Heart Contract

sat in the dimly lit living room of his sprawling mansion, the shadows dancing around him as he cradled a glass of

fe he once had-one filled with laughter, love, and the gentle warmth of his wife, Eliana. The silence

that fateful night, the m

She had kissed him softly, her lips lingering on his for just a moment longer than necessary, her eyes sparkling with misch

, morphing into hours, and dread had sett

hill crawl up his spine. The voice on the othe

en an accident. You need

ghter, the way it danced in the air, a sound that could brighten the darkest of days. But

s face, the way his eyes

Bernard. We did ever

ayed over and over. He had collapsed against the wall,

as just here. She was..."* His voice broke, the weig

was an assassin. A bystander tried

Heroic Stranger Attempts to Save Woman in Fatal Shoot

left in Eliana's absence. He could hear their daughter, Lily, gurgli

spered into the silence, his voic

r dreams for the future. They had planned to travel, to show their daughter the world. Instead, he was left

his face as he thought of all the moments they wo

ible. The whiskey glass trembled in his hand as he set it

rings

s Cha

Charles' voice boomed through t

ut roll his eyes. *"Wha

ooding billionaire! you still alive

tried to sound serious, but a hi

like a deflated balloon! Co

ust...

! I've got a great idea-let's hit the t

e I'm going to tak

lirt with the waitress this time.

an't keep."* Bernard chu

though. You can't just sit there and stare a

k I'm in the m

gh! Remember that time at the beach when you tried to i

ted. *"Don't

t looked like a lopsided tac

at!"* Bernard laughed, the

work of art! You

e impos

ke some new memories. I'll even th

Just one

eight! But I'll take it. Meet me in a

unbelie

loud uncontrollab

ng with chatter and laughter. The table was cluttered with school supplies-crayons

" one of her younger brothers exclai

ack!" another chimed in

warmth in her heart. "Okay, okay! I'll make a

assah, you know you need to open that shop we talked about. It'

a moment. "But Mom, I want to

ing her hands on a towel. "But you need to think abo

ed at her siblings, their faces bright with dreams and hopes. "I just want to make

houlder. "You can do both, Hadassah. You can help them and bu

of determination and worry. "Okay, I'll t

h love for them, but she also felt the weight of responsibility pressing down. It was a balanc

s out to see

uggles to Sharon. "I don't know what to do, Sharon. My siblings' school fees are piling up, a

arms around Hadassah. "You're shouldering so m

e. "I've been working non-stop, but it's still

e not failing anyone, Hadassah. You're doing everyth

ing pressure. Sharon noticed and suggested, "Let's take a walk and

walked, Sharon asked, "Have you considered looking into freelance work or

"I've never thought of that. What kin

d you're organized. Maybe you could offer virtual a

r of hope. "That's not a bad idea. I cou

ll this stress. Hadassah, you have to spend the weekend with me! We c

etries? Really? That's the most e

t! We're talking face masks, hair masks, scented lot

d. "You're such

of honor! And besides, we can make it a spa day. We can get man

s? You're really bringing ou

on and fun. And who says we can't try on

But okay, you've convinced me. Let's go get ou

afternoon sunshine streaming through the windows. As they turned

g an air of confidence. Charles, on the other hand, was grinning from ear

er there. Those two look like they're

e and smiled softly. "Maybe th

he flashed his famous smile. "Well, well, well! Look what we

w, his expression unchan

ully rolled her eyes. "Oh

"Hi, I'm Sharon, and thi

ving Sharon's face. "I'm Charles, and this is

lightly, but he nodded cu

s hand. "Nice to meet you too, Charles. And

oss Bernard's face, but his eye

oice soothing. "Charles, you're

, but his eyes betrayed a hint of a

rm, making everyone laugh. Sharon and Hadassah excha

d in agreement, her eyes

conversation flowed effortlessly. As they stood there, laughi