It's closing time at Max School. The children were happily bouncing their way home, their parents or aides carrying their backpacks and lunchboxes for them.Like every other child, Max was also grinning ear to ear as he bounced his way home.But unlike the other children, he wasn't accompanied by a parent or aide. Instead, it was Kelvin—his support teacher assigned to him by his class teacher.And now, he was escorting him back home.As they strolled home, the warm sunlight cast long shadows behind them.Kelvin nodded toward a cluster of boys taunting a younger child, the sound of their snickering and teasing echoing through the air.“You see that boy crying over there?” Kelvin gestured towards the group of boys surrounding the younger child.They were bullying the boy, who seemed quite younger than they were.They were kicking him and laughing so hard at his predicament.And now that they were leaving, he couldn't stop crying.Max's face lit up with a mix of surprise and curiosity. “
“I am Max.” Kelvin lied and rose to his feet.Max's face contorted in surprise. “Wait, you're Max too?”Kelvin shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, we're Max together, stuck together, aren't we?”Max chuckled softly, “I didn't know you were Max too.”“That's because I didn't tell you, my bad. Grandmother gave me that name. Quite a lovely name, isn't it?” He smiled.Max grinned, the little boy as happy as a clam.“We should leave; it's getting late. Why's your sister Anya always late anyway?” Kelvin asked.“She must be cooking,” Max said with a small smile. “Her food is always delicious; will you have lunch with us?”Kevin's lips thinned flatly as he thought of how to reply. “Perhaps, someday,” he finally replied.Max grinned, “I am so glad you're going to meet her; she's so lovely. I'm sure she'll be happy to meet you too.” Kelvin returned his bright smile.They entered the worn-out car he borrowed from an old man two weeks ago, paying him twice the car money.The thing was, he needed to st
“Hello ma'am, how can I help you? Ariel approached a confused-looking woman who was contemplating which shoe she should buy. “Which of these shoes would you recommend for me to buy? I love both.” The woman responded. “This black Yves Saint Laurent heel is a limited-edition, made from quality leather, and comfy insole. Favorite among celebrities and fashionistas alike.” Ariel explained applying a delightful and friendly smile. “This nude Gianvito Rossi heel is best known for its modern take on a classic style, perfect for making statements, attention-puller but is quite selective when it comes to dress pairing. Now you can choose based on their features.” She added. “Can I wear them to test?” The woman asked. “Of course Ma'am, but only the Gianvito Rossi, customers can test goods but not the limited version ones.” “?” The woman's eyes narrowed, her eyebrows squinted. A sense of fear and warning gripped Ariel as the woman stared at her grumpily. “How dare you speak to m
At her front was her belongings thrown out recklessly on the ground scattered, beside it was a letter to vacate the building. She already knew it would happen as she has been behind on rent for the past 2 years. Just that she didn't expect it to be today, not when her day was long. Ariel's trembling hands dug in her bag to reach for her phone with the intention to plead with her landlord. She dialed the number countless of times but no one picks. She reached for one of her pillows for a comfy sit. ‘Sigh' She exhaled sharply and shut her eyes closed. The faint sound of cars blaring from afar mingled with the rhythm of her heart, as she lost herself in the wilderness of her thoughts. Amidst her chaos with her thoughts, Her phone buzzed, interrupting her. She opened her tired eyes and stole a glance at the screen which revealed her bestie's name, a beacon of hope in her darkness. She swiped to answer the call. “Girl what's up, are you good, just wanna check up before I go
In another part of the busy city was a black Audi A8 followed by a white 2025 Mercedes Maybach S-class, which was driven down to the entrance of a five-star presidential suite. Four huge muscled men in black suits stepped out heavily from the Audi A8, lined up in a two by two formation waiting for their master. A middle-aged man came down from the front seat of the limousine and quickly ran forward to the back seat door. He opened the car door and a manlike figure who stood at approximately 6’2 tall came out. His navy blue suit could be recognized as one of luxurious materials. His lustrous black hair complimented his piercing ocean eyes, sharp broad shoulder, and perfectly traced thin lips with a jawline. Anyone could feel intimidated by his mesmerizing appearance. Each of his steps into the suite was followed by his bodyguards alongside his secretary. His powerful aura called for the attention of the people in the reception. Everyone could feel goosebumps as he p
Ariel then got up from bed and headed straight to the door. A familiar figure appeared in her front, she squinted trying to place the memory. “Hello Ms, I am here to get you, please kindly follow me.” The man uttered. Now she could remember vividly judging with the voice. Anya stood at her back staring at the thought provoking looking man too. ‘Bang!’ Ariel hastily shut the door back. “The man that handed me the card.” She said as she widened her eyes in disbelief. “Omg! Get dressed, put on back your clothes and follow him.” Anya suggested. “Give her five minutes.” Anya opened the door back. To her surprise the man didn't move an inch, he stood there patiently. His face was hidden behind sunglasses, not allowing them to be able to read his expression. In a few minutes Ariel was done, then took her CV, Anya quickly handed her two toasts to stay stabilised. She followed the man who came along with three other men who dressed like him. Anya watched as t
“Ariel… are you alright?” The deep voice of Johny pierced into her ears, waking her up from her trance. Her breath was still unstable, but her face and body had started calming down to a normal person. To let her settle, Johny passed a glass of water to her. “Drink up”“Thanks” She reached for the water, but her hand paused when she noticed the cold gaze of Johny fixated on her. The look on his face forcefully compelled her made a clearance of why she became like that after the announcement.“I don't feel too well these days, sorry to scare you.” Hun? Scared him?, how sure is she that she made that kind of effect on him? Johny remained silent, he just kept on looking at her with some sort of unreadable expression. Did the lie work on him? Johny isn't a man that can be easily fooled. “I will drive you home.” He said, as he handed her the water. Not giving any sign of concern, like she wasn't asked such question. Of course she wasn't asked, but her guilty conscience wouldn't let
Anya’s gaze hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “And what about him?” she asked, her tone laced with unspoken disgust.Ariel stiffened, her nails digging into the fabric of the sofa. She didn’t need to ask who Anya meant. Luis’s shadow had been a thick stain that Ariel couldn't scrub away. Luis Marquez. His name alone could make Ariel's mood drop from hundred to zero. A man of striking allure, with sharp cheekbones, deep-set hazel eyes that seemed to smolder in the dimmest of light, and a roguish smile that could disarm even the most guarded hearts. He had the kind of effortless charm that made heads turn and left women hanging onto his every word.But beneath that alluring facial features lay a man with flaws—reckless, irresponsible, and entirely too self-assured. Luis was the kind of man who lived for the thrill of the moment, never thinking of the boomerang and the consequences that followed.His addiction to excess—money, women, alcohol—had been the ruin of many, but
“I am Max.” Kelvin lied and rose to his feet.Max's face contorted in surprise. “Wait, you're Max too?”Kelvin shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, we're Max together, stuck together, aren't we?”Max chuckled softly, “I didn't know you were Max too.”“That's because I didn't tell you, my bad. Grandmother gave me that name. Quite a lovely name, isn't it?” He smiled.Max grinned, the little boy as happy as a clam.“We should leave; it's getting late. Why's your sister Anya always late anyway?” Kelvin asked.“She must be cooking,” Max said with a small smile. “Her food is always delicious; will you have lunch with us?”Kevin's lips thinned flatly as he thought of how to reply. “Perhaps, someday,” he finally replied.Max grinned, “I am so glad you're going to meet her; she's so lovely. I'm sure she'll be happy to meet you too.” Kelvin returned his bright smile.They entered the worn-out car he borrowed from an old man two weeks ago, paying him twice the car money.The thing was, he needed to st
It's closing time at Max School. The children were happily bouncing their way home, their parents or aides carrying their backpacks and lunchboxes for them.Like every other child, Max was also grinning ear to ear as he bounced his way home.But unlike the other children, he wasn't accompanied by a parent or aide. Instead, it was Kelvin—his support teacher assigned to him by his class teacher.And now, he was escorting him back home.As they strolled home, the warm sunlight cast long shadows behind them.Kelvin nodded toward a cluster of boys taunting a younger child, the sound of their snickering and teasing echoing through the air.“You see that boy crying over there?” Kelvin gestured towards the group of boys surrounding the younger child.They were bullying the boy, who seemed quite younger than they were.They were kicking him and laughing so hard at his predicament.And now that they were leaving, he couldn't stop crying.Max's face lit up with a mix of surprise and curiosity. “
Luis swallowed his composure on the edge of shattering into pieces. “She means everything to me,” he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.Ricardo's voice cracked into a mocking laugh. “Yeah, that's what I said too after my second divorce. Fathering someone else's child all my miserable life, Ricardo blurted like it's nothing, his voice devoid of any emotion.Luis tilted his head a little, surprise and a little curiosity etched on his face, before he looked away with disinterest.“Want to…”“I don't want to hear your little story, Ricardo; all I'm interested in is finding Ariel. There's no way I'm believing that shit you told me.”Ricardo sighed, and his parting shot was a final blow to Luis. “I… was going to say, want to know how long they've been fucking? Google it; she's Ariel Lucas now.” Luis's eyes flashed with anger, but he managed to keep his cool.“That last name is heavyweight,” Ricardo added and started to walk away but turned back to Luis.“One last thing, I want my p
Luis strode into La Belle Boutique, its opulent interior bustling with customers chatting with the attendees.The air was thick with the scent of designer perfumes and the soft hum of hushed conversations.Luis was looking ever so elegant in his black tailored suit, his broad shoulders accentuating its flawless fit.He was carrying a sizable briefcase, his gaze fixed intently on the future as he navigated through the crowd with ease straight to Elena's office.He knocked, and Elena's melodious voice invited him in. “Yes, come in.” Luis entered, dropping the suitcase onto the table with a soft thud. His eyes locked on Elena, who lounged in her chair, sipping wine with an air of nonchalance.She wasn't the only one in the room, though; a young man was sitting across from her, enriching each other's company with a bottle of wine.Matteo—Elena's partner in crime and lover too.“You've become ever so dutiful, Luis,” Matteo sneered, a smug smile twisting his lips. “Heard you're looking for
Alex sat in his worn, everyday chair, surrounded by the familiar comforts of his office.His desk, typically cluttered, was tidy and organized, with documents neatly stacked and aligned, giving the impression that it had been touched for days.A lone ashtray on the edge of the desk held a smoldering cigarette, its thin stream of smoke curling lazily into the air. And a cup of whiskey was sitting right beside the ashtray.His eyes were closed, fingers steepled, head bent subtly as if whispering a silent prayer.He wasn't sleeping—or perhaps he couldn't.Memories of Ariel flooded his mind, taking over his sanity in a very drastic way that he couldn't figure out.It was so unfortunate that he had searched for her all over the world, and when he finally found her, she was tied to her brother.The most painful part was she couldn't recognize him.A low growl rumbled in Alex's throat. “Asshole,” he murmured, his jaw clenched at the thought of Ariel sharing a room with Johnny.His nerves spi
The morning sun cast a golden hue over Mr. Gerald's villa, but the light did little to soften the dark intentions brewing around it. Mr. Gerald sat on the grand balcony of his villa, sipping his morning tea with a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips.The message had reached him moments ago that Johny had acted just as he predicted."A reckless fool," he murmured, swirling the tea in his cup. "So easy to control.”He leaned back in his chair, eyes gleaming with anticipation. The boy had no idea he was walking straight into a trap. He mused inwardly. A deep, guttural laugh rumbled from his throat as he envisioned the chaos that was about to unfold."Oh, Johny," he muttered, "I knew you would take the bait.”He set his cup down with a quiet clink, his fingers drumming against the polished wood of the table. The satisfaction of seeing Johny so desperate, so predictable—it was intoxicating.But amid his amusement, a spark of irritation crossed his mind.His jaw tightened. The thought of
Johny remained calm in his seat, though his patience hung by a fragile thread. He inhaled slowly, forcing his fury to settle in his chest like a smoldering fire.“Ariel… I need you to calm down.”Her head snapped up, disbelief flashing in her eyes. Her pulse pounded against her throat. “You need me to calm down? Did you even hear yourself?”Johny’s grip tightened around the armrest, his knuckles turned white. His voice dipped lower, dangerously controlled. “Ariel… do you loathe me that much?”The question settled between them, making the air thick and suffocating.Silence rained in the room. “Ariel, answer me.” His tone sharpened and demanding.She swallowed hard, the dryness in her throat scraping like sandpaper. “I don’t hate you, but sleeping in your room was never part of our agreement. Do you realize you’re breaching the contract?”“I know… but things have changed.” His voice was deceptively soft, yet his gaze burned with intent. “We need to act like a real couple now. Like we’r
The midnight air was cool, a soft breeze whistling through Ariel’s open window. Yet, despite the crisp air, her body burned with an unbearable heat. A feverish sensation churned in her stomach, sweat forming at her temple.The discomfort stirred her awake. Her heavy-lidded eyes blinked open, staring blankly at the ceiling. She took in a slow breath, hoping the night air would soothe her, but it did nothing to suppress the heat surging through her.She exhaled weakly, then pushed the blanket aside and stepped out of bed. She made her way to the kitchen. Maybe a glass of cold water would help.Standing at the counter, she took a slow sip; the cool liquid slid down her throat, calming the burning sensation from her stomach. As she absentmindedly rubbed her palm over her neck, a sharp pain shot through her skin, making her wince.Memories of last night flooded her mind.Was this the kind of man he had always been?Had she done something to provoke him?Ariel swallowed the questions cre
The Lucas estate was silent; nature had claimed everyone. But hidden deep within the mansion’s corridors, away from prying eyes, was Amanda’s private lounge.It was an exclusive intimate space, furnished in rich velvet and deep wood. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm golden glow, reflecting off the dark liquor bottles in the corner bar. Heavy drapes framed the tall windows, allowing just enough moonlight to intrude in. The faint scent of jasmine and aged whiskey lingered in the air, mingling with something more elusive—the quiet hum of heavy intimacy clung in the air. Here, Amanda was, in a nightgown that was tied perfectly around her body, not revealing much yet intimating. And in the room was also seated, Dr. Richard. Richard leaned back in his chair, whiskey in hand, watching as Amanda poured herself a glass of wine. She moved with effortless grace, her silk nightgown draping over her figure, concealed beneath a luxurious robe.She was flawless, even in her most private moments.