ETHANI was shocked beyond measure about what was going on. The whole going around circles and talking about Reina was crazy.Have they forgotten that this lady was the one who helped our company last month? We would have been swimming in debt. “I am sure that Mr. Ethan doesn't want a hoe as a partner. That's all I am aware of. She should go and fix herself up and keep sleeping with men.”“But, why is the CEO not talking about all of these? He has been mute all these while. Maybe he knows something that we all don't know.”“Maybe you should ask him,” the aggressive lady teased and they both laughed. Oh, God. I knew that these ladies may start talking about me soon. I have to get out of here.I walked briskly but quietly to my office as I could hear the whooshing sound of my heart pounding in my ears.When I reach my desk, my hands shake as I fumble with the drawer to the filing cabinet, where I snatched my laptop. I needed to leave here and see a doctor for my persistent hea
REINA The persistence never ceased to end even for a second. I was beginning to wonder if Bruce was actually pushing me to this because he had something to gain from all of these. I don't know what was hard about agreeing with me about not getting married to him. “I have my own life to live. I really appreciate the efforts you make but, after thinking about all this. I don't think this will benefit me.” Bruce took a deep breath and held my shoulder with his hands. His hands were so warm and I needed that to stay sane. My heart ached. Everything around me made me feel worse. Seeing my son call me “mother” only made things worse for me. I knew that I had failed him. I have failed everyone. How was he going to find a place in his heart to forgive his mother for doing such a wicked thing to him? I wondered what his mates told him when he went to school. I wonder if he was bullied by his classmates who have access to the internet. They would have seen his picture flying around o
REINANow I felt bad. It hurt me to think that I complain too much. My shoulders fell and I felt a rush of bad feeling grip me. “Sometimes, I just feel that you think that way. You may see me as a jobless guy who left his mansion to come and stay here. Isn't that right?” he asked.Bruce was beginning to overthink things. Was that normal? Was I giving off the energy that I was not comfortable with him by my side?“I know that I never told you to come here and that you came here on your own accord. I know that I am in my home and that this is my bed. But, I never complained for one day,” I said with an eerily calm voice.“I'm sorry then. I guess I was just thinking too much. You should go dress up. Maybe we need to go out,” he suggested. Was that all I do nowadays? Stay at home and go out to a place with less people?I am tired of this kind of life.“I don't know if that is a good idea. I think I will remain indoors.”“You need to go out and have fun at least. You don't have to go to
ETHANThe world did not crumble down nor did the world come to an end. It was a miracle. Sorry, I would call it a miracle that I was able to reach Ravenna after everything that happened.“You have been avoiding me. Haven't you?” I asked her over the phone.“Do you expect me not to? What do you want me to do for you?” She asked me and I was taken aback by her question.“What do you mean by that, Ravenna? You know why I am calling. Don't you?” She was trying to play games with me. She was trying to pretend that she had no idea of what I was talking about.I hate it when she makes me look like I was a fool.“I am at your office. I will see you since you have been disturbing me all these while. I would want to know what you want to tell me,” she said and the burden on my heart lightened.“You know what. It's about Ravenna.”“That's why I am here. Open your door.”After she told me to open the door, I heard a knock on the door that led to my office.“Come in.”Ravenna entered my office wi
ETHAN“Do I have to fulfill everything on your list before you give me the proof that the child is mine?”“Of course! Do you think that I'm a fool?” she smirked. “So, all you want is to be a board member so that you can show up at our meetings right? Fine. I accept. As long as you are not making decisions.”“I will also be allowed to receive the stipends those in the board get. You can't place me there without giving me anything. You know that right?” she asked.“I know. You will receive your stipends. Do you actually want to be in the board because of the money or you have your reasons?” I asked.There must be a solid reason behind all these. Ravenna was one person who knew how to tactfully plan something.“That is none of your business. Remember, I still own some shares in this company. Don't act like I have nothing here. And for the money. Hmmm…. it's part of it,” she replied and I was becoming worked up.“You don't brag in your name with what others did for you. I was the o
REINAThe short trip I had with Bruce was worth it.Bruce had literally come into my life to stay even though I have not given him a permanent answer. I loved him. My daily routine still remains the same.Waking up in my house, getting dragged out of the house by Bruce and all that.I woke up late and smile to myself as I roll over, thinking back to the way Bruce kept me awake up all night.He was the sweetest man ever. This sweet being wouldn’t stop telling me he loved me, and his touch was so reverent that I thought I would lose it if he does not stop.I looked over the pillow and I saw him sleeping like a child. My fingertips brushed over his pillow, and the smile that I wore on my face faded as I remembered the guilt that tormented me. The guilt of rejecting him and telling him that it was not time to get married.I didn't know if he was serious about us. But, he looked like he was. Staring at him, I thought of so many things. Have I in any way hurt him? I would not know be
REINAMy eyes showed that I was eager to know what he actually meant by all tWhat exactly was he talking about? What exactly does he mean? Can he just cut all these.“Okay…” “Long story short. I guess you were bored by all that long talk. The summary is that you look hot and sexy in the jeans. I totally love it and b would want to see you like this often,” he responded and I could feel mg head swelling with my cheeks heating furiously. “Thank you,” I finally let out after I had melted inside of me.“Have you worn them before? Somewhere?” he asked and I shook my head. “No. I… this is the first time I’ve worn them.”.“Wow. It really looks perfect on you.”His eyes twinkle as he glances at me, and I could not help but smile back at him “I’m glad it does,” I replied, accepting his compliment.I finally got a pop up message from the salon and it was a rather disappointing message. “We’re fully booked today,” the message read and I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?” I
"I don't know if you've noticed but I'm simply running out of patience at this point. What's your last request?" I had broken out in a terribke sweat as her very presence annoyed the hell out of me.She wasn't even trying to hide the fact that she would get to any extent to take Reina down and that infuriated me to say the least."Ethan, talk to me like that one more time and I swear to every God under the heavens that I would leave and you can forget about knowing if he's your son or not. You can just live with the thought, besides, you've denied 2 of my request so I'd like to ask a question before telling you the last." Her poise was annoying, her confidence was graceful and I wondered if this was the same Ravenna I had married.This woman was literally a monster and there was absolutely nothing anyone would tell me to think otherwise."Go on." I shrugged my shoulders, not sparing her a glance as I looked at the rough files that were scattered around my table."Why are you so obsess
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