~AdamI sat at my desk, staring blankly at the numbers on the computer screen. My eyes were fixed on the digits, but my mind was far from the sterile confines of the office. It wandered to Charlotte, to the tangled mess that had become our lives. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake the thoughts of her, the memories that cut deeper than I ever imagined.With a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes, trying to block out the regret gnawing at me. The guilt was a relentless presence, reminding me that I’d hurt her, betrayed her in ways I couldn’t take back. I had been selfish, driven by my desires, and now, the weight of those choices bore down on me like a crushing burden. My fingers drummed against the desk, a nervous habit I’d developed in moments like these.Just as I was about to let out another sigh, the phone on my desk buzzed, its shrill ring slicing through the silence. I picked up the receiver, forcing my voice to remain calm and professional. "Adam Morgan speaking."The voice on
~AdamAnd then, I saw him, Noah, the new IT guy. His expression was one of concern, his hands tightly gripping a sheaf of documents.Noah swallowed hard, his eyes darting from me to Eleanor and back again. "I-I'm sorry," he said, his voice a wavering whisper. "I didn't mean to intrude."I waved him off, my expression calm and composed, as if nothing out of the ordinary were happening. "It's alright, Noah," I said, my voice cool and controlled. "I was just having a discussion with my ex-fiance, Eleanor."Eleanor coughed, her eyes darting around the room, a look of panic on her face.Eleanor quickly righted her clothes, smoothed her hair, and scurried out of the room, her face flushed with embarrassment, her steps hurried and desperate.Noah watched her go, his expression a mix of confusion and alarm. "Ex-fiance?" he repeated, his brows furrowing in confusion. "I didn't know you two had history."I shrugged, the mask of nonchalance slipping back into place. "It's a long story," I said,
~DylanI stirred, stretching out my limbs as the sunlight filtered through the cracks in the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across the room. I glanced over to see Ashleigh still sound asleep beside me, her face serene in slumber. Five days ago, she'd been a stranger in need of shelter, a woman with a past that threatened to consume her. Now, she was a presence in my life, a puzzle I wasn't sure how to solve.I watched her sleep for a moment longer, my mind racing with questions. Why had she refused to go home? What was she so afraid of?Just then, Ashleigh stirred, a soft moan escaping her lips as her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times, her gaze finding mine."Good morning," she said softly, her voice still husky with sleep.I smiled, my heart warming at the sight of her. "Good morning," I replied, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair away from her face. "How did you sleep?"Ashleigh stretched languidly, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "Better than I have
~DylanI was walking out of the family gym house when I ran into Charlotte. "Dylan," she said, her voice filled with venom. "Who was that girl you brought home? Ashleigh, was it?"I shrugged, brushing off her question. "Just someone I met at the bar. None of your business."Lest I forget, I clenched my jaw, the anger rising in my chest. "When are you going to end this charade of a marriage with Adam?" I demanded. "I'm sick of watching you parade around like a happy couple. Have you forgotten our little agreement?"Charlotte didn't flinch. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a knowing smile. "You wouldn't dare," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "You know what would happen if you exposed us.I didn't give Charlotte a chance to respond. Instead, I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close, my lips crashing against hers. She struggled for a moment, but I held her tight, savoring the taste of her.When I finally pulled away, I laughed in her face. "You may t
~AdamMonths had passed since Ashleigh's death, but the pain still cut through me like a knife. If I hadn't been so selfish, if I hadn't taken Ashleigh away from Noah, who was taking such good care of her, she might still be alive.I found myself wandering through life in a daze, going through the motions without really living. I was haunted by my guilt, and the regret ate away at me like a cancer.One day, I was sitting in my living room, lost in thought, when there was a knock at the door.Adam stepped into the living room, his expression solemn. "Hey, Dylan," he said, his voice low. "How are you holding up?"I shrugged, unwilling to admit the depth of my pain. "I'm managing," I said, my voice flat.Adam nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "Look, I know things have been tough for you lately. But I have some news that might cheer you up. As the managing director at Morgan and Co, I've decided to offer you a position as my right-hand man."I arched an eyebrow, my interest
~Dylan"Get out," I growled, jabbing a finger in Noah's direction. "Get out of my sight before I do something I'll regret."Noah stood up, backing away from me slowly. "Dylan, hear me out..."But I was already on my feet, my body shaking with anger. "I don't care about whatever you wanna say!" I yelled. "You stay away from my brother and his wife, or I swear, I'll tell him everything. You'll lose your job, and your reputation. Now get out."Noah's face was pale, his eyes wide with fear. He stumbled backwards, nearly knocking over his chair."I...I'm sorry, Dylan," he stammered, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."With that, he turned and fled from the bar, nearly knocking over a table in his haste.I sank back into my chair, my heart pounding in my chest. I felt a mix of relief and regret wash over me.What had I done?I sat in silence, the sounds of the bar fading into the background. I couldn't help but think about what I had just done.I knew that Noah didn't
~CharlotteI stepped out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam trailing behind me. The soft, plush carpet of the master bedroom felt heavenly beneath my bare feet as I made my way towards the bed, ready to slip into a silken nightgown and finally allow myself to drift off into sleep.But before I could reach the bed, I noticed a shadowy figure on the mattress. My heart skipped a beat as I squinted through the dimly-lit room, trying to make out who it was.Adam.My jaw clenched.I stalked across the room, my bare feet making no sound on the plush carpet. "What are you doing in my room?" I hissed, my voice sharp with anger.Adam turned, his face softening at the sight of me. "Charlotte," he murmured, reaching out to touch my hand.I jerked my hand away, my eyes flashing with rage. "Don't touch me," I spat. "Not after everything you've done."Adam recoiled, his expression falling. "I'm sorry, Charlotte," he said, his voice a ragged whisper.Adam took a step back, his hands held up in a gestu
~DylanThe scene at the birthday celebration was a bustle of activity, the sounds of laughter and conversation filling the air. Everyone was dressed in their finest attire, eager to celebrate Albert's big day.Charlotte and Adam stood arm-in-arm, their smiles radiant, I couldn't help myself getting jealous .And then, just as I was about to make my way across the room, I saw her. Eleanor, her pregnancy belly swollen and round, walked towards me with a tentative smile."Dylan," she said, her voice gentle and sweet.Eleanor's expression crumpled, her lower lip quivering as she struggled to hold back tears. "Dylan, Adam has refused to accept me and the baby into his life," she whispered, her voice quavering with emotion. "I was so wrong to deceive you, to make you think the baby was yours. I'm so sorry, Dylan, please forgive me."I shook my head, my expression hardening into a sneer. "Sorry, Eleanor," I said, my voice dripping with contempt. "You reap what you sow, and you deserve every
~CharlotteThe sunlight filtered weakly through the heavy drapes in the living room, but its warmth was no comfort to me. I sat on the couch, surrounded by tissues and with my phone clutched tightly in my hand. My eyes burned from crying, and my body ached from sitting in the same spot all night. I hadn’t slept; I hadn’t eaten. All I had done was dial Adam’s number over and over, praying for him to pick up. Each time it rang, my heart leaped, only for it to sink again when it went to voicemail. I had even called Jacques, his assistant, hoping he might have heard from Adam. But Jacques had said he was in a meeting and couldn’t step out. His voice had been calm, almost indifferent, but I could hear the slight edge of concern in his tone when I told him what had happened. “He hasn’t called you?” I had asked, my voice breaking. “No, ma’am,” Jacques had replied. “I’m sure everything is fine. Mr. Adam knows how to handle himself.” But what if this time he hadn’t? My sobs echoed th
~CharlotteIt had been six months since Adam and I got married, and every day felt like a dream I never wanted to wake up from. Today was no different. We had just finished our antenatal appointment, and everything was perfect. The doctor said the baby was growing beautifully. Adam was practically glowing with pride as he helped me out of the hospital. As soon as we got into the car, I leaned back with a smile, resting my hand on my belly. “The baby’s kicking,” I whispered, my voice full of awe. Adam's head whipped around, his eyes lighting up. “Really? Let me feel!” I placed his hand on my stomach, and his face broke into the most beautiful smile. “Hey, little one,” he said, leaning down and pressing his ear to my belly. I laughed. “What are you doing, Adam?” “I’m talking to my child,” he said, completely serious, then added in a playful tone, “Hey, baby, it’s me, your daddy. I just want you to know I’m already your favorite parent. Right?” I burst out laughing, unable to
~CharlotteThe bathroom was quiet except for the sound of water dripping from the showerhead. I sat on the cold tiled floor, knees drawn to my chest, my damp hair sticking to my skin as tears streamed down my face. A week had passed since the wedding—a wedding I had dreamed about for so long. Marrying Adam for real was everything I had ever wanted. But now, I couldn’t find the happiness I had imagined. The silence between us was suffocating.I wiped my face, but the tears kept coming. Adam hadn’t spoken to me beyond basic pleasantries since we exchanged vows. And worst of all, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to explain everything to him, to ask for his forgiveness. The words seemed to get caught in my throat every time I tried. I cursed Dylan and Eleanor under my breath, the two people who had managed to turn my life into a living nightmare. Dylan had promised peace, but he turned out to be the same fool he’d always been, dragging me down with his selfishness and lies.The water ha
~AdamThe murmurs filled the reception hall like an annoying buzz in my ears. Everywhere I looked, guests whispered behind their hands, their eyes darting between me and the altar. I clenched my fists, trying to rein in the rage still simmering inside me. My mouth stung, and I could taste blood from where Dylan’s fist had connected earlier. But he’d gotten the worse end of the deal—no question about that. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Charlotte walking toward me, her hands wringing nervously. Her face was pale, her makeup smudged from tears. I knew she wanted to explain. Hell, I wanted answers too, but I wasn’t ready to hear her excuses. “Adam…” Her voice was soft, hesitant, and it grated on my already frayed nerves. I didn’t look at her. I pulled out my phone instead, dialing the head of my security team. “Get this chaos under control,” I barked into the phone, my tone leaving no room for argument. “Have Dylan and Eleanor removed immediately. Take them to the warehou
~CharlotteThe silence in the room was deafening as the words “I object” hung in the air. My heart pounded, the rhythm erratic and loud enough to drown out the collective gasps of the guests. Slowly, all eyes turned towards the man walking up the aisle. My breath hitched when I saw who it was.Dylan.I gasped audibly, my hand flying to my mouth. Adam’s eyes widened in shock as he turned to face the unwelcome interruption. The tension in the air was so thick, it felt like a physical weight pressing down on my chest.What was Dylan doing here? My mind raced as I tried to make sense of it. He was supposed to be on a flight to Spain for his business meeting. I had been so sure he was out of our lives for good, that we had found peace. But now, seeing him stride towards us with that smug smirk plastered on his face, I felt an icy dread seep into my veins.Adam and I exchanged a glance, his confusion mirroring my own. His jaw tightened as his grip on my hand faltered. The guests murmured am
~CharlotteThe golden rays of the morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of my bedroom, bathing everything in a soft, warm glow. Today was the day—the day I would walk down the aisle and become Mrs. Adam Morgan. I stood in front of the mirror, gazing at my reflection with a mix of anticipation and nerves. My heart thudded in my chest, the enormity of the day washing over me. Jasmine stood beside me, her nimble fingers adjusting the intricate lace of my veil. “Charlotte,” she said softly, her voice full of emotion. “You’re a vision. I’ve never seen you look so beautiful.” I smiled at her through the mirror, my eyes glistening. “Thank you, Jasmine. It feels... surreal.” She chuckled. “It’s real, all right. In just a few hours, you’ll be married to the love of your life.” Her words sent a rush of warmth through me. “I just hope everything goes as planned.” Jasmine waved a dismissive hand. “Relax, everything is perfect. And Adam... well, let’s just say you’ve got a ma
~CharlotteThe evening before the wedding was bathed in golden light, the soft glow of fairy lights strung across the sprawling garden. The scent of freshly cut roses and lavender drifted on the warm summer breeze, blending with the quiet hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses. The rehearsal dinner party was in full swing, a gathering of family and friends united to celebrate Adam and me. I stood near the edge of the dance floor, champagne flute in hand, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nerves. My pale blue dress clung to my figure in all the right places, the fabric shimmering faintly under the soft lights. My hair was swept into an elegant updo, with a few loose curls framing my face. Jasmine, my best friend, had convinced me to go for a bold red lipstick, and though I’d been hesitant, I had to admit it made me feel… powerful. Adam was across the room, deep in conversation with his father, Albert. He looked as dashing as ever in his tailored navy suit, his tie sl
~CharlotteEverything felt like it was finally falling into place. For weeks, I’d been plagued by doubts, fears, and the gnawing anxiety that the secrets of my past would come crashing down around me. But now, as I stood in the warm kitchen, the soft light of the chandelier casting a golden glow across the counters, I allowed myself a rare moment of peace. Noah was gone. Dylan had made peace with me, and to my relief, he hadn’t brought up the night we spent together. That night was buried deep in the recesses of my mind, locked away with all the other mistakes I prayed Adam would never uncover. I leaned against the counter, stirring a pot of soup while the chef plated some appetizers nearby. The aroma of fresh herbs and roasted vegetables filled the air, soothing me further. Adam and I were set to marry in two days, and for the first time, I believed there was a real chance for happiness in our future. My lips curved into a small smile as I imagined walking down the aisle, Adam’
~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