Novels by thoughtsinpaper

Cara's POVAll through the drive to the hospital, I couldn't stop imagining the what-ifs.What if his case had worsened? What if his case was already beyond the point of recovery? What if he doesn't regain consciousness at all?I didn't know what to expect, and the fact in itself was sickening. Literally speaking.At the hospital, we found my father and Doctor Bruno talking at the reception and were immediately escorted to Adonis's room."What happened? He was fine before I left." I asked, my eyes zeroed in on my husband's unconscious form. "I don't understand either. We stood up to see Diavolo out when fluid suddenly began to leak from his nostrils—My face contorted, "Excuse me, what? Fluid?""I wouldn't say it was sudden. The fluid is from his brain. I believe there's a leak somewhere." Doctor Bruno cut in, "Remember, we have left this untreated for long, so adverse effects like this are bound to occur."My heart skipped a beat. At the end of the day, it was due to Adonis's stub

"To warn you." Was all Cara said, but those three words were enough to get his full attention if it was still divided. "Diavolo's at my father's." Luca leaned forward, clasping his hands in concentration."The time has come then?" "Yes, it has." She confirmed. Both were speaking in parables... half words. Despite not using complete sentences, they understood each other."I'm surprised Adonis let you leave the house at all." "He didn't have a choice. My presence there would only cause chaos. It was better for me to be away, believe me." "Still, you could've sent someone. It's not safe for you to be moving around unprotected. Adrian had recruited a lot of people. The threat would be too overwhelming for a mere dozen guards.""I don't have a dozen and have you forgotten what I said?" Cara stressed. "I needed to warn you." "Yeah. From what? Adonis couldn't come himself to do so?" He scoffed, rising to his feet to get his pills.One of the few things he was grateful about for Cecelia

Cara's POV One would think arriving at the mansion I'd missed so much would bring me joy, but it only made my anxiety turn sour.What are the odds that I'd meet Tina at the door just as I was about to walk in?"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in..." she taunted.As usual, I was taken aback; it would take a million years for me to get used to this version of her. She used to be the only reason I looked forward to working at the restaurant... one of the sources of my rarely enjoyed happiness. Now she was... different.She gave me a once-over, her face scrunched up like she was disgusted. "You look fat... I must say. And how is life treating you, now that your rich husband is not so rich? Did you think all your problems would go away when you married him?" Tina laughed mockingly.I eyed her outfit, composed of the latest pieces of Louis Vuitton from her head down to her feet. "Are you sure you're not projecting yourself on me?""Excuse me?""You're the one who changed because you

Cara's POVI didn't go down immediately. Adonis wasn't a child or a stupid man; the fact that he brought Diavolo to our home meant that he was trying to achieve something.Whatever it was, I was not interested. As we had indirectly decided months ago, he could do as he pleased. I was already doing the same.Diavolo's acceptance of the invitation made me uneasy. Living with men who had mastered the act of manipulation and psychology in their work dealings had taught me more than a thing or two.He wasn't here to play.Making my spine as straight as possible, I began heading towards our room."Come along with me. I'll need your help." The maid didn't argue and silently followed. One of the attributes one must have to work for a man like my father.Never ask questions.I went straight into our dressing room, moving over to the section of clothes I hadn't touched for months. Adonis's side of the dressing room seemed to be more comfortable than mine, so I lived wearing his clothes.Not to

Cara's POVThere isn't much to say. Literally, there isn't. I'd never been to a theatre to watch a play, but I've read tons of novels where the saying, 'The show must go on' was used. That was the best description of our current situation.Life took unexpected turns, the unusual becoming the new normal... and in my case, the lines between what's real and unreal become distorted, yet we live.Two months have passed since that day... the day the first group of Adonis's men was taken. Since then, more have followed.Now, we're just living like things are normal; life at the mansion was crumbling. Luca barely shows up at my father's home anymore. He calls only when he has important information, and the call is never two-way. Day and night, I'm surrounded by complaints about his unavailability. Even when I tried to reach him, I was met with the same silence.'The number you're trying to call is busy; please try again later'.I think we broke him. Although Cecelia seems to believe the 'w

Cara's POV I watched with worried eyes as Adonis shrugged off the two pairs of supporting arms that prevented him from falling face flat as he found his footing—to my utmost disappointment, he didn't pass out."I'm fine." He grumbled.I was reaching my breaking point. How long could it take a man to lose consciousness?Was his brain truly in control of his body system like all normal humans, or was he the one controlling it?However, my patience was wearing thin, and the limit was soon reached."We should get you admitted." I deadpanned, ready for the disagreement that would spring up."You know my answer to that." He rasped, taking a seat. "I have a few days more to go.""Nothing is likely to change. You heard the bombshell Luca dropped. The symptoms are worsening." My mouth stated points I believed were valid enough to get him to change his mind, but this was Adonis.He was as stubborn as a goat. "All the more reason why I should be home."Despair washed over me. I looked at him,

"Err... can your witnesses step forward, please? We'll need their signatures."Two hefty men in black suits and dark sunglasses stepped beside the groom and the bride respectively.The wedding officiator reflexively shrank back, eager to end the ceremony and escape. He had been stunned thirty minutes earlier when a stoic, disabled man was wheeled in, accompanied by a woman with a bright smile, well before the scheduled time.And it was nothing compared to the fear that gripped him when he tried to point out that the registered bride's name differed from the one he'd been given, and the men stepped forward with a menacing look.Now, it was safe to say he was just minding his business in hopes that he'd officiate the wedding without losing a limb.Finally done with all the necessary charade, he presented the certificate to the couple with trembling hands. "With the power vested upon me by the state, I now pronounce you, Miss Se—hmm..." He stammered, swallowing his words, "Miss Rebecca

Slowly, Tobias raised his head, his expression blank but a storm swirling in his eyes. His lips parted, and Rebecca swallowed, impatiently anticipating his reply, yet the first words he spoke were not the ones she expected."Step away from me."Her eyes narrowed in disbelief, "What?""You're in my face. Step away." "Oh..." she jumped back, leaning up to her full height. "I'm so sorry." His actions made her feel uncomfortable. The way he stuck his nose in the air, his gaze condescending as he gave her a full sweep, almost made her cower away, and her courage nearly faltered. She felt stupid for making such a proposal.He was the disabled one, yet Rebecca felt worthless compared to him. His expression was distant, conveying a desire to be left alone and a reluctance to engage in conversation."What... did you say?"She hesitated, tempted to take back her words.'It would be better to walk away with the little shred of dignity I have left,' Rebecca thought to herself, but would dignity

Rebecca POVA fool.That was the right word to use... the right word to describe my actions. I sat sober in the familiar bridal room for the fourth time in one day, confused about the next course of action to take.I thought I was prepared, ready, that it was long overdue, but nothing... no one... could've prepared me for this day.What made it all frightening was the fact that I could've worked into a more devastating life without knowing all this.Amongst all the betrayals, Jacob's hurt the most.How could he? Why?Everyone around me had the same notion and thought the same. Could it mean that I was the one with the problem?My heart felt as heavy as the wedding dress I had on. I had gone back to the last two hours again, which meant it had returned to its original shape.Everything else had—Yet, something felt odd. The sense of urgency I felt from the two previous times had dwindled, leaving behind a sense of dread instead.The clock? Why wasn't it ticking? My eyes found it, and

Hearing those words from her fiancé, the man Rebecca had thought would save her from the hell her life was and give her a happy forever, was more heart-wrenching than all her family had done to her combined.Finding out he was getting married to her stepsister wasn't even as disheartening as this. His words shattered her defences, the carefully constructed walls she'd built around herself crumbling into dust."What..." she croaked, her eyes narrowed on him. "What did you just... say to me?"Jacob gave her a disgusted once-over, "I never loved you. Is it so hard to understand?"The tug Rebecca felt at the first confession of those words lasted longer as he repeated them. Her lips quivered as she struggled to find the right words to say.Why?The rush of adrenaline that had been fuelling her rage suddenly felt diminished.He never loved her? What then was she fighting for?The memories of all the years they'd spent together flashed in her mind. His smile, his laughter... Jacob was alway

Chaos erupted in the wedding hall as stunned gasps and sharp inhales flew out from the lips of the people who should've been her wedding guests.Rebecca didn't understand what was so surprising about her act. Did they think she was dumb, or were they just plain stupid?The news had been going around about the eldest daughter of the Park family getting married to the eldest son of the Lee family. Were they trying to act like they didn't know who she was? Who Patricia was?Yet, she didn't care. She didn't care about the look on their faces and was not interested in their faux display of emotions. They were all betrayers. Just like her family... just like Jacob.The second her foot stepped into the hall, a sharp pang of hurt shot through her at the fact that this was her reality. A small part of her had wished he'd prove her wrong. That this time, as always, he'd be on her side.But nothing changed. Her face grew darker as they took in his shell-shocked state."What?" Rebecca gave a si

Tick tock. This time, Rebecca snapped her eyes open with a gasp. She was back in the bridal room. And she wasn't so foolish to think it was a dream again. It seemed impossible but she had gone back in time. This was the second time she was reliving the bridal room scene. Something was definitely off, and the luxurious clock on the wall had something to do with it. Tick tock. She threw a suspicious look at it— Standing to her feet, she moved closer. It didn't look different from any normal clock. Was she imagining it? Perhaps it wasn't the main object of suspicion? Rebecca turned to head back to her seat, but the flash of a small white object behind it made her pause. She wheeled around, peering intently at the clock. Alas, there was a slip of paper hanging out. How didn't she notice before? Without wasting time, she pulled it out with great difficulty—standing on a chair in a wedding dress wasn't an easy fit, but her curiosity made it possible. Tick tock. The instant