جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

It was 7:00 am, a little early for most, but not for the workaholic billionaire, Declan Rowe. His office still held the cold from the previous night’s heavy rainfall, and for some reasons, the man refused to shut the windows, allowing the cold morning air to move through the room in slow currents.The silence of the office was broken as the familiar rhythmic sound of the secretary’s heels, kissing softly against the marble floor, disrupted the holy quietness of the office as she walked in. Nora Haines, whose usual composure had developed a crack so thin most people would have missed it stood in front of Declan’s desk. She held a slim manila folder, her fingers lingered a half-second too long on the folder's edge before she released it, placing it noiselessly on the desk without ceremony. She took a step back and straightened her blazer afterward, the way she cleared her throat before speaking exposed the storm brewing beneath her composure."Sir," Nora began, her voice remained neut

The gloomy atmosphere in the Bentley was palpable, following an unsuccessful business deal that morning. Declan sat in the back of the car, his jacket folded across the seat behind him, and his fingers drummed rhythmically on his thigh. Though barely audible, it was the only sound accompanying the silent drive. That morning, he had sacrificed hours of his time for an impromptu meeting with the client which had taken nearly three hours of traveling, only for the meeting to yield what would be reserved in his words as a waste of morning. The client, a property developer who was looking to expand the market , had at first been considered by the brute business tycoon as a valuable business partner. Declan had initially considered a potential acquisition partnership with the group. Moreover, the figures being offered were promising, giving rise for the rare concession to meet the clients by himself. Of course, another reason Declan chose to meet with the client personally had been because

For a moment, the world came to a halt. Elise lunged to the child’s side, she dropped to her knees and scooped the little child into her embrace. Panic and urgency filled her eyes as she rocked the child gently. “Evie… Evie, baby… can you answer mummy? Baby… can you please look at mummy?” Elise’s trembling hands cupped the child’s little face. Yet, there was no response from the child. Her eyes remained shut and her small body remained still in her mother’s embrace. Tears welled in Elise's eyes, “Baby, no…” her voice broke in a small helpless whisper.Her head shot up with urgency, her gaze met with Declan who looked back at her with deep concern. “Please, help me… the hospital” she muttered. “Let me,” Declan knelt beside the woman and child; he gently took the child away from her. With swift movement, he carried the child out of the restaurant. Elise hurried after him, her eyes blurring with tears as she watched her child’s head resting limply on the man’s shoulders. For the first

The heavy downpour had passed, leaving behind a night draped in silver chills and mist. A faint, persistent drizzle lingered in the atmosphere, tapping softly on the skin. The dark clouds had also shifted, creating a soft and silvery luminescence. The moon hung low and full, wrapped in a faint halo of mist, bearing the gentle ambience of a peaceful night and casting a pale aura on the earth. The stars shone brighter following the heavy rain. They appeared in the sky in their lots, scattering with a clear sparkle. The cold night breeze blew back and forth causing Elise to rub her arms. “You can have the jacket, if you don't mind” a deep voice rang from her side. Elise jolted, goosebumps slowly rising in her skin, she gave the man a sidelong gaze and showed a small smile. “I am fine, thank you” she refused him. She was different from her daughter who was just a child, not knowing when to accept kindness and when not to. Declan did not oblige her further. From the little interactio

Back in the hospital ward, Elise sat beside her child, watching the little girl sleep. Her fingers reached out to smooth out the visible crease between the child’s brows and as though the little girl perceived the familiar warmth of her mother, she leaned into her warm palm and her breathing evened. “What should mama do, baby?” Elise muttered softly, heaving a sigh. “... Mama” the child's lips parted and she murmured in her sleep, a sweet smile embracing her small face. The frustration boiling within Elise’s heart cooled in that moment. Relief watched over her as she gazed at the child. Her face reflected a smile as she clasped her fingers around the child's tiny ones, caressing them softly. As Elise tried to keep her eyes open, her eyelids became heavy and body eventually succumbed to sleepiness. She laid her head on the empty space beside the child and rested. —-------The next day, the sun had barely climbed onto the horizon when the city had resumed its usual bustling. A slee