MARIANNE
If it weren't for the date and time stamp on the video, I would have thought Paula was lying to me. As I watched the video, everything began to piece together in my head. I recalled when Tony had first approached me for a relationship. I had refused his advances, especially since I had just clocked eighteen, but Britney kept encouraging me to give him a chance, claiming we were perfect for each other and would be together forever. Back then, I was amazed at how Tony and I had the same tastes, interests, and even fashion sense. I believed he was truly destined for me. Only after Paula's revelation did I realize that Britney had planted him in my life and told him about my likes and dislikes. No wonder he seemed so perfect in my eyes and I ended up falling in love with him. They deceived me for so long and plotted my downfall. The false testimonies from my secretary and Tony's sister finally made more sense to me. I felt so much anger surge within me and a deep yearning for revenge. Tony, Britney, Tony's sister, my secretary, the policemen, and others; they all had to pay. I had been so foolish that I believed Tony was dead just because those policemen said so. Yes, I was the fool and that was why I was in prison while Tony and Britney had taken over my company and assets. "Listen, I do not care about you in the slightest," Paula spoke when she saw the tears in my eyes. "I am here because I cannot watch Dad's wealth fall into the hands of those outsiders. I can help you find a good lawyer, expose Tony and Britney, and get you out of here. In return, I want fifty percent of everything you own, including your company, Ray Industries." I clasped my hands together as I promised, "Paula, I swear, if you get me out of here, I will give you not just fifty percent but everything I own. Right now, the only thing I want is a chance for revenge." She smiled, "Now, that is an offer I cannot afford to refuse." Taking out a document from her bag, she said, "First of all, you need to sign this." I stared at the document and noticed it held the rights to my foundation that helped homeless kids. I had more than three hundred million dollars in the foundation's purse at that moment. I gazed at Paula in surprise and she shrugged, "The people I'm up against are very rich and powerful, thanks to you, Anne. If I am to go after them, I need this money." "But you have enough money to fight them," I reminded her. She smiled, "What do you take me for? I can't use my personal money to do this. You trusted them more than me so you have to fund everything. Just sign this foundation over to me and within one week, I'll get you out of this hell hole." I didn't trust Paula in the slightest but I was desperate. After hesitating for a few seconds, I signed the document and Paula left. From the moment I learned that Tony was alive, peace eluded me. I had sleepless nights as I waited for Paula's return and planned my revenge quietly. One week turned into two and two weeks into a month but Paula did not return. After two months of waiting for her, it became clear as crystal that I had been scammed. I wasn't surprised though. If Britney whom I had considered my best friend could betray me, then who was Paula? They could even be in the same boat, working together to ensure that I was left with nothing, including my will to live. After two months, two weeks, and twenty-four hours of being in the island prison, I sat in my cell thinking about what to do. That night, the winds howled through the prison's corridors like a chorus of lost souls, adding to the sense of desolation and hopelessness I felt. The man I had called my husband, the one whom I would have gladly given my life for, the one I had supposedly killed, lived in affluence, lavishing my fortune while I was condemned to spend the rest of my life in an island prison for his death. What could be worse than such a fate? I woke up in the morning with a determination; If being in the island prison was truly my fate, then I would fight it until my last breath. I would take my chances with the Norwegian Sea. After the routine call that morning, I ate the food I hated because I needed all the energy I could get. Throughout the morning, while working, my focus kept shifting to the escape route I had settled on. When I spotted three female inmates staring at me, I turned my face away. I focused my attention on the male inmates. They fared worse because they had to work with chains binding their hands and feet, as opposed to female inmates who were allowed a measure of freedom while working. Clad in worn uniforms, the male inmates toiled in the scorching sun, their bodies weary from the endless labor. The air was thick with dust and the smell of sweat, as they hauled heavy loads of stone and rock. The sound of pickaxes striking stone echoed through the quarry, a constant reminder of their confinement. I turned my face away from them when the alarm sounded, indicating it was time for our lunch break. During this time, the guards, securing the perimeter around the female section of the quarry, left to have lunch. The guards in charge of leading us out of the quarry came as usual and we were made to form a straight line. With two guards in front, a guard at the back, and thirty female inmates in between, marching, I stayed in the middle, my gaze on the Cliff which could grant me my freedom, if only I could go over it. I knew I was courting death by even harboring such a plan, but everything else was better than being a prisoner on the island. A lady behind me who noticed the direction of my gaze, asked, "Are you curious about what is after the Cliff or what would happen if you jumped off of it?" I turned and stared at her briefly. She flashed me a smile but I did not return it. I didn't know what she was trying to do but I was done making friends. I looked away from her and focused my attention on the Cliff. I already knew what was after that Cliff because I had seen it on the day I arrived on the island. A sudden scream from the part of the quarry where the male inmates worked, diverted everyone's attention. Once they all turned to see what was going on, I took that as my cue and began to run toward the Cliff. In my entire life, I had never run so fast. Just as I got close to the Cliff, the sound of a loud whistle filled my ears, just as the sounds of gunshots filled the air. Without a moment of hesitation, I jumped off the Cliff, plunging into the Norwegian sea. I began to swim as fast as I could, away from the island while several bullets kept passing by me as the sounds of the gunshots intensified. I swam even deeper, in order to make the guards give up. However, a bullet finally caught me and penetrated my shoulder. I cried out as I felt excruciating pain. I tried to swim further but could not move my arms anymore. I was bleeding too fast and the water around me changed to a red color. I found myself sinking and began to see my life flashing before my eyes, still, my heart burned with a vengeance. I knew it was the end of the road for me but I was not ready to give up yet. In my heart, I began to pray. I wished for a second chance, an opportunity to live, even by some miracle. As I felt my life slowly ebb away, I saw the face of the one person who had loved me from childhood to adulthood. "Dad!" I whispered, right before darkness engulfed me.TROY After two years, I was back in the Scandinavia, the place that took everything from me. I had rented the whole beach for the evening because I wanted to be alone. I stood by my once favorite beach in Oslo and closed my eyes as memories from the past flooded my mind; Her beautiful smile, and the warmth of her body, pressed against mine as we stared at the stars together. Aislinn was everything to me until she was snatched away so cruelly. I opened my eyes and stared at the water, hoping its calmness would soothe my turbulent heart. All of a sudden, something caught my attention. Floating and approaching from a distance, I tried to make out what it was. I took a few steps closer, dipping my legs into the water. I gasped when I realized it was a person; a woman, and judging by the way she looked, I knew she was dead. I turned and wanted to leave but a question struck my mind; what if she wasn't dead? What if Aislinn was in a similar situation and needed help? Would I hav
MARIANNE I stared at the man in front of me and could not help but admire him. How could a man be so beautiful? He was staring at me as though he was seeing me for the first time but the emotions in his eyes....was it love? It seemed he had feelings for me but that would mean he knew who I was. Why did he ask me my name then?" "Doctor Mendez!" He unexpectedly broke the ice as he called out the doctor's name. He stood up from the bed and moved away as he suddenly seemed troubled. The doctor; a tall and well built man, walked in just as his name was called, "Is everything alright?" "Why can't she remember her name?" The beautiful man asked. The doctor came closer to me and asked, "Is there anything you remember? You can share it with me." I shook my head, "I don't remember anything." He smiled at me, "It's okay, don't be afraid. Everything is going to be fine." Turning to the beautiful man, he said, "I'm afraid we have to run some tests on her and also call in a spe
MARIANNE My heart skipped a beat, "My husband?" Finding out that such a man was my husband made me feel over the moon and I smiled. "Why are you smiling?" He asked. "It's because you are my husband," I revealed and he smiled back. "Troy, what is my name?" I asked. "Aislinn. Aislinn Stanford," he responded without hesitation. "Here, I brought flowers for you." I took the bouquet of white roses from him, smelled them and bubbled, "Thank you. They smell so nice." I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask him but I knew it wasn't the right time. "I brought our marriage certificate, hoping it would jog your memory," he handed a marriage certificate to me that had our names on it. As I stared at the document, I felt a light pass through my eyes and briefly saw a beautiful lady in a white wedding dress with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. I could not see her face but I could feel her happiness because it was me.Indeed I was a married woman. "What are you thinking about?"
TROYI stood by the window watching the young girl whom I had made to believe that she was my wife. My eyes widened in surprise when my half-sister, Chelsea, walked up to her and slapped her.I knew my family didn't like Aislinn but I never realized it was so bad. My mum had many times referred to her as a gold digger but I thought that was it.I had my suspicions about their involvement in her death because they were all with her on the night she drowned. Her body was never recovered and she was declared to have been lost forever at sea.All the money I paid and the extensive search I carried out for her did not yield any results. Since I couldn't find her, I had to at least find proof of who killed her. I owed her that much for not being at her birthday party that was supposedly thrown by my family on the night she needed me the most. I was not going to spare the culprit, even if it turned out to be my overbearing mom.As I stared at the shock on my wife's face, I recalled what th
TROY "Would you believe others against your own husband?" I asked Aislinn. "Do you not trust me anymore?" She scoffed, "Would a woman lie about the father of her pregnancy? Such things can't be hidden and Sydney must know that. First off, if you did not have sex with her, there wouldn't be the issue of you getting her pregnant. Secondly, if your Mom is vehemently supporting her, then she must be pregnant for you...." "I can assure you that she is not," I maintained as I cupped her face. "Don't believe their words, Cherie. Everyone knows that you are my life. I love you more than anything else in the world. Sydney has always stuck around my Mom, hoping that I would get married to her. Some months ago, when I thought you were dead, I got so depressed that I had too much to drink and became a little intoxicated. Sydney saw an opportunity and snuck into my room. She tried to seduce me but I rejected her advances and kicked her out of my room. I had no idea where she spent the
MARIANNE "Why do I feel so uncomfortable?" I asked myself. Sitting on the bed, I looked around the room and found it strange. Even though I had lost my memory, I had thought the room would feel familiar but it didn't. But what troubled me was the nagging feeling that I had forgotten something extremely important. I wished I could just remember that one thing. Minutes after Troy left, I decided to take a shower. I was able to stand after sitting for a while and saw all the stuff I believed was mine, in the closet. I freshened up quickly and changed into a casual pink dress I found in the wardrobe. It turned out to be too tight for me, proving that I had indeed gained a lot of weight. I had to start working out to keep my weight in check. I wore back the dress Troy had given me at the hospital and laid on the bed. I tried so much to jog my memory but nothing came back to me, not even a flash. I could not wait to remember everything and leave Troy's family home as it was obvious
MARIANNE I kept staring at my husband as he walked closer to me, his eyes not leaving mine, even as he placed the bags in his hand on the floor."You must be tired from standing for so long," his eyes softened and he cupped my face as he spoke. I was taken by surprise as I'd thought he doubted me as well. He led me to the bed, helping me to sit on it while everyone else watched in surprise.The moment I sat down, he turned and charged at Daniel who was about to exit the room. His fist connected with Daniel's cheek as he punched him, forcing four of his teeth and a mouthful of blood out of his mouth."Troy!" Troy's mother, Stella cried as his action was unexpected. As Daniel landed on the ground, Troy picked him up by the collar of his shirt and raged, "How dare you?"I had thought wrong. Troy trusted me so much that he didn't even need me to speak before believing my innocence.Stella ran to him, holding his hand as she cried, "What has come over you? Daniel is your cousin and that
TROY"My Aislinn, I'm sorry that I was too busy and neglected you. If I had loved you as you deserved, I would have known about everything wrong my family did to you." I regretted everything and wished I could turn back the hands of time. Inside my bathroom, as I closed my eyes, I let the water from the shower, drain off the anger I felt. The thought that my Aislinn may have been assaulted by Daniel when she was alive, made me extremely upset. But I knew I had to control my anger, she wouldn't want me to become a murderer for her sake. The Aislinn in my bedroom was just like my late Aislinn. She was unique and special, and I had to find a way to keep my distance from her to avoid regrets later. I had only just met her, and despite knowing she wasn't the real deal, once she stood in front of me, I got all mushy and muddle-headed. The desire to hold her close, caress her, and kiss all her fears away was growing more than I wanted to admit. I was still lost in thought when t
Alva sat by the window, the golden sunlight pouring over her as she gently caressed her rounded belly. She had just registered her marriage to Jonas a week ago in a quiet ceremony, their rings simple yet meaningful. Though their wedding celebration had been postponed until after the baby’s arrival, her heart was full. But today, she was restless. “I miss Mom,” Alva said softly, turning to Jonas, who was busy arranging a small pile of baby clothes they had recently bought. “I want to visit her.” Jonas looked up with a gentle smile, crossing the room to kneel in front of her. “Then let’s go,” he said, taking her hands in his. “You’re her pride and joy. I know seeing you will make her day.” As they prepared to leave, Alva suddenly gasped, clutching her stomach. A rush of water spilled onto the floor. “Jonas…” she whispered, her voice trembling. Jonas was at her side in an instant. “Your water broke,” he said, his voice steady despite the panic rising in his chest. “It’s time.”
A few days after the press conference, Jonas stood outside his parents' home, holding Alva’s hand. The house was an impressive estate surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers, reflecting the warmth and grandeur of the Stanford family. Jonas turned to Alva with a reassuring smile. “Nervous?” he asked, squeezing her hand gently. “A little,” Alva admitted, glancing at the imposing double doors. “Meeting your parents officially is a big deal, Jonas.” Jonas chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “Trust me, they’ll love you as much as I do.” As they stepped inside, Alva was immediately enveloped in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Jonas’s mother, Marianne, rushed forward, her arms outstretched. “Alva!” she exclaimed, pulling her into a heartfelt hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you again. Jonas has told us so much about you.” Alva smiled, touched by Marianne’s warmth. “Thank you, Mrs. Stanford. It’s an honor to meet you again.” “None of that formality,” Marianne said, waving he
A few days after the workshop ended, Alva returned home with Vidar and Jonas. The trio’s spirits were high, their bond stronger than ever after the eventful days they’d shared. But their cheerful mood took a sobering turn when they learned about Thea’s actions. Sitting in the living room, Karina explained everything; Thea’s betrayal, the recording, and her banishment to Australia. Alva’s face showed a mix of disbelief and relief. “She really tried to have me killed?” Alva whispered, shaking her head. “I can’t believe it.” Vidar clenched his fists. “It’s a good thing she’s gone. If she weren’t, I don’t know what I would’ve done.” Jonas nodded in agreement. “Your mom handled it well. And I think Australia is more mercy than she deserved.” Karina sighed. “It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done. I couldn’t risk her harming you, Alva.” She reached out, taking Alva’s hand. “You’re safe now, and that’s all that matters.” That evening, Alva and Vidar invited Jonas to join them for dinner
As Nikolai held Freya in his arms, steadying her after her fall, their eyes locked. Time seemed to slow, the patter of rain on the windows fading into the background. Freya’s lips parted slightly as she gazed up at him, her cheeks flushed, her breath soft and quick. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. The intensity in Nikolai’s gaze was mirrored in Freya’s own, and before they realized it, their faces inched closer. Their breaths mingled, and then their lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss. The kiss deepened quickly, fueled by the tension that had been building between them. Nikolai’s hands slid to Freya’s waist, pulling her closer, while Freya’s fingers curled into his shirt, clinging to him as if afraid to let go. The warmth of their connection surged through them, igniting something neither of them had felt before. Freya tilted her head, giving him better access as Nikolai’s lips moved with hers, their passion growing. As Nikolai guided her onto the couch, he looked into
As Karina watched Thea being dragged away, her resolve only hardened. "No matter what happens, I will never let you come back, Thea. I’ll make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that even if I’m no longer alive, you’ll never harm my daughter again," she thought coldly. Meanwhile, at Fjord Garden, Freya sat in the now-empty restaurant, her heart sinking with each passing minute. The rain continued to pour, and the once-romantic atmosphere now felt gloomy and cold. Glances from other patrons made her feel self-conscious, as though they were silently judging her for being stood up. Her phone had lost service, and she couldn’t reach Nikolai. Frustrated and embarrassed, she decided to leave. She walked out into the rain, clutching her small bag as she began looking for a cab. In her haste, her phone slipped out of her hand, splashing into a shallow puddle. "Damn it," she muttered, crouching to pick it up and wiping it off with her damp sleeve. The rain soaked through her clothes,
The next day, Nikolai couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he prepared for his second date with Freya after work. He had spent the entire night replaying moments from their first date, unable to think of anything else. Every time her laughter echoed in his mind, he found himself smiling like a fool. At the same time, Freya was already dressed and ready, her excitement bubbling over. She had chosen a light floral sundress that flowed beautifully around her, paired with simple sandals and a small clutch bag. She couldn’t stop thinking about Nikolai, her heart racing every time she imagined his smile or the way he had looked at her the night before. As Freya waited, her phone rang, and she picked up immediately when she saw Alva’s name. "Alva!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Freya shared everything about her date with Nikolai, thanking Alva profusely for making it possible. Alva, equally thrilled, recounted her own dramatic day at the auction, sharing every de
Vidar folded his arms, staring at Mina with a mixture of disgust and disbelief. His voice was cold as he spoke. "You know, Mina," he began, "after I found my long-lost sister, I was looking forward to introducing her to you. I thought you two could be friends, and maybe there was even a future for us. But you revealed your true colors before it ever came to that." Mina opened her mouth to speak, but Vidar raised a hand, silencing her. "I’m happy I realized your disgusting nature before I gave you a status in my life. Don’t ever come near me or my sister again," he said firmly. "And, oh....get ready to explain yourself in court for defaming Alva." Mina’s face paled. She turned to Emilie, who was just as shocked as a lot of people to learn that Alva was Vidar’s sister. Mina dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she begged. "Vidar, please, I’m sorry! I love you so much. I thought Alva was your new girlfriend. I was blinded by jealousy. I would never have done this i
Mina’s hands trembled as she rummaged through Alva’s purse, her desperation growing with each passing second. She overturned every pocket, searching thoroughly, but the bracelet was nowhere to be found. Her heart raced, her mind spinning in disbelief. "I put it here!" she thought frantically. "I know I did!" In a final act of desperation, Mina turned the purse upside down, spilling its contents onto the floor. A few items fell out: some feminine wipes, a sleek black card, and a few dollar notes. The crowd watched in stunned silence as she crouched down, furiously pawing through the small pile. Alva stood above her, her gaze calm but piercing. She folded her arms, watching Mina humiliate herself. As Mina’s panic grew, Alva’s mind flashed back to the bathroom. She recalled how, through the mirror, she had seen Mina slip the bracelet into her purse while pretending to adjust her makeup. Alva had already been on guard, having noticed Mina’s earlier conversation with Emilie. Jonas had
Nikolai arrived at Aurora Bistro, a picturesque lakeside restaurant with a rustic charm. The bistro’s warm glow under string lights reflected on the tranquil water, creating an intimate and magical ambiance. He parked his car and walked toward the entrance, his nerves tingling with anticipation. As Nikolai entered, his eyes landed on Freya, who was already seated at a table near the window overlooking the lake. The sight of her momentarily took his breath away. She wore a deep emerald green dress that complimented her fair complexion. The soft fabric flowed effortlessly, cinching at the waist and flaring slightly at her knees. Her hair was styled in loose waves that framed her delicate features, and her light makeup highlighted her natural beauty. Freya’s bright smile, however, was what truly stole Nikolai’s attention. He approached the table with a grin. “Freya, you look absolutely stunning. I feel like I’m at a gala instead of a dinner date.” Freya blushed, smoothing her dress