**Third person** Wednesday evening, Adam headed to his bedroom with his travel bag in hand and Karen trailing behind. “How was Chicago?” Karen asked as soon as they stepped in. “Fine,” Adam hummed tiredly, slumping into the bed. She studied his face for a moment before speaking. “You don't seem too pleased, did the deal go well?” “It was fine, I'm just tired.” His voice held a tint of irritation as he placed the bag on the floor without even glancing at the woman beside him. Sighing, Karen plopped down beside him on the mattress. “Dad said that Italy was a dead end,” she announced. “Oh, tell me about it,” he thought, his eyes rolling in frustration. “I wonder where Ashley could have hidden all that money,” Karen added. “Wow, I wonder too,” he finally said in a monotonous tone, taking off his shoes and then his socks. “You don't seem too surprised?” Karen pointed out, searching Adam's face. Of course, Adam knew firsthand that Italy was a dead end; he'd gone t
**Third person**“Maybe you should tell Miss Thorne how you feel about her,” Calvin suggested, causing Lucas to glare at him. “And how do I feel about her?” Lucas raised a brow.“Considering you booked a weekend getaway for both of you and then lied that it was your mother,” Calvin paused before he continued, “it means that you love and care about her.”Lucas folded his arms around his chest and defended himself. “It's not that deep... I just wanted her to take a break from work.” “But why tell her that it's your mother?” Calvin asked, a playful glint in his eyes. “You know, she might appreciate your thoughtfulness if she knows that this was all your doing,” he suggested.“Then she might not come,” Lucas sighed, his hands falling back to his sides. "I don't want her to think that I have ulterior motives.”Calvin's brows raised, and he smirked. “But don't you?” he teased.Lucas furrowed his eyebrows and squinted his eyes, feigning anger. “You should leave,” he scolded playfully, and
**Valerie**It was already evening when we arrived in Paris. I called in sick to work today. I wasn't entirely lying though, especially after last night at the bar.The villa was more beautiful than I'd imagined. It had a big garden, a pool, a waterfall, sculptures... Name it.“Do you like it?” Lucas asked, standing behind me.My lips curled into a smile. “I love it.”“I'm glad it's to your taste.” He grinned. “I'll show you to your room then,” he offered, leading the way.Stepping into the well-furnished interior, I let my eyes roam, taking in the lights, the walls, and the floor. They were all impeccable.We were standing in front of a door now. Lucas opened it and gestured for me to go in, while a man brought in my bag.“You should freshen up," he suggested. "There's a local bar not far from here; we could have dinner there.”“Okay, sure,” I nodded, settling into the large and hard mattress.“Great, I also have a lot planned out for tomorrow…” He paused. “I mean, my mom has a lot p
**Lucas**The night was a blur of laughter, drinks, and more...After the dance floor, I couldn't wait to get home. I couldn't wait to hold Valerie in bed. I couldn't wait to kiss her and hear her moan my name while I fucked her hard.She gets me aroused in ways I can't explain. After walking her to the exit, I hurried back to take a leak.As soon as I was done, I stepped out, and that's when I saw them - A couple stood by a nearby wall, their bodies pressed together. The woman's face was obscured by the man's, but I could see the way he held her, his hands gripping her neck with a force that sent a chill down my spine.***Twenty years ago***From my room, I could hear the sounds. Banging sounds… Sounds of the wall being hit... or the door perhaps.I dropped the G.I. Joe that I was playing with and headed to the living room where my parents were playing, I guess.My heart pounded in my chest when I saw my mother pinned against the wall, tears streaming down her face as my father kiss
**Valerie**The weekend with Lucas was a blur of confusion and uncertainty. I had no idea what was going on in his mind. Why he beat that man and why he seemed like he regretted it after. A thousand different possibilities flooded my mind. Did the girl look like his ex? Does he know the guy perhaps? Maybe they had unsettled issues from the past?Then my mind drifted back to when we'd just come back from the station. The look in his eyes was cold and distant. It was almost like he was in pain.I don't know what I was expecting. I didn't want to push it, but I didn't think he was going to be so quiet either. It was just hope. I was hoping he'd at least explain a bit of what happened to me.Instead, he had murmured "goodnight" in the coldest way possible. And since we landed in New York and he had someone take me home, I haven't heard from him. I picked up my phone and dialed his number, my fingers hovering over the call button, but I decided against it again. Maybe this was for the b
**Third person** Adam pulled his dick out, remnant of his cum dripping. He shoved it into his pants and zipped up, his eyes shifting to his wife. “Karen, I'm sorry,” he murmured, his voice lacking the remorse of a man who'd just been caught fucking his wife's friend in his office. Karen didn't say a word and instead, her gaze shifted to Layla who was now fully covered, her face beaming with an innocent expression like she hadn't been bent over that desk just a few minutes ago. “It's not what you think,” Layla began, even when she had literally been caught in the act. “I just…” Before she could complete her statement, a sharp slap echoed through the office as Karen's palm connected with her cheek, the force of it enough to make her head snap back. And without giving Layla a chance to react, two more equally forceful slaps followed, leaving a stinging mark on her cheek. “You're a fucking whore,” Karen spat, her voice filled with contempt. “I should have known.” Layla clutched her
**Third person**Once Layla got home, she allowed her tears to flow freely while she took off her clothes. The confrontation with Karen had pushed her to her breaking point. How naive of her to think that things would be different with Adam if they had sex.Slumping on the bed, she allowed her mind to reel with the events of the day.Just then, her phone rang. It was the handwriting analyst.“Good day, ma'am. The result is ready; you could come over and…”Layla's eyes sparkled, and she wiped her tears off immediately. “Just tell me the results,” she sniffed, cutting him off.”“The handwritings are a hundred percent match,” he revealed.Layla’s jaw dropped. She stood up and paced to the door. “That's not possible,” she countered. “There's no way it's a hundred percent match.”“I don't know why you think so, but I'm certain that both samples were written by the same person,” he stated calmly. “Mr. Simon, you're renowned for your expertise. Please don't make me begin to second-guess you
**Valerie**It was lunch break already. My meeting with Layla last night kept on replaying in my head, even as I sat at the cafeteria downstairs.My gaze and Layla's locked as I reluctantly took my seat. She smiled and then settled down too.“Why are you in hiding though? You can tell me, we're friends after all.” Layla's smile was too wide, her eyes too knowing.I shifted uncomfortably, the silence stretching between us. "It's personal,” I mumbled.“Hmm, okay, fine,” she raised her hands dismissively. “Whatever the reason is, that's your business; I won't pry.”“So what do you want?” I sighed out.“Don't worry, it's nothing too hard for you,” she answered with a sly smile.“Okay…?” I raised a questioning brow, waiting for her to continue.“Well, just five million dollars." Her voice was almost a whisper.My jaw dropped. “Five what??!” “Relax. I mean, it's nothing for someone like you, right?” “Someone like me, or someone like Ashley?” She shrugged but didn't say a word. "Listen, La