The room was quiet, save for the soft rustle of the curtains as a gentle breeze drifted through the open window. I lay in bed, my body still weak from the fainting spell earlier that day. The weight of my responsibilities as an Edgewood was overwhelming, but more than that, the memories of the years I had lost—years spent in a world so far removed from the grandeur of this estate—hung heavily on my heart.I felt a familiar presence beside me and turned to see my grandmother, Mrs. Edgewood, sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes, filled with concern and love, met mine. She had aged gracefully, her silver hair framing a face that had seen so much over the years. Yet, there was a softness in her expression, a warmth that I hadn’t felt in a long time."My dear Anna," she began, her voice soothing, "I’m so sorry that you’ve had to go through all of this alone. I wish I had found you sooner. I wish I had known where you were, what you were enduring. But now that you’re home, I want to und
“Who is that?” Grandma askedThe door creaked open. We turned to see one of the maids, her face pale and her eyes wide with worry, standing hesitantly at the threshold.“Miss Anna,” she began, her voice trembling slightly as she clutched her apron. “Mrs. Edgewood, I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s... there’s someone at the gate.”My heart skipped a beat, the fragile calm I had been nurturing suddenly shattered by the tension in the maid’s voice. Mrs. Edgewood, who had been holding my hand, looked up with a frown. “Who is it, dear?”The maid swallowed hard, her gaze shifting nervously between us. “It’s... its Mr. Samuel Idris, ma’am. He’s arrived with some load and is asking to see his wife and meet with you.”The mention of Samuel’s name was like a physical blow, the air rushing from my lungs as fear wrapped its icy fingers around my heart. I hadn’t seen him since my return to the Edgewood estate, and the thought of facing him now, here in this place that was supposed to be my sanct
The memory of that day still lingers in my mind, a haunting echo of what could have been and what was lost. The smell of polished wood and the rhythm of feet moving in unison against the dance studio floor were once comforting to me, but now they only remind me of a friendship that slipped through my fingers like sand.It was my first episode at the dance school, a place that had once felt like a sanctuary, where I could lose myself in the music and forget, if only for a moment, the pain of my life with Mr. Idris. Dancing had always been my escape, the one thing that allowed me to feel free, even if just for a few fleeting moments. But that day, everything changed.Austin Miller had recently joined our dance group, and it didn’t take long for him to catch the attention of everyone, including me. He was tall, with a natural grace that made every movement seem effortless, and a smile that could light up the darkest room. I noticed how the other girls would steal glances at him, giggling
The soft knock on the door pulled me from the depths of sleep. I blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of a dream that clung to me like fog. The sunlight was gentle, filtering through the curtains and casting a warm, golden hue across the room. For a moment, I simply lay there, soaking in the peace of the morning, trying to hold on to the serenity for just a little longer.But then, reality came crashing back.“Good morning, ma’am,” the maid greeted me as she entered the room. Her voice was polite, practiced, and there was a hint of warmth in her tone. She moved with quiet efficiency, already heading towards the wardrobe to prepare the clothes I was expected to wear for the company briefing today.“Good morning,” I replied, sitting up slowly. My body still felt heavy, the weight of yesterday’s events pressing down on me. The conversation with Grandma, the overwhelming responsibility that now rested on my shoulders—it all seemed like too much. I rubbed my temples, trying to fend off
As I approached the sitting area, a knot tightened in my stomach. Every step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the uncertainty of what awaited me. Samuel’s presence here was like a dark shadow creeping into the light of my new life, threatening to pull me back into the darkness I had fought so hard to escape. I had prepared myself for anger, for accusations, for the cold, bitter man I knew all too well. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I stepped into the room.There he was, sitting comfortably on one of the plush chairs in my grandmother’s opulent sitting room. And he was smiling. Not the usual smirk of mockery or disdain, but a genuine smile—a warmth that I had never seen on his face before. It was unsettling, to say the least. The man who had only ever shown me contempt was now looking at me as if he were an entirely different person.“Good morning, Anna,” Samuel greeted me, his voice soft and warm, as if we were old friends. “You look lovely today.”
The day was warm but carried a sense of anticipation. I had been pacing around the mansion since morning, preparing for Alice's visit. My grandmother, who had shown me nothing but kindness, insisted on meeting Alice, the one friend who had been there through the worst of times. It felt surreal, bringing Alice into this space that had seen so much of my suffering, and even more so to have her meet Samuel again—my tormentor, my husband, in name only.Alice arrived just before sunset, her hair catching the last rays of light. As soon as she walked through the door, I felt a wave of relief and anxiety all at once. She greeted me with a tight hug, her smile reassuring. "You look tense," she whispered, pulling back to look at me closely."I’m just… it’s complicated, Alice." I looked away, not sure how to explain the tight knot in my chest.Alice gave a small nod, her eyes scanning the room. "I’ll handle it," she said simply, a spark of determination in her voice. And just like that, I knew
It was early morning, and the Edgewood mansion was as grand and quiet as ever. My days had become a routine of endless learning sessions, as Grandma had taken it upon herself to ensure that I received the education I had missed out on. After realizing that I had never gone beyond basic schooling, Mrs. Margaret Edgewood was adamant about fixing this gap.She arranged for the best tutors to homeschool me. It felt overwhelming at first, but deep down, I knew she meant well. I spent hours every day pouring over books, studying subjects I had never imagined I would need to know. It was exhausting, but also liberating in its way. Each lesson was like a step forward into a future that I was slowly reclaiming.While I spent my days buried in books, Samuel… well, Samuel was doing what he did best—enjoying the privileges of the Edgewood name. By marriage alone, he had access to the wealth, power, and influence that came with being associated with our family. And he reveled in it. The title of "
The tension was palpable as Samuel stormed out of Anna’s room, his footsteps echoing angrily down the hallway of the grand Edgewood mansion. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—frustration, shame, and the unmistakable sting of Alice’s revelation. Lara. Pregnant. The words still buzzed in his head, and now, he had to find a way to regain control of the situation before it slipped completely out of his hands.As he rounded a corner, his path was blocked by Henry, Mrs. Edgewood’s personal assistant and the man who handled much of the estate’s day-to-day affairs. Henry had always been an unassuming figure, quietly efficient and fiercely loyal to Mrs. Edgewood and her granddaughter, Anna. But there was something in his posture tonight—an edge to his gaze that Samuel hadn’t noticed before."Leaving in a hurry, Samuel?" Henry’s voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it, like a predator waiting to strike.Samuel scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Not that it’s any of your busines