Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 5

Harriet's point of view All I wanted was to feel one thing at a time, to cry, or laugh, or scream until my voice gave out, anything but this tight, overwhelming pressure in my chest. My fingers dug into my purse, gripping it like I might lose what was inside if I let go. Five years of quiet disappointment, swallowed pain, smiling through questions that cut deeper than they should. And now… this miracle I had almost stopped believing in.“Lastly, my heart goes to a very special someone.” My husband's voice pulled me back into the ballroom, which smelled like expensive perfume and flowers. I looked up at him, a wide smile appearing on my face as I took him in. Randy Provost stood tall on stage, confident and composed in that charcoal suit that made him look untouchable, completely unaware that tonight, I was about to change his world with a single sentence.A light touch brushed my arm, I flinched slightly. “Linda,” I exhaled. She leaned closer from behind, her voice warm with certain

Harriet's point of view I didn't rush when turning. Elena’s eyes met mine, something in her expression changed and she took a step back.“Mom, stop. It’s just a ring,” Randy's voice came out, filled with irritation, then his gaze snapped to me. “If you liked it, you could have asked me directly,” he said. “Why go through the trouble of stealing it?”“I didn’t take it,” my voice came out so controlled it didn’t even sound like me.“Oh yea, you didn’t, you shameless thief,” Elena scoffed. Before I could react, her hand shoved against my shoulder. “Then you won’t mind if I check your closet,” she turned, already moving.My hand shot out, I grabbed her wrist firmly, her skin shifted under my grip, but I didn’t loosen it, not even slightly. Elena stiffened instantly, her eyes widening after she tried pulling away but couldn't.“You have no right to touch my things,” I said in a low but firm voice.“Get your filthy hands off mother this minute,” Randy yelled, his chest rising heavily.Bef

Harriet's point of view “What?”one of them stood, moving toward me. My vision blurred as I lifted my head slightly, forcing my lips to move again.“I’m…” Warm and familiar arms wrapped around me. “Hey….it's okay.”I froze for half a second. The hug tightened, and more arms surrounded me. “You’re home now.”My fingers curled into someone’s shirt, I didn’t even know whose.“Alright, that’s it,” Jade, my race partner said, pulling back slightly. “This calls for a celebration.”“I can wipe your entire digital footprint,” Allen, my genius hacker added immediately. “Randy won’t be able to track you, not even if he tries.”“Welcome home!” Larry, my designer announced dramatically, sweeping his arm toward the room like I was royalty returning from exile. A small, wet laugh escaped me.“The tech world had been in chaos for the past three years,” Larry continued. “Everyone’s trying to find the Cipher Empress.”He grinned. “Everyone, including Provost's group. They’ve been sending request after