...GENEVIEVE Janice and I descended the grand staircase together, the sound of our footsteps barely audible over the faint chatter coming from the living room below. “ you’re in trouble “Janice whispered to me as we neared the bottom, I could see my father, Rosalind, Olivia, and Emma gathered near the entrance, their faces filled with anticipation as they welcomed Roman, Xavier, Arthur, and Roman’s grandmother into my home. Yes my home. It was MY family’s home. It was our home. I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my lips. Mentally, I applauded herself for the little plot twist I was about to set in motion. My casual appearance was going to throw everyone off, and I relished the thought of Rosalind's reaction. As me and Janice walked closer, the conversation in the room hushed. All eyes turned to me, their expressions ranging from surprise to thinly veiled disapproval. There I stood, dressed in her cozy sweatshirt and well-worn sweatpants, a sharp contrast to ever
...GENEVIEVE Janice’s mind raced as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. I had always been full of surprises, but this—this was something else entirely.I knew my sister and everything was on her face. She couldn’t hide anything. Jake stood beside me, tall and confident, with an air of nonchalance that matched her own. His eyes swept the room with a subtle smirk, clearly aware of the bombshell he had just walked into. His arm was still draped over my shoulder in that familiar, possessive way, and it was clear from our body language that this was no casual introduction. This was calculated. This was deliberate.Janice blinked, her gaze flicking between me and Jake, trying to reconcile the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. Was I serious? Heck I was. A *boyfriend*? Now? In the middle of Olivia’s wedding discussions? I could practically hear the collective gasps of everyone in the room as they slowly processed the revelation.My father, seated beside me just
...GENEVIEVE I leaned casually against the wall, a smirk playing on my lips as Roman stalked toward me, his eyes blazing with fury. The tension between us was palpable, crackling in the air like electricity. Just as he reached me, Roman slammed me against the wall, caging me in with his body. She let out a playful chuckle, which only deepened his glare.“Think this is funny?” he hissed, his voice low and deadly.I raised my chin defiantly, a cheeky smile still tugging at my lips. “Maybe,” I teased, my eyes gleaming with amusement. I wanted to get on his nerves. To make him mad. To make him regret loving me just like his sister did to me. In response, Roman’s hand shot out, slamming against the wall next to my head. The sound echoed in the silence of the room. Startled, my eyes fluttered closed for a brief moment, a soft sigh escaping my lips. I tried to push him away, my palms pressing against his chest, but Roman was relentless. He grabbed my wrists, pinning them above my
...GENEVIEVE I sat with my legs crossed, absentmindedly swirling the straw in my drink, my eyes distant as I stared out of the large glass window of the café. Across from me, Janice was engaged in animated conversation with Isabella and Amelia, their voices lively, but I remained quiet, a heavy sigh escaping my lips.Isabella noticed and leaned forward, her brow furrowing. “Genevieve, you okay? You’ve been quiet for a while now,” she asked, her voice tinged with concern. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”I glanced at my sister and friends, then at Jack, who sat beside me, looking equally curious. I sighed again, running a hand through my hair, before finally speaking. “I need to get married to Jack… before the week is over.”Isabella blinked in shock, her mouth falling open slightly. Amelia gasped, wide-eyed, exchanging stunned looks with Janice. “What?” Amelia blurted, her voice incredulous. “Why so soon? What’s the rush?”I bit my lip, unsure how much to reveal. I
...GENEVIEVE I sat in the middle of Isabella’s living room, surrounded by an array of bridal magazines, fabric swatches, and checklists. The soft hum of city life filtered in through the large windows, but inside, everything felt quiet and intimate. It was the eve of my wedding, and while the reality of it hadn’t fully sunk in, I was determined to see it through. Tomorrow, I would marry Jack in a private ceremony, away from prying eyes, away from the chaos that had been swirling around my life for far too long.Isabella’s apartment was warm and inviting, the smell of lavender candles filling the air. My sister Janice and Amelia were there too, sitting on the plush couches with glasses of wine in hand. Despite the normalcy of the scene, there was a palpable tension hanging in the air—one that I couldn’t quite shake off. Isabella, ever the observant one, glanced over at Genevieve, her brows knitting together in concern. “You okay?” she asked, her voice gentle but probing.I off
...GENEVIEVE I stood in front of a full-length mirror, my breath catching as I gazed at my reflection. The bridal gown I wore was breathtaking—a masterpiece of delicate lace and satin, with a fitted bodice that flowed into a billowing skirt. The veil cascaded down my back like a waterfall of gossamer, and a jeweled tiara glistened atop my dark, curled hair. I looked every bit the part of a bride, but there was a deep unease in my eyes.Isabella, my best friend, adjusted the veil and smiled brightly. "You look stunning, Gen. Jack is going to lose his mind when he sees you."Beside me, Janice and Amelia nodded in agreement. Janice, ever the perfectionist, fussed over the train of the dress, making sure every fold was in place. "Perfect," she murmured. "Everything is perfect."But my mind was elsewhere. I had been trying to contact Jack for the past hour, but every call went straight to voicemail. A gnawing dread twisted my stomach, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that somethin
...GENEVIEVE I sank down onto the grass in front of the grave, my white dress billowing out around me. I hadn’t bothered to bring a coat, and the chill seeped into my skin, but I didn’t care. I had been sitting there for more than two hours now, lost in thought and memories, the cold earth grounding me as my mind spiraled.I sighed deeply, my breath coming out in a visible puff in the cool air. “Mama,” I began, my voice barely a whisper, trembling with the weight of everything I had been holding inside. “I’ve been fighting so hard… for everything. For you. For me. I’m so tired, Mama.”My voice broke on the last word, a crack in the dam that had been holding back a sea of grief and frustration.I told my mother everything—how I was fighting my stepmother, Rosalind, and my conniving stepsisters, Olivia and Emma. I spoke of their constant manipulation, the way they tried to undermine me at every turn, and how I was determined to bring them down. I was tired of being the pawn in
...GENEVIEVE I stirred, my body shifting beneath the warmth of soft blankets. My eyelids fluttered open, my vision hazy as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. I blinked a few times, my eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through heavy curtains, and I realized immediately that I was not where I was supposed to be. This room was unfamiliar—larger than mine, with dark, richly painted walls, and a tall window covered by thick drapes that kept the room cloaked in shadows.I sat up abruptly, and the sudden movement made my head spin. I groaned softly, pressing a hand to my temple, trying to steady myself as the room seemed to tilt slightly around me. As my senses slowly cleared, my eyes fell on the figure sitting on a couch at the end of the bed, and I stiffened.Roman was there, leaning back with one leg crossed over the other, his gaze locked intently on me. His eyes were dark, unreadable, as they studied me, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He looked calm, a