The limousine moved gracefully up the long curved road supporting the house in the distance. It was huge, she wouldn’t be exaggerating if she said it was castellated, embraced by the light of the moon. The high gates that separated the estate from the nearby houses parted slowly, and the car drove through immaculate lawns, and only occasional impressive columns of the house became visible. The enormous house rising in front of her caused Marie’s chest to constrict as if the building itself was strangling her.Finally, it was Aaron to speak, but his voice was husky with anger. “Pick up your things, and get inside.”The parking lot suddenly came to a halt, and Aaron got out of the limousine without saying anything. For a moment Marie had sat frozen and then slowly leaned forward to take her suitcase that lay on the seat next to her. The feel of it in her hands seemed almost symbolic; everything she had left behind was inside of it.Upon getting to the door, there was a maid, she was cle
Marie had just walked in and was just staring at the interior part of the house. It now looked extremely beautiful but was somehow less tangible – less real. The walls were covered with luxuriant fabrics, and a large master bed occupying almost the whole of the space took center stage. The furniture was made out of some sort of polished wood and the occupants were reflected in the surface similar to the rest of the house. It was flawless; nothing could ever be wrong with it, but it was all foreign to her.She walked across to the large bed and sat on it, she drew in a deep breath and tried to remind herself that all this was just short-term and that soon, very soon, all this would be over.But it was just beginning and that part made her worry. It was her first night in the Sanchez mansion and she didn't know what the next morning would be like.Marie decided to ignore the thousand and one questions drumming into her eardrums and glanced toward the direction of the bathroom. She needed a
Slowly, Marie walked down the grand staircase, each step vibrating in her pounding heart. The house felt so different this morning; the silence was suffocating something you could almost taste on your tongue. The steps on which she stood were made of shiny marble, and as far as she could see, smooth and unmarked by the day and by footfall.It was nothing like the vibrant house she had grown up in, knowing every creak and every corner was filled with memories. Here it is all too clean, too clinical, for a man with a criminal record.Having walked to the dining room, she saw Aaron sitting at the head of the table. He sat rigid with his hands cupping a coffee cup, looking at the newspaper lying on the table in front of him.Aaron lifted his eyes as she came close, the look in his eye intense. His demeanor was calm but his voice had some tension when he said something. "You're late.""Sorry," Marie muttered under her breath.Marie settled into the chair, the room itself was silent, punctu
"Nurse!... Nurse, where is my father?" Marie asked as soon as she burst into the hospital at a speed that lightning would envy.Everyone in the hospital turned to stare at her as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her, her sneakers thudding on the tiled floor and her ponytail swinging at her back.Marie was still in her Cafe uniform and had even forgotten to take off her apron; she had quickly left her job as a waitress as soon as she got a call from the hospital that her father had been rushed over.She was going to get in trouble no doubt but she needed to see her father, her heart was beating madly against the wall of her chest as she ran, tears stinging at the side of her eyes.Just then, the doctor came out from the theater, pulling his nose mask from his face. She rushed to him, probably startling him."Doctor, where is my dad? What happened?" She asked, pulling his hands."Calm down, you must be Miss Mariagoretti Ambrose." He asked.Marie nodded quickly, impatiently, "Yes,
Marie logged in to the website and read their terms and conditions, she was surprised to know that they were given loans without taking any interest and the borrower can be given a space of a year or two to pay up."Wow," Marie muttered to herself, "Could this be real or legit?"Marie thanked Ri and after the day's work, she changed into her clothes and took her scooter, she decided to stop by her fiancé’s apartment to tell him how her day had gone.The day had stretched out to a dull evening as she pulled up in front of his apartment, Marie pulled off her helmet and sighed, pushing her hair out of her face.She took out her spare key and got the door open, his house was unusually quiet for the fact that Mark was a music freak and always found a way to play loud pop music even after the old Chinese landlord's warnings.Marie guessed he might be asleep, she climbed up the stairs and headed for his bedroom and that was when she heard a soft moaning sound from his room.Marie stopped in
Marie stepped back, hit by surprise and confusion, she stared blankly at Aaron Sanchez, that same son of a filthy rich billionaire who she dated for two years and who broke up with her right before everyone."You" Marie spat, her chest heaving up and down as her heartbeat increased its pace."Yes, me," Aaron said, "It's nice to finally see you again, Mariagoretti"Marie hated the name especially as it was coming from him, it brought back the painful memories of how he dumped her on her birthday without an explanation.How the whole school mocked and made fun of her because they had always envied her for being the girlfriend of the richest and most handsome guy in school.Wasn't it just enough predicament for one day, just today, her dad was rushed to the hospital, she found out that her best friend was screwing her fiancé, Mark called off the engagement and now this?"It's Marie, okay? Just call me that" Marie snapped and looked around the exquisite building, "I-is this yours?"Aaron
Marie wiped her face quickly, "Yes?"And then a smile spread across the doctor's face as if reading her thoughts, he said.It was successful, miss. “Your father would be fine now,” you will be allowed to see him in a minute.Marie's heart swelled with joy as she eased open the door to her father's ward after a meeting of impatient waiting. The beeping of the life machine and the smell of antiseptics filled her nose.She walked soundlessly to the bed where he lay tired and sat on the chair beside it, “She took his hand in hers and kissed it.”Richard's eyes fluttered open, and he smiled upon seeing his daughter," You are here?"Marie nodded. She looked up at him, and tears flooded her eyes—tears of joy and of something else she couldn't place. She was happy to see him healthy again and, most importantly, alive."Yes, Dad. How do you feel now?" She asked, smiling.Richard took a deep breath and managed a weak smile, "Alive.""I'm glad you are okay, Dad. You got me so worried," Marie tol
Marie stared blankly at him for a moment before getting in, she sat down heavily beside him and the scent of his expensive perfume drifted into her nostrils."What happened? You look pale?" He asked her. Marie sniffed and looked out of the tinted window, "What do you care?"Aaron took a deep breath, "I care so much about you, Mariagoretti, I do"Her head shot back at him, her eyes flashing with much pain and hurt and he could see the tears that played at the side of her eyes."You dumped me, Aaron. You trashed me like I was some used diaper you have no use for anymore" Marie said, her voice rising with each word."Look, Marie, I know that there is no explanation for what I did, what I did was selfish and I'm sorry but…"He stared at her and inhaled,"....I still love you...so much"Marie lowered her head, she was breathing heavily now as the memories came crawling right up her chest and made it hard to breathe, hard to think."I can't love you, Aaron. Look at you, you are rich and powe
Slowly, Marie walked down the grand staircase, each step vibrating in her pounding heart. The house felt so different this morning; the silence was suffocating something you could almost taste on your tongue. The steps on which she stood were made of shiny marble, and as far as she could see, smooth and unmarked by the day and by footfall.It was nothing like the vibrant house she had grown up in, knowing every creak and every corner was filled with memories. Here it is all too clean, too clinical, for a man with a criminal record.Having walked to the dining room, she saw Aaron sitting at the head of the table. He sat rigid with his hands cupping a coffee cup, looking at the newspaper lying on the table in front of him.Aaron lifted his eyes as she came close, the look in his eye intense. His demeanor was calm but his voice had some tension when he said something. "You're late.""Sorry," Marie muttered under her breath.Marie settled into the chair, the room itself was silent, punctu
Marie had just walked in and was just staring at the interior part of the house. It now looked extremely beautiful but was somehow less tangible – less real. The walls were covered with luxuriant fabrics, and a large master bed occupying almost the whole of the space took center stage. The furniture was made out of some sort of polished wood and the occupants were reflected in the surface similar to the rest of the house. It was flawless; nothing could ever be wrong with it, but it was all foreign to her.She walked across to the large bed and sat on it, she drew in a deep breath and tried to remind herself that all this was just short-term and that soon, very soon, all this would be over.But it was just beginning and that part made her worry. It was her first night in the Sanchez mansion and she didn't know what the next morning would be like.Marie decided to ignore the thousand and one questions drumming into her eardrums and glanced toward the direction of the bathroom. She needed a
The limousine moved gracefully up the long curved road supporting the house in the distance. It was huge, she wouldn’t be exaggerating if she said it was castellated, embraced by the light of the moon. The high gates that separated the estate from the nearby houses parted slowly, and the car drove through immaculate lawns, and only occasional impressive columns of the house became visible. The enormous house rising in front of her caused Marie’s chest to constrict as if the building itself was strangling her.Finally, it was Aaron to speak, but his voice was husky with anger. “Pick up your things, and get inside.”The parking lot suddenly came to a halt, and Aaron got out of the limousine without saying anything. For a moment Marie had sat frozen and then slowly leaned forward to take her suitcase that lay on the seat next to her. The feel of it in her hands seemed almost symbolic; everything she had left behind was inside of it.Upon getting to the door, there was a maid, she was cle
The wedding was over.The limousine was polished, black, and stretched like a classy Cadillac, much too grand for what was set to go down. The only sound that accompanied them was the dull roar of the engine beneath her; everything else was a deafening silence between her and Aaron. He sat beside her, icy in the dark, staring straight ahead out of the windshield, giving nothing away on his stone-like face.Marie struggled to pay attention to anything apart from the walls, which continued to shut themselves on her. Blinking city lights on the outside went past, casting shadows as if fingers stretching for her consciousness.Her heart thumped against her chest, causing her to hear only the booming sound. The hardness and coldness that the diamond symbolized hit her like heavy metal on the ring on her finger. Automatically, staring with absent-minded concentration at the object, she ran her fingers over the cold metal, yet her tempest did not subside.She looked sideways at Aaron only to
Their eyes locked and she looked away quickly, feeling tiny as if she had been dominated by him. Their features were stern and impassive, and Sinclair had a positively evil look in his eyes.Marie’s stomach twisted. She still did not know what his identity was, but the feeling that went through her when she met him was fearful.“Hello, father.” There was no love, no care. Apart from this, he was formal as if she made him uneasy.She looked at Aaron, wondering how he felt at this point, but he seemed not to hesitate—a vein beat in his temple and his stare was at the floor, away from his father. Marie could easily sense that this was not a joyful reunion even though the characters hadnot spoken a word.The man – Aaron’s father – smiled then, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. What was more, he looked like a giant who was slowly advancing toward them, his movements as calculated as those of a programmed automaton.‘Congratulations,’ he told them both but looked at Marie when he sp
Her Father tapped lightly on the door. “Marie? Are you ready, sweetheart?”Marie took a deep breath. She was dressed in her beautiful wedding dress and she looked in the mirror for the last time. She thought to herself, saying out loud ‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’ Looking at the door, she got up and swung it open to find her father on the other side looking pleased.“Wow, Marie,” he said, and this has never changed and he could only feel emotion in his throat. “You look… You look like a princess. Your mother should have been proud of you.”She just nodded agreeing, and tried to smile but the smile did not touch her eyes at all. “Thanks, Dad.”He stretched out for her hand and it was warm, tender, and strong. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go. It’s time.”So gripping hand in hand and taking a long hallway, the heart of Marie began to beat faster. The noise was heard from downstairs, people speaking, the murmur like bees buzzing, the expectation of the event of the day. The house was so qui
Marie sat on her bed, looking at the wardrobe across the room. And the wedding dress just hung there like a ghostly sign of everything that was out of her control. The cloth was soft and it was white and sheer in color, and with lace work barely visible in the dim light of the lamp. It was supposed to mean a new start, love, and commitment. To Marie, it was a chain, a thing that confined her to a life she had not yet desired and to a man she did not have affection for.The makeup artists had finally left her alone, giving her sufficient time to think all by herself. She was scrutinized in the mirror, and her cheeks shone, her eyes were wide and painted to perfection. At first, she almost failed to realize who the woman was. She did not see her reflection in the mirror; she saw someone else instead, a stranger who looked like her but was not; a clone conditioned and groomed for a fake life.The next day, she had to come forward to a congregation, proclaim things she never intended, wea
Marie’s heart felt heavy as she drove her father home. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, each mile feeling like an eternity. She wanted to scream, to tell her father everything—about Aaron’s manipulation, the lies, the pressure. But how could she? Her father had been through so much already, and now, to add to that, she had no idea how to explain what was happening to her."I'll make you something to eat, Dad," She said quickly as they got home.Just then, a loud knock echoed from the front. Her heart quickened and she moved closer to the door, with a deep sigh,she opened the door, hoping it wasn't who she thought it would be.Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the group of beautiful ladies standing before her, they were holding huge makeup bags while the two pretty brunettes at the back held the sides of a clothes trolley with wedding gowns hanging from its rack. Three sleek cars were parked outside with tinted windows.Aaron came out slowly from one of them
The hospital room was tense as Aaron's bold words lingered in the air. Marie stood still, her eyes shifting between her father and Aaron. Normally quick to think, her mind was now a jumble of confusing thoughts. She couldn’t comprehend how she found herself in this situation. Aaron had burst into her life like a whirlwind, and now he seemed to control everything.With his charming demeanor, Aaron moved closer, touching her shoulder lightly to reinforce his hold on her. "It’s been a while now," he said smoothly, his voice calm and steady. "I’ve taken care of all the expenses, ensuring Marie doesn’t have to worry. She means everything to me... By the way, I'm Aaron Sanchez, the CEO of Edmount Corporation and the heir to the famous Sanchez Empirical."Her father looked lost for words "I... I don't know how to show my gratitude. Thank you, Aaron. I didn’t realize..." His voice trailed off, and his gratitude was evident.Aaron flashed a well-practiced smile that radiated charm. "You don’t