CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: ON THE OTHER SIDE

Damien’s POVTHREE WEEKS LATEROur bedroom still smells like antiseptic.I wake in the chair beside the bed with a jolt, my spine is stiff and my neck is aching. The monitors are still humming steadily. Green lines rise and fall like they’ve done every minute for the last twenty-one days.But at least she’s still here.That thought alone makes my chest tighten because she could have died.I lean forward with my elbows on my knees. Her lashes rest against her cheeks, her lips are slightly parted, a faint bruise still shadowing her temple where the impact happened.I can't believe I almost lost her again.I reach out and take her hand. Atleast, it’s warmer now. Dr. Denver’s voice echoes in my head.Post-hypoxic coma. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Her brain was deprived of oxygen.I brush my thumb over her knuckles. “You scared the hell out of me,” I murmur softly. “I know you’d probably roll your eyes if you could hear me saying that.”My lips twitch, but I can't make myself smile.“I

Last Updated : 2025-12-22

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: ALWAYS THE RIGHT HAND

Damien’s POVThe old warehouse seats at the edge of the docks. We fan out immediately.Silas taps twice against his helmet.“Thermal shows movement below us,” he murmurs. “Multiple heat signatures.”Bruno cracks his knuckles softly. “How many?”“Hard to say. Twenty. Maybe more.”I adjust my grip on my weapon, my eyes scanning the dark interior.“Entry on my mark,” I say quietly.Rhea’s lips curve faintly. “Sure, boss.”I lift my fist.Then drop it.And then we move in like smoke.The moment they notice us, shouting erupts immediately.“What the—!”“CONTACT—!”Gunfire explodes across the room. Muzzle flashes strobe against concrete pillars. Men scatter in different directions, boots skidding, bodies colliding.I move through the chaos, my mind eerily clear. One man lunges at me with a knife. I sidestep, and slam my elbow into his throat.He drops without a sound.Another raises his weapon—Bruno takes him out with a single brutal punch that sends the guy sprawling like a ragdoll.“GO—

Last Updated : 2025-12-22

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE: GOODBYE

Eden’s POVMommy’s hand feels warm today.That’s the first thing I notice when I slip my fingers into hers. It's not cold like before.I climb onto the chair, careful not to shake her bed. Dad always tells me to be careful, so I am. I swing my legs slowly and lean forward until my chin almost touches the mattress.Her chest goes up and down. Up. Down. Like she’s sleeping.“Daddy says you’re just resting,” I tell her quietly. “He says your brain needed a break. I think that sounds fair. Grown-ups never rest enough.”I squeeze her fingers gently.“If I was you, I’d sleep too.”The room smells funny. Like medicine. I’ll ask Dad if we can open the windows. Mommy would like fresh air. I lean closer, lowering my voice even though she can’t hear me.“I know you’re gonna be okay,” I say. “But,I miss you, mommy.”I brush my thumb over the back of her hand, copying the way Dad does it.“I told Dad not to be scared,” I whisper. Her face looks peaceful. “We'll wait for you to get better,” I te

Last Updated : 2025-12-23

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: WHERE NIGHTMARES LIVE

Heaven’s POVI want to go home.The thought circles my mind like a broken record, repeating so often it’s worn thin.I don’t know where here is exactly—only that it’s quiet. I’ve been stuck here for weeks.At first, I thought I was just dreaming. But... this is no dream. It's more of a nightmare.I keep reliving the same cruel scene. Over and over again.>>>>>>>>The bathroom is cold.I’m sitting in the cubicle, my feet barely touching the floor, my hands are clenched so tightly in my lap that my nails bite into my skin. I can hear both of them clearly.“Did you see how ugly and thin she looked?”“She was always such a bitch. I always knew Damien would get bored of the poor slut.”Their laughter bounces off the tiled walls carelessly, like they’re not tearing someone apart with every syllable.I tell myself not to cry. I tell myself they’re wrong. I tell myself Damien loves me.But I know that's not true.My chest hurts, and my throat burns, and I can’t stop the tears from spilling

Last Updated : 2025-12-24

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: NO PLACE LEFT TO HIDE

The rain came down in cold, relentless sheets, drumming against the brim of the man’s soaked coat as he stood half-hidden in the mouth of the alley. He pulled the burner phone from his coat pocket, thumbed the only number saved in it, and pressed it to his ear.It rang twice.“Yeah?” The voice on the other end was low, gravelly, and already impatient.The man in the shadows swallowed once, licked rainwater off his lips. “Boss. It’s me.”“Talk.”“Felix is dead.”There was a beat of silence. Then something broke on the other side of the line—glass shattering against a wall, followed by a snarled curse.“How is he dead!?” the boss demanded.“Damien found him.”The boss exhaled through his teeth furiously. “Fuck, I shouldn't have underestimated him. Do you know what this means for us?”“I know, Boss.”“You don’t know shit.” The voice dropped lower, venomous. The man in the rain shifted his weight, water sluicing off the collar of his coat. “Listen to me carefully,” the boss said. “I wa

Last Updated : 2025-12-26

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: NO TIME TO HEAL

Damien's POVI learned early that the things you love most are the things you're most likely to lose. I really really don't want to lose Heaven.The bedroom is quiet except for the soft patter of rain against the window and the low hum of the heater kicking on downstairs.Heaven lies on her side, facing away from me, her arms curled loosely against her chest. The bedside lamp casts a warm gold pool across her shoulder, catching the faint freckles that dust her collarbone like scattered stars.Even now, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.I don’t deserve this view. I know that. But I can’t look away.I kick my shoes off quietly and peel out of my soaked shirt and jeans, leaving them in a heap by the dresser. I’m still clammy with sweat and whiskey, but I don’t care. I need to take care of her first.I slip into the en-suite bathroom, flick on the light just enough to see. The basin is one of those wide porcelain things the designer had put—I fill it halfway with warm water,