cHAPTER ONE - The smoke-choked air suffocates me, each desperate breath a struggle against an invisible force that's draining the oxygen from my lungs. The flames rage around me, their fury intensifying as they consume everything in sight. I can hear the faint screaming of “fire!’ behind me. The cries and wails of others grow fainter, distant screams muffled by the deafening roar of the blaze. And it does nothing but heightens my fear even though I can already see the inferno in front of me Time is slipping away, and I'm trapped in this inferno. The smoke is suffocating me, but it's not the only threat – my foot is wedged in the wooden table leg, a cruel twist of fate. Panic sets in as I realize I'm pinned down, unable to escape. Tears stream down my face as I cry out for help, my voice hoarse from the smoke. Just as despair takes hold, Leon appears, his face etched with determination. With swift efficiency, he removes my shoe and begins to pry my foot loose, striking t
CHAPTER TWO —ELEANOR - My legs feel numb, and my throat and heart, I can swear they’re in my stomach. Never have I thought this day would come. And in as much as I try to tell myself I saw it coming. My subconscious is still not buying it. I’m sad. And the worst of it all is Arthur is—was my foundation, my backbone, my only family. I left our— his home— willingly, but to be honest. I have nowhere to go. No fuckin place to my name. I’ve been alone for as long as I can recall, my parents died a long time around when I was around sixteen. I’ve pretty much lived on strings and have gone so far alone, until I met Arthur and now everything has sunk with Arthur. I stand in the middle of the road after getting out of the taxi and call the only person I know I can talk to. Cindy. My only friend. And she picks up almost immediately, her voice is cheerful and alive and it makes me feel even worse. My voice shakes like a tractor clearing a bush as I ask the one question. “Are you
CHAPTER THREE - CHAPTER THREE — ELEANOR * I slide into Arthur's car, the familiar scent and surroundings choking me with nostalgia. My heart tugs at itself. Because we’re visiting one of Arthur’s dearest families. Who has also become mine. It’s not right to pay his grandmother a visit when we’re supposed to be Ex-husband and wife. It’s deception. But I can’t refuse his request to visit his grandmother, Cassandra is way too nice and she’s like my own family already, she’s the closest thing to a parent to me. This divorce will not just be breaking Arthur and I. As we buckle up, Arthur turns to me, a small box unexpectedly appearing in his hand. His eyes lock onto mine, urging me to take it. Curious, I open the box, revealing an exquisite crystal necklace that sparkles in the light. "Arthur—" I begin. But he interrupts, his voice firm. "It’s just a small gift, nothing big. It’s a rare crystal, and it’s aid is for a successful path down your career. It’s like a good luck ch
CHAPTER FOUR —ELEANOR - The lady behind the phone call just attempted to take her own life?” I stammer to myself at Arthur’s words, my heart racing uncontrollably. All I said was that Arthur’s in the shower, I never said anything foul to the woman during the call. The metallic taste of adrenaline floods my mouth, leaving a bitter tang. How could a simple phone call escalate into this? Arthur immediately grabs his car keys, doesn’t say a word to me, and hurries out of the room, placing the phone on his ear again. As I stand alone in the quiet room, the silence is deafening. The only sounds I can hear are the soft beats of my Jealous heart and the gentle whisper of my shallow breathing. I feel a stinging sensation in my eyes as tears begin to prick at the corners, but I force myself to fight back the emotion. I hate this feeling - it's new, it's disastrous, and it's suffocating me. Well, since Arthur left to be with Brianna, the woman he loves and cares for, there's no
—ELEANOR - I don’t like this woman and I don’t think any sane woman in my shoes will feel obligated to like her. So my feelings are very valid. Did he get married to me because I looked like her? Or did he divorce me for her. Are they something he doesn’t want to get rid of? Couldn’t he have just stayed with me? I was feeling bummed, and now the feelings just multiplied. Cassandra instantly steps in front of Brianna and Arthur and she does not look pleased at all. She crosses her arms and then darts her eyes at me. “I thought you said Arthur went out to get pastry? Can someone explain to me what’s going on? And why is Ms. Wellington here.” I try to hold my stance and the fact that Cassandra knows who Brianna is. I make eye contact with Brianna and she tries to smile at me. I look away before it can happen. I don’t reply to Cassandra and look away instead. Arthur can defend himself. Arthur sighs and brings Brianna closer. “Grandma, Bree is sick she had n
CHAPTER 6– —ELEANOR- - Arthur and I immediately create a distance between each other seeing how close we’ve molded each other in our sleep. I deliberately created a barrier between us last night. How did we get here? I arrange my hair while Arthur clears his throat awkwardly. That was weird. Thank Goodness nothing happened besides sandwiching ourselves. Suddenly, his phone rang. “Hello?” He says gently into his phone, and slowly a soft smile starts playing on his lips. I refrain from rolling my eyes or exhibiting any behavior towards this phone call when Arthur starts to talk in an unusually calm and soothing voice that feels like he’s talking to a child. And heck. I need no oracle to tell me he is talking to no other one than his lady Brianna. I get on my feet and start to get my things ready to leave when Arthur ends his call sweetly and turns to me. “Leaving already?” He asks. What? Does he expect me to sit idle and listen to him talk to that woman who looks everythi
ELEANOR – I stand frozen, my feet rooted to the spot, as I struggle to process the scene unfolding before me. The air is thick with awkwardness, and I feel a deep sense of humiliation wash over me. I have every right to feel stupid, betrayed, and embarrassed. How can this man act like he still loves me while holding another woman in his arms? I can feel my chest tighten with a mix of rage and disbelief as I watch him kiss her. How have I been so foolish to ever hope, even for a moment, that he might want to reconcile? It feels like a slap in the face. Arthur's eyes lock onto mine, and he gently disentangles himself from Brianna's lips. For a moment, we just stare at each other, the tension between us palpable. Then, Arthur's face contorts into a mixture of guilt and panic as he attempts to stutter out an explanation. But I'm not interested in hearing his feeble justifications. I'm not interested in hearing anything he has to say. I turn on my heel, making a sharp exit from the
CHAPTER 8 - —ELEANOR - My hand instinctively covers my mouth as I witness the person who slapped Brianna - Jennifer, Arthur's younger sister. Her name escapes my lips in a barely audible whisper. I'm not one to draw attention to myself, especially in tense situations like this. I'm relieved the restaurant is empty, sparing us from curious onlookers. Jennifer's glare pierces through Brianna, who stands frozen, her hand cradling her cheek. The air is thick with tension. Jennifer's voice, laced with concern, breaks the silence. "Eleanor, are you okay?" Her brown eyes, reminiscent of Arthur's, narrow into a scowl, still fixed on Brianna. I struggle to articulate my thoughts, my words tumbling out in a stutter. "J-Jennifer, wh-what are you doing here?" How did she get here? How did she find us here? Her expression is a mixture of anger and determination, a far cry from the gentle soul I've grown accustomed to. Brianna, sensing Jennifer's wrath, looks like she's on the
—ELEANOR-I stare at Arthur, my expression blank, as I process his words. Why should he stay for me? Shouldn’t he be with Brianna, the woman he truly loves? After all, I’m just a discarded wife.His hand emerges from his pocket, reaching for mine, but I instinctively pull away, folding my arm across my chest. The gesture is a defensive reflex, a clear signal that I'm not interested in his touch.Arthur's eyes flicker with disappointment, and he shoves his hand back into his pocket, releasing a deep sigh. "El," he begins, his voice low and familiar. I bristle at the nickname, feeling a pang of resentment. He still has no right to call me like that."About that night with Brianna," he continues, his words spilling out in a rush. "It was a huge misunderstanding. I was drunk, and Brianna showed up... everything's hazy, but I swear did—-." His explanation trails off as I cut him off, my voice firm."You don't have to explain yourself," I say, my tone detached. What's the point of expl
CHAPTER 8 - —ELEANOR - My hand instinctively covers my mouth as I witness the person who slapped Brianna - Jennifer, Arthur's younger sister. Her name escapes my lips in a barely audible whisper. I'm not one to draw attention to myself, especially in tense situations like this. I'm relieved the restaurant is empty, sparing us from curious onlookers. Jennifer's glare pierces through Brianna, who stands frozen, her hand cradling her cheek. The air is thick with tension. Jennifer's voice, laced with concern, breaks the silence. "Eleanor, are you okay?" Her brown eyes, reminiscent of Arthur's, narrow into a scowl, still fixed on Brianna. I struggle to articulate my thoughts, my words tumbling out in a stutter. "J-Jennifer, wh-what are you doing here?" How did she get here? How did she find us here? Her expression is a mixture of anger and determination, a far cry from the gentle soul I've grown accustomed to. Brianna, sensing Jennifer's wrath, looks like she's on the
ELEANOR – I stand frozen, my feet rooted to the spot, as I struggle to process the scene unfolding before me. The air is thick with awkwardness, and I feel a deep sense of humiliation wash over me. I have every right to feel stupid, betrayed, and embarrassed. How can this man act like he still loves me while holding another woman in his arms? I can feel my chest tighten with a mix of rage and disbelief as I watch him kiss her. How have I been so foolish to ever hope, even for a moment, that he might want to reconcile? It feels like a slap in the face. Arthur's eyes lock onto mine, and he gently disentangles himself from Brianna's lips. For a moment, we just stare at each other, the tension between us palpable. Then, Arthur's face contorts into a mixture of guilt and panic as he attempts to stutter out an explanation. But I'm not interested in hearing his feeble justifications. I'm not interested in hearing anything he has to say. I turn on my heel, making a sharp exit from the
CHAPTER 6– —ELEANOR- - Arthur and I immediately create a distance between each other seeing how close we’ve molded each other in our sleep. I deliberately created a barrier between us last night. How did we get here? I arrange my hair while Arthur clears his throat awkwardly. That was weird. Thank Goodness nothing happened besides sandwiching ourselves. Suddenly, his phone rang. “Hello?” He says gently into his phone, and slowly a soft smile starts playing on his lips. I refrain from rolling my eyes or exhibiting any behavior towards this phone call when Arthur starts to talk in an unusually calm and soothing voice that feels like he’s talking to a child. And heck. I need no oracle to tell me he is talking to no other one than his lady Brianna. I get on my feet and start to get my things ready to leave when Arthur ends his call sweetly and turns to me. “Leaving already?” He asks. What? Does he expect me to sit idle and listen to him talk to that woman who looks everythi
—ELEANOR - I don’t like this woman and I don’t think any sane woman in my shoes will feel obligated to like her. So my feelings are very valid. Did he get married to me because I looked like her? Or did he divorce me for her. Are they something he doesn’t want to get rid of? Couldn’t he have just stayed with me? I was feeling bummed, and now the feelings just multiplied. Cassandra instantly steps in front of Brianna and Arthur and she does not look pleased at all. She crosses her arms and then darts her eyes at me. “I thought you said Arthur went out to get pastry? Can someone explain to me what’s going on? And why is Ms. Wellington here.” I try to hold my stance and the fact that Cassandra knows who Brianna is. I make eye contact with Brianna and she tries to smile at me. I look away before it can happen. I don’t reply to Cassandra and look away instead. Arthur can defend himself. Arthur sighs and brings Brianna closer. “Grandma, Bree is sick she had n
CHAPTER FOUR —ELEANOR - The lady behind the phone call just attempted to take her own life?” I stammer to myself at Arthur’s words, my heart racing uncontrollably. All I said was that Arthur’s in the shower, I never said anything foul to the woman during the call. The metallic taste of adrenaline floods my mouth, leaving a bitter tang. How could a simple phone call escalate into this? Arthur immediately grabs his car keys, doesn’t say a word to me, and hurries out of the room, placing the phone on his ear again. As I stand alone in the quiet room, the silence is deafening. The only sounds I can hear are the soft beats of my Jealous heart and the gentle whisper of my shallow breathing. I feel a stinging sensation in my eyes as tears begin to prick at the corners, but I force myself to fight back the emotion. I hate this feeling - it's new, it's disastrous, and it's suffocating me. Well, since Arthur left to be with Brianna, the woman he loves and cares for, there's no
CHAPTER THREE - CHAPTER THREE — ELEANOR * I slide into Arthur's car, the familiar scent and surroundings choking me with nostalgia. My heart tugs at itself. Because we’re visiting one of Arthur’s dearest families. Who has also become mine. It’s not right to pay his grandmother a visit when we’re supposed to be Ex-husband and wife. It’s deception. But I can’t refuse his request to visit his grandmother, Cassandra is way too nice and she’s like my own family already, she’s the closest thing to a parent to me. This divorce will not just be breaking Arthur and I. As we buckle up, Arthur turns to me, a small box unexpectedly appearing in his hand. His eyes lock onto mine, urging me to take it. Curious, I open the box, revealing an exquisite crystal necklace that sparkles in the light. "Arthur—" I begin. But he interrupts, his voice firm. "It’s just a small gift, nothing big. It’s a rare crystal, and it’s aid is for a successful path down your career. It’s like a good luck ch
CHAPTER TWO —ELEANOR - My legs feel numb, and my throat and heart, I can swear they’re in my stomach. Never have I thought this day would come. And in as much as I try to tell myself I saw it coming. My subconscious is still not buying it. I’m sad. And the worst of it all is Arthur is—was my foundation, my backbone, my only family. I left our— his home— willingly, but to be honest. I have nowhere to go. No fuckin place to my name. I’ve been alone for as long as I can recall, my parents died a long time around when I was around sixteen. I’ve pretty much lived on strings and have gone so far alone, until I met Arthur and now everything has sunk with Arthur. I stand in the middle of the road after getting out of the taxi and call the only person I know I can talk to. Cindy. My only friend. And she picks up almost immediately, her voice is cheerful and alive and it makes me feel even worse. My voice shakes like a tractor clearing a bush as I ask the one question. “Are you
cHAPTER ONE - The smoke-choked air suffocates me, each desperate breath a struggle against an invisible force that's draining the oxygen from my lungs. The flames rage around me, their fury intensifying as they consume everything in sight. I can hear the faint screaming of “fire!’ behind me. The cries and wails of others grow fainter, distant screams muffled by the deafening roar of the blaze. And it does nothing but heightens my fear even though I can already see the inferno in front of me Time is slipping away, and I'm trapped in this inferno. The smoke is suffocating me, but it's not the only threat – my foot is wedged in the wooden table leg, a cruel twist of fate. Panic sets in as I realize I'm pinned down, unable to escape. Tears stream down my face as I cry out for help, my voice hoarse from the smoke. Just as despair takes hold, Leon appears, his face etched with determination. With swift efficiency, he removes my shoe and begins to pry my foot loose, striking t