SHARON I made my way to the bed and threw myself onto it, the weight of my thoughts pressing down like an invisible burden. Closing my eyes, I tried to imagine what my life would be like once I was done with my mission. Freedom. Money. No more going hungry. I was going to walk away with more money than I'd ever dreamed of, more than all the money I had made while being an escort combined. My brother, the only family I had left, was still in high school, and he was never going to want for anything again. I would give him the very best—the education, the life, the opportunities I never had. I would ensure he didn’t have to struggle like I did, didn’t have to fight for survival every single day the way I had since I was his age. I didn’t know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, the warm glow of the evening sun filtered through the curtains. Britney was still in her wheelchair, exactly where I'd left her. Of course, where else could she go? I yawned, stretching lazily a
SHARON Britney once again became agitated and began struggling to speak. I chuckled lightly, "Relax! Can't you take a joke? Why are you getting so worked up over a man who is making plans with his mistress to get you out of his life? You must love him so much. That’s the only logical explanation. I bet his ex-wife, Marianne, loved him just as much, while you enjoyed his attention as his mistress, just like Mildred is doing right now. Do you feel hurt by your husband's actions? How dare a hypocrite like you harbor such feelings?" The sound of the door opening told me that Tony was back. I quickly left the room and went to the kitchen, returning the plate I had used and pouring myself a glass of juice. Afterward, I left the kitchen and headed to the living room. I looked around, but there was no sign of Tony. "I guess he has gone to bed," I thought, heading back to check on Britney. I took Britney to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, bathed her, and dressed her in her pajama
SHARON Mildred must have been so upset that she completely forgot Tony was supposed to be called Frank, in the presence of outsiders like me. He pulled out of me and quickly reached for his briefs, slipping them on as his face twisted in a mix of anger and annoyance. "What the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in here?" he snapped, his voice sharp. She scoffed, her eyes flashing with fury. "Are you seriously asking me that, Tony, when I just caught you buried inside this whore? How could you betray me like this after everything we've been through?" "Answer my question, damn it!" Tony yelled, taking a step toward her, fists clenched at his sides. "I used the passcode, of course!" she fired back, raising her voice to match his. "How else could I have gotten in here, genius?" At this point, I scrambled off the bed. I grabbed the sheets and quickly wrapped them around my body. Tony’s temper flared as he took menacing steps toward her, his tone venomous. "How the hell di
TROYAislinn's eyes suddenly darted in my direction, and I quickly turned, quietly slipping out of the hall. I didn’t want to make any unnecessary contact.Back at my house, I found myself surrounded by reminders of her—photos, cards, small mementos—things I had once cherished, things I had gathered. They were relics of a life that no longer fit into my present.Without hesitation, I packed everything related to her and walked straight to the incinerator. I watched as the flames consumed each piece, reducing them to nothing but ash. The sight of it brought a strange kind of relief, as though I was burning away the parts of myself still tethered to the past.Although I had told Marianne I’d be away for forty-eight hours, I felt an urgency pulling me back much sooner. Being away from her didn’t sit right with me, and more than anything, I wanted to be by her side—to tell her that she was my world.I switched my phone back on, curious to see if she had responded to my message. As I scrol
TONYI had everything under control and suddenly, I didn’t. Even now, I could hardly believe that Mildred had been the culprit that night. It was surreal. I had trusted her completely, believing she truly loved me. Of course, I had no intention of ever marrying her but she never knew that. If she really loved me like she claimed, why did she attack me that night? If Britney was the object of her hatred and jealousy, why had she pointed her gun at me and belittled me that night? All this time, I thought it had something to do with that Aislinn who was proving more formidable than her so called sister. I had suspected she had something to do with Britney's condition since she appeared around the same time. But it turned out to be the person I least expected—Mildred. And it was my fault. I had let my guard down around her after using and playing with her for so long. She had grown bold. Thanks to her, Britney had found out about my affairs with Maya and her. I could see her ang
TROYI arrived at Astrid's chateau, my heart pounding as I stared at the imposing black gate from my car. The sleek, iron bars gleamed under the faint light, standing between me and whatever truth lay inside. I reached for my gun, the cold metal grounding me as I tucked it into the back of my pants. The silence around me was unnerving, no sign of life in sight, and no CCTV to capture my every move. I hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before vaulting over the gate, my mind racing with thoughts of Marianne.As I approached the house, the weight of uncertainty pressed down on me. My initial plan was to scale the house and slip into one of the rooms, hoping to find Marianne hidden somewhere within. But something told me to try the front door first—better to see what I was up against. My nerves tingled with anticipation as I knocked twice, my hand trembling slightly. A few seconds passed before a calm, feminine voice called from inside, telling me to wait.I stood there, feeli
SHARON "That was close," I thought as Tony and I got off the bed and began to leave the room. My heart was still racing from how close I came to attacking him in order to save myself. It was a good thing he was easily manipulated by me. I would have been deeply saddened if I had failed in my mission and let Aislinn down. She trusted my capabilities, and I couldn't afford to make a mistake now. I knew Aislinn was watching everything that was happening, but still, I needed to inform her myself, I couldn’t take any chances. It was crucial for her to know that Tony was planning to discard Mildred's body at ten. I had to be precise about the time, down to the last detail. While we had sex earlier, I had deliberately moaned loud enough for Britney to hear, relishing the mental torment I was causing her. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. Hadn't she wanted me dead? Well, she was about to find out what true misery felt like. After all, my boss had specifically instructed
MARIANNE "Wait!" I exclaimed just before Astrid and his cohorts pulled the trigger, my voice cutting through the tense air. Astrid smirked darkly. "Any last words?" he asked mockingly, his cold eyes studying me. "Of course, it's useless to make any requests. I can promise you that none of them would be fulfilled." I chuckled softly, and his brow furrowed in surprise. Then, without warning, I burst into laughter. Astrid scoffed, his annoyance barely concealed. "And what's so funny? The fact that you are about to die?" I smiled slowly. "No, I'm laughing at the fact that you all are live. Did you really think I came unprepared? I have cameras all over my body. Every word you've spoken and every move you've made has been recorded and is currently being streamed on the internet as we speak." Astrid’s smirk faltered slightly. "What are you talking about?" "Think of all the people watching right now," I continued smoothly, "especially your precious commissioner. Even if I die n
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
Freya’s gaze lingered on Nikolai like he was a piece of art she couldn’t quite stop admiring. Alva smirked, nudging her lightly with her elbow. “Hey, Freya." Freya’s eyes brimmed with tears, but before a single drop could fall, Alva held out her hand, stopping her. “Please, save me all the drama,” she teased, breaking the tension with her signature wit. Freya broke into a grin as Alva pulled her into a tight hug. It was like old times again, the invisible wall that had separated them melting away. “Have you forgiven me?” Freya asked, her voice tinged with excitement and nervousness. “How can I stay mad at my bestie?” Alva replied, though her tone softened. “What you did really hurt me, Freya. If you ever betray me again, I swear I’ll never forgive you.” Freya pulled back, shaking her head furiously. “I’ll never dare to betray you ever again. I promise.” Their heartfelt moment was interrupted by Nikolai’s voice. “What are you two whispering about?” he asked, his sharp ey
Alva finally found her grandfather’s room after wandering down the quiet hallways. The door creaked softly as she knocked and pushed it open, revealing him sitting upright in bed, a pair of reading glasses perched on his nose, and a thick book cradled in his hands. “Grandpa,” she whispered, a wave of relief washing over her. He looked up, his eyes twinkling with warmth. “Alva, sweetheart. What are you doing up this late?” “I wanted to check on you,” she said, limping over on her crutches. “Nikolai told me your blood pressure spiked earlier. I got worried.” He chuckled, setting the book aside. “That brother of yours is worse than a mother hen. He’s been fussing over me all day, insisting I stay in bed. I feel fine, truly.” Alva dropped onto a chair by his bed, her crutches leaning against the wall. “You can’t blame him. We all just want you to be okay.” Her grandfather reached out, taking her hand in his. “And I am okay, as long as I see you smiling. Come here.” He patted th