All Chapters of CONTACT OF HEARTS: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Leo stirred on the couch, his eyes fluttering open as the clattering sounds from the kitchen roused him from his drunken slumber. He groaned, rubbing his head as he tried to shake off the haze of alcohol. The harsh light filtering through the curtains made him wince, and the sour taste of vomit lingered in his mouth.“What’s with all these noises this early morning?” Leo bellowed, his voice gruff and filled with irritation. In the kitchen, Daphne froze for a split second, her heart skipping a beat. She could feel the tension from last night still hanging in the air, thick and suffocating. But she quickly composed herself, forcing a calmness she didn’t feel. She had learned to navigate Leo’s moods, to say the right things to avoid triggering his anger.“Just making breakfast, Leo,” Daphne called back, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. The smirk wasn’t out of joy, but a bitter acknowledgment of the absurdity of it all . After everything that had happened the night before, she

Daphne arrived at the firm early, ready to start her day. The 40-minute drive from her home was a huge advantage, sparing her from long hours on a crowded bus and the extra expenses of commuting. Although her job as a janitor wasn't glamorous, she was grateful for the opportunity."Here goes nothing," Daphne muttered to herself as she got ready to begin. Work started immediately, and she was handed the tools she needed to make the job easier: a mop, bucket, broom, dustpan, cleaning cloths, disinfectants, and a vacuum cleaner. She also received gloves, cleaning sprays, trash bags, and even a floor buffer for the larger areas. Despite the challenges, she was determined to do her best.She started with the lobby, making sure to sweep and mop thoroughly. It was quiet, but soon, the hum of office workers arriving began to fill the air. As she moved into the hallway, she overheard snippets of conversations,reports being discussed, deals being closed. She kept her head down, though, focused o

The sound of the echocardiogram machine filled the hospital room, rhythmic beeps punctuating the heavy silence. Daphne struggled to open her eyes, her eyelids feeling impossibly heavy. As she blinked, the bright light streaming through the hospital's windows assaulted her senses, making her wince. Everything felt surreal,her body was sore, her mind disoriented, and the sterile smell of antiseptic stung her nose.Slowly, the memories of the night before came flooding back,the fight with Leo, being thrown out, the pain in her stomach. Panic seized her chest, and her hand instinctively flew to her belly. Her fingers pressed against the soft curve, desperate for some sign, some reassurance.A voice broke through her confusion. "You're awake," a calm but concerned voice said from beside her. Daphne turned her head slowly, squinting through the harsh light to see a nurse standing at her bedside, clipboard in hand. "You've been through quite an ordeal."Her heart raced. “My baby,” Daphne whis

Daphne sat on the edge of a curb, the late afternoon sun pressing gently against her skin. The world bustled around her cars moving, people chattering, lives continuing as if hers hadn’t just crumbled into pieces. Her phone rested in her palm, screen dim, still displaying the message:“Let me help you.”She hadn't replied. Not right away. She didn’t know if she could trust a stranger,especially now. But the truth was, she had no one else. Stella hadn’t answered. Her job was gone. Joe… she never wanted to say his name again.Her thumb hovered, then tapped out a reply.“Where can I meet you?”The response came within seconds.But before she could read the text, her phone started buzzing.. It was Joe, She thought of picking up but that was the last thing she needed, she was certain that he has nothing to spew but bullshit and she was not ready for that.“Stay where you are. I’ll come to you.” She finally clicked on the anonymous message Daphne’s heart pounded. She glanced around the str