Anthony walked straight along the deserted literature department corridor. His steps were so calm and full of confidence. The smell of old books and dust filled his senses as he turned right towards the storage room. He pressed his palm against the rough surface of the door. His eyes moved to the right, feeling the presence of someone around him. At the count of three, Anthony turned quickly and ambushed his stalker before dragging her into a dusty old storage room.
“You should take my words more seriously, Jane.”
Anthony pressed Jane's back against the wall with his strong arms. Jane winced in pain when she felt Anthony twist her wrist and her chest tightened from the pressure of Anthony's elbow.
“Hi, baby. You surprised me.”
“No need to pretend in front of me. You were spying on me all this time, huh?”
“No. I just happened to see you in my department. I wanted to greet you."
“Bullshit. I know
Anthony removed Shanon's arm from his chest slowly so as not to disturb her sound sleep. He rubbed his face roughly to get rid of the sleep that still hung in his eyes. The clock still showed three o'clock. He got out of bed and put on his pajama pants which Shanon had thrown away a few hours ago and fell under her dressing table.His cell phone was still ringing noisily on the sofa. That was the reason why he decided to get up from Shanon’s warm bed, because he was worried that the sound of his cell phone ringing would disturb Shanon's sleep."What's wrong, Ben?"“Sir, I have bad news.”"What is it?"Anthony was starting to get used to bad news since his parents died. He realized that good and bad things always go hand in hand in the world. He couldn't live with only the good things and leave the bad things behind.“Mr. Jefferson just died.”I told you, he wasn't surprised at all. In fact, Anthony had be
“Shanon! Oh my God, I saw the news on television this morning."Sarah walked into class and ran over to Shanon in a frenzy. She dragged over a nearby stool and sat facing Shanon who was busy studying the economic management exam material.“Anthony’s grandpa was found dead by his maid in his study last night. Is that true?"“According to the police who handled Anthony's grandfather's death, it was indeed a case of suicide. I haven't heard from Anthony yet.”"Hey, why are you here, instead of going to Anthony's grandfather's house to accompany Anthony during his grandfather's funeral?"“I'm not needed there. Anthony didn't want to be seen with me at his grandfather's funeral. Remember, our wedding is a secret.”Shanon tried to hide her sadness by reading material that she had already memorized by heart. But she just wanted to hide her sadness from Sarah. Things would get out of hand if Sarah started di
Time had passed so quickly since Jefferson's death. Shanon missed Jefferson's funeral because Anthony forbade her to be there. She could only see the funeral procession through television news broadcasts. But that was only a small part of the entire process of Jefferson's funeral. Anthony only allowed reporters to cover his grandfather's house for an hour. After that, the funeral process was carried out behind closed doors and only attended by people closest to Anthony's family. Shanon regretted not being able to attend and conveyed her best wishes directly to Anthony's grandfather. Shanon would remember their brief time together for the rest of her life.For three days in a row Shanon spent her time at home just daydreaming. There was nothing she could do because Anthony never came home and never gave her any news. She just realized that she used most of her time at home to serve Anthony. At first, she hated the household tasks assigned to her. She felt like a servant who wa
Anthony's voice and harsh curses jolted Shanon awake from all her wild fantasies. She screamed hysterically, seeing Anthony beat Jonathan black and blue and lying helpless on the floor. Blood was everywhere, spurting from his torn nose and lips.“How dare you touch my wife, huh?”“Anthony, let him go. What are you doing? I'm not your wife."“Shut up, bitch. You were still my wife before I kicked you out of my life."“You're being unfair. You throw me away like trash, but you don't let anyone else have me. Let go, Jonathan. Or I'll call the police.”Anthony didn't care about Shanon's threat. He continued to beat Jonathan to vent all the anger that had been building in his heart for days ago. Blame Shanon and those damn bastards for picking the wrong day to mess with him.“I said stop!”Shanon pulled Anthony's body away from Jonathan as hard as she could. She managed to drag Anthony into t
The class continued as it should, even though she came to campus with a battered face. In the first class, Shanon managed to hide her face well behind a mask. Her friends were quite satisfied with her answer that she had a cold. She was safe for the first two hours without Sarah's annoying questions because Sarah wasn't enrolled in a macroeconomics class. But in Financial Econometrics class, she couldn't avoid Sarah at all because Sarah was even waiting for her in class with an angry face.“Where were you last night? I looked for you like crazy in the club. I asked the bartender, and he said you went out with a guy. And you're a bit drunk. Is it true?""Yeah, I was taken home by Jonathan."“What did you guys do last night? This morning I even tried calling you again, but you still didn't pick up. Did you fuck a stranger in Anthony’s bed?”“Shut up. You make my head hurt."“And why are you wearing a mask?”
“Where did all the CCTV footage go? Why didn't anyone notice someone sneaking into my grandfather's house?” Anthony shouted at his assistant on the phone. He pounded the table in his office angrily. Everyone suddenly became shit and messed up his emotions. He was angry more than three times in one day. He was sure that his blood pressure had increased and had broken through normal limits.“All CCTVs were under maintenance that day. There is no CCTV footage of the night Mr. Jeff’s dead.”“Shit! How did it happen? I'll call the CCTV company.""The maintenance was at Mr Jeff's own request. Nothing bad happened during this time. Mr Jeff didn't see any harm in turning off the CCTV for a day."“Fucking shit. Does anyone know about CCTV maintenance?"“Everyone in the house knows. But I'm not sure who else outsiders would know about it.”"What about the CCTV around my grandfather's house?"
“Sorry, have you seen Shanon?”"No. She wasn't in micro-economics class today.”"Okay, thanks."Sarah sat restlessly in her chair. She glanced at her watch several times while hoping that Shanon would appear at the door of the classroom. It was supposed to be the third class Shanon had to attend. But, Shanon had not appeared. If Shanon hadn't skipped her first and second classes, Sarah would still be calm. But skipping three classes at once, that wasn't Shanon's habit at all. She was an honor student who preferred coming to class rather than sitting lazily at home. Shanon would not leave class unless there was something urgent to do. And all this time, Shanon always called her if she couldn't come to campus.Sarah then grabbed her cell phone to call Shanon one more time. There was still no answer from Shanon. She had been trying to call Shanon since yesterday afternoon. She felt bad because she had to leave the sad Shanon to watch the ba
“Mmpppffhh...”"What? I can't hear you.”Calvin grinned seeing his prisoner moving around brutally. With her feet and hands tied to a chair and her mouth gagged with cloth, there wasn't much Shanon could do but growl and hurt herself.“Aren't you tired? You've been doing that all night.”Shanon looked at Calvin who was squatting at her feet with hatred.“Look, you have blisters on your ankles because you keep moving brutally against the rope.”Shanon shuddered in horror when Calvin's fingers caressed her legs and continued to move upwards. She tried to kick Calvin with her tied feet, but that didn't stop Calvin from touching her at all.“I know your marriage to Anthony is fake. You're just a bitch who was paid by him to pretend to be his wife. And coincidentally, I haven't been with a woman for a long time.”Shanon widened her eyes in surprise. Calvin leaned towards her whil
Shanon frowned in confusion when she saw Anthony suddenly stand up and throw the napkin on the table. He hadn't finished eating his steak and hadn't touched the wine, but Anthony suddenly left the table in a silent anger that confused her.“Hmm... I think he's sick of having a wife like you. You show the affair too bluntly in front of him."“You've really drained all my patience, bitch. If you can’t say proper words, you better shut your damn mouth.”Shanon moved her chair back and stood up.“Shanon, where are you going? Your ankle is sprained. I will help you.”“No, Jamie. I can handle it. You just keep eating here.”With unsteady steps, Shanon walked out of the dining room. She was so angry that she wanted to hit something. If Annika wasn't her friend, she would have happily punched her sister-in-law in the damn mouth who had been messing with her since this afternoon.Shanon walked to
Shanon was happy because her relationship with Anthony was quite conducive throughout the afternoon and evening. They didn't leave their room after Anthony got a bruise ointment. They spent their time lazing around in bed, cuddling. Shanon enjoyed a very calm moment with Anthony with the sight of a snowstorm that made the entire landscape outside the window very white. They could barely see the mountain ranges or trees that were usually clearly visible from Shanon's room.At seven, they finally went out of their room because they were starting to get hungry. Anthony held Shanon's waist tightly and led her down the stairs because Shanon refused to be carried by him. Shanon's friends greeted Anthony in friendly tones as they passed each other near the stairs. Shanon was very grateful because she didn't run into Jammy at all while walking down to the dining room. That would be a very awkward moment. Shanon hoped they could return to Boston as soon as the storm passed.&ld
Anthony jumped down from the helicopter with solid footing. He brushed off the sunglasses that framed his eyes and rolled his gaze to the range of snowy mountains that spread out around him. Everything was white and a little misty. Anthony turned towards the magnificent villa that stood on flat land at the top of the hill. The villa was quiet. Anthony told the pilot to wait because he wasn't planning on staying that night. He just wanted to take Shanon home right then and there. He thought about it while they were still in the air. He wouldn't let Shanon stay at the villa any longer with her ex-lover and immediately took her home.“Are you one of Mrs. Sarah’s friends?”"Yes. Where is she? Where is everyone?”“They were skiing on the hill.”"When are they coming back?" Anthony asked impatiently.“I think they'll be back at lunch.”Drake looked at Anthony's appearance from head to toe. All black
Shanon appeared exactly five minutes later in a white and blue gradient ski outfit and furry hoodie. Shanon carried goggles and other ski equipment in both hands.“They gave me this before I came out.”“Sarah and Stevan make sure their friends have everything here. Let's go. Our friends left half an hour ago.”“They must be at the top of the hill. Why is there no cable car here?” Shanon started to complain just a few steps after her shoes hit the snow. The combination of uphill roads and very thick snow made the walk feel five times more difficult than just climbing up a steep mountain.“Where's the fun if you just get on the cable car and glide? The journey from the bottom to the top is more amazing than just gliding.”“Really?”As far as Shanon could see, she only saw pine trees and rocks covered in snow. Shanon wondered whether Anthony was a ski fan or not? She had seen Anthony s
“Morning, Shanon.”“Morning, Josie.”“It seems you didn't sleep well last night.”Shanon put her ass on one of the empty chairs next to Joselyn and her husband. Most of the other round tables were already filled with other couples. Shanon caught a glimpse of Sarah and Stevan sitting with Justin and his girlfriend.“Yeah, I think so too. I woke up with a very tired body and mind. I need some coffee.”Right after Shanon said that, a housekeeper came in with a pot of very fragrant coffee and started filling her empty cup with coffee that made Shanon's mouth almost drip."Thanks."“What would you like for breakfast, ma'am? We have pancakes & bacon, hashbrown & sausage, and smoked beef omelets.”“I want a smoked beef omelette with hashbrown, can I?”“Sure. I will be right back."Shanon leaned her back against the back of her chair whi
After making sure Sarah didn't follow her, Shanon dashed to her room and plopped down on her king size bed as soon as she arrived at her room. She rolled herself up like a fetus. She felt that the bed was too big to sleep on alone. She had never felt so vulnerable when she was away from Anthony. She was always fine while living alone in New Heaven. She had never missed Anthony so much. But, that night she felt vulnerable and missed Anthony so bad. She needed to hear Anthony's voice.Shanon rushed to grab her cell phone on the nightstand. She deactivated airplane mode and dozens of notifications started flooding into her phone. It took Shanon ten minutes to wait until the notification ringtone died down, and her cell phone returned to silence. Shanon then pressed the speed dial to call Anthony.“Anthony…” Shanon's voice sounded hoarse and wet."What's wrong with you? You turned off your phone, and you suddenly called me with puffy eyes?”
Something big?Shanon thought Jammie was just joking to scare her or intimidate her. She didn't have any inkling as she went into the dining room with the dress code Sarah had set for that evening. A silk nightgown for the women and silk pajamas for the men. Sarah seemed inspired by their summer vacation at Joselyn's villa. At that time, they had a pajama party and played a snakes and ladders game all night while eating various kinds of snacks that they brought from their respective homes.But for tonight, Sarah had modified it a little. She didn't make her female friends wear pajamas, but instead nightgowns, as a sign that they were no longer teenagers, and that they were adults with integrity.“Welcome to the pajama party.”Shanon's jaw dropped as she entered the common room. The room was on the first floor, second hallway after the hall. The room looked really amazing with a gold interior and walls covered with gold wallpaper. The
Shanon quickly forgot everything Jammie said as she was busy welcoming her friends who came to the villa that day. They reminisced while screaming and hugging because it was the first time they had met since graduating from high school.“Anna Hughes! Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's you.”“Sarah, thank you for inviting me and my boyfriend.”“Hi Anna. Are you pregnant?”“Oh, our Shanon genius! And yes, I'm pregnant."“Oh, congratulations to you, darling!” Shanon hugged Anna warmly.She then hugged Aaron, Anna's lover.“Welcome to our humble Villa. Please follow Tobby to your room.""Thanks."Not long after Anna and her lover went to their room in the right wing, Drake arrived from the airport with three couples. Joselyn, the blonde woman, got out of the van for the first time and screamed excitedly as soon as her eyes caught the figures of Shanon and Sarah.
Anthony's voice on the speaker startled her. Shanon hurriedly opened the door wider and asked Jammie to come into the villa. Shanon then turned her back to Jammie to talk to Anthony."I have to go," whispered her.“Hey. Is he one of your friends?”Anthony caught a glimpse of Jammie's face over Shanon's shoulder. Anthony narrowed his eyes suspiciously at his wife's movements.“Yeah, he's one of my friends. I have to find Sarah or Drake to get them to prepare a room for Jammie. I'll call you again tomorrow. Love you.”Shanon sighed softly. She didn't know why she suddenly became that nervous just because Jammie came while she was on a video call with Anthony.“Did I interrupt you with your boyfriend?”Shanon choked up hearing Jammie's voice so close to her ear. She hurriedly turned around and smiled awkwardly. Her face turned red when she was stared at so intensely by Jammie."That was my husba