~CharlotteI hesitated, not sure what to say. I looked around, wondering if Jasmine was coming back soon. But she was nowhere to be seen. The man was still standing there, his eyes fixed on me. Finally, I said, "I'm not sure that's a good idea.""Why not?" he asked, his smile turning into a smirk. "I'm just offering to buy you a drink. What's the harm in that?"I felt myself starting to panic, and I could feel my heart beating fast. I tried to think of an excuse, but my mind was blank. "I'm waiting for someone," I blurted out, my voice trembling. "My friend should be back soon."The man's smirk faded, and he gave me a puzzled look. "You sure about that?" he asked, sounding skeptical. "You looked pretty alone when I saw you."I shifted in my seat, wishing that I could disappear. "I'm sure," I said, my voice firm. "She'll be back any minute."I hoped that my lie would convince him to leave me alone. But to my dismay, he just stood there, looking at me expectantly.Then my phone ra
~Charlotte I crept into the mansion, trying to avoid drawing attention to myself, not wanting to face Adam after what I had done. I felt a deep sense of shame and remorse.As I tried to sneak past the garden, I noticed Adam sitting there, his wheelchair turned towards the house. My heart stopped as I saw him. He turned his head and smiled at me, motioning to the empty space beside him. "Charlotte, please come," he said, his voice soft and inviting.My heart pounded in my chest. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to run away, to hide from the shame and guilt I felt, but a part of me wanted to go to him, to explain myself. I was paralyzed, unable to move."Please," Adam said again, his smile fading.I stood there, frozen in place, my heart racing. I was terrified of what Adam would say, of the look of disappointment or disgust I was sure to see on his face. I felt so torn, so conflicted. I couldn't seem to move, couldn't seem to do anything but stand there and stare at Adam."Charlot
~CharlotteAs I opened the box, I couldn't believe my eyes. Inside was a beautiful red dress, silky and flowing. A note was attached, and as I picked it up, I read the words, my heart pounding in my chest. "Will I be forgiven over dinner?" I felt a mix of emotions - surprise, joy, and confusion. I had never expected something like this. I never thought Adam was a romantic, and we're not in love, so why all this?I looked back at the other two boxes, wondering what could be inside them. What was going on?I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I decided to open the next box.As I opened the second box, I saw a glint of silver. It was a car key, and as I picked it up, a note fluttered to the floor. I picked it up, my hands shaking with anticipation.The note read, "I had promised to give you the whole world when you accepted to be my contract bride. Permit me to start with this." I was stunned. I couldn't believe it. My head was spinning with questions. Adam was sup
~Charlotte I held the blood-stained shirt out to Adam, my hands shaking. "I found this in the car," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's covered in blood." Adam's eyes widened as he took the shirt from me. For a moment, he was speechless. Then he took a deep breath and tried to regain his composure. "I... I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this," he said, but his voice betrayed his nervousness. "My driver, Arthur... he had told me he had a minor altercation which led to some blows with the car vendor when he went to pick up the car. I'm sure he just forgot his shirt in the car." I had difficulties believing Adam. He was acting so strangely? I looked at him, my eyes full of questions. He must have seen the confusion on my face, then he took my hand and said, "It's okay. Go upstairs and get ready for dinner. I'll take care of this." His voice was calm, but I could tell he was shaken. I hesitated for a moment, but then I nodded and headed up the stairs. I ha
~CharlotteI couldn't speak, so I just nodded my head. I didn't know what to say - how could I explain to him what was going on? How could I tell him that my one-night stand, the man I barely knew, had just walked into the restaurant with another woman? And I had to sit here, trying to be calm and collected, while my world was falling apart."Do you want to leave?" Adam asked, reaching for my hand. "We can get out of here.""No, we can't leave," I said. I just remembered I haven't heard from my mom. I will call her once I get home. "You can go out and call her now if your mind isn't at rest." Adam suggested."If we leave, people will think something is wrong. We just started eating, we can't waste the food. "You're right," Adam said, letting out a sigh. "We'll stay, let's finish the food quickly and leave then. But please, if you need to talk, I'm here for you. I know this can't be easy for you."I managed a small smile. "Thank you," I said, taking a deep breath.As we left the rest
~Charlotte"It's a long story," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "But I've always been okay". "I'm not paralyzed, neither am I impotent". "I can walk," he said, taking a few steps toward me. "I don't know why I've kept it a secret from everyone and my family, back in Florida, maybe because the accident changed my life from so many things, being in the wheelchair prevented me from going back to some things I'd rather not mention." He reached out a hand to me, and I slowly reached out and took it. "I want to show you something," he said, leading me to the window.I followed him, still feeling stunned. "What is it?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly."Look," he said, pointing out the window. "What do you see?"I looked out the window, and my breath caught in my throat. The city lights were twinkling below."The day I found out I could walk again, after 3 years of my accident, I saw them not as just a beautiful sight, but as a symbol of a new beginning." He was speaking in
~AdamI was in a deep, restful sleep with Charlotte's soft body wrapped in my arms, when my phone began to ring. I was in a state of blissful oblivion, my mind quiet and peaceful. But the ringing of the phone jolted me awake, and my peaceful state was shattered. I reached for the phone, trying to clear the sleep from my eyes. I saw the name on the screen, and a shiver ran down my spine. It was Gonzalez."Hello?" I said, my voice rough with sleep."Adam," he said, his tone cold and flat. "I got your little message."I had beaten up one of Gonzalez's men who attacked me when I went to pick up Charlotte's new car. "I don't want to be involved with the mafia anymore. Why won't they just leave me alone?""What do you want?" I asked, my voice tight with anxiety. I could feel my heart beating in my chest, my hands trembling."It's about your son, Ephraim," he said, his voice calm and even. "He's been taken, he's in Russia as we speak."My heart pounded in my chest at the mention of Ephraim
~AdamWhen I woke up, I was in a dark room, my hands and feet bound. I was lying on the floor, my head pounding. I tried to remember what had happened, but my thoughts were hazy and jumbled.As I tried to clear my head, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I tensed, not sure what to expect. The door to the room opened, and a man stepped inside. I recognized him immediately - it was Gonzalez. He was smiling, his eyes cold and calculating."Hello, Adam," he said, his voice smooth and confident. "I'm glad to see you're awake. We have much to discuss."I tried to speak, but my mouth was dry and my voice came out as a croak. I licked my lips, trying to find the words.Finally, I managed to say, "Where is my son? Where is Ephraim?"Gonzalez laughed, the sound mirthless and cruel. "You still haven't changed Adam," he said. "You see, I believe you have something that belongs to me. Something very valuable.""You can have your so-called valuables if and only if you have my son Ephraim r
~DylanThe drive home was uneventful, but my thoughts were anything but calm. The night had gone surprisingly well until Noah showed up like a bad rash. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, the weight of the evening pressing down on me. The headlights of the car illuminated the long driveway as I pulled up to the mansion. The place was quiet, the kind of silence that came with late hours and everyone being asleep—or so I thought. As I stepped out of the car, stretching to shake off the stiffness of sitting too long, my eyes caught a faint glow in the distance. The guest house. I frowned. The light was still on. That bastard. I exhaled sharply through my nose, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Did he think I was joking when I told him to leave? I squared my shoulders and headed toward the guest house, the cool night air doing little to soothe my irritation. “Noah,” I muttered under my breath, my strides long and purposeful. “Of all the people Adam keeps around, it
~AdamThe sun was barely up, but my day was already in full swing. My phone was practically glued to my hand, its screen lighting up every other second with messages, calls, and reminders. A week to go until the wedding, and everything had to be perfect. No exceptions.“Morning, Mr. Groom-to-be,” teased Tom, my best man and oldest friend, when I answered his call.“Tom, don’t start. It’s too early for your nonsense,” I muttered, scrolling through my schedule.“Too early? Dude, it’s practically noon,” he quipped. “But seriously, do you need anything? Last-minute freak-outs? Dress code issues? Cold feet?”I groaned. “No, Tom. Everything’s under control.”“We’ll see about that,” he said, laughter in his voice. “Anyway, don’t forget tonight. The bachelor’s eve is sacred. No excuses.”“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there,” I replied, already tuning him out as I started another round of calls.The rest of the morning flew by in a blur of logistics. First, I confirmed the catering. Then the florist. T
~Charlotte The hum of the car engine was almost soothing as I steered through the morning traffic. The city was just waking up, and the streets were already bustling with life—coffee carts on corners, joggers navigating sidewalks, and cars weaving in and out of lanes like an intricate dance. I should have been thinking about the tasks waiting for me at the office, but my mind was miles away, trapped in a storm of unease. Then it hit me like a slap. Noah and Dylan. Their stares. They hadn’t said anything outright, but the way they watched Adam and me recently—especially now that we were on cloud nine—felt like a storm brewing. Their eyes held something sinister, like they knew something that could shatter the fragile peace I had built with Adam. My hands tightened on the wheel. The thought planted a seed of panic in my chest, and I couldn’t shake it. What if they were going to reveal my secret? The one thing I’d buried deep, swearing never to let it see the light of
CharlotteThe engine hummed softly beneath me as I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles white against the leather. The sun was low in the sky, casting golden streaks across the horizon, but I couldn’t appreciate its beauty. My mind was far too cluttered with thoughts of Dylan and his incessant calls. “What does he even expect me to do?” I muttered, my voice sharp in the enclosed space of the car. “Choose him over Adam?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. The idea was absurd. Adam, with his unwavering kindness, his protective nature, and the way he made me feel like I was the center of his world, was everything Dylan never was. “He chose Eleanor over me,” I spat, the memory burning like acid in my chest. “He didn’t know then, but now he wants to come back and ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to me?” The words hung in the air, filling the car with tension as if I could argue with my own thoughts. I pressed harder on the gas pedal, the car speeding down the empty road.
~DylanI paced back and forth in my apartment, the phone pressed tightly against my ear. Each ring felt like a hammer pounding against my chest, the sound mocking me as it echoed through the silence. “Pick up, Charlotte,” I muttered under my breath. My thumb hovered over the call button again, ready to redial her number for what must have been the tenth time this morning. Ever since I heard the news of Charlotte and Adam’s engagement, I hadn’t known a moment of peace. The thought of losing her—truly losing her—was suffocating. When I first found out their marriage was just a business arrangement, it was like a lifeline. I told myself I still had a chance, that I could fix things between us, that she would see reason. But now? Now they were planning to get married for real. That was it. That would be the end of us. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. The image of Charlotte wearing Adam’s ring, standing by his side, looking at him with the same s
~CharlotteAdam’s arm was draped across my waist, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept beside me. The soft morning light streamed through the curtains, bathing the room in a golden glow. I turned my head to look at him, his face serene, lips slightly parted as he breathed deeply. For the past week, our lives had been blissfully quiet. Ever since he proposed, it felt like nothing in the world could touch us. The entire family had been stunned when we revealed the truth about our previous wedding being a mere facade, orchestrated for business purposes. Naturally, there were plenty of whispers and judgments when we shared it with the public. Some called us frauds, while others admired our honesty and the love that had blossomed despite the circumstances. But none of it mattered. Not when Adam looked at me the way he did. Not when he held me like I was the most precious thing in his life. I reached out, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead, smiling as I pressed
~Charlotte The warm Mediterranean breeze brushed against my face as I stood on the balcony of our suite, gazing out at the stunning Amalfi Coast. The sapphire-blue waters sparkled under the golden sunlight, and the faint hum of laughter and clinking glasses drifted up from the piazza below. It had been a week since Adam and I reconciled, and true to his word, he’d been doing everything to show me how much he cared. This trip to Positano was his way of making up for lost time, and though I was hesitant at first, I couldn’t deny how magical it felt to be here with him. “Charlotte,” Adam called from inside, his voice warm and light. “Are you going to stare at the view all day, or will you come have breakfast with me?” I turned to find him leaning against the doorframe, his eyes crinkled with that boyish smile of his. He looked relaxed, wearing a white linen shirt and beige shorts, the coastal sun highlighting the golden tones in his hair. “I was just enjoying the view,” I said,
~CharlotteJasmine and I sat on her worn yet cozy couch, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faint lavender scent of her candles. The TV played Adam’s press conference on loop, his voice echoing in the room. “And finally,” Adam said, his tone heavy with emotion, “to Charlotte. I owe you the biggest apology of all. I was blind to the truth, and in doing so, I hurt the one person who has always been my light.” My heart fluttered, and my chest tightened as I watched him look directly at the camera, his gaze filled with sincerity. “I’m sorry for all the pain I caused. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you that I can be the man you thought I was. I love you, Charlotte.” I felt a lump form in my throat, tears threatening to spill as his words replayed in my mind. Jasmine nudged me, her grin wide. “Well, well, well, looks like someone is a lovebird again.” “Stop it, Jasmine,” I said, wiping the corner of my eye quickl
~AdamBy the time I arrived at the press conference venue, the weight on my shoulders felt unbearable. The room was already filling with reporters, their chatter loud and insistent, like vultures circling a fresh carcass. My security detail cleared a path through the sea of flashing cameras and eager eyes, and I forced myself to maintain a steady gait despite the turmoil churning inside me. The event staff had set up a podium at the front of the room. Its presence seemed both unassuming and daunting, as though it were waiting to swallow me whole. I climbed the small steps leading to the stage, adjusted my tie, and stepped behind the podium. My hands rested on the edges, gripping them tightly to stop the slight tremor in my fingers. The room was stifling, the air heavy with tension. My throat felt dry, and I reached for the glass of water placed on the stand beside me. I took a quick sip, the coolness a momentary relief. Then, I adjusted the microphone, scanning the room filled wit