LOGINMannie’s POV
The moment I entered the neighborhood, I noticed the unfamiliar car parked there, and my brows immediately furrowed.
<3rd POVDavid's team and the police simultaneously discovered that the stolen van was parked west of the capital.A low murmur spread through the officers. Radios crackled. Boots shifted against gravel.One officer pointed at the screen in the patrol car. “It hasn’t moved in hours.”
MANNIE’S POVMy hand hovered above my phone screen as I contemplated calling Dominic. Biting my lips, my eyes hazy and filled with contemplation as I wondered if this was the right thing to do.The call icon glowed faintly under my thumb. One tap. That was all it would take.My finger trembled.
3RD POVMrs. Rosalind stepped out of her house with a bunch of well-packaged flowers.She adjusted the wrapper around the bouquet, patting it neatly before placing it carefully into the basket of her small granny bike. The flowers were fresh—roses, daisies, and a few sprigs of lavender she had grown herself.Gardening had become her pride. Her quiet joy.With her children grown and her grandchildren scattered across cities and countries, silence had crept into her life. At first, it had been unbearable. The house had felt too big, and boredom was killing her. So she planted things.And in return, they grew.She mounted her little bike and began pedaling slowly out of the community, humming softly to herself.“Hm… why is that child walking like that?” she muttered under her breath, instinctively slowing down.Her sharp, aged eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head, trying to get a better look.“Oh… it’s Mannie’s child.”Recognition softened her gaze for a moment.“But why is he w
3rd POVAfter the call ended, Mannie looked at the screen and shook her head, “Tsundere,” she muttered under her breath.She lingered for a second, thumb hovering over her phone like she might call back, then scoffed softly and slipped it into her pocket. “Acting all cold like that…” she murmured, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.Mannie entered the living room to see the kids watching TV.The cartoon blasted loudly, colors flashing across the screen as laughter erupted from the characters. The children were sprawled everywhere—on the couch, the rug, even leaning against each other like a pile of sleepy puppies. Their attention was completely locked onto the screen.“Are you all through with your homework?” Mannie asked.The kids all nodded their heads without even looking at her, their eyes glued to the cartoon.Even Nate wasn’t an exception. His usual composed demeanor had melted away, his chin resting on his palm as he stared intently.Mannie folded her arms and r
MANNIE’S POVI glanced at the caller, ready to decline the call and continue talking to my kids, but seeing it was from Dominic, I wavered.My thumb hovered over the screen.The phone kept vibrating in my hand.A strange tension built in my chest.I didn’t know what he would do if I didn’t pick.Would he call again?Would he show up?Knowing him… that wasn’t impossible.I exhaled softly and lowered my hand.I turned to the kids.“Stop thinking about that. Anything you aren’t sure of and can’t seem to understand, don’t try to use your limited point of view to figure it out. You may end up getting trapped in your own thoughts.”They looked at me.Tera blinked.Nate tilted his head slightly.I wasn’t sure they fully understood, but they both nodded.“Okay, Mom,” Tera said.They turned and walked back inside.I watched them go for a second.Then—I lifted the phone again and answered just before it cut.“Hello?”"Are you okay? You took so long to pick up."Dominic’s voice came through imm
MANNIE'S POVI glanced around after clearing the food and washing the dishes.The plates were stacked neatly. The sink was clean. The faint smell of soap still lingered in the air.My hands rested on the edge of the counter for a moment.I slowly lifted my head and glanced around.Hmmm, I hadn't seen Tera. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was feeling devastated that I did not allow her to go.My chest tightened slightly.She had looked so excited earlier.Her eyes had sparkled.And I—I had shut it down.Was I too harsh?Did I crush something important in her?My fingers curled slightly against the counter.“No…” I whispered."Let me just check up on her."I turned to Nate, who was reading a newspaper.He sat calmly on the couch, his small frame slightly bent forward, both hands holding the newspaper like he had done it a hundred times before.His brows were drawn together.Focused.Serious.Too serious for a child. A slight smile curled up on my lips.Due to the kids and my mom, I h
Mannie’s POVThe moment I got home from that party, I threw myself into the bathroom and then on the bed.My head hit the pillow, but it didn’t bring the comfort I needed. My body was tired, but my mind wouldn’t let me rest. My chest felt heavy, like I had been running uphill for years and still ha
Zarah's POVThe party was going well. Maybe too well.I stood in the center of the living room, a glass of sparkling wine in my hand, laughing softly at something one of my friends had said.The chandelier lights above glowed like stars, and the scent of roses and fresh desserts filled the air. Eve
Mannie’s POVI knew coming to Zarah’s house for the party was a bad idea.Everything about the place made my skin crawl. The big gold pillars. The fake white roses covering the walls.The loud, rich music that felt like it was trying too hard to impress. Even the cake was taller than me.I stood by
Dominic’s POVSaturday should have been quiet, peaceful.A time to rest.But there I was, sitting at my office desk with files scattered across the table and my head pounding.The city skyline outside my window didn’t move. Neither did the pile of issues stacked in front of me.The company was fall







