THIRD PERSON "You're abandoning ship, Liam? Coward!" Eva's tailing Liam, her feet pounding the ground. He whirls around, his face set in a determined grimace. “This place is a death trap. Every minute we waste, we're one step closer to prison – or worse. You can stay here and rot if you want, but I'm not sticking around to take the fall for all this." “Our plan, our company — we've just started building this thing from scratch! What's going to happen to it all? It's all on the line_” “Fuck it! If you're gonna stay behind and babysit everything, then go for it! You do that shit! I'm ghosting,” Liam walks out, leaving Eva seething. She shoots him a parting glare, accompanied by a scathing curse. But she's not done yet. She's hot on his heels, her feet moving swiftly. “You think you can just bail on me? Think again, Liam.” He storms out of the dilapidated building, slamming the creaky door behind him. The place is a total dump. The surrounding woods are super eerie, wi
Andrei's POV. Whoever shot at wife better start praying to whatever god they believe in, 'cause they're gonna need all the divine intervention they can get once I get my hands on them. The estate's on high alert. I've reinforced the perimeter, stationed extra men around and sealed off all exits. Brielle's staying put, no arguments. I know she can be stubborn, but I won't budge. She'll remain safe at home while my team and I tackle this Ivy situation, no matter how deadly it gets.However, the latest update has my gut twisting. The location's been rigged with explosives. It's absolute chaos unlike anything I've ever witnessed. Events unfold at breakneck speed, but nothing could've prepared me for this. Paul and the explosives expert assured me they'd defuse the bomb, but now I'm gripped by doubt, “How long until extraction?” I ask, eyes fixed on the road ahead. Paul's voice crackles through the earpiece, “Three minutes, tops. We're still working on disabling the security feeds.
Andrei's POV I stand by the window of my office, gazing out at the city skyline. The bustling streets below seem to stretch on forever. My thoughts are lost in the urban landscape when Sarah's soft voice breaks the silence. “Sir, package just arrived.” I turn, and there's Sarah with this gorgeous bunch of roses. Thick, velvety petals in deep red and pink Sarah's cheeks flush as she places the flowers on my desk. “They're pretty. Meant for your wife, I presume? Who else deserves these three dozen beauties?” A smirk plays on my lips, my gaze drifting to the bouquet, “You think Brielle would love this?” “I think she'll love them. They're beautiful.” However, Someone else is getting lucky today, I hand Sarah the roses. “Stick these in the car, would you? I'm done for the day.'” *** I arrive at the hospital around 3 pm, just before visiting hours end. Standing in Jamie's doorway, I take in the serene scene. She sits upright, clutching a teddy bear to her chest, eyes fixed on the
Brielle's POV I glance towards the entrance, and my heart skips a beat as Andrei stands there, his presence a welcome relief. Finally, he's home. But my attention quickly shifts to the unsettling scene unfolding before me. Helen's behavior is erratic, and I'm lost. She's been ranting about bad omens and curses, things that need to be “cleansed.” I exchange a bewildered glance with Andrei, his expression mirroring my confusion. I thought I knew Helen, but this superstitious side of her is unfamiliar. And who is this elderly man she's brought along? His presence only adds to the chaos. Andrei's face darkens, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the scene. He looks like he's about to explode. “Oh, Andrei, thank goodness you're here! We need your help to chase away the evil spirits…" Helen motions for him to follow. He keeps his eyes trained on me, gritting his teeth… Well, don't stare at me like that... “The Oracle's here,” she announces. “He traveled 120 miles just to get here.
Brielle “You’re my wife,” he insisted, his words tinged with a sense of ownership that made me shudder. “You signed the contract, remember? It’s binding.” I tried to protest, but every denial was met with the same adamant response: “You’re my wife now.”***Three Months Earlier…I groaned, struggling to wake up as my mom called my name for the tenth time, shouting it like there was no end to her chorus of “Brielle! Brielle!”Christ, Mom. Gimme a break.And before I could even open my eyes, she'd already yanked the covers off my bed, leaving me shivering and cursing in the chilly air. I groaned again, rubbing my eyes to clear the sleep away. “Seriously, Mom? Can’t a girl get some rest on a Saturday morning?”With a resigned sigh, I forced myself out of bed, brushed my teeth, and took a shower. After that, I joined Mom and Dad downstairs for breakfast.As Mom slid a plate of fluffy omelette in front of me, and she pinned me with a maternal gaze. “Hunny, did you write down that list I
Brielle's POV Graduation day had come and gone. Mom, Dad and I had celebrated, done the whole 'picture with the diploma' bit, and now I was ready to party. Ivy and I had hit up the local bar, and were letting loose, celebrating our newfound freedom from school. Mom, bless her heart, was unaware of this particular part of the celebration, also the fact that her goody two shoes daughter was pounding down the drinks like there was no tomorrow. “Hey, bartender, what's that drink called again? You know, the one with the little umbrella?” I slurred my words, barely holding it together. The bartender, a patient-looking woman in her forties, smiled kindly at me. “You mean Mai Tai, hon?” “That’s the one,” I said, giving her a thumbs-up. “I'll have another one of those,” I was having the time of my life. Ariana Grande’s 'Thank U, Next' blasted through the speakers, my head swaying from side to side, nodding to the beat. For the first time in my life, I was in a bar, getting tipsy_
Brielle's POV ”Oh my goodness, she's absolutely stunning!” I opened my eyes, and the first thing that struck me was the enormous size of the room bathed in natural light. The Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking view of the city. The walls seemed to stretch on forever, adorned with exquisite artwork and sleek mirrors. The bed beneath me was… impossibly soft. “Drey’s picked a beauty this time,” a voice drawled from a distance “He’s got good taste, that one. I just hope she’s not as trigger-happy as the last one.” “Shhh, Edna. We don’t want to wake her. Let her rest. She’ll need all her strength.” “It’s her wedding day, Helen. If she doesn’t wake up in time, she’ll keep Drey and the priest waiting. You know we can’t have that.” Wedding day? Drey? I felt as if I were in some twisted dream, nothing making sense. But the fear coursing through my veins told me that this was all too real. I blinked my eyes wide open, hoping to clear the haze that clouded my mind, and fou
Brielle's POV The wedding was simple—a few documents to sign, the priest to preside, and a lawyer as a witness. Andrey insisted on taking photos, his enthusiasm for capturing the moment clear. And the wedding was over. I was now married to a man I barely knew. Three years, Mr. Carter had said, and I could walk away. It was a strange arrangement, but I couldn’t help feeling a sense of empathy for this mysterious man. His mask, his accident, his desire to protect his image…it all tugged at my heartstrings, and I found myself wanting to help him, despite my own confusion and uncertainty. After the ceremony, Edna served me a plate of cookies, claiming they were “special,” though I didn’t quite understand what she meant. But the cookies were delicious, and I savored each bite, letting the sweetness calm my nerves. As the bedroom door swung open, my head snapped up. I wasn’t expecting anyone to enter, but there stood Andrei, still wearing the mask and still sitting in his wheelchair.
Brielle's POV I glance towards the entrance, and my heart skips a beat as Andrei stands there, his presence a welcome relief. Finally, he's home. But my attention quickly shifts to the unsettling scene unfolding before me. Helen's behavior is erratic, and I'm lost. She's been ranting about bad omens and curses, things that need to be “cleansed.” I exchange a bewildered glance with Andrei, his expression mirroring my confusion. I thought I knew Helen, but this superstitious side of her is unfamiliar. And who is this elderly man she's brought along? His presence only adds to the chaos. Andrei's face darkens, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the scene. He looks like he's about to explode. “Oh, Andrei, thank goodness you're here! We need your help to chase away the evil spirits…" Helen motions for him to follow. He keeps his eyes trained on me, gritting his teeth… Well, don't stare at me like that... “The Oracle's here,” she announces. “He traveled 120 miles just to get here.
Andrei's POV I stand by the window of my office, gazing out at the city skyline. The bustling streets below seem to stretch on forever. My thoughts are lost in the urban landscape when Sarah's soft voice breaks the silence. “Sir, package just arrived.” I turn, and there's Sarah with this gorgeous bunch of roses. Thick, velvety petals in deep red and pink Sarah's cheeks flush as she places the flowers on my desk. “They're pretty. Meant for your wife, I presume? Who else deserves these three dozen beauties?” A smirk plays on my lips, my gaze drifting to the bouquet, “You think Brielle would love this?” “I think she'll love them. They're beautiful.” However, Someone else is getting lucky today, I hand Sarah the roses. “Stick these in the car, would you? I'm done for the day.'” *** I arrive at the hospital around 3 pm, just before visiting hours end. Standing in Jamie's doorway, I take in the serene scene. She sits upright, clutching a teddy bear to her chest, eyes fixed on the
Andrei's POV. Whoever shot at wife better start praying to whatever god they believe in, 'cause they're gonna need all the divine intervention they can get once I get my hands on them. The estate's on high alert. I've reinforced the perimeter, stationed extra men around and sealed off all exits. Brielle's staying put, no arguments. I know she can be stubborn, but I won't budge. She'll remain safe at home while my team and I tackle this Ivy situation, no matter how deadly it gets.However, the latest update has my gut twisting. The location's been rigged with explosives. It's absolute chaos unlike anything I've ever witnessed. Events unfold at breakneck speed, but nothing could've prepared me for this. Paul and the explosives expert assured me they'd defuse the bomb, but now I'm gripped by doubt, “How long until extraction?” I ask, eyes fixed on the road ahead. Paul's voice crackles through the earpiece, “Three minutes, tops. We're still working on disabling the security feeds.
THIRD PERSON "You're abandoning ship, Liam? Coward!" Eva's tailing Liam, her feet pounding the ground. He whirls around, his face set in a determined grimace. “This place is a death trap. Every minute we waste, we're one step closer to prison – or worse. You can stay here and rot if you want, but I'm not sticking around to take the fall for all this." “Our plan, our company — we've just started building this thing from scratch! What's going to happen to it all? It's all on the line_” “Fuck it! If you're gonna stay behind and babysit everything, then go for it! You do that shit! I'm ghosting,” Liam walks out, leaving Eva seething. She shoots him a parting glare, accompanied by a scathing curse. But she's not done yet. She's hot on his heels, her feet moving swiftly. “You think you can just bail on me? Think again, Liam.” He storms out of the dilapidated building, slamming the creaky door behind him. The place is a total dump. The surrounding woods are super eerie, wi
Ivy's POV. After hanging up with Andrei, I take a look around and shudder at the creepy atmosphere. The peeling paint, dusty furniture, and flickering lights make this place feel like a haunted house. But my gaze keeps drifting back to the door. It's a behemoth – thick, metal-reinforced, and intimidating. More like a gate than a door, really. I recall trying to secure it earlier… struggling to lift that heavy metal bar and slide the bolt into place. . I'm still catching my breath from that crazy escape. Liam and Eva were too busy arguing to notice me making a run for it. I took off like a shot, pounding up the stairs two at a time. That was either genius or madness. Eva went ballistic, firing three shots that narrowly missed. The woman's got a serious screw loose – Locking myself in here, I've temporarily dodged the bullet, but the clock's ticking. How soon can Andrei rescue me from this hellhole? Each passing moment feels like an eternity. Liam and Eva's fury intensifies, th
Brielle's POV Andrei's intense stare pins me. “You seem uneasy, Brielle What's wrong?” My eyes dart away, taking in the breathtaking view. The rolling hills, lit up by the moon, are like a velvet painting come to life, and the Carter estate glows like a lantern against the dark backdrop. Beautiful scenery, but I'm getting bad juju. Something's off, and it's freaking me out. Andrei's gaze snaps back to mine, his eyes narrowing. “Don't conceal your fears, let me know if something's amiss.” His hand slips behind the hem of his coat, his fingers vanishing from view as though he were tucking something away within its folds. It’s a discreet movement, almost imperceptible, but there’s an undeniable weight to it. I shrug, eyes still scanning the surroundings. “Nothing, Andrei. Just paranoia.” His eyes, dark and intense, bore into mine, questioning my sincerity. I nod, trying to convince myself more than him. “Yeah, I'm good.” “Sure?” “Honestly, it's just a weird feeling I have,” I
Brielle's POV Andrei holds me close, his rhythmic heartbeat calming my fears as he whispers, “I know this seems crazy, Brielle, but trust me – it's necessary.” Trust. Such a fragile thing. Easily broken, hard to repair. But what's love without trust? I think that's what I've been missing – faith in Andrei, in us. Time to take a leap of faith. This feels scary, but also…liberating. Like I'm finally letting go of all the doubts and fears. Accepting Eva back into the family has left me uncertain. I don't want to be selfish, but if Andrei has a child with her, I worry about the dynamics… “Starving, are you?” Andrei inquires, his brow furrowed. I nod. “I'll bring dinner. You bring… your appetite.” “And my willingness to tolerate your cooking.” I quip. Why am I already assuming he's a bad cook? Never seen him in the kitchen, never tasted his food… but something about that grin makes me think “culinary catastrophe.” For some reason, I’m already convinced he’s gonna burn d
Ivy's POV. “Last time I showed up at the Carter industries, I had to put sunglasses on. Courtesy of that little bitch sitting right there.” Eva points at me. My eyes narrow, but I manage to maintain an outward cool, smirking as I mentally stick my tongue out at her. “You're lucky Liam intervened,” I sneer. “Otherwise, I would've gouged out both your eyes. Let's see if you'll still have targets to aim for next time.” The moment the flashlight's beam dances across Eva's swollen eye, I lean back, content to let the nurse do her thing. I'm no doctor, but even I can tell that thing's more messed up than it looks. The nurse's face screws up, probably wondering how to patch up that mess. “Alright, let’s get you fixed up,” she says with the professional grace of someone who's seen much worse. “Fixing that eye, Mariah?” I bark, incredulous. “I took it out for a good reason. That witch deserved every bit of it.” I fix Eva with a glare. She responds in kind. Mariah, caught in the middl
Brielle's POV “Trading champagne toast for coffee breaks, a 9 to 5 maybe?” Andrei raises an eyebrow intrigued, I nod contemplating, his expression turns thoughtful, “I admire your desire to change. What sparked this?” “Just feeling unfulfilled I guess.” “Carter Industries is always open for you, Brielle. It could be a VP position, or a marketing role, or a board membership – whatever you desire.” I know Eva's doing her sabbatical at Carter Industries, and frankly, I want no part in the drama that comes with it. I'm trying to escape the trophy wife trap, not get sucked into more dysfunction. Why did Andrei even mention Carter Industries? Does he not get it? I want to start fresh, not navigate Eva's manipulations. I swear, that woman has a radar for vulnerable moments. She'll sense my uncertainty and pounce. I've had enough of her condescending smiles and veiled insults. Andrei thinks I'm just being stubborn, but he has no idea what it's like to be in my shoes. Eva's prese