Saudade의 작품

CedricI stared at her. It was the least I could do to keep my emotions at bay. I didn't know how to approach the situation, especially when Elliott had related to me about their relationship. I knew something was going on, but they were willing to deny everything while I was watching them. I became more furious, seeing how she had sold herself to a man like Elliott. I couldn't think of anything else that could be more demeaning than coming to terms with the fact that she had been with him all along. It made me rethink the story of her kidnap. Was she truly missing? What was she up to? I saw how she stretched herself, in her seat. I wanted to help her, but then that she still had that thing in her womb even after I had Instructed that she had gotten rid of it. It was the same issue that caused her disappearance for weeks. Something that hadn't settled well with me since then.The air around us was tense. She was under my predatory glance every time as she stared out the window. I cou

CedricEmily was glaring at me, her eyes wild with fury, but I didn’t care. Not anymore. I had no time for her tantrums or misplaced anger. After everything I’d done for her, the least she could do was listen."Emily’s just going through a lot right now," Elliot said, his voice calm but strained. He was standing too close to her, like he always did. It made my blood boil. "You should take her home, Cedric."I laughed, a sharp, bitter sound that echoed off the walls. "You must think I’m stupid, Elliot." I took a step closer, eyes narrowing on him. “Are you sleeping with my wife?”He flinched, just a small movement, but enough for me to see. I could smell the guilt on him like cheap cologne. His eyes darted to Emily for the briefest second before he quickly shook his head. “No. Of course not.”Emily stood up straighter, chin held high, defiance written all over her face. “How does it affect you, Cedric?" she shot back. "When you’re cheating on me yourself?”I turned to her, rage flashin

EmilyI stood there, my body tense, my eyes fixed on Cedric as he stepped closer. His presence was always unnerving, but this time, it was more than that. He had been absent when I needed him most, and now he thought he could simply demand my return, as if nothing had happened. I was not going back without answers."Emily, you need to go home," Elliot's voice came from beside me, low and urgent. He reached out to touch my arm, but I pulled away, glaring at him."Home?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "Where was he when I was missing? Where the hell were you?" My voice rose, filled with the frustration and betrayal that had been building up ever since my disappearance.Cedric’s jaw tightened as he looked at me, his eyes cold. "I don’t have to explain myself to you," he said, voice calm but edged with threat. He was always like this—untouchable, self-assured. “Return with me now, or you’ll face the consequences.”Consequences. The word sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to back down

Emily Elliot had been behaving strangely. The softness he had when I first arrived seemed to have vanished into thin air. I tried to think of what I might have done that would create such indifference in him before he left. I couldn't come up with anything. I knew how I was with Cedric, and he hadn't made me feel even the slightest way Elliot had made me feel. I felt safe for the first time in a long while, and that was why I felt sick to my stomach. Knowing that something was off with him when I knew that was not how he reacted.I sighed, wandering around the house, not knowing how to release the anxiety that settled in my bones. "Ma'am?!" I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard the subtle voice of the maid. Subtle but sharp. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were standing there.""I guess you are worried. If there is anything I can do to help." I smiled, shaking my head. She dropped the tray holding the glass of juice in place. "It's fine. It's just been a few hours since Elliot w

CedricI drove with purpose, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary as I navigated through the city streets toward Elliott ’s club. The day was overcast, a fitting backdrop for the irritation gnawing at me. Elliott. His name had come up far too often lately, and I wasn’t about to let him continue slipping under the radar. Emily’s disappearance had changed everything. I had to know if he was involved, no matter how friendly he acted.When I arrived, Elliott was already waiting for me outside the club, leaning casually against the side of his car. He straightened up as I pulled into the lot and stepped out. As usual, his face held that annoyingly neutral expression, the one that made it hard to gauge what he was really thinking.I approached him, taking a deep breath to calm the simmering anger inside me. I wasn’t here to start a fight. Not yet."Elliott," I greeted, keeping my voice steady."Hey, Cedric," he replied, flashing me that too-friendly grin of his. "What's going

EmilyI wandered through Elliott’s house, letting my mind drift as I moved from room to room. There was something calming about the quiet space, the soft hum of the wind outside, the creak of the floorboards under my feet. After everything that had happened, I needed this—a moment of peace, of silence, where I could pretend, just for a little while, that things weren’t so complicated.As I ran my hand along the wall, I started to daydream. I imagined a life here, with Elliott. Me, him, and our child. I could see it so clearly, like a picture-perfect fantasy that felt almost within reach. I pictured Elliott in the kitchen, cooking like he did this morning, laughing as our child ran around the house. The thought brought a small smile to my face, even though deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple. Nothing ever was. But in that moment, I allowed myself to dream.Eventually, I found myself standing in front of Elliott’s bedroom door. Curiosity tugged at me, and I pushed it open gently, st

Isla I couldn't breathe. The walls of Dante's mansion were closing in, the luxury suffocating me more than I ever thought possible. The marble floors, the gilded paintings—they weren’t signs of wealth anymore. They were prison bars. Every day felt like I was losing more of myself, trapped beneath Dante’s watchful eye. But tonight was different. Tonight, I was going to escape.Dante was away on business—something dark and dangerous, no doubt, but I didn’t care. The moment he left, I knew it was my only chance. My heart pounded as I waited for the house to fall silent, listening to the faint footsteps of the guards echo through the halls. I counted them. Three outside the east wing. One near the entrance. Two at the back. I had memorized their patterns for days, biding my time.The air was thick with tension as I crept through the hallways, careful not to make a sound. Every breath felt like a risk, every step like a betrayal. But I couldn’t stay here any longer. Dante’s control over m

IslaEach passing day felt like I was walking through a haze, the world around me dull and surreal. I was in Dante's mansion, a gilded cage that smelled of leather and danger, and every moment served as a reminder of my captivity. I should have been terrified, yet there was an undeniable thrill that lurked just beneath the surface—an exhilarating danger that both terrified and excited me.Dante’s presence weighed heavily on me. His possessiveness was a double-edged sword; it made me feel safe, yet it suffocated me. I craved freedom, yet every time he looked at me with that smoldering intensity, my resolve began to crumble. I was trapped in a storm of conflicting emotions, and the tension between us was palpable.One evening, I found myself staring out the tall windows of my room, the city lights twinkling like distant stars. I could see people going about their lives, unaware of the chaos lurking in the shadows. As the night deepened, I felt a surge of rebellion coursing through me. I

IslaThe next night, I stood in front of the mirror in my room, my reflection staring back at me, a mixture of anxiety and determination swirling in my gut. I wore a sleek black dress that hugged my curves in all the right places, its fabric smooth against my skin. Dante had insisted I dress for the occasion, and though I hated to admit it, I looked good. But looking good felt like dressing up for a funeral—my own.The heaviness of what lay ahead pressed down on me. I was about to step into a world I had only heard about in whispers, one filled with danger and deception. Dante was waiting for me, his dark shadow looming large, and I could almost feel his eyes on me, assessing, judging.“Are you ready?” he called from the other side of the door, his voice low and commanding.I took a deep breath and opened the door, forcing myself to walk into his gaze. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.He looked me up and down, a flicker of approval in his eyes before

IslaThe first thing that struck me when I stepped inside Dante’s mansion was the overwhelming sense of opulence. It was a world I had never imagined—a realm of polished marble floors, soaring ceilings adorned with glittering chandeliers, and walls lined with priceless art that felt like they were watching me, judging my presence. But behind all that glamour lay an unsettling reality: this place was a luxurious prison.“Your room is upstairs,” Dante said, his voice smooth and unyielding. He gestured toward a grand staircase that curved like a serpent, leading to the unknown. I followed him, my heart pounding in my chest as I took in the lavish décor surrounding me. It felt surreal, almost suffocating.Every step I took felt monitored, as if the guards lurking in the shadows were keeping a close watch on me. I glanced back at them, feeling like a caged animal under their scrutiny. There were no locks on the doors, no sense of safety. The knowledge that I was a mere pawn in Dante’s game

Isla“I am not going with you.” I couldn't sleep throughout the night as my fear increased. I felt he wasn't going to show up but the fear inside me grew when I saw him standing at my doorstep. His impression is grim as death. The silence stretched between us like a taut string, ready to snap at any moment. My pulse pounded in my ears as Dante’s words rang out again, clear and sharp: “You, or your father dies.”I stood there, rooted to the spot, my body trembling under the weight of his ultimatum. My father, broken and pathetic, lay crumpled on the floor, barely able to lift his head. He didn’t plead this time—maybe he knew it wouldn’t make a difference. His life was in my hands now, and I hated him for it.Dante watched me with an unreadable expression, arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes boring into me like he could see right through my skin to the fear twisting inside. There was no warmth in those eyes, just the cold certainty of someone who always got what he wanted. And

IslaThe streets were quiet by the time I trudged home, my legs aching from the double shift at the diner. My uniform was sticky with grease and sweat, and all I could think about was collapsing on my bed and shutting out the world. The apartment building loomed ahead, worn and crumbling like everything else in my life. I could already picture what I’d find inside—my father passed out in his usual spot on the couch, an empty bottle clutched in his hand.I climbed the stairs, each step heavier than the last, and reached the door. As soon as I opened it, the unmistakable stench of cheap whiskey hit me like a punch to the gut. My chest tightened with disappointment, though I shouldn’t have been surprised. This had become routine—me cleaning up his messes while he drowned in his.“Dad?” I called out, but the only response was his ragged snoring from the living room.I stepped inside and found him, just as I’d imagined, sprawled across the couch. A few bottles had rolled onto the floor, on