LOGIN3rd POVThe police stood in a loose line, their weapons lowered but ready. One of them raised a hand slowly, palm open, voice steady as he spoke.“Listen… let the child go. We can talk this out.”The man didn’t move. His grip around Zane’s neck tightened, the knife pressing closer against the boy’s skin.“Four minutes,” he said, his voice rough. “You have four minutes left.”A murmur spread through the officers. One of them checked his watch, his brows tightening.“He already gave five minutes earlier,” another whispered under his breath. “He’s counting down.”No one moved back. No one stepped away.Because walking down the mountain blindly made no sense. One wrong step, one hidden trigger, and everything could end in seconds.The possibility hung in the air.Bombs.Traps.A setup waiting for them
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 POV)I tried to calm myself down. The soft clinking of silverware and the glowing chandelier above did nothing to soothe my nerves. My palms were slightly sweaty as I held my knife and fork. I focused on cutting the steak neatly, hoping to appear composed and graceful. I needed to do m
(Mannie’s POV)We stepped into the lobby, and I swear I forgot how to breathe for a second.I had seen wealth before. At least I had seen the way Zarah flaunted hers and at the places I had worked. Though Zarah flaunted hers like a peacock, always surrounding herself with golden chandeliers, oversi
I had just left my office for a few minutes, only to return to chaos. I rubbed my temple as a hint of fatigue and annoyance flickered across my face.“I wonder if after Arin is done, the amount of chaos will actually reduce.”The secretariat floor was buzzing louder than usual. I passed by the corr
The moment I arrived at my desk in the company, the first thing that caught my eye was the towering pile of files dumped right in the center. Next to my desk, like a thorn beside a flower, was Aria—the very same person who was supposed to complete these files. But instead of working, she was apply







