Chapter: SeventeenEthanMy scalp was hurting from my incessant hair pulling. I couldn’t tell what I was feeling, and trying to forget everything by drowning myself in work only worsened my devastated estate.I shut my laptop and turned to the framed wedding photo at the corner of my desk. I picked it up, tracing my fingers along the smooth glass, looking particularly at Patricia. She wasn’t looking into the camera. She was looking at me, with the biggest smile, and eyes filled with adoration. When was the last time she looked at me like that?I turned the photo down on its face and pushed my seat back as I stood up and exited the study.I entered the living room expecting to see her still seated in the sofa, but the place was empty. Somehow, I was relieved. I had a little more time to think before making a decision.A part of me wanted all this tension to end by just going ahead with a separation. Although it would strain my relationship with my
Last Updated: 2025-04-03
Chapter: SixteenTHIRD PERSONJessica leaned back on the door once she had shut it and heaved out a deep sigh. She chewed on her bottom lip, worried as she pondered over Patricia’s words. She shook her head, convincing herself.“She brought this on herself,” she muttered. “I only did the right thing.”“I’m guessing this is about Patricia.”She straightened up, startled by Charles’ voice.“Why are you so tensed up?” he asked as he wiped his hand with a napkin. He had just finished setting up the table for dinner.“It’s nothing.” She bypassed him and went to the dining table, resting her hands on the chair.“Patricia was here, wasn’t she?” he continued with the questions.Jessica closed her eyes, feeling absolutely confused and stressed.“I heard her voice so you can’t tell me otherwise.”“Let’
Last Updated: 2025-04-01
Chapter: FifteenPatriciaHer eyes displayed surprise when she opened the door of her apartment. I kept my facial expression hard, eyes narrowed as I willed her to speak first. She gradually grew annoyed and glanced back into her house before looking back at me.“If you're here to create a scene, now’s not the time or place.” She folded her arms, as if to make her feel superior. “My husband’s at home.”“Create a scene?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “What would make you think that, if you feel you haven’t done anything wrong, Jessica?”Aggravated that she couldn’t give back a cheeky reply, she dropped her arms and asked, “What do you want?”“I should be asking you that. What do you want from me? I get that I hurt my husband, and somehow betrayed your trust, but we’re supposed to be best friends. Why would you do all this?”Her gaze shifted.
Last Updated: 2025-03-30
Chapter: FourteenPatricia“What?” I stared at my mother in disbelief. I was pleased she wasn’t interfering much, but this…? “Mom you can’t-”“You said you were ready to face the consequences, Pat,” dad reminded me. My heart sank. “This isn’t a punishment at all. It’s only what’s best for the child.”I shook my head. I wasn’t having it. “Ethan?”He didn’t look at me, but he was clearly pissed.I knew if they took Nelly, it was only going to be for a while, but at the moment, it felt like they were taking her away from me forever. My daughter was the only hope I had right now, the only person keeping me sane in this house. Being with her took my mind off all the issues. Being with her gave me a purpose. How was I going to live with this with her gone?“Look at it this way, my dear,” mom continued. “You already have knowledge of how smart she is. She’s already picking up the potholes in your relationship. Do you want her getting more depressed as she s
Last Updated: 2025-03-28
Chapter: ThirteenPatriciaWe entered the house and my mother suddenly brought out a collection of books from a bag she was holding and handed them over to Nelly.“All these are for me?” she looked at them, wide-eyed.Mom smiled down at her. “Yes Lana.”Nelly frowned. “But what’s the occasion? My birthday has passed.”Mom chuckled. “There shouldn’t be a specific occasion for gifts.”“Thank you so much grandma and grandpa. You're the best!” she exclaimed. “Can I go to my room and read them right now?”“Sure thing.”Nelly turned to me with a big smile and then hurried away. My mother hadn’t given her the books for the fun of it. She was using it as a way to keep her busy, so she could have me all to herself, for a reason I wasn’t too sure about.“You’ve been avoiding our calls,” mom went straight to the point.I pushed my hair back and sighed, sitting down opposite them. “Please sit down.”I couldn’t even look a
Last Updated: 2025-03-26
Chapter: TwelvePatriciaNelly and I were lying on my bed, completely covered by the sheets, as we watched a children’s movie on my laptop. She was fully engrossed in the cartoon, while my mind was playing elsewhere.I had still not called my mother and she had been calling a lot. I knew I’d have to talk to her soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand it if she found out my infidelity and became disappointed in me. The door suddenly opened and we turned our attention to Ethan, who had obviously just returned from work.“Daddy!” Nelly sang as she jumped of her bed and jumped into his embrace.“How’s my cupcake doing?” He smiled as he poked her nose ruffled her hair.“Great,” she giggled. “Mom and I are watching a movie. Do you want to join?”Ethan looked at me as his smile faded. I simply stared at him, not expecting anything. He glan
Last Updated: 2025-03-17
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 SixDaniela's POVMike will pick you up at nine. I didn’t know how long I had been staring at the message, but whatever time had elapsed, still wasn’t enough to help me understand that yesterday wasn’t a dream in the least bit. And as if this wasn’t enough, a notification popped up with a message from Justin.You’ve ignored me enough. Please, let me see you.I watched as the notification slid off the screen. I couldn’t open his message. For a while I had even forgotten that he existed and that we still needed to talk about what was going to become of our relationship.Obviously, we had to end it. And this left a sour taste in my mouth as I thought about it, because I couldn’t be certain if I would’ve stood by the same decision had Alexander not been in the picture.I read over the text again and again. I missed him. So much, as embarrassing as it was to admit it, it was
Last Updated: 2025-04-03
Chapter: Chapter FiveDaniela’s POVThe moment I got home, I rushed upstairs for my laptop and immediately looked up flights that were leaving this evening. It didn’t matter where- the next town or the next country. Whatever my savings could afford for my aunt and I was alright for now. We just needed to get away right this moment, and think about the rest when we were safer.I wasn’t thinking clearly, sure. But today had been equally unhinged. How could my life change so drastically in just one day. One person shouldn’t have the power to do this. It was unfair. And scary. He knew everything about my life, so he could really do all that he had threatened to, but I still couldn’t just sit there and let him. I had to at least try.And if it didn’t work…?No, he couldn’t possibly be serious. Marry him? How could he even come up with that in a matter of minutes, and act as if it was completely normal. I thought about how he
Last Updated: 2025-03-06
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 POV A 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 lose
Last Updated: 2024-12-29
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