The gentle pitter-patter of rain soothed Kiara as she sat by the window ledge with a book in her hand. She could feel drops of rain routinely fall on her ruffled skirt, which calmed her down yet drove her almost crazy at the same time.It reminded her of that story about a man who was tortured with drops of water on his head at a slow pace. Moral of the story? It made him run mad! The man lost his sanity totally. It was called the Chinese Water Torture.However, a droplet of water was the least of Kiara’s worries at the moment. As soon as she got back home, she was overwhelmed with many silly feelings. Feelings that included immense guilt and confusion.Guilt because they’d almost been caught one too many times. And confusion because she didn’t know whether to continue or stop. It felt too good to stop, it was bliss. The connection that she and Luca shared made her feel alive and the vibe was electrifying. She couldn’t help but daydream from time to time.Then, other times, if she was
“Baby girl, have you been impulse buying again?” Maria asked with a chuckle leaving her lips. She placed a hand on her hips and awaited an answer from her daughter.Kiara looked up from the book she was reading, meeting her mom’s gaze. “I’m not sure if I know what you’re talking about, Mom.” She wrinkled her brows, sliding her bookmark and placing her book face down.“Oh silly, I saw the dresses, the heels, even the teddy bear.” She shook her head, taking a seat beside Kiara. She looked at her, taking hold of her hand gently. “Are you okay Mom?” Kiara asked, looking down at her hand. It was weird of Maria to act like that.“Oh, I just miss my sweet pea. I know I’ve been a little busy, and you have too.” She nodded, trying to hold her tears from spilling out, “You’re growing up so fast, and I fear you’re slipping out of my fingers.”Kiara shook her head hastily, “No, Mom. Don’t say that. I could never, I’ll always be your little girl. You know?” She sheepishly grinned.“You know the ot
“Amore, I’m sorry,” Luca said, grabbing her arm.“Are you sure you are? Look at how sober Katie is because of you!” Kiara whisper-yelled, disappointed with Luca’s behavior. “Besides, you should be apologizing to them, not me.” She looked into his eyes.His eyes softened, and he nodded, stepping away from her and moving towards his children. He crouched to reach their level, “Look, I’m sorry.” He shook their hands, rubbing them sweetly. Before he could progress with his apology, Katie burst into tears—tears that she had been holding all along.“Oh, baby.” He pulled Katie into his arms, rubbing her back. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, angry that he made Katie cry. As tears streamed down her face, Katie hiccuped, “It’s okay.”“I’ll get you some water,” he pulled away, navigating towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. He opened it and placed it in the hands of a hiccuping Katie. She gulped it down almost immediately, coughing a little. “Drink it slowly.” He urged, wiping the corner
Kiara opened the door to find Annie standing right there. At first, Annie didn't even realize that Kiara was standing right there in front of her. “Oh, my babies!” Annie crouched to her daughters' levels, coming eye to eye with them, “You both look so gorgeous. What are you doing by the door? She looked down at their feet, “You were preparing to go out with your father?” She asked with a tilt of her head, expecting a response from Katie, the eldest. “Oh, we were just about to step out with Aunt Kiara, she's–” Annie raised a finger, immediately silencing Katie. Her eyes darted past the door and met the familiar eyes she had always hated. Kiara was here. What on earth was she doing here?“And what the hell are you doing here?” Annie immediately stood up from her crouching position, entered the house, and shut the door behind her. She wasn't about to cause a ruckus and let the whole neighborhood know that she had an issue, but she wasn't going to let this pass by. First, it was the car
Taking a shaky breath, Kiara viewed the message once again. Her eyes were traveling over the designated address once again. “Okay, let’s do this.” She breathed, pressing the flashing white button to start her car.She pressed the address into her car’s GPS with unsteady, sweaty hands. What was Luca hiding? I’m fucked. Kiara thought to herself as she reversed out of the gate, getting on the road. The drive was long, and it almost seemed as if she was going to a totally different town. She stopped by a gas station to fill up her tank again, waiting patiently.Once she was done, she got back on the road. Glancing at the estimated time of arrival, she scoffed. 1:45 P. M? And it was currently 12:25 P.M. Regardless, she focused on the road, refusing to let anything stop her. Her stomach growled lowly as her eyes were glued to the road. There was no way she could stop for something to eat, she’d just grab lunch when she got to the destination.After a while, she pulled up in the tiny shop. I
“It-It’s Luca.” She said in a small whisper.“Oh, fuck, fuck!” Kiara ran her hand through her hair, in panic mode. “What the hell are we going to do?” She whispered, keeping her voice low.“I don’t know, can you distract him?” Marissa asked, shoving her belongings into her bag and switching off the laptop, keeping that away as well. “Yeah, but just hurry, he’s heading over here, but I don’t think he can see me.”Marissa picked up the last of it, “I’ll head out through the front door.”“What about the bell?” Kiara’s eyes widened, as she noticed that Luca was almost right in front of them. “Shit, you’re right. I’ll figure something else out.”“Okay,” Kiara stood up from her chair and moved into the next aisle close to the table, pretending to look through some fine china and antique glass sets. The dust tickled her nostrils and she could feel a huge wave of sneezes coming up, but this wasn’t the best time to do that. She tried her best to hold it in, but they kept coming one after the o
“What’s going on?”“Oh!” Kiara’s eyes darted up, seeming to forget that Luca was still sitting right across from her. “It’s my mom, she thinks they’re going to have to shift the tea party.” She said breathlessly.“So you came all the way out here…for nothing?” Luca smirked, trying to hold his laughter in. His eyes glanced from Kiara to the phone in her hands.“No, no,” Kiara waved her hand in the air, dismissing his question, “She still wants me to get the porcelain, including…a tad bit more teacups.”“Oh, okay, that’s fair. Shall we get to it then or are you still texting her?”“We can look around now.” Kiara stood up, putting her phone on silent and slipping it into her back pocket. Luca eyed her phone sticking out of the back pocket and curiosity began to get the best of him.They slipped through aisle after aisle, looking at all the expensive and antique tea party sets. “They all look so pretty, I don’t even know which to choose.” Kiara sighed, halting in front of the sets. The on
Kiara’s head banged as she spooned some more ice cream into her mouth. “Can you slow down?” Damian chuckled as he dug into the ice cream sundae in front of him. People buzzed all around them in the shop, and the busy atmosphere somewhat calmed Kiara.“It tastes so good, but it’s giving me brain freeze.” She mumbled through her last spoonful of ice cream. “I think I’ve had enough.” She pushed the sundae bowl towards Damian, rubbing her stomach gently. “Are you sure?” Damian chuckled, as he swiped through his phone.“I’m sure. I think if I go any further, I’m going to get sick.” She groaned, relaxing into her seat. It had been about two days now and Kiara was more on edge than ever. “Well, I’ll have to finish it all on my own then.” Damian shrugged, eating the ice cream slowly. Kiara watched her father intently as her breath caught in her throat. Although she wasn’t sure yet, she felt as though her father was in danger or the central subject of the project. It would be uncalled-for if
Detective Harrison sat in the passenger seat of the lead car, the tracking device clutched tightly in his hand. The faint signal beeped steadily, growing stronger as they neared the guest house on the outskirts of the city. His radio buzzed to life, an officer’s voice crackling through.“Sir, we’ve just received a call to the emergency line back at the office. They said an anonymous tip-off claims Kiara Lux is being held at a guest house. When we checked, it was in your vicinity.”Harrison’s heart leaped. “Does the location match the tracker’s signal?”“Yes, sir. The description aligns perfectly.”“Alright. Move fast. " No mistakes this time,” Harrison ordered, leaning forward as the vehicle picked up speed.The guest house came into view—a decrepit structure with peeling paint and an air of abandonment. Harrison’s instincts screamed caution. “Park out of sight,” he instructed. “We don’t want to alert anyone inside.”The team disembarked quietly, their weapons drawn as they fanned ou
Luca gritted his teeth. He clutched his injured hand as blood seeped through his fingers. His face contorted in a mix of pain and fury. “What the hell is going on?!” he roared, his voice echoing through the factory’s cavernous space.Before he could issue any orders, he noticed that the papers were now missing too. “What the fuck? What are you idiots doing? The masked man who had stabbed him was already sprinting toward the exit, Kiara in tow. She stumbled, but the man kept a firm grip on her arm, pulling her along.“Follow him! " Don’t let him get away!” Luca shouted, but his men hesitated, their confusion evident.Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke through the tension as one of Luca’s guards burst into the room, his face pale beneath his mask.“Boss, we’ve got a problem! " The police are here—they’re surrounding the building!”“What?” Luca barked, his eyes narrowing. He glanced toward the exit where the masked man had fled, then back at his remaining men. “How the hel
Hours later, Callyer stood outside Damian’s office, clutching the completed power of attorney papers. His concern for his friend hadn’t lessened, but Damian had made it clear that further questioning would only create tension. He knocked lightly before entering.“Here’s the document you requested,” Callyer said, placing the papers on Damian’s desk.Damian looked up, his face unreadable. “Thank you, Callyer. I’ll handle it from here.”Callyer hesitated, wanting to say more, but Damian’s tone left no room for discussion. With a curt nod, he turned and left the office.The moment the door closed, Damian reached for his phone and dialed the number he had been dreading calling. The line connected after the first ring.“Do you have what we asked for?” The voice on the other end demanded, cold and impatient.“Yes,” Damian replied, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. “I have the papers." Where do you want me to bring them?”The kidnapper gave him an address—a secluded wareho
Callyer shook his head, his expression equally perplexed. “Of course not. Damian, you know I’d never betray your trust. But this just confirms what I’ve been saying—you’re not telling me everything. If the police are already involved in something, you’d better let me in on it now.”Damian exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay composed. “This has nothing to do with what I asked you to do. Stay out of it for now.”Before Callyer could press further, Damian signaled to the employee, “Tell the receptionist to let them in.” He turned back to Callyer, “Give me a moment,” he said, grabbing the clothes the employee had left and heading to the restroom attached to his office.Minutes later, Damian emerged, dressed sharply—with a few points of dressing perfection—but still carrying the heavy air of a man under siege. He adjusted his tie as he settled in his chair. As if it were calculated, there was a slight knock on his door. They saw Harrison standing by the door. “Come in.” Detective H
Damian stepped into the office. His intention was to maintain his usual air of composed authority, masking the turmoil inside. But his dressing gave him out the moment he stepped in. He was still in his robe. The workers around were shocked but afraid to approach him. They just murmured within themselves. Even though he noticed the awkward stares and murmurs, the turmoil his heart was in would not let him pay the least attention to it. “Is Callyer here already?” he asked the receptionist, ignoring her curious stares. The urgency in his tone made the receptionist very uncomfortable. “Yes, sir. Mr. Blake got here about a minute ago. " He’s waiting at your reception,” the lady replied. "Good,” Damian responded on his way to the office. “Damian,” Callyer Blake, his lawyer, called out the moment he sighted him, but he didn’t give him the expected audience. “Please come in,” he told the lawyer who was at that time sitting in the lobby at the front of his office. The first thing he did
The air between Damian and Maria was heavy with unease as they stood in Kiara's room, Damian still in Maria’s embrace. Maria was about to say something when a voice interrupted. “Sir, your phone,” one of the house staff called out hesitantly from the hallway. “It’s been ringing nonstop.”Damian turned sharply, his already frayed nerves making him curt. “Why didn’t you bring it earlier?”“I’m sorry, sir,” the worker stammered, handing over the device. Damian snatched it, glancing at the screen. The call was from an unknown number.“Who now?” He muttered under his breath before dialing the number. “Hello?”There was a pause at the other end, followed by a distorted, chillingly calm voice. “Mr. Damian Lux. It’s been a long time.”Damian froze, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the phone. “Who is this?” he demanded, his voice sharp.The voice chuckled. “Let’s not waste time with introductions. " I believe you’re looking for your daughter, Kiara, right?”Maria, noticing the sudden chan
Maria shifted uneasily in their bedroom, the morning light filtering through the curtains. Damian sat on the edge of the bed, his face an unreadable mask of tension and exhaustion. His hands rested on his knees, his posture rigid as though carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.“Damian,” Maria began softly, breaking the silence. She sat beside him, her delicate hand resting lightly on his arm. “I know you’re angry. " I’m angry too, but...” She hesitated, searching his face for any sign of softening. “Kiara is still our daughter. Whatever mistakes she’s made, we can’t turn our backs on her now.”Damian let out a sharp breath, his jaw tightening. “You think I don’t know that?” he snapped, though his voice held more frustration than malice. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to know that your best friend—a man you’ve trusted with your life—has been sleeping with your daughter—a child young enough to be his daughter? Betraying your family? And Kiara... she lied to me,
“Luca?”Kiara’s pulse quickened at the familiar voice—a mix of anger and cold amusement that sent chills down her spine. She was pushed into a chair; the black bag yanked off her head. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw him—Luca, leaning casually against a table, his arms crossed, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.“Luca,” she spat, her voice trembling with rage and fear. “What the hell is this?" Why did you have me kidnapped?”He laughed—a sharp, mocking sound that echoed through the room. “Kidnapped? Such a dramatic term, Kiara. Let’s call it... a necessary intervention that should have taken place a long time ago.”She glared at him, her hands struggling against the tight bindings. “Intervention? You’ve gone too far, Luca. Whatever game you’re playing, it ends here.”“Oh, Kiara,” he said, shaking his head mockingly. “You’re so naive." Do you really think you’re the heroine of this story? " That you can outsmart me and bring me down?” He leaned closer, his smirk fadin
Kiara's breath hitched as she read the message. Her mind raced. Driver Guy? The same guy she’s been hoping to meet? Who could that be? She didn’t recognize the number, but the name felt oddly familiar—the same way she’d refer to the man who saved her anytime the conversation came up. A chill ran down her spine. Could this be a trap? Or was it the key to uncovering the truth? Maybe she could finally have something tangible enough to throw Luca under the bus. Maria noticed her daughter’s reaction. “Kiara? " What’s wrong?” she asked softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.Kiara hesitated. Should she tell her mother about the message? No. She’d already dragged her family through enough. If she’s doomed to tell anyone, definitely not her mother. This was something she needed to handle on her own—at least for now.“It’s nothing, Mom,” Kiara lied, pocketing the phone. “Just a spam message.”Maria’s brow furrowed with concern, but she didn’t press. “Get some rest, sweetheart.