The night air was cold against Irene’s flushed cheeks as she staggered out of the bar, her bare foot slapping against the rough pavement.
She didn’t seem to notice that one of her shoes was missing, or maybe she didn’t care. Her vision blurred, and the world tilted precariously as she stumbled forward, her arms flailing to steady herself. “Where is he…?” she murmured, her voice hoarse and slurred, almost drowned by the distant hum of traffic. Her other shoe slipped slightly, making her trip. She cursed under her breath, frustration bubbling up, but she kept moving, her steps aimless. The sharp edge of the pavement jabbed her exposed foot, but she didn’t flinch. Her mind was far too preoccupied with the weight of her despair to care about something as trivial as pain. Ahead, the streetlights flickered, casting her shadow across the crosswalk. She stepped onto the road, not bothering to check for cars, her head hanging low. From the distance came the low growl of an engine—a sleek, black jeep speeding toward her. The car was a stark contrast to the dim surroundings, its polished surface gleaming under the faint light. Irene, however, stood frozen in the middle of the road, her arms hanging limply by her sides. “Just let it end,” she whispered to herself, closing her eyes as the roar of the approaching vehicle grew louder. The screech of tires shattered the silence, jolting her senses. The car skidded to a halt mere inches from her. The force of the stop caused a loud, ear-piercing sound, making her cringe. When Irene opened her eyes, she blinked at the black car, its headlights blinding her momentarily. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground, her body trembling. “Why?” she muttered, her voice cracking as tears spilled from her eyes. “Why couldn’t you just hit me? Why can’t anything ever go right for me?” She sobbed, her chest heaving as the pain inside her spilled out in raw, uncontrollable waves. The gravel beneath her scraped against her palms as she punched the ground in frustration. Inside the car, Daniel sat stiffly, his jaw clenched. His dark eyes narrowed as he stared out at the woman blocking his path. “What the hell is this nonsense?” he muttered, irritation lacing his tone. The driver, an older man with a calm demeanor, glanced at Daniel nervously. “I’ll check, sir.” “Hurry up,” Daniel snapped, loosening his tie in frustration. “I don’t have all night.” The driver stepped out, his polished shoes clicking against the asphalt as he approached Irene cautiously. He bent slightly, his voice calm yet firm. “Madam, are you okay? You’re sitting in the middle of the road.” Irene didn’t respond. Instead, her sobs grew louder, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in her hands. “Madam,” the driver repeated, unsure of what to do. “Please, move aside. You’re blocking the car.” Irene lifted her head, her tear-streaked face twisted in anguish. “Why didn’t you just hit me? Why couldn’t you have just…?” Her voice broke, and she shook her head, curling into herself on the ground. The driver hesitated, scratching his head. He crouched lower, trying to help her up. “Come on, you can’t sit here. Let me help—” Before he could finish, Irene suddenly lay flat on the road, her arms stretched out dramatically. “No! I’m not moving. If you’re not going to hit me, then you’ll just have to drive over me!” The driver blinked, baffled. He turned back toward the car, his expression helpless. “Sir… she’s not cooperating.” Daniel groaned, his patience wearing thin. “What kind of nonsense is this?” He pushed the door open and stepped out, his sleek suit catching the light. His movements were sharp, precise, and radiated irritation. “What’s the hold-up?” he demanded, his voice cold as his gaze fell on Irene sprawled on the road. The driver straightened, nervously clearing his throat. “Sir, she’s… well, she’s refusing to move.” Daniel’s eyes narrowed as he strode toward Irene. He stopped a foot away from her, his polished shoes glinting under the streetlights. “You,” he said, his voice cutting through the night like a blade. “Get up.” Irene didn’t move. She only cried harder, her sobs echoing in the quiet street. Daniel sighed heavily, his frustration evident. He raised his foot and nudged her lightly with his shoe. “I said, get up. Now.” Irene ignored him, curling tighter into herself. Daniel’s patience snapped. “Ken,” he barked, turning to the older man. “If she won’t move, we’re leaving. She can lie there for all I care.” Ken hesitated, his gaze darting nervously between Irene and Daniel. “But sir—” “Enough,” Daniel cut him off. He turned back toward the car, brushing off his jacket as he prepared to leave. Before he could take another step, Irene suddenly scrambled to her feet and lunged at him. Her arms wrapped around his neck tightly, almost choking him. “Dave!” she cried, her voice filled with desperation. “You’re not leaving me! I won’t let you!” Daniel froze, his entire body stiffening as he registered the situation. “What the hell—?” “You want me, right?” Irene continued, her words tumbling out in a drunken frenzy. “I’m ready now! I looked it up—I know how to do it. I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t leave me, Dave!” Daniel’s shock quickly turned to anger. He grabbed her wrists, attempting to pry her off. “You’re insane,” he spat. “I’m not Dave, and I have no idea who the hell you are. Let go!” Irene clung tighter, her fingers digging into his skin. “No! You’re lying! You’re Dave! You’re mine!” She pressed sloppy kisses to his neck, her lips wet and messy as she muttered incoherent pleas. Daniel recoiled, his face contorting in disgust. “Stop that!” he growled, shoving her back slightly. “You’re drunk and completely out of your mind woman what the hell is wrong with you!” Inside the car, the driver watched in stunned silence, his mouth slightly agape. He’d never seen anyone dare to touch Daniel, let alone assault him in such a bizarre way. Daniel tried again to shake her off, his voice rising. “Get off me, you crazy woman!” But Irene refused to relent. Her arms remained locked around his neck, her tears soaking his shirt. “I won’t leave you, Dave. I love you. Please don’t go!” Daniel let out a frustrated growl and turned, dragging her toward the car. He opened the back door and shoved her inside unceremoniously. Irene sprawled across the seat, blinking up at him with glassy eyes. “Dave…” she whispered again, reaching for him. Daniel climbed in after her, slamming the door shut behind him. He sat on the opposite end of the seat, running a hand through his hair as he glared at her. “What the hell is wrong with you woman is it money you want, like who the hell sent you tell me how much were you paid I would double it?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. Irene didn’t answer. Instead, she crawled across the seat, straddling his lap before he could react. She cupped his face with both hands, her expression that of desperation. “Don’t leave me,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss him rigorously.Inside the dimly lit car, the tension was palpable. Irene leaned closer, her breath warm and heavy with the scent of liquor. Before Daniel could react, her lips were on his—soft, desperate, and intrusive.Daniel froze for a heartbeat, stunned by her audacity. Then, like a spring snapping back, his annoyance surged. "What the hell are you doing?" he growled, shoving her away with more force than he intended.Irene's head collided sharply with the car window, the thud echoing in the confined space. Her body slumped to the side, motionless, her hair spilling over her face."Shit," Daniel muttered, his heart skipping a beat. He leaned forward, panic flickering in his eyes as he shook her shoulder. “Hey, lady—wake up! Miss, can you hear me?”Irene didn’t respond. She remained limp, her head lolling slightly to the side. For a moment, Daniel’s mind raced with the worst possibilities. He glanced at the divider.“Ken!” he barked, his voice sharp and unsteady.The driver’s calm reply came thro
Daniel stepped out of the bathroom, the lingering coolness of the ritual rinses still clinging to his hands and mouth. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his tie discarded somewhere in the corner. He was muttering under his breath, still irritated at the evening’s events. The soft click of the bathroom door behind him punctuated the otherwise silent room.And then he froze.Standing in the middle of the dimly lit suite was Irene, but she wasn’t just standing. She was completely bare, her skin glowing like porcelain under the subdued light, flawless and untouched.Daniel’s throat tightened, and an involuntary gulp escaped him, the sound echoing in the stillness. His eyes widened, unable to immediately process what he was seeing.“Hot,” Irene muttered, her voice slightly slurred as she bent down. Her fingers worked deftly at the clasp of her bra, unhooking it with an unsettling calm. The garment slipped down her arms and onto the floor, joining the other discarded pieces of her cloth
The sun had barely risen, painting the streets in soft, golden hues as Irene walked hand-in-hand with her twin sons, Ethan and Elias, toward their school. The gentle breeze carried with it a sense of promise, but Irene's mind was clouded with the weight of unfinished tasks and looming deadlines.“Mom,” Ethan began hesitantly, breaking the silence. His tone was thoughtful, as though he’d been rehearsing the question in his head. “Why do you always look so tired?”Irene blinked, caught off guard. She glanced down at him, his small face full of concern far beyond his years.“Because grown-ups have a lot to think about,” she replied softly, trying to keep her tone light. “But don’t worry about me. You’re my biggest reason to keep going.”Ethan frowned, his tiny brows knitting together. “But I don’t want you to be tired because of me.”“You’re not the reason I’m tired, sweetheart. You’re the reason I smile every day,” Irene said, crouching to his level. She cupped his cheek gently, her h
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass panes of the office building, painting soft golden streaks on the polished floor. Irene glanced at her watch as she packed her things. For once, the ticking hands brought no urgency. Her workload was lighter today, and for the first time in weeks, she was finishing early.A faint smile played on her lips as she thought about the evening ahead. Today was Dave’s birthday—a day she had been planning for weeks. Four years together had taught her how much he valued small surprises, and this year, she intended to make it unforgettable.As she stepped out of the office, the familiar hum of the city greeted her. Cars honked in the distance, and pedestrians moved past with hurried strides, their faces painted with end-of-day weariness. But Irene’s heart was light, her steps steady with purpose.“Irene!”She turned to see Sarah and a few of her colleagues gathered near the building's entrance. Sarah waved her over, her bright smile framed
The door creaked open, its sound oddly loud in the otherwise muffled stillness. Irene stepped into the room, her pulse thundering in her ears as her eyes landed on the bed. The sight before her was like a slap, freezing her in place.Dave was sprawled in the middle of the bed, his arm draped lazily over Diane—her best friend. Next to them lay Tom, Dave’s so-called best friend, the sheets tangled around their naked forms. The smell of sweat and musk hung in the air, unmistakable and revolting.Irene’s throat tightened, her voice catching before she managed a strained, “What is going on here?”Three pairs of eyes turned toward her, not with guilt, not with shock, but with a kind of casual indifference that twisted the knife even deeper. Diane smirked lazily, her lips curling as she propped herself up on an elbow.“Oh, you’re home early,” Diane said, her voice light, almost amused.“Are you serious?” Irene’s voice cracked, trembling with the weight of her disbelief. “Diane… Dave… Tom
The sun had barely risen, painting the streets in soft, golden hues as Irene walked hand-in-hand with her twin sons, Ethan and Elias, toward their school. The gentle breeze carried with it a sense of promise, but Irene's mind was clouded with the weight of unfinished tasks and looming deadlines.“Mom,” Ethan began hesitantly, breaking the silence. His tone was thoughtful, as though he’d been rehearsing the question in his head. “Why do you always look so tired?”Irene blinked, caught off guard. She glanced down at him, his small face full of concern far beyond his years.“Because grown-ups have a lot to think about,” she replied softly, trying to keep her tone light. “But don’t worry about me. You’re my biggest reason to keep going.”Ethan frowned, his tiny brows knitting together. “But I don’t want you to be tired because of me.”“You’re not the reason I’m tired, sweetheart. You’re the reason I smile every day,” Irene said, crouching to his level. She cupped his cheek gently, her h
Daniel stepped out of the bathroom, the lingering coolness of the ritual rinses still clinging to his hands and mouth. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his tie discarded somewhere in the corner. He was muttering under his breath, still irritated at the evening’s events. The soft click of the bathroom door behind him punctuated the otherwise silent room.And then he froze.Standing in the middle of the dimly lit suite was Irene, but she wasn’t just standing. She was completely bare, her skin glowing like porcelain under the subdued light, flawless and untouched.Daniel’s throat tightened, and an involuntary gulp escaped him, the sound echoing in the stillness. His eyes widened, unable to immediately process what he was seeing.“Hot,” Irene muttered, her voice slightly slurred as she bent down. Her fingers worked deftly at the clasp of her bra, unhooking it with an unsettling calm. The garment slipped down her arms and onto the floor, joining the other discarded pieces of her cloth
Inside the dimly lit car, the tension was palpable. Irene leaned closer, her breath warm and heavy with the scent of liquor. Before Daniel could react, her lips were on his—soft, desperate, and intrusive.Daniel froze for a heartbeat, stunned by her audacity. Then, like a spring snapping back, his annoyance surged. "What the hell are you doing?" he growled, shoving her away with more force than he intended.Irene's head collided sharply with the car window, the thud echoing in the confined space. Her body slumped to the side, motionless, her hair spilling over her face."Shit," Daniel muttered, his heart skipping a beat. He leaned forward, panic flickering in his eyes as he shook her shoulder. “Hey, lady—wake up! Miss, can you hear me?”Irene didn’t respond. She remained limp, her head lolling slightly to the side. For a moment, Daniel’s mind raced with the worst possibilities. He glanced at the divider.“Ken!” he barked, his voice sharp and unsteady.The driver’s calm reply came thro
The night air was cold against Irene’s flushed cheeks as she staggered out of the bar, her bare foot slapping against the rough pavement. She didn’t seem to notice that one of her shoes was missing, or maybe she didn’t care. Her vision blurred, and the world tilted precariously as she stumbled forward, her arms flailing to steady herself.“Where is he…?” she murmured, her voice hoarse and slurred, almost drowned by the distant hum of traffic.Her other shoe slipped slightly, making her trip. She cursed under her breath, frustration bubbling up, but she kept moving, her steps aimless. The sharp edge of the pavement jabbed her exposed foot, but she didn’t flinch. Her mind was far too preoccupied with the weight of her despair to care about something as trivial as pain.Ahead, the streetlights flickered, casting her shadow across the crosswalk. She stepped onto the road, not bothering to check for cars, her head hanging low.From the distance came the low growl of an engine—a sleek, bl
The door creaked open, its sound oddly loud in the otherwise muffled stillness. Irene stepped into the room, her pulse thundering in her ears as her eyes landed on the bed. The sight before her was like a slap, freezing her in place.Dave was sprawled in the middle of the bed, his arm draped lazily over Diane—her best friend. Next to them lay Tom, Dave’s so-called best friend, the sheets tangled around their naked forms. The smell of sweat and musk hung in the air, unmistakable and revolting.Irene’s throat tightened, her voice catching before she managed a strained, “What is going on here?”Three pairs of eyes turned toward her, not with guilt, not with shock, but with a kind of casual indifference that twisted the knife even deeper. Diane smirked lazily, her lips curling as she propped herself up on an elbow.“Oh, you’re home early,” Diane said, her voice light, almost amused.“Are you serious?” Irene’s voice cracked, trembling with the weight of her disbelief. “Diane… Dave… Tom
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass panes of the office building, painting soft golden streaks on the polished floor. Irene glanced at her watch as she packed her things. For once, the ticking hands brought no urgency. Her workload was lighter today, and for the first time in weeks, she was finishing early.A faint smile played on her lips as she thought about the evening ahead. Today was Dave’s birthday—a day she had been planning for weeks. Four years together had taught her how much he valued small surprises, and this year, she intended to make it unforgettable.As she stepped out of the office, the familiar hum of the city greeted her. Cars honked in the distance, and pedestrians moved past with hurried strides, their faces painted with end-of-day weariness. But Irene’s heart was light, her steps steady with purpose.“Irene!”She turned to see Sarah and a few of her colleagues gathered near the building's entrance. Sarah waved her over, her bright smile framed