“Mark, check the satellites around my house the day Shanon disappeared.”
“Who is Shanon?”
Anthony cursed under his breath. He heard smacking sounds, and he could imagine Mark's annoying expression while he was chewing gum in front of his giant computer screen.
“The woman I married. Check satellites quickly. Why would someone escape your supervision? That person is here now.”
"You sure?"
Anthony growled as he clenched his fists on the table. He would have gladly punched Mark in the face if the computer expert had been right in front of him. Unfortunately, Mark was miles away from his house.
“With all my confidence, yes. I'm pretty sure that woman was spying on my house.”
“Okay, okay. I will check the satellite now.”
Waiting and being patient was not part of his nature. Anthony hoped that Mark was actually in front of him so he could immediately check the satellite when
Shanon stared at Anthony without blinking with a sharp frown and lips half parted in disbelief. She thought she had just heard one of the most unfunny jokes of all time.“You're not a murderer, Anthony.”“That's the truth. You wanted to know the reason behind my excessive paranoia, and I just told you why.”Shanon still didn't believe Anthony's words. She shook her head violently and pulled Anthony's arm to look at her.“Look at me. Look me in the eye and tell me the truth.”"I killed her."Shanon tried to look for lies in Anthony's dim blue eyes. But damn, she couldn't figure out the lie. Shanon gulped nervously as worry after worry began to creep up the back of her neck.“I still don't believe it. We have lived together for three months. I have never seen you do anything bad to me.”Anthony chuckled sarcastically. “You forgot your battered face? And don't forget the other
“Knock... knock...”“Oh, my future sister-in-law is here,” Caleb exclaimed enthusiastically.He was sitting with his back on his headboard, facing a half-empty lunch tray. The man waved at Shanon like a child who had just met his idol."Hey, watch your words," Jordyn hit his shoulder lightly before he got up from the sofa.Shanon walked in and greeted the siblings cheerfully. “Hi, I hope I'm not interrupting your time.”“Seriously? There was nothing to do here but stare at the walls and watch the nurses passing by in front of the room. Very boring."Shanon and Jordyn had become close since they accidentally met in the hospital corridor. They often spent time together at the hospital when Jordyn had to wait for Caleb and when Shanon visited Avery. Several times Jordyn also brought Shanon to meet Caleb. Shanon had no trouble getting along with Caleb because he was very friendly to her.“Wh
Anthony put the blue folder on the table and glanced at his watch once again. Five minutes before seven. He tried to calm his worries because Shanon had not appeared at La Guardia. A waiter had just offered Anthony to pour wine into his glass. But Anthony rejected him with a firm shake of his head and sent him back to the kitchen.Anthony wouldn't have started that dinner without Shanon. That night was special for him. Anthony couldn't wait to see Shanon's reaction that he had a new proposition that would be more beneficial to both parties. Anthony had also prepared a gift which he kept in his jacket pocket. He wanted to repay Shanon's kindness all this time with something special. A diamond, of which there were only five in the world, was the perfect gift to describe Shanon as a whole. She was a precious and very rare woman. There was no woman who had toughness and tenderness in one package like Shanon.“Sir, would you like some wine poured?”Anthon
“Ave, we still have a lot of time to discuss it. You just woke up. I don't want to discuss family matters with you now.”“No, I want to know what's going on right now. I'm fine, Shanon. I've been asleep for three months. It made me realize how precious the time I have now is. I don't know whether I will still be able to talk to you tomorrow. I'm afraid I won't wake up again if I close my eyes.”“Tsk, what are you saying? You'll be fine, okay. Doctor Richard told me you're stable. You will return to living your life like a normal woman.”Her expression turned sad. Avery carries a huge amount of guilt towards Shanon. She had left a problem with her little sister before she fell into a coma.“Tell me what happened while I was in a coma? Where is Yvone?”“I don't know where she is now. She could be having fun with her new boyfriend and wasting money gambling.”"What about father's compa
“I hurt her.”Anthony sat face to face with Doctor Jarvis Orwell in his very quiet and clean room. He had been Anthony's therapist since Anthony experienced emotional shock after the death of his parents. It was his grandfather who took Anthony to see a psychiatrist because he saw signs of mental instability in his grandson after Anthony experienced a series of unpleasant events.“What exactly are you doing?”“I slapped her.”The old man, around sixty years old, listened to the story attentively. Occasionally he would scribble in his little book and throw some questions at Anthony to fill in his story which had too many holes."Physical abuse. Was she seriously injured and had to be hospitalized after you slapped her?”“No. But, every physical abuse I have done will leave scars. Both in her heart and on her skin.”“It's been a long time since you came to have a therapy
Shanon's thoughts were interrupted when she heard the woman start talking in front of her. Unlike her graceful, angelic appearance, the woman looked rougher when she started talking.“Hey, I'm talking to you. Tsk, why did Anthony hire a slow woman like you?”“Excusme. Who are you? Why did you suddenly come and act so impolite towards me?”The woman rolled her eyes lazily. “You rude maid. I'm here to meet Anthony.”“Yes, I know. But, who are you? I can't just put random people into Anthony's house.”“Hmm. I'm Miley Stuart. Anthony's girlfriend. Can you get out of there so I can go inside?”Miley? This woman is Miley?! Omegosh, the legend is finally back after leaving a wound in Anthony's heart?!“Hey.”Shanon gasped in surprise when Miley suddenly snapped her fingers in front of her face.“Are you deaf? Get out of my way and let me in.&
“What's wrong with your face? Why are you frowning like that?”“Nothing. I'm reading a novel, Ave.”Shanon lowered the book from her face. She looked across the room, where her sister was doing physiotherapy to train her leg muscles that had not been used for walking for a long time. Avery occasionally winced in pain when her therapist told her to step on a plank.“I see you're not really focused on your book.”“You turned into a psychic after waking up from a coma, huh?”Ms. Betty, the therapist, giggled as she guided Avery to take one more step towards the finish line.“I know everything about you, my dear sister. Your face is like an open book.”"Uh, impressive," Shanon rolled her eyes lazily at Avery, who was mocking her.“Ms. Betty, can I go back to my room? I think my leg muscles have turned to jelly.”"Okay. We'll continue again tomorrow at te
“Ugh, Sarah. I think we look like two little whores, rather than two young girls coming to a birthday party.”“I’m ok with that. Don't complain too much. Our appearance is perfect. We are two hot, sexy women. Look at us.”Sarah pulled Shanon's shoulder to see the reflection of the two of them in front of the tighty closed car window. Shanon felt that she couldn't be as confident as Sarah, who was posing sensually while showing off her curvaceous body clad in a tight maroon dress. Shanon still saw herself as a bitch beneath the tight navy dress she and Sarah had bought this afternoon after she came home from the hospital."I will make Stevan regret cheating on me."“Yeah. That dress will definitely make every man stare at you with their mouths watering.”“Thanks, Shanon. I wish Anthony was here too to see your super sexy self tonight. He should be sorry for treating you like trash.”
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