LucyI gathered a group of desperate individuals, all eager for a quick buck. "I have a job for you," I said, my voice low and mysterious. "It's simple, but it pays well. $1,000 each, to be exact."Their eyes widened in surprise, and they leaned in, eager to hear more."What's the job?" one of them asked, a burly man with a scruffy beard.I smiled, enjoying the suspense. "I want you to buy a product from a certain brand, and then leave a review. A bad review."They looked at each other, confused. "What kind of review?" a petite woman asked.I shrugged. "Something that will make the brand look bad. Something that will make people not want to buy from them."They nodded, understanding. "And what's the brand?" the bearded man asked.I smiled sweetly. "Reina's Fashion Brand."Their eyes widened in surprise, and they looked at each other nervously. "I know that brand, they just launched.x one of them whispered.I nodded. "Yes, it is. And I want you to make sure that your reviews are convi
Ethan I stormed into Ethan's office, my heart racing with anger and concern. "Ethan, we need to talk," I said, my voice firm and commanding. Ethan looked up from his desk, a hint of surprise on his face. "Bruce, what's going on?" I took a deep breath, my words spilling out in a rush. "You need to stay away from Reina, Ethan. You've hurt her enough already." Ethan's expression turned defensive. "What are you talking about, Bruce? I don't know what you're referring to." But I cut him off, my voice rising. "Don't play dumb, Ethan. I know all about your little stunt at her luncheon. Showing up uninvited, causing a scene... it was a low blow, even for you." Ethan shrugged, a smirk on his face. "I just wanted to make my presence known. Let her know I'm still interested." My anger boiled over. "Interested? You call that interested? You call hurting her, embarrassing her in front of her peers, interested? You're sick, Ethan." Ethan's smirk faltered, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer
REINAI was still trying to reason with Bruce, to convince him to leave the situation alone, when the door to my office burst open and Ethan walked in, a smug smile spreading across his face.My heart sank, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What was he doing here?Bruce's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. "What are you doing here, Ethan?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.Ethan chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I could ask you the same thing, Bruce. I didn't know you were so interested in Reina's business."I stepped forward, trying to intervene, my voice shaking with emotion. "Ethan, this isn't a good time. Bruce and I were in the middle of a meeting."But Ethan just laughed, his eyes fixed on me with a condescending gaze. "Oh, I think it's a perfect time. I have some... business to discuss with Reina."Bruce's eyes flashed with anger, his face reddening. "You're not welcome here, Ethan. Leave."But Ethan just ignored him, his eyes never leaving mine.
Ethan "Reina, leave this to me. Lucy was working under me, she was my best friend. I know her, I know how she thinks. I'll be able to get information out of her, I'll be able to get evidence that we can use to take her down."I hesitated, unsure if I should trust him. But something in his eyes made me nod. "Okay, Ethan. I trust you."Ethan's face softened, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thank you, Reina. I won't let you down. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right."I felt a wave of relief wash over me, mixed with a hint of fear. What if Ethan couldn't get the evidence we needed? What if Lucy was too smart, too sneaky?But Ethan's next words reassured me. "I'll do whatever it takes, Reina. I'll talk to Lucy, I'll find out what she's planning. And when I do, we'll take her down together."I nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. "Together, Ethan. We'll do this together."Ethan's eyes locked onto mine, his expression fierce. "Together, Reina. We'll take Lucy
LucyI stood up, my face burning with anger and humiliation. "This is a lie!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room. "I didn't sabotage Reina's company!"But before I could say anything else, a group of people were brought in, their faces familiar. My heart sank as I realized who they were - the ones I had paid to write the sketchy reviews.Reina's eyes locked onto mine, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. "Ah, Lucy. It seems we have proof. These individuals have confirmed that you were the one who hired them to write the fake reviews."I felt like I had been punched in the gut. How did they find out? I thought I had covered my tracks so well.Ethan stepped forward, his expression grim. "Lucy, we have evidence. We know what you did. It's over."I shook my head, trying to think of something, anything, to say. But my mind was a blank.Reina took a step closer to me, her eyes blazing with anger. "Lucy, do you have anything to say for yourself? Any explanation for why you
LUCY I slam the door shut behind me, tears streaming down my face. I've never felt so humiliated in my life. My first big start in the fashion industry, and it was a disaster.I throw my bag across the room, watching as it hits the wall with a thud. I follow it, collapsing onto the floor in a heap."Why did this have to happen to me?" I sob, my body shaking with uncontrollable tears.I think back to the meeting, to the way they looked at me, to the way they laughed. I can still hear their mocking words echoing in my mind.I get up, stumbling to the kitchen. I need something to take the pain away. I spot the wine bottle on the counter and grab it, unscrewing the cap with shaking hands.I pour myself a glass, drinking it down in one gulp. The liquid burns my throat, but I don't care. I need to feel numb.I pour myself another glass, and another, until the bottle is empty. I stumble to the couch, collapsing onto it.As the room starts to spin, I let out a loud sob. Why did this have to
ETHANI walk into the company, feeling a sense of unease. Something is off.As I enter the conference room, I see the board members seated around the table, their faces stern."Ethan, we need to talk," one of them says, their voice firm.I take a seat, feeling a sense of trepidation. "What's going on?""It's the media," another board member says. "There's been a lot of bad news released against you. Infidelity, trying to steal another man's child...it's getting out of hand."I feel a surge of anger and denial. "That's not true," I say. "Who's behind this?"The board members exchange a nervous glance. "We don't know," one of them says. "But we need you to do something about it. This is affecting the company's reputation."I slam my fist on the table, feeling a sense of frustration. "I'll take care of it," I say. "I'll find out who's behind this and I'll stop it."The board members nod, looking relieved. "We're counting on you, Ethan," one of them says.I get up, feeling a sense of dete
ETHAN'S POV At this point, Lucy had truly bitten more that she could chew and I had been restricting myself because we used to be friends but I won't do that any longer.I won't! I would absolutely make sure that she gets served what is befitting hr treacherous attitude.It was all my mistake to trust her again to bring into my company. I should have transferred her somewhere else. I didn't even want to look at my phone because I knew that the number on search button would be about me.It would definitely be about how I was trying to claim someone else's son. How was she even sure that Bruce was Andrews father? Those papers could have definitely been forged.I drove into her apartment, my heart racing with anticipation and anger. I had finally gathered enough proof to confront Lucy about the eerie news and forbidden media releases but as I entered the living room, I was met with an empty space."Lucy!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls.But there was no response. I approach
Reina “Do you want a new car? Or a new apartment?” Ethan teased. “Anyone, my love. A Lamborghini won't be bad, you know.” I turned to face him, and there it was, the smile I had come to know and love over the years. It was the smile that had carried me through the darkest days, the one that had reassured me when I didn’t know how to move forward. The evening was calm and beautiful qne Andrew was at a friend’s house for a sleepover, and Ethan and I were alone for the first time in a while. Alone, but not lonely. We were never lonely when we had ourselves. “I’m looking,” I said softly, walking toward him. “And I see a family that’s been through hell and back, and yet we still survived it.” Ethan reached out to pull me into his arms and held me tight as if he was scared to let me go. “We have always been strong. It was just a matter of time before we realized it.” I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. This was home. This was everything
Reina It was a morning like any other, except it wasn’t. I had just received the news I had been waiting for, hoping for, but still uncertain if it would ever come true. I had gotten another job. It was a job that would challenge me, push me out of my comfort zone, and finally allow me to make a real name for myself in the world I had always longed to be part of. As I stood in the kitchen, staring at the email, I could not stop the tears that filled my eyes. I had worked so hard for this moment, and now that it was here, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief. “Reina? What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, stepping into the room. His voice was soft, and his concern was evident in his eyes. I couldn’t speak at first, so I just handed him my phone, pointing to the email. He took it from me, his eyes scanning the screen. His face lit up as he read the words. “Wait… you got it? You really got it?” I nodded, my throat tight. “Yes. It’s real, Ethan. They offered me the position. I t
Reina The day had finally come. The day I had been both dreading and hoping for. The day Ethan and I would renew our vows. I had spent so much time imagining what it would feel like, but now that the moment was here, I was filled with excitement and a little nervousness. After everything we had been through, I was not sure how I would feel standing up in front of our friends and family, saying the same vows we made years ago. But this time, I was going to say them with more meaning, more depth, and more love than I ever had before. Ethan had gone above and beyond to make this day perfect, and I had already walked into the garden where it would all happen. It looked like a dream. “Mommy, you look beautiful!” Andrew said, his eyes wide with admiration as he helped me adjust my dress. I laughed softly. “Thank you, baby. You look very handsome too.” He beamed in his little tuxedo, looking just like his father. When Ethan walked in to check on me, I could not help but smil
: A New Beginning (Ethan POV) --- I never thought I’d feel this nervous again. The last time I felt anything close to this was the first time I asked Reina out. But now, standing in our living room with the small box in my pocket, I felt like a teenager unsure if the girl would say yes. Andrew was asleep in his room, and Reina was curled up on the couch, reading a book. Her hair was loosely tied back, and she was wearing one of my old sweatshirts. She looked so comfortable, so at peace, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching her. “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked, not even looking up from her book. I chuckled nervously. “Do I need a reason to stare at my wife?” She finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. “No, but it’s weird when you’re just standing there silently. What’s going on?” I took a deep breath and walked over, sitting beside her. “Reina, can we talk?” She frowned, closing her book. “Is something wrong?” “No, nothing’s wrong,” I assured her. “In
Ethan “ A therapist? We are going to see a therapist, Ethan?” Reina blurted out and I had to calm her down that it's for the better. “Yes. I made that decision and I have already paid for a session. It is a good thing and I think our marriage will get better.” “Oh dear. I'm just scared.” *** Sitting across from Reina in the therapist’s office felt a little weird and I was trying to keep up. This was the first time we had actually met with a therapist about us. The therapist, a calm woman in her mid-50s named Dr. Laura smiled gently at us. “Thank you for coming today. The first step to healing is often the hardest, so I commend you both for being here.” I glanced at Reina, who gave me a small, nervous smile. “We are ready,” I said, squeezing her hand. “Good. Why don’t we start with why you’re here? What made you decide to seek therapy now?” Dr. Laura asked. I looked at Reina, silently asking if she wanted to go first. She nodded and took a deep breath. “I think we h
Reina Evans was at my house again. This time, I was very convinced that he had something off his sleeves. How can someone who I haven't seen in years suddenly show up in the new country where I relocated to? Has he been stalking me all these years? Evans stood at the door, his hands shoved in his pockets, and today he looked so confident in himself. But, I was here to destroy whatever confidence he had. I had hoped I would see the last of him after his first visit, but here he was again, uninvited and unwelcome. “What are you doing here again, Evans? Haven't I told you that I don't want you around me?” I thundered and my pulse was racing. “I needed to talk to you,” he responded calmly, despite my raging anger. “I don’t think we got to finish our conversation the last time.” “There’s nothing left to talk about,” I said, stepping out onto the porch and closing the door behind me. I didn’t want Ethan or Andrew overhearing any of this. “Reina, please,” he said, his eyes pleadin
Ethan I didn’t know where I was driving. I just needed to get out of the house. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, my mind racing with thoughts of Reina, Evans, and everything that had gone wrong. Evans. Just hearing his name made my blood boil. The nerve of him to show up out of nowhere, to text me like he was some concerned friend. And Reina, why hadn’t she told me right away? She keeps doing things like this and it pisses me off. She of all people knows that something like this was the cause of our problem sometime ago. I pulled into an empty parking lot and turned off the engine. When I finally walked back into the house hours later, the living room was dimly lit, and Reina was sitting on the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest. She looked up as I entered, her eyes red and puffy. “You are back,” she said softly. I didn’t answer, dropping my keys on the table and heading for the kitchen. “Ethan,” she called after me with her voice trembling. I paused, leani
ReinaI was wiping down the kitchen counter when the doorbell rang. Andrew was upstairs, resting after a long day of physical therapy, and Ethan had stepped out to pick up a few things from the store.It was odd for someone to come by unannounced, especially at this hour. I wiped my hands on a towel and I headed for the door to check who was there. I was so curious and at the same time cautious that I checked the security camera three times. When I opened it, my heart stopped. I thought I was dreaming or something. “Evans,” I whispered, gripping the doorframe right. He was standing there, looking exactly as I remembered him. He was quite tall, with those piercing blue eyes and well shaved beards. But seeing him now didn’t fill me with the same warmth it once did. Instead, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been splashed over me.“Reina,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “I hope I’m not intruding.”“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. He w
Ethan “Our anniversary was tomorrow?!” That was my exact reaction when I checked the calendar and I saw that I had long forgotten the date of our anniversary . An idea had come to me while sitting in the car, waiting for Reina to return from the grocery store. Our anniversary was tomorrow, and I wanted to do something special. Something that would remind her of the good times we had shared before everything got complicated.I had been racking my brain all week, trying to come up with the perfect plan. Reina deserved something meaningful, something that was not just flowers and a card. She needed to see how much she meant to me.“Okay, Ethan,” I muttered to myself as I parked in front of the house. “You will get our way around this.”The plan was simple yet heartfelt. I was planning a surprise dinner at the place where we had had our first official date before we got married. It was not the fanciest restaurant, but it held a special place in our hearts. I had reserved a private cor