It was my third anniversary with my boyfriend. I was busy preparing to get to his place and surprise him. Harry had grown somewhat distant because of how busy his work was keeping him. He'd had to cancel our plans for the evening last minute because he'd be working really late.So I decided to bring our plans to him. I got a taxi and drove to the rich side of town. I had a key to his apartment and I went in. He wasn't home yet so I busied myself with cooking and setting up his surprise. A few hours later, I heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. He was a bit earlier than I'd expected. I quickly tidied up and rushed into his bathroom to freshen up. Soon, I heard him enter the room. I smiled, preparing to go out to meet him, when I heard something else and my hand paused on the doorknob. A giggle. It was loud and piercing at the same time and it was followed by kissing sounds and soft moaning. My hand tightened around the know and I opened it slightly, giving me a view o
The air was thick, heavy with silence. I turned back slowly. The man already had a robe on, but he was closer to me than I'd anticipated and our faces were only inches apart. “W-what?” I stutter “I need a wife and I think you'll be perfect for the job” He said simply like he went around asking all the women he slept with to marry him. “I don't know who you think you are but I'm not that kind of woman. This was a one time thing and I was drunk” He steps back from me and goes to the intercom on his bedside. While I'm busy standing there, in shock of his ‘proposition’ the man calls room service for his breakfast. “Is this some kind of joke to you?” “Here…” He returns to me with his business card but I barely glance at it. “Call me when you've reconsidered” He said, his words closely mirror Harry's and it angers me. “Why? Because you think I'm some cheap slut who you can use and command as you please? I don't know who you are mister, but this was a mistake and I never want to see
I picked the card off the ground and stared at it. Several thoughts came to mind as I looked at it. I turned it over but his name wasn't on it. It was just his number. For the rest of the way I pondered over the man and what he'd said. Suddenly his offer seemed like something I had to consider. He was clearly rich. If I married him, he'd help me pay for my muns surgery. I felt conflicted. I wouldn't just be agreeing to a contract. I'd be selling myself out. Sacrificing my morals and my dignity. Especially after I'd told the man I'd never call him. My room felt cold and empty that night. It seemed to feel my own inner emptiness and the thoughts battling within me. I turned and turned, unable to sleep. Around midnight, I got up for a glass of water and I ended up picking up the card again. I knew I had to make a choice. My self pride or my mother's life. My grip on the card tightened and I looked down at it. I bit my inner lip and closed my eyes before picking up my phone. I diale
After days of trying to reach him he'd finally showed up at my door to save me. “Are you hurt?” His rich voice cleared my thoughts as I stared at him, totally transfixed. I could muster up any words yet so I simply shook my head. “Come. These men will be taken care of” o didn't protest as he carried me in his arms and took me to his car. He set me down in the passenger seat and fixed my seat belt. I was still in shock. Still processing. The man drove for about a half hour and stopped in front of a grand mansion. He helped me out of the car and led me inside. I kept looking around. I'd thought Harry was rich but this man redefined the word. A small flicker of hope sparked within me. Maybe, just maybe I still had a chance to pay for mums surgery. The man took me to the living room and dropped me on the couch. A maid came soon after and offered me a glass of water. My throat was a but parched from all the yelling, so I took the water gratefully.All the while, the man observed me s
Anita's breath caught. the world around her shrank until she could only see Harry's arrogant expression. His arrogant smirk made her shiver with disgust .Her stomach churned at the irony- of all people, why did her past have to be linked to Nathan's family?Standing beside a tall tree, gorgeous woman, Harry titled his head, sweeping his look over her. “ Well, this is…. unexpected”, he remarked, amusement flashing through his eyes. “ Uncle, I had no idea you were bringing a guest. And a very familiar one at that.The subtle stress in his tone caused Anita's fingers to crul into fist. She forced herself to stand upright, her heart racing in ears. Nathan, who had remained quiet until now, spoke calmly but with authority.“She's my wife.”The world appeared to pause. A hush settled over the guest nearby, curious glance darting in their direction. Anita's throat felt drier. The word “ wife” sounded foreign and unreal, like a script she hasn't yet memorized.The woman standing next H
The night had unfurled with such intensity that Anita could practically taste it on her tounge. Harry's grin, Eleanor's chilly appreasial, and Nathan's impenetrable silence had all combined to create a dark atmosphere that remained to her even after they departed the packed patio.The huge estate's interior was as imposing as its appearance, with chandeliers gleaming above and polished marble flooring reflecting the luxury of each meticulously chosen details.Anita felt like an outsider, a sight for the family to enjoy. Despite he cool demeanour, her heart was still beating from the experience. She couldn't get rid of the memory of Harry's knowing look, the way his eyes glittered with bitter enjoyment when he addressed her past.Nathan's grip on he back was light and almost casual, yet it still sent a peculiar bolt of warmth down her spine.she was still trying to make sense of everything-what had occurred tonight, and how things had escalated so swiftly.Only a few months ago, she wa
Anita found that the days after the tense evening at Nathan's estate flew by. The subtle undertone of antagonism from Harry, Nathan's controlled indifference, and the house’s suffocating silence made her feel like a ghost passing through a world she no longer recognised.Her function, while evident, was more ambiguous than ever. She had joined this marriage expecting it to be straightforward.A contract. A business transaction. But now, every moment felt like a perilous balancing act, like if the ground beneath her feet may collapse at any time.Nathan had mostly kept his distance.Their interactions were brief and transactional, centered on home affairs, with occasional frigid nod of assent or tacit agreement to maintain apprearances in public. There was no warmth or comfort. Only the impending burden of their chosen life together.She'd tried to concentrate on the details.On survival? Her mother's operation, the never-ending meetings with lawyers, and the mysterious individual th
Anita felt suffocated by the demands in Nathan's household. Despite the mansion's wealth and size, every room felt cold and menacing. Eleanor's frosty glares, Stacy's covert barbs, and Harry's overt manipulations were regular reminders that she was not genuinely welcome in this environment.For the most part, Nathan kept his distance. He was still present, but their chats were brief and their exchanges mechanical. A contract. A business arrangement. That was what he had promised her, yet the space between them felt like an abyss. She couldn't help but wonder: was there more beneath the surface? Was Nathan's indifference a shield, or did it reflect his actual feelings?Her days were filled with the humdrum responsibilities that come with being the wife of a billionaire: attending galas, pretending to be interested in charity events, and dealing with Nathan's family's continual judgement. It was taxing, but Anita had learnt to excel in her profession. She appeared to be the ideal wife,
As Anita and Gregor raced through the city, the silver SUV buzzing beneath them like a coiled beast ready to strike, the outside world was soaked in darkness. With every bump on the road, the cold metal of the flash drive dug into Anita's palm as her fingers gripped it. Though her thoughts were vivid, the city lights were blurry beyond the window. She had always thought of herself as only a pawn in someone else's game, but today she was taking the board. Like a guy who had nothing left to lose, Gregor drove. "First, we'll visit the media division of Walker Holdings," he stated. "Your grandfather used to keep digital backups on the servers there in a safe place. We can upload the file if it's still there. data to all major networks at once.”With a forceful voice, Anita nodded. "No more hiding. The world ought to witness his actions. What Eleanor continues to attempt to safeguard Gregor's jaw tightened as he added, "And Harry." I didn't realise how deadly he was. Eleanor's
The sirens of the ambulance blared into the darkness, yet the interior was eerily quiet. The echo of Nathan's blood was still fresh on Anita's skin as she sat rigidly next to his stretcher, her hands locked in her lap. He had whispered, "Always," and had not spoken since. He was alive, nevertheless. For now, that was enough. She watched the rise and fall of each heart as she gazed at the monitor. Her voice was raw from all of the screams she had suppressed, and her chest ached from holding back tears. Her voice was haunted by Eleanor's. "Every path ends at you." "Look for the things your father left behind." The question that had been ingrained in her was: What was Gregor concealing in that music box?Anita glanced at her phone. Two calls from Gregor himself and a dozen from Patricia were missed. She disregarded them. She needed time to ponder just now. to take a breath. to get ready for the storm that she sensed was building all around her. A group of top-tier medical
Slow motion shattered the world. Nathan fell to the ground with a horrible thud as his body struck the concrete. Beneath him, blood spread like a dark flower, soaking through the white shirt. "No!" Anita fell to her knees next to him, her scream ripped from her throat. She pushed her trembling hands against his chest in an attempt to halt the bleeding, hold him to her, and prevent herself from breaking. "Nathan! Remain with me. You dare not abandon me at this time. You dare not! Only a gasp, a constricted breath, and a spasm of pain flickered through his jaw as his lips moved but no sound emerged.With a casual smugness, Harry lowered his weapon and took a step closer, his eyes glimmering with sinister glee. “You know, Anita, for a woman so full of fire, you really do keep making the same mistake.” Her eyes were flaming with fury as she turned to face him. He went on, gently circling her, "You think you're in control, but you're not." You weren't. Like your father, you
Like a heartbeat, the quiet between them throbbed. Shadows danced across Nathan's sharp features in the faint, flickering light, creating a haunting appearance. “You want the truth?” he murmured at last, his voice so low Anita had to lean in to catch the words. "Then get ready." Because your father isn't the only one involved. Everything is involved, including how we met, the Walkers, the Bennetts, and my business. Anita tensed. "What are you discussing?" Nathan pointed to the disorganised desk. "Everything you've ever experienced was planned out and premeditated. The one-night stand, the night we met? It was not a coincidence. You were supposed to be present. She blinked. "No. That isn't possible. You didn't even know who I was—“I didn’t,” Nathan cut in. However, another person did. Someone who knew I wouldn't be able to let you go if we ever met paths. Someone who desired our connection in order to gain leverage. In her ears, her pulse roared. "Who?" Nathan pi
Anita's spine tingled when the door creaked open with a spooky sound. The smell of old concrete and rust permeated the moist air of the deserted warehouse. Every corner was covered in shadows, and the distant hum of the city outside seemed to be lost in the vastness of the room. With caution, Anita entered, her footfall resonating in the quiet. The sole source of illumination was a dim ray that filtered through a broken window located high above, creating long, angular shadows on the concrete floor. She looked around, every fibre of her body alert to the unknown threats that might be hiding in the darkness, her pulse thumping in her chest.She didn't know what to anticipate in this place. She could clearly see the map Nathan had left her, but she couldn't understand its significance or purpose. And what had he been up to? When she had thought they were finally on the same page, what had motivated him to leave her such a confusing message and to cut off contact? She was plague
As Anita made her way through the eerily quiet mansion's halls, her heart pounded against her ribs. Now, the commotion, the smoke, the flashing lights seemed like a faraway memory. Her feelings and thoughts were a whirlpool of bewilderment and sorrow. She could not get Nathan's face out of her head, his eyes meeting hers in that last second before everything broke down. Was he gone from her? Would all for which they had battled turn to ashes?She proceeded carefully through the building, her fingers brushing against the cool walls, each step echoing the anxiety that had pervaded the air for days. Although Nathan's absence felt like a wound too deep to ignore, Harry's betrayal still hurt. She needed to locate him. What had happened to him had to be known to her. However, nothing was ever easy. When Anita arrived at the end of the corridor, she was in front of the door leading to Nathan's office. The metal handle felt cold and unforgiving under her fingers, and it was locked.
Between them, the weight of the quiet hung heavy and oppressive. Anita struggled to maintain her composure as her chest rose and fell and her breathing became irregular. However, it was not feasible. Everything she believed to be true about their world and about herself had been destroyed by Nathan's comments, which were facts she had never asked for. Nevertheless, there was a glimmer of something else behind the tempest of emotions raging within her. A glimpse of the person she had turned into in this cruel game. A lady with a history of abuse. A woman who had made it out alive. And a woman who would not be kept in the background any longer."Anita..." Nathan's eyes continued to beg for comprehension, and his voice was strained and urgent. You must have faith in me. I did everything I did for you. to keep you safe. In a subtle request for him to stop, she held out her hand. Her heart was overflowing with conflicting emotions, including fear, wrath, betrayal, and love.
Above Anita's head, the faint illumination of a broken lamp flickered, creating long, unsettling shadows on the walls. She tried to calm herself by holding onto the edge of the table with trembling palms. She had arrived here as a result of every action she had taken during this tornado of upheaval, including choices, sacrifices, and betrayals. Right up till now. To Nathan, who stood opposite her and had that unreadable expression on his face. As though trying to remind her of something she already knew, her heart thumped loudly and insistently in her chest. Could she, however, trust herself? Would she be able to trust him? Anita tried to ignore the impending uncertainty by closing her eyes. Amidst the turmoil of everything—Harry's treachery, Eleanor's disdain, and Stacy's manipulation—one item caught her off guard: Nathan's silence. His distance.They had been balancing on a tightrope for months. Convenience marriage, a front, but gradually, gradually, it had evolved into
Standing at her elegant mahogany desk, Anita felt the weight of the power she suddenly possessed pressing down on her chest. She had the authority to run the business and the empire that had previously belonged to Nathan, but that authority also came with the burden of tearing it down and starting over, brick by brick. The future would be shaped by every choice she made going forward. Standing upright in front of the board, she had already demonstrated her worth, but that was just the start. She was startled out of her daydream as her phone buzzed on the desk. When she noticed the caller ID, she paused her fingers as she reached for it. Daniel. This was what she had anticipated. Daniel's voice crackled over the phone, "Anita." "There is a circumstance. It's urgent. You must hear this firsthand.The anxiety she had been repressing began to creep up her spine as her heart skipped a beat. "What's happening?" "It concerns Harry." Anger rose in her chest as her pulse accelera