REINA"Hold on, what?" I stood up from my squatting position as I sent my hands to my waist.Is he telling the truth or he's just saying this to guilt trip me? Come to think of it, Ethan has never ever guilt tripped me. If he wanted to corner me, he would do it straightforwardly just the same way he pushed me into working in his company just so he got me back and i must commend him because he did get me."I know it's sounding totally unbelievable but he contacted me first. And not to even make it sound like I'm exaggerating or anything but he kind of threatened me. He somewhat mentioned how I brainwashed you into getting back together with me and how I wasn't healthy for you. He said a lot of things and then we both got into a heated argument. He—" I held my hands up because somehow, I felt like the more he talked, the more i was loosing my mind."I'm sorry, Ethan but I'll have to ask you to stop right there." He nodded slowly and locked eyes with me while my head and brain ran a 50 m
REINAWe spent few hours more on the beach since we both didn't have much to do for the day anyway and Andrew wasn't going to be back until it's 3pm. I made a mental note to confront Bruce on what Ethan had told me."Don't you think it's time we go home? You still have to over the company's files so you would be practically in before you resume work." He suggested and I nodded while we both walked back to the car with hands intertwined."I just remember that I'd be heading the company. My heart just does these drum rolls whenever I remember or think of it. It's not even funny." I placed my hands on my chest to sow the dramatic expression that was flooding me and he chuckled."I've seen you working in your office and you always aced it. See this as a promotion and you'd be able to handle it, besides, I'm always here. You don't have to worry about anything." I smiled broadly and turned to face him."I'm seeing it as a promotion but it's no even helping me at all. The only thing that my
REINAThe rest of the day was spent with Ethan filling me in with the latest design, the one that was at the top of fashion design of the week and I remembered when I was a worker under him and my team struggled to meet design of the week.Beautiful times.Well, it had to end once Andrew was back from school because we had to keep the little champ occupied. Ethan was moe than available for that anyways so I didn't stress much. We all played till it was almost evening when my phone started ringing again."Your phone is beeping." Ethan informed as he passed the over to me without even looking at the caller ID."Who is it?" I asked and he just shrugged as he approached me and handed the phone over.This man is taking this privacy thing too seriously, almost too seriously and I guess we'll have to address that as well."It's Bruce." I said immediately I saw the number and he just shrugged. I hadn't even saved the contact but this was exactly what happened when someone was at the back of
REINA "Can I get a hug?" That was the first thing Bruce told me as he caught sight of me entering the restaurant and approaching him. I would have hugged him on a normal day but I was here to get him understand that threatening Ethan was wrong and besides, I could see some familiar faces inside of the restaurant.Some people that I know I had definitely seen from Ethan's company—my company.I didn't want to be the cause of any uprising rumour or what not so I just chuckled and politely shook my head in negation as he drew out the chair for me."Thank you." I mouthed and sat gracefully while I watched him walk over and seat down too."I'm sorry. I know I'm moving fast in telling you to hug me, it's just that it has been a long time we saw each other. What about Andrew?" I bit my tongue as I tried to get into character while I cleared my throat and intertwined both of my hands giving me a soft glare."You're right, Bruce. You're moving fast, a little too fast for my liking. As for Andr
REINA "You did! You gave me the right when you felt like it was going to be nice to return to him after everything I've done for you. You rejected me now than a hundred times so what? You could return to your ex who didn't care about you huh?" He spat standing up to match my glare and I took two steps backward in shock.The chair screeched against the floor as a sad smile formed on my face."Wow, Bruce. Wow." His gaze softened as it seemed like he just got into realization of what he had done."Reina..." He trailed off and I didn't even wait for him to find his words before I would be able to reply him."Bruce, say nothing please. Thank you so much for clearing my doubts that people change and metamorphose into something that their close friends can not even recognize. You really did a good job at proving me wrong and proving that Ethan was right about." I picked up my bag to leave when he waltzed in front of me and blocked my path."What did I do that is so bad? Tell me." He grunted
REINA"Oh my God." I was shivering as I placed my hands over my mouth to prevent me from shrieking out while shock filled me at the sight of blood running down Bruce face and Ethan crackling his fingers like he had not just launched an attack.I must admit that I have never seen this side of both men, they are so new to me right now."Ethan." I whispered and he turned to me racing a brow."Yes princess." He answered plainly like he hadn't just punched Bruce in the face, I turned to see Bruce trying to scramble to his feet as he took few steps towards Ethan.Bruce folded his hand into his fist while i placed myself in front of them because i was quite sure that if I didn't do that, a huge fight would break out and i didn't want that."Get out of the way, Reina." Bruce warned as he staggered looking murderous with blood dripping from his face down to the floor. A little crowd has gathered and I could hear some people whispering that they would have to call the police if the fight escala
"Andrew?" I dropped my bag in the living room and ran over to his room to check if he was there with the nanny that Ethan hired but they weren't. I know I'm not supposed o be this aggravated but there was no human being in the house and Ethan had said that the nanny was supposed to be with my son in the house. They weren't supposed to go anywhere, they were supposed to be here by the time I returned. I checked the balcony and every other place but they weren't there as well which had my heart wavering as I wondered if something had had happened. I mean, something bad must have happened right? I picked up my phone immediately and began dialing Ethan's number again ,I am so remorseful that I might be disrupting his call with his lawyer but if he doesn't pick up, I might pass out by the time he gets here. And thank goodness, he did pick up. "Ethan, they're not here. There's no one in the house, there's no sign—" I was literally rapping the entire thing I was saying that he had to i
ETHAN "I just called the paramedics to pick you just for the sake of he fact that you're a distant relative and I wouldn't want a taint on my name because of you." I stated as I walked back into the cafe to Bruce and he grunted trying to crawl over to me. I know what he was trying to do. Trying to retaliate in any way he can do he doesn't look stupid, so he doesn't look like he can't protect protect his aura and pride. "Stop trying to do that, boy. You would end up hurting yourself. Do you need a hand to sit?" I questioned and he glared at me. There was no more to be said as everything he would want to say was contained in that glare. "Alright, it's up to you then." Just then, I heard sirens blaring and I knew that it was the paramedics I had called for. "He's bleeding." I simply said when I walked up to them and after we exchanged pleasantries, I left them to do whatever they wanted to. "Take care of yourself, buddy. Next time try to keep your filthy dirty hands off people's
EthanI could not sit still. Not after everything that has been happening.My fingers drummed against the edge of the hotel desk as my eyes looked towards the door for the hundredth time. I had double-checked the lock, slid the chain in place, and even propped a chair under the handle. But it was not enough. Not when I knew someone was following me.All these things felt like deja vu because something like this has happened to me before I moved to the country my family is in. Why was all these messing up with my life? “They have been watching us. There are cameras in the house.” I remembered Reina's words. And now this being tailed by a black car, the creeping feeling that every step I took was being tracked. I ran my hands through my hair and each strand was damp with sweat. I felt trapped and powerless, and it was eating me alive.My phone buzzed on the desk. I snatched it up, my heart pounding, hoping it was Reina. It was not.It was Carl. He never backed down even when I told
Reina I was scared to death, unaware of what to do. Ethan had been yelling at me that I should call the cops. “Call the cops now! Reina!” I wish I could. My hands were shaking and I could not dial the number correctly. When I was able to call the cops, the line operator answered and I heard a faint knock at the back door. My breath caught in my throat.“Reina?” Ethan’s voice came in again. I knew he heard the noise. “They are at the back door,” I whispered with tears streaming down my face. I could not believe that I would be crying this minute. See what we have gotten ourselves into. “Get out of there,” he said. “Now.”“I can’t. It's not that easy,” I said, my voice barely audible.“Then hide,” he said. “Go somewhere safe and stay there until the police arrive. I’m on my way, Reina. I promise.”On your way? Oh, Ethan. I know that you haven't booked a flight yet even though you pleaded with me that you will book the next available flight. I hung up and bolted toward the pantr
ReinaThe house has always been this quiet in the past few days. The kind of quiet that made every creak of the floorboards and every faint rustle outside feel like something heavy. I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the unknown number on my phone screen. My hands were trembling as I read the message again.“You’re in over your head, Mrs. Reina. Tell your husband to back off and leave Japan or you will both regret it.I had seen my fair share of threats in my career. The angry competitors, disgruntled clients, jealous rivals but this was different and more dangerous. I knew Ethan was in danger. I knew I was in danger. But what chilled me to the bone was the realization that whoever sent this message didn’t just know about us, they were watching us. They had their eyes on us. I felt like I was suffocating, the walls of the house closing in around me. I needed air. I needed to breathe. I ran outside so that I wouldn't faint and the cool night breeze kept on hitting my face as I
ReinaThe sun was just beginning to set when I heard the sharp knock on the door. It was unusual. I wasn’t expecting anyone.I froze, my mind immediately flashing back to Leonard’s warnings and Detective Daniels’ advice to stay vigilant. For a moment, I considered not answering, but the knock came again, louder this time.“Reina, it’s me,” a familiar voice called out.Leonard.My stomach churned as I tiptoed to the peephole. Sure enough, there he was, standing in a crisp black suit, his expression unreadable.I opened the door just enough to see him. “What are you doing here?” I asked sharply.“We need to talk,” Leonard said, his voice calm but urgent.“We have nothing to talk about,” I replied, starting to close the door.He pushed it open slightly, his hand on the frame. “Please, Reina. This is important. It’s about Ethan.”That made me pause. I didn’t trust Leonard as far as I could throw him, but the mention of Ethan pulled at my resolve. Reluctantly, I stepped aside and let him i
EthanI stood by the window in my hotel room, staring at the city lights shining brightly against the night sky.The streets below were alive with honking cars and I could hear laughter, and the distant thrum of music right here in my room. Yet inside this room, the silence I felt indifferent. I felt something that I could not quite shake off. The events of the last two days replayed in my mind like a broken record. The redhead, the alcohol, the shame. And Carl, my so-called friend who had managed to vanish when I needed him most.I clenched my fists, anger bubbling under the surface. “You are an idiot, Ethan,” I muttered to myself. “An absolute idiot.”My phone buzzed on the bedside table, snapping me out of my thoughts. I reached for it, half-expecting Reina’s name to light up the screen. But it wasn’t her.It was Carl. “Come on dude. Let me be.”I hated the way I was dwelling on all of these. I had work to do and I haven't been able to do anything yet. For a moment, I conside
ReinaThe dinner with Leonard didn't go as expected. As usual, he was cutting through corners. If he knew that I had submitted his name to the cops, maybe he would have given me more information. I was left to rack my brain over this. This was something that was meant to be the detectives work but I have not gotten any report from them. I wanted to call them to ask if they are making any progress but I guess I should just wait for some time. I sat at my desk, staring at my computer screen. The article I had been reading earlier blurred before my eyes. Leonard's words from the night before were still looping in my head. How would I get him to tell me all I need to know?Ethan was in Japan and some unknown people see plotting to kill him. Getting anything from Leonard seemed impossible especially when I knew that he was more interested in my body. But, I can't give in him or anyone. I was w married woman and I had a child. "They see Ethan as a threat,” I repeated as I thought alou
EthanThe cold shower did little to wash away the guilt clinging to my skin. I stood there, water pouring over me, hoping the icy sting would calm the storm in my chest. But it didn’t.I was haunted by memories and all I could see and hear and feel were The redhead’s laughter, her touch, the softness of her lips. it all kept on haunting leaving a relentless echo in my mind.“You are a fool, Ethan,” I muttered, slamming my fist against the tiled wall. “A bloody fool. How could you do such a thing?”I turned off the shower and stepped out, grabbing a towel. My reflection in the fogged-up mirror stared back at me. I looked like a total stranger. A stranger with bloodshot eyes and a fucked up face. This was not me. This was not the man I promised Reina I would be.Reina. My sweet wife. Her face swam before my eyes and I could still see her bright smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. What would she think of me now? Would she even look at me the same way if she knew what
ReinaThe clock on my desk kept ticking loudly and I wondered if it was because I was paying attention to even the little things that I was able to hear it. On a normal day, I would care less about a clock. The sound of the clock was made louder by the silence that engulfed the house. At first, I was sketching a few designs that I was going to put up for sale in the online market but my attention became divided when I remembered that there was something I had to do quickly. tapped my pen against the edge of my notebook, staring at the half-written page in front of me. Research on Leonard had consumed my thoughts for the past two days, but the deeper I dug, the murkier things became.Something about him didn’t sit right with me.I sighed, pushing the notebook aside and reaching for my phone. My messages with Ethan stared back at me, our recent exchange still fresh.“Hey. Busy morning. I will call you tonight. Miss you.”His words these days had been reassuring, but something felt of
EthanI woke up to the sound of a door closing softly, followed by the faint click of heels on the floor. My head throbbed, pounding restlessly that made even the dim morning light coming through the curtains feel unbearable. Letting out a soft groan I tried to sit up, but the heaviness in my limbs kept me pinned to the bed.And then it hit me. I was naked. In her. By this time. I blinked, looking down to see the rumpled sheets tangled around my naked body. My stomach twisted as I began to remember what happened last night. The memories kept flooding back and I could not move. Her red hair glowed under the blue lights. Her laughter. Her hands. Her lips.Oh, my God! What have I done?The door clicked shut, and I turned just in time to catch a glimpse of her fiery hair as she disappeared down the hallway. She didn’t say goodbye. She didn’t even look back.I sat up quickly, clutching the sheets as if they could shield and protect me from the shame threatening to consume me. My cl