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
MARIANNE In the morning, when I opened my eyes, my husband's face was the first thing I saw. I didn't know when I fell asleep last night but opening my eyes to see him staring at me had to be one of the best things in the world. "Good morning, Princess," he beamed. "Good morning, Prince," I replied and we both smiled. We stared at each other silently, and I recalled last night, when he had walked away from me despite how difficult it was for him. The fact that he put my well-being ahead of his sexual desires made me feel very safe with him. I moved closer and hugged him, placing my head on his chest as I asked, "Have I told you that you are extremely handsome?" He laughed, "You've always thought so. However, my looks are nothing compared to yours. For me, you are the most beautiful girl in the world." "Sweet like honey" was the exact phrase to describe all his words to me. How could a man be so perfect for me? I continued hugging him, enjoying how pleasantly he smelled and r
TROY I had just gotten off the phone when I heard a scream. It wasn’t Aislinn’s voice, but I knew it had something to do with her. My family was causing trouble again. I ran inside, and Chelsea, who had just walked out, turned and rushed back in as well. What I saw wasn’t what I expected, but at first, I was relieved. Aislinn stood at the top of the stairs, unharmed. I could breathe again, for just a second. But then I saw her face. Something wasn’t right. She looked lost, confused, like she was in some kind of pain that had nothing to do with her body. I waited, thinking she would come down the stairs on her own, but she didn’t move. Then my mom’s scream broke through the silence. Sydney was bleeding. She was losing the baby. I scoffed. This was typical Sydney. Desperate, manipulative. Girls like her would do anything to get what they wanted, even sacrifice the innocent. There was no maternal love in her—just selfish greed. I glanced away from Aislinn for only a second
MARIANNE The water felt heavy, like the weight of the world pressing me deeper into the abyss. My limbs thrashed, desperate to reach the surface, but the more I struggled, the farther away it seemed. Then, like a sinister veil being lifted, the water turned crimson, the deep red staining everything around me. My arms became numb, the pain gnawing through my body. I gasped, the choking sensation of water filling my lungs, blurring the line between life and death. And then, stillness. My body stopped fighting, and I felt myself sinking, the darkness swallowing me whole. I closed my eyes, accepting what seemed inevitable. This was the end of the road for me. But suddenly, my eyes shot open, and I sat upright. My heart raced, a wild, erratic drumbeat in my chest. "It was just a nightmare, Anne," I whispered to myself, trying to calm the frantic pounding of my heart. But even as I said it, I knew better. It wasn't a nightmare—it was a memory. One I wished I could forget, but
MARIANNEAs I walked out of the hospital, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had left something behind—something crucial. It was an odd sensation, like a tiny voice whispering in my ear, urging me to stop, but I couldn’t quite grasp why. Still, I kept moving forward, determined not to let the nagging feeling pull me back. Once outside, I paused. The cool air greeted me as I looked right, then left. A wave of confusion washed over me—I was lost. I had been to Oslo a few times for business, but the streets felt like a maze. I knew some landmarks but had no idea which road led where. I stood there, frozen, weighing my options, before finally trusting my gut. I turned left and began walking, hoping it would lead me somewhere familiar. It was exhausting. With every step, frustration built inside me. My legs grew heavy, and the unfamiliar streets stretched on endlessly. After what felt like hours, I started to question whether I was even moving in the right direction. But with no money
MARIANNEJohnson Vincent paused, his eyes lingering on me, searching for something familiar. His voice was skeptical, almost wounded. "How can I believe you’re my little princess when you look nothing like her?" My heart pounded, but I kept moving toward him, my hands raised in surrender. "Do you remember when I was thirteen?" I asked gently, hoping the memories would connect us again. I took another step closer, speaking softly. "Dad brought me to you for a three-month holiday. You said I was too weak, too delicate. You wanted me to be stronger, to learn how to shoot, how to defend myself. But Dad... he couldn’t bear the thought of me getting hurt. He said I didn’t need to shoot a gun because my bodyguards would always be there." Johnson's eyes softened, the tension in his face easing as he listened. "I remember you were upset," I continued. "You said you didn’t want me to grow up helpless. I couldn’t stand the two of you fighting, so I lied. I told Dad that I wanted to learn
MARIANNE I approached the door, and typed in the passcode, my fingers moving quickly, more out of habit than anything else. "Invalid passcode!" The words flashed brightly on the screen, and a cold wave of realization washed over me. Tony had changed the passcode. I wasn’t surprised though. He was the only other person who knew how to alter the code, and this confirmed everything. He was living here, in 'my' house, with 'her'. Taking a steadying breath, I reset the passcode. Since the system was still tied to my fingerprint, that was something Tony couldn’t change without me. The door unlocked with a soft click. I cracked it open just enough to peek inside. The living room was eerily silent, empty. But the stillness was misleading. The CCTV camera was positioned perfectly to capture my entrance—just as I had designed it when I lived here. I cursed under my breath, regretting the meticulousness I once prided myself on. The camera was a problem, but so were the changes. The li
"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
The room was tense. The weight of Thea's accusations hung in the air like a storm cloud, thick and suffocating. Alva stood in the middle of the chaos, her face calm. “You’re all acting like I’m the villain here!” Thea’s voice cracked with frustration, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I can’t just sit back and let Mom be wronged. I love Alva, she’s my sister. But it kills me to think that she could do something like this to the person who’s given her everything!”Alva scoffed but she didn’t respond. Thea turned to the others, her voice softening, as if she were pleading for their understanding. “Even if Alva wanted the jewelry, that wouldn’t have been a bad thing. Mom was already planning to give it to her. But stealing it? That’s what hurts. Seeing my sister hurt my mother is unbearable.We all know Alva didn't grow up with us. She had a rough life and no one knows how many times she must have stolen, just to survive. How can we help her if she doesn't acknowledge her pr