All Chapters of Ripples And Hills: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

Alexa (Prudence)Tuesday, September 9th. Three days later…New York.Noon.I rush into the house, new tablet clutched in my hand, heart pounding. I’m awfully late. My insides are already churning with frustration, nothing is going right today.First, I burned my wrist this morning while cooking breakfast for Martha and me. The maid had called in sick, and I told her to take a few days to recover, which meant we handled the chores ourselves. Not that it’s new after all we did everything ourselves back in Corte, except the outdoor work. But here, in the polished facade of my old New York life, it’s practically scandalous for someone like say Helia, to see me scrubbing dishes. Then my old tablet slipped from my hand on the balcony and crashed onto the sidewalk below. All my work for Hills Fusion gone in seconds. Most of my new sketches hadn’t been backed up. I’d bolted downstairs only to find the screen in shards, my day already in ruins.From there, it was a frantic run to the store fo

Pier.Later…Night.“Thanks, Jace.” I manage a weak smile as Jace hands me a mug of coffee.“It’s no problem, bro.” He sits opposite me on the terrace, the night cold and still. I’ve got a Mets hoodie pulled tight against the chill.“Want to watch the game in the boys’ room?” He asks, breaking my quiet focus on the star streaked sky.I shake my head, eyes drifting back upward. Silence stretches, comfortable, familiar.“Thanks for putting up with me tonight,” I say finally. “And tell Eve I’m grateful.”“You’re family, Pier.” Jace gives me a warm smile.I couldn’t stay in my New York apartment. Every corner there would flash her face at me. Every turn would take me back to the night I chose family over us.“So… your girlfriend broke up with you because you didn’t believe her about something?” Jace asks casually.I blink, remembering the story I’d fed him to protect Alexa’s secret from her family, because they still don’t know she’s alive. “Yeah. Something like that.” I sip the coffee, b

Alexa (Prudence)October 10th. A month later…Morning.“Ahh…” Hulio collapses into his wheelchair, defeated. Pain twists his face as he sits there. Panting hard, eyes shut tight, fingers gripping the armrests like they’re the only things keeping him tethered.“Come on, Mr. Ripples. One more walk outside with the walker, and we’re done for the day,” Nurse Stephan urges, voice firm.Behind him, Nurse Eshio holds the walker ready. I’m sitting on the stone bench nearby, his water bottle and towel in my hands, my heart aching for him.This has been his routine for weeks. Morning walks, muscle training, pushing until the pain takes over. Some days, he powers through. Days like this, he looks like he’s ready to give up. Usually I’d step in, offer words of encouragement, get him moving again. Today I just watch.Movement catches my eye. Across the driveway, Helia stands beside his car, dressed for work. Watching me with that unreadable expression I’ve grown used to.This has been us for days

Hulio.Night.My eyes drag open, heavy. The room sharpens into view. The same room I’ve been in for days. Displeasure churns low in me. For a moment, I thought I’d ended it, one clean slice of the blade, and silence. But here I am. Alive. Still broken. Still this.My gaze falls on Prudence. She’s curled on the sofa, a blanket half-slipped off her. Something flickers inside me, warmth. She’s still here. Watching over me like some stubborn angel, even at this hour. Even in my darkest moment. The clock reads eleven. But I shove the feeling away. Warmth has no place in me.I reach for my phone, needing distraction. Instead, my arm knocks over a cup. It crashes to the floor, shattering.Her head snaps up. Alarm fills her face.“Hulio… you’re awake,” she stutters, then scrambles up, moving quickly to the mess.“Did you need water?” She asks, her voice rushed, concerned.I shake my head, lean back against the pillow. Guilt pricks me for waking her. She disappears and returns with a broom and

Scarlett.I stare at Elviira, gauging her expression. My heart pounds in my chest, a wild mix of nerves and excitement. She looks stunned. Her eyes flick between me and Erwin. I wait anxiously for her to say something. Anything. But seconds stretch, and nothing comes.I think back to the drive here. I was tense, chewing on my lip. Erwin noticed instantly. He ended his business call just to take my hand‘What are you scared about?’ He asked, his voice low, his thumb stroking my skin.I had glanced at him, hesitant. ‘What they will say… I’m a widow, Erwin. And a mother. I’m supposed to live an exemplary life.’ I forced a smile that felt like a mask.He leaned in, lips brushing that sweet spot on my neck. I melted against him.‘You’re a woman first, My Love,’ he whispered. ‘Before all those things. And as a woman, you deserve the best. You’ve suffered long enough… the deaths, the breakdown. You deserve happiness.’ His smile had undone me then, left me defenseless.By the time we reach