LOGINElena woke up the next day at noon, she remained still, blinking away the last traces of sleep from her eyes. She reached toward the other side of the bed but it was empty.The sheets were already cool. Damien had been gone for quite some time.She pushed herself upright, surprised by how rested she felt. The pounding headache that had haunted her for days was gone.Her gaze wandered across the bedside table, it landed on a neatly folded piece of paper resting beside a glass of water.A smile touched her lips even before she picked it up.She unfolded it carefully.[The moment she saw the familiar handwriting, warmth spread through her chest. I had to leave early for an urgent meeting. Don’t even think about going to work today. Rest. Eat properly, I informed the kitchen staff to make something for you. Call me if you need anything.]Elena laughed softly. “So bossy”Elena shook her head fondly, she folded the note again instead of throwing it away. She carefully placed it inside the
The drive back home was suffocating.Donald gripped the steering wheel tightly, the drive felt like an eternity, his mind replaying the scene at the cafe over and over again.He had been so close. Just one more sentence and Elena would finally have known the truth.Beside him, Patricia remained unnervingly composed. She sat with perfect poise, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, her designer handbag resting neatly on her lap.She was way too calm, Donald knew her well enough to recognize the danger behind that silence.She wasn’t the type to lose control in public. Patricia preferred privacy, that was when she became truly frightening.Anyone looking through the tinted windows would have seen nothing more than a sophisticated couple returning from an evening out.Only the two of them knew the truth.They finally got home, Donald climbed out first, he strode toward the entrance walking way too fast.If he could make it to his study perhaps he could avoid whatever storm Patricia ha
Maya sat curled up on the sofa, her knees drawn tightly to her chest. After insisting she didn’t want to meet Damien, Jules had offered to drive her back to her apartment.She had refused not because she wanted to stay at his place but because she couldn’t bear the thought of being alone.She wore one of Jules’s oversized white shirts, the sleeves hanging far past her wrists. It smelled faintly of cedarwood, offering a strange sense of comfort she desperately needed.Her eyes remained fixed on the mug of hot chocolate sitting untouched on the coffee table.The drink had long since gone cold. A few moments later, Jules came from the kitchen carrying a fresh cup.He quietly picked up the cold one before replacing it with the new cup of hot chocolate.“The first one wasn’t doing you much good.”Maya managed a weak smile.“I’m not really hungry.”Jules looked at her.“I didn’t ask whether you were hungry. I’m asking you to drink it.”Without another word, Maya wrapped both hands around th
A short drive later, Donald’s car stopped outside a cafe. Unlike the crowded restaurants downtown, this place was secluded.A waitress led them to a corner booth.Donald picked up the menu.“Would you like something?”“No.”“Coffee?”“No.”“You always liked their hot chocolate.”“I’m not here to eat.”He smiled sadly.“You answer exactly like your mother.”Elena’s patience was wearing thin. “My patience is running out. I am sure you didn’t bring me here to reminisce about the past.”Donald nodded. “No but I would still like you to eat something.”Without asking again, he looked toward the waitress.“One hot chocolate and one slice of lemon cheesecake.”He looked back at Elena.“I hope these are still your favorites.”She blinked.“You remember?”“I remember more than you think.”“How is your husband? I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend the family dinner.”He looked at Elena’s face carefully, his smile slowly faded.“You don’t look well.”“I’m fine.”“You’ve lost weight.”“I’m tired.”“T
When Elena left the hospital, she couldn’t bring herself to return home. She wasn’t ready to face Damien, not when she had to smile, pretend and lie that she was okay.Every conversation with him felt harder than the last. Every worried glance made the weight on her chest heavier.There was only one place she wanted to go, one place where she didn’t have to pretend.She stepped outside the hospital and hailed a taxi.The moment she settled into the back seat, her fingers tightly intertwined in her lap. Resting beside her was the small paper bag containing the medication Dr. Turner had prescribed as she had requested.She rested her head against the glass window.Dr. Turner’s words disturbed her.“Imagine what pain they’ll be in when you’re gone.”She slowly closed her eyes.“They will move on,” she whispered. “They have to.”Outside was bustling with people and so many activities but Elena felt her world had quietly stopped turning.The driver’s voice broke through her thoughts.“Wher
Maya still remained in the same position, curled up on the couch, her face still buried deep in her cushion. Her shoulders were trembling.“I promised … I promise I will trust you.” The words came out as little more than a whisper.She had failed and followed Elena despite her pleadings and it had led to her listening to a conversation that had never been meant for her ears.The guilt gnawed relentlessly at her heart.Yet another thought hurt even more.If I stay quiet. What if she dies?The question echoed through her mind again and again until she thought it might drive her insane.“I can’t lose you…”Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.With shaking hands, she unlocked her phone and opened her photo gallery.Her thumb stopped on a picture from Milan. The four of them stood in front of the Duomo.Elena was laughing freely, her smile brighter than the morning sun beside her, Damien wasn’t even looking at the camera. He was looking only at Elena.Maya stared at the photograph for a lo
Elena made it to her car before the shaking started. She climbed into the driver’s seat and gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, taking deep, shuddering breaths that did nothing to steady her racing heart.Victoria’s pregnancy announcement had struck her like a knife to
“Elena?”Elena’s head snapped up. Standing at the bottom of the escalator, shopping bags from the hospital gift shop in her hands, was Victoria.Her stepsister’s eyes widened with surprise, then immediately narrowed with calculation as she took in Elena, the medical information packet clutched in h
Back at the mansion, Elena finally stirred around noon. She blinked against the dim light filtering through her curtains, disoriented for a moment. Her body felt heavy.She reached for her phone immediately, and as the screen lit up, a calendar reminder flashed: Dr. Turner - 12:00 PM - Brain Tumor
Damien knew he was attractive but after his wife passed away, he had not felt the same way for another woman. He had learnt to ignore advances with practiced ease."Good morning, Dr. Mitchell," he replied briefly , his tone making it clear he was here for business, nothing more.Dr. Mitchell turned







