NOLANThe courtroom felt strange. I glanced around, taking in the sea of faces—some familiar, some not. The tension was palpable, an almost physical presence in the air. This was it, the moment where everything would be laid bare. I steeled myself, knowing that no matter how this turned out, the truth needed to be revealed.Mr. Collins, my lawyer, stood beside me, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. His eyes scanned the room, calculating, strategizing. Across the aisle, Chloe sat with Mr. Brooks, her lawyer. She looked composed, almost serene, but I knew better. She was a master of masks, and today, she wore the one of the wronged woman perfectly.The judge, an older man with a stern expression, called the court to order. The first witness was my mother, Mrs. Westbrook. She walked to the stand, her steps slow but deliberate. This wasn’t easy for her, I knew that. But she was here because she believed in me, believed in the truth.Mr. Brooks was the first
ALANNAI woke up to the familiar ping of my phone, signaling the arrival of another email. Groggy, I reached over and unlocked the screen, expecting to see something mundane—maybe a work update or a message from a friend. But as soon as I read the subject line, my heart sank.**"You Won't See It Coming."**My hands trembled as I opened the email.*"You think you're safe, but you're not. I'm watching you, Alanna. Every move, every breath. It's only a matter of time before I make you pay."*I quickly scrolled down to the bottom of the message, searching for any clue about the sender. Nothing. It was sent from an anonymous address, with no way to trace it back to whoever was behind this. I sat up in bed, trying to steady my breathing. It had to be a prank, right? But something about the tone—the sheer malice in the words—made it feel real.I decided not to let it get to me. I closed the email and got out of bed, convincing myself that it was just someone messing with me. I had enough on
CHLOEWHEN IT COMES TO THE GAME OF PRETEND, I AM THE QUEEN.I sat in front of the vanity, smoothing a final coat of gloss onto my lips. My reflection stared back at me, flawless, but my mind was far from calm. Today was crucial. The interview was my chance to turn the tide, to make sure I came out of this mess on top. The court case with Nolan was looming, and I needed the public on my side. If I could convince them that I was the victim, the wronged wife who had only ever loved too deeply, it would be so much easier to sway the judge, the jury—everyone. I wasn’t just fighting Nolan in court; I was fighting him in the court of public opinion, too. And I had to win.The reporter was waiting in the next room. I knew how to play this. I’d done it before, countless times. Turn on the tears, soften my voice, and tell them exactly what they wanted to hear. Today was about making Nolan look like the villain, and I was ready.When I walked into the room, the reporter smiled warmly at me, but I
NolanI clenched my hands around the steering wheel, the soft hum of the car engine barely registering in my mind as I scrolled through the comments on my phone. Each word felt like a punch to the gut, a reminder of how far things had spiraled out of control. Alanna sat beside me, quiet but I could feel the tension radiating from her. She was hurt, just as much as I was, if not more. I couldn’t understand how people could believe Chloe’s lies so easily. The media had taken her side without question, painting me as the villain and her as the innocent victim.“This is unbelievable,” I muttered, my voice low but filled with frustration. I didn’t need to look at Alanna to know she was listening. “Just listen to this.”I scrolled to a comment that had racked up hundreds of likes. “‘Nolan doesn’t deserve any sympathy. Cheating on his wife with her sister? Disgusting.’” I practically spat the words out, the bitterness of them lingering in the air. “They don’t even know the half of it. They h
NolanI sat in the courtroom, my hands clenched into fists on the table in front of me. The trial had dragged on for weeks. Every day, I’d watched as Chloe spun her lies, as her lawyers twisted the truth, trying to make me out to be the monster. I couldn’t let Chloe win after everything she’d done.Alanna was sitting a few rows behind me, her presence a comforting reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. She had testified earlier in the trial, her voice steady but laced with the pain Chloe had caused. Watching her on the stand, reliving those memories, had nearly torn me apart. But she’d held her ground, just as she always did.The doors to the courtroom opened, and Mr. Collins, my lawyer, walked in, his face as calm as ever. He was a man who rarely showed his emotions, but today, there was a determined glint in his eyes that gave me a shred of hope. We had one last shot, one final piece of evidence that could turn the tide in my favor.He took his place beside me, leaning in slightly as
ALANNAThe night was quiet, almost too quiet. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind replaying everything that had happened over the last few months. It had been a whirlwind of emotions, but now, with the truth finally out, there was a sense of peace. Chloe's lies were exposed, Nolan was free, and I was vindicated. After so many years, people finally knew the truth about what really happened.Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I hesitated, wondering who it could be at this hour. Picking it up, I saw Nolan's name light up the screen with a simple message: "Hey, you up?"A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I took a moment before replying, my fingers hovering over the keys as I debated what to say. Finally, I typed, "Yes, I’m up."Almost instantly, a response came back. "Couldn't sleep?"I chuckled softly. "Something like that. What about you?""Same here. Too much on my mind. But thinking about you helps."There it was—flirtin
NOLANWhen I held Alanna’s hand across the table, a wave of relief washed over me. The simple touch of her fingers in mine was grounding, reminding me of everything we’d shared, everything we could have again. Her coy smile after I asked her if she’d give us another chance—it was all I needed to know this night was going to be special.I let my thumb trace gentle circles on the back of her hand, savoring the moment. “You know, I’ve missed this,” I confessed, my voice soft, almost vulnerable. “Just talking to you, being with you. I feel like we’ve both been running in different directions for so long.”Alanna looked down for a moment, her expression thoughtful. When she met my gaze again, her eyes were filled with a mix of nostalgia and hope. “It does feel like that, doesn’t it? Like we’ve both been through so much… but somehow, we always find our way back to each other.”A comfortable silence settled between us, the kind that doesn’t need to be filled. I took a sip of my wine, feeling
ALANNAWe had just finished a romantic dinner at the cozy restaurant, and as we pulled up to my house, he turned to me with a mischievous grin."Thanks for dinner, Alanna. I had a great time," he said, his voice low and husky."I'm glad you did," I replied, my own voice barely above a whisper. "Would you like to come in for a drink?"I knew what his answer would be before he even spoke. I could see the desire in his eyes, the way his gaze dropped to my lips for a split second. He nodded, and I led him inside, my heart pounding in my chest.As soon as we closed the door, Nolan grabbed me, pulling me close and crushing his lips to mine. The kiss was passionate, hungry, and I could feel the heat building between us as our tongues danced together."I've wanted you for so long, Alanna," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. "I've waited for this moment for what feels like forever.""I've wanted you too, Nolan," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've wanted this for so lon