Courtney felt Gary’s grip tighten around her hand—so tight it hurt—but she didn’t pull away. She had played an integral role in making Gary see reasons why he had to switch sides, and she wasn't going to leave him alone.Courtney’s voice trembled as she tried, one last time, to reason with the woman in front of them. She had always peceived that Brenda was not the kind of woman whom she could say was mentally stable owing to the few times their paths had crossed.A couple of times she had almost been tempted to ask Gary if his aunt had ever been to a mental institution before, but so as not to offend Gary, she had refrained from asking such a question. But now, seeing her point a gun at Gary, and wasn't looking like someone who had come to play, was just enough to convince Courtney that Brenda had been mentally unstable at one point in her life before.“B–Brenda… please,” she said, her breath shaking. “Gary didn't do anything wrong. He just—”But the moment she opened her mouth, Brend

Susan let out a much cruel laughter as though she was enjoying the show of it all, and seeing Brenda looking so confused was kind of giving her the kind of satisfaction that she hoped to get.And the sight of it was tearing Brenda apart even more because she just couldn't understand how her sister whom she thought had died over twenty years ago, would suddenly show up as though she never died.The accident reports had been accurate, and it was proven that both Steven and Susan had died from the crash.The DNA reports matched, and even their wedding rings were still on their fingers which was just enough confirmation that it was really the two of them who had died in that crash. Unless maybe, someone had falsified the results and had made them believe that the bodies belonged to Steven and Susan.“You and Steven were both in the car when it exploded.” Brenda said, her voice shaky. "You both… burned.”Susan shook her head. “That... like I said, is what I wanted everyone to believe."Bre

Susan lowered her head, her breaths shallow as she gripped the wheel, her knuckles white as bone.Her voice came out barely above a whisper.“I’m sorry… I—” She swallowed hard. “I was just… lost in thoughts.”Gary stared at her reflection in the mirror, the intensity of her pain visible, and that made him feel remorseful for having yelled at her. Courtney, still clutching her chest, whispered, “Lost in thoughts? You looked like you weren’t even here.”Susan closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady herself.The moment she inhaled deeply, her shoulders lowered. She forced herself back to the present.“I'm fine now,” she murmured, though her tone betrayed a hint of fragility she rarely showed. She knew there was no way neither Gary nor Courtney could understand what she was going through at that moment.She was alive today because someone else sacrificed for her. She was alive today because much more than a will not to give up, was the agony of a near death experience that she had gone

The kettle hissed softly as steam rose into the air. Susan moved slowly around the small but elegant kitchen, her back to them as she prepared the coffee with familiar, practiced motions.It struck Gary that even after everything there was something comforting about watching her do something so normal.The scent of roasted beans filled the cabin, drifting into the living room like a warm embrace. Courtney exhaled shakily. “I didn’t realize… how tense I was until now.”Gary didn’t respond. His eyes weren’t on Susan. They were on the framed photographs placed neatly on a low wooden shelf near the far wall.Something about them… pulled at him, and he just couldn't ignore the pull.He stood up slowly, almost drawn by an invisible thread. “What… are these?”Susan hesitated mid-pour. “Pictures. Memories I couldn’t throw away.” She replied.Gary’s heart pounded harder with every step he took. He wasn't sure if taking any of the pictures from the wall would offend Susan in any way. But with t

Ava Rennet pushed open the door to her apartment, her keys clinking softly as she entered. The familiar scent of vanilla and old case files greeted her, yet tonight it didn’t bring the usual comfort. Instead, a tightness gripped her chest—subtle, but enough to make her pause.She locked the door behind her and leaned against it, eyes closing.Why do I feel so strange? Why does it feel like something is about to happen? She couldn't help but ask within herself.Maybe it was work. Maybe it was exhaustion. Or maybe it was the kiss.Two days had gone by since Officer Gerald pressed his lips to hers in that heated moment, and yet her mind refused to let it go. She had replayed it so many times—his breath, his warmth, the firmness of his hold.And each time, the memory only grew stronger. It didn't seem to make any sense to her because as far as she was concerned, Officer Gerald was an opponent. He was someone she had to win a case against and there was no reason at all why she should be fe