“Hurt me?” he scoffed, walking over to meet me on the bed. “How do you intend on doing that?”I lowered my gaze. “It’s just that…”“You don’t have to explain,” he said gently, taking my hand as he brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t listen to anything anyone says that’s against our marriage.”I was speechless. I didn’t know how to tell him what was weighing on my heart. Ivan was serious about our marriage, and following through with what his mother had asked would break his heart more than it would mine.But I stayed silent. I leaned back against the bed, resting my head on the pillows as Ivan lay beside me. He pulled the duvet over us, and I did the same. I tried to keep some distance between us, but part of me wanted him close, craving his comfort.I closed my eyes, lost in thought, when I felt Ivan’s arm slide around my waist, pulling me into his warmth. It was exactly what I wanted, yet I knew it wouldn’t stop there because I wanted more.His body pressed against
"Because I can't, Mom," I said, grabbing a cookie from the table and taking a bite."Why won't you?" she asked, giving me a questioning look. "Do you even understand the consequences of what you've done?"I stood up, facing her. "Yes, Mom. I'm fully aware. But I refuse to be a puppet in all this. I won’t let her control me like I have no will of my own."My mom's face tightened with anger, but instead of lashing out, she turned to Marie, who had clearly been eavesdropping. "Can you give us a moment, please?" she said.Marie set down the knife she'd been holding and rinsed her hands. "I’m sorry, Mrs. Carlisle," she murmured, drying her hands on a napkin before quietly exiting the kitchen.Mom waited until Marie was out of earshot before speaking again. "Everything I’ve ever done has been to make you happy and comfortable, but in situations like this, you have to do what she asks, or she’ll demand her money back."I sighed and reached for another cookie. "Then give her back the money, M
I spent the rest of the morning talking to Emma. We covered a lot of ground, and I realized that she wasn’t involved in Mara and Tonia’s scandal. In fact, Emma had no idea they had taken the money from Ivan until they confessed later. At that moment, the only thing I could count on was the fact that I had someone to talk to—someone who genuinely cared, unlike my mom and everyone else who had crossed paths with me.“Vera, you're going to be fine,” Emma said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I think you need to talk to Ivan. Tell him how you feel and what his mother is trying to do to your engagement.”I sighed, staring at my manicured nails. “I love Ivan, but I wish there was more to our engagement. I wish it wasn’t tainted by this scandal.”“It doesn’t matter,” Emma said sympathetically. “What matters is that you love each other.”I rubbed my forehead in frustration. “But what about Isabel? She’s already engaged to Ivan, and Mrs. Carlos won’t stop until I’m out of his life.”
When we arrived at the hospital, I rushed through the entrance, my heart pounding as I approached the front desk. “My mother, she was just brought in,” I said breathlessly. “Her name is Diana Carlisle.”The nurse typed something into her computer, then gave me a sympathetic look. “She’s in the ICU. The doctors are with her now. You’ll have to wait a little while before you can see her.”I clenched my fists, feeling the frustration bubble up again. Waiting was the last thing I wanted to do, but I had no choice. Ivan placed a hand on my back, guiding me to a nearby seat. We sat in silence, the ticking clock on the wall growing louder with each second.After what felt like hours, a doctor finally came out, his expression serious but not grim. I stood up immediately, searching his face for answers.“Is she okay?” I asked, my voice trembling.“She’s stable for now,” he said gently. “We’re monitoring her closely, but she had a severe panic attack. Her heart is weak, and stress like this can
I sat in my mom’s room in the Carlos mansion, unable to go back to our old apartment, my mom had already given it away, and staying there felt impossible. The Carlos mansion had become a constant reminder of the pain, of everything that had happened in my life, and the fact that I was at the center of it all.I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my slender features draped in black, the same outfit I wore to her funeral. The sight of myself made my stomach twist with guilt and grief. Memories flooded my mind, when Chloe died, when my dad left, and now, my mom. The weight of it all threatened to break me. The urge to cry and scream at the same time was overwhelming, like a slap to the face that I couldn’t escape.The door creaked open, and I quickly looked up to see Mrs. Carlos stepping inside, also dressed in black. The sight of her in mourning attire felt like a cruel mockery, a reminder of her role in all of this.“Poor girl,” she said, her voice smooth as she walked over and lea
The car pulled into the airport parking lot, and I slid my black shades onto my face before stepping out. Emma stood beside me, her expression filled with dread ever since I told her I was leaving Canada for Paris. I knew she wanted me to stay, but I couldn’t. My life had become too chaotic, and staying any longer felt like drowning in a sea of constant situations that I can't control.As a public figure, normal life was a distant memory. The flashing cameras, reporters hounding me with questions, it never ended. And I needed peace, far from it all.“Are you sure about this?” Emma asked again, her voice laced with worry, as if the repetition of the question might change my mind.“You know I have to leave,” I said, pulling up the hood of my hoodie to cover my head. “I can’t go back to being Veronica Carlisle without being interrogated and monitored. And, more than that, I can’t be near Ivan anymore.”I gripped the handle of my luggage tightly, the memories of Ivan flooding my mind, cre
“This is your room, V,” Brenda said as she pushed open the door, revealing a cozy, sunlit space. The soft Parisian light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. A queen-sized bed with a plush comforter sat against the wall, and a small desk with a vase of fresh flowers was set near the window, overlooking the charming street below.I dropped my luggage by the door and stepped inside, taking it all in. It was perfect, simple, peaceful, and exactly what I needed right now.“Wow, Brenda, this is beautiful,” I said, turning to her with a small smile. “Thank you. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but this... this feels like a home.”She shrugged with a grin. “I figured you could use a bit of calm after everything you've been through. You’ll be safe here, and you can stay as long as you need. I’ve already set up fresh sheets, and there are towels in the bathroom.”I nodded, touched by her thoughtfulness. "I really appreciate this, Brenda. I didn’t know w
I was watering a few of the flowers near the window when dizziness began to creep over me. I ignored it, brushing the sensation away. I wasn’t ready to be sick, not now. I had just accomplished something I’d dreamed of for so long, opening this shop. But the feverish warmth radiating through my body hinted that this was beyond my will."Good morning, Vera." A middle-aged woman greeted me as she entered, her voice warm and familiar. She wandered toward the flower pots in the corner, admiring the displays. The purple flowers, as always, caught her attention, their beauty was undeniable.Their velvety petals, in deep shades of violet and lavender, seemed to glow softly in the morning light. Clusters of lilacs filled the shop with their sweet, delicate fragrance, while the tall, graceful irises stood proud with their intricately folded petals.“This is beautiful,” she exclaimed, lifting a flower pot from the table and bringing it over to me. "I want this one."“That will be ten dollars,”