045Turning my attention back to the beautiful scene unfolding before me, I smiled faintly. Let me put up an act, at least, so I don't look like a bad sister.I took a deep breath and walked toward them, letting my performance begin.“Doctor, what are you saying?!” I cried out suddenly, my voice cracking. “Tell me this isn’t true!”At this point, my eyes were red and glassy, shimmering with tears that hadn’t fully fallen. I turned to Mr. Collins like a frightened child.“Dad, what is he saying? Nothing is going to happen to my sister, right?”Mr. Collins pulled me into a tight embrace, his hand rubbing circles on my back.“Everything will be fine, honey,” he whispered. “Everything is going to be okay.”I clung to him, letting the hug linger just a second longer to make it feel real, burying my face in his chest. But then, without warning, my head jerked backward as fingers tangled into my hair and yanked me away from him.“What the—!”I turned quickly—only to see her. My stepmother. H
001 The setting sun painted the sky in hues of amber and violet as I walked home from the supermarket. The plastic bags in my hands cut into my palms, but I barely noticed.Life with Ryan wasn’t perfect after I left my father's house, my mother begged me not to leave but I did. Ryan and i didn't have much. We scraped by on my earnings as an author, stretching every dollar, but it was enough. We were enough. We had a roof over our heads, food on the table, and love—wasn’t that what mattered?I climbed the porch steps and reached for the door, but something made me pause. A glint of black caught my eye.A pair of black heels sat by the entrance.I frowned. Those weren’t mine.My grip on the grocery bags tightened. Ryan had company, but that made no sense. He knew how I felt about unexpected guests, especially women.I pushed the door open, stepping inside. The first place my eyes landed on was the table.A pair of panties lay draped over the edge, delicate lace with tiny heart-sha
002Ash was my best friend. The only friend I had after leaving my father’s house.We met at the park—heartbroken, she sat alone, crying after the man she loved dumped her for another. I consoled her, knowing all too well how it felt to lose someone you love. Ever since that day, we had been inseparable.I never thought she’d be the one to betray me like this. The one to come after my man. My Ryan.My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms. Without hesitation, I walked toward her, my footsteps heavy with anger. She sat on the bed, oblivious to what was coming.The slap echoed through the room.Ash’s head snapped to the side, her dark curls shielding her face. Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating."You of all people?" My voice trembled with fury. "You disgust me, Ash! Do you remember the day we met? When I held you as you cried over that jerk who dumped you? And now, you're after my man? Shameless!" My voice rose, thick with betrayal.She didn’t answer. Te
THE NEXT MORNING 003 "It’s Ash I love. The moment I saw her, I lost interest in you. You’re just a good-for-nothing bitch." "No, Ryan. Don’t do this..." ******* I shot upright, gasping for air. My chest heaved, my hands clutching at the sheets beneath me. Cold sweat clung to my skin as I struggled to separate nightmare from reality. "Ryan can’t leave me," I whispered shakily. "He wouldn’t..." I squeezed my arm hard, nails digging into my flesh, hoping to jolt myself awake. The sharp sting spread through my nerves like wildfire. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. It all happened. The betrayal. The fall. The car. A beeping sound filled my ears, its rhythmic pulse anchoring me to the present. Slowly, I turned my head. The sterile white walls, the faint antiseptic scent, the oxygen mask pressing against my face—it all confirmed what I feared. I was in a hospital. A deep chill settled in my bones, making me shudder. The IV tugged at my arm with every small movement. The soft co
004 My breath caught in my throat, the words echoing in my ears. “Excuse me?” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible. “You heard me,” Stanley said, his tone oozing with confidence, his lips curling into a smirk. “You want to work for me? Then prove your worth. Show me what makes you indispensable.” My hands trembled as I clutched the phone. His words were calculated, laced with arrogance, and it threw me off balance. I had expected something else, not this unnerving proposition. When I didn’t respond, he chuckled—a low, knowing sound. “Cat got your tongue? Or are you rethinking that desperate declaration of ‘anything’? I thought you were serious.” Tears stung my eyes, but I swallowed them back. His composed yet biting words were harder to endure than outright cruelty. I clenched my jaw, humiliation searing through me. “Well?” he prompted, his tone sharp yet disturbingly calm. “The clock’s ticking. If you can’t handle this conversation, you’re already wasting my time.
005 After speaking he slammed the door on my face. Tears stung my eyes as I stood frozen at the door, my heart heavy with doubt and fear. For a brief moment, I wanted to turn around and walk away, but where could I go? I had no place left to turn. No home. No safety. Just the cold streets waiting for me if I left here. I felt a sharp, biting pang in my chest as the thought crossed my mind: Maybe I should beg. But then, I shook my head violently. Begging Stanley again? I couldn’t. My pride, as small as it was, told me it would be too humiliating. But deep down, I knew that if I didn’t, I would have nothing. No future. No way forward. Survival, I reminded myself. To survive, I needed to put my pride aside, to face whatever humiliation came with it. My heart pounded in my chest as I slowly, painfully, raised my fist and banged on the door again, louder this time. Knock. Knock. Knock. I waited, but the seconds dragged by in agonizing silence. No answer. A lump formed in my throa
006Stanley turned abruptly, his piercing gaze locking onto me where I still sat on the cold, tiled floor. His voice dripped with disdain as he sneered, “Did you not hear me?” The harshness in his tone snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts, yanking me back into the unforgiving reality of the moment. My heart clenched as I hastily wiped away the tears that had pooled in my eyes, using the back of my palms to erase any evidence of weakness. Shakily, I stood, my legs threatening to give way under the weight of my humiliation. Without another word, Stanley spun on his heel and marched toward the door. I followed silently, my footsteps hesitant as I trailed behind him. Each step felt heavy, the air between us thick with tension. He led me through the grand hallways, past expensive art and pristine furniture that spoke volumes of his wealth and power, until we arrived at the kitchen. The room was nothing short of breathtaking—opulent and pristine, with gleaming marble countertops, g
007“This is your room,” the maid said as we arrived at a door. She twisted the doorknob, and we both walked inside. Once we entered, my mouth dropped in awe, but I quickly closed it. Everything in the room screamed wealth, from the floors to the walls. “Are you sure this is my room?” I asked the maid again. She smiled knowingly, seeing the shock on my face. “Yes, this is your room,” she replied. “Mr. Stanley asked for this room to be prepared especially for you.” “Wow, it’s beautiful,” I said, and the maid couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes, it is. Mr. Stanley has great taste. For now, I’ll leave you to settle in. And don’t forget—if you need any help or support, you can always call out to me, okay?” I nodded, still taking in the grandeur of the room. This doesn’t look like a maid’s room, I thought. This looks like a princess’s room. It was way bigger than the house Ryan and I lived in—until I was betrayed and stabbed in the back. I walked toward the bed and brushed my
045Turning my attention back to the beautiful scene unfolding before me, I smiled faintly. Let me put up an act, at least, so I don't look like a bad sister.I took a deep breath and walked toward them, letting my performance begin.“Doctor, what are you saying?!” I cried out suddenly, my voice cracking. “Tell me this isn’t true!”At this point, my eyes were red and glassy, shimmering with tears that hadn’t fully fallen. I turned to Mr. Collins like a frightened child.“Dad, what is he saying? Nothing is going to happen to my sister, right?”Mr. Collins pulled me into a tight embrace, his hand rubbing circles on my back.“Everything will be fine, honey,” he whispered. “Everything is going to be okay.”I clung to him, letting the hug linger just a second longer to make it feel real, burying my face in his chest. But then, without warning, my head jerked backward as fingers tangled into my hair and yanked me away from him.“What the—!”I turned quickly—only to see her. My stepmother. H
044My heart pounded in my chest as I heard the shrill sound of footsteps rushing towards the stairs. Panic spread like wildfire, but I kept my face a mask of pure innocence. I rushed to the ground floor standing besides Chloe just as the maids and my stepmother flooded into the hallway.“What's going on here?!” my stepmother demanded, her eyes flicking between me and Chloe's motionless body at the foot of the stairs. Her voice was high-pitched, frantic. “Ash, what happened to Chloe? Why is she lying there?”I didn’t miss a beat.“Oh my God! I—I was just in my room when I heard shouting,” I said, my voice shaky but controlled, putting on the perfect act. “I rushed to Chloe’s room and—”“Shouting? What are you talking about?” My stepmother cut me off, now furrowing her brow at me.“Yes, shouting. I heard it coming from her room,” I continued, my eyes widening as I painted the perfect picture. “When I went in to see what was going on, she was smashing her phone against the wall. I asked
043 I glared at her. I didn't have time for nonsense now. The court letter crumpled in my fist, veins pulsing in my neck. My chest rose and fell rapidly with each breath I took. Without saying another word to her, I bolted out of the hallway, feet pounding against the marble tiles as I raced toward the Door. “Drake! Please wait!” I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation, once I arrived at the door. But he didn’t. He didn't even turn his head. He slammed his door shut, and the engine roared to life. My heart sank as the tires screeched against the pavement, leaving me there in regret. I froze, then slowly placed a trembling hand on my forehead. My eyes blinked back the tears that stung. The ache in my chest spread like wildfire, scorching every corner of my body. “You’re in a mess, Ash,” I whispered bitterly to myself. Dragging my feet back into the house, I closed the door behind me and sank into my bed. The silence was deafening, but my thoughts were louder. How did it a
042 “Ryan? I’ve never heard that name before. Thankless if I’ve ever met anybody named Ryan,” I stammered, my voice trembling. “Drake, what are you talking about?” He looked at me and shook his head as he laid beside me, chest rising and falling, jaw clenched so tight I could see the vein pulsing down his neck. “And you’re still lying, Ash,” he said, voice like ice. “How could you do this to me?” The words pierced like a knife. “Drake…” I shifted closer, reaching to hug him. “We—we just made love. How… how could I possibly lie to you after something that real?” He flinched at my touch like I’d burned him. “Save it, Ash.” Then he stood up from the bed and walked away. My heart pounded faster, my limbs shaking. I watched in silence as he walked across the room, bent down, and picked up his phone. My stomach dropped. He didn’t say a word. Just returned to the bed, face stone cold, and pressed play. The screen lit up. And then, my entire world shattered. It was me. Naked. Moa
041I stared at him, wondering why he was suddenly asking about my past. My heart raced, my palms damp with sweat. There’s no way I could mention Ryan to him. I couldn’t. Just the thought alone made my chest tighten with anxiety. I shifted a little from him on the bed, acting like I was scared of telling him anything. Maybe he’d back off if I looked uneasy.“My past… it’s…” I began, my voice faltering. “Drake, it’s not something I like talking about. It’s really painful. I can’t.”“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s okay,” he said gently, moving closer. “You can trust me.”His voice was low, soft, comforting. It made my heart ache. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes full of understanding. “Tell me your past, Ash. We’ve all gone through painful things in life, but you can share them with me. I mean, I’m your boyfriend.”I stared at him, tense, my body rigid. I didn’t know what to do at this point. I couldn’t risk the truth. Not now. I let out a deep breath and gulped, forc
040“What is it, Ash?” Drake asked as he walked towards me.I quickly switched off my phone. “It's nothing, Drake. Let’s… get back to where we were,” I said as I sent my finger running down his chest.At this point, his dick was already painfully hard again, veins pulsing like it had a mind of its own. The hunger in his eyes made my breath hitch. I reached for it, wrapping my fingers around its thick length, feeling the heat burn against my skin. With a smirk, I dragged him toward the bed."Get on," I commanded, but he didn’t resist. He let me take control—at least for a moment.Once we reached the bed, I shoved him down and straddled his lap. My fingers traced a slow, tantalizing path down his chest, making him groan. I watched his muscles tighten beneath my touch. Then, without breaking eye contact, I lowered myself onto his dick, inch by thick inch.A hiss escaped his lips as I seated him fully inside me. The stretch was delicious, intense, and it made my toes curl.I started slow—
039“Oh, um, we haven’t quite figured that out yet,” Stanley said with a smile. “But eventually, we will. Once we’ve picked a date for the wedding we'll let you know.”His mom smiled in return. “I’ll be expecting it,” she said.I lowered my gaze to the butter on the table.Stanley wasn’t a bad person after all. At least he loved his mom.Ashes' POVLater that night, Drake’s car pulled up outside my house. I spotted him from my bedroom window and rushed downstairs to meet him.The butlers opened the doors before I even reached them. Drake stood there, holding the gifts he brought for me, and just the sight of him made my body buzz. God, he looked fine.Drake wasn’t just any boyfriend. He was the perfect man. Tall, sexy, thoughtful. And best of all, he understood me—he was an actor too, so we shared the same world. He gave me his full attention when I spoke, spoiled me like a queen, and made me feel like the only woman alive.He was the only one I’d let in since my mom passed. We met tw
038As Stanley knelt before me, a heavy silence seemed to fall over the room. His leg was bent at an awkward angle, and his hand stretched forward, presenting the diamond ring with an air of uncertainty. My gaze flicked to his mother, whose mouth hung open in sheer excitement. Her joy was contagious, radiating like a beacon in the room. But, for some reason, I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at my insides. This was all an act, yet the weight of the moment felt too real. I gulped, trying to steady my breathing. You got this, Alora, I whispered to myself. Just act natural. Pretend it’s real. Without missing a beat, I covered my mouth, letting out a soft gasp. “Oh my God, Stanley,” I exclaimed, my voice trembling with the right amount of surprise. I took a small step forward, my cheeks flushing crimson, feigning the deep, overwhelming emotion that was supposed to be there. “I’ve always waited for this day, Stanley,” I said, my voice quivering with fake excitement. “The day you’d put
037 I stared at him, my heart pounding like a drum. What does he want from me now? I thought bitterly. As if he hadn’t already made my life a living hell. I had a career to face, a fresh start, and I was determined not to let anything—or anyone—stand in my way, but here he was standing in front of me plotting on how to destroy the life I now want to face. “What do you want, Detective Clark?” I asked coldly, my voice stripped of emotion. He shrugged casually. “Came to watch you perform. Just like you always have. Something wrong with that?” “Cut the riddles. Go straight to the point. Why are you really here?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes. He stepped closer, his face unreadable. “Like I said, I came to watch you. And to remind you—I’ll be watching you for a very long time, I'll make sure I have every detail of everything you do and everywhere you visit and I'll make sure you're exposed.” I clenched my jaw. “No case has ever been taken away from me, Ash. But you—you made t