《THREADS OF DECEPTION》 Prolong Humming to herself, Rebecca set the dining table for dinner--the rhythmic clinking of plates was a comforting backdrop to her evening routine. But suddenly, a violent knock at the door shattered the calm. "Who''s there?" she called out, placing the plates on the table before heading to the door. As she turned the knob, the door was forcefully pushed aside, and men in black jackets stormed in. Their guns were drawn, and their threatening presence was undeniable. Rebecca staggered back, her heart pounding. The men''s menacing demeanour was clear as they entered, their faces resolute and unfeeling. "What¡­ what do you want?" she stammered, her voice trembling as she looked from one menacing face to another. The gang leader, Benjamin, pushed past her and barked an order, "Get the boy!" "What boy?" Rebecca''s voice cracked with fear. Moving toward the men advancing towards her rooms, she cried, "What do you want? Who are you?" Benjamin grabbed Rebecca''s arms and shoved her to the ground. "Don''t move, woman!" he snapped, aiming his gun at her. "No!" Rebecca''s cry was filled with anguish as the men rough-handled her kids out of the room. Tears streamed down her face, her heart breaking at their distress. "Mom!" Kate called out, her voice filled with fear. Though blind, she could sense the chaos and tension. "Mom!" Kate''s sobs were heart-wrenching as Rebecca''s pleas grew more desperate. Rebecca''s heart raced. Her kids meant everything to her; the thought of losing them was unbearable. She shook her head in disbelief, unable to process the horror unfolding before her. "Take them away," Benjamin ordered, gesturing towards Kate and Josh. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Josh yelled, his voice filled with defiance. At just fifteen, he stood firm, glaring at Scott, one of the men who loomed over him. ¡°Leave us alone!¡± Josh¡¯s tousled dark hair fell into his sharp, determined eyes, which burned with anger despite the fear he tried to suppress. Though slender for his age, his stance radiated surprising strength, a testament to his resilient spirit¡ªa boy unwilling to yield. The men laughed at his outburst, their amusement echoing in the small space. Scott wagged a finger at him, smirking. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn, kid.¡± With a rough shove, he pushed Josh toward the door, his laughter cutting through the boy¡¯s growing frustration. "No! Leave my son alone!" Rebecca screamed desperately. When she stood to reach for Josh, Benjamin shot her in the neck; she collapsed to the ground and gasped in pain, her vision blurring, and her hand barely grazed Josh''s face as she fell.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Mom! No!" Josh''s screamed with horror. Tears streamed down his face while struggling to break free from the men holding him. "Let me go! Mom! Mom!" he cried, fighting against his captors. "You little brat!" Benjamin muttered as he hit Josh on the head with his gun. Josh''s world went black as he lost consciousness, Kate''s cries fading into the darkness.
Moaning softly, Josh¡¯s eyes fluttered open. He found himself enveloped in darkness, the cold floor beneath his feet his only point of contact. Attempting to stand, his legs buckled, and he sank back onto the hard wooden chair. A sharp gasp escaped him as the rope binding his wrists dug painfully into his skin. Struggling to loosen his hands, Josh froze at the sound of a creaking hinge. The noise stopped briefly, followed by the muffled thud of a closing door. The faint, deliberate taps of heels echoed through the room, and then¡ªsuddenly¡ªa harsh white light flooded the space, blinding him. Josh screwed up his face, his head bowed. Blinking rapidly, his vision adjusted, and the cold, grey concrete floor beneath him came into focus. He looked up, the sound of heels drawing nearer, and realised he was tied to a chair in the centre of a stark cement-walled room. Through his blurry sight, Josh spotted a young woman stepping into view. She wore a fitted blue dress under a sleek black jacket. Her smirk was sharp, and her piercing brown eyes exuded an unsettling confidence as they locked onto his. ¡°Hello, Josh,¡± the woman greeted, her tone deceptively soft as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Josh blinked, fear etched into his expression. ¡°Who are you? Did you send those men? What do you want? Where¡¯s my sister?¡± ¡°She¡¯s safe¡ªfor now,¡± the woman replied coolly. ¡°And she¡¯ll stay that way, provided you do exactly as I say.¡± Josh¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to replace someone¡ªand spy for me,¡± she said, her tone unwavering. ¡°Replace someone? Spy?¡± Josh¡¯s confusion was evident, his words stumbling. ¡°Exactly,¡± she confirmed, leaning closer until her hands rested lightly on his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re going to take your twin brother¡¯s place.¡± ¡°T-twin brother?¡± Josh stuttered, his shock evident. The woman nodded, her smirk deepening. ¡°Yes, Josh. You have a twin brother; his name is Jeff. He¡¯s with your aunt, Mrs Anderson. Your real mother died when you were both babies. From what I¡¯ve gathered, your father killed her. On the day she died, your nanny, Rebecca, took you and fled.¡± ¡°No,¡± Josh whispered, shaking his head vehemently. ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°Oh, but it is, darling,¡± she said, her voice smooth and taunting. ¡°You and your brother look so alike that no one will ever notice when you take his place.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it!¡± Josh protested, his voice breaking as tears brimmed in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re heartless.¡± ¡°You can call me whatever you like,¡± she replied icily, cupping his face. ¡°But you will do it.¡± Josh''s voice was barely audible. ¡°If I refuse... will you hurt my sister?¡± Her smile widened, but her eyes remained cold. ¡°You¡¯re a quick learner, Josh. I¡¯m glad you understand.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a monster,¡± he choked out, his words filled with anguish. ¡°You killed my mother!¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll kill your sister if you don¡¯t comply,¡± she said, her voice as chilling as her stare. Josh trembled, his breath uneven as he hung his head. ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± he whispered, his spirit broken. ¡°Good boy,¡± she cooed, her smile returning as she gently kissed his forehead. ¡°Your sister will stay safe as long as you follow my instructions. Do you understand?¡± Numbly, Josh nodded, unable to speak. "Good," the woman said, a sly smile curling across her lips. The Strain of Secrets ¡°Mr White, who sustained severe back injuries from a car accident last month, has resigned as chairman of Berliny Company. The board of directors is now preparing to select a new chairman from Mr. White¡¯s daughters: Alisha White, Alison White, and Alicia White¡­¡± The news continued on the television. Alison White turned to her mother, her olive-black eyes reflecting a mix of apprehension and resolve. Rose, a dignified woman in her fifties with short black hair and sharp, observant eyes, watched her daughter with concern and curiosity. ¡°What do think will happen now, Mom?¡± Alison asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. Rose gave her daughter a reassuring smile. ¡°Feeling scared now?¡± Alison sighed deeply, her gaze shifting back to the TV. She clutched a pillow tightly as if it could anchor her swirling emotions. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she admitted. ¡°Alicia!¡± She exclaimed. ¡°She¡¯s always my greatest problem. Always Dad¡¯s favourite, and¡­¡± Her voice trailed off as the sitting room door creaked open, and Alicia entered. Alicia White, the youngest of the family, walked in a striking purple gown adorned with glittering silver stones. Her long, curly black hair framed her face, and her olive-black eyes sparkled with a mixture of confidence and amusement. ¡°Oh, Alicia!¡± Alison exclaimed, her surprise evident. ¡°You look stunning. And it¡¯s a surprise to see you here.¡± Alicia chuckled warmly. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Alison.¡± She embraced her sister and then turned to their mother. ¡°Mom!¡± Alicia greeted Rose with a bright smile. ¡°Ah, my dear,¡± Rose said, her eyes lighting up with affection. ¡°How have you been? You haven¡¯t checked in since you moved out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom,¡± Alicia said, walking over to Rose and wrapping her in a hug. ¡°I¡¯ve been swamped with things. I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± She laughed lightly, her eyes glistening. ¡°You¡¯re looking beautiful, my girl,¡± Rose said, caressing Alicia¡¯s cheek. ¡°Are you coming from somewhere special? You look like you¡¯ve been to a party.¡± Alicia nodded, her smile widening. ¡°Yeah, I went to my boyfriend¡¯s birthday party.¡±Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Alison burst out laughing. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re talking about that jerk, Wilson?¡± Alicia¡¯s smile faltered, and she turned to Alison, her expression darkening. ¡°What do you mean by that? I¡¯ve told you before to stop badmouthing him. If you don¡¯t like him, fine, but keep it to yourself!¡± Rose raised an eyebrow, puzzled. ¡°Wilson? Who is he, and why is Alice calling him a jerk?¡± Alicia cleared her throat as Alison was about to speak and turned to her mother with a big smile, ¡°Don¡¯t mind Alice, Mom. Wilson is my boyfriend and the love of my life.¡± Rose¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Really? It¡¯s unusual to see you so animated about a guy. He must have made quite an impression.¡± ¡°Exactly, Mom,¡± Alicia said, her smile radiant. ¡°I¡¯m surprised myself. He must have stolen my heart.¡± ¡°But what about Jeff? Weren¡¯t you dating him?¡± Rose tilted her head, her expression full of curiosity as she gave Alicia a questioning look. Alison interjected, ¡°It¡¯s obvious Jeff has feelings for her.¡± Alicia glared at Alison. ¡°How would you know? Are you friends with him? Do you know him better than I do?¡± Rose, sensing the escalating tension, intervened softly. ¡°Easy, easy, girls. Let¡¯s not fight.¡± Alicia¡¯s anger flared. ¡°You need to tell Alison to stay out of my relationship. It¡¯s none of her business.¡± She glared at Alison before turning back to her mother. ¡°You¡¯re such a grump, Alicia. I was only joking,¡± Alison said, exasperated. ¡°Thanks! I don¡¯t appreciate jokes, Alison. And I¡¯d like to take my leave now.¡± Alicia stood up, her frustration evident. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re leaving already?¡± Rose asked her tone a mix of disappointment and concern. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom,¡± Alicia said abruptly. ¡°I need to go.¡± ¡°Hold on, Alicia. I don¡¯t¡ª¡± Rose started, but her words cut off as Mr White entered the room, his secretary, Olive, manoeuvring his wheelchair with careful precision. The room fell silent instantly, the air thick with unspoken tension. Seeing her father, Alicia¡¯s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. Without another word, she moved swiftly towards the door. Mr. White¡¯s gaze followed her every step, his expression a blend of fear, longing, and helplessness. As he watched Alicia storm out, his face grew pained, and his hands trembled on the arms of his wheelchair. The sight of his daughter leaving in such a manner cut him deeply, he sighed heavily as he was weighed down by sorrow and regret. Rose noticed Mr. White¡¯s reaction and exchanged a conspiratorial glance with Alison. ¡°You should go to your room and rest, White,¡± she said, observing his trembling hands. Mr. White, aware of his wife¡¯s gaze, placed his hands on his lap to steady them. ¡°I¡¯ll do that,¡± he agreed quietly. Olive wheeled him away, leaving Rose and Alice in the still room. Alison¡¯s gaze followed her father¡¯s departure with a cold, irritated look. Once Mr. White was out of sight, she hissed, ¡°He always pisses me off. Everything is always about Alicia. That old fool¡­¡± Frustrated, she threw the pillow she was holding and stormed out of the sitting room. Watching her daughter leave, Rose''s lips curved into a sly smile. Nightmare It was late at night when Mr White¡¯s younger self shoved the door open, thunder rumbling with cracks of lightning as the rain fell heavily. He teetered in his drunken state, and Alicia, still a teenager, ran to her father and steadied him. ¡°Father!¡± she cried, struggling to support him. She glanced at the door for any sign of Olive, her father¡¯s secretary, for help, but there was no sign of him. Where is he? she wondered, then looked back at Mr White. ¡°You need to come with me, Dad. I¡¯ll help you to your room,¡± she said, guiding him towards the stairs. ¡°Why did you get yourself this drunk?¡± she muttered, almost talking to herself. She had never seen her father in such a state, and it worried her as Mr White blenched and stumbled along the way to his room. Once in the room, Alicia carefully led him to the bed. As she tried to help him lie down, he suddenly pushed her onto the bed and pulled himself over her. Considering his drunken state, Alicia tried to push him off, but Mr White pinned her arms down. Alicia gasped and struggled. ¡°Let me go, Dad! What are you doing?¡± ¡°Shuuuu!¡± Mr White muttered, and Alicia fell silent, staring at his face, confused by what he was trying to do. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel it¡¯s stuffy? You need to get yourself out of this dress!¡± Mr White murmured. He grunted as Alicia resisted him, fighting to keep her dress on. ¡°Be a good girl! Be a good girl!¡± he warned irritably, forcing kisses onto her lips. ¡°Stop! Stop, Dad! Stop!¡± Alicia cried. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ please¡­ please!¡± She shouted the last word aloud, jerking awake from her nightmare, panting and sweating profusely. She switched on the white bedside lamp and buried her face in her hands. She stayed like that for a few minutes until her breathing steadied. She looked at the ceiling, sighed, then glanced at the clock on the shelf. It was 6:10 am. She listened to the ticking of the second hand in the silence. As it reached the 12, she yawned and climbed out of bed. Just as she was about to enter the bathroom, her phone beeped. She walked to the dressing table to check it. ¡°HAPPY NEW MONTH!¡± flashed on the phone¡¯s screen as she unlocked it. ¡°IT¡¯S MAY, DARLING. Wishing you all the best.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. A smile crept over Alicia¡¯s face; she sat on the armchair at her dressing table and replied: ¡°THANKS, JEFF. And I wish you the same.¡± Realising he wasn¡¯t online, she texted Wilson ¡°NEW MONTH¡± with her best wishes before finally heading into the bathroom for her morning shower. ********************************************************************** Alicia was dusting off the chairs in the sitting room when she heard a knock at the door. She was surprised to see Jeff so early in the morning. Jeff stood at the door, his pink lips smiling. His tall, wiry frame was dressed in jeans, a jacket over a white round-neck shirt, and joggers, paired with sneakers. His black, curly flat-top hair complemented his fair skin, giving him an elegant look. He held a small white carrier bag. ¡°You!¡± Alicia blinked at Jeff and laughed. ¡°It¡¯s early. I wasn¡¯t expecting you.¡± ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t,¡± he said, nodding as he walked in. ¡°And this is for you.¡± He handed her the bag. ¡°What¡¯s in here?¡± Alicia asked curiously, taking the bag. She opened it and took out a small black box. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked, glancing at Jeff as she examined it. ¡°Check it out,¡± Jeff urged, hands in his pockets. When Alicia opened the box, she found a sparkling golden necklace. Her eyes widened in amazement as she looked up at Jeff. ¡°I tried to get this exact necklace last week but couldn¡¯t. How did you know I wanted it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret,¡± Jeff replied with a self-satisfied smirk. ¡°It¡¯s a new month!¡± he exclaimed, settling into a chair. ¡°It¡¯s expensive. This must have cost you a bit,¡± Alicia remarked, sitting beside him as she admired the necklace, holding it between her fingers as it dangled. ¡°I heard in the news that your father resigned and the¡­¡± ¡°Please, Jeff,¡± Alicia interrupted, turning to look at him over her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t bring him up.¡± Jeff noticed the strained lines on Alicia¡¯s forehead and furrowed his brows. ¡°I doubt you had a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she muttered, looking away. ¡°The nightmare again,¡± Jeff whispered. ¡°I said I¡¯m fine,¡± she retorted, putting the necklace back in its box and placing it back in the bag. ¡°I was cleaning the chairs before you came in,¡± she said, picking up her duster. ¡°There¡¯s always so much on your mind, Alicia,¡± Jeff said, standing up, his voice filled with concern. ¡°How do you expect me to stay quiet?¡± Alicia turned to face him fully, smirking. ¡°And how do you know I¡¯ve got a lot on my mind?¡± She raised an inquisitive eyebrow. ¡°Do you have some insight?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me, Alicia. I know you better than you think. I can read you like a book if I¡¯m calm enough. Besides, Ivan told me what happened at Wilson¡¯s birthday party last night; he mentioned how he had¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Alicia questioned, stepping closer to Jeff, her eyes searching his as if looking for answers. ¡°Tell me, Jeff. Have you been spying on me?¡± Jeff sighed, ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then how did he find out?¡± ¡°You need to stop this, Alicia. All I want you to know is that this guy isn¡¯t for you. He doesn¡¯t love you!¡± Furious, Alicia slapped Jeff. ¡°You have no right to tell me what¡¯s for me or not. We¡¯re just friends, and you have no right to interfere in my personal life,¡± she warned. ¡°Oh?¡± Jeff chuckled, unphased by the slap. ¡°Just¡­ just friends!¡± he scoffed, laughing. ¡°And what about all these years of friendship? You knew me before him. Who¡¯s been there to comfort you when no one else was? Me! It¡¯s always been me, Alicia. And even now, you still come to me for comfort,¡± he added bitterly. ¡°Leave!¡± Alicia shouted, pointing at the door, her lips trembling. ¡°Get out of my house, Jeff.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never understand, no matter how much I try to explain. You might think¡­¡± Jeff paused, sighing. ¡°You might think my emotions and anger are only driven by jealousy. I won¡¯t deny I¡¯m jealous of your feelings for him, but¡­¡± he stepped closer until they could feel each other¡¯s breath. ¡°It¡¯s more than that, Alicia.¡± ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯ll never understand. And I¡¯m not ready to, especially while you continue going against him.¡± She grabbed the bag and thrust it back into Jeff¡¯s hands. ¡°If you think this will win my heart, you¡¯re wrong,¡± she said, holding his hands firmly around the bag. As she said this, the door creaked open and Wilson walked in. As Alicia saw Wilson, she stepped away from Jeff immediately, forcing a smile. Confession I May 1st, 8:06 PM As Alicia heard the door open, she lifted her head gently. A faint smile flickered across her lips as she saw Jeff walk in. With a groan, she sat upright and leaned her back against the pillow. Jeff closed the door behind him, carrying a lunchbox as he approached her. His steps were slow, hesitant, as though he was bracing himself for a confrontation he didn¡¯t want to have. After Alicia received initial treatment, Jeff had decided she should be admitted for further care under a nurse¡¯s supervision. When it got late, he left the hospital briefly to buy her dinner. Since leaving Alicia¡¯s house for the hospital earlier that day, they had not spoken. Now, as Jeff walked into the ward, both were lost in their thoughts, trying to figure out what to say to each other. The room hung in an awkward silence as he approached her bedside. Trying to distract himself from the discomfort, Jeff let his gaze wander around the VIP ward. The smell of antiseptic and mint hung faintly in the air. Opposite Alicia¡¯s bed, a glass wall offered a stunning view of the city skyline. Beside her bed was a small shelf, and the bed itself looked... Jeff stopped his train of thought as his eyes met Alicia¡¯s. She quickly looked away, her face flushed with a mix of emotions she couldn¡¯t quite name. Clearing his throat, Jeff stopped in front of her. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± he asked, placing the lunchbox on the shelf. His voice was soft, almost careful, as if afraid of saying the wrong thing. Alicia nodded slightly. Noticing that his gaze lingered on her bandaged ankle, she cleared her throat to break the silence. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said quickly. Her tone was flat, but her eyes darted around the room, avoiding his. ¡°Can¡¯t we leave tonight?¡± she added, her voice barely above a whisper. Jeff sighed and sank into the chair beside her bed. His shoulders slumped, the weight of unspoken words pressing heavily on him.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°We could, but I want you to rest,¡± he replied gently. ¡°I can''t rest here,¡± Alicia countered, a bitter edge creeping into her voice. ¡°You know that.¡± Jeff nodded, his gaze dropping to his hands. ¡°I know, and I¡¯m sorry. But I just want to make sure you¡¯re okay. If I take you home now, you¡¯ll push me away. I won¡¯t be able to care for you.¡± He paused, glancing at her with a mix of concern and frustration. ¡°But don¡¯t worry¡ªwe¡¯ll leave tomorrow morning.¡± Alicia heaved a sigh, unsure of how to respond. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of the blanket, betraying the calm she tried to project. ¡°I brought you dinner,¡± Jeff offered, his voice lighter, almost hopeful. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± she replied, her words laced with exhaustion. She glanced at him, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite, Jeff.¡± ¡°You need to eat¡­¡± ¡°No, Jeff,¡± she interrupted, shaking her head. ¡°I just... can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Is it because of me? Fine! I¡¯m sorry¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± she interrupted, her voice trembling. She wiped her eyes, fighting back the tears. ¡°It¡¯s not you, Jeff. I just¡­ I just keep wondering. If you hadn¡¯t saved me¡­ would he really have killed me?¡± She gave a hollow laugh, the sound bitter and empty. ¡°It¡¯s... funny, isn¡¯t it?¡± Her voice cracked as tears fell. ¡°I gave him everything, Jeff. Everything.¡± Her voice shook as she spoke, and she looked away, her gaze unfocused. ¡°Last night¡­ at his party¡­ I saw him with Janet. I was consumed with jealousy. She stayed with him all night, while he ignored me. I felt like¡­ I felt like I was just a side chick. A nobody.¡± She let out a bitter laugh and glanced at Jeff. ¡°When I confronted him¡­ he slapped me. Right in front of everyone. He shoved me out, insulted me. And yet, this morning, when Alison called him a jerk, I defended him. I stormed out in anger. Then he apologized in the middle of the night, and I forgave him, just like that. And this morning, I fought you¡­ because I was trying to protect him. I was stupid¡ªno, I am stupid¡ªfor still caring about him. He pretended to be kind at first, but he¡¯s nothing but selfish.¡± Her breath hitched, and fresh tears blurred her vision as she looked up at Jeff. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry with me,¡± she whispered, her voice cracking. Jeff heaved a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. His jaw tightened as he struggled to contain the emotions bubbling within him. ¡°Why?¡± he asked, his voice trembling. ¡°Why him, Alicia? I¡¯ve been here for you. All these years. Loving you. And yet¡­ you always push me away. You¡¯ve never even given me a chance.¡± Alicia¡¯s gaze fell to her hands. She laughed bitterly, but it was empty. ¡°You think I don¡¯t love you?¡± she scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re a fool, Jeff. A fool.¡± Jeff¡¯s expression twisted, his heart aching. ¡°Love?¡± His voice was low, full of hurt. ¡°I can¡¯t even remember the last time you showed me that.¡± Secret I The young nurse turned to the lady behind her and bowed as she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for bringing you to the wrong ward. It must be the next one.¡± ¡°Oh, not really, nurse,¡± said the lady, who appeared to be in her late twenties. She was tall and slim, her heels making her even taller. Her black hair was styled in a sleek bob, and her glittering black stone-embellished jumpsuit complemented her fair skin. Her face bore a striking resemblance to Alicia¡¯s, though there were subtle differences: a mole above her upper lips. She was Alena, the first daughter of the White family. ¡°They¡¯re my family,¡± Alena smirked, staring directly at Alicia. She then turned to the nurse with a sweet yet unsettling smile. ¡°You can wait outside for a moment.¡± Her tone was calm, yet her presence was intimidating. The nurse nodded quickly, leaving the ward and closing the door behind her. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Alicia cocked her head, raising an inquisitive brow at Alena. ¡°You heard the nurse say it¡¯s the wrong ward,¡± she said coldly, locking eyes with her sister. ¡°It¡¯s understandable to be shocked to suddenly see you at the hospital,¡± Alena replied, her gaze shifting to Alicia¡¯s bandaged ankle. ¡°That must hurt a lot.¡± ¡°As if you care.¡± Alicia¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Now, take your leave.¡± Alena turned her attention to Jeff, who met her gaze with cold defiance. Her lips spread into a wide smile. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you here, Jeff. I can see you two are having a good time together.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°You should leave now, Alena!¡± Alicia warned, her tone sharp. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll leave, Alicia dear.¡± Turning back to her sister, Alena added, ¡°But let me give you a piece of advice before I go.¡± She threw a glance at Jeff, noticing his fists clenched tightly under the table. Her smile grew sweeter as she looked at Alicia. ¡°Know who to trust, honey. The worst thing in life is trusting someone with all your heart, only for them to shatter it. You¡¯ve had your fair share of heartbreaks, haven¡¯t you? I¡¯d think you¡¯ve learned by now.¡± Alicia scoffed, glaring at her. ¡°It¡¯s such a privilege to receive advice from a big sister like you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you appreciate it,¡± Alena replied with a smirk. She gave Jeff one final look before walking out of the ward, her steps slow and deliberate. ¡°What an advice,¡± Jeff sneered, turning to Alicia. Alicia sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. ¡°I wonder who she came to see,¡± she muttered softly. ¡°You don¡¯t hate her, do you?¡± Seconds of silence passed before Alicia scoffed. ¡°Why would I love someone who hates me so much?¡± Later That Night ¡°I know you didn¡¯t walk into the wrong ward by mistake. Tell me what the hell you¡¯re doing here, Alena!¡± Jeff¡¯s cold voice cut through the stillness of the night as he stormed onto the hospital¡¯s roof. Alena, standing near the parapet with a glass of whiskey in hand, turned to face him. The raw night air brushed through her hair and dress, causing her dress to flutter. As she saw Jeff approach, her lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Jeff,¡± she said smoothly. ¡°You kept me waiting. What have you been doing with that girl? Making love?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to answer your questions,¡± he said, his voice steady. ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you to leave.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± She took a few steps closer to him, laughing lightly. ¡°You¡¯ve got the nerve to say that after I saw you kissing her?¡± With a sly smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing closer. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of me anymore?¡± she teased, pressing her lips against his. ¡°We need to stop this, Alena,¡± he hissed, pulling away. ¡°She¡¯s finally accepted me, and I won¡¯t let you tear us apart.¡± He looked her dead in the eye, his voice firm. Secret III ¡°What do you think will happen when she finds out? Do you think she¡¯ll be able to handle it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± he threatened, his fists clenched. ¡°You won¡¯t!¡± Alena raised an eyebrow. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I would,¡± she paused, ¡°but you¡¯re already scared.¡± She gulped down the whisky and banged the glass on the parapet. ¡°Listen, darling, the only way to save yourself is by saving this relationship. You can¡¯t leave me,¡± she stressed the last words and chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s not funny,¡± he growled. Nodding, she said, ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªit¡¯s not. But I do wonder how a guy like you can claim to love Alicia.¡± She squinted at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel guilty? How could you be so cruel?¡± Jeff glared at Alena, his fists trembling. Alena pressed on. ¡°Do you know the most dangerous thing? A predator who pretends to love its prey, only to strike when it¡¯s most convenient...¡± ¡°Enough,¡± he warned. ¡°Stop now, or you¡¯ll be the first blood I stain my hands with.¡± ¡°Then do it!¡± she dared, staring straight into his eyes, unfazed. Gritting his teeth, he spat, ¡°You witch.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a compliment,¡± she replied, raising a hand to caress his flushed face.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Just let go, Jeff,¡± she said softly. ¡°It¡¯s a waste of time to pursue a relationship with her. It¡¯ll only break you. You know it; I know it; we both know what lies ahead for her. So why are you doing this to yourself? ¡°We can¡¯t always have what we want, and we certainly can¡¯t control everything. Sometimes, we just have to learn to let go. Life is full of pain, hardship, and difficulty. I often wonder why it¡¯s so cruel to us.¡± She paused and added, her voice dropping to a husky whisper, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to start something that will destroy you, Jeff. Let me comfort you in my arms and heal your scars.¡± She rubbed his chest as she spoke. Jeff smirked. ¡°You should know me better. I¡¯m not giving up.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Alena exclaimed, clapping her hands. ¡°Then you¡¯ve made the right decision, boy, and I¡¯m glad. But let me remind you¡ªthe person you¡¯re about to fight is far above your league.¡± She approached the bottle of whisky on a nearby stool and continued, ¡°Think carefully before you act recklessly.¡± She poured herself another glass. ¡°You¡¯re always full of advice; you should¡¯ve been a counsellor,¡± he said, clicking his tongue. ¡°Such a waste of talent.¡± ¡°Maybe it wouldn¡¯t have been wasted if I¡¯d realised it earlier,¡± she chuckled, draining the glass and setting it back on the parapet. Wrapping her arms around him, she muttered, ¡°It¡¯s so cold up here.¡± Jeff shut his eyes, his jaw tightening.
In a grand sitting room, Wilson stood by the wine shelf with two towering men in suits behind him. His hand gripped his phone so tightly that his veins and muscles bulged as he spoke into it. ¡°What are you doing?¡± a calm voice asked on the other end. ¡°What do you think will happen if the car hits her? Don¡¯t you ever consider the consequences?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll all end the same way, brother,¡± Wilson sneered. ¡°I need to tell you¡ªsomething is going on between her and Jeff. Do you know how that makes me feel? It drives me mad!¡± He yelled, his teeth clenched. ¡°That jerk¡­¡± The voice sighed. ¡°If you keep trying to ruin this, I¡¯ll make you pay for it. Have a good sleep; we¡¯ll see each other tomorrow.¡± The call ended. Wilson pulled the phone away from his ear and tightened his grip further, a smirk spreading across his face. Unveiled Secrets 2nd May, 07:30 AM Quietly, Jeff pushed the door ajar and peered into the ward. Alicia noticed him and raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Jeff offered a sheepish smile. As he entered, he nervously rubbed the back of his neck with his fingers. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Alicia asked, watching him approach. Her eyebrow arched higher. ¡°Why were you peeping like that?¡± ¡°Oh, that!¡± He let out a strained chuckle. ¡°I just wanted to say I¡¯m sorry for leaving you alone while you were still asleep,¡± he explained, lowering himself onto the chair beside her bed. ¡°My mum called me, so I¡­¡± Jeff trailed off when Alicia narrowed her eyes at him. As she sniffled and leaned closer, he jerked back. ¡°What is it?¡± he exclaimed, startled by her sudden movement. He stumbled slightly. ¡°Why are you scared? You know what you¡¯ve done," she accused, her voice sharp. ¡°What... What?¡± he stammered, his laughter trembling as he tried to mask his unease.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°You¡¯ve been smoking, haven¡¯t you?¡± Her gaze bore into him as she spoke with unyielding sternness. ¡°Isn¡¯t it true, Jeff?¡± ¡°Smoking?¡± Jeff echoed, blinking rapidly as he sniffed at his jacket with exaggerated innocence. ¡°No! I... I don¡¯t!¡± he shouted. But the moment his eyes met Alicia¡¯s, his voice faltered, and he fell silent. Alicia clenched the bedsheet tightly, her expression hardening with disappointment. ¡°When did this start? This is the third time I¡¯ve caught you.¡± Jeff remained rooted to the spot, his silence laden with guilt as he stared at her. Alicia let out a bitter chuckle and looked away. ¡°The doctor said I can leave. I think it¡¯s time I did.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Jeff stammered, struggling to form words. ¡°This isn¡¯t what it seems¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t owe me any explanation, Jeff,¡± she cut him off, glancing at him briefly. ¡°Because now, I realise we can¡¯t be together.¡± Her lips twisted into a pained grimace. ¡°Alicia¡­¡± He took a hesitant step forward, his gaze imploring her, laden with silent desperation. ¡°I have to go now,¡± she said firmly. Pulling herself out of bed, she swayed slightly as she approached the door. --------- At dawn in a hotel room, Jeff exhaled heavily as he stared at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, its energised white light filling the room. He glanced at Alena, lying beside him in her naked body with her right arm tucked beneath his. Gently lifting his body, he slowly peeled her arm off him, but Alena moaned and swiftly pulled her arm tighter around his waist. Jeff paused, staring at her face. Her eyes fluttered open, and they locked gazes. Unveiled Secrets II ¡°I need to go,¡± Jeff muttered, sitting up straight, revealing his broad chest and tousled hair. ¡°Alicia must be looking for me by now,¡± he added under his breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I kept you here so long, sweetheart,¡± Alena whispered, her face close to his as she wrapped her arms around him. ¡°But it¡¯s been so sweet having you here by my side.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ve had enough. Let me go.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Alena sighed, loosening her embrace. Jeff immediately got out of bed, his full masculine form on display as he moved. He picked up his trousers and shirt from the floor. While getting dressed, he glanced at Alena as she leaned over to the bedside table, retrieving a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. ¡°You told me you¡¯d quit smoking,¡± she said, her voice muffled by the cigarette clenched between her lips as she lit it. Jeff hummed in response, sitting in the armchair to put on his sneakers. ¡°Why?¡± she asked, exhaling smoke as her gaze lingered on him. ¡°Is it because of Alicia?¡± She tilted her head. Jeff nodded, humming again. Alena scoffed, her voice laced with sarcasm. ¡°And what are you planning to do?¡± She paused, fixing him with a calculating stare. ¡°Tonight is my father¡¯s birthday party. Rose has a plan; I¡¯m giving you a hint.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll stop her from going,¡± Jeff replied, standing as he tied his sneakers. With a smirk, Alena shook her head. ¡°You have no idea what her plan is. Do you really think you can protect her tonight?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay by her side,¡± Jeff said firmly, turning to face her. ¡°So you don¡¯t need to worry about her.¡± Alena stepped off the bed, completely unashamed of her nakedness as she approached him. Her smirk softened, replaced by an almost wistful expression. ¡°Here¡¯s a piece of advice for you,¡± she murmured, cupping his cheek and letting her fingers trail over his skin. ¡°Don¡¯t risk your life¡ªor your sister¡¯s¡ªfor something that isn¡¯t worth it, Jefferson, my love.¡± Her eyes glinted with a mix of concern and warning.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Jeff offered her a faintly sarcastic smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take your advice to heart.¡± Blowing smoke directly into his face, Alena returned his smile with a sweet but knowing one.
Jeff¡¯s black Benz came to a slow halt in front of Alicia¡¯s apartment as he switched off the engine. With a sigh, he glanced into the rear-view mirror at Alicia, who had insisted on sitting in the backseat. Alicia met his gaze briefly before unbuckling her seatbelt. Without a word, she opened the car door and stepped out. As she walked toward her door, the sound of Jeff¡¯s car door opening made her stop. She turned to see him stepping out. ¡°Thanks for the ride, Jeff,¡± she said, giving him a faint smile. ¡°You should go now. I don¡¯t need your company; I¡¯m fine.¡± Jeff sighed deeply, her words clearly weighing on him, and took a few steps closer. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry, Alicia. And I¡¯m sorry I lied about quitting smoking. But there¡¯s something important I need to tell you.¡± ¡°You can save it for later,¡± she replied, shrugging. ¡°Right now, I just don¡¯t want to talk to you.¡± She turned back toward her door, but before she could take another step, Jeff ran to her and gently grabbed her arm. ¡°Please, Alicia. Please, just¡­ just hear me out,¡± he begged, his voice trembling. Alicia looked down at his hand, feeling it shake against her arm. She lifted her gaze to meet his, her expression a mix of sadness and frustration. ¡°I¡¯m confused about you, Jeff,¡± she said softly. ¡°Back in high school, you were one of the guys who hated smoking. So tell me¡ªjust tell me¡ªwhat changed?¡± Her voice cracked, betraying her emotions. ¡°Something feels wrong, Jeff. It feels like you¡¯re hiding something from me.¡± Her gaze dropped as she wiped away a tear with the back of her hand. ¡°Just go,¡± she whispered, looking back at him. ¡°Please, at least for now.¡± Alicia opened her door and stepped inside, shutting it firmly behind her. She slumped to the floor, her back pressed against the door as she muffled her sobs with her hands. Outside, Jeff leaned his forehead against the cold metal of the door. He hit it softly with his fists before stepping away. Running his fingers through his hair in frustration, he turned and walked back to his car. Casting one last glance at the door, he let out a deep sigh. Yanking his car door open, he slid into the driver¡¯s seat. The tyres screeched as he turned the car sharply and sped off into the night. Memories I 2nd May, 12:00 pm As Jeff opened the door to the sitting room, he stopped abruptly upon seeing his aunt, Mrs Anderson, seated on a leather armchair with her legs crossed, inhaling the aroma of the coffee in the mug she cradled in her hands. Jeff raised an eyebrow at his cousin, Jason, a man in his twenties with a slender frame and a warm chocolate complexion. Jason¡¯s eyes shifted uneasily to meet Jeff¡¯s gaze. Noticing the exchange, Jason smiled widely at his mother. When Jeff closed the door, Mrs. Anderson finally looked up, her surprise turning to excitement. She gently placed the mug on the table. ¡°Finally, you¡¯re here!¡± she exclaimed with a sigh of relief, watching Jeff approach. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting you, Mum,¡± Jeff said, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he sat on the two-seater sofa next to Jason. ¡°I didn¡¯t plan to come either,¡± Mrs. Anderson replied, smiling. ¡°But thank goodness I did.¡± Jeff glanced at Jason, who returned a brief, wary smile. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Jeff asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been here since last night, waiting for you. We called you several times, but¡­.¡± Tight-lipped, she shrugged. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer.¡± She squinted at Jeff. ¡°Where were you?¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Jeff leaned closer to Jason and whispered, ¡°What did you tell her?¡± Before Jason could reply, his mother interjected, ¡°He said you went to Alicia¡¯s house.¡± She raised a curious eyebrow, her expression demanding confirmation. ¡°What?¡± Jeff blinked in astonishment and turned to Jason. ¡°Did you tell her¡­?¡± Jason let out a loud, awkward laugh that trailed off almost as quickly as it began. ¡°No! No! I didn¡¯t!¡± he protested, glancing at his mother and then back at Jeff. Mrs. Anderson¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°So, I¡¯m lying?¡± she asked in disbelief. Jason hesitated, his gaze bouncing between the two. ¡°I¡­ I need to get some wine,¡± he mumbled with a sheepish grin. Rising quickly, he slipped out of the room, avoiding their stares as he disappeared into the adjoining space. ¡°Don¡¯t intimidate him, Jeff!¡± Mrs. Anderson yelled. ¡°I know you went to her house.¡± ¡°But Mum¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t! Not again, Jeff!¡± Mrs. Anderson cut him off before he could explain. Jeff¡¯s shoulders slumped as he lowered his head. ¡°Everything is about that girl! Why? You promised to stay away from her for a while, didn¡¯t you? Why are you so obsessive? Do you still want her to break up with her boyfriend for you?¡± Her voice rose with agitation. ¡°They¡¯ve already broken up,¡± Jeff replied firmly, meeting her gaze. ¡°We¡¯re dating now.¡± Mrs. Anderson scoffed, unsurprised. ¡°And you believe that? Do you really think that girl has left Wilson for you? Let me tell you¡ªshe won¡¯t. No matter how badly he treats her, she won¡¯t leave him. She¡¯s¡­.¡± She shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s stupidly in love with him.¡± ¡°Not everyone stays a fool forever, Mum. I know you don¡¯t like her, but¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hate her,¡± Mrs. Anderson interrupted, shaking her head. ¡°You think I hate her?¡± Her gaze softened, filled with concern. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you. That¡¯s why I wanted you to give her some space for a while. It bothers me when you act so obsessive about her, Jeff. I need you to know that I¡¯m concerned. I only have you and Jason. Just you two.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m crazy?¡± Jeff tilted his head, studying her face. Memories II Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Vision I You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Vision II Jason drove into a grand compound and parked his car in front of a two-story glass house. He and Jeff got out of the car and walked toward the building. As they entered the sitting room, they saw Alena walking down the stairs. She was dressed in pyjamas and slippers, her hair tied in a ponytail, which revealed her fair, delicate skin and slender cheeks. When Alena saw Jeff and Jason, a sly smile crept across her face as she approached them. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Jeff. I saw your car drive in through the glass wall from my room.¡± Turning to Jason, she greeted him, ¡°Hi, Jason. You¡¯re always here.¡± Jason returned her greeting with a quick grin. ¡°You seem to be preparing for bed. Have you forgotten your father¡¯s birthday party?¡± Jeff arched an eyebrow. ¡°Oh!¡± Alena chuckled and arched a brow. ¡°You thought I wouldn¡¯t be around, and that¡¯s why you¡¯re here?¡± She shifted her gaze between Jeff and Jason, finding her answer. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going? It¡¯s your father¡¯s birthday,¡± Jason asked, puzzled. Alena shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t think I should be there tonight.¡± Folding her arms, she asked sarcastically, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be with your girlfriend?¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I need to see Kate,¡± Jeff replied curtly, turning to leave. As he jogged up the stairs, Alena turned to watch him, sneering. ¡°I should leave too,¡± Jason quickly excused himself and followed Jeff.
Jeff opened the door to a small, square room¡ªpainted in azure blue and decorated with matching blue accessories and furniture. A single bed, with a blue blanket and sheets, rested against one wall. Curled up on the bed was a young woman, about twenty-five, wearing blue pyjamas. Her head rested on her lap, and her curly brown hair spilt over her face. When the young woman heard the creaking sound of the door, she lifted her head. Jeff stared at the tiny figure sitting on the bed. Kate¡¯s pyjama top slid off her right shoulder, exposing the delicate curve of her collarbone. Her hands rested softly in her lap, the fingers barely moving. Her long, tousled hair cascaded over her face, concealing her piercing blue eyes and the full curve of her cherry-red lips. Though her frame was small and fragile, her face held an alluring, almost dangerous beauty¡ªstriking in its intensity. Jeff¡¯s lips fluttered into a smile. He approached her softly, saying, ¡°It feels so good to see you again, Kate.¡± Kate¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear you again,¡± she replied in her soft voice. She didn¡¯t move from her position but listened intently to Jeff¡¯s footsteps as he approached the bed. Jeff sat beside her on the bed and stared at her profile for a few seconds. Neither of them spoke. He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. Kate gazed deeply into Jeff¡¯s eyes, her own sightless yet piercing. Though blind, her eyes were a striking shade of blue, their intense, unsettling stare seeming to unravel his thoughts with just a glance. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t come to see you these past few days,¡± Jeff muttered apologetically. Vision III Kate placed her hands over Jeff¡¯s, cupping his face, and ran her slender, blue-painted fingers over his hands. ¡°It feels so good to touch you again, Jeff,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Where have you been? I¡¯ve missed you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been working on many things that kept me busy. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Kate smiled softly. ¡°I had fun, though,¡± she laughed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry too much about me; Jason visits me every day, and I¡¯m glad. Where is he?¡± she asked curiously. ¡°Did he come here with you? I haven¡¯t seen him today.¡± ¡°He¡¯s standing outside your door,¡± Jeff smirked. ¡°Tell me¡­¡± He paused, hesitating. ¡°What?¡± Kate urged, tugging at his hands. ¡°Has he confessed to you?¡± Kate scoffed. Still holding Jeff¡¯s hands, she dropped them into her lap. ¡°I told you, he always hesitates,¡± Kate said with a smirk. ¡°He''ll tell me he wants to say something and then just... won¡¯t. He¡¯ll start and then stop¡ªnever finishes what he¡¯s thinking.¡± She sighed, clearly amused by his indecision. ¡°I wish he¡¯d just say it already,¡± she muttered, pursing her lips. Jeff chuckled and glanced at the door. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s so slow-witted after everything I¡¯ve taught him,¡± Jeff ruffled Kate¡¯s hair affectionately. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ll push him harder.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°How is Alicia?¡± Kate asked, studying Jeff¡¯s face. Jeff could see the concern in her eyes, and he sighed. ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± he said with a faint, ambivalent smile. Kate sighed and entwined her fingers with Jeff¡¯s. ¡°I can sense your unease, Jeff. You¡¯re troubled.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± Kate nodded. ¡°Of course. I can feel it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to leave in the next ten minutes. I need to go to her place. I¡¯m worried she might be injured.¡± Kate could hear the concern in Jeff¡¯s voice, and she gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± she assured him. But Jeff noticed her smile was strained and her eyes flickered with unease. He squinted, feeling unsettled by that brief, bitter smile. ¡°That smile doesn¡¯t make it seem like everything will be fine,¡± Jeff said, his worry growing. Kate sighed, falling silent for a moment. ¡°You need to protect Alisha, Jeff,¡± a faint smile crept across her face. ¡°That¡¯s the only way to protect Alicia¡ªand Alison. Danger seems to be heading their way,¡± Kate said softly, trying to convince him. Angered, Jeff pulled his hands away from Kate¡¯s grip. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± he asked, glaring at her. ¡°Listen to me, Jeff. You have to do this if you want to protect Alicia. Alisha¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jeff sneered. ¡°Why would I do that?¡± ¡°Because Alisha is the only one who can protect Alicia. If you want Alicia to survive, you need to protect Alisha.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do that, Kate,¡± he insisted, shaking his head. ¡°Why would I protect someone like Alisha, who wants Alicia dead? Why would I protect someone who keeps threatening me with my secret? She doesn¡¯t deserve my forgiveness, let alone my protection!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I saw in my vision,¡± Kate murmured. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know why, but I just¡­¡± ¡°I always believe in your visions, but¡­¡± Jeff scoffed. ¡°I think you¡¯ve got this one wrong.¡± Vision IV If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Vision V When Kate heard the door open again, she snapped her head toward it, expecting it to be Jason. But her expression soured when the temperature shifted, and the scent of perfume from the person standing in the doorway filled her senses. "Alena," she muttered. Kate heard Alena scoff, followed by the soft thud of the door clicking shut. "I''m here again, witch," Alena said, approaching the dressing table and leaning against it with her arms folded. She stared at Kate, who had placed her chin on her lap. Neither spoke, and silence filled the room. "I bet you warned Jeff not to try to protect Alicia," Alena sneered. "I saw him storm out of my house, furious." Kate raised her head and leaned it against the bed¡¯s headboard. She smirked. "And you think I would tell him that?" Alena''s sneer deepened. "What do you think would happen if Jeff tried to protect Alicia? Two things, Kate," she said, raising two fingers as she moved closer to the bed and bent over Kate. She whispered, "One, Alicia loses her life, and you live. Or, two, you die, but unfortunately, Alicia won¡¯t survive. What a loss that would be, don''t you think?" "Do you think a witch like me will die?" Kate snickered, turning her face toward Alena. "Why don''t you care about yourself? Can''t you see you''re in danger?" Alena pulled away from the bed, squinting at Kate before bursting into laughter.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Danger?" she exclaimed, sniggering. "I know you can''t afford to take me for granted, Alena," Kate¡¯s lips curled into a sinister smile. Alena took a deep breath, cocking her head. "You think I believe every one of your visions?" Shaking her head, she tsked. "Tsk, tsk. You''ve got the wrong idea about me." "But I could hear the hammering beat of your heart right now. You''re scared, aren''t you?" Alena¡¯s sly smile faltered, and she looked away. Balling her hands into fists, she muttered angrily, "You¡¯re reading my mind again!" She snapped her face back toward Kate, smirking. "Aren¡¯t you scared I¡¯ll one day kill you for this, hun?" She raised a questioning brow. "Aren¡¯t you scared at all? How many times do I have to tell you not to intrude into my emotions and thoughts?" she yelled, her lips quivering. Nothing or no one irritated Alena more¡ªor frightened her more¡ªthan Kate. Kate reading her thoughts and emotions had always made Alena feel weak, causing her to lose the composure she prided herself on, the composure no one had ever been able to break. That composure was her power, but Kate always rendered her powerless. "I¡¯m sorry for intruding," Kate said coolly. "But you just admitted you¡¯re scared of me." Alena blinked in disbelief. Scrunching her hands into fists, she hissed, "You always get on my nerves." "I have a message for you," Kate said, pausing briefly. "You need to protect Alicia and Alison. They need you, and you need them for your own protection." Alena smirked. "And you think I¡¯ll do that? You must know that¡¯s impossible, Kate. It¡¯s ridiculous." "Then you¡¯ll have to die," Kate said firmly, as if making a declaration. "How dare¡ª" "You¡¯re struggling with fragments of memories you don¡¯t understand, memories you don¡¯t even think are yours," Kate interrupted suddenly, cutting Alena off. Alena stumbled backwards in shock, her eyes wide as she stared at Kate¡¯s unflinching expression. "You can¡¯t remember any of these memories," Kate continued. "But those memories are your lost memories." Vision VI Alena stumbled backwards, her waist slamming against the dressing table. Clutching its edge, she steadied herself on trembling legs as the room spun around her. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and a wave of nausea churned in her stomach¡°Mum!¡± A cheerful, childlike voice rang out, bright and innocent. A little girl dashed barefoot across a tiled floor identical to the one in Mr. White¡¯s sitting room. Her chubby cheeks glowed with excitement, her small pink lips curving into a radiant smile. She wore an orange jumper, her dark hair tied in a bun that bounced as she ran. The girl launched herself into a young woman¡¯s arms, her laughter filling the air. The woman, tall and slender, held her tightly. Sleek black hair cascaded over her shoulders, but her face remained indistinct, blurred as if hidden behind a veil of fog. Alena¡¯s breath hitched. These memories had haunted her for months, yet the young woman¡¯s face remained a mystery. ¡°The tiles are cold¡ªyou shouldn¡¯t run barefoot again!¡± the woman chided gently, her court heels clicking softly as she climbed the stairs. As the sound of heels echoed in her mind, a wave of anger and fear mingled within her. What is this memory? Could it truly be mine? Reality wavered. Alena¡¯s grip on the dressing table slipped, and she crumpled to the floor. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her head, her chest heaving with sobs. The sound of the woman¡¯s heels echoed in her mind, sharp and relentless. ¡°What are you doing to me?¡± she cried out, her voice raw and desperate. ¡°Stop it! Please¡ªjust stop!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done nothing. You¡¯re starting to remember your real memories.¡± Alena¡¯s tear-streaked face lifted, her gaze locking onto Kate. "My real memories?" She rasped, wincing as a sharp headache overtook her. ¡°Can you see them too?¡± She let out a dry, bitter laugh. Kate shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t see memories, Alena. But I know this¡ªIf you want the truth, you¡¯ll have to uncover it yourself.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Alena lunged forward, gripping the edge of the bed like a predator ready to strike. ¡°You¡¯re a witch. You should be able to read memories!¡± Kate didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Only you can uncover the truth. But if you don¡¯t, you¡¯re in grave danger. The only way to protect yourself right now is to protect Alicia and Alison.¡± Alena let out a derisive laugh. ¡°Protect Alicia? You must be joking. She wants everything that¡¯s mine. And Alison?¡± Her laugh was cold, sharp. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted them gone so I can take what¡¯s rightfully mine. Why should I protect them?¡± Kate¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Because your life depends on it. And if you¡¯d listen to me, you¡¯d know that Jeff can help you. Together, you could protect your sisters.¡± Alena narrowed her eyes, her anger simmering beneath the surface. But as Kate finished speaking, Alena pulled back abruptly, her gaze hardening. ¡°I can¡¯t. I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Ale¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Aliena snapped, cutting Kate off. The room grew thick with tension. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m foolish enough to believe you? Do you think you can manipulate me like everyone else? You know nothing.¡± Kate¡¯s gaze softened for a brief moment, but she masked it quickly with a faint smirk tugged at her lips. Alena clenched her fists, her voice trembling with restrained fury. ¡°Do you know why I left that house? He hates me. He always has. But Alicia? She¡¯s his princess. All I want is what¡¯s mine¡ªBerlin belongs to me as the first child, not her.¡± She had spent her entire life fighting for scraps of love and recognition, only to watch Alicia claim it all effortlessly. It wasn¡¯t just envy¡ªit was justice. Berlin was her birthright. ¡°He felt guilty about Alicia. You know that,¡± Kate said evenly. Alena¡¯s laugh was harsh, bitter. ¡°I was ignored from the start. Alicia¡¯s always been the favourite. And I won¡¯t stand by and watch. Never!¡± She stormed toward the door but froze when Kate spoke again. ¡°And Alison? Mum¡¯s favourite?¡± Kate¡¯s voice was quiet, almost taunting. Alena didn¡¯t turn back. Her voice was sharp, icy. ¡°Alison and I share the same goal¡ªto take over Berlin. But in this game, there can only be one winner.¡± With that, she slammed the door shut. Kate exhaled deeply, her shoulders slumping as she buried her face in her hands. ¡°This isn¡¯t how it¡¯s supposed to go,¡± she thought, her heart pounding. Frustration welled up, and she leaned her head back against the headboard, her gaze drifting to the window. The full moon hung in the sky, its light soft and reassuring. Kate¡¯s lips curled into a bittersweet smile, her teary eyes glistening in the moonlight. ¡°What if this is my last chance to reach them? What if I fail?¡± The questions lingered, heavy and unanswerable, as she stared at the moon¡ªa silent witness to her hope and despair.
Heart Break I In jean shorts, a white wool sweater, and a black headband holding her curly hair in place, Alicia lay on the sofa beside her bed. Her legs were crossed, and her head rested on the arm of the chair. In her arms, she cuddled Fox¡ªher big brown teddy bear, now adorned with a black scarf around its neck. Fox had been a birthday gift from Jeff two years ago. Alicia had fallen in love with it at first sight, and she couldn¡¯t forget the bright smile that had lit up her face that day. She had made Fox her best friend, hugging it like a child in bed. But after meeting Wilson, she had shoved it away, hiding it because of his jealousy, and forgotten about it. The fight with Jeff at the hospital, and the way she had treated him afterwards, still throbbed painfully in her chest. When she had heard the sound of his car engine fading away, a wave of longing had swept over her. She ran to the window, watching as his car disappeared into the distance. After she had a bath that morning, Alicia smiled faintly when her eyes landed on Jeff''s sweater hanging in her wardrobe. It was a memory she couldn¡¯t shake. One evening, when they had been caught in the rain, they had taken shelter under the roof of a small shop. Alicia wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as she sniffled. Fearing she might catch a fever, Jeff had taken off his white sweater and placed it in her arms. ¡°You might catch a fever; wear it,¡± he had said, rubbing his arms to warm them. Alicia had stared at the sweater, unsure of how to respond. She was wearing a long-sleeved jumpsuit, and Jeff had on a sleeveless shirt. ¡°It¡¯s selfish for me to take it,¡± Alicia had said, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯ll catch a fever.¡± But Jeff had insisted. ¡°I¡¯m the guy here. Don¡¯t underestimate me. You might catch a cold,¡± he had said, wrapping the sweater around her neck. ¡°Wear it now, or I¡¯ll wear it for you.¡± Alicia had smiled sweetly, remembering that moment as she stared at the sweater in her wardrobe. She decided to wear it for the day, pairing it with a pair of jean shorts. Later, while cleaning, Alicia had found Fox¡¯s legs peeking from under the bed. She dragged him out, wincing as dust puffed into the air. After a thorough wash and drying, she tied a black scarf around his neck. Satisfied with her work, Alicia congratulated herself for restoring her favourite teddy bear.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Afterwards, Alicia had grabbed a packet of chocolate cookies and a can of Coca-Cola from the kitchen and plopped onto the sofa beside her bed. Alicia curled up with Fox in her arms and nibbled on the cookies while the minutes ticked by slowly. The clock read five o''clock, and a wave of loneliness washed over her, filling the space where comfort once existed. She pursed her lips, annoyed that Jeff still hadn¡¯t arrived. Thoughts of their argument swirled in her mind, but when she reached for her phone, she decided against turning it on. Instead, she grabbed her chocolate and Coke, sinking back into the sofa, with Fox cuddled tightly in her arms. As the minutes passed, her sense of isolation deepened, and eventually, she picked up her phone and switched it on. The first thing she saw made her stomach tighten with agitation: a picture of her and Wilson. In the picture, they wore matching sky-blue T-shirts, sneakers, and black pants. Alicia had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and they both smiled happily. Wilson had his arms around her waist, and she rested her head on his chest. The air around them seemed filled with romance, and the warmth of the moment lingered in the photo. Alicia¡¯s heart clenched. She deleted the picture immediately, her fingers trembling as she replaced it with a photo of a sunflower field. Still not satisfied, she searched for more pictures of her and Wilson, deleting them one by one. Time passed, and the evening turned into night. Alicia, feeling drained by the monotony of the day, tossed her phone aside. She closed her eyes and held Fox tighter, wishing she could fall asleep and escape the emotional storm brewing within her. Seconds dragged into minutes, and just as she was about to drift off, a notification sounded from her phone. Clank! Clank! Alicia¡¯s eyes snapped open, her heart racing with hope that it might be Jeff. She grabbed the phone and swiped the screen to unlock it. The picture that appeared made her stomach churn. It was of Alison¡ªsitting on Wilson¡¯s lap, her arms draped around his neck, their faces inches from each other. Alison¡¯s soft smile, so warm, so intimate. The photo had been taken in Mr. White¡¯s garden, the lavish White family mansion in the background. Alicia¡¯s heart slammed against her ribs. A cold sweat broke out across her skin. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the image, the storm inside her swirling. She could feel her chest tightening, the fury bubbling up from deep within her. No. Not Alison. Not her. Her breath came sharp and quick as her mind raced through a whirlwind of thoughts. Why was Alison there? What was she doing with Wilson? The jealousy clawed at her chest, unbearable. Without thinking, Alicia sprang to her feet. The phone felt heavy in her hand as she tossed it aside, her pulse hammering in her ears. Her movements were quick, almost frantic, as she grabbed her car keys from the table. Every step toward the door was fueled by an angry determination she could no longer suppress. She had to see this for herself. Heart Break II The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Heart Break III If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Heart Break IV Alison, dressed entirely in black¡ªtailored trousers and a fitted jacket¡ªstepped cautiously into the room, her voice trembling slightly as she called out, ¡°Alicia¡­ I¡¯m so, so¡­¡± ¡°So what?¡± Alicia interrupted sharply. ¡°Sorry?¡± Her sneer was cutting, her voice cold. With an imploring look, Alison met Alicia¡¯s fiery gaze. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Alicia. Please, I¡¯m sorry. Forgive me.¡± Alicia pulled her hand away from Alison¡¯s tentative grip, her expression hardening. ¡°Do you take me for a fool, Alison?¡± she spat. ¡°Wilson is a jerk, he¡¯s no good for you,¡± she mocked, echoing Alison¡¯s previous warnings before letting out a dry, bitter laugh. ¡°So, all that concern was just a ploy, wasn¡¯t it? You wanted me to leave him¡­ so you could have him.¡± Closing the gap between them, Alicia¡¯s face hovered dangerously close to Alison¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll ruin you, Alison,¡± she hissed, her tone dripping with venom. Her eyes burned with malice, her determination unyielding. ¡°I swear it¡ªI¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± But even as she spoke, Alicia fought the urge to laugh, her hand covering her mouth to stifle the bubbling mirth that threatened to betray her fury. ¡°You really think I came here to apologise?¡± Alison¡¯s lips curled into a scornful smirk. ¡°I¡¯m too proud for that, Alicia,¡± she said, pausing for effect before continuing, ¡°And I knew you¡¯d assume as much. Ruin me, you say?¡± Her smirk widened. ¡°Do you honestly believe I¡¯d stand by and let you destroy my reputation?¡± Alicia¡¯s brow furrowed, surprise flickering across her face. It was as though she no longer recognised the woman standing before her.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Alison?¡± she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°Is this really who you are?¡± For a moment, Alicia¡¯s mind reeled. Alison, standing before her with a smug expression, seemed unrecognisable. Alicia had always seen her as stubborn yet fragile, the one who apologised first whenever they quarrelled. Alison had always been the sister who defended her, stood up to her high school bullies, and shared in mischief. They had once been inseparable, bound by secrets and sisterly affection. Alicia¡¯s memories flashed vividly¡ªintroducing Alison to Wilson with pride, draping an arm around her neck, and playfully kissing her cheek, earning a laugh from Wilson. But now¡­ Alicia laughed, though there was no humour in it¡ªonly disbelief. ¡°Have you been pretending this whole time, or¡­¡± Alison¡¯s smirk deepened. ¡°Did you really think no one knew your little secret?¡± Alison¡¯s voice was soft, almost tender, her head tilting in mockery as if savouring Alicia¡¯s unravelling. ¡°Not even me? Or Mum?¡± Alicia¡¯s fists clenched, her body trembling with fury as her eyes burned with unshed tears. ¡°It¡¯s not a secret anymore,¡± Alison continued, her tone cruelly matter-of-fact. ¡°Alena knows. Mum knows. Everyone knows.¡± Her gaze dropped to the shattered glass and scattered vase fragments on the floor. She tsked softly, feigning pity. Looking back up, she reached out to wipe a tear from Alicia¡¯s cheek as one of her own trickled down. ¡°Poor Alicia,¡± she murmured with mock sympathy, her lips curling into a sly smile. ¡°What will you do now?¡± Her expression turned colder as she added, ¡°By the way, I have no idea what¡¯s going on between Jeff and your dear sister, Alena. You already know there¡¯s no love between you two. Still, I thought you should know¡ªJeff and Alena are seeing each other. I saw them last night, walking into a hotel room together. You were still in hospital¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Alicia¡¯s roar filled the room as she lunged forward, grabbing Alison by the neck and shoving her hard against the wall. Her eyes blazed with unrestrained fury. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± she demanded, her voice trembling with rage as she shoved Alison to the floor. The cold tiles scraped Alison¡¯s knees, and she gasped in pain before looking up at Alicia with a mocking grin. ¡°You poor thing,¡± she jeered, tossing a handful of photographs onto the floor. The photographs fanned out across the floor, each one a frozen moment of betrayal: Jeff¡¯s arm draped around Alena, her head resting against his chest. Alicia¡¯s breath caught as her gaze lingered on the sheets¡ªpristine white, yet stained with treachery. Heart Break V Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Heart Break VI If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Sacrifice I You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Sacrifice II The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Breath This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Blackmail I One Month Ago ¡°Wow! Where did you get this?¡± Alicia exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration as Alison handed her a delicate golden necklace from a small box. Holding it gently between her fingers, Alicia marvelled at the intricate design, her eyes shimmering with delight as the necklace swayed softly. ¡°It looks expensive¡ªI absolutely love it!¡± she gushed. ¡°You know Cynthia, right?¡± Alison asked. Alicia nodded, her gaze still fixed on the necklace. Cynthia was one of Alison¡¯s friends who lived in England. ¡°She sent it to me as a birthday gift,¡± Alison explained casually. ¡°Wow, some gift!¡± Alicia breathed, already on her feet as she hurried to the mirror. She carefully fastened the necklace around her neck and stared at her reflection. The golden piece shimmered beautifully against her fair skin, and a blush crept onto her cheeks as she traced its outline with her fingertips. ¡°It¡¯s like it was made just for you,¡± Alison teased, smiling as she watched Alicia¡¯s reflection. Alicia turned suddenly, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Where did she get this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I can ask her for you,¡± Alison offered. Alicia¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Please do! I¡¯d love to get one just like it.¡± Alison chuckled as she sprawled across the bed and rested her head on the pillow. ¡°Or you could just buy mine,¡± she joked. ¡°Of course!¡± Alicia turned to face her, grinning mischievously. ¡°Would you really sell it to me?¡± ¡°Just kidding!¡± Alison shot back, sticking out her tongue.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°You¡¯re impossible,¡± Alicia muttered with a pout, turning back to the mirror. Alison smirked. ¡°You¡¯ve admired it enough, now hand it over before you claim it as yours,¡± she teased, reaching for her phone on the bed. As Alicia unclasped the necklace, her eyes landed on a medium-sized white envelope sitting on the table. The edge of a photograph peeked out from its opening. Intrigued, she set the necklace aside and picked up the envelope. ¡°Did you have a photo shoot for your birthday?¡± she asked, tugging lightly at the photos. Before she could pull them out, Alison¡¯s hand shot out and snatched the envelope away. In her haste, the photographs spilt from the envelope and scattered across the floor. Alicia froze. Her breath hitched as her gaze landed on the images. ¡°This is¡­¡± Her voice faltered. ¡°This is Mom.¡± Nude photographs of Rose¡ªtheir mother¡ªlay strewn across the floor like a terrible secret laid bare. Alison scrambled to gather the pictures, her hands shaking as she shoved them back into the envelope. ¡°What are you doing with those?¡± Alicia asked, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Those are Mom¡¯s nude photos¡­¡± Alison shot a desperate glance at the door before covering Alicia¡¯s mouth with her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t shout!¡± she hissed, her eyes pleading. ¡°Please, Alicia. Just be quiet!¡± Alicia pushed Alison¡¯s hand away, glaring at her. ¡°What is going on? Are you trying to blackmail her?¡± ¡°No! No, Alicia!¡± Alison¡¯s voice cracked as panic gripped her. ¡°I¡¯m the one being blackmailed!¡± Alicia¡¯s face twisted in confusion. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I¡ªI took those pictures, yes, but I have no idea how someone else got them,¡± Alison stammered, sweat forming on her brow. ¡°A stranger is blackmailing me, Alicia. I don¡¯t even know who they are!¡± Alicia took a step back, her expression turning from shock to disgust. ¡°Why did you take those photos in the first place?¡± Alison sank to her knees, tears pooling in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered, rubbing her palms together in a desperate plea. ¡°Please, Alicia. Let this stay between us. Just you and me. Please!¡± Alicia crossed her arms, her jaw tight. ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered me. Why, Alison? Why did you take them?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask,¡± Alison interrupted sharply, her voice trembling. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later. Just¡­ just promise me you won¡¯t say anything. Please, Alicia. I¡¯m begging you.¡± Alicia stared at her sister, taking in her tear-streaked face and trembling shoulders. With a sigh, she turned away, shaking her head. ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered. ¡°But I don¡¯t even want to think about this¡ªit¡¯s disgusting. I¡¯m just going to pretend this never happened.¡± Grabbing the necklace box from the bed, Alicia threw one last glance at Alison, who sat on the floor with her face buried in her hands. Blackmail II This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Blackmail III If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Blackmail IV Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Burning Heart I 3rd May, 6:30pm Mrs Anderson pulled off her gloves and dropped them onto the tray. "I wondered how she survived. She should have been dead by now. The strange part is, she''s healing so quickly." She hung her white medical coat on a hook, still mulling over the situation. As Jason rushed Kate into Mrs Anderson¡¯s house, she swiftly cleared space in her underground medical lab. She ran a series of checkups on Kate, administering treatment as she worked. Once satisfied that Kate was stable, Mrs Anderson moved her to a room next to the lab and hooked her up to a ventilator. Throughout the entire process, she couldn¡¯t stop wondering how Kate was still alive. ¡°The chemical she inhaled is hydrogen sulfide,¡± Mrs Anderson informed, picking up the medical tray where she had discarded her gloves. ¡°Hydrogen sulfide is a deadly gas often used in industrial settings. It shuts down your respiratory system almost immediately. Most people don¡¯t survive even a small dose, and her exposure level would have killed anyone else. Yet, she survived it¡ªI''ve never seen anything like this in all my years as a doctor. Her body is fighting back in a way I can¡¯t explain. It¡¯s almost as if something in her system is neutralizing the effects. I¡¯ll need to run more tests to understand how." She glanced at Kate¡¯s motionless form and sighed. "I¡¯m not sure when she''ll wake up, but I¡¯m confident she¡¯ll make it." Jason nodded and placed his hands on his hips, his gaze fixed on Kate¡¯s pale face. A heavy sigh escaped him. Mrs Anderson¡¯s eyes moved to Jeff, leaning against the wall, arms folded, his eyes downcast. Dark circles marked the skin under his eyes, and she could see the lingering effects of tears. Her heart tightened as she watched him. She could feel the weight of sadness in the room, the fear in her son¡¯s eyes. She looked back at Kate and wondered who this young woman was. This was the first time she had seen her.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Who is she?" Mrs Anderson asked. "What¡¯s her name?" ¡°She¡¯s Kate,¡± Jason replied, his voice low. ¡°And...?¡± Mrs Anderson prompted. Jason rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at Jeff, but Jeff only shifted his gaze briefly. The silence stretched. Jason looked from Kate to Jeff, and Mrs Anderson¡¯s eyes flicked between them, waiting. ¡°Is someone going to answer me?¡± she asked, a note of frustration creeping into her voice. ¡°She¡¯s Jason¡¯s girlfriend,¡± Jeff said plainly. Jason gasped and turned to stare at Jeff. Mrs Anderson¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Your girlfriend?¡± she exclaimed. ¡°You never told me you had one!¡± Jason forced a smile as he turned to face his mother. "Yeah," he laughed awkwardly. "I wanted to tell you, but I didn¡¯t think it was the right time. I¡¯m¡­ sorry." Mrs Anderson sighed, looking at Kate with a mix of sympathy and disappointment. ¡°It¡¯s a shame," she murmured. "Why do I have to find out now, when she¡¯s unconscious? And she¡¯s so pretty.¡± She cupped Jason¡¯s face gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason," she said softly, her eyes filled with concern. "I know this must be hard on you, but I promise you, she¡¯ll be fine." Jason¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. He nodded silently. ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± he whispered. Jeff pushed off from the wall and started toward the door, but Mrs Anderson reached out and grabbed his wrist gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Alicia, Jeff,¡± she said. ¡°I heard from Dr Johnson she fell into a coma. You must be hurting.¡± Jeff sighed, his shoulders slumping. Slowly, he pulled his wrist from her grasp and walked away. Jason looked at his mother, concern evident in his voice. ¡°He¡¯s got a lot on his mind right now, Mom,¡± he said, trying to explain Jeff¡¯s retreat. ¡°I understand,¡± Mrs. Anderson murmured, her gaze lingering on the doorway Jeff had just passed through, a quiet sadness in her eyes. Burning Heart II Jeff parked his car beside a cream-painted fence, his jaw tightening as he gripped the steering wheel. He stepped out, slammed the door shut, and flexed his fingers as he approached the house. His movements were deliberate, his gaze cold and focused. With a single knock on the door, a woman''s voice called out, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The door swung open, revealing a young blonde woman in black pants and a bra. She gave him a curious smile. ¡°Hi, who are you?¡± Jeff¡¯s lip curled slightly, his eyes narrowing. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Wilson,¡± he said, his tone clipped. ¡°Who¡¯s that, babe?¡± a gruff voice barked from inside. ¡°A guy¡¯s here to see you,¡± she replied, stepping aside. ¡°Let him in.¡± Jeff walked in, his eyes immediately locking on Wilson, who lounged on a sofa. A smirk played on Wilson¡¯s face as he cradled a dark-haired woman in a towel on his lap. ¡°Jeff,¡± Wilson drawled, leaning back lazily. ¡°What brings you here? I don¡¯t recall us having any¡ª¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Wilson¡¯s words were cut short by Jeff¡¯s fist colliding with his nose. The crack echoed in the room as blood dripped onto Wilson¡¯s lip. He touched his nose, then looked at the blood on his fingers, his smirk fading into a scowl. ¡°You son of a¡ª¡± Jeff didn¡¯t wait. His booted foot connected sharply with Wilson¡¯s groin, sending him doubling over with a groan. The women screamed, clutching each other as they backed away. Jeff grabbed Wilson by the collar and yanked him to his feet. With a swift motion, he slammed him against the wall. The plaster cracked under the impact. Jeff¡¯s expression was ice, but his movements radiated barely restrained fury. ¡°You think you can get away with this?¡± Jeff¡¯s voice was low, vibrating with menace. He didn¡¯t wait for an answer. Another punch landed on Wilson¡¯s stomach, forcing a wheeze from his lips. Wilson stumbled, but Jeff hauled him up again, this time slamming him onto the coffee table. The wood creaked under Wilson¡¯s weight as Jeff¡¯s hands found his throat, his grip unyielding. Wilson¡¯s eyes widened in panic as Jeff leaned in close, his voice a growl. ¡°Do you feel it now? Do you understand what it means to cross me?¡± The women bolted from the room, their screams fading into the background as Jeff tightened his hold. Wilson clawed weakly at Jeff¡¯s hands, his breaths coming in desperate, shallow gasps. Jeff¡¯s lips curled into a dark smile, his eyes gleaming with a savage satisfaction. For a moment, it seemed like he might crush the life out of Wilson then and there. The door burst open, and uniformed policemen charged in, the blonde woman pointing frantically at Jeff. ¡°That¡¯s him! Stop him! He¡¯ll kill him!¡± Jeff barely registered the chaos as the officers pulled him off Wilson. He struggled against their grip, his arms straining as he tried to lunge back toward Wilson, who lay gasping on the floor. ¡°Get him out of here!¡± one of the officers ordered, shoving Jeff toward the door. Jeff was wrestled into the back of the police car, his chest heaving with fury as they drove him away, red and blue lights flashing in the distance. ************************************************************************************************************************************* Jason¡¯s phone buzzed, and he answered it quickly. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Jason, it¡¯s Andrew,¡± came the steady voice on the other end. ¡°Your brother, Jeff, is in custody. He¡¯s at the station right now.¡± ¡°Jeff?¡± Jason¡¯s voice shot up in alarm. Mrs Anderson, sitting nearby, turned to him, her brows furrowing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jason quickly flashed his mom a forced smile. And without waiting for another word from her, he grabbed his keys and headed for the door. Mrs Anderson watched him leave, unease settling in her chest. Something wasn¡¯t right, and she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
    Burning Heart III At K and Y Hospital, the security guard stationed at Alicia¡¯s ward quickly stepped aside, holding the door open as Olive wheeled Mr. White toward it. Olive paused outside, giving Mr. White a nod before gently closing the door behind him. A faint blend of antiseptic, sterile gauze, and the metallic tang of medical equipment lingered in the air as Mr White wheeled himself into the room, the rhythmic beeping of the monitor a constant reminder of the fragility of life. His hands trembled on the wheelchair¡¯s armrests as he took in the sight before him. Alicia lay motionless on the hospital bed, wires snaking across her fragile frame, the ventilator rising and falling in a mechanical rhythm. The sterile blue of her hospital gown only deepened the pallor of her face. For a moment, he froze. Then, wheeling himself closer, he fought the tears burning in his eyes. But as his gaze lingered on her bandaged hands and her eerily still form, the dam broke. Silent tears rolled down his weathered face, each one carving a path of regret and anguish. ¡°A...Alicia¡­¡± he whispered, his voice cracking. He reached out a trembling hand to touch her cheek. It was warm¡ªshe was alive. Relief washed over him, bringing with it a bittersweet smile that wavered under the weight of memory. He withdrew his hand as if her warmth burned him. The last time they had been close felt like another lifetime. He could still recall the scornful glare she often reserved for him¡ªthe way it cut deeper than any words. Even now, the phantom of her disdain gnawed at him, dragging his hand back to his lap. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he muttered, his voice thick with grief. Tears streaked down his face as he choked out the words. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Alicia.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ............. ¡°Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, daddy! Happy birthday to you!¡± ¡°Hurray!¡± Mr. White cheered, his laughter ringing through the room as he swung his six-year-old daughter into his arms. ¡°Happy birthday, Dad!¡± Alicia giggled, her round cheeks glowing pink with excitement, her wide, bright eyes glinting like polished pearls. Mr. White laughed louder, kissing her cheeks and ruffling her soft curls. ¡°Thank you, darling! I love you so much!¡± ¡°I love you too, Dad! You¡¯re the best!¡± Alicia squealed, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. ............... ¡°Get out! Get out of my sight!¡± Alicia¡¯s voice cracked with fury as she hurled a pillow across the room, followed by a crumpled bedsheet and a scattering of cosmetics. Standing by the door, Mr. White flinched but didn¡¯t move. His lips quivered, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the fabric of his suit pants. ¡°Alicia, please¡­¡± he pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± she spat, grabbing the glass perfume bottle from her dresser. The apple-scented spray exploded across the room as the bottle shattered against the wall. ¡°Leave! I hate you! I hate you!¡± The venom in her words struck him harder than any physical blow. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision as he stared at the daughter who once clung to his neck in pure adoration. With a final look of defeat, he turned and left, the echo of her rage trailing him down the hall. .............. Mr. White held Alicia¡¯s cold, fragile hand in his, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. ¡°Alicia¡­¡± he whispered again, the name a prayer and a plea. ¡°I¡¯m sorry...so sorry¡­¡± His voice cracked, the words spilling out in broken fragments as he clung to her lifeless hand. The steady beeping of the machines was the only reply, each sounds a reminder of the time they had lost and the mistakes he could never take back. Threat Alena knocked on the door and heard a calm ¡°Come in¡± from the other side. She entered the study, closing the door gently behind her. Rose sat poised on a high-backed leather swivel chair behind a polished mahogany desk. On either side of her were tall bookshelves, brimming with volumes that gave the room an air of quiet authority. Alena paused for a moment, noting how Rose¡¯s fingers danced across the laptop keyboard. She hesitated but then spoke, her voice measured. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt, Mother.¡± Rose looked up, a smile softening her features. ¡°No need to apologize, dear. I assume it¡¯s important if you¡¯re here.¡± Alena stepped closer, her movements deliberate. ¡°It is. I feel like something¡¯s changed¡ªlike I¡¯m being sidelined from your plans.¡± Her voice carried a hint of controlled anger, though her expression remained composed. Rose leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers. ¡°You seem upset. What¡¯s troubling you?¡± ¡°Wilson,¡± Alena said, her voice sharp. Rose arched a brow, her curiosity piqued. ¡°What about him?¡± ¡°Did you send him to my house to deal with Kate? Without telling me? Why?¡± Rose¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver. ¡°I thought it better he handle it. You have more pressing matters to attend to.¡± ¡°But Kate has been under my care for years,¡± Alena countered, her tone rising. ¡°He should have consulted me first.¡± Rose¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, though her gaze remained steady. ¡°Why are you so agitated? You knew Kate¡¯s presence was leverage against Jeff. He failed me, and this is his punishment. I sent Wilson because I won¡¯t let your hands get dirty.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Alena¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Even so, I should have been informed.¡± Rose¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, studying Alena with quiet intensity. ¡°Tell me, Alena, have you developed feelings for Jeff? Is that why you¡¯re so protective of his sister?¡± Alena scoffed, shaking her head. ¡°Feelings? Hardly. But Wilson¡­¡± She clenched her fists. ¡°He acts as if I don¡¯t matter. He doesn¡¯t even respect my authority. Do you know what he said to me? He mocked me¡ªsaid I think too highly of myself. As if he¡¯s untouchable!¡± Rose sighed, a trace of amusement flickering in her eyes. ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯re so worked up?¡± ¡°His confidence is infuriating,¡± Alena snapped. ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate it.¡± Rose regarded her daughter calmly. ¡°So, what do you want to do about it?¡± ¡°I want him gone,¡± Alena said coldly. ¡°He¡¯s a threat to my position, and I won¡¯t stand for it.¡± Rose watched her intently, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Why not let me handle his punishment?¡± ¡°I want to do it myself!¡± Alena¡¯s voice was firm. Rose rose from her chair, walking over to place her hands on Alena¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Patience, my dear. We still need him¡ªfor now. When the time comes, you¡¯ll have your chance.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Shh,¡± Rose whispered, pressing a finger to Alena¡¯s lips. ¡°Trust me.¡± Alena¡¯s fiery gaze met her mother¡¯s, searching for hidden motives. Finally, she nodded, albeit reluctantly. Rose returned to her chair and sat gracefully. ¡°Did you know,¡± she began, ¡°after your father¡¯s resignation, he bribed the board to support Alicia as the next president of Beliny?¡± Alena¡¯s eyes widened, fury bubbling to the surface. ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Rose leaned back, her voice calm. ¡°He¡¯s desperate to earn her forgiveness. But don¡¯t worry¡ªAlison has taken care of her.¡± ¡°I heard Alicia¡¯s in a coma. What if she wakes up?¡± Rose¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d let that happen?¡± ¡°If we¡¯re not careful, she¡¯ll take Beliny,¡± Alena said, her fists clenching. ¡°I won¡¯t let her have it. It¡¯s mine by right as the firstborn. This is an insult.¡± Rose chuckled softly. ¡°You worry too much when it comes to her. Everything is going according to plan. Do you think I¡¯d let it all fall apart now when we are close?¡± Alena took a deep breath, her anger momentarily subdued. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mother. I didn¡¯t mean to doubt you.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Rose said, her voice soothing. ¡°I''m sure your father will likely be at the hospital by now, drowning in his own guilt.¡± ¡°And Alison?¡± Rose smirked, her fingers drumming lightly on the desk. ¡°She¡¯s walking straight into her own downfall. Just wait¡ªyou¡¯ll see her arrested soon enough.¡± Alena returned her mother¡¯s smile, a sense of satisfaction flickering across her face. Haunt You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Behind The Closed Door Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.