There was something about her that drew him in like a magnet. She was all he could think about. As the rain poured down outside, he tried to shake the thoughts from his head, but they kept coming back. Her drenched body, her wet hair, her smile. He felt the heat rising in his body, and he knew he had to get away from her.
He tried to play it cool when she took off her wet shirt. But seeing her like that made him feel things he had never felt before. His mind started racing, and he felt his body temperature rising. He had to get out of there. He knew he had to leave the room before he did something he would regret.He excused himself from her room, saying he needed to freshen up. As soon as he closed the door, he leaned against it, trying to catch his breath. He didn't know what to do. He had never felt this way before. All he knew was that he had to figure out what was going on, and fast. What is happening to me? Why am I feeling this way? He said in his thoughts."Althea," he whispered to himself, his mind racing. He could still see her face, as if she was right in front of him. He tried to focus on something else but her image was burned into his mind. He felt his body temperature rise and his heart beating faster. As he walked back to his room, he tried to focus on anything else but her. But it was impossible to get her out of his head. The more he tried to ignore his feelings, the stronger they became. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way.He turned on the shower, hoping the water would cool him down. But as he stood under the spray, he couldn't shake the image of her from his mind. He felt his heart racing, and he was filled with a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name. He got out and got dressed, heading for the window for some breeze to help him calm down.He told himself that they were just friends, and that's all they could ever be. But he couldn't deny the fact that he wanted more. He had never felt this way about anyone before, and it was driving him crazy. He tried to control his thoughts, but they kept coming back to her.“Just friends,” he repeated to himself, hoping that it would help him calm down. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't want to be just friends. He wanted something more.He turned away from the window, trying to clear his head. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face. He couldn't get her out of his mind. He felt like he was losing control, and he didn't know what to do.The image of her was burned into his brain, and he couldn't shake it. He felt a surge of desire, and he knew he had to do something about it. He had to get out of the room, away from the window, away from the temptation. He couldn't take it anymore. He was aching for her.But before he could move, he heard a knock at the door. His heart pounded as he tried to calm himself. He took a deep breath and opened the door. There she stood, her eyes filled with concern."Adam?" It was Althea. "Are you okay?"He didn't know what to say. Should he tell her the truth? Or should he try to play it cool? He didn't know what to do.He opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. He stood there, frozen, unable to speak.She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "Talk to me," she said gently. "What's going on?"He took another deep breath, and the words began to flow. "I am not okay," he began. "I don't know what's happening to me. I can't control my thoughts. Every time I close my eyes, I see you. I can't get you out of my head. I feel like I'm losing control."He paused, his heart racing. "I know we're just friends, but I can't help the way I feel. I need to tell you the truth, even if it ruins everything."He looked into her eyes, afraid of what he would see there. But instead of anger or disgust, he saw compassion and understanding. "I want to be more than friends," he said, his voice shaking. "I want to be with you, not just as friends, but as something more. I know this is sudden, and I don't expect you to feel the same way. But I had to tell you. I'm sorry if this changes things between us, but I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. I want you so badly, Althea."She stood there, silent, her eyes searching his."Althea, please say something," Adam pleaded. "Your silence is killing me!"She took a deep breath, not out of nervousness, but because she wanted to savor this moment. She had been waiting for this for so long, for Adam to finally admit that he wanted more than friendship. She had been holding herself back, but now she knew that he felt the same way, and it was a feeling she could hardly describe. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She knew what she had to say next, and she was nervous, but she was also excited. She took a deep breath and prepared to tell him how she really felt.She took a step closer to Adam while his body flowed with nervousness and anticipation for what she was about to say.Finally, she spoke."Adam, I feel the same way," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I don't want to be just friends either. I want more than that. I want us to be together."Adam's eyes lit up with happiness and relief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You really mean that?" he asked, a little breathless.She nodded, smiling at him. "I really mean it," she said. "I want to be with you, more than anything. I want you so badly too!"And in that moment, they both knew that everything was about to change.ALTHEA'S POV The air in the living room was thick with tension, and I could feel it as I sat there with my mother. Bella, my younger sister, seemed to sense it too. It had been a week since the incident, and its aftermath hung heavy in the air. The mood in our family was grim and anxious, and I didn't know what to say to lighten the tension. My whole family was in a state of panic.I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could utter a word, the front door opened and someone walked in. I looked up, my heart racing as I recognized Mr. Carter, our family friend. As Mr. Carter approached us, I noticed the anger in his eyes and the tightness of his jaw. I wondered what had happened to put him in such a bad mood. We all stood up in respect as Mr. Carter entered the room, and my mom greeted him with a warm smile.“Good day, Mr. Carter.” My mother greeted, her voice sounding more cheerful than I knew she felt. She was trying to keep the peace, I could tell. I bowed my head in respect, not
“I want you to get married to my son if you ever want your father to be released!” Mr Carter uttered the very words that would end up turning my life around.“Again with this joke?” I asked in confusion."You really think I'm joking?" Mr. Carter asked, an amused look on his face."It's got to be a joke, right?" I said, my voice shaking with uncertainty, still not quite able to process what he was saying.Mr. Carter's expression didn't change. "It's no joke," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm completely serious."I was stunned. This couldn't be happening. But Mr. Carter's tone and demeanor left no room for doubt. I felt my stomach drop. This was no joke. My mother and I were caught in the middle of something we didn't understand and we had no idea what to do next."What do you want from us?" my mother asked, her voice breaking. "Why are you doing this?""I want something that is very important to me," Mr. Carter said. "I can't tell you what it is, but I can assure you that it's worth your
"Please, don't blame me for what I'm about to tell you," my mother pleaded. "I tried to stop it from happening, but I couldn't." We both sat down to listen to what she had to say.My heart was racing as I waited for her to continue. "What are you talking about?" I demanded. "Just tell me what's going on!""Your father..." she said, trailing off as her voice broke. I could tell that whatever it was, it was bad. Really bad.My mother took a deep sigh and cleaned her tears before saying “I…knew it was Mr Carter who kidnapped your father.”I felt my heart sink. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you saying that you knew Mr. Carter was behind father's disappearance, and you didn't do anything to stop him?" I asked, my voice cracking with emotion.My mother's eyes filled with tears. "I did what I thought was best," she said, but even she sounded unconvinced. "I know it was wrong, but I was scared. I'm so sorry, Althea. I never meant to hurt you."I sat in stunned silence, my mind re
"I'm going to run away," I said, my voice full of conviction. "I have to get out of here. I have to get away from all of this.""But running away is a very drastic step," she said, a note of concern in her voice. "It could have serious consequences. Are you sure that's what you want to do?""I know it's a big decision," I said, my mind made up. "But I don't see any other way out. I have to save myself, no matter the cost!”“Fleeing from this marriage won't help the situation at hand, Althea.” Kathryn advised.“Then what do you think I should do? Because I cannot and will not give up on my relationship with Timothy!” I said vehemently."You don't have to give up on your relationship with Timothy," she said, her voice gentle and soothing. "There are other ways to handle this situation, ways that don't involve running away or giving up on the people you love. Sometimes the most beautiful things can happen when we keep our hearts open to the possibilities."Her words struck a chord in my h
"Tea!" Bella's voice rang out, followed by a series of insistent knocks on the door."I have to go," I said to Kathryn, my heart racing. "Bella's at the door. I can't let her see me like this.""Okay," she said, her voice full of concern. "I'll be here if you need me. Please, take care of yourself. And don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, okay?""I will," I said, already reaching for the door handle. "Thank you for listening, Kathryn. I really appreciate it.""You're very welcome, Tea," she said. "I hope everything works out okay." With that, the call came to an end.I quickly wiped my tears and went to answer the door, where Bella was standing on the other side. Her face was full of worry as she looked me up and down. "Tea, what's going on?" she asked, her voice urgent. "I've been knocking and calling your name for ages. Were you ignoring me?""No, of course not," I said, my voice sounding a little too high-pitched and fake. "I was just…"I let out a laugh, trying to lighte
The week leading up to the wedding passed by in a blur. My mother had been inconsolable after the phone call with Mr. Carter, but she eventually pulled herself together and began planning the wedding. We had to find a way to tell everyone the news - that I was getting married, and that my groom wouldn't be there. It was even harder to tell Bella, my younger sister, but we managed to do it. Some people were excited, others confused, and others just seemed worried for me. We told them all and handed out the invitation cards. Bella, on the other hand, was excited.It was hard to tell Timothy the news, but I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. I couldn't bear to see the hurt in his eyes, and I knew that telling him would break my heart. In the end, it was Kathryn who told him, while I cowered in my house, unable to face him. I felt like a coward, and the guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders.The media had gotten wind of the situation, and I was horrified to see headlines calling me "Th
ADAM'S POV"Sir, we've finally found some information about the girl... er, I mean your bride." the man said, a slight tremor in his voice. I took a sip of my coffee, savoring the moment."Go on," I said, my voice icy and controlled. The man fumbled with his tablet for a moment before speaking again. "Her name is Althea Ruiz, and she's 24 years old. She's of Italian descent, and her hobbies include drawing, cooking, and doing charity work. She's a practicing Christian who graduated from Harvard University and has a PhD in business administration from the University of Bologna. Her family consists of her sister, Bella, her mother, Melissa, and her father, Daniel, and her brother, Matthew…deceased. She works for the MKT Group of Companies." the man said, looking at his tablet.After he finished speaking, he let out a long sigh of relief. I remained silent, sipping my coffee slowly. Finally, I spoke, my voice cold and measured. "Is that all, Mr. Maxwell?"He visibly flinched at my tone,
ALTHEA'S POVAfter all these years of pain and sorrow, one would think that my family would have found some semblance of peace. But with the impending wedding, I felt nothing but dread. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but it felt more like we were stuck in a place of grief, unable to move forward.I lay on my bed, dreading the moment when I'd have to leave the room and face the reality of the situation. Who would walk me down the aisle? My father was out of the question - he has been kidnapped a week ago and is yet to be found. My brother, who had always been my rock, was gone too - taken by a car accident days after his birthday. The thought of walking down the aisle alone, without either of them by my side, was almost too much to bear.As for my groom, I knew he wouldn't be there. There was no way he'd show up, he would never come. And if he did, it would surely be a sign of the apocalypse.Downstairs, my sister Bella and my mother were greeting the guests as they arrived.
He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.
He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.
He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.
He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.
Zaya stood still unable to move and held her breath in. Kabir moved on to put his second hand around her waist, drawing her closer to him, causing Zaya to let out a hitched breathing.Kabir leaned in again on one side of her ears and whispered “You smell so nice!” with a deep voice, taking a whiff of the scent of her perfume from the side of her neck.Kabir leaning him and taking a sniff of Zaya's side neck was like heaven to her body. She didn't know when she almost let out a moan but held back in caution.“A minute is already over.” She announced to him as she tried to move but he pulled her back in. Kabir tightened his grip on her waist in a way that didn't hurt her.“Not yet. Until I say so.” He replied to her as he took his hands off her waist. With one of Kabir's hands free, he held Zaya's hands gently and placed them on his hands wrapped around her neck. Zaya tried to withdraw her hand but he put it back. Kabir went on to put his hand back around her waist.“Kabir, I need to go
Zaya stood still unable to move and held her breath in. Kabir moved on to put his second hand around her waist, drawing her closer to him, causing Zaya to let out a hitched breathing.Kabir leaned in again on one side of her ears and whispered “You smell so nice!” with a deep voice, taking a whiff of the scent of her perfume from the side of her neck.Kabir leaning him and taking a sniff of Zaya's side neck was like heaven to her body. She didn't know when she almost let out a moan but held back in caution.“A minute is already over.” She announced to him as she tried to move but he pulled her back in. Kabir tightened his grip on her waist in a way that didn't hurt her.“Not yet. Until I say so.” He replied to her as he took his hands off her waist. With one of Kabir's hands free, he held Zaya's hands gently and placed them on his hands wrapped around her neck. Zaya tried to withdraw her hand but he put it back. Kabir went on to put his hand back around her waist.“Kabir, I need to go
He thought back to the events that had led up to this moment, trying to understand how he had been drawn into this web of deceit. He remembered the day he had first met Austin, and how quickly their relationship had grown. Austin had seemed like such a charming and charismatic man, but now Nathaniel saw him for what he truly was: a dangerous and manipulative individual.Zaya stood still unable to move and held her breath in. Kabir moved on to put his second hand around her waist, drawing her closer to him, causing Zaya to let out a hitched breathing.Kabir leaned in again on one side of her ears and whispered “You smell so nice!” with a deep voice, taking a whiff of the scent of her perfume from the side of her neck.Kabir leaning him and taking a sniff of Zaya's side neck was like heaven to her body. She didn't know when she almost let out a moan but held back in caution.“A minute is already over.” She announced to him as she tried to move but he pulled her back in. Kabir tightened
Aurora was the definition of grace itself as she walked towards the stage. She took her time and made sure that everyone witnessed her beauty. It was as if everything stopped just to see her walk towards the altar.Austin and Henry on the other hand was seething with anger but tried they tried to hide it as much as possible but it was of use. Liam had won in his fight and even though Dominica hated Aurora, she couldn't help but stare at her in disbelief at how beautiful a person could be.God definitely took his time with her was the thought that filled everyone's mind.
[2/27, 2:31 PM] Sapphire: Ah, you're talking about a photo booth! They're pretty common in the US, and they're usually found in malls, amusement parks, and fairs. They're a lot of fun, and they're great for taking goofy pictures with friends. Have you ever used one before?[2/27, 2:31 PM] Sapphire: Sure, here's how it works. First, you step into the photo booth and close the curtain behind you. Then, you insert coins or bills to pay for your pictures. Next, you press the button to start the countdown. Once the countdown is over, the camera flashes and takes a series of pictures. After a few minutes, the pictures are printed out, and you can take them with you. It's a pretty simple process, but the results can be pretty hilarious! Have you ever taken any silly pictures in a photo booth?[2/27, 2:32 PM] Sapphire: Once you've taken all the pictures you want, the photo booth will start printing them out. It usually takes a few minutes for the pictures to be ready. Some photo booths even l