REINAHe was right. I would not joke with issues that concern my child for anything.Thinking about Andrew, my son and seeing him makes me think that Ethan was right here with us. The bog was just a replica of him and I am sure that he may have a heart attack when he sees that this boy resembles him so much.I didn't know what to do about it. Out of guilt, I left my room and went to see him where he was being creative in his playroom.“My baby,” I called him and as soon as he heard my voice. He jumped up happily and abandoned everything he was doing to hug me.I lifted him up and played with his hair.“I have missed you, my baby. You know that right?” I asked him as I brightened him down.“I know, mum. Remember, you promised to take me out next weekend. Hope you will be available for that?” he asked and I chuckled.To be sincere, I had forgotten that I had promised him such a thing. I was a terrible mum, I agree.“I will definitely be available to take you out and we will have all you
REINAThe time I had to sort things out was not enough for me. Come tomrhjnk if it. My son's nanny asked me an important question. When was I going to tell Ethan that I was in possession of his child?It was so scary to think of and I don't think I am emotionally ready to take that step. “No, no. I don't think I am that courageous,” I soliloquized.I didn't know when my eyes which were once wide open shut slowly as before I knew it, I was already dozing off in the living room.I was woken up by the loud ringtone from my phone.“An unknown number?” I asked myself as I stared at the phone.Who could this be? I just finished a long conversation with Bruce over the phone. I really hope it's not one of my staff from work. I already told them that we would resume work next week.Why are they so eager to work? I complained before answering the call. It was when my phone rang for the second time that I answered the call.“Hey, bitch!” That was the first thing I heard when I answered the c
ETHANReina calling me to come over was very weird. I never expected her for one day to send me her address, expecting me to drive down to her house. The key word in what she said was “urgent”. She claimed that it was very urgent and I needed to be there.I have already given her my words, if I didn't, I would have turned her down. I slammed my laptop on my desk and made to leave the office.While I was on my way to her place, my phone rang and it was an unknown number.“Seriously? Haven't I gotten many calls already?” I asked.After much hesitation, I answered the call and the voice I heard gave me the greatest shock of my life.“Hi, Ethan. It's your wife on the line. I know you didn't miss me but, can we see?” she asked.“I'm afraid not. Is it something of great importance?” I asked as I focused my eyes on the road as I drove down.Making calls while driving was wrong and I didn't know how I entertained that with Ravenna on the line.“It is. It's about Reina and your child. I need
ETHANI could sense that Reina was not comfortable as she sat far from me. I had to prepare my mind for whatever was coming towards me.“Work is fine. My company hasn't recovered from the tremendous work you did with that Triple A project. We have been making so much profit ever since. I am working really hard to maintain it,” I answered.“That's lovely. But, remember that there is always profit and loss. When you lose, don't beat yourself up. It's normal. You just have to make up for the losses,” she advised.“I'm aware of all that. Thank you.”That advice was totally unsolicited. It was obvious that she was using all that to buy time. I would not blame her. Whatever was bothering her may be too difficult to let out and she probably does not have a good way to start talking.“Well, I invited you here because I felt it was time for me to tell you the truth,” she started off.I glanced at her and she buried her head in her hands. My heart began to greatly against my chest as I waited
ETHAN “Did you just say the child of this son is Bruce?” I asked her and she nodded, repeating the same words that she said earlier.I stared at this young boy in front of me and there was no way he looked like Bruce. He got my same exact features. The shape of my nose and the shape of my head. The completion too, everything was all the same. “Are you telling me the truth, Reina?” I asked, still in doubt and she reaffirmed that she was saying the truth. “He's Bruce's son. I really don't want to talk about all of these in his presence. He is too young but, what I told you is true.” The young boy stared blankly in our midst. I bet what must be going through his mind was what exactly was going on and why was this strange man having a conversation with his mother.This was more than I could handle even as an adult and I doubt if this young boy could handle this in any way. He was not emotionally strong. “I will take your word for it, Reina. But, have this at the back of your mind. I
“Out of wedlock? Was that what she said?” she inquired. “Yes. That was all she said.” “I know that you trust her too much, that your trust for her has blinded your eyes, that you can't see that this lady is lying to you.” “What do you mean?” “Looks Ethan. I called you here to inform you that the child you saw in Reina's house is your child. She is scared of what I can do, that is why she lies like this,” Ravenna revealed. “I am tired of all these games, to be honest. How am I supposed to know that you are also telling me the truth and not a lie?” I asked her. Ravenna was not the person that I could trust. She was not clean either. She has done a lot of things in the past that makes me question whatever comes out from her mouth. “I believe that things would be easier since you said you saw the child. You don't need any DNA, that child is your replica. I have seen his picture before and all I saw was you, Ethan. Think, Ethan. Think!” My stomach growled in anger. I knew
ETHANThe year of desperation could be heard clearly in her voice and that made me disgusted. I knew I made a mistake coming for Ravenna but, why can't she leave?Why on earth has she sworn to be tied to me forever?“Like I said, nothing like feelings, like emotions or relationships or marriage. I am on a break,” I reminded her.“You are a clown. You know the truth deep down and you want to get rid of me. I won't let that happen. We are already in this together and we will continue in this. I do not care.”When they said that you should never allow a woman to take control or have an upper hand, they were right. It was how I clearly saw everything playing out.I didn't know when Ravenna moved closer to me and I scowled as she took my finger and pushed it deep into her mouth. “Fucking hell. What are you doing? Are you out of your mind or have you lost it?” I asked, pushing her away from me. “Allow me to express myself. I have a lot that I can do to you to spice up our sex life in this
The tension in the environment tightened at the base of my spine. Fuck, if I do not do this with her right now. I may lose it.“I know what you want, Ravenna. But, it's crazy to do that here.”She jerked her chin and tilted her head at her remark and asked, “What do you mean?""You don't have to pretend. You want to do this, it's alright because I am your husband and I am meant to perform my marital duties.”Ravenna laughed at my statement before boring her eyes into mine. “I see. I know you want to do this tio but your conscience doesn't permit you. Well, blame it on me. Say that I, your wife, forced you into doing this. You can use me as your excuse to get whatever you want. For now, I think we would need a room where there is only me and you. Mine you, it's been long since I had an orgasm and this orgasm is begging for a release. If I were you, I would allow myself to enjoy my husband.”“Hmmm…”So many words ran out of her mouth at the same time. I knew she wanted me. I was cool
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