LOGINThey arrived at the hospital. Eva stepped out with Donald, her movements tentative and almost hesitant. Jairo stayed in the car, watching them go. She whispered something to Donald, tilting her head and asking a question so softly he had to lean close to hear. Donald bent down, answered, and for a brief moment, she glanced in the direction of the car before entering the hospital lobby.His eyes stayed with them even after the doors had closed. His lips quivering, making him drop his head onto the steering wheel. The tears came, unbidden, burning and relentless. He didn’t bother hiding them. He hated himself so much.How long had his father kept her locked away? How long had she lived in fear and horror while he held another woman in his arms, a woman who looked like her but wasn’t her? He had been blind. Weak. Selfish. And now, he couldn’t breathe for the weight of it.The car engine hummed faintly but he didn’t move. Eventually, he started it and drove. He didn’t know where he was g
Luci stirred with a soft groan, her brows knitting together as a dull ache pulsed through her wrist. The room smelled like antiseptic and clean sheets. The light above her felt too bright.“Oh… you’re awake.” a nervous but gentle voice drifted to her ears.She frowned slightly, slowly opening her eyes and turned her head. A woman stood beside the bed, her face pale, eyes swollen like she had been crying for hours. Luci blinked in confusion, studying the stranger’s face.“Where’s my uncle?” she asked weakly.The woman swallowed. “I was told he went to drop Kara off at the agency. How are you feeling? Do you need anything? Do you need water?”Luci stared at her harder now, uncertainty flickering in her gaze. Who was this woman? Why was she looking at her like that? She also sounded like she was close to Kara.The woman’s eyes glistened again as she kept watching Luci, her lips trembling slightly like she wanted to say something but didn’t know how.Luci tilted her head, studying her pro
“Alright… this one’s heavy.” the first journalist exhaled softly and turned to the camera. “Early this afternoon, authorities confirmed the discovery of multiple deceased bodyguards at a private villa owned by political aspirant Salvatore Vitale. The property sits on the outskirts of the city and has since been sealed by forensic teams. But honestly, the bodies aren’t even the part that’s rattling people the most.”“It’s what happened before the attack.” the second journalist agreed quietly. “A young woman identified as Luciana Vitale placed an emergency call, saying she was being held against her will at the same residence. She managed to describe the villa before the line went dead. Police later confirmed the details matched the location precisely. And then came the claim that shook everyone, she said the person holding her was her own grandfather, Salvatore Vitale, and added Jairo Vitale was her uncle.”The first journalist’s brow creased. “That’s the part that makes your stomach d
Gunfire tore through the silence of the villa before the guards inside even realized they were under attack.The first shots came so suddenly that the air itself seemed to rip apart. Windows rattled violently and the quiet luxury of the villa was shattered in seconds. The guards barely had time to register danger before death met them head-on.The first man fell with a bullet through his throat, his body hitting the marble floor before his scream could fully form. The second barely had time to turn when his head snapped back violently, blood splattering the wall behind him. Panic erupted instantly but it was too late.Jairo and his men moved like a storm unleashed. There was no warning, no negotiation, no pause to assess. His finger kept squeezing the trigger, over and over, his eyes dark and empty of mercy. Every guard he saw went down. Some reached for their guns. Some froze. Some tried to run.None succeeded.Jairo didn’t hear the noise anymore. The screams, the gunfire, the chaos
“We found this!” the guard’s voice cracked sharply through the tensed silence and Salvatore spun around.Luci’s heart slammed against her ribcage when she heard the voice. Even though she was relieved that Salvatore’s attention shifted away from her, fear still clawed at her stomach. The guard was holding up a small, worn notebook and a pen. Across the room, Eva’s body was taut, trembling so violently it was almost audible. Luci watched her and saw that she was shaking already. Salvatore collected the notebook and checked the content, immediately he saw the scribbled words written in it, his whole aura changed.“Where did you get this?” he demanded and Eva shivered. Luci pressed her lips together, trying to steady the panic clawing up her throat. How long had she been trapped in this nightmare? How long had she suffered here alone?“Answer me!” Salvatore barked and Luci saw Eva took two steps back in fear. “I gave it to her.” she said suddenly, her voice cutting through the tension
“Thank you.” Luci said quietly, collecting the textbooks and notebook Kaicus handed her.“Don knows about it. I had to tell him if I wanted to keep my head,” he muttered in a cautious tone.“I understand,” she replied, forcing a small smile. She closed the door and let her back rest against it. The weight of the books pressed into her hands, grounding her but her chest felt tight. She exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself and looked down at the pile she carried.It was late. Night had settled heavily over the villa. She wondered if Eva had been waiting for her note, wondering if she had received it safely or not. She hurried to her bed and began writing, her hands trembling slightly. She wasn't the type that trusted easily but something about Eva gave her hope. The lady had risked sending a note to her through a sanitary pad that spoke of courage and perhaps, loneliness. > Hi, Eva.I’m Luci, currently being locked in a room. Is there a way you can help me? I don’t know if you are







