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"Thank you for the lunch, Grace. Everything was delicious." I say as I gather my things ready to leave."Thank you for everything, Love. And I hope your leg feels better tomorrow." So do I but at the same time, my leg is at the bottom of my list of problems. Tamara was currently at the top. No matter how much I wanted to escape this mansion I was not looking forward to talking with her."Are you ready?" Christian asks as he appears behind me."I'm sorry?" I ask as I slowly turn around to see him holding his car keys."The driver left so Christian will drive you home," Grace says as she puts her hands on my shoulders. Arguing with her would be as pointless as arguing with him.Christian moved toward me, his footsteps light but deliberate. "Shall we?" he asked, his voice smooth, as he gently nudged the door open."We shall."...Christian opened the car door for me with a practiced ease, his hand lingering just a moment longer than necessary on the edge of the frame breathing me in. I sl
"You have some explaining to do." Tamara says as she sits on the couch, Charlie in her lap enjoying how her hand passes through his fur. "I know," I say as I put down my bag... and the cane... and take off the sunglasses."Ohh I'm really looking forward to hearing what you have to say... I mean how will you justify getting that job on false pretences? Lying to people with such power could destroy you, and all of your dreams... I just dont know what were you thinking Love. How do you plan to get out of it?" I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of her words settle around me like a thick fog. Tamara’s gaze is sharp, eyes filled with disappointment and concern. "It was a chance to help someone but at the same time help myself, help Mira. We would have lost this apartment that no matter how crapy it is it's still better than the street. I was in a tight spot so I just did it." It is the best I can do to justify myself. Is it good? Perhaps not, but lies aren't usually meant to have
Today marks the fiftyth day of my working for the Callahans. It went by so fast and so intense, with me helping Sebastian be more independent each day while at the same time falling in love with Christian more and more. I discovered he is funny, kind, talented, generous, committed, driven, stubborn... so human, in the best way possible. Yet still I didn't let myself allow him to get closer to me. I was still able to use Charlie as a way to run away from him. That little lost puppy helped me a lot but it now had Mira and me in a lot of trouble. "You can't kick us out... it's six days until Christmas where the hell do you want us to go!" Mira yelled, her voice shaking with frustration as she stood in front of the landlord, trying her best to look confident "The rules on your lees were clear, no pets allowed. That filthy mut probably ruined the place." This place was ruined even before we got here, quite frankly he was lucky we were so desperate. "Number one, our dog is not filthy. N
"What are you doing here? I thought the driver was gonna pick me up like always?" I ask Christian trying to reclaim his attention back from Charlie while Mira just realizes how she ruined my line of defense. "I have taken care of some busses with Aiden close by so I thought I would pick you up. It's good that I did... why dont I find someone to help you pack later and both of you can stay at my house while you get things sorted out." Me? Staying over at his house? Absolutely no. I have a hard time staying away from him and accepting that offer would throw all of that out the window. I shake my head, trying to keep my voice steady. "No, that’s really kind of you, but I’m not sure that’s necessary. We’ll be fine, will move our things to our friend's place and look for a place to stay in the meantime."Christian gives me a sharp look, his gaze unwavering. "Are you sure? I’m more than glad to help, and I'm sure Sebastian would actually love to have you with us. Mother even more." His to
"Are you sure it's not too soon? I was thinking of easing him into that conversation especially since you said it was such a delicate topic." I asked Christian as he let me know exactly what Grace wanted me to do."Well, my mother made an appointment for him in the middle of January so you have a little bit over three weeks to talk him into it," Christian says it so effortlessly like he just knows I can do it. A part of me is flattered but the fraud part of me is always there to not let me enjoy but one second of anything that happens between us."I'll see what I can do..." So far all I know is that Sebastian hates doctors for the amount of times they gave him false hope... but hope really does mean fifty-fifty. Hope is just another word for giving it a chance.Christian’s expression softens slightly, his eyes studying me with that familiar intensity. “You can do it,” he says. “Sebastian respects you. He listens to you.”"It's because I listen back. Two-way street, you know..." "I get
"Morning, Bash." Yes, we went down the road of nicknames. It's what friends do after all. "Good morning, Love." My name makes it hard to give nicknames. But my dad once upon a time called me Bug... "Not sure is a good one but I'll take what I can get," I say as I put down my bag and sit down next to him. Marley came to my knees and leaned its head over my leg as I pet his head, "Why? What happened?" Sebastian asks. "I... well, my friend and I got kicked out of our apartment today. So when I leave here today there is a lot of packing in store for us." Sebastian's eyebrows frown as he listens to my words, and his body leans forward. "What? What are you going to do now? If you need a place to stay you are more then welcome here." Who knew that people of such wealth would be so kind as to offer their hearts to someone like me... "Thank you, Bash, but it is not necessary, we are moving some of our things to Tamara's place and Christian gave us a card from a friend of his that ca
"I'm sorry, what?" I ask in shock. "I'll make an appointment with the doctor if you do it with me?" Yeah, that's about exactly what I heard the first time. This brings this situation to a whole new level of messed up. So this will be my downfall... there is no way I come on top this time. "Bash, I..." I have no words to get me out of this. If I say no he won't do it, but if I say yes... I lose... "It's up to you, Love. You hold our future in your hands." Why is he saying all these words that just make this worse by the second? "I can't afford your doctors but I can be there for you every second of the way.""Please, money is not the issue here. I will cover any expenses but I just dont see how I could do this without the person who inspired me to try in the first place." Money... I can't have them waste any more money on me, I feel like I'm robbing them as is. But how do I make Sebastian do this without agreeing to his proposition? I promised Christian and Grace I would help... I
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I whisper to Mira as the lady from the real estate walks further into the kitchen. This apartment was not only in a nice secure building, but the layout was also open, with a spacious white kitchen that then washed into a gray-stoned-themed living room. Not one but two bathrooms, each for every room. The closet space is out of Mira's dreams, completely furnished and perhaps best of all pet friendly. I mean Charlie was already loving it here."If you are seeing heaven, then yes," Mira whispers back as we walk through the kitchen island the lady starts to spread some papers on the surface."So what do you think of the place?" Is that question supposed to be a joke? Who wouldn't love to live in a place like this?"It's absolutely amazing... but before I further fall in love with it tell me the rent price," Mira tells her and the woman smiles."Well I have the contract here, so take a look." She slides the paper closer to Mira. Mira pauses, her fingers run
He didn’t respond. Then, footsteps. Slow, deliberate. He moved closer, and my breath hitched in my throat even though I tried not to let it show. I turned my face slightly toward where I thought he was standing, listening for the soft rustle of his suit, the shift in the air. I didn't need my eyes to feel the gravity of him near me. "You wore a mask, every single day. Lied, to our faces... and you say it was for our own good. You are no better than the bastard I had for a father." His voice was closer now, a whisper laced with venom. "But I am not him." "Perhaps you are even worse. He at least didn't pretend to love us, at least not in the end." Christian says, anger blooming inside of him. "I love you, Christian. More than I ever thought was possible." I say trying to reach him but he pushes back at me, my back against the wall. "Shut up, you lie so well I might believe you for a second." “If I wanted to keep lying, I wouldn’t have told you the truth, I wouldn't still be here
Four weeks later...The last night in the dark...I am on the edge.I can't take this darkness anymore. I keep telling myself it's soon going to be over, that at least I will be able to act freely, even walk into the world alone free of pretenses. I want my parents to see that the lie is over, and I want Bash to get over everything soon, even if that means that whatever this is I have with Christian comes to an end.We have been living in this penthouse for three weeks now, and every second for me has been hell. His indifference at times is worse than his hate, at least hating me meant he still had me somewhere in his soul, in silence alongside this darkness that was eating at me.If it weren't for Mira I would be completely alone, she is the only good thing here. She told me to take off the bandages while Christian was at work but I just couldn't. He was far too unpredictable, popping in and out at different times as if trying to surprise me by doing something wrong and I didn't feel
Hearing the voices of people I love around me made me feel peace, so much so that I never wanted them to leave. In front of them, Christian was the man, the husband I always thought he would be. He was loving, kind, and caring. I never wanted it to end.But all that is good has its end, so did this.My friends were about to leave, at least Grace and Bash would be around. At least not until Christian makes us move again.Tamara and Bash were aside, talking. It is nice to hear that the friendship between them is blooming, hopefully into something bigger and better. Grace pulled Christian away to the office for a moment leaving me alone with Mira."Love, call me crazy but something here doesn't feel right. Are you sure you are as happy as you say you are?" I knew she would sense something, and despite promising Christian I would say anything I needed to let go with someone, and who better than Mira? I need someone on my side, someone to stand in my corner... make me feel less alone."Mira
"People are still talking about the wedding. It's the talk of every event since." Grace says as we sit at the table. Christian is right next to me, holding my hand, his thumb tracing the side of my knuckle. It feels nice. Too nice. "And no one thinks you are pregnant anymore, so now they believe it's true love." Bash comments. "Good, because it is. As true as it gets," Christian says as he kisses my cheek. I smile. It is so hard to be in this darkness. The voices around me keep surprising me. Every movement strikes a nerve within me, and I have to pretend to be relaxed. "Why didn't you tell us about doing the surgery?" Bash asks. "We wanted you to see firsthand that the surgery you will go under would work because she will be taking off the bandages just before you go under. That will give you all the training you need to go there without a doubt in your mind that this will work." Christian’s words are calm like he’s presenting a plan instead of revealing something deeply personal.
Love's POVI think I understand Bash now better than ever. Being trapped in the dark was horrible. No wonder he felt the way he did. Even when I knew well that this would last only four weeks, walking around with my eyes bandaged up was hard. even harder than I imagined it would be.But one thing was good... as long as I couldn't see I wouldn't have to look at the hatred that grew inside Christian's eyes. This situation goes from bad to worse. The silence between us felt like it was splitting me in two. I could feel Christian beside me, his presence so tense, so tightly wound. I couldn’t see his face, but I didn’t need to. I could feel the sharp edge of his anger cutting through the air between us. The hatred I’d seen in his eyes before, that dark, simmering look, now felt like a constant companion. He didn’t even have to say anything. I could feel it in the way he handled me, the way he spoke, the way he didn’t speak.But I liked the fact we were back home. Perhaps that way I won't fe
"How long is this going to take? We have a plane to catch." That's not true. It's not like my private plane would go somewhere without me, but I wanted out of this doctor's office as soon as possible."I thought you were returning in a month. If it's supposed we just did the surgery she wouldn't be recovered by now. The world won't believe it." The good doctor says as Love glances up at me."Plans change. Tell her what to do to fake it, she's good at that." I was on edge. Playing nice was so hard and I needed all the willpower I had to do this charade infront of my family, not him."We would need to bandage her eyes... keep her like that for about three to four weeks. And even after that she would need to use sunglasses outside for a period of time... pretend to adjust." Somehow that sounded perfect in my head. She would, even for a short four weeks be forced to walk around blind. She would get to taste her lie on her own skin. "She can do it," I say as I glance at her. "In fact, wrap
Christian's POV I hate her. But somehow I hate myself more for still loving her. I hate how I still want her, and I hate even more the thought of another man having her. The image of the doctor's hand on her filled my chest with rage. She was mine. In every way possible, she was mine. Mine to torture, mine to punish, mine to hate. I wanted to break her. I wanted to watch her unravel beneath me until she knew, without a doubt, who she belonged to. My own torment, my own suffering, would be her punishment. But would it be enough? Would it ever be enough? I have never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her, but with every passing day, the love I thought I had for her had twisted into something darker. The same shade of dark I once felt for my lying father. He was the first and only lesson I need to understand how much a lie can destroy a life. He lied to my mother, he betrayed another woman. He would lie and leave us, his family, to be with someone else. A woman who probably just wa
I didn’t know how I felt anymore. I still loved him, but a part of me was starting to fear him. The love that once felt so pure, so effortless, was now tangled in a web of control and lies. Every interaction, every word exchanged between us, left me more uncertain. The warmth I once felt in his touch had turned into something that made my bones feel frozen.I wanted to reach out, to say something that would make him hear me, make him understand the pain that I was going through. But every time I opened my mouth, the words felt wrong, twisted by the fear of saying the wrong thing, of pushing him further away. Every time I tried to speak, I felt like I was walking on a tightrope, the fear of falling into his wrath too great.After spending a week and a half not leaving the villa, he finally decided to leave. Here he would just casually reach for my hand as we walked but he did not talk much. At a spot with a beautiful view, he asked a stranger to take a photo of us, and he hugged and eve
Christian kept his word. To the outside world, we were this perfect, happy newlywed couple. So in love, so eager to start our honeymoon. But behind the facade, everything was different. Every touch, every word, every look felt hollow. His arms around me were nothing more than a carefully constructed performance, a show for the people around us. As we walked through the airport, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the eyes on us. The casual paparazzi snapped their pictures, capturing our smiles, our closeness, and the image of a perfect couple. But it was all just that, a picture. A snapshot of a life that didn’t belong to us.Christian kept his distance from the photographers, his presence almost protective. He would always make sure no one got too close, his hand gripping my arm just a little tighter whenever the flashes started. In that moment, I felt both protected and imprisoned, wrapped in a cocoon of control that had nothing to do with love and everything to do with appearanc