REINA. "Today has been a very long day," i thought to myself as I cleared my desk for the day. I was about ordering an Uber because Ethan had unapologetically taken my car to God knows where without giving as much as a explanation, when my office telephone immediately began ringing. "Hello, we're closed for the day." I bellowed into the receiver as I was about ending the call when a voice came. "Are we speaking to a Miss Reina Gray?" Didn't the person just hear when I said that we are closed for the day? People love been dramatic. "Yes, you're onto miss Reina Gray. We are closed for the day." My voice was more loud and clear at this point to stress my point that I was tired of the conversation before it even started. "We got this number from a Mahindra Thar Roxx, with the car plate number of AE7888. Does it belong to you?" I nodded my head frantically like they could see me as my body grew tense. "Yes, it belongs to me. Did something happen?" I questioned letting go of my bag.
REINA "You do realize that you're hurting my wrist, right?" I tried wiggling out of his grasp but that seemed impossible as he held on to my wrist, while glaring at me like i was his adversary."So now you're Reina Walters? His wife?" I have never seen this man like this and now that I have, I swear that I never want to see this side of him ever again."Bruce, you're hurting me." I raised my voice a little and pulled away from his hold, rubbing my sore wrist, I wondered what had come over him."Why are they referring to you as Mrs Walters? You really told them that you're his wife?" He yelled and the nurse stared back and forth."Bruce, get a hold on your attitude. You're scaring me." I realized that this wasn't the time to talk to Bruce and get him to understand why I did what I did so I just sighed and walked off.On getting to the hospital ward, there were a lot of wires connected to Ethan's body and additional to that? He was also on life support."How did you get yourself into
REINA"What did you say?" He coughed profusely and his eyes turned bloodshot red as he stared at me."Are you okay?" I patted his back slowly so he would calm down and he nodded in response to my question."Yes, I'm fine. I'm okay." He stated and turned his head to the side to get a clear view of me properly."Did you hear what you just said?" He asked again and I chuckled slightly."Call it compensation. After All, this happened to you in my car so it's slightly my fault. I have to do this." I smiled to the nurse dismissing her while Ethan kept staring at me with eyes wide open like he was in disbelief of what I said.I'm equally in disbelief of what I said so that makes the feeling mutual."So I'll have to start living with you? I'm your house?" I nodded trying my best not to lock eye contact with him as I knew that I might try to Keep my attitude intact but my face would give away how embarrassed I was feeling.Let's not forget that I practically just kissed him."Sorry to interrup
REINA "I dont remember any one from the company that was putting on a red dress. That looks totally unfamiliar." I kept looking while squinting my eyes as I tried remembering who had wore a red dress to the company.My eyes scanned the camera footage, while my mind was racing with memories as i tapped the corner of my head slightly. I was certain no one had worn a red dress to the office, but as i watched the grainy video, no one stood out inside of my head.It was kind of hard to even think just by watching someone i didnt know, open my car so easily and entered; coming out after doing what they wanted like they owned the car."Come on, Reina, think," Ethan urged, his voice low and encouraging as he was looking himself, with eyes laced in scrutiny. "Even I was in the company and I can't even remember who wore such dress that stood out completely. I can't even be of much help since I'm constantly locked inside of my office.My brow furrowed in frustration. "I don't know, Ethan. I'
REINAI walked to Ethan's bedroom, my heart heavy with the weight of the truth but I had to tell Ethan, had to share the burden of this knowledge with him.After all, he helped in getting the footages and he would most definitely want to know. I knocked slightly on the door but no answer came and I wasn't sure if he was already fast asleep or if it was my knock that was just too low."Ethan." I called out as I knocked again but there was still absolute silence.I pushed the door open and luckily it was open, I peeked in and he was really asleep. How could he fall asleep this fast? I approached the bed, and saw him fast asleep, his chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. I stared at his peaceful face and smiled.I hesitated, not wanting to disturb him. He needed rest, needed to recover from his ordeal. I couldn't wake him now, not with this news.He was already physically hurt so I couldn't hit him with this while waking him up with such eerie news. It's a no.As I waited
REINA"I'm here to report Mrs Ravenna Walter," I said, my voice firm but trembling slightly as I pulled out my phone from my bag. You might ask why I was clutching to my phone nervously but even I knew that Ravenna was influential as much as I was.And this might be a little hard so I might be asked to provide proof sooner than later.The officer's expression turned serious and to be honest, that's the exact reaction i was expecting so it didn't surprise me."What's the nature of your complaint, ma'am?" he asked, his voice gentle but probing as hw stared at me in scrutiny. Though his mouth wasn't saying the words the warning to back off was all there in his expression but what's the fun in backing off?The time when I ran were over and it was time I stood in one place and take everything I lost back.I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart as I proceeded into dropping my complaints."She tampered with my car's brakes. I'm sure iwas supposed to have an accident, but her hu
REINA "Why are you acting like you don't care when I know that you probably want to yell at me right now?" I couldn't bottle up the question any longer. I needed to get it off my chest because what man would let you lock his wife up and even help you out.It all seemed shady to me and I felt like it would come back to bite me in my ass later."Care about what exactly? What are you talking about?" I pushed the door open and he stepped in while I paused at the entrance and stared at him."Dont feign ignorance with me, Mr Ethan." He raised a brow again and he usually only did that when he was confused."I don't know what you're talking about.""I'm talking of your wife—""Nah, I'll rather think of other things and no! We were actually splitted up and she overstepped her boundaries." And with that, he nodded questionably asking if I understand and I replied with a nod.As we walked into the house, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Ravenna was finally behind bars, and i could start t
REINA"Seriously, Bruce? I am not Mrs Walter." I affirmed and Bruce just stared at me like I was messing with his head then sighed and began walking away.I chased after Bruce, my heart pounding in my chest. "Bruce, wait! Please listen to me. This is what I hate about you, you don't even want to hear from me. At least, listen to my explanation." I yelled and he stopped. Turning around, a mixture of surprise and annoyance on his face. "What do you want, Reina?" He raised a brow as he folded his arms across each other in a questioning manner.I took a deep breath, trying to explain. "I'm sorry, Bruce. I didn't mean to take the title of Mrs Walter. I just wanted to get past the nurses and take care of Ethan. I didn't mean to hurt you." He was just staring at me blankly and poker faced.Bruce raised an eyebrow. "You didn't mean to hurt me? You think taking someone's identity is just a minor mistake? What made you feel entitled into taking care of..." He trailed off and gestured towards
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