icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon

secrets and sacrifice

Chapter 3 THE WEIGHT OF SECRETS

Word Count: 1396    |    Released on: 02/01/2025

e quiet solitude of her apartment, it loomed over her like a dark cloud, threatening to break at any moment. Every time she thoug

ind, patient, and genuinely concerned about her. But the lon

He trusted her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that if he knew the truth-if he kne

d window, bringing with it a sense of calm she hadn't felt in weeks. It was a small comfort, but she too

a slow, deep breath. She had no idea how she was going to raise this child. She had no idea how s

going back. N

ere nearly empty, but she hadn't had the energy or the motivation to go grocery shopping in days. Caleb had be

a knock at

sual knock she'd grown accustomed to-the polite, soft tap that Caleb would give when he brought her somethin

that made her

r pulse quickening as f

couldn't. She wasn't ready to fac

more forceful this time. The wei

't have

hovered over the doorknob for a moment, the chill of the metal sending a shiver up her spine. She

she twisted the knob a

r side, was a man she never

was

ndro D

ho had ow

ss she had e

e the air seem thin. He was dressed in his usual dark, tailored suit, his face unreadable, a cold,

t she refused to show it. She couldn't. Not in front o

voice came out sharp,

y slightly. "I think you k

t let him into her life, not now, no

trembling despite her best efforts to s

ng," he said, his voice low, dangerous. "You think you can just walk away fro

roat. "I didn't steal from you,"

heavy in the ai

ded, the bitterness in her vo

t a smile. It was a dark, calculating smirk. "Y

t few months, the false sense of security she had tried so hard to

hem. The confession felt like a weight lifting from her chest, but she inst

action, but his eyes darkened with somethin

" His voice was c

a step back, away from him.

ou took something that belonged to me, Marissa

e said firmly, trying to steady her trem

h something dark. "W

ed down the hallway, and Ma

d the hallway behind her, and his

someone else," he said, h

wed in confusion. He had clearly heard the exchange. The tension in the room was palpable. H

oice calm but firm, though Mariss

ate," she said quickly, her v

usiness associate? Is that what you call me now, Marissa?"

t Marissa. His eyes were filled with question

e low but steady. "You don'

e might do something-something violent, something unforgivable. But th

e said, his voice carrying a da

ed away, his footsteps echoing down the

the door clicked shut behind him. She leaned a

s crossed over his chest, his fac

id softly. "What

ay. How could she? How could s

he said finally, her v

ris

ated, her voice br

ers for answers. But there were no an

leaving her standing there in the silence of her ap

d her. And now, the

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open
1 Chapter 1 THE BEGINNING OF ESCAPE2 Chapter 2 SHADOWS OF THE PAST3 Chapter 3 THE WEIGHT OF SECRETS4 Chapter 4 UNRAVELING TRUTHS5 Chapter 5 THE BREAKING POINT6 Chapter 6 THE QUIET AFTER THE STORM7 Chapter 7 A FRAGILE PEACE8 Chapter 8 THE CALM BEFORE THE TEMPEST9 Chapter 9 THE EDGE OF ABYSS10 Chapter 10 THE CROSSROADS11 Chapter 11 THE RECKONING12 Chapter 12 INTO THE FIRE13 Chapter 13 THE TURNING POINT14 Chapter 14 CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES15 Chapter 15 UNSPOKEN TRUTH16 Chapter 16 UNRAVELING TIES17 Chapter 17 BETWEEN TWO WORLDS18 Chapter 18 BUILDING BRIDGES19 Chapter 19 A SHIFTING BALANCE20 Chapter 20 THE TEST OF TRUST21 Chapter 21 THE DECISION22 Chapter 22 NEW BEGINNING, OLD SHADOW23 Chapter 23 UNWANTED ENCOUNTERS24 Chapter 24 FULL CIRCLE25 Chapter 25 SHADOWS OF THE PAST26 Chapter 26 THE WEIGHT OF THE CROWN27 Chapter 27 TESTED BONDS28 Chapter 28 CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES29 Chapter 29 TRUTH OF CALEB30 Chapter 30 THE WEB TIGHTENS31 Chapter 31 THE BREAKING POINT32 Chapter 32 THE ENEMY WITHIN33 Chapter 33 THE AFTERMATH34 Chapter 34 THE FAMILY BUSINESS35 Chapter 35 A DAY AWAY36 Chapter 36 THE LEDGERS SHADOW37 Chapter 37 THE CIPHER'S SECRETS38 Chapter 38 THE WEIGHT OF SECRETS39 Chapter 39 THE COST OF WAR40 Chapter 40 THE COLD EMBRACE OF VENGANCE41 Chapter 41 THE TRAP42 Chapter 42 BETWEEN THE LAW AND ENEMY43 Chapter 43 THE RETURN HOME44 Chapter 44 THE RECKONING45 Chapter 45 THE PRICE OF LOYALTY46 Chapter 46 THE AFTERMATH47 Chapter 47 HEALING48 Chapter 48 PLANNING AND RECOVERY49 Chapter 49 GATHERING INTEL50 Chapter 50 CALEB'S RETURN51 Chapter 51 THE TRAP52 Chapter 52 THE LEDGER53 Chapter 53 FINAL SHOWDOWN54 Chapter 54 A NEW DAWN