Daniel carried Emily’s body gently, placing her carefully on the bed. Their breaths were coming in an accelerated rhythm as their heartbeats became more pronounced.
“Wait,” Emily said, stopping Daniel’s hand from undoing her dress.
“We’re going to be late for Grandpa’s birthday party,” Emily continued in a worried tone.
“Don’t you want it?” whispered Daniel, his voice giving a strange but pleasant vibration to Emily’s sense of hearing. The vibrations further convinced her that she, too, wanted their love union that night.
“Is it okay if we’re late?” asked Emily, seeking reassurance in her decision.
Daniel glanced at his watch adorning his wrist. “Fifteen minutes is enough to get everything done,” he said with a smile.
With passion burning between them, their lips met in a tender kiss. Finally, the night bore witness to the union of the love and passion pent up within them, creating a moment of meaning and intimacy between them.
***
On the other hand, Jake’s birthday party was celebrated grandly inside his luxurious residence. Only selected relatives and close friends attended the extravagant bash, including Olivia, who looked stunning in an elegant pink gown and her blonde hair styled with wavy curves that added to her graceful charm.
The party was festive with lavish decorations, sparkling lights illuminating the garden of Jake’s residence. Guests mingled in lively conversation, enjoying delicious food and sumptuous drinks.
“Hi, Olivia,” the soft voice of a middle-aged woman broke the silence, making Olivia turn her head towards the source of the voice.
“Hello, Auntie,” Olivia greeted Sophia, who stood in front of her.
“How are you?” Sophia asked warmly.
“Good, Auntie. How about you?” Olivia asked kindly.
Sophia smiled gently at Olivia as she said, “Fine. How could Daniel give up a jewel for a stone? You are much more beautiful than that woman. You deserve a better man than Daniel.”
Olivia only returned Sophia’s words with a faint smile.
Sophia squinted her eyes and looked at Olivia, who was wearing the same earrings as her. “We wear the same earrings.”
“Ah, that’s right. What a coincidence,” Olivia replied with a smile.
“You are very beautiful, Olivia. I would be very happy if Sean could get a woman as good and beautiful as you,” Sophia praised.
“Well, enjoy tonight’s birthday party,” Sophia said as she gently patted Olivia’s shoulder before moving away. Olivia just smiled and gave a sign of respect as Sophia moved away from her presence.
Olivia was reminded of the difficult situation at her office, where her company direly needed a cash injection.
‘I really need a solution. But where am I going to get that cash injection when my marriage to Daniel is already failing?’ she mused. In silence, Olivia pondered anxiously about the next steps to take to help her family’s company and overcome the financial challenges it was facing.
Suddenly, the words of someone she had paid to find information about Emily flashed through Olivia’s mind. Flashbacks of the man’s words were seared into her mind. “But there’s a rumor going around that the death of David Winston, son of the owner of the W company, has something to do with Emily’s biological father.”
‘Maybe I can use that information to approach Daniel’s grandfather and help me solve the company’s problems,’ Olivia thought, feeling cornered by the company’s current financial difficulties.
Olivia pulled her cell phone out of her bag. ‘There’s still half an hour before the party starts. Where’s Daniel’s grandfather? I’ll find him and ask him for help directly,’ she thought to herself.
When Olivia confirmed that there was no Daniel’s grandfather in the garden, Olivia decided to carefully step inside Jake’s residence through the garden, where the party was being held, in an attempt to looked for him. With light and cautious steps, she passed through the traces of the party.
***
Michael and Robert, Daniel’s uncle, were seen enjoying a warm conversation with their close friends, a look of familiarity and comfort on their faces. Meanwhile, Sophia and her husband were also seen chatting with relatives, warm smiles etched on their faces, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Sean, however, had a lazy expression as he sipped the cocktail in his glass. “So boring,” he hissed softly.
Not long after, Daniel arrived at the event, looking even more charming.
“Just arrived?” asked Sean upon seeing Daniel’s arrival.
“Mmm,” Daniel replied briefly.
“How does it feel to be married? Happy?” asked Sean, trying to break the ice.
“Of course,” Daniel replied firmly.
“I envy you,” said Sean as he took another sip of his cocktail.
“I would also be happy if I had a wife like Emily,” said Sean, trying to tease and provoke Daniel.
“Don’t fuck around and never bother Emily again,” Daniel warned firmly, showing his protective attitude towards Emily.
Sean raised one free hand. “Oh, all right. I promise I won’t bother her again,” he said.
“As you know, all this time I was only joking,” Sean said, trying to ease the tension.
The sharp gaze Daniel gave made Sean pause for a moment. “Alright, I understand. I won’t bother her anymore.”
Daniel ignored Sean’s words and walked away.
***
The ticking of the clock was increasingly felt in Jake’s work room, along with his heartbeat that was beating faster and faster. With a tense look, he looked at the message open on the phone screen in front of him.
“Make sure you see me alone,” the message read.
Without hesitation, Jake replied, “I’ll wait for you in my work room.”
However, a reply message soon arrived. “You’re waiting for me in your work room? Are you trying to trick me? What if there’s someone there?”
Jake quickly wrote back, “There won’t be anyone. I’ve got all my housekeepers to help with the party today. But will you be able to enter my residence?”
“You doubt me? Of course, I can easily get into your residence,” the message replied again.
“Then come,” Jake replied, trying to convince the man to fulfill his request. A tense and mysterious atmosphere prevailed in the silent room.
After a long wait, a reply message came back. “I’m already in front of your room.”
Jake’s breath caught when he saw the reply. He quickly corrected his sitting position until he saw the door handle moving as someone opened it from the outside.
As the door opened, the person behind it was revealed. Jake was shocked, his eyes perfectly rounded, lips drooping soundlessly. Fear and disbelief merged, shaking his heart. The quiet workspace was suddenly filled with an unexpected presence, adding to the tension already hanging in the air.
***
Olivia stepped carefully, puzzled by the absence of a single housekeeper in such a large house. Her steps were cautious as she searched for Jake. Despite trespassing, the urgency of her company’s situation compelled her to act. Her steps stopped abruptly when she saw a room with an open door.
‘Is Daniel’s Grandfather in that room?’ Olivia wondered.
Approaching the open door, Olivia was surprised to see Daniel’s grandfather collapsed in front of a black-clad figure. Quickly, Olivia covered her mouth, shocked and transfixed by the gripping scene.
Daniel’s grandfather tried to get up, in pain, holding his chest. His trembling hands tried to grab the figure’s legs, his efforts were in vain amidst the tension.
Olivia looked for shelter, her heart beating so fast. She never imagined she would be trapped in a situation like this.
The mysterious figure was satisfied to see Daniel’s grandfather fall down in a helpless state. A satisfied smile was etched on his lips. “I am the real killer of David and his wife. Is this enough to answer your curiosity?” he asked.
Jake was shocked, his eyes reddened with unstoppable tears as he heard the confession from the mysterious figure before him. Pain pierced his chest like thousands of sharp needles stabbing inward. His heartbeat now felt like an increasingly faint thud. His breathing was ragged, cold sweat ran down his forehead, and his eyes, that had been full of confusion, now full of peace and silence.
“Goodbye, Dad,” said the mysterious figure as he felt weakness creeping slowly from Jake’s fingertips to the rest of his body.