Lahat ng Kabanata ng SECRETS OF THE HEART : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

The faint light of the afternoon seeped in through the blinds, casting a mild glow over his rugged features. He lay still, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as he got lost in thoughts of her.The soft kisses, warm hugs, and infectious laughter still swirled in his head. Her inviting scent, a subtle blend of jasmine and olive, still lingered in his memory. For a moment, he took a deep breath in, hoping to get even a whiff of her again. But was disappointed when the smell of tequila greeted him.He recalled the way her rosy lips would curve into a beautiful smile whenever he teased her. The way her lovely voice always drew him in when she spoke and her eyes?...."Ughh," he groaned as he pressed his hands on his face.How could he have been so stupid? Time seemed to fade away as he relived every moment they'd shared—from the first night they'd met to the last time he was in her house. His chest constricted, emotions spiralling like a maelstrom. Guilt, loyalty and longing intertwined, making

The Sunday morning sunlight that poured in through the windows highlighted the dark circles under her eyes. Luna sat alone at a small table in the corner of the coffee shop, slowly drinking a hot cup of the beverage as she stared blankly into the distance. She'd barely gotten a good sleep in days and it was all thanks to Luke.The events of the past few weeks replayed in her head like a broken record stuck on repeat. Luke's betrayal, his insistent apology and his actions in saving her from the two men. A part of her hoped he was okay, but another part of her told her she was crazy for caring.Why should she care? Who knows if he orchestrated the whole thing just to convince her of his 'sincerity'? The memory of George's manipulation, using Vanessa to run her over with a car, flashed in her mind. She tightened her grip on the cup as the very thought of Luke being in on it too made her blood boil. She tore her gaze from the wall and looked around the coffee shop, taking in the laught

"Another whiskey, please," she requested, her voice barely above a whisper.The bartender, a middle-aged man who seemed kind, nodded and poured her another shot. Luna picked up the small glass and tossed the liquid into her mouth, feeling the familiar burn down her throat. She closed her eyes and let the numbness that usually came afterwards wash over her.It was late and the bar was almost empty except for a few people like herself who had come to either forget their sorrows or just engage in some fun. The air reeked of unwashed bodies, stale alcohol and the choking scent of cheap perfumes. Cigarette smoke hung thick and heavy in the air, burning her eyes and making it a bit difficult to see. But Luna didn't mind at all, heck! She barely even noticed. The dreary atmosphere of the bar perfectly mirrored her mood – dark, gloomy and regretful.Luna had stumbled in there a few hours ago, hoping to drown her sorrows in a couple of shots of whiskey. She had purposefully worn a black hoodi

Luke fidgeted in his seat as he scanned the crowd with a mix of disinterest and annoyance. He didn't want to come to this award ceremony, but the host was a good friend, and he would be disappointed if he didn't show up. Coincidentally, the venue was in Georgia and none of his employees wanted to go through the trouble of travelling down there when he was already in the area.So, here he was, dressed in a tailored tuxedo, pretending to care about the awards being handed out.But his mind was elsewhere. It was with Luna, the woman that had consumed his every waking thought since he met her. He couldn't stop thinking about her—wondering what she was doing, if she was okay, and if she ever thought about him too.The lights on the stage flickered and the host's voice chattered on, but Luke's attention was elsewhere. He shifted in his seat again as he nervously tapped his foot on the floor, his heart still heavy.Weeks had passed since Luna found out about what he did and the rift between

A look of sheer satisfaction was etched on her face as she watched the news report on her phone. She took a lazy sip of the steaming coffee in her hand, her eyes still glued to the screen as the news anchor droned on about the details of the allegations she'd made.As she leaned back in her chair, a mischievous smile danced on her lips. Oh, how she wished she could see the look on George's face when he heard about the news or watched it. She could already picture his hands turning into fists, his eyes bloodshot with rage as he clenched his jaw so tightly, that she feared he might pop a muscle.This was only the beginning. George and Vanessa were yet to be ready for the next series of comebacks she had planned for them. Luna would get back every penny they stole from her. Every drop of tear she had shed because of them and every piece of her heart that got broken because of them, she would make sure they paid dearly for it. And Regina? Well, she let her jealousy for Luna get the bett