Mrs. Montgomery’s heels clicked sharply on the polished floors of the hospital’s main corridor. She stepped forward with purpose. Today, her husband would die not by some tragic accident, but by her own hands. The last thread of his life would be severed, and everything he owned and everything he had promised her would finally be hers.She thought about Sasha and the things she had said. How Sasha had begged her to wait, to let nature take its course. But Mrs. Montgomery had never been one to wait. She had no patience for fate. No, she had worked too long, too hard, for too many years to let some accident stand in her way. She would finish what she had started.Her heart was a slow drumbeat in her chest as she reached Room 307, the door clearly marked with the name “Montgomery.” She gripped the handle, her fingers trembling, and turned it. The door creaked open, but what she saw inside stopped her cold.Empty.The bed, once cluttered with tubes, wires, and the frail form of her husban
Avery I paced back and forth in my room, the thick carpet beneath my feet wearing down with each anxious step. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, the weight of the world pressing down on my chest. Every second felt like an eternity. My father… was he okay? Was he still alive? The uncertainty gnawed at my insides, the fear of losing him clouding every thought in my head. I couldn’t stop myself from running through the worst-case scenarios over and over, each one more horrific than the last.“Take a deep breath, Avery,” Clara’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed she had entered the room, but she stood by the door now, her brow furrowed with concern.“I can’t,” I replied, my voice tight, barely able to hide the tremor. “I don’t know what’s going on, Clara. My father could be in danger. I need to…”“You will know,” Clara said firmly, walking over to me and placing a hand on my shoulder. “Nathaniel’s going to take care of it. I’m sure of it. Your
“What do you mean, you can’t find him?” Mrs. Montgomery had screamed into the phone, the words sharp with panic, but the response had been nothing she wanted. Her voice cracked as she continued. “I’ve asked you three times, where is he? What’s going on?”Another pause, another incomprehensible answer. Mrs. Montgomery could feel the cold sweat breaking out along her temples.“Bunch of fools!” She yelled and ended the call. When the call finally ended, the silence left behind was suffocating. It wasn’t the kind of silence that felt like peace, it was heavy. Her mind raced, her pulse quickened, and still, no answers. Her husband was missing. They couldn’t find him. Again.A low growl escaped her throat, a sound she wasn’t even aware of making. She turned slowly, her body still tense, like a coiled spring ready to snap. Sasha was standing there in the doorway, her eyes wide, her face a mixture of confusion and concern.For a moment, Mrs. Montgomery didn’t speak. She just stared at her da
Sasha knew she fucked up, her impulse mistake pressing down on her chest like a vise. The second the words had left her mouth, she knew she had made a grave error. She shouldn’t have said anything to Ethan. She shouldn’t have mentioned her father. She should have kept her guard up, but in the heat of the moment, her mouth had betrayed her. How could I be so stupid? Ethan’s face had shifted the moment she blurted out the truth about her father’s disappearance. That smug, calculating smile had played across his lips, and Sasha had known right then and there that she had given him the one thing he’d been waiting for leverage. He didn’t know anything about her father’s whereabouts, not yet, but now he did. And it was all because she had let her guard slip. “Is your father really missing, Sasha?” Ethan had asked, that sharp edge to his voice slicing through her already fragile composure. She had wanted to deny it, to backtrack, to take the words back, but it was too late. There was no g
AveryI threw myself onto the couch with a sigh, Clara stood beside me, her arms crossed, her gaze sharp as she studied me. It was the look she always gave me when she was about to push me into an uncomfortable conversation. And today, it seemed, was no different.“What makes you feel she’s hiding something? I mean your stepmom.” I sat up, dragging my hands through my hair, trying to shake the unease that had settled deep in my chest. The truth was, I couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t something I could put into words. There was just… something about her.“I don’t know, Clara,” I said softly, my voice low and uncertain. “I just… I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like something’s off. I can’t get rid of this nagging feeling that she’s hiding something from the world.” I stared down at my hands, trying to collect my thoughts. “Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I feel like there’s more going on than she’s letting on.”Clara frowned and knelt down beside me, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Ave
AveryThe sudden buzz of his phone had broken the moment, I wanted to pull him back and finish what he started, I couldn’t believe when I got to this… I don’t normally care about him around but now I was more than aware of him… I wanted his touch and for a second, he stayed close, his warm breath fanning my cheek. Then, with a small, apologetic smile, he leaned back in his seat and reached for his phone.“Sorry,” he muttered, glancing at the screen.I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn’t the first time Nathaniel had gotten close like that, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. I folded my arms, watching him as he read the message, his expression darkening. I knew something was up immediately, I wanted to ask him what he had found and it seemed he could read my thoughts as he suddenly spoke which caused me to crane my neck and glance at his face.“It’s from the investigator, the one I put into finding more information about Mrs. Montgomery,” he said, hi
Avery I stood at the foot of my father’s hospital bed, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. The ventilator tube hissed gently as it delivered oxygen into his lungs, and I couldn’t help but feel a tight knot of relief in my chest. It had been days of agonizing waiting, the minutes stretching into endless hours praying for a sign, any sign, that he would wake up. And now… there was one.“He’s responding to treatment,” the doctor had said, his voice calm and reassuring, but still laden with that professional detachment. “He’ll wake up soon. It’s just a matter of time.”I nodded, unable to find words to thank him properly. My heart surged with gratitude, but all I could manage was a soft, “Thank you.” And then, almost as an afterthought, I added, “Thank you for keeping it a secret.”The doctor gave me a reassuring smile, one that seemed to acknowledge both the situation and my need for something… anything that felt like hope. “You’re welcome. You’re a good daughter.”I couldn’
The rain came down hard, splattering against the pavement in relentless sheets. Mrs. Montgomery stepped out of the black sedan, her heels tapping against the stone walkway as she quickly opened her umbrella. She didn’t care about the cold or the wetness, the storm reflecting her own inner turmoil. The house ahead was a solitary mansion, isolated far from the city, away from prying eyes. This was the place she had chosen, the place where secrets could breathe in the shadows.As she made her way up the steps, she could feel the anxiety gnawing at her. With each step, the tension in her chest grew, she was tired, she needed answers and at the same time, she needed to be in the presence of someone who could calm her down. This wasn’t the first time she had visited this place, she had been frequenting this place for years and she was just lucky she was never caught by anyone. She pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway. The air smelled of smoke, thick and heavy, lingering like a
Sasha’s head throbbed as she slowly opened her eyes. She looked around a room she didn’t recognize. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her foggy mind. The last thing she remembered was the club, the pounding music, the bright lights, the glass of wine in her hand.Her stomach churned as the memory of the night before came flooding back. She’d been so drunk, so desperate to forget everything that had happened between her and her mother. She had been trying to drown her sorrows, to escape the whirlwind of emotions and confusion that had consumed her after their everything . But now, here she was, in a strange room with no idea how she got there.Panic set in. She sat up too quickly, feeling the blood rush to her head, and a sharp pain shot through her skull. She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples, trying to stop the dizziness. “Where am I?” she muttered to herself, her voice shaky. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing up too quickly again. Her knees bu
Avery I let out a deep sigh as I stepped into the room where my father was placed, I watched with keen interest and let out sight he was deep asleep, I couldn’t wait for him to be fully aware of his surroundings, u sat next to him and slowly moved his matted hair away from his face. His body suddenly twitched and I took my hands immediately, I waited patiently for him to move again and then he did. A groan escaped his mouth as he opened his eyes and he looked at me.I held my breath controlling myself from screaming out of joy, seeing the man that brought me into this life slowly gaining his life back, in the silence… His eyes met mine, confusion clouding his gaze. “Avery…” His voice was a rasp, weak but filled with disbelief. “But… but you’re…” “Father,” my voice broke as I gulped several times trying to control the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. “Am I dead?” He asked and I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “You’re not dead, I’m not dead, Father.” My voice broke as I sai
The dim lights of the club flickered above Sasha as she entered, her mind still reeling from the conversation with her mother. The sharp edges of her anger had dulled into a heavy sadness. She didn’t even know why she was here. Maybe it was the music, loud enough to drown out her thoughts. Or maybe it was the alcohol, which promised to numb the ache in her chest. She didn’t care. She just wanted to forget, even if for a little while.“How could she do this to me?!” She sniffed and blinked her eyes severally. Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she walked to the bar. She barely noticed the crowd of people dancing, the flashing neon lights, or the endless thumping bass. Everything felt distant, as if she were floating outside of her own body. She sat at the bar, the stool cold beneath her, and ordered the strongest wine they had.The bartender gave her a raised eyebrow but didn’t ask questions. Sasha took the glass in her trembling hands and brought it to her lips. The shar
Sasha paced in her room, Avery’s words echoing in her mind. “Father is not my father.” How could everything she knew about her life be a lie? She had always been Mr. Montgomery’s daughter, raised in the mansion, treated as his own. It didn’t make sense. Avery had to be wrong, but part of her wasn’t so sure.Her thoughts were interrupted when the door creaked open, and her mother entered, immediately sensing something was wrong.“What’s bothering you, darling?” Mrs. Montgomery asked, her voice filled with concern.Sasha stopped pacing and turned to face her mother. “Nothing,” she said quickly, trying to hide her feelings.Mrs. Montgomery didn’t buy it. She took a step forward, her sharp eyes assessing Sasha’s expression. “You’re a terrible liar,” she said with a slight smile, though her tone remained concerned. “Now, come on. Dinner’s ready. I’ll get you something to eat, and you can tell me what’s really going on.”She followed her mother to the dining room. As they sat at the table,
AveryThe warmth of the conversation between Clara, Nathaniel, and me was a welcomed reprieve from the chaos that had been unfolding around us. For the first time in what felt like forever, I could finally breathe a little easier. My father had woken up, and though his condition was still delicate, he was awake alive and that was all that mattered to me right now. I could finally smile again, and laugh again. The burden that had been pressing on my chest for so long was beginning to lift.“Clara, you have no idea how relieved I am,” I said, as I leaned back in my seat beside Nathaniel, my heart still beating a little faster with excitement. “I never thought I would see him open his eyes again.”Clara smiled back, her expression warm and understanding. “You’ve been so strong, Avery. I’m happy for you.”Nathaniel, sitting beside me, reached out and gently took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We’ve all been through a lot, but things are looking up now,” he said, his voice stead
Sasha paced furiously around the room, her mind spinning with the information that Ethan had just unloaded on her. Each thought bounced off the walls of her head like an unrelenting echo. How had Nathaniel and Avery met? More importantly, how had she missed the connection between them? There was never a moment she noticed them being close before Avery was supposed to be dead, it felt like they were two people that lived in a different world so how did it all happen? When are where had they met? It was just like a puzzle she couldn’t solve and as she thought about it, it only confused her the more… feeling more baffled than she will ever admit. "How did I not see this?" she muttered to herself, clenching her fists. She couldn't wrap her head around it…Avery and Nathaniel? How had he come into her life? And why had he interfered when they were so close to finishing their plans? She had to know the truth. She had to understand how deep this betrayal ran.She couldn’t help but wonder if
Avery“Are you okay?” I suddenly heard Nathaniel’s voice beside me and I tilted my head to look at him, I had a smile on my face as I nodded my head to let him know I was fine. We had decided to visit my dad today and I was a bit nervous, hoping he was finer than the way he was the last time I visited.The room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the machines monitoring his vitals. My eyes immediately went to the bed, where my father lay, connected to a series of tubes and wires. His face was pale, almost ghostly, but I could still see the familiar features, the sharp jaw, the soft lines around his eyes, and the dark hair that was now more salt than pepper. A tight knot formed in my stomach, seeing him so vulnerable, so broken. I had spent time wondering if I would ever hear his voice again.Nathaniel gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “He’ll wake up, Avery. He’s strong. Your father’s been through worse.”I nodded, but the ache in my chest didn’t go away. I wanted to believe him, but
“I can’t believe this inspector, it looks like you are imposing on us,” Mrs. Montgomery stated trying to hide the anger brewing deep inside of her. “I am not imposing please, I am only stating based on what is written here, I dare not impose on you Mrs. and Miss Montgomery,” the inspector replied and Sasha clenched her hands beside her. She hated the fact they didn’t take her and her mom seriously, it seemed like they had become a subject of mockery, the once respected family as become nothing to them, something they could talk and trash just the way they deemed fit, she hated this, the hated the feelings and she looked at her mom. For the first time in the whole of her existence, she saw that the woman was dumbfounded, and had nothing to say… of course, they had nothing to say at this point, how would they ever be able to defend themselves, it wasn’t an easy one at all. She had always been the one in control, the one who kept her family's secrets close, the one who maneuvered thr
AveryI burst into laughter, my head lolling back as Nathaniel continued speaking, I never knew he had this goofy part of him, it was beautiful to watch and his beautiful face in the darkness made it better, I watched him as he looked serious quite enjoying the conversation just like I do. “I swear, Avery,” he chuckled, his voice warm, “You can’t possibly be serious. The way you’re acting is enough to make anyone believe you’re planning world domination.” He grinned at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s not bad if you do I ate the world, I am very sure everyone will readily go on their knees to worship the empress!” I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “You don’t understand. It’s all about strategy. You have to think ahead. Like chess, Nathaniel.”He raised an eyebrow, feigning interest. “Oh? Tell me, Queen Avery, how would you take over the world? What’s your first move?”I bit my lip, pretending to think. “Well, first, I’d take control of all the ice cream factories,”