It took a fraction of seconds for the word to pop into Alisha's brain, and when it finally did, she turned, her heels almost snapping into two, her eyes widened with surprise, no not that, pure horror.She pointed her fingers at her, her nails sparked with a colour of blue, trimmed elegantly, she turned back to Devon, her head almost snapping dizzy. "Wife? Did I hear it right?" Her eyes bobbed shut, and she finally fluttered them opened, staring at Arya who remained calm in her seat.Devon had actually gotten married? Who in the heck was this woman who carried no aura of being wealthy, her face was plain, clearly that no makeup was around her face, her dress was simple and arranged. Who in the heck was she?She turned to Devon, gazing with anticipation, maybe, she heard it right. No, no, no, Devon couldn't be married, he just couldn't. Why would he? Devon snapped his eyelids at her, "What? Aren't you happy for me?"Arya adjusted in her seat, feeling rather awkward, the atmosphere tur
In a fit, she descended the stairs, her hands flashing across the railing hurriedly and down into the main living room.She walked over to her husband with a hearty smile, before gently grabbing the suitcase from his hand. "How was work?" She maintained a proper smile.Jasper had a alluring figure, and his blonde hair was well arranged, his daring sparkling suit hung lazily around his body, and his golden like eyes twinkled in the light.His firm hands made way for her waist, and he hugged her lovingly, inhaling her enchanting scent. He always loved her scent of fresh strawberries. "You look pretty today." He said, quite lowly.Alisha struggled to release a snort, and smack his shoulders, but she managed to force out a smile, so much, she thought her jaw would snap open. She gazed up at the alluring figure in front of her and snorted, but changed it to a laugh."Alisha." He groaned, his hands still fixated around her body. "I want you all to myself.""We are married, right?" She cuppe
They all watched in silence as he picked up his phone, and swiped up his message, their jaw was wide open, and their eyes blinked, countless of times.Devon Brookes actually brought his own phone to his meeting? They couldn't believe it, it wasn't what they expected, he still sat there with a raised brow and when he realized it was his phone, he let out an amused chuckle.His eyes hurriedly read the message that Arya sent him, and for some unknown reasons, his lips curled up in a sly gentle smile.They all watched in awe.He gazed at them, his hands still clutching his phone. "What? You wouldn't continue?" He asked, his face gazing at them.They all trembled, their head facing down.Devon sighed, before kicking the chair away, standing up lazily, he folded his hands. "Meeting ended, we will meet same time tomorrow," He walked towards the door, the sly smile still plastered across his face.Daniel blinked, was his dreaming right now? Devon was letting them go, even though they failed t
The duo turned to look at her with raised brows, but hurriedly, she grasped the glass of water and hid her face, still coughing."Is anything wrong, darling Arya?" Her mother asked, with a wicked grin on her face."No, of course not." She chugged down some water, letting the glass drop back the table."Are you jealous that Devon Brookes is married?" Colin turned to her, crossing his arms over his shoulders.She resisted the urge to smack him, still wondering, why in the heck would she be worried? Or perhaps jealous? Devon Brookes was her fake husband, and whether they liked it or not, she was still currently taking responsibility for her kiss. So, why in the hell would she be jealous?Sofia studied her daughter silently, something was off about her, it was unlike her daughter, she breathed in and out, a sigh emitting her lips. "It's alright. How've you been doing honestly?" Arya sighed, she knew her mother would ask, her mother was quick to the truth, sooner or later, her mother woul
Wanda's body seemed to have sank in despair, and she blinked slowly, her lids moving to and fro, "Tell me you are joking?"Arya gazed at her friend, with dazzling eyes, "Why would I be kidding?" She shook her head, "Devon Brookes. Don't you get it?"Wanda bobbed her head to a direction, making sure no one in the restaurant heard the name, quietly, she turned to look at Arya. "You are a Brookes now?""Yes." Calm as she was, her fingers tapped against the table, suddenly wishing there was food available, was it just her, or she couldn't even bring her self to look up to ber in the eye, was it some kind of disgrace? Or she just felt like she had disappointed her best friend, her own mother, and countless of other people,Her palm moved towards her face, and she sulked in the warmth of her palm.Wanda still gazed at her curiously, "Okay."Arya looked up immediately, blinking profusely, that was it? Just an okay? She was right after all, she had disappointed her best friend woefully, now,
Arya shivered internally, before she tried to take a step back, but his firm hands caught her halfway, and he pulled her closer.Her face hit his broad chest, and she heaved a quiet sigh, her hands stuck around his chest, her eyes moistened gently, and she stared up at him, with widened eyes.He stared down at her, his voice growing quiet soft. "Are you okay?"She fluttered her eye lids close, as she made to pull away from him, but his hands only held her more tighter, her face squishing to his warm chest."Talk to me." His hot breath fanned against her skin, and she tried her best not to say something, but his touch was irresistible, she could feel it, his hands moving across her face, before he wiped away a tear from her cheek, his soft thumb massaging her cheek.Don't do that! She could almost say, she gazes up at him, biting her lower lips, it felt so good, yet so wrong. Hurriedly, she grabbed his hands gently, before she swiped it away, a nervous laugh cackling her lips.He didn'
Arya could feel the middle aged woman gazing at her with eyes of fury, it was already quite easy to tell that the middle aged woman didn't like her. Just by the easy crushing of her chin, and the dark rage that danced in between her lobes, and the knuckles sweeping against the table.She just had to be nice, that was the only available option. Gently, she cackled a laugh, a nervous one, that spelled in her mind, she didn't know what she was doing, but she just had to do it. "Hello Madam,"Why is there a Madam? Her heart jumped in despair, couldn't she just have say something like ma'am? Or mother? Barbara gazes at her, simply telling her in the eyes that she didn't like the way she was addressed as "Madam" because, to her. It was a popular word used in the 1980s, and damn, Barbara Brookes wasn't someone from a century ago.She turned to Devon immediately, "She? A Morris?"He leaned on the chair, his eyes shimmering darkly. "I am glad you already did your research." Honestly, he knew w
Barbara gazes at the young woman darkly, before she finally said. "Sit. Let's talk."One thing sure, Arya didn't like the way the woman talked to her, she knew that the feeling of hatred crept towards her skin.The woman gestured towards the chair, with an impatient chapping of the lips, quite dangerous, Arya assumed."Yes. Madam?" Arya said, pronouncing the madam more slowly, just to torture her.And as she expected, the woman clinked her lips in dissatisfaction, and Arya grinned, before finally seating down."You do know the disadvantages of getting married to a Brookes. Right?" Her words probed into her heart hurriedly, her lips clamping together, and her nails digging into her skin. "Leave him alone." Arya shook her head, yep, she was one of these people, the people that think they could bribe you to stop doing things. She wasn't dumb, heck no, if Barbara Brookes wanted to play along, then, it would cost her absolutely nothing to play along also.Arya leaned on the table, her han
The next week, Arya had been trying her best to piece back the puzzle, who really was Devon? The little boy in the photo?This morning over breakfast, he had clearly told her: "Arya, I know this is overwhelming, but please. Don't dig into anything, okay? Some things are better left untouched."The way he said it panged her heart, he didn't want her to get in trouble, he cared for her, she cared for him also, but some cases are not better left untouched, that was why she sneaked into that room again, switching on the lights.It looks dustier than last time, sprawls of cobwebs hanging in one corner, still it looked fresh, like someone was coming here everyday, making sure everywhere was accurate.She walked over to one of the paintings, before gently removing the tarp, the painting stared at her.She's really talented. Arya thought she could imagine his mother seated on her favorite seat in the garden, while gently stroking the edges of the paintbrush on the dry template.When Arya aske
Devon could see clearly the woman that walked over to him, her gown was hanging on her body ever so perfectly, and her hair was toppled with pins, held perfectly like an England queen.He wants to go over to her and wrap his hands around her, whisper sweet nothing into her ear, and just hold her."Um.. Hi." She was in front of him, her voice nearly squeaking, it's a masquerade party, so she's wearing her mask. Still, he could see those silver eyes twinkling under the dim light."Arya." He breathed, she made him this. And he freaking loved that, "Shall we dance?""I don't dance well." She whispered under the light, she could feel everyone's gaze following her. They would probably be thinking.'Oh. Who's the mysterious lady beside Devon Brookes?''Is that the girl he kissed the other day at the restaurant?''Oh my. I can't believe this.'Devon pulled her closer, she could smell the sweet scent of his aftershave, something about his presence was tempting, muscular and his cologne. It tra
18 Years Ago.The weather was just fine for a nice evening relaxation. The woman with chestnut hair grazed her feet on the beach sand, for some time now. She just loves doing this.Staring at the way the water topples itself into a wave, giving her the thrill she wants."Guys!" She waves her hand, just so her sons could see her. They were staring with no particular interest, seated on the blanket spread on the sand. "At least have some fun." Her face is pressed into a smile.So sweet and fucking perfect.One of the boys groaned, his hair tossed between his face. "Tell Devon to leave me alone!""Devon!" The woman cries out. "Leave your brother alone!"The boy stares with no interest, his eyes as grim as the settling sun, "I did nothing to him!""Yeah. Right." The other boy jerks his elbow."Guys stop fighting." The woman sighed, before running over to them, guessing she would have to cancel this beach thing. Those two never found something they agreed on.•••Devon."Arya. Can we at le
Arya woke up with a headache.She swirled up from the bed, her head banging. She forced her brain to recap what happened. Holy Shit. She was drunk.She squeezed her feet into those flip-flops and headed downstairs, her hair messy, her face sinking. Her breath was so rowdy."What happened?" Were they already in Paris? Their plane was supposed to fly to Paris yesterday.But then she glanced around, she recognized the room decor and sighed, they were still in New York.She felt relieved."Hey." That towering figure was right before her again.Blood pumped through her heart, "Devon?" Was it growing hot in here, because it definitely felt like it. "The plane is leaving today. Are you ready?""Weren't we supposed to leave yesterday?" Her throat soured.His brows crouched together in defeat. "Yes, but you were tired, so I postponed it to today."She gazed up to look at him, he looked nice in his gray sweatpants. Damn, she was ogling him."You did that...?" She asked. Doubt flooding through
"Are you sure you need that?" Devon watched in sheer amusement. His hands are folding together."Yeah, I am sure." She lunged a dress right into the bag.He ducked, before widening his eyes, he knew that women became a monster when they were packing, but not like this. This woman was the she-devil."Arya. I think that-" She cut him off, her eyes sending blaring warnings into his chest."Okay, okay, I think I get it now." She rolls her head playfully.He should smile at her, that seems acceptable, but instead he found himself frowning, those lips pressed into a deep scowl."Arya. You can take anything you need."She lets out an hallow laughter. "Who said I wouldn't?"••Thirty minutes later. Arya found herself surrounded by her friends. Their eyes flying over to the glass of whiskey and then to her.Five. Four."Arya, you almost got killed?!""Someone's trying to kill you?!""What in the hell?""Why didn't you tell us?""Fucking bullshit."Arya dragged her hands over her lips, before s
Arya felt like she was being followed.It felt different when she was little that her sister and her played hide and seek, her sister would always follow her and boom. She was caught, she was never good at that game anyways.But today, something kept telling her that she was in for something dangerous.Something so cold, she might not even be able to breathe.As she stepped on the breaks, she stared ahead at the plaza that filled her sight. She was at work, what possibly could go wrong?As she ambled along the halls, some workers greeted her with a cheerful tone.She responded not so cheerfully."Oh. Good morning," She could feel that burn in the back of her neck, something that told her she was being watched, but how? Who? When?Leto's words boomed into her memory, someone was trying to fucking kill her, but who?As she walked towards her office, she could feel that feeling. That dark one that wavered in when you knew you were in trouble.She closed the door of her office, and walked
Clara was supposed to be working at her firm, but here she was, staring like an idiot in a restaurant for people who dated.She actually didn't. She may or may not have been tracking me, and right now, he was supposed to walk in here any time from now, she glanced at the door. Five, four.She held her breath tightly. God, please don't let me be too handsome today, her prayer failed because the man that walked into the room was the epitome of beauty.His grace flooded the room. Her heart jerked just like in highschool when he would look so good, with his friends, not even attempting to spare her a glance.Though she had this huge crush on him then, they never talked, maybe except once when he asked her the schedule for the exam, and she replied so shyly.This was definitely not a good meet-cute.She sighed heavily, feeling like a total idiot, she waved the menu towards her face just so they wouldn't see her. Her heart tore.There he was.Her crush.Hands tightened around a woman's.Her
How to drain your life away- first of all, never, like never encounter your ex-boyfriend in a very private place. E.g, being a supermarket while you are picking oranges, and boom. He's right there, clutching the basket like his life depends on it."Arya?" His voice is still the same as it was years ago, filled with ego and confidence, just the way he thought he could win anything with just a tap of his fingers.Pathetic.She mid-froze, the orange still wrapped around her arm, just a little more movement, and the fruit would be flying straight into her basket, but no, instead. She's wrapping it so hard, she thought she might snap it.Dear God. Was she going to snap an innocent orange just because of her ex?Nope."Kelvin," Suddenly, breathing became so easy, after everything that happened, she imagined what she would do if she ever happened to accidentally meet him. Alone.But now, she didn't need to think about those words she was going to say, because some certain rush of energy fill
"Arya. You really don't have to do this." Devon's prickly, mild morning voice made her skin rinse up.When has breathing become this hard? Swallow, in and out.She pushed the bowl of batter, before squeezing the wooden spoon around her hand. "I insist, after all, you did bring me lunch yesterday." She would never mention the part of the note. She couldn't even imagine what he would say.He was quiet, his eyes scanning her rough morning hair, again she was not an early morning kind of person, she wondered why her hair always looked like a nest. Her face rough, and her pale silk nightgown that stopped right below her knee.He was already dressed, ready for the day, while she was sulking, trying to get the sausages out of the pan.He was rolling up his sleeve, his eyes never leaving hers."What are you doing?" She asked, mildly impressed but took the seconds to admire the biceps that poked underneath his shirt, her heart almost rolling out.What in the hell was wrong with her?He scooted