A Week Later…The city of Neovalle was bathed in the soft, golden light of morning.After a week away, Marvin Richmond finally returned to Neovalle.He sat comfortably in the backseat of a sleek black luxury vehicle, the engine was humming quietly as it moved smoothly through the streets.The windows were slightly tinted, shielding him from the outside world, but Marvin could still see the tall buildings, busy streets, and colorful banners fluttering in the breeze.Neovalle was alive as ever—but for Marvin, something felt different.He leaned back into the plush leather seat, resting his head for a moment against the headrest, deep in thought.The driver, dressed neatly in a black suit, maneuvered the car expertly through the final turns, heading straight toward the tall, modern building of Helios Enterprise.Marvin’s sharp grey eyes caught sight of the familiar shining letters on the front of the company compound as they approached.HELIOS ENTERPRISE.Home.The vehicle slowed down as

She leaned forward, her eyes locking onto his. The tension between them was palpable, thick enough that Marvin could almost feel it pressing on his chest."Why are you not picking up your call?" she demanded, her voice was now laced with suspicion.Her tone had shifted. It was forceful now, more aggressive, more violent than it had been a moment ago. "Who is it, Marvin?"The question hung in the air like a heavy weight. Marvin’s heart raced as the blood drained from his face. He could feel the words slipping through his mind, desperate to make an escape, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak the truth. He had promised himself that he would be honest, that he would stop lying... but now, under the intensity of her gaze, he wasn’t sure what would happen if he did.For a moment, he simply stared at her. The silence stretched out, dragging on longer than it should have. The weight of their unspoken words pressed down on him, suffocating him in a way that felt almost unbearable.What

She had heard it all. Every word, every promise, every confession. Her heart sank with each syllable that left Marvin’s lips. His voice was so filled with conviction, so different from the way he had spoken to her. To Helena, it was a cruel revelation. The man she loved—truly loved—had just opened his heart to another woman in a way she had never imagined.Helena stood frozen just outside the door, her breath caught in her chest. She wanted to retreat, to leave the space, but she couldn’t. She was paralyzed, as if the air had thickened around her, suffocating her ability to move. The reality of Marvin’s feelings for Stella settled over her like a dark cloud, suffusing her thoughts with bitterness and sorrow. She couldn’t comprehend how it had all gone so wrong upon the firm confirmation that Marvin had another lover.From inside the office, Marvin’s voice continued to flow, filled with life and excitement as he spoke to Stella, unaware that Helena was standing mere feet away, hea

Marvin stood still for a second, his hand was frozen in the air.But then, he shook his head slightly and let out a soft sigh.No matter what, he wasn’t going to let anything ruin tonight.He straightened his suit jacket and walked calmly to the passenger side of the car.Without a word, he opened the door and slipped into the back seat beside Helena.The car’s interior was quiet, and the atmosphere felt heavy.Helena sat beside him, her face was expressionless, her eyes distant.She looked out the window, as if she wasn’t even aware that he was sitting next to her.Marvin watched her silently for a moment, feeling a gnawing worry rise in his chest."Where did all this coldness come from?" he thought.This wasn’t the Helena he knew.Slowly, Marvin reached out and cupped her chin gently, turning her face toward him.His thumb brushed her soft skin with care."Baby," he said softly, his voice was low and soothing."What’s up? What happened? You don't seem so good... you don't sound so g

The world around Marvin was dark and quiet.It was no longer the golden, peaceful lounge of La Vie En Rose. No music. No warmth. Only the low hum of silence and the smell of rust and oil.Dim lights flickered from old, hanging bulbs. The walls were made of bare concrete, and the floor was stained with grease. Broken car parts, metal tools, and oil drums were scattered everywhere. It looked like an old, abandoned car garage. Cold. Lonely. Empty of life.The only sound was the soft drip of water from a leaking pipe in the corner.Marvin’s head felt heavy. His eyes were half-closed. His whole body was weak—like he had been running for days with no food, no rest. Sweat rolled down his forehead, sticking his hair to his face. His mouth was dry. His tongue felt thick.Slowly, he began to wake up more. He tried to move.That’s when he realized…He couldn’t.His arms were spread apart, each one was chained tightly to the sides of a steel pole. His legs too were stretched and chained to the