บททั้งหมดของ ALMS TO LOVE: บทที่ 41 - บทที่ 50

Her phone vibrated repeatedly on the table in front of her, and she woke up from her dream. She picked it up hastily, pounding frantically a single beat as she saw the name lighting on the screen: Candy."Hey, sweetie," Marie called out, taking on the voice of her daughter."Mom, I need to talk to you?" Candy's voice was little and uncertain. There was something in the way she said it that immediately bristled Marie's motherly hackles."Okay, what is it?" Marie's voice relaxed, tension now creeping into every word."These children at school—they are talking about Fiona and Uncle Charles. They say, they say that they are getting married to each other. They heard it on television. Who is Fiona's mum? I don't know her. I supposed you and Uncle Charles to be friends?"Marie's heart hardened, anger and frustration welling up in her. Candy was a child, but the innocence of this sleazy adult life made it all the more true."Is that so?" Marie said, still remote. "And what do you think of tha

The line dropped dead, but Marie held the phone against her ear long after the call had finished, her gaze unfocused, her heartbeat leveling into something cold and hard. Charles was bewildered, conflicted—and bewilderment was fertile ground. She didn't have to hurry. No, what she had to do now was be patient. Be precise. Fiona Generys may have gotten his attention for the time being, but she had no notion of what she was competing with.Marie rose from the soft velvet armchair, strayed to the darkened room, and opened the curtains. The skyline of London sparkled before her, taunting her self-control. The allure of power. The temptation of heritage. It had been hers once. Should have remained hers forever. And if Fiona believed this was some kind of fairy tale where goodness and love would conquer—She didn't have a clue what type of tale she'd just entered.A gentle voice broke the quiet."Mom?"Marie turned to see Candy in the hall, arms around a fuzzy bunny, sleepy eyes and bewilde

The following morningINT. BILLION ENTERPRISES – LOBBY – MORNINGFiona Degenerys gripped the two envelopes firmly against her chest, setting her jaw as she reached the front desk of Billion Enterprises. The gleaming marble floors resonated beneath her heels, but her grip on sanity seemed to be unraveling.Behind the receptionist's desk, a young woman looked up with a trained corporate smile."Good morning, welcome to Billion Enterprises. Do you have an appointment?"Fiona took a deep breath. "No. But I must speak with Mr. Charles Billion. Let him know it's Miss Degenerys. He'll know what it's about."She paused as she examined her—frayed eyes, clenched hands, desperation tightly wrapped just under her well-maintained demeanor."Just a minute, ma'am." The receptionist snatched up the phone and dialed hastily. "Yes, Mr. Billion's office? A Miss Fiona Degenerys is here—she insists it's urgent."There was a pause, then a noticeable change in the receptionist's expression. She looked up, t

Dawn.The Manila skyline had not yet drawn back its veil of morning light and smog, but the car was already in motion—black, bulletproof, as silent as guilt on wheels.Fiona was in the back seat next to Charles, the third envelope—ORIGIN—still unopened on her lap. Her fingers followed the edge as if it would sear her if opened too quickly.They did not say a word.Outside, the city flickered to life in pieces—vendors peddling from carts, jeepneys blaring through puddles of yesterday's rain, a child barefoot chasing a dog down the street.But in the car, it was quiet. Tense.Until Charles at last spoke, "I ran from Vienna. Left people behind. Deals that saved my company but cost others their lives. I told myself I was protecting my family. But now I think—" he turned to her,"—whatever I ran from… it followed me. And it found you."Fiona swallowed. "And Liza."Charles's jaw clenched. "That child is more than a niece to you. You know that now, don't you?"I don't know anything anymore,"

The letter on the table fluttered softly from the breeze its seal now breaking, its threat revealing itself.The flames danced in the firelight with golden tongues, projecting shadows that capered behind Marie like specters awaiting summoning.She did not stir.Not until the soft voice pierced the crackling quiet."Mommy… why are you smiling?"Marie slowly turned.Candy, her little daughter who was seven years old, stood barefoot at the edge of the study wrapped in a blanket, her eyes wide and her expression innocent too innocent for this room, for this woman.Marie's smile stayed, but it softened, subtly, almost automatically. She went down to Candy's level."Did I wake you?" she asked softly, pushing back the golden curls from the child's face.Candy shook her head, blinking. "You're smiling like you do when you say you win."Marie's fingers froze.The fire snapped.She released a soft breath, then looked beyond her daughter to the letter behind her, the broken seal, the war she had