My Dear Nightmare
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Daniela. Daniela Stevens," she responded.
"Look at me Stevens... now that I've met you, I promise I'll work even harder to make you unhappy, just as you made me. Maybe... you'll not feel the pain I felt, but I promise I will never allow you to be happy."
"Why?" she whispered.
"... because I can't let you be happy while I suffer everyday because of the memory of my parents being killed in front of me."
"So what are you going to do to me?"
"You're going to marry me."
* * * * * * * * *
Daniela Stevens could have been any normal woman, but the sins of her father and the endless nightmares, changed her life more than she could ever imagine. And that scar she carried everyday, was the permanent reminder of the pain she had caused a certain stranger, and the fact that she didn't deserve to find happiness. As long as she lived.
This stranger, who is her nightmare, is Alexander Jackson. He has not been able to let go of the pain of being orphaned, therefore he feels the urge to take revenge, even if it meant making an innocent person suffer.
His life and hers get tangled together, and they have to make a decision, whether to keep suffering, or to let go of the past. But letting go deals with change and trust, and that is their only obstacle.
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Chapter: Chapter FourI felt the blood drain out of my face. I turned to him fully. “How do you know my name?”“I should, technically, since you’re applying for a position that serves me. But that’s not how. You don’t mean to tell me that I’m the only one who remembers our history?”I glared at him, blinking when I my eyes started getting heavy.“After feeling so helpless the night my life changed forever, I made it a point to work hard, so I’d never be so defenceless again, so of course I’d know everything about you, about your family, your friends, where you live. Therefore, tell me, that you’re aware every decision in your life has led you to this point, that you remember our foundation, especially… with this reminder.”His eyes lowered and I followed his gaze to my arm. I slapped his hand away from my face. Losing control, the tears started slipping. “You destroyed my peace and my entire life! Isn’t that enough for you?”“I didn’t force you here. This is the only surprise, seeing you today. Don’t you t
Last Updated: 2025-03-03
Chapter: Chapter ThreeDaniela's POVMy mind was totally blank in the moment we stared at each other. Other than the shock that had clearly paralysed me, there was nothing else in my head. Not even a way to get out of this. After a while, I gained control of my body once again, only to begin shaking like a leaf, and I knew immediately, it was the onset of a panic attack.I had imagined this day so many times, and I had different scenarios each time. In one of them, I would walk up to him, spit in his face and show him that I had indeed moved on from the nightmare he turned my life into- a big lie, but that’s not the focus right now. In another, I’d just hold his gaze and walk right past him with my head held up high. There were more of me just being the main character of the moment, but funny enough, today was none of those.Tears threatened to form in my eyes as it dawned on me that I hadn’t moved on from anything. From his assault, from my mother’s death, from my childhood. There was nothing better about t
Last Updated: 2025-01-27
Chapter: Chapter TwoDaniela's POVI fidgeted in my seat as person after person got called to the panel. It was the day of the interview. I was on time, I was prepared. In short, everything was in order, but I couldn’t stop panicking.First because, I felt out of place. All the people with me in the interviewee’s waiting area seemed more put together than I was. Anyone with good eyes would choose any other person in the room over me, by just looking. Yes, I was insecure about this and many other things, but this wasn’t even the main issue.Second, this was Jackson Industries, JI, a big-time chain of fashion companies that dealt in clothes, jewellery and scents. I was applying for a secretarial position but this was still an environment that was more out of my league than anything. I didn’t even think I would be picked to be a cleaner here. Still, this wasn’t what was bothering me.Later that day, after crying on my aunt’s shoulder, I had locked myself in my room and gone over the email, mainly to push Just
Last Updated: 2024-12-29
Chapter: Chapter OneDaniela's POVA lunch date with my boyfriend, and my best friend. One of us was third wheeling, you would think. That wasn’t the case, or that wasn’t what it had looked like for the many times we’d had such hang outs. I was just a girl having fun with the two loves of my life. Regardless, if anyone was third wheeling, it should be Justin or Charlene, depending on which relationship you’re considering.But right now, as my hands shook beneath the table, my breaths calculated and my overthinking mind wandered, I felt like the odd one out. There was a palpable awkwardness between my boyfriend and my best friend. That was certain. They were indeed trying hard not to make it obvious, I’ll give them that, but it succeeded in the opposite.I could ignore this and go through the rest of the date like I hadn’t sensed anything. I had always done this, and it managed to keep things stable. Only, being silent this time meant I was willingly letting myself drown further in stupidity. Even a loser l
Last Updated: 2024-12-29
Chapter: Prologue“Go to bed and don’t let me repeat myself,” my father ordered finally.“I think you’ve punished her enough, Gabriel,” my mother joined softly and turned to me. “You learned your lesson right, mija?”I nodded eagerly at her, and then lowered my eyes when I turned back to my father. I had been punished to go to my room at six pm every night ever since he caught me eavesdropping on a very sensitive conversation he had been having with my mother. I hadn’t heard much, but what I remembered still didn’t make sense to me, or perhaps I just didn’t want to believe it, but since my father was still angry after two whole weeks, it was probably true.“I said a month and nothing’s changing my mind. Being lenient with her is what makes her do stupid things like this,” he threw at my mother. “I’ve made myself clear Daniela. Go.”Like I always did with him, I silently obeyed. This was yet another day where I was reminded of how much a nuisance I was to my dad. Mama had said that wasn’t true, the time
Last Updated: 2024-12-29
Chapter: SevenPatriciaI woke up the same time my six o’clock alarm sounded. I yawned as I moved my hand around the bed searching for it to turn it off. I opened my eyes after seconds of vain searching and found it on my nightstand.I pulled myself up into a sitting position, took my phone and turned off the alarm. I pushed my hair back and then turned to Ethan’s side. It looked untouched. I instantly checked the messages I sent him yesterday. He hadn’t seen them. Did he come home at all?The moment I slid out of bed, the bathroom door opened. I turned my head and instantly locked eyes with Ethan, who had just a towel wrapped his waist.For a moment, my words were stuck in my throat as I looked at him. What was I even going to say? Hey there? Good morning? How was your night?Ethan just looked away and headed for his closet.“Wait,” I shot up from the bed, finally finding my voice.He stopped but didn’t turn. “What?”“Did you
Last Updated: 2025-03-03
Chapter: SixEthanMy eyes grew alert immediately. His words hit me hard like a brick thrown to my forehead. It was painful and scary. This entire time, I had never thought of the event of a divorce. It hadn’t come to mind even once.A life without Patricia. A life where I could see Nelly only on certain days of the week. No, I couldn’t picture it. “A divorce?”Dad smiled weakly. “I can see you haven’t thought about it.”He stretched his arms over the counter and placed his hands over mine. I bowed my head, trying to hide the other round of tears that threatened to fall.“I can’t give you any sweet words, son,” he said. “It has always been one of my fervent prayers that you never experience what I did with your mother. A divorce might seem like the most reasonable solution, but it’s all up to you. If you can find a way around this…excellent, but if not, do what you must. In everything, just think about Nellana. That’s a sure way to know what’s best.”I drew my hands back and cleaned my face.Nelly
Last Updated: 2025-02-13
Chapter: FiveEthanTwo hours had already passed, but I was still sitting in the same place, in the driver’s seat of my car, not knowing what to feel. I was trying hard, really hard to convince myself that I could hold it all in, but I could only deceive myself for so long.Even though I said I wouldn’t, I was tempted to go find the scoundrel who called himself Bryce and unleash all my anger on him. But clearly, I was in no proper state of mind to face him. I could end up being called a murderer tomorrow.I slapped the wheel in frustration and cursed out loudly. That was when the tears came rushing down my face. My heart ached as I yelled out, pouring my emotions out all at once. I was angry and confused and most of all, I felt betrayed and lost.How had things come to this? Of all the problems I expected with our marriage, I didn’t think I’d be faced with one of this sort. I still couldn’t accept that she had cheated. She wasn’t the type. She just didn’t have it in her nature to do something like
Last Updated: 2025-02-13
Chapter: FourPatriciaI rushed out of my office and ran down the hallway, ignoring the weird looks people shot in my direction.I found Jessica after some time at the normally isolated part of the office building, with her phone in her hand. I halted, frightened of what she was thinking of doing.“W-what are you doing, Jess?”She looked at me with a spiteful expression, one I never dreamed of getting from her. “What do you think? Telling your husband of course.”My eyes dipped in confusion, feeling betrayed. The words were stuck in my throat. “Jessica.”“I’m not going to support you in this, don’t be fooled. I’ll do the right thing, by letting Ethan know.”“Why…why are you being like this?”“Shouldn’t I be asking?”I shook my head, trying to put her strange behaviour past me and focus on what was important. I took a step towards her, begging. “Please. Just hold on. I know I made a mistake-”“A mistake?” she echoed. “You think this is just a mistake,” she chuckled dryly.“Jessica.”“Tell me. H
Last Updated: 2025-02-13
Chapter: ThreePatriciaFlashback- *two weeks ago*My hair was in a mess, just like my papers were. I had to submit my analysis report by the end of the day, but I couldn’t seem to concentrate. My mind kept going back to what I had done during the weekend. I still didn’t know why and how I had let that happen, but now the damage was done and permanent; irreversible. I had slept with Bryce, a childhood friend who happened to also be a colleague at work. I had been avoiding him ever since I made that mistake, and I wasn’t planning on seeing him any time soon. My application for a leave of absence was being processed, and I would vanish from the office as soon as it was approved.I knew this wasn’t the way to solve the problem, but that was all I could think of. Was I going to tell Ethan? Could I even?I run my hands through hair again, pulling tightly on the roots. What would others say if they found out? My parents…God… I was so ashamed and sick of myself.If only I could turn back time. If only we d
Last Updated: 2024-12-30
Chapter: TwoI rushed to my room and entered the bathroom, rummaging through the drawers. Ethan was the last to use the kit and he was fond of not placing things back where he picked them from, one of the causes of our little petty arguments; arguments we couldn’t even have anymore. My eyes rested on the kit as my mind roamed down memory lane, tears lingering in my eyes.I had missed him so much. I don’t know how our marriage had turned so sour, but it had. We didn’t talk like we used to. We hardly smiled at each other, to talk of even going on dates. It felt like we weren’t even married, like we were some college roommates who secretly hated each other’s guts but minded our own businesses to avoid conversation, but I wouldn’t use that as an excuse for what I did. It wouldn’t even make me feel better.“Mom?”Nelly suddenly appeared out of nowhere.I looked away and wiped my face before turning back to her. My phone was in her hand and from the screen, there was an ongoing call.“Is it daddy?” I lo
Last Updated: 2024-12-30
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