Ria's point of view..."Tiger...!" I knew it was his touch, but how could it be?"Tiger...! Was it really him?" As I turned around, my heart pounded loudly in my chest, and my eyes widened in disbelief. My vision got blurry because the tears pooled in my eyes. Curling me from behind was him, my husband, my deceased husband. I was sure that I was dreaming and even if it was just a dream, I don't want to get up. Forever.I fear if I ever opened my eyes he will vanish again and I don't want to lose him not even for a second.This was a strange dream, so real to believe. I can hear him, feel his warmth and his warm breath caressing my cheeks."I miss you," he said so emotionally that I can feel that he was about to cry."I missed you so much, honey" he repeated and soon attached his lips to mine. Was this a wet dream?I couldn't believe it. I closed my eyes, he was still kissing me, sucking my life out. He pulled me closer and closer and I gasped for breath. Was this really a dream?W
Tiger's point of view... [The night Tiger disappeared...] The night was as serene as the twinkling stars that adorned the velvety sky. Ria gave me a sedative dose and I had a very good sleep for hours.I was so energetic when I woke up at night and finding Ria walking in sneakyly, made me even more excited.I grabbed her in my arms and pinned her on the bed.We had spent hours reveling in each other's company, cherishing the intimacy that bound us together. She had been trying to talk about something, and I think I knew what was the thing that was bothering her.But seriously, I don't want to spoil my mood by talking about that bastard.I smacked the topic before she could start and had a great time with her. Our laughter resonated through the air as we recounted old memories and dreamt of a future filled with more shared moments like these. The moonlight spilled into the room, casting a soft, romantic glow that painted the scene with an air of enchantment. As dawn broke, the firs
Tiger's point of view...The mansion, the place I built to give my family a home, once a place of warmth and laughter, had become a battleground of emotions and uncertainty. My covert visits there, disguised as one of Alex's men, were both a source of solace and torment. Each time I recall the glimpse of Ria's tearful eyes and the lines of worry etched on Dad's forehead, my heart tightened in anguish. I struggle hard to control myself, not to kill him. The walls seemed to hold the echoes of our shared memories, taunting me with the stark contrast of what once was and what had become. Each time I stood there, in front of my family but hidden, I promised myself that I was going get this all right. In a few more days everything will be more beautiful than before.My presence, even in disguise, was a double-edged sword. It brought me closer to Ria and my father, allowing me to see their pain firsthand, yet it was a painful reminder of the suffering my supposed death had caused them.
Tiger's point of view...My trembling fingers hovered over the keyboard as I clicked through those photographs. There were more, almost disfigured with stains on them. When the forensic expert examined them carefully he confirmed that those stains were blood. What happened there?Why did those photographs contain blood stains?And especially, why was I bothered by those photos?It was all confusing and whenever I try to think about that, my head throbs in pain.Each one of them seemed to tell a story of happier times, of a family that had once been whole, but I have no idea what might have happened to them.But what disturbed me the most were not the stains but the place where those stains were, on the faces of those people in the photo, dark, dried splotches of blood that also marred the edges of some of the photographs. It looked as if someone had deliberately tried to hide their faces. Why the hell would someone do it?They were like haunting reminders of something unspeakable th
Ria's point of view...I trudged back as I couldn't believe my eyes. The adrenaline coursing through my veins began to ebb away as that huge figure before me chuckled, his voice deep and resonant. His rugged features softened as he raised his hands in a placating gesture, still not making any sudden moves.I know him, I have seen him in the mansion. He was the one who worked for Alex, always tailing me. Wherever I go, hospital, shopping, and home, he has been following me all these days. He freaked me every time with his not-so-friendly look.But how did he find me here?Is Alex here too?"Stay right there, one more step towards and I will make sure to shoot you" I warned."Whoa, easy ma'am," he said with a wry smile. "I didn't mean to startle you. Not My namesake. I work for a boss, I mean your husband not for him, he sent me here to watch your back."What...!Husband...!Is he talking about Tiger? Or Alex?I never married Alex, and he became my husband!"Listen to me, ma'am, let me p
Ria's point of view... "Who is this, Tiger?" I asked him immediately, as that screen captured my attention. I don't know about the rest in that photograph but that woman holding the hand of a kid looked so much familiar to me.I have seen her somewhere, recently.But where...!Tiger pulled himself back hesitatingly, his voice quivered a little with a mixture of emotion and disbelief. "This was what I wanted to show you" he began holding my hand and made me sit on his lap, unwilling to let me slide, not even an inch.Though a little uncomfortable, I don't have a choice in this matter. I took a deep breath and sat on his lap silently. But it was fine once his hand curled around me, annoyingly comfortable. "You won't believe where I found these" he added, I just gave him a questioning look,"In those cryptic files, Alex's files, which you dug out of him" he whispered, I felt a jerk when I heard him, as if I was afraid that even the walls had ears. Yes, I did it but that was the most
"He might be after something so big," I guessed, I know it was not something small that he would risk everything to claim himself as Michael's son. But no matter where I began, my investigation stopped midway. I couldn't speculate the relation of those images to his plan. As I was busy dealing with my thoughts, Ria stared at the computer screen and mumbled she had seen the woman in the photograph somewhere. "What did you say?" I shrieked which nearly trembled her."I...I was...!" she stuttered in shock. I grabbed her arms and made her sit back on my lap.Calming myself a little bit, I caressed her cheeks. I scared her."It's okay, honey," I began but this time I managed to keep my voice a little low. She had been through a lot lately and I never meant to add to her concern. I know she couldn't have seen any of them in the pictures because these pictures were from the time I was four or five years and at that time she wouldn't have been born.But, indeed, she isn't some casual girl,
Tiger's point of view...Ria hugged me as if she meant to give me the support I may need but looking at her devastated state, she needed it even more. I prepared myself for anything I was going to listen to, surely it wasn't going to be some good thing anyway. She slowly began in a mild tone,"She..." I clenched my fingers on her back, she added, "She Don't have more time left" I exhaled that warm air out of my lungs, which had been stuck in all this while. This wasn't something I didn't expect, I know that Mom's situation was critical. But still, I felt a strong pain in my chest, as if something was sucked out of me.As I closed my eyes to get myself back, Ria cupped my face."Listen to me Tiger," she continued, "I had been looking after her all these days but I doubted that her condition was getting worse, so when I got her samples that day, I got it checked further."I braced myself up. I can't just get carried away by the grief. I still have many bigger things to achieve. "What