ARROW’S POV It was magnificent sunshine, and in the entirety of the scene, Dawn and I walked to the car slowly, the gentle sounds of gravel crunching underfoot promising to soothe. The tune that lay softly in the background seemed so in time with the rhythm of our feet; Dawn's humming formed a most harmonious accompaniment to the music, indicating yet again serenity wrapped around us both. That was what the outside world became as we drove away from there: dramatic scenes with rolling landscapes, thick woods, and bright flowers leaping up and down like nature's ballet still throwing about colors in the light wind. But then, inside the car, it was just easy, pure with Dawn's buzzing and soft music - creating a soothing theatrical ambiance lulling the whole outside world into a quiet slumber. And there we were finally at the proverbial place, Dawn and me out of that car. We stretch our muscles, reflecting on the sights and sounds of the sit-out. The sun was at its prime, complemented
My sheer, white veil covered my face, the fabric trailing down to my knees. My bridal gown stretched far behind me as I took slow, calculated steps toward the devil standing a short distance away.Everyone’s faces were filled with smiles, their happy expressions bringing tears to my eyes—tears I couldn’t let fall.They were all so pleased to see their king, the most handsome and powerful man in Russia’s entertainment industry, finally getting married.Everyone seemed happy.But I wasn’t.Here I was, walking slowly into an unavoidable hell ruled by the devil I was about to marry.This devil, whom fate brought me to through an accidental one-night encounter—six years ago.With each step, I reassured myself that it was only for a year.Just one year.It was a contract marriage.It would end soon.But even as I held on to this hope, I found myself getting tangled in his piercing gaze. His cold eyes seemed to whisper something dangerous to me as if they were telling me…I was in.In for a
Kam's POVAs I stood, listening to the Reverend recite the vows, I stared into his face—my soon-to-be husband's face—as he looked at me with undivided attention."I do," he said, and his words were followed by thunderous applause from the crowd, all dressed in white, as per the wedding’s dress code.The Reverend repeated the vows, and it was my turn to respond.I could feel the intense gaze of everyone on me, waiting expectantly for my reply. But I couldn’t open my mouth. I couldn’t say a thing.My heart clenched as I tried to force the words out.Why was it so hard to say? They were just two simple words. So why was I hesitating?My gaze drifted from him to the expectant crowd. Through the veil, I scanned their faces and saw my manager, Jemima, nudging me to respond.The Reverend echoed the vows again, but still, I couldn’t answer.Then I saw my darling Dawn’s sad face. She looked like she might break down if I refused.Dawn… wait, why wasn’t I answering? Did I really want to lose my
I was dolled up like this… that day… that awful day six years ago when my scandal broke.I could still picture my younger self, stepping forward to accept my award as the world’s best model.It was the awards night; everyone had received their trophies, and I was the last one called to the stage. I could see myself reaching for the award—just as the recording started playing.The recording played, and I heard my sister’s voice, pleading for help, saying people were going to hurt her.But the shock came when I heard my supposed reply on the recording.“Some things are more important than family… I’ve got an award to win!”That was my reply. Or so they claimed.The irony? I never received any such message, and I never replied. My voice had been forged—someone had gone to great lengths to ruin me just as I reached the peak of my career.I’d run off the stage as insults, fruit, and drinks were hurled at me.The truth? My sister had gone missing, and despite all my efforts to find her, she
His words hit me like hot liquid pouring into my ears, the rough edge to his tone making my already racing heart beat even faster. The look in his eyes left no doubt—he meant every word.Wifely duties...Wifely duties...F***. Every wife knew what that meant, and there was no way I could pretend otherwise.My throat felt dry as I tried to respond, but, honestly, I was grateful for the excuse. I had no idea what to say.The close intimate position we were in made my legs wobbly and weak and the soft brushes of his clothed groin on my V area , left my breath hooking at the peak of it's relaxation, coming out in a disorderly fashion.Pl… please…” my voice barely came out as a whisper, and I felt him rise slightly from my body.“You’re my wife. You may be here by contract, but you belong to me. And understand this—I don’t share what’s mine. Don’t even think I’d take advantage of you. I’m not that cruel,” he said before finally standing up and leaving the room.As soon as he was gone, I to
I frowned as I saw her waving to a little boy who looked about two years older than Dawn. The boy wore a sad expression as he walked away.The woman turned, and her eyes widened when she saw me. In an instant, her expression shifted to one of disgust.I knew she looked familiar.I took slow steps toward the woman, who looked almost malnourished with her thin frame.Nyxia Russell.My cousin. She was the one who cheated with my ex. We broke up years ago, anyway.I had walked in on them celebrating her pregnancy with him. I guess that boy was the result."Nyxia Russell," I called out, smiling, though the smile I forced didn’t match what I felt inside."Well, look who’s back! The world’s best model," she sneered. "Finally back from your little ‘run.’ Thought you’d die out there; now that would’ve been a fun story. So, how’s life treating you? You must have some magic down there to lure men your way. Heard you got married yesterday. Who knows how many rounds you had to get him to marry you
KALMIA'S POV"Sleep with me, Mia," he said savagely, and my brain nearly exploded as different meanings of that sentence played in my mind.Sleep with me...Was he asking me to share the same bed with him simply?Or...Did he mean that—the kind of sleeping that involved me taking off my clothes and lying on the bed while he did things to my body?It could have been the first option, but the way his lethal gaze lingered on my chest, how he greedily grabbed my waist, and the way his lips hovered near mine told me otherwise.The closeness of our bodies, the raw heat of my skin against his, ignited something unplanned within me. His words sent a feral need coursing through me, and my breathing turned uneven. My heart raced uncontrollably."Arrow..." I called softly, but the look in his eyes suddenly shifted. Gone was the raw intensity, replaced by his usual cold, detached expression. No, it was colder—so cold that his mere gaze frosted my skin. I couldn’t understand what had changed so ab
Dawn My little Dawn was his major substance. So when he said, “Take nothing of my substance,” he meant I should leave her behind. That tricky, sick prick. He knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted me to leave without Dawn. He’s insane. But we’ll die here together before that happens. I’m not leaving without my baby. Scoffing, I left the room to check on Dawn. It’s been a while since I last sang her a lullaby to lull her to sleep. It’s been a while since I last cuddled her to bed. I stepped out of the bathroom and slipped into a soft, simple nightgown. Then I headed to Dawn’s room. When I opened the door and walked in, I froze. It was a displeasing sight. Appealing in a way, but still displeasing. Arrow was sitting on Dawn’s bed like a father reading his children bedtime stories. Well, he was her father. His legs were crossed at the waist, palms resting on his thighs like they were glued there. Dawn’s face was lit up with happy smiles. Her chubby li
ARROW’S POV It was magnificent sunshine, and in the entirety of the scene, Dawn and I walked to the car slowly, the gentle sounds of gravel crunching underfoot promising to soothe. The tune that lay softly in the background seemed so in time with the rhythm of our feet; Dawn's humming formed a most harmonious accompaniment to the music, indicating yet again serenity wrapped around us both. That was what the outside world became as we drove away from there: dramatic scenes with rolling landscapes, thick woods, and bright flowers leaping up and down like nature's ballet still throwing about colors in the light wind. But then, inside the car, it was just easy, pure with Dawn's buzzing and soft music - creating a soothing theatrical ambiance lulling the whole outside world into a quiet slumber. And there we were finally at the proverbial place, Dawn and me out of that car. We stretch our muscles, reflecting on the sights and sounds of the sit-out. The sun was at its prime, complemented
ARROW’S POV There comes a sit-out where there will be a sunny afternoon bathing the freshly manicured lawns of grass with rays of sunlight that sweep down to floor level. The scent of freshly cut grass chimed in with the chirp of birds, fluffing the ambiance around us with tranquility. Tourists were all over this place, almost literally spilling out in glee for the family picnic. With that, Dawn saw the sight and her eyes sparkled with joy, her little voice ringing with jubilation as she yelled, "Yeah, we're here, Daddy!" Her ponytail bobbed up and down as the little one energetically hopped and ran out of the car. Laying out mats on the grassy stretch was the next thing we did. The soft sound of rustling mats as we spread them out was in harmony with the mild rustling of the nearby trees from the breeze. Dawn had gathered her pack of mats with Jemima and Kally quietly working great efficiency with smooth hands that brushed away wrinkles. But Dawn had other ideas. She made a beelin
KALMIA’S POV The face of Jemima lit up as if carrying all the lights from heaven, her eyes sparkling as diamonds beneath the sun, showing what looked like the brightest love towards Dawn-an undiluted, pure love, strong and unwavering. All her being radiated warm happiness as if that even the presence of Dawn had ignited that kind of burning fire inside her being. She hastened to open her arms and attempted to wrap them around Dawn in that warm, close embrace, as if the girl would not let her ever go anymore. A sweet sound escaped as her lips brushed against Dawn's face and followed it with soft kisses before whispering sweet nothings in her ear. The very voice was so soothing like music with a sweet gentle melody that seemed to got into Dawn's soul. Jemima's hands stroked Dawn's face, tracing the beautiful contour lines of her cheeks, her nose, and finally her lips, as though memorizing every detail and feature of the expression. "My darling, how are you doing?" asked Jemima, her v
Arrow and I stepped out of the house while Jemima remained inside, her slumber undisturbed. The sunlight poured warmth around us.Just as we were beginning to enjoy our quiet morning walk, a small pocket-rocket zoomed past with great enthusiasm. I was taken by surprise, seeing Dawn trotting towards us with lively little legs.I took advantage of a passing angle, and there in the distance was another man waving us goodbye. Surprise, curiosity, and mild worry poured within me. Who was that man, and why was Dawn with him?With dawn approaching, I was caught by her bright smile and her sparkling eyes. "Mommy, Mommy!" was the excited call by her tiny voice, holding a biscuit in her hand, and neatly dressed hair was proof that somebody else took care of the child.It was amazing to realize how well taken care of my little girl was and how happy she appeared. A mixed wave of emotion - relief and thankfulness but also with a strong element of intense love- cresting in my heart, and when I loo
When I returned from outside, I found Jemima sitting on the couch with concerned yet relieved eyes. Tension emanated from her body, so much that it resembled a person gripping something fragile, but somehow that tension transformed into a strength that has withstood all trials. Stealthily, I walked to her, almost as if walking not to awake a sleeping child. "It's all right, my love," I said soothingly, as if to a frightened beast. "This will be all right." I wanted to comfort her but the very doubt glittering in her eyes held my claiming the truth at bay. "Let me make some soup," I decided, steering the focus away from her pain. "It helps to dull the ache." I knew that soup did really nothing, a mere comfort, but comfort is comfort. Jemima nodded, her answer just a whisper, "Okay." The very tone she used made it seem like even whispering required a struggle. Into the kitchen I went, my hands acting on their own accord, as though one were performing an exercise learned long ago.
When I got out of the vehicle and stepped onto the aged asphalt surface of the old warehouse, my vision started to hunt the environment, like the one searching for treasure hidden. Like someone hiding their true intentions, the dim light thrown long shadows on the ground. I walked cautiously, footsteps echoing on the walls, like a person trying not to wake somebody up. I looked around the room, taking in everything from dusty crates to rusty machinery, like someone pulling pieces together, probably to fit a puzzle. And then, I saw Kalmia. As if that treasure had finally been found. She was bound to a chair, arms tied behind her back-like a captive. The face was pale and drawn, almost like that of someone exhausted by a long journey. From her looks, one could tell she was real-well, well, extremely-tired, like one who has spent all energy reserves. Her eyes looked sunken, gaunt, like someone peering into the darkness, and her skin was dry and cracked, like a person suffering from deh
Frozen in shock, I stood there, while Jemima's words hung over the scene like a challenge waiting to be answered. "Kalmia is missing," she finally said; her voice was soft and hesitant, the voice of a woman afraid of being criticized. I felt a shock of panic, as though some being had punched me in the solar plexus, and I managed, "How? Who took her?" But in my mind there was such a noise of thought, like a flash of lightning trying to assemble a jigsaw from the previous night. Jemima, gazing into the pit, stated, "I don't know. I woke up this morning and she was gone. But I heard a shout during the night, I just didn't know it was her.” The words hung on her lips, laced with deliberation, like a person trying to explain something very complex. Fists clenched, I walked with that furious anger, trying to stifle a storm inside me toward the doctor's office. Smoke filled my mind about my missing daughter and now my missing wife. "My daughter was the first; now it is my wife," I said,
I woke with a jerk, body raising with tremendous force as I came to the stark realization that it was already morning-the next day-a new day; a day with a fresh batch of worries, new tides of anxiety washing over me like a cold dark wave. An unwelcome slant of sunlight flashed through the window, hitting me hard, forcing me to squint, while the dull throbbing ache crashed down upon my head like a sledgehammer. "Kalmia! Jemima!" I screamed, my voice a loud urgent sound bouncing off the walls, but not a breath seemed to be heard-just that awful, wrenching silence that tore through empty walls as if I were shouting into a vacuum. And memories snapped into view; how they were at the hospital the night before? My heart sank, my stomach twisted with worry, a knife turning in my gut. Stood up, forcing it with all my will, the body weary, the muscles stiff from tiredness, the grittiness in my eyes from sleeplessness. It was like crawling out from the depth of a dark, bottomless pit. I mad
ARROW’S POV "Yes, doctor," I said, and enthused was I to enter the room. Such calm soothing: the drone of air conditioning, a soft hiss of papers across the desk awaiting great news. "As I sat, Dr. Smith glanced up, his eyes sparkling and warm, inviting me to sit down before his desk. "Lovely news for you, Mr.-Arrow," he said, the rapt smile radiating with enthusiasm, as I settled into the chair. My heart racing with anticipation, and I fought to calm my breathing as I waited for the doctor to go on. "Oh, I cant wait to hear this, doctor; what is it?" My voice was charged with excitement; my heart raced as I waited. Enthusiasm was evident in my voice, and my heart was racing in expectation. "Your wife is responding so well," Dr. Smith said, full of beautiful optimism as he leaned comfortably back on his chair. The words reached my ears like music-the music of hope. A huge burden lifted from my shoulders as I could finally release the breath I had been holding. The heavines