Harrison sat in the dark, his hands buried in his hair as he stared at the blinking phone screen. Quinn’s voice replayed in his mind, cold and distant.“Never call me again.”The four words had shattered him, and now he felt the pang of every secret he had kept from her. Jasmine stood beside him, her expression torn between anger and pity.“It’s not the end of the world, Harrison,” Jasmine murmured, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. “Quinn is angry, but if you explain—”“Explain?” Harrison cut her off, his voice laced with a bitterness that surprised even himself. “Explain what, Jasmine? That I’m a coward who let Jacob control me? That I was too scared to tell the woman I love about something that could destroy her trust in me forever?”Jasmine’s gaze softened. “It wasn’t your fault, Harrison. What happened to Stella and the baby was an accident. You know that. She knows that.”“But she doesn’t know!” Harrison exclaimed, his frustration spilling over. He stood abruptly, kn
Harrison paced back and forth in his apartment, his phone gripped tightly in his hand. He had tried calling Quinn multiple times, only to be met with silence. Each unanswered call, each unread message fueled his frustration. He couldn’t get through to Ivan either. Everyone seemed to have locked him out. The only person he could think of now, the only one who might listen was Eva.His finger moved over her number. He knew calling her was risky. She was, after all, Ivan’s wife. But he was desperate. He needed someone to hear him out before everything goes out of control.Taking a deep breath, he pressed the call button. The phone rang twice before he heard her soft voice on the other end.“Harrison?” Eva sounded surprised. “Is everything okay?”“Eva, please—I need to see you,” he blurted out, his voice laced with desperation. “Just for a few minutes. It’s important.”She hesitated, her silence making him worried. “I don’t know, Harrison. Ivan wouldn’t like it if he found out we met.”
The drive to Quinn’s secluded apartment was silent. Ivan’s eyes stayed locked on the road, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. Beside him, Eva cradled baby Eric, her gaze drifting between the passing scenery and her husband’s hardened profile. Harrison, unbeknownst to Ivan, had followed secretly from a distance. He trailed their car cautiously, never letting it out of his sight.Quinn’s apartment was a small cottage, nestled in a deserted outskirt of the city. It was the perfect hideaway, but the isolation only made her feel more hurt. It had been almost a week since she had spoken to anyone other than her doctor and Ivan.See was not ready to see anyone, especially not her brother, but she knew they would come sooner or later.When she saw Ivan’s car pull up outside, she took a deep breath, bracing herself for what was sure to be an emotional encounter.“Quinn,” Eva greeted softly as she stepped inside, carrying baby Eric in her arms. She smiled gently, trying to mask h
Harrison’s voice was calm, yet filled with remorse as he recounted the painful memories that had tormented him for years. He hesitated before speaking again, his gaze fixed on the floor, avoiding Quinn’s eyes.“I’ve been carrying this guilt for a long time,” he began quietly, “ever since Stella… I wasn’t ready to be a father. I didn’t know how to deal with the situation or how to support her the way she deserved. I was reckless, neglectful even, and I regret every moment of it.”Quinn remained silent, her expression unreadable. Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, her heart tightened with sympathy and confusion.Harrison took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as if releasing a burden that had been suffocating him. “I remember that day like it was yesterday,” he continued, his voice trembling slightly. “Stella and I had an argument that morning. It wasn’t anything serious, just about trivial things and then she left the house. I didn’t think much of it. I saw her hurry up, head
The aftermath of the explosion left a thick cloud of smoke and dust settling in the air just outside the house. Harrison grabbed Quinn's hand, pulling her close as they stumbled backwards, away from the shattered window. He looked at Quinn, panic etched into his face as the sound of the phone ringing pierced through the chaos. It was Jacob again.Quinn’s eyes widened with fear as she realized how serious Jacob was. Her body trembled, and she screamed, covering her ears, trying to block out the shackles collapsing around her. Harrison watched her, his heart aching at her terror. He pulled her close, whispering reassurances, but his own fear was evident.Jacob’s voice on the other end was disturbingly calm, a contrast to the chaos he had just unleashed. “I’m warning you. Involve the police, and you’ll face more than just an explosion.”Harrison’s jaw tightened as he gripped the phone. “What do you want, Jacob?” he demanded.“I only want Quinn,” Jacob replied coolly. “And I’m giving y
The night air was thick with tension. Harrison stood firm, his gaze locked with Jacob’s as they faced off under the dim glow of the moonlight. Jacob’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint, a crazed smile twitching at the corners of his lips.“So, you want one of us to die, huh?” Harrison’s voice was steady, though his heart raced wildly in his chest. “You think that’s the only way this ends?”Jacob nodded slowly, his smile widening. “Oh, I know it is. One must die for the other to live, Harrison. No way out of that. And you, Harrison, will die.”Quinn stood behind Harrison, her entire body shaking as she watched the two men. The man she loved and the man who had traumatized her in the past.Tears streamed down her cheeks as fear coiled in her stomach like a venomous snake.“Please, stop this,” she begged, her voice breaking. “Both of you, just—”Jacob laughed, a hollow, chilling sound that cut through her plea like a blade. “No more running, no more hiding. Let’s settle this once and
Harrison stood outside the hospital. The air was filled with the scent of freedom and relief, at last.It had been some depressing and stressful months. But tonight was different. Tonight, he felt lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.The glass doors of the hospital slid open, and Harrison walked out, his tall frame silhouetted against the bright lights of the lobby. Harrison took a deep breath and stepped forward to Ivan. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence was eerie. Then, Harrison broke it."Ivan," he began, his voice steady, "I know I hurt Quinn. I know I messed up in ways I can't even begin to describe. But... I’m truly sorry."Ivan’s gaze was hard as he studied Harrison, his eyes searching for sincerity. Then, with a slow, deliberate nod, he replied, "I believe you, Harrison. And I can see how much you love my sister. Just... don’t make me regret this."Relief flooded through Harrison, and without thinking, he extended his hand. After a b
Dressed in a bear doll costume, Harrison stood in front of the ferris wheel of the Marple Universe Amusement Park, trying to entertain the kids with his funny dance moves.He had been standing there for half an hour, but it seemed like the children preferred to play the other fun games rather than watch him dance.This was another of his part-time jobs. As ridiculous as it could be, he needed to do this for his girlfriend. They had been dating for a long time, and he felt that it was proper for him to propose to her.He glanced at his phone, it was just 9 pm in the evening. He had been working all day, and had barely had any minute to spare.Since he had been busy with his other part-time jobs, he hadn't been able to contact his girlfriend. While at it, he swiped his phone open, tapping on the call tab, and dialed his girlfriend's number.The phone rang thrice, before the receiver came through with a harsh tone."What?" She asked, abrasively. Her tone would sound rash to anyone that l