After a pleasant breakfast, Anna had left for school and Helen had retired to her own room. All of Dottie's attention was occupied by Amy, and judging by the loud giggles coming from the living room, the game seemed to be quite entertaining. Jack found himself alone in the quiet of the house and as he sat at the kitchen table, sipping his coffee, his mind drifted to the tasks that lay ahead.One pressing matter demanded his attention—he needed to confront the lawyer. Now that Robert Wendell was dead, he had to keep his promise to Andres Mortimer. With a sigh, he rose up from the table and left for his room to get ready. Half an hour later, he stepped outside and sat in the driver's seat of his car.This is when his gaze fell on the envelope lying on the dashboard… it contained the divorce papers he had asked to be drawn up. He had absent- mindedly left them there, when they had been sent to him a few days ago. As he pulled out of the driveway and onto the main highway, Jack's mind
Rebecca's days in prison had taken a toll on her once vibrant appearance, which she worked hard to maintain. Dark circles had stained the skin beneath her tired eyes, and her cracked lips had faded in color. Her face was swollen due to crying and sleepless nights. But in spite of the weariness that reflected on her face, a spark of hope flickered within her eyes as she caught sight of a figure waiting on the other side of the glass partition.From her point of view, only the back profile of the man was visible to her, clad in a crisp black shirt. She could see that he had already lifted the receiver to his ears, and she rushed forward. A surge of happiness swept through her heart, until she realized it was not Robert standing there but Jack. Her initial excitement turned to irritation as she approached the phone, her voice laced with frustration. "It's you! What the fuck are you here for?"Jack turned around, his smile evident even from a distance. "Don't get too excited," he re
Jack entered the underground cell once again, where Andres seemed to have fallen asleep, bound to the chair like a prisoner of his own exhaustion. The sound of footsteps woke him from his nap, and he looked around impatiently to try and see who had come this time, like a fish thrashing about after being taken out of water."My, my, I'm getting such warm receptions this morning. It must be my lucky day!" Jack remarked sarcastically as he approached Andres while saying this, and came to a stop after standing in front of him. The tired lines on Mortimer's face deepened as he sighed heavily and asked with some fear and hesitation;"What… what more do you want? I have already told you all I know, I swear!"Jack's lips curled into a sly smile as he raised one eyebrow;"Oh, I just came here to give you some news. But I can leave if you want?"On hearing these words, Mortimer's eyes widened with anticipation, a flash of excitement bringing some color to his pale face. "What? What is it? I
Andres knew that now, his only hope was to plead for mercy, to beg for his life in the faint hope that Jack might show him some semblance of compassion. But as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, his voice choked with fear. "I… I am… Please…" Seeing him trembling like a lamb who was about to be slaughtered, Jack raised a hand to silence him."Save your breath, Mortimer. Your fate is sealed. Whether it's the cartel or me, someone will ensure you never see the light of day again."Andres' heart raced as he weighed his options, and with trembling lips, he managed to utter, "So will you—"But Jack cut him off once more, his voice measured and calculating. "I do have another option for you," Jack said, fixing his gaze on Andres. Hope flickered in Andres' eyes, mingling with tears of desperation.With a hint of amusement, Jack continued, "And this is your turn to prove whether or not you are really smart enough to know what is good for you."Andres leaned forward eagerly, hanging onto
Ch-47As Jack stood on the balcony of his room, the gentle night breeze tousled his hair, carrying away the wisps of smoke from his cigarette. He took a long drag from his cigarette, the burning tip glowing brightly in the darkness as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.The moon cast a soft glow on his chiseled features, highlighting the lines of determination etched into his face. He had just come back from his daughter's bedroom, after putting them to sleep. They had insisted that he had to read at least six stories to them, to make up for missing so many days.Although both of them had fallen asleep during the second story itself, he had stayed behind for a while longer before returning to his room. His hair was still damp from the shower as strands of dark hair clung to his forehead. With a dark blue satin robe tied around his waist, the fabric clung to his toned physique. The robe hung loosely around him, revealing glimpses of his sculpted pecs and defined abs beneath.With one hand r
Before anyone could react, Jack continued;"So pack up, because we are leaving this afternoon." Helen beamed with happiness and said, "Oh, Jack! That's really great, the girls will have so much fun. Make sure to send me photos, okay?" Jack shook his head, interrupting her in the middle;"Mom, what are you talking about? Obviously, you are also coming with us." Helen hesitated a little, before continuing; "But what would I do there, except hold you all back from enjoying the surroundings?" Jack's tone turned firm as he promptly shut down the argument, "I am not hearing any of this."She had been apprehensive till now, as Rebecca had never liked the fact that Helen was so involved in her daughter's lives, and always saw it as her intruding on their own family dynamics.However, Rebecca had never said anything about it to Jack, which is why he was confused about his mother's reaction.Rather, his ex- wife used to threaten Helen in private, saying that she needed to stay away from the
The morning sunlight greeted the family as they stepped out of a local cafe, their bellies full of delicacies like Cuban omelets, fresh fruit plates, croissant sandwiches. Their spirits were also running high, for their plan of visiting the South Beach in Miami. Anna and Dottie were practically bouncing with excitement, their laughter echoing down the bustling streets of Miami. Amy led the way, a tote bag slung over her shoulder filled with towels, umbrellas, and beach toys.As they approached the sandy shores of South Beach, the girls' eyes widened with wonder. They had never seen anything like it before – the vast expanse of sparkling ocean stretched out before them, its waves crashing against the shore in a mesmerizing rhythm.Anna's excitement was evident in her mannerisms as she bounced up and down on her tiptoes, her hands clutching Jack's tightly. Her cheeks flushed with anticipation, and her eyes sparkled with pure joy as she took in the sights and sounds of the beach for th
Jack returned to the hotel just as the sun completed its journey across the sky. It was just past lunch time, so he assumed that the others might still be at the beach. As he approached his room, he fished his key card from his pocket, ready to slide it into the door lock.However, before he could make a move, the door clicked open from the inside, startling him. The worst and most horrific scenarios about what this could mean flashed in his mind and he instinctively stepped back as someone opened the door.But to his relief and surprise, it was none other than Amy who emerged from the room, her eyes widening in surprise as she nearly collided with him.Thankfully, she managed to catch herself just in time; but in that moment of awkwardness, Jack and Amy found themselves locked in a silent exchange. Each of them was processing the unexpected encounter, and it was taking some time for the adrenaline rushing in Jack's veins to subside. Amy's gaze swept over him, taking in the slight
Margaret, Lucas Giorgio’s wife, gasped loudly at Jack's words, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Lucas himself looked like he was close to fainting, his face turning ashen as he gripped the back of a nearby chair for support."What—what are you saying?" Margaret stammered. "Amelia wanted to kill Lucas? How can that be! How do we know it is even our Amelia, because that sweet girl would never put the blame for an accident on her beloved aunt and uncle—""Stop it! Just stop trying to convince everyone with your lies now, can't you see it's not working?”It was Megan’s voice which had interrupted her aunt's act. Her ace was completely twisted with fury as she was looking at Margaret, and she spat out;"Did you two really think that you could get rid of all your problems by kicking me out of the house? You killed my parents, both of you! And you thought I would just accept that fate? Not even in your dreams—"Just then, Megan shut her mouth, her eyes widening as if she had just reali
As soon as the police team surrounded her, Megan felt more and more suffocated, like her freedom was being snatched from her in front of her eyes.That's why, she opted for the best method she could think of: screaming at the top of her lungs, and hoping that everyone would believe that this was a set- up and they needed to save her, not arrest her "You don't understand! This is all a set-up… he… he wants to frame me for his wrongdoings! I haven't done anything wrong, you need to help me! Please!"The policeman standing behind Megan interrupted her with a stern voice. "Enough! Miss Simmons, don't forget that anything you say, can and will be held against you in the court of law. I suggest you continue the rest of this conversation with a lawyer."Megan's eyes darted around the room, filled with desperation and fear. The Giorgio family members, standing there stunned, slowly came out of their trance and started to react. Her supposed fiancé, Richie, was the first to step forward, wh
It was almost four o'clock in the morning, by the time Jack finally found another parking lot in the city, which matched the description of the park that the girls had told him about. He ran around the park, searching everywhere with his flashlight, until he saw an unconscious figure lying near the row of bushes planted at the edge of the park. Jack went closer to investigate, and it was none other than Amy… she was lying face down into the ground, her body twisted into a vulnerable heap. The vibrant pink flowers on the bush were contrasting starkly with the sight of Amy's motionless form… and the sight of her filled him with a dread he hadn't felt in years. His heart raced as he knelt beside her, checking for a pulse. To his relief, it was there… her pulse was faint, but at least she was still breathing. Carefully lifting her into his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. His heart was pounding dramatically as he made his way to the car. The park was eerily quiet at t
Jack’s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at Megan in shock. The cacophony of emotions—anger, fear, and relief—crashed over him in waves as he quickly turned his attention to his children. It had really taken him an entire eternity of moments to digest what just had happened in front of him.He could not believe that Megan does not just shoot Rebecca, without letting her complete her sentence…but she has shot her in front of his children.Although he didn't have any compassion for her, but she was still the mother of his children and in any case she never deserved to die this brutally.And absolutely not in front of their kids, also he was still shocked at this act of Megan, because there was no plan of killing Rebecca at all.Then why she had taken this rash decision was something that was bothering him, as she didn't even care about the trauma of the kids that they might get because of this horrifying act of hers.While he was trying get any clue regarding this act of Megan bu
That evening, the atmosphere at the Giorgio family estate was tense after the chaotic events at the party. Lucas Giorgio, still shaken from the unexpected gunshot, wanted everyone to stay inside for their safety. "No one leaves the house today, and stay close to your guards at all times. I don't know what disaster God has rescued us from." He declared sternly, his voice leaving no room for argument.Everyone fell silent, but Amelia stood up, her face set in defiance. "Actually, I want to go out," she said, her voice trembling. "I can't stay caged in my room, I feel so suffocated in this house."Lucas turned to her, his eyes flashing with anger. "Amelia, did you not see what happened at the Renaldi's? This is not the time to be out and about."Her grandmother gave her son a harsh look, signaling that she would handle it. She then spoke to Megan,"Darling, you know what happened tonight. It's too dangerous. We have just got you back, we can't afford to lose you again–"Amelia's fru
The Renaldi family's party was being held at La Chateau, one of the grand hotels they owned in the city. The venue had been transformed into the perfect example of opulence and elegance.There were larger than life ice sculptures, which had been placed throughout the property to welcome the guests. There were food fountains flowing with decadent chocolate and savory sauces, while there was a refined selection culinary delights from all over the world, adorning the tables. The guests were gathering in the hotel, mingling amongst themselves when the grand doors of the ballroom flew open. It was none other than Richi Renaldi, the center of attention for this party. The heir of the Renaldi family was flanked by his doting parents, who couldn't be more proud of their son. As soon as the hosts of the evening made an entrance; instantly, a throng of well- wishers gathered around them, eager to greet the family… of course, there were a number of people inquiring about the bride to be as wel
Rebecca arrived at the designated spot, a grim, abandoned parking lot that felt a world away from her past life. She had put on her best dress, which was still crumpled and worn out, but she couldn't care less about it right now. She waited, anxiety coiling in the pit of her stomach while she fidgeted with her chipping nails. But her neck snapped up attentively as soon as she heard the unmistakable click- clack of expensive heels echoing through the hallway.Turning towards the sound, Rebecca saw her arrive. The girl who stepped into view stood out sharply in their surroundings— she was dressed in designer clothes, carrying expensive accessories, and exuding an air of confidence and privilege. So, this girl had made no effort to hide exactly how wealthy she was… and despite not knowing her identity, Rebecca recognized her as someone from Jack's acquaintances– maybe she was an old co- worker? She didn't know many details, but maybe she had inherited some wealth recently? But in any
The atmosphere in the restaurant had been perfectly pleasant, and the hum of conversation and the clinking of cutlery was flowing perfectly well with the soft tunes of Oriental music.Everything was so soothing that can urge anyone to have a closer look of the place and the same was going with the people sitting there, as they were sitting there peacefully, unknown from the hypocrisy going on there.Until the sudden, sharp sound of a fist meeting flesh echoed through the air, silencing everyone and drawing the attention towards the reception. People turned their heads, and eyes widened in surprise as they saw an imposing man standing over a fallen waiter, his fist still clenched, anger blazing in his eyes. Amy stood beside him, her hand clutched to her chest, looking both shocked and relieved.Till now, their argument had been going on without much notice; but the sudden chaos drew everyone's attention. A murmur rippled through the staff and diners alike, and one of the waiters quic
Jack started to lead Amy towards the door by her hand, and Amy tugged at his hand. Jack sensed it immediately and stopped, looking at her with concern."Is everything okay?""Yeah, I just wanted to say thank you…" Amy replied, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. "Thank you for the dress and the watch, they are both beautiful."Jack smiled, pulling her close for a quick kiss. "Only the best for my darling. Now, are you ready for our date, or is there something else you want to say?"Amy nodded, her excitement bubbling up once more. "I can't wait."They stepped out into the night, the cool breeze ruffling their hands as they walked hand in hand to the car. Amy couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment… in spite of everything, being with Jack made everything seem possible.The drive to the sushi restaurant was filled with conversation and laughter between the two of them, as Jack kept glancing over at Amy.Jack parked the car in the basement and they walked as they walked towar