MARIANNE I turned my face away from Troy, avoiding his gaze, and said, "I need to go back home now." His eyes lit up with excitement. "To fulfill my needs?" he teased. I scoffed, shaking my head. "Hell no! I'm exhausted, Troy. I need to eat something and take a nap. I’ve still got one more place to go later." He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Way to ruin my happiness, Aislinn." I couldn’t help but smile at his playful frustration. "Don't worry, we’ll order food and eat at home. After that, I can take a quick nap before tackling the rest of my day." He shot me a glance. "No need," he said confidently, taking the wheel with a grin. "I'll make lunch." Surprised, I raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that be too much for you? You must be hungry and exhausted already," I said, strapping on my seatbelt. "I'm not complaining," he replied smoothly, already focused on driving. Once we arrived home, Troy immediately headed to the kitchen to cook while I made a beeline for my room, thr
MARIANNE Troy and I walked into the club, hand in hand. The moment we stepped inside, the vibrant energy of the place hit me like a wave. The music throbbed through the walls, reverberating in my chest, while neon lights flickered in time with the beat, casting wild shadows across the crowd. I glanced down at my outfit and quickly realized I was overdressed. My elegance felt out of place among the club goers in their casual, carefree attire, and I attracted more attention than I intended. A few heads turned my way, eyes lingering too long, making me shift uncomfortably. I had never liked being the center of attention when I didn’t control the narrative. Nevertheless, I made my way to the bar, leaning casually against the counter as Troy disappeared into the crowd, no doubt scanning for possible threats or hazards. I admired his carefulness, even though I sometimes found it overbearing. He was always on guard, protecting me in ways I didn’t think I needed. "Can I buy you a
MARIANNE "Let's go back home," I said to Troy after the police finally left. My mood was perfect—elated, even—because I had successfully carried out everything I had planned to accomplish for the day. The satisfaction was almost intoxicating. I could almost see the finish line, a gleaming future where every piece of my strategy had fallen into place. It was only a matter of time. When we arrived home, I threw myself onto the couch, sinking into the soft cushions and leaning my head back with a contented smile playing on my lips. The weight of the day’s victories wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I guess it was safe to call it a day, but first, I needed to confirm one last thing—that Tony had been released and the information I needed had been acquired. Troy, leaning casually against the doorframe, watched me with an appreciative smile. "Today was a success," he said, his eyes reflecting my own satisfaction. I got to my feet, feeling a surge of energy from the adrenaline sti
MARIANNE Sitting in the living room, I waited until Troy appeared with all his bags. As he walked out, he seemed quite angry, his jaw clenched, and his eyes fixed forward as if to avoid meeting mine. He didn’t bother to spare me a glance, and it felt like a knife was being driven into my heart. The urge to stop him, to tell him that I didn’t want him to go, that I needed him, was almost unbearable. Every fiber of my being wanted to reach out, to call his name, to close the distance that had grown between us. But I remained frozen on the couch, as if the weight of my decision had cemented me in place. The sound of his car starting and driving away filled the house with a hollow emptiness, and a pang of loneliness settled deep in my chest. I couldn’t help but wonder, "Is this the end for us? Would I ever see him again? What if he never wants anything to do with me again?" I stood abruptly, the desperation rising inside me. I rushed to the door, flinging it open with a wild hope
TROYAfter Marianne rudely asked me to leave her house, I got upset, packed my bags, and left. However, after driving a short distance from her house, I stopped. I tried to make sense of her actions, but nothing came to mind. I believed something I had done must have upset her. But couldn't she just tell me what it was? I went over everything we did that day and furrowed my brows when I remembered Sharon, the escort. When I had first seen her, my eyes had stayed glued to her because she reminded me of the first time I met Aislinn on a runway. Her beautiful and sexy legs had been the first thing that caught my attention, and a while after that, I fell head over heels in love with her. Thinking about it, I recalled that Marianne had offered to pay Sharon so she could serve me for a night. At the time, I had taken it as a joke, but what if Marianne got upset and kicked me out because I had been staring? Picking up my phone, I decided to call her and ask if she was upset because
TROYAs I knelt on the floor, groaning in anger, the harsh sound of liquid spilling jolted me from my thoughts. I looked up and saw fuel steadily leaking from the damaged trucks. A cold shiver ran down my spine, and a sense of imminent danger washed over me. Rising to my feet, I took one last glance around. I knew it was only a matter of time before the ambulances, fire trucks, and police would arrive, their sirens blaring through the stillness of the night. The last thing I wanted was to get caught in that mess. I needed to vanish before they flooded the scene with flashing lights and endless questions. Perhaps because it was on the outskirts, no crowds gathered to gawk at the accident. The isolation was unnerving, amplifying the eerie silence. Just as I began to walk away, a realization hit me like a punch to the gut. There was no blood. My steps faltered. My breath caught in my throat. My eyes widened in shock as I turned back to take a closer look at Marianne's car, scrutinizin
TROY I left the station a few minutes later, got into my car, and quickly drove away, my eyes constantly checking the rearview mirror. Once I was convinced that no one was tailing us, I pulled over at a quiet, secluded spot and had Marianne return to the passenger seat. "Are you okay?" I asked, breaking the heavy silence after driving for what felt like an eternity. She sighed, her voice weary. "I've been better. Honestly, I’m surprised you followed me. I thought you left." I nodded, keeping my gaze on the road. "Yeah, I was leaving when I realized I’d forgotten something. On my way back to get it, I saw you leaving the house. I tried calling, but you wouldn't answer, so I followed you." She gave a small nod. "I see. Sorry about that. I must've been too panicked to even notice the call. I lost my phone in the crash, but it's not a big deal." I glanced at her, concern etched across my face. "But how did you survive the crash?" I asked, curiosity and worry lacing my tone. S
MARIANNE After Troy left, I closed my eyes and pushed my lower body forward, sinking deeper into the couch. My mind wandered, heavy with regret. I had wanted to ask him to stay, but the words stuck in my throat. I was terrified that if he stayed, I wouldn’t have the strength to hold myself back if he made advances toward me again. I exhaled slowly, letting my eyes fall shut, but the peace I sought was fleeting. One of the most harrowing moments of my life crashed into my thoughts; I was gripping the steering wheel, glancing frantically at the rearview mirror, then at the road ahead, fully aware that my death was inevitable. Two monstrous trucks bore down on me from both sides, their headlights flashing like the eyes of predators ready to strike, threatening to crush me between them. The space around me felt suffocating, the roar of their engines drowning out my racing thoughts. At the last possible moment, I realized I had already stopped my car and unbuckled my seatbelt, and th
Jonas pulled away from Alva for a brief moment as he tried to catch his breath.Afterward, they stared at each other and smiled."I think Vidar will be pissed if he finds me here," Jonas told Alva.She nodded, "I did think of that. I better get his permission then."Before Jonas could stop Alva, she opened the door of her room and went out while saying, "Please wait for me, Jonas." She began going down to look for Vidar when she saw him coming up.Jonas sat down and sighed. He was seeing a different side of Alva, one he loved. But he felt the timing was not right. In the end, he was willing to do anything as long as Alva was happy, so he waited for her.Vidar smiled when he saw Alva."You seem happier than you did earlier," he noted. "I take it your conversation with Jonas went well?"Alva smiled, feeling a little embarrassed, "Actually, I want to ask for a favor."Vidar put his arm around her neck and began leading her back to her room. "You know you can always ask me for anything."
Jonas sat opposite Vidar, curious about what he wanted to say to him. “What do you feel for my sister?” Vidar asked, his tone steady but probing. Jonas leaned back in his chair, meeting Vidar’s gaze. He didn't hesitate. “I love Alva more than anything. She’s the only girl I want to spend my life with. For her, I would do anything.” Vidar studied him for a moment, his expression softening into a rare smile. “That's interesting, and music to my ears.” Jonas nodded, relieved to have Vidar’s approval, but Vidar’s smile quickly faded. His voice turned sharp. “But are you telling me the truth? What does Emilie Larsen mean to you?” Jonas stiffened but remained composed. “Emilie was my fiancée,” he admitted. “But it was never about love. The engagement was arranged.....nothing more than a business deal. The moment I fell for Alva, I knew I couldn’t go through with it. I’ve already called off the engagement as you know.” Vidar’s eyes narrowed as he assessed Jonas’s sincerity. After
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