NOLANI was sprawled on Jake’s couch, the uncomfortable springs digging into my back. The fight with Chloe had left me exhausted and hollowed out. Jake and Angela had been kind enough to offer a place for the night after the hellish argument, and I was grateful, even if I didn’t show it. The room was dimly lit, shadows stretching long across the walls, mirroring the turmoil inside me. Angela was sitting across from me in the dimly lit living room, a warm glow from the lamp casting a soft light on her face. She looked calm, her eyes reflecting a quiet sadness. I had just learned that Jake and Angela were together. I was processing that, trying to make sense of it when I shifted the conversation to something far more unsettling—Alanna.“Angela,” I began, my voice rough and uncertain, “can we talk about Alanna? I need to understand what really happened. What did she go through after we separated?”Angela hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with a loose thread on her sweater. “It’s not a pl
ALANNA"The shadows of anger can eclipse even the brightest of intentions."The day had been uneventful until Lucas stormed into my office, his face twisted in a scowl. I was in the middle of reviewing some documents when I looked up and saw him standing there, radiating anger. “Alanna,” he spat, his voice sharp and cutting. “I need to talk to you.”I tried to keep my composure, but the look on his face made me bristle. “Lucas, what are you doing here? This is my office. If you have something to say, say it, but keep it professional.”He walked towards my desk, his movements deliberate and aggressive. “Professional? This is personal. You think you can just waltz into people’s lives, take their husbands, and leech off their fame? You’re nothing but a fraud, Alanna.”My heart pounded in my chest. “Excuse me? What exactly are you accusing me of?”Lucas sneered. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve wormed your way into Nolan’s life, played the victim, and now you’re trying to
ALANNA“Family is a prison where the bars are made of blood and guilt.”I stared at the phone, my father’s name flashing on the screen. My gut twisted, a knot of resentment and old wounds that never seemed to heal. I hesitated before answering, but his voice, insistent and commanding, brooked no argument.“Alanna, we need to talk. It’s important.”I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me. I looked over at Angela, who was sitting across from me with a worried frown.“Are you sure you want to do this?” Angela’s voice was calm but filled with concern. “The last time you saw him, he took a lot from you. Do you really want to put yourself through that again?”I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I know, Angela. But he’s still my father. I can’t just ignore him, no matter what happened before.”Angela gave me a long, thoughtful look before nodding reluctantly. “Alright, but be careful. You know he’s good at manipulating.”I promised her I’d be cautious and left for the
“Power is a game, and sometimes, you have to break the rules to win.”I arrived at Lucas's house, my heart pounding with rage and desperation. The humiliation and anger from seeing Alanna with Nolan had been simmering inside me, and I needed to do something—anything—to take back control. As Lucas opened the door, I put on the most pitiful face I could muster. My eyes were already red from crying, and I knew I looked the part of a woman scorned.He let me in, looking concerned but wary. I knew Lucas well enough to see that he was still unsure of his place in all this. He had his own grudges against Nolan, but he was also cautious. I needed to push him over the edge."Lucas," I began, my voice quivering as I sat down on his couch. "I can't take this anymore. They're ruining everything. Alanna and Nolan... they're planning to destroy us. They're already spreading lies and turning everyone against me."He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Chloe, calm down. We can't just act impuls
ALANNA“Sometimes, the stars align perfectly, and you find yourself living a dream you never thought possible.”Sitting across from Seraphina, the vogue Lady , felt surreal. Her elegant office, filled with iconic fashion photographs and luxurious fabrics, was a testament to her impeccable taste and influence in the industry. As she sipped her tea, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. This was an opportunity I'd dreamt of for years, and now it was finally within reach."Alanna," Seraphina began, her voice smooth and authoritative, "I've been following your work for a while now, especially after your fashion show. Your eye for design and your unique perspective are exactly what this industry needs."I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. Praise from someone like Seraphina was rare and incredibly valuable. "Thank you, Seraphina. That means a lot coming from you. I've always admired your work and the way you've shaped *Vogue* into what it is today."She smiled, a knowing g
NOLAN“In the face of fear, love is the only thing that makes us brave.”The second I heard Alanna's panicked voice over the phone, my heart sank. The moment she mentioned the brakes weren't working, I felt a cold rush of terror like I'd never known. I tried to keep my voice steady, to give her the best advice I could, but my hands were shaking. When she told me she was going off the road, I could barely breathe.I could only listen helplessly as the phone went silent after a deafening crash. My blood ran cold. I didn't think twice. I grabbed my keys and bolted out the door, driving as fast as I could to the location she mentioned. I kept calling her name, praying she'd answer, but the line stayed dead.When I arrived, my heart stopped. Alanna's car was crumpled against a tree, smoke billowing from the hood. I parked haphazardly and ran to the wreck, adrenaline surging through my veins. My hands fumbled with the door, pulling it open. The sight of her slumped over the airbag, blood tr
NOLAN"Betrayal comes in waves, crashing over us when we least expect it, leaving us gasping for breath in its wake."I know Alanna is no saint, I mean the woman got to the top by trampling on competitors who stood tall for years and she made them into nothing but that wasn't enough to want her dead. Now the question that lingers in my heart was. Who hates her that much to want her dead?I sat in the hospital room, watching Alanna stir awake, I couldn't shake the gnawing question in my mind: Who could hate her enough to want her dead? The thought alone made my blood boil. Alanna was the kind of person who deserved happiness, not someone to be targeted like this. My jaw tightened as I remembered the police officer's words about the brake lines being cut. It was a deliberate act, a cold-blooded attempt to end her life. The idea that someone out there harbored such malice towards her was both infuriating and terrifying.Alanna’s eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me with a tired bu
BRADI was sitting in my office, the usual buzz of the day surrounding me, when my phone buzzed with a news alert. Alanna, involved in a serious accident, condition critical. The words blurred on the screen as my heart dropped. The shock turned into a sickening realization. This had to be Chloe. Or Lucas. Their twisted minds concocting some plan, and now Alanna was paying the price.I felt a surge of anger, my hand tightening around my phone. Without thinking, I dialed Chloe’s number. She picked up after a few rings, and before she could say anything, I exploded. "What the hell did you do, Chloe? Did you really think you could get away with this?"There was a pause, then her voice, cool and composed. "Brad, why don’t you come over and confront me in person? Let’s see if you have the guts."I hesitated. The idea of going to the Westbrook mansion made my skin crawl. But then she added, "Mrs. Westbrook is on a trip, and Nolan is at the hospital. Just you and me."I agreed, my mind racing