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 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
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
Heart-wrenching Betrayal. REINA I raised my head to find my husband, Ethan walked into the living room, arms tucked together with my step sister as I clutched tightly on the wiper I had in my hand as my heart wrenched in pain at the sight. “You’re back….” I tried to ignore the sight of my husband being so close with another woman and tried to welcome him warmly but he slammed a file on the table, Interrupting me coldly. “Sign it.” He commanded as I saw the smirk on my step sister’s face. My gaze diverted to how she held onto Ethan. This wasn’t the first time I have seen them been so close. I have had to endure the sight of them always together for the past two years even when he was married to me. I bent down to pick the file and opened the driest page. It read Divorce agreement! The file slipped off my hands due to choke. “What the hell are you doing?! Sign the fucking papers and get out of my house, you filthy whore!” My husband breathed in rage, impatience tinged his voice a
REINA SIX YEARS LATER As I catwalked with confidence, my suitcase beside me in the airport lobby, I scanned for any sign of Bruce, and there he was with a cardboard over his head that read “Welcome Back, Reina.” I smiled and walked up to him amidst the crowd of people waiting for their loved ones. “Welcome back, Reina,” Bruce greeted, hugging me. “You look….” “Hot?” I winked, finishing his words as he nodded with a chuckle. I smiled, flipped my hair backwards, and removed my sunglasses. “Of course, I can’t still remain the same old Reina they knew before.” I chuckled, and Bruce understood exactly whom I was referring to. “I am just happy you are living well, Reina.” “Living well?” I asked as he took my suitcase, and we headed out of the airport. “I am not living well, Bruce. Not until I have my revenge on those who killed my child,” I said with a chilly smile as Bruce opened the car door to the sleek limousine he had arranged for me upon my arrival. As he settled in beside me
REINA I pushed him away when it seemed I had had enough and shot him a glare. “Even if you are a fan of mine, you should restrict yourself from acting so irrational in public, Mr. Steele,” I said through gritted teeth to show how I was pissed at his behavior. “What are you saying, Reina? You’re my wife,” Ethan immediately replied like a little boy who was trying to defend himself when he was already caught in the act. Director Steve's eyes widened at the revelation while my body stiffened in rage. “Ex-wife,” I corrected with a cold tone and smiled when I saw the overall shock on his face. “You know each other before?” Director Steve chimed in. “Yeah, she is…” “Don’t make that mistake again, Mr. Steele. My girlfriend doesn’t appreciate her ex trying to claim a certain ownership over her,” Bruce slipped his hand around Reina’s waist as Ethan chuckled in disbelief and his eyes diverted to the hand Bruce placed protectively over me. Nice one Bruce, I thought within me as I snuggle
REINA “You can’t do this, Ravenna.” Ethan made to come close to me, but Bruce blocked him with his hand. “Keep a safe distance from my girlfriend.” “She is not your girlfriend. She is my bloody wife, now you stay away.” Ethan snapped at him while Bruce's stance remained firm. “Don’t act so cute, Ethan. My Sterling Group is as powerful as your Walters Group, so don’t command me like one of your lackeys or I’ll really get pissed,” Bruce warned. When Ethan saw how serious Bruce was, and the small probability of winning against the heir of the Sterling Group, he stepped back but still had his eyes on me. “Can we have a brief talk? Alone?” I could see the pleading look in his eyes. Like hell I cared. “No,” I replied. “If it is about the project, I won’t change my mind.” “Ethan….” Ravenna grabbed Ethan’s arm, who was completely uninterested in her at that point. “Ignore this wench, I will create another project and head it to save Walters Group, trust….” Ethan brushed her off as she
EthanMy knees were almost scared because of how long I had been kneeling in front of Reina.I knew what I wanted and it was her. Yes, I was not going to allow this opportunity to get past me this time.“Listen to me, Reina. Can you please allow me to explain myself?” I asked her and she just sighed out loud. The sigh was so loud that I knew that she was not feigning it when she said she hated me.Her look, her attitude, everything about her portrayed so.“Can you please stop calling me?” she demanded, blasting her angry words against my ears. “Just listen to…”I could not even get to complete my sentence when her angry rage overpowered me, cutting me short from whatever I was saying.“What are you going to tell me now that is different from all the garbage that you have told me?” she thundered.I raised one of my knees from the ground and stared at her in the eyes. Those eyes were still as pretty as ever and it has not changed ever since.I was half-kneeling now and the only thing 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
EthanThe music made me feel alive and I had my head moving to every beat and insistent rhythm that I was hearing. My glass was empty again, though I could not remember finishing my drink. The red-haired woman that I saw at the club leaned against the bar beside me with her eyes sparkling in the flashing lights.I don't know why she looked at it like she was plotting something.“I'm sorry but I don't think I'm comfortable with you,” I said plainly to her. That was the truth. I was becoming so uncomfortable and my friend who brought me here was long gone. What have I gotten myself into? I asked myself but I had no answer to the question.I shrugged and decided to go with the floor, perhaps she would let me be after some time. That's the way some ladies are. I guess. “I think you are fun, young man,” she said and her voice was so soft and smooth as she teased me. She then signaled the bartender for another round of drinks for the both of us and I could not decline. The drink was
ReinaThe air still felt heavy, even in the quiet of my bedroom. The phone call with Ethan had ended hours ago and it didn't end well. I could still hear his voice echoing in my mind.I had been too harsh with him even as we were this distant. There was this exhaustion and frustration in his tone that he did not try to hide. I had pushed it all aside because of my own emotions.But now, in the silence of the night, guilt crept in on me. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone. Should I call him back? Apologize? And explain to him that I had nothing to do with Leonard. Maybe he just needed reassurance. Oh, why did I talk so rudely to him. Leonard’s name alone made my skin crawl. What he had said that time still rang in my head.“You think this is just about me flirting with you?” he had asked, leaning in too close. “It’s bigger than that. Someone sent me to you. Someone who wants to ruin Ethan. And you are the key. So, I have to get it first.”I knew that this was a very
EthanThe room was dimly lit and the heavy curtains blocked out the harsh sun that dared remind me of how far I had fallen. I was lying straight on the hotel bed, staring at the ceiling with an empty whiskey glass on the nightstand.My phone buzzed, breaking through the thick haze of self-pity that had settled over me.I was tired of living. I was feeling depressed and I didn't know how to handle myself. I ignored it at first, letting it vibrate into the mattress. Probably just work. Another email about something I could not bring myself to care about right now. But the buzzing of my phone didn’t stop. Reluctantly, I reached over and grabbed the phone, squinting at the screen.It was Carl.The name flashed brightly and I remembered the man I had met a few days after arriving in this foreign city. Carl did good to me. He was everything I was not at the moment. He was charismatic, carefree, and far too persuasive for his own good.With a groan, I swiped to answer. “What do you want
Ethan I was at the other airport where I will take a plane straight to Japan. The airport was still so loud and bustling, but I felt completely disconnected from it. People hurried past me and they all looked like they had no worries in their life. My life felt like it was stuck in an impossible loop. I sat with my suitcase at my feet, staring at the boarding pass in my hand. My flight straight to Japan was in an hour. Everything I had worked for was finally coming together, yet it still felt wrong. I picked up my phone, scrolling through the messages Reina and I had exchanged. There was nothing special about it. They were very brief, distant, and polite. Nothing like what we used to be. I stared at the screen, debating whether to text her again. I had said I would call, but I could not. Not yet. I didn’t have the words to fix this. Was I really leaving my family behind? It all felt like a dream but it was a decision I had made. My thoughts were interrupted by the