TROY As I drove away, the silence between us thickened, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Marianne sat rigid in the passenger seat, her eyes glued to the road ahead, refusing to acknowledge my presence. Her expression was an unreadable mask, but I knew her mind was far from still. I finally brought the car to a stop as we reached the outskirts of the city, just a few streets away from her apartment. Killing the engine, I exhaled slowly, trying to gather my thoughts. "Why did you follow me?" Her voice cut through the quiet, sharp and direct, yet she didn’t turn to look at me. I sighed, the weight of her question settling in my chest. "I had to." "That's not an answer, Troy." Her gaze finally flicked towards me, eyes narrowing slightly. "I told you I would find you when everything was over. Why wasn't that enough for you?" Her words were laced with frustration, but I could hear the mistrust beneath them. "It couldn't be enough," I said softly, the term of endearment slippi
TROY The minutes dragged on like hours as we sat in the car, our hands intertwined. Her fingers trembled slightly in mine before she finally pulled away, turning her face to the window. There was something about that gesture—a quiet surrender—that tugged at my chest. I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. "So… what now?" She didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on something distant, lost in a world of thoughts that I wasn’t privy to. Her silence felt like an unspoken wall between us, one that had been slowly growing since the day she regained her memories. "What’s in the teddy?" I asked, the question slipping out as I realized she wouldn’t have risked so much for something with just sentimental value. Her response was as cold as ever. "It’s none of your business." Her gaze remained distant, walls still firmly in place. "Can you take me home? I'm pretty sure that since you followed me to my old house and even brought me here, you already know where I live now." I nodded, tryin
MARIANNE “What’s your plan for Britney?” Troy asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and something else I couldn’t quite place. I sighed softly. “We’ll both find out tomorrow, I suppose.” He rolled his eyes, the hint of a smile on his lips. “You’re too secretive for your own good, Aislinn.” A silence fell between us, thick with unsaid words. After a few moments, I excused myself and retreated to my room. I needed to make a phone call, one I’d been dreading yet longing to make. My godfather answered after a few rings, and I asked for something I desperately needed. When the call ended, I stepped back into the living room, where Troy was lounging in my chair, his head resting casually on the armrest. He looked so at ease, as if he belonged there. “You should leave,” I said, my voice harder than I intended. He lifted his head and studied me for a long moment, eyes narrowing slightly before he shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s not happening. I’ll leave when I’m convinced y
MARIANNE For some reason, Troy's action, stirred something in me. It was a fleeting warmth, one I quickly suppressed. I had no time for such feelings. Once inside the bank, I was led to the vault—a cold, sterile space filled with rows of metal safe deposit boxes. I stared at the key in my hand, running my fingers over the engraved numbers before matching it to its box. The metallic sound of the lock turning echoed in the stillness. I opened it, revealing the documents I needed. I carefully retrieved the papers and a flash drive, taking a moment to register the weight of what I was holding. This was my legacy—my father’s legacy—secured away from the hands of those who had betrayed me. Without delay, I left the bank and drove to the courier company. My godfather’s parcel had arrived, and I was desperate to get it. But as fate would have it, the company had already closed for the day. The frustration clawed at me, yet there was nothing I could do. I had no choice but to head home,
MARIANNETroy seemed stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile. "You’re something else, you know that?" "I’ll take that as a compliment," I replied, focusing on the syringe in my hand. "But please, slow down a little." Troy eased off the gas but kept glancing my way as I prepared the injection. "Eyes on the road, Troy," I warned when another car nearly grazed ours. With a frustrated sigh, he pulled over to the side of the road. "Where did you learn how to do that? You part of some secret criminal organization?" I scoffed without sparing him a glance, "Seriously? If you are going to harbour such thoughts about me Troy, then it's best for you to stay away until I'm done with my revenge. I never asked for your help in the first place." "Is that why you’re being rude to me right now?" His tone was clipped, obviously offended. I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him. Seeing the look on his face, I sighed. "I didn’t mean to be rude, Troy. It's just
MARIANNE I quickly dashed toward the door, slipping my mask back over my face and tucking the syringe into Troy’s pocket. My pulse pounded in my ears, but I forced myself to stay calm. We moved in sync, walking out of the ward together. As we took a few steps away, I heard the faint sound of footsteps. The doctor was entering Britney’s room. Troy leaned close and whispered, "Run." Without hesitation, we bolted down the hallway. Adrenaline surged through my veins, pushing my legs faster. When we reached the room where I’d changed, I glanced at Troy. "Go," I urged, my voice steady. "Wait for me in the car. I’ll be out in a minute." He hesitated, his eyes searching mine for any sign of uncertainty. But he knew me too well by now. Reluctantly, he shrugged off the lab coat and mask, leaving them in a heap before disappearing down the hall. I took a moment to gather myself, stripping off the nurse uniform and replacing it with my own clothes. My fingers trembled as I let my hair
MARIANNE Troy smiled, his gaze sharp and playful. "And I'm supposed to buy that?" I shrugged, keeping my tone even. "It's up to you." I paused before adding, "I need to buy a car. Can you take me?" He raised a brow, curiosity edging into his voice. "Why? Is mine not comfortable enough for you anymore?" I exhaled slowly, not wanting to argue. "What if we have a lot to do and need to go our separate ways? Would you rather I chase after a cab?" Troy sighed, giving a slight nod. "I guess not." Thirty minutes later, I found myself behind the wheel of a sleek gray Acura MDX, the weight of the keys in my hand feeling like a small victory. Before I drove off, I placed a few calls—brands I was familiar with, orders I knew would arrive quickly. I arranged for everything to be delivered to the house within the hour, the efficiency of it soothing something restless in me. I hadn't eaten breakfast, but the thought of food made my stomach turn. Instead, we drove back to the house, Tro
MARIANNE "Why do you want to marry me?" Troy's voice was low, but the intensity in his gaze cut through the air. I tried to ease the tension with a warm smile, though I could sense the gravity behind his question. "Don't get worked up, Troy. It’s only temporary. Once my revenge is complete, we’ll divorce." His expression darkened, frustration flaring up. “The nerve of you,” he snapped, his voice rougher than I expected. “You come up with a ridiculous arrangement like this without even asking me? Without so much as a conversation? What do you take me for, Marianne?” His anger, though justified, stung. I took a deep breath, keeping my voice calm. "You have every right to be upset. Believe me, I’m shaken too by the absurdity of it all. But Troy... if I had brought it up at home, I would’ve gotten cold feet. I’d convince myself there was another way, but there isn’t." I paused, trying to meet his eyes, but he looked away. "This is a marriage of convenience. No strings, no obligat
Vidar emerged from the bar, the weight of his meeting still lingering in his steps. He went towards the hotel's entrance, his thoughts drifting to the quiet solace of his room. Yet, just as the idea of retreating crossed his mind, he remembered Alva. "She's still in the garden with Jonas," he thought. He hesitated. "Should I give them some privacy?" The idea was tempting, he trusted Alva, and he didn’t want to intrude on her moment. But another part of him insisted, "No, I should check on them just once to see if Alva is okay." Vidar sighed, running a hand through his hair. Alva was too young to be in such a relationship.....in his opinion. Yet, here she was......head over heels for Jonas and carrying his child. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but Vidar had made peace with it. Alva’s happiness was what mattered most, and if Jonas made her happy, then Vidar wasn’t going to stand in the way. Still, his protective instincts urged him to take a quick look. 'Checking on her just on
"Hi, Nikolai, this is Freya, Alva's best friend. Alva just asked me if you and I have spoken, and I remembered she gave me your number and mentioned you were going to call me. Is everything okay with you?" Freya stared at the message she had just typed into her phone, her thumb hovering over the send button. Her heart pounded against her chest, and she let out a shaky sigh. The thought of sending the message filled her with dread. She knew she could never send such a message. Lying on her bed, she clenched her phone tightly. She could almost hear Alva's voice in her head, teasing her about her feelings for Nikolai. Freya shook her head, trying to dispel the nervous thoughts. Just as she was about to delete the message, her mother’s voice rang out behind her, startling her. “What are you doing, Freya?” Freya bolted upright, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly turned her phone screen downward and tossed it onto the bed before spinning around to face her mom. “Nothing! Just..
Alva stepped back abruptly, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at Jonas, unable to believe her eyes. The world around her seemed to blur, and all she could focus on was him, standing there with that familiar look in his eyes....an expression she had tried to forget but couldn’t. "Jonas..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her racing heartbeat. Jonas gave her a small, apologetic smile. "Yes, it's me." His voice was warm, yet there was a hint of hesitation. "I’m sorry you haven't heard from me in a while. I thought you needed time to adjust to everything in your new environment. And, honestly, it’s been difficult not talking to you." She blinked, struggling to process his words. "So you followed me all the way here?" Her tone was accusatory, but the fluttering in her chest betrayed her annoyance. Jonas chuckled softly, the sound rich and soothing. "No, not exactly. If I’d known you were in Denmark, I would have been more prepared. This is a surp
Alva stretched her legs cautiously, testing her ankle with a few steps. Then, with a sudden burst of confidence, she strode across her room and twirled around. “Perfect!” she declared to the empty space. “Goodbye, crutches. Hello, independence!” Vidar, walking by her room, poked his head in. “Did you just say goodbye to inanimate objects? Should I be concerned?” Alva grinned. “Laugh all you want, Vidar. You don’t know what it’s like to walk with crutches or limp around.” “True,” Vidar agreed, leaning against the doorframe. “But you’re walking fine now, so no slacking for you, especially during this workshop. You’ll be networking like a pro.” “Networking?” Alva groaned. “Why does that sound like a punishment?” Vidar smirked. “Because it is. But you’ll survive. I’ll make sure of it.” At this time, Thea was pacing her room, muttering under her breath. “If Alva hadn’t come along, I would’ve been the one going on this trip with Vidar,” her voice dripped with resentment as s
Freya sat nervously in the corner of the small eatery. Her hands were clenched tightly in her lap. The place was warm and simple, with soft chatter and the clinking of plates filling the room. Across from her, Jonas leaned back in his chair, watching her closely. His gaze was sharp but didn’t feel mean. “Relax, Freya,” Jonas said, a small smile on his face. “You look like I called you here to yell at you.” Freya shifted in her seat, trying to smile back. “It’s not that… I just don’t know why you wanted to meet.” “Let’s start with dinner,” he said, pointing at the menu in front of them. Freya shook her head quickly. “I already ate. I’m not hungry.” Jonas raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He set the menu aside and leaned forward, his face turning serious. “Alright, let’s get to the point. Freya, I was angry with you before. Because of what you did, I kept misunderstanding Alva, and things between us got bad.” Freya’s stomach twisted with guilt. She opened her mouth to apol
Freya’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she grabbed Alva’s hand tightly. “You’re incredible. I knew you were destined for greatness, Alva, but CEO? That’s next-level stuff. I’m so proud of you!” “Thank you,” Alva replied, squeezing her friend’s hand. “And when the time comes, you can come work with me in the company. We’ll run it together.” Freya’s lip quivered, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep her tears in check. “Alva, you’re the best friend anyone could ask for. No, scratch that—you’re the best human being alive.” Alva giggled. “Don’t cry, Freya. Save the waterworks for the CEO inauguration.” “I can’t help it!” Freya wailed dramatically before pulling Alva into a bone-crushing hug. “I’m the luckiest person in the world to have you.” As Freya finally released her, she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, smiling brightly. “So… can I come on this fancy business trip too? I’ll hide in your suitcase.” Alva shook her head, laughing. “No can do.” “Why not?
Thea’s fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her teeth ground against each other as she watched Alva bask in the warmth of everyone’s affection. The realization hit her like a slap to the face—Alva had planned this. She had the evidence all along and had played the helpless victim, crying her way into everyone’s hearts. And Thea? Thea had walked right into her trap. Her head began to spin as her mind screamed, 'I was outsmarted by her?' “How could I be so foolish?” Thea muttered under her breath, her voice so low only she could hear it. Karina’s voice snapped Thea out of her angry thoughts. “I will think of a befitting punishment for what you’ve done,” Karina said, her gaze icy as she looked down at her daughter sprawled on the floor, still feigning remorse. “Mom, I didn’t....” “You’re grounded for a month, for now, until I think of a much better punishment,” Karina declared firmly, cutting off Thea’s weak protest. Thea’s mouth dropped open. Grounded? She
Alva’s hands trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks, her voice barely audible. “Why does this always happen to me?” she whispered, clutching her chest as though trying to hold her breaking heart together. Vidar stepped closer, his voice steady yet soothing. “Don’t cry, Alva. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters here is that the jewelry is yours, and you have every right to take it whenever you want.” Her mother, Karina, nodded firmly, moving to stand beside Vidar. “He’s right, Alva. What’s mine is yours. You’re my daughter—feel free to take anything you need, anytime.” Karina’s voice held a protective tone, though her furrowed brows betrayed her inner conflict. Alva glanced at her mother, her lips quivering. “But I didn’t even know the jewelry existed until now.” Before Karina could respond, Nikolai interjected, his jaw tight with anger. “Alva didn’t put that jewelry there. Someone else did this, and I won’t spare them.” Vidar placed a firm hand on Nikolai’s shoulde
Thea's tears fell freely as she sobbed in the middle of the room, her voice trembling. “I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve only ever wanted the best for this family.....for us. And now, you’re all treating me like I’m an outsider.” She sniffled, glancing around the room with a pitiful expression. “I was only trying to help. Alva is my sister, and I just wanted to make sure she’s on the right path.” Alva softened her gaze. She stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm. “You’re right, Thea. Maybe you’re only doing this because you care.” The room fell silent, everyone staring at Alva as she faced Thea directly. “If you think this is your way of helping me, then I’ll prove to you that I don’t need saving,” Alva said gently. “What would it take for you to believe that I didn’t take the jewelry?” Thea hesitated, her lips twitching as if she was weighing her next words. Finally, she spoke, her voice tinged with resolve. “If we searched your room and didn’t find the jewelry, I’d bel