TWO BIRDS DIED WITH ONE STONE

Adrian“It wasn't me!” Aurelia screamed as the police dragged her out of George's house. “Please believe me! I didn't hurt Scarlett!”I stood by the front door, one hand tucked into my pocket, watching the officers escort her toward the waiting patrol car. Whether her tears were fake or genuine made no difference to me, as the evidence had already spoken.Her gaze landed on Halsey. “Halsey, you know I'm not that type of person who can hurt others without batting an eye. You've seen how I am around your son, Kale. Please... convince Adrian.”Halsey cracked her knuckles loudly. “Adrian... maybe we should give this a little more ti—”George cut in before she could finish. “No. If the footage says Aurelia did it, then she did. They should get her out of here before she decides to attack someone else!”I shifted my attention to him. There wasn't a single trace of concern on his face for her. Rather, George looked relieved, as though he was finally getting rid of a long-lasting thorn by his

WIN HER BACK

EthanI paced to and fro at the Gance family's residence, peeking through the window that overlooked the driveway for signs of Nathan's return as he had gone over to Hartley Global to convince Adrian to throw the suspicion off me.Ever since Adrian Hartley had made that ridiculous announcement to the press that I was a suspect in Scarlett's car crash incident, I had been forced into hiding in Nathan's home as reporters surrounded mine.Immediately upon hearing the sound of Nathan's car pulling up, I crossed to the sofa and picked up the nearest magazine, flipping through its pages lazily as though I hadn't been waiting for Nathan.When the front door opened, I looked up. “You're back. How did it go?““Give me a minute,“ he replied, strolling to the kitchen and pulling out a bottle of wine from one of the Lowe cabinets.He twisted the cap and drank straight from it, taking long gulps before lowering the bottle with a satisfying exhale.Wandering into the living room, Nathan dropped ont

AWAKE

AdrianMy gaze settled on Ethan. “Mr. Vale, I didn't expect to find you here. Then again, I'm not surprised, as it's only natural you were worried about your lover given her current condition. If you two still have unfinished business, I could give you a few more minutes to wrap it up.”Ethan let out a forced laugh. “There's no need for that, Mr. Hartley. Aurelia and I are done talking.”He turned to her. “I'll see you later, honey.”She neither answered nor spared him a glance. I waited until Ethan was gone. Then, I pulled an empty chair in front of Aurelia's cell and lowered myself onto it.“Your lover seems very concerned about you, so let's get straight to the point. Did you tamper with my wife's brakes?” I asked.She hesitated. “...I didn't do it.”“Then how do you explain the CCTV footage that captured you lurking behind Scarlett's car?”She drew a slow breath. “Ethan and I had a fallout at a hospital about our son. I tried calling him several times, but he wouldn't answer. I ev

BOUNDARIES

ScarlettI thought I had died again.As my consciousness slipped away from me, I found myself wondering if my second chance at life had amounted to anything more than revenge. I had clawed my way back from death to destroy Ethan but had somehow forgotten to live in the process.A childhood memory I hadn't thought about in years suddenly resurfaced. Back then, I was still living at the Gance residence with my mother. I had wandered outside the front gates to play when I spotted a little boy sitting on the curb, shoulders trembling as he sobbed quietly.I walked over, curiosity getting the better of me. “Why are you crying in front of our house? Did my daddy scold you?”Shaking his head, he sniffled. “No.”I frowned, confused. “Then go home.”His eyes stayed fixed on the ground. “I can't. No one in my family likes me. Grandpa hurt Benjamin, but he blamed it on me.”“Is Benjamin your dog?”He looked up, almost startled. “He's my older brother.”“Oh... I thought... never mind,” I'd said,

MISCARRIAGE

Adrian“I’m a new nurse,” the male nurse answered.The doctor scratched the back of his head. “In that case, my apologies for misunderstanding. Have you changed the patient's IV bag?”He nodded, reaching for his mask. “Yes, I have.”“Then, come with me.”Trudging behind the doctor, my gaze rested on the man. Hospitals were large, but not to the point that a doctor would forget his worker. Either the doctor was careless, or this man wasn't supposed to be here.“Wait,” I called out, stopping the nurse before he could reach the door. I gazed low at the name tag clipped to his uniform and then back at him. “Nicholas?”The man's gaze didn't waver. “Yes, sir.”Without another word, I gently let go of him. “Thank you for your service.”He bowed politely, then exited the room with the doctor. Turning to Scarlett, she looked like she was in so much pain.“The painkillers have worn off?” I asked, although it wasn't a question.She managed a faint smile. “A little.”“The cops and I are doing eve

DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES, GIDEON!

EthanI waited until evening before heading home. The reporters camped outside my house had finally grown tired of waiting, and one by one, their vans disappeared down the street.Even after the last vehicle pulled away, I remained inside the taxi for another minute, watching through the tinted window to make sure none of them doubled back. Only then did I step out.I had barely slid the key into the lock when hurried footsteps approached me from behind.“Ethan!”A curse escaped my lips, thinking it was another reporter. Spinning around, my shoulders relaxed at the sight of my mother with Gideon beside her.“Mother, what are you doing here?” I asked, pushing the door open and strolling in without waiting for an answer.She followed me inside. “We need your help. Your brother is on the verge of getting expelled from school.”Shrugging off my jacket, I tossed it onto the sofa. “Then beg his school principal. I've got enough problems of my own.”Gideon folded his arms with an irritated s