Masuk(Alex’s POV)The room felt heavy, every corner thick with silence as Vanessa’s words settled between us. I gripped the divorce papers in my hands, my knuckles turning white. My chest felt tight, and my heart pounded with a mix of fear, anger, and disbelief.“Vanessa,” I said slowly, my voice barely above a whisper, “what exactly are you trying to tell me?”She looked down, her fingers twisting nervously. The confident woman I once knew seemed gone, replaced by someone fragile, burdened with a secret too heavy to carry. Tears streaked down her cheeks, and yet, even in her vulnerability, there was something she was still hiding.I had loved her once.No… I still did, somewhere deep in my heart that refused to forget.I loved the way she smiled, the way her voice could calm me after a long day, the small habits that had made our house feel like a home. But now, after everything I had discovered, that love was mixed with betrayal and pain.Vanessa slowly lifted her gaze.“Alex… I never me
(Alex’s POV)It had been a week since I left my house.A week since everything in my life suddenly turned upside down.So many things had happened within those few days that sometimes it felt difficult to believe they were real. The betrayal, the attack, the kidnapping, the police investigation—each event had left its own mark on me.But in the middle of everything, one thought kept returning to my mind again and again.Vanessa.My wife.Or perhaps the woman who used to be my wife.I wasn’t even sure what she was to me anymore.For the past week, I had been staying at my sister’s place with Ariana. After the kidnapping incident, it felt safer to stay together until things settled down. My sister had insisted that we remain there for a while, and honestly, I didn’t argue.But despite the safety of the house, my mind kept wandering back to my own home.To Vanessa.I didn’t know what condition she was in.I didn’t know if she had tried to contact me.And since my phone had been destroyed
(Ariana’s POV)The moment the police officers stepped into the house, the atmosphere in the room immediately changed. Their presence alone carried a sense of seriousness that made my heart uneasy.Alex and I exchanged a quick glance before turning our attention back to them.One of the officers stepped forward. He appeared to be the senior officer among them. His posture was straight, and his voice carried authority.“Good evening,” he said politely.“Good evening, officer,” Alex replied.The officer nodded slightly.“We apologize for coming at this hour. However, we have a few questions to ask you, and we also have some important information to pass across.”The way he spoke made it clear that this matter had already become more serious than we had imagined.At that moment, I knew something for certain.This case had gone far beyond what we could handle on our own.“Please have a seat,” I said politely, pointing toward the couch.The officers thanked us and sat down while Alex and I
(Ariana’s POV)Sometimes guilt feels heavier than any physical pain.Ever since Lucas escaped, my mind had refused to rest. Every moment of that terrible night kept replaying in my head like a nightmare I could not wake up from. The fear, the tension, and most of all the pain Alex went through because of me.If it wasn’t for me, Alex would never have faced such danger.Because of me, he had been kidnapped.Because of me, he had been beaten and tortured.Because of me, he had placed his life on the line.Even before that night, Alex had already sacrificed too much.He barely had time for himself anymore.He barely had time for his family.He barely even had time for his company.Most of the work in his company was now being handled by his staff while he spent his days trying to protect me and uncover the truth about Lucas.Thinking about it made my chest tighten painfully.What would have happened to him if I had not arrived with the police on time?That thought alone made my body trem
Smoke and EscapeAriana’s POVThe flashing red and blue lights painted the night in restless colors.Police cars surrounded the abandoned warehouse from every direction. Officers moved quickly, positioning themselves behind their vehicles, guns ready, eyes fixed on the large metal doors.I stood a few steps behind them, my hands trembling so badly that I had to clasp them together to stop the shaking.The cold night air brushed against my skin, but I barely felt it.All I could think about was one thing.Alex was inside.Somewhere beyond those walls.Alive… or maybe already—I quickly pushed the thought away.“No,” I whispered to myself. “He’s alive.”He had to be.A police officer near me spoke into his radio while another held a megaphone toward the building.“THIS IS THE POLICE!” the voice echoed loudly across the empty area.“EVERYONE INSIDE THE BUILDING—PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!”The sound bounced off the warehouse walls and disappeared into the dark
(Alex’s POV)Most times, betrayal really hurts.But what hurts the most is not the action itself.It is the trust that was broken.The trust you gave freely.The trust you believed would never be used against you.As I sat there on the cold floor, my hands and legs tied tightly with ropes, that painful truth kept repeating in my mind.I had trusted Lawyer Frank with everything.Not just my legal plans.Not just the documents.But the truth.The truth about Lucas.The truth about Ariana.And the promise I made to help her fight for what was rightfully hers.Now that trust had become my greatest mistake.I slowly lifted my eyes toward Frank.He stood beside Lucas as if nothing had happened.As if he had not destroyed every bit of trust I once had in him.My chest felt heavy.“How long?” I asked quietly.Neither of them answered immediately.“How long have you been working with him?” I repeated, this time looking directly at Frank.He sighed slightly, like a man tired of hearing a questi







