Kaiden stood along the street, leaning against his car, waiting. He stamped his foot on the ground, his attention shifting from his phone to the house before him. His driver stood nearby, patiently waiting on Kaiden. They had been there for over an hour, yet nothing. Kaiden said nothing, just staring at a certain house, while his driver, choiceless, didn't utter a word either.
Kaiden straightened from the car, relief washing over him as Hayley stepped out of the gate across the street. She looked left and right before crossing over to him."Hi, Kaiden,” she greeted, a broad smile plastered on her face."It took you ages to come out,” he hissed, opening the car door for her."I'm not entering. Do you want to kidnap me?”He hesitated."There are better people to kidnap out there. What would someone do with you?” he sneered. “Are you entering or not?”"I wish I could punch you… so hard!" she groaned, entering thKaiden jumped back abruptly, landing on the hard floor with a thud as a black car swept past the spot he had stood just seconds earlier. Blood seeped from his elbow, which had been bruised by the rough marble floor. His head spun for a moment, his vision blurring. Hayley rushed forward, crouching beside him. “Kaiden, are you okay?” she asked, checking his arm. Kaiden regained himself, leaped to his feet, and pulled his hand away from her just as his driver ran over. "Don't touch me!” he snapped, startling Hayley, who trembled a bit. "Go inside!” "What did I do? Why are you mad at me?” Hayley asked, her voice shaking. "I said go inside! Don’t you listen?” he yelled, and she quickly rushed inside, locking the gate. “Are you fine?" Kaiden's driver asked. “Isn’t it obvious?" Kaiden retorted, walking back to the road. “Did you get the plate number? What car was it?" he asked as they crossed the road, this time looking carefully. “It’s a black Chevrolet, but I couldn’t get t
❗How would you feel if your husband invited his mistress over on your honeymoon?❗ ~~~~~~~~ The grand hall doors swung open, revealing the most beautiful bride of the year standing at the entrance with her father. Her expression was blurred by the piercing rays of the sun. She hesitated, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life—if only the marriage was for love, and not some damn business arrangement. "Compose yourself, Eureka," her father whispered, tightening his grip on her trembling hand. "You know what will happen if you mess things up. We will be doomed forever." His tone was laced with both anger and fear. This marriage was their last hope, and if Eureka messed up, only God could define their fate. "Let’s keep going. Don’t get the crowd suspicious," he added, pulling Eureka along, though her steps faltered. She had dreaded this day for weeks, ever since her father announced her marriage to Raymond Blackwood, a man she bar
She couldn’t unsee what she had just seen. Her supposed groom was in the dressing room, kissing Cassandra hungrily as if his life depended on it.“You are all I’ve ever wanted, Cassy,” Raymond’s words were soft, almost inaudible as he pulled away from the kiss.“Then why did you have to choose her?” Cassandra’s voice was faint, almost choking on her words. “If you love me, why did you have to marry that slut?”Each word pierced Eureka’s heart like a sharp knife.“I’ve told you about it. My father forced this union, and that opportunist is taking advantage,” Raymond spat, his tone laced with disgust. It tore Eureka apart from where she stood. “If it were up to me, I’d choose you over and over again. I just can’t wait for this façade to end. We’ll be together again, trust me,” he assured Cassandra, his words a soothing balm against her troubled expression.And to think Cassandra was Eureka’s best friend made it all the more painful. Raymond had been rumored to have a girlfriend he loved
This was her moment; she had to enjoy it to the fullest. Even though she didn’t want this union, it was still her wedding, and she couldn’t let Raymond’s foolishness ruin it for her. “Let’s take pictures,” Eureka told him, her smile unwavering as the photographer stepped forward. “I have important things to do,” Raymond said, walking away from her. She felt a pang in her chest as she watched him exchange pleasantries with his business partners who had just arrived. Marriage was supposed to be a lifetime commitment. How was she supposed to manage it? She excused herself and went into the dressing room. The moment she took a seat in front of the vanity table, wiping the tears that slid down her face, her mother appeared behind her. Eureka felt a deep relief, hoping her mother would take the pain away. “What do you think you’re doing, Eureka?” her mother’s sharp tone shattered every hope Eureka had for comfort. “What if someone else had walked in here to see you like this? Do yo
“I thought I told you not to invite her?” Raymond’s father scolded as he pulled Raymond aside. “What will society say when they see your ex-girlfriend on your wedding day? Why were you smiling with her? Why were you even talking to her?” His father was furious, and Raymond couldn’t afford to enrage him further. “I didn’t invite her, Dad,” Raymond said, his voice sharp. “She’s the bride’s best friend, so she has every right to be here.” “If you know she’s the bride’s best friend, then why are you frolicking around her?” his father’s tone remained tight, his eyes burning with rage. “Listen, Raymond. I won’t have you misbehave on your wedding day. If you know what’s good for you, stay away from Cassandra. Act like you’ve never seen her in your entire life. If I notice anything suspicious or hear whispers about you being near Cassandra, I don’t need to tell you what will happen,” his father warned, storming away. Raymond clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger. He deeply rese
It was late in the night when they arrived. The room was dimly lit with a soft blue lamp. Balloons, ribbons, and elegant bold lettering proclaiming “Happy Married Life” adorned the wall above the headboard. Rose petals forming a heart shape were on the floor, with a lit candle in the middle. Raymond stood still, taking in the breathtaking view of the room, but to him, it felt awkward. His face held nothing akin to admiration but a sneer. “Why is the room dark?” he groaned, slamming his fist against the wall to turn on the white light. “Why is the room littered? I thought they said they fixed everything. Rita!” he yelled, calling for the housekeeper. Rita rushed in almost immediately, her breath quickened. “You called me, Sir,” she said, her voice faltering. Out of tiredness, Eureka sat on a stool, taking off her jewelry while ignoring her husband’s rantings. “Why is the room littered? What’s all this? Look at the bed. Why are there flowers on the bed? Am I supposed to sleep on
“What are you doing here?” Eureka snapped, still holding the door ajar. Cassandra raised an eyebrow. “Won’t you at least allow your best friend to enter?” Cassandra said sarcastically, a pretentious smile fueling her face. Eureka’s blood boiled at the mention of her being her best friend. “Best friend indeed. You’re not worth being an acquaintance. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, that’s what you are. Now turn around and get lost,” Eureka said, pointing her finger angrily behind Cassandra. “Baby,” Cassandra cried as she sighted Raymond coming their way. “Your little vixen doesn’t want to let me in.” The force at which Raymond pulled Eureka away from the door made her stumble back, almost falling. “Babe,” Raymond smiled, embracing Cassandra with all the warmth he possessed. “I didn’t know your flight would arrive so early. Why didn’t you call me to come pick you up? Hope it wasn’t stressful locating this place,” he said as he broke free from the hug, his eyes bright and his tone chee
Eureka couldn’t believe her ears as she stared at him, her chest heaving with anger and frustration. “I hate you, Raymond,” she muttered, her voice barely audible, her eyes stern on his. “But leaving this room for Cassandra? That’s never going to happen,” she dared him, sitting back on the stool and wiping the tears trickling down her face.“Baby,” Cassandra’s voice broke the tense atmosphere. Raymond’s intense gaze softened as he looked toward the door, where Cassandra stood yawning. “I’m sleepy, baby. Go get my bags from the other room,” she said, walking toward the bed.“I’m coming,” Raymond replied, sounding like the devoted lover he was, before leaving the room.“How does it feel, Eureka?” Cassandra’s sleepy tone vanished, replaced by a sharp, taunting one as she settled on the bed. “I can easily command your dear husband to do whatever I want. The sooner you pack up and leave this room, the better for everyone. This is my honeymoon now, and you’re the unwanted third party,” she
Kaiden jumped back abruptly, landing on the hard floor with a thud as a black car swept past the spot he had stood just seconds earlier. Blood seeped from his elbow, which had been bruised by the rough marble floor. His head spun for a moment, his vision blurring. Hayley rushed forward, crouching beside him. “Kaiden, are you okay?” she asked, checking his arm. Kaiden regained himself, leaped to his feet, and pulled his hand away from her just as his driver ran over. "Don't touch me!” he snapped, startling Hayley, who trembled a bit. "Go inside!” "What did I do? Why are you mad at me?” Hayley asked, her voice shaking. "I said go inside! Don’t you listen?” he yelled, and she quickly rushed inside, locking the gate. “Are you fine?" Kaiden's driver asked. “Isn’t it obvious?" Kaiden retorted, walking back to the road. “Did you get the plate number? What car was it?" he asked as they crossed the road, this time looking carefully. “It’s a black Chevrolet, but I couldn’t get t
Kaiden stood along the street, leaning against his car, waiting. He stamped his foot on the ground, his attention shifting from his phone to the house before him. His driver stood nearby, patiently waiting on Kaiden. They had been there for over an hour, yet nothing. Kaiden said nothing, just staring at a certain house, while his driver, choiceless, didn't utter a word either.Kaiden straightened from the car, relief washing over him as Hayley stepped out of the gate across the street. She looked left and right before crossing over to him. "Hi, Kaiden,” she greeted, a broad smile plastered on her face. "It took you ages to come out,” he hissed, opening the car door for her. "I'm not entering. Do you want to kidnap me?” He hesitated. "There are better people to kidnap out there. What would someone do with you?” he sneered. “Are you entering or not?” "I wish I could punch you… so hard!" she groaned, entering th
Dark room. Low whimpers. Stench of blood. Thumping heartbeat. Fear, pain, and loneliness lingered in the ominous air. The moon, as if it noticed the helplessness of the life in the small room, peeked its warm, dim light through the small opening of the window.Kailani, slumped on a chair, her head lolled to the side, her ruffled hair cascaded around her, soaked in sweat and tears. Her body trembled slightly, her hand clawed at her clothes against her chest as if protecting the remains of her innocence. Being locked up in the damn room for days had taken a toll on her. Her eyelids heavy against her eyes, she could barely see. Fear crept under her skin like a thief breaking into a house.Hard patting of shoes jolted her, her frail body coming back to life as she forced herself to sit up, scared of what came next. Her ears narrowed as if trailing the sound of the footsteps. Suddenly, something clicked against the wall, causing white light to flood her face, blinding her. Her head dropped
Kaiden entered the car beside Kailani. She had her phone in hand, scrolling through social media as usual. People do change, he knew, but not this fast. Not a sister he knew so well transforming into a nightmare in the blink of an eye. Whenever he stared at her, something gnawed at him, a feeling he couldn’t quite comprehend. The excitement, the unstoppable feelings, the joy he felt at seeing her were no longer there. He could no longer hear his heart thump loudly in his chest like it would explode if he stopped seeing her. He could feel the distance, the void, the silence between them even when they talked often. Something was missing, though he couldn’t place his hands on it at first, but Hayley’s video sparked a lot of imagination. Constantly, his mind twirled back to that day at school, when everything changed. He knew he felt it then. The sickness meant something. He hardly fell sick, but everything changed when he met her, when he connected with her, and her absence always cos
Kaiden was seated by Kailani’s side on the couch, staring as she scrolled through her phone, chuckling. Since the incident two days ago, he was just seeing her. She looked so calm and collected even when the internet was buzzing with her name. She didn’t seem to care about the fact that she was trending and not for a good cause. “What’s the problem, Kayla?” Kaiden asked, his voice barely audible. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed, laughing out loud as though she didn’t hear what he said. “Kayla.” “Don’t be a killjoy, Kaiden. What do you want?” she retorted, not sparing him a glance. “You know you can always talk to me, right? What has changed? You act so differently now. Did eighteen years affect you this much?” he stated. Kailani sighed in frustration, turning to face him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Can you leave me alone? I need to focus.” “Mom is hurting. She lost her biggest contract because of what you did. You aren’t even remorseful or ashamed. My fans are t
“Stop this madness, Kayla!” Kaiden snapped, pushing her back. “What has gotten into you? What did they give you at that party?” he jumped up. She grabbed his hand, pulling him back down on the couch. “Why are you so mean? I want you, can’t you see that?” she muttered. “Listen. Stop it and listen!” he gripped both her hands. “What did those friends of yours give you at the party?” he demanded, his grip instinctively tightening. “Ouch, you’re hurting me!” she cried, twisting her wrists in his tight hold. He quickly let go of her hands. “It’s just a kiss, Kaiden. Why are you hurting me because of that?” she cried, tears filling her eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” he apologized. “Kiss me first, then I’ll accept your apology later.” “I can’t do that,” he declared. “Should I go meet someone else to do it?” “Geez! You can’t do that either.” “Then what? I’m feeling randy, isn’t that obvious?” she stated, her fingers entangling in he
The tension in the house grew as the family paced back and forth, their phones in hand, dialing Kailani and her driver’s number a million times. “I think you should call the police, Mom,” Kaiden suggested. “Did the driver kidnap her? What the hell is this?” he whined, sinking into the couch behind him as he felt dizzy. “Be careful, son. Mr. Thompson can’t do such a thing. He was recommended by the best agents in Beverly. Moreover, the cops will do nothing until it’s been twenty-four hours. I don’t think she’s missing,” Eureka stated. “Then, where did she go?” Eureka’s phone rang, the driver calling. She quickly picked up. “What’s this all about, Mr. Thompson? Where’s my daughter?” she demanded. “What do you mean, ma’am? I left her at school,” he responded. “Well, she’s not at school, so where is she?” “I wouldn’t know. I had to go see my wife at the hospital. I left the phone in the car, that’s why I missed your calls. Have you contacted the school, ma’am? I drove her in
Kaiden fidgeted in his seat, checking his wristwatch even though it had only been ten minutes since Kailani left. He stamped his foot against the floor, his eyes shifting between the door and his wristwatch. Stetson entered the class, spotting Kaiden tapping his finger on the desk as if counting the minutes. “Are you okay, Kaiden?” Stetson asked, moving closer to his side. “Did you see my sister?” Kaiden asked abruptly. “Not really. She was with you when I left. What happened to her?” Stetson replied. “She was summoned by the principal,” Kaiden stated, jerking up. “Watch over my backpack. I need to go get her.” “Relax, dude. If she’s in the principal’s office, I don’t see why you should go there. She’ll be back,” he assured him. “Get off my path,” Kaiden uttered, his tone tight. Just then, Kailani entered the class, a broad smile tugging at her lips. “I told you,” Stetson commented, going over to his desk. “What’s up? Were you missing me already?” she asked. Kaiden n
“Have you lost your mind, Kaiden? How could you tell Stetson such a thing?” Kailani scolded as she pulled him up to her room. “What do you expect him to think? Oh my God! I can’t believe this!” “Let me ask you a question, were you going to accept his stupid proposal?” he snapped. “What if I was? What if that’s the only way for us not to think we belong with each other? What if we need others to come between us? What if that’s the solution?” she asked, disappointment laced in her tone. “There’s no solution, Kayla. I love you means I love you. You can’t be with that smiling boy. What were you even thinking? I would sit and watch you accept him, spend more time with him, go out alone with him. God forbid. That’s never going to happen. Over my dead body,” he groaned. “Kaiden!” “Don’t Kaiden me! I don’t fucking care what society thinks anymore. You’re my sister and the same girl I love. If you think I’d watch you be with anyone else, think again.” “It’