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
TROY "Marianne..." So that was her name. The moment it escaped my lips, I felt a deep emptiness spread through my chest, like a part of me had suddenly vanished. Watching her walk away left me hollow, and with each step she took, I felt as though my purpose was fading. Before I knew it, I found myself following her. I trailed her quietly, careful not to draw attention. After all, she had already said goodbye. I doubted she’d appreciate knowing I was still there, lurking in the background like a shadow she couldn’t shake. She walked slowly, almost painfully so. I could tell she hadn’t fully recovered, her steps heavy with fatigue. Concerned, I hurried back to the hospital and grabbed my car, using it to discreetly follow her. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as I watched her struggle forward, weak but determined. She eventually entered a mall, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing. She had no money on her—what was she after? My curiosity piqued. Who was this woman?
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