Unspoken words weighed down the room as they finally parted ways. Marie’s heart continued to race as she stood there, her chest heaving. They were both absorbed in the ensuing silence and did not move.And it was evident in that silence that their relationship had changed forever. Aaron shifted uneasily, quickly stepping back and pulling his hand away from her face. He cleared his throat while his gaze shifted abruptly away from her.“I... I'm sorry," He muttered, his words seeming to be forced out. He turned to face the door after running a hand through his hair. "I should not have—" Marie reached out before he could say anything more. Her fingers found his wrist in an unexpectedly firm grip."Wait," She said in a firm but slightly tremulous voice. "Why, Aaron?" She kept his hand in hers and turned him back to her, her thumb lightly stroking his skin." Why are you like this? Why do you always act so distant and cold? “She asked.He scowled, his facial lines becoming more pronounced
Aaron stood motionless for a second after Marie hurried out of the office, his mind racing and his breath coming in short gasps. Instead of letting her go, he should have spoken up or acted. But he hadn't.He had allowed her to go as an alternative, and now the office's silence was pressing down on him like a physical weight. He walked slowly to his desk, his footsteps heavy. The leather creaked under him as he sank into his chair with a heavy sigh. In an attempt to stabilize his breathing, he leaned back and briefly closed his eyes. He had assured her that the kiss was merely a sign of weakness and had no deeper meaning. But something within him had recoiled even as he uttered the words.He was aware of his dishonesty, even though he didn't want to acknowledge it. It was true. He was tired. The thought kept returning to him no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.Marie.Her eyes... how she looked at him and spoke to him passionately. But he didn't expect what had happened. The ang
Aaron was sitting in his car, the engine running and his fingers drumming nervously on the steering wheel. The evening sky had already started to turn a dusky grey.The quiet in the car while he waited for Marie to come out made him uncomfortable, but he wasn't sure what to expect. Even though he had warned himself that he couldn't continue to keep her at a distance, he was still waiting for her to take the next step while his sense of guilt was eating away at him.His thoughts kept returning to their earlier meeting. He was aware of his wrongdoing. He could not deny the hurt that flashed in her eyes, no matter how hard he tried to defend his icy remarks. It stung and was there.She always managed to see through the barriers he had put up to protect himself, and now they were only suffocating him. His phone was buzzing in his pocket, and he chose to ignore it.Another diversion was the last thing he wanted.He was still trying to clean up the mess he had created. When he saw her, th
His mind kept returning to Marie, the way her presence seemed to draw him in and the uncontrollable ways her emotions affected him.As the silence dragged on, Aaron started to question whether this was how they would be riding the whole time. He tried to concentrate on the road and the outside world while driving, but it was impossible to ignore the weight of her silence next to him. It felt like forever before he finally spoke, his voice rough as though the words had been lodged in his throat for too long."Marie I— "He paused, uncertain how to use the final word. Despite not being able to see her face, he could sense her turning her head in his direction. Even though she didn't respond verbally, her body language was clear. She had tensed up, preparing for his next words.The longer he waited, the more difficult it became for him to say what he needed to say. He finally muttered, just above a whisper, "I didn't mean what I said earlier."She looked at him for a moment, then quickly
Aaron's chest felt heavy. He realized his mistake multiple times. He also didn't have any justifications, and he didn't explain. The truth was all he had left, and it hurt like it was slipping through his fingers."Please just listen, Marie," he begged. "I never meant to cause you any harm. But I. I was unable to allow myself any emotions. Not for you. Not for anybody. I've been keeping everything out for years. And I—"She interrupted abruptly, "Aaron, I don't need to hear this...It is irrelevant. In any case, everything is the same. Simply saying you're sorry now doesn't give you the right to come back in and make things right. I'm done." "Marie, I—" he stammered, the guilt rising like a tempest in his chest. "Please, I—"Then, the first drops of rain fell before he could finish—a few light drops at first. Marie gazed up at the sky, her face hardening even more as the drizzle rapidly increased in speed.In a low, uncompromising voice, she said, "I don't want your apologies. It's to
He looked away for a moment, trying to find the right words to express the truth that had been hidden deep within him."What I had said earlier wasn't meant. My intention was not to push you away. Time is all I need. I was unsure of how to manage everything...how to interact with you."At first, she remained silent and didn't pull away. Her eyes were fixed on his as she stood there, her face unreadable. Even though it was pouring rain all around them, the temperature didn't drop as much as it had.Aaron moved closer, his hand landing on her arm as he reached out again. "I know I hurt you, and I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I—”He paused, trying to find the words that had been slipping out of his mouth for so long that his throat was constricted. "I just need time to work things out." Marie's expression softened a little as her lips parted. She didn't say anything at first, but it appeared as though she was weighing his words.She looked at him as though she were trying to disc
The grand foyer was quiet except for the gentle rustle of rain against the windows.With their bodies still pressed together and residual warmth between them in spite of the cold, damp clothing that stuck to their skin, Marie and Aaron stood on the stairway.They looked at each other and remained silent for a while. The gentle glow of the mansion's lights gave everything a golden hue, giving the impression that the world had shrunk to the area between them. The silence, however, was short-lived.They heard a deliberate low coughing sound from overhead. They both looked up, surprised. Susann stood at the top of the stairs, staring down at them. Although she had a knowing gleam in her eyes, her expression was as calm as ever, and her hands were folded neatly behind her back."Well," she said in a tone that was both professional and humorous ", it appears that someone has finally emerged from the rain."Despite the tension that still existed between him and Marie, Aaron couldn't help bu
Aaron wasn't sure he would ever fully understand how to handle this, and he didn't have all the answers. But he was certain he wanted to give it a shot.He stood there for a while, the towel still in his hand, thoughts racing through his head as Susann disappeared around the corner. His body ached from the day's weariness, but it was a distinct kind of exhaustion.Something but not the kind he had been carrying around for years—something he hadn't experienced in a long time.He began to ascend the stairs slowly, moving toward his own room. Thinking about Marie, his chest constricted as he looked down the hallway toward her room. This was not how he intended things to turn out, but it was.But he was unable to reverse his actions. Now, he had no choice but to proceed—slowly, gently.However, with a determination he hadn't experienced in a long time, he pushed open his room door and headed directly for the mirror, running the towel through his wet hair again.He looked into his mirror a
Aaron’s breath came in sharp, ragged bursts as he strode through the long dark hallway, his steps heavy. His father's remarks were reverberating in his mind like a vicious taunt, and he was consumed by a storm of rage. “You’re nothing without me.”. . . His knuckles turned white as his fists clenched so tightly his nails digging into his palms. It seemed as though the mansion itself was attempting to ensnare him in its ruthless, frigid clutches because the air around him was heavy and oppressive.He was hardly aware of the dim glow of the wall sconces as the hall stretched out in front of him with dark wooden panels reflecting it. He could hear and feel nothing but his own rage hammering unrelentingly.He could still hear his father's voice in his ears. . . “You’re toying with me.” With a start, he halted his boots scuffing the shiny floor. His chest was heaving, and his breath was harsh as he struggled to maintain his balance. Tonight his father had said far too many things, but th
The smell of whiskey filled the dimly lit study, clouding the space with a strong, almost oppressive odor. Howard sat behind his desk, he swirled the amber liquid in his glass while staring into the depths of the drink.A firm and pointed knock was heard on the door.Howard called “Come in” in a steady, low voice that showed no signs of the storm that was building inside.Aaron entered as the door squeaked open. His stance was straight, his face tight with annoyance, and he stood tall. Howard closely observed him, his keen eyes scrutinizing each nuance and facial movement. Aaron was very much a reflection of himself; he was obstinate, strong-willed and self-destructive.“Aaron, sit. We must have a conversation.” Aaron, however, did not move. His body was tense as he stood there staring at Howard’s face. His voice was tight as he said. “I'm not here to sit. I'm here to know why you called me.”The corner of Howard’s mouth curled into a thin smile as he raised an eyebrow. Savoring the
The bathroom door gently closed behind Marie, leaving the sunroom empty except for Aaron and Susann. Once brimming with the warmth of conversation, the room felt suddenly too heavy and too quiet.Aaron took a seat slowly and raked his hand through his hair as his mind raced through the quiet room.At first, Susann’s expression was unreadable as she studied him without saying anything. The weight of the unsaid words that hung in the air caused the silence between them to grow longer. Even though Aaron's face was composed as he met her gaze, a sense of tension persisted.Susann finally spoke, her tone firm but quiet. “What do you think you're doing?" With a steady but slightly uncertain tone, he questioned, “What do you mean?”Her eyes narrowed slightly as she examined him, and she exhaled a soft, controlled breath. She spoke slowly and measuredly as if she were carefully weighing each word, “Marie is pregnant. I also know you're worried about her. However, you have to realize the ser
With tea mugs in hand, Marie and Susann settled into the cozy cushions of the wicker sofa inside, but the serene setting did little to relieve the knot of anxiety that was weighing heavily on Marie's chest.Even though the room was lovely and the morning was warm, she couldn’t get rid of the dread that had been with her since her nightmare.“Marie, you've been incredibly quiet since yesterday”, she said quietly in a steady, calm voice. “I understand that your nightmare must have been upsetting, but I can't help but wonder if you're keeping something else from me. You know you can speak with me?”After placing her tea on the table before them and taking a deep breath, Marie looked out the window. Eyes tired, she turned back to Susann. “It goes beyond the nightmare. It is everything. I am just too tired of everything that is happening. I’m not certain that I can stop it.” Susann's face became softer. She reassured Marie by reaching out and placing a firm yet gentle hand on hers. “I k
The following morning, Marie's bedroom curtains let in the pale light of dawn, which left the walls in long shadows. Her mind continued to replay the events in vivid detail, and she was still shaken from the nightmare. Each time she closed her eyes, she saw Howard's twisted smile as he watched her struggle, her father’s terrified face and the quicksand engulfing him. The nightmares' oppressive sensation persisted, and Marie couldn’t get rid of the feeling that something was seriously amiss.She was unable to remain in that space any longer. Because of the nightmares' lingering effects, the air felt too dense and heavy. Her legs felt wobbly as she got out of bed, and her heart was beating so fast.She gently left the bed, put on her robe and walked out of the room as quietly as she could. As she walked down the hallway, she couldn't stop thinking about the nightmare. She paused briefly upon arriving at Susann's room, taking a deep breath to help her relax. It would be a relief to spe
Marie sighed."Are you okay?" Aaron whispered, his tone soft and caring. With her body still tingling from the way he had kissed and held her, Marie nodded.She turned to face him and whispered, “Yeah.”Aaron kissed her shoulder. “Alright.”Fatigue took over her, and she slowly fell asleep, her eyelids heavy. That was when the nightmare started again. In the midst of a foggy, dark forest, she stood. With their gnarled branches grabbing at the sky like skeletal fingers, the trees towered over her. She then caught sight of him. Her Dad. His terrified eyes darted around as though looking for someone or something.Marie felt her heart tighten. She screamed “Dad!” and tried to run in his direction, but her legs felt heavy as though the ground was resisting her. A dark figure appeared behind him, stepping out of the trees. Towering. Dangerous. A strange, unnatural grace in movement. Marie’s heart froze. The only thing she could make out of the figure's face was the flash of something sha
Sitting in his darkened study, Howard took a long drag from his cigar while the strong odor of tobacco filled the air. His jaw was so clenched that his temple veins throbbed. With the amber liquid burning down his throat, he brought the crystal glass to his lips, tightening his grip. But it wasn't enough to quell the anger that was gnawing at his gut.The sound of Howard smashing the glass against the mahogany desk reverberated throughout the space. Even though his anger was trembling, he steadied his hand and poured himself another drink, his fingers twitching as he reached for the bottle. Howard let out a sharp exhale and placed his cigar in the ashtray, his lips curling into a sneer. Power, privilege and a name that many dreaded were all bestowed upon Aaron by him. However, the boy was sacrificing everything for love—for a woman who didn't belong in their world?Stupid.“So Aaron,” he whispered to himself, “Is this how you want to play it? Fantastic.”With somber and calculating
She was there when the door creaked open. Marie. Aaron saw her standing there with an unreadable expression, and his breath caught in his throat.He was rushing toward her before he could even think because his heart was racing.“You returned.” His voice was hoarse and laced with hope and desperation.There was nothing from Marie. With nothing visible on her face, she simply stood there and watched him. Aaron took a deep breath and reached for her hand, holding on to it as if she might vanish if he released it.“Please, Marie, don't abandon me.” He didn't mind that his voice cracked a little. Pride was irrelevant. Ego wasn't a factor. No more. “None of this was intended by me. I promise that I never intended to cause you any harm.”Her eyes were fixed on him, but she remained silent. Aaron's chest ached from panic. “Other things don't matter to me. Nothing matters if I don't have you, not the money, not my father, not the power. Marie, I love you despite my mistakes. More than anythin
Silent sobs rocked Aaron’s body as he sat on the bed, hunched over, hands clutching his head. He had the impression that the earth had been torn away from him, leaving him free to fall and without anything to cling to. He was suffocating from the unbearable weight in his chest, which was pressing down on him.Marie had gone. He had allowed her to leave after she had left. He had never been afraid of anything before, but this frightened him. How had it gotten to this point? How had he lost her so thoroughly? It was more painful than anything he had ever experienced to consider a life without Marie, without the fire in her eyes when she challenged him and without the warmth of her presence.He took a deep shuddering breath and tried to think, but his mind was a jumble of ideas. He never thought he would fall in love, much less be this enamored of a woman. Here he was, however, broken. Her memories were oppressive.She would frown when she was thinking too much, her lips would curl into