation, stood alongside a faded picture of her parents and a much younger Sirena.The memories were bittersweet, a reminder of the life she had left behind.As Sirena opened drawers with deliberate care, the soft rustling of papers mixed with the creak of aged furniture.In one drawer, she found a stack of handwritten letters tied together with a ribbon.Memories of birthday wishes, expressions of love, an
The Veridian airport bustled with a kinetic energy that only a major transport hub could exude.Travellers weaved through the expansive terminal, navigating a sea of bustling crowds and rolling luggage.The air hummed with the constant murmur of announcements, the clatter of footsteps, and the intermittent symphony of departure gates chiming to life.Alessia, her eyes scanning the digital departure board, stood amidst the organized chaos.The Veridian airport, a sprawling architectural marvel, boasted high ceilings adorned with sleek modern designs.Concourse shops beckoned with an array of luxury goods, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air from the bustling cafes.It had been a long time since she flewâjuggling a job and raising two kids hadnât left a lot of time for the luxury of flying.âHey, I thought that was you.â Someone tapped her on the shoulder.Alessia, startled, turned around to find Vince, a smile playing on his lips.âVince, what are you doing he
Naomi scoffed, bitterness lacing her tone. âMake things right? Can you bring back the peace we had before you barged in with your promises and complications?âLogan shook his head. âI canât change the past, Naomi, but I can help with the present. Let me take care of Ralphâs medical bills. Itâs the least I can do.âHer expression hardened, and she retorted, âMoney wonât fix the damage youâve caused. Sirena is missing, Ralphâs heart is failing, and our lives are in shambles. Donât pretend you can fix it with a cheque.âHer words were still ringing in his head hours later.Logan stood on the roof, smoking, lost in thought, until his phone rang with an urgency that cut through the air like a serrated blade.He glanced at the caller ID, and a sinking feeling gripped his stomach as he answered.âLogan, what the hell is going on?â Albertâs voice, usually a bastion of calm, resonated with a furious edge. âAlessia called me, all cold and distant, calling me Mr Wilde instead of Grandpa. And she
âRalph! Naomi, call an ambulance!â Loganâs urgency cut through the stunned silence, and Naomi, her face pale with shock, fumbled for her phone.Panic swirled in the room as Ralph clutched his chest, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.He toppled backwards.âRalph!â Logan caught the old man in time.Within moments, the wail of an ambulance echoed through the quiet neighbourhood.Naomi and Logan hurriedly helped Ralph onto a stretcher, his face strained with agony.The ambulance doors slammed shut, trapping the trio in a suffocating bubble of uncertainty.The ambulance tore through the cityâs arteries, its siren piercing.Inside, the confined space thrummed with urgency.Naomi clung to the edge of her seat, her eyes unblinking as she watched the paramedics work on her husband.Ralph lay supine on the stretcherâhis heart just stopped.The heart monitor emitted a relentless warning beep.Naomiâs hands trembled as she tried to steady herself, the medical jargon exchanged by the paramed
Naomi stirred the simmering chicken soup, the aroma filling the kitchen with warmth.She glanced at Ralph, who was grabbing his keys.âReady to head to the hospital?â he asked.âAbsolutely,â Naomi replied, wiping her hands on her apron. âHand me the thermos.âThey were only allowed to visit Sirena once each day, the visit lasting no longer than half an hour.The doctor explained that the restricted visits were important to establish routine in Sirenaâs life.As they prepared to leave, they heard a knock on the door.Surprised, they exchanged a puzzled glance before opening the door.Standing on their doorstep was Logan. âCan we talk?âNaomi and Ralph exchanged a wary look but nodded, allowing him inside.Logan took a deep breath, eyeing them both. âIâm sure you know why Iâm here. I need Sirena to sign those divorce papers.âIt had been almost three days since Sirenaâs hospitalisation, and Logan had waited long enough.Naomiâs lips trembled. âLogan, we canât believe youâve moved on so