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DEFIANCE

Penulis: Wummie
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-19 10:17:07

ROWAN’S POV

I stood frozen at the doorway, my hand still gripping the knob, as though my body needed the reassurance that I could turn back time and walk away if I wished.

But my eyes… my eyes refused to look anywhere else except the scene before me.

Piper.

Her laugh cut through the air like a melody I hadn’t heard in forever. It wasn’t the polite chuckle she gave me when I said something dry, nor the reluctant giggle she sometimes let slip when I caught her off guard.

No, this was full-bodied—warm, alive, as though she had momentarily forgotten all the weight pressing down on us.

And sitting across from her was my father. Ruben Archer. Glass of wine in hand, suit jacket slung lazily over the back of the chair like he owned not just the house but the entire atmosphere.

My chest tightened. Piper looked… comfortable. Too comfortable.

“Here you are, son!” my father boomed, rising just slightly in his chair to acknowledge me. “Piper and I were discussing the board show we went to. It wa
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  • Ties That Bind   Finale

    PIPER’S POVMy phone buzzed early that morning.It was a message from Dad.“Family meeting today. Very important. You and Rowan should come. 2 PM.I frowned. That sounded serious.I showed it to Rowan. “Dad says it’s urgent. We need to be there.”He looked up from his laptop. “At your father’s house?”“Yes,” I said quietly. “It’s for the whole family.”He nodded. “Alright, we’ll go.”But, as usual, we ran late. Rowan had a quick meeting, and by the time we left the house, it was already 2:30 PM.When we arrived, it was almost 3 PM.I didn’t expect what I saw when we walked into the room.Everyone was already seated .. Dad, Lucia, and… my mother. She sat stiffly at the end of the table, avoiding my eyes.The air was tense. No one spoke.Rowan pulled out a chair for me, and we sat down. I kept staring at my mother. She looked pale, nervous, and tired.Dad cleared his throat. “Now that everyone is here,” he said in a low voice, “your mother has something to say.”I looked at him, confuse

  • Ties That Bind   Semi finale

    THAMES’ POVIt had been a quiet day. I spent most of it with Lucia and her baby. She looked tired but peaceful. When she went inside to rest, I sat alone in the garden thinking.For some reason, my mind went to Lia. It had been a while since we talked properly. After everything that happened, I knew it was time to know if I should end things between us once and for all. I needed peace in my heart.I stood up, got my car keys, and drove to her apartment.The road was silent, and by the time I parked outside, I noticed the whole building seemed empty. I walked quietly to her door and realized it wasn’t locked.That was strange. Lia always locked her door.I pushed it open gently.“Lia?” I called.No answer.The house was too quiet. My chest felt heavy as I moved further inside. The TV was off. A half-finished drink sat on the table. Everything looked normal …too normal.Then, I heard a sound. A laugh. A man’s laugh .. coming from the bedroom.I froze for a moment. Then I walked slowly t

  • Ties That Bind   New start

    ROWAN’S POVI was tired when I finally drove into the compound that evening. It had been a long day at work…meetings, phone calls, and endless files. All I wanted was to take a shower, maybe eat something light, and rest my head.But the moment I opened the door and stepped inside, a soft smell hit my nose…something sweet and warm. Garlic, butter, maybe seafood. The house smelled like home, like peace.I stopped in the hallway and inhaled deeply, my eyes moving around slowly. There were faint lights glowing from the dining area, soft and golden, and the sound of slow music playing in the background.“Piper?” I called out quietly.No answer.I dropped my briefcase and took a few steps forward. Then I saw her.She stood by the dining table, her back slightly turned as she adjusted the candles. My breath caught for a moment. She was wearing a silk lingerie dress, light cream in color, hugging her body perfectly. Her hair was loose, falling over her shoulders, glowing under the dim light.

  • Ties That Bind   Arrival

    PIPER’S POVThe first thing I felt when I opened my eyes that morning was nausea. My stomach turned so sharply that I had to sit up quickly and press a hand over my mouth. I thought maybe it was something I ate last night, but as I stood and tried to move toward the bathroom, the feeling got worse.After a few minutes, I managed to rinse my mouth and make myself a cup of hot coffee. But the moment I brought it close, the smell made me feel sick again. I pushed it away with a groan and leaned against the counter.What’s wrong with me? I thought, frowning.I decided to go downstairs to clear my head. Rowan was already at the dining table, dressed neatly for work, sipping his coffee and scrolling through his phone. He looked up when he saw me.“Morning,” he said simply.“Morning,” I replied softly, trying to smile.He studied me for a moment. “You look pale. You okay?”“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said quickly. “Just a little tired.”He raised a brow. “Guess you’re not going to work today?”I sho

  • Ties That Bind   Unraveling

    LUCIA’S POVThe hospital was crowded that morning. Mothers holding babies, nurses moving from one room to another, and the soft cries of newborns filled the air. I had come for my baby’s postnatal checkup. Everything had been going fine since the birth, and I was just thankful for peace after everything that had happened in the family.After the nurse finished checking my baby’s temperature, I stepped out into the hallway to wait for the doctor to sign the report. I was about to sit down when I caught sight of someone familiar at the far end of the corridor.It was Lia.She was dressed in dark glasses and a scarf as if trying to hide her face. At first, I thought maybe she was sick, but then I noticed she wasn’t heading toward any doctor’s office. She was walking quickly toward the hospital’s back gate.That’s strange, I thought.Curiosity got the better of me. I picked up my baby, secured her gently in her stroller, and slowly followed Lia from a distance. The hospital’s back area wa

  • Ties That Bind   Sickness

    ROWAN’S POVThe sound of pans clanging in the restaurant kitchen filled the air. I was trying to distract myself with work, chopping vegetables, stirring sauces, checking orders…but my mind was far from calm. After what had happened with my father, I’d been restless all day. Cooking was the only thing keeping me from exploding.My phone started buzzing on the counter. I wiped my hands on a towel and checked the caller ID. It was Lia.I frowned. What does she want now?For a moment, I thought about ignoring it, but something inside me said to pick up. Maybe it was pity, or maybe just curiosity. I pressed the green button and brought the phone to my ear.“Hello, Lia,” I said quietly.Her voice came through weak and trembling. “Rowan… I—I’m sorry to disturb you. I know you probably don’t want to hear from me after everything.”I sighed softly, leaning against the counter. “What’s going on, Lia? You don’t sound fine.”She gave a small shaky laugh that turned into a cough. “I’m… not fine,

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