After some hesitation, Aaron threw open the door and let Susann in. He was surprised by her unexpected arrival because he hadn't anticipated her visit at this hour.Aaron shut the door after her as she entered the room with deliberate yet gentle steps, his mind buzzing with questions.He tried to speak steadily, but he could feel his heartbeat quicken and asked, "What is it, Susann?" Although he was unsure of what to anticipate, he was aware that she rarely arrived with pointless chatter.Susann turned to him, taking a deep breath and maintaining her poise. She started off by saying, "I've been observing something," in a measured tone and with deliberate word choice. After pausing, she went on. "It concerns you and Marie."Although Aaron's brows furrowed slightly, he remained silent. Susann had always been perceptive, constantly watching and conscious of details that others missed; he hadn't anticipated her bringing up his relationship with Marie.He prepared himself for the impendi
Marie was wide awake in her bed, the room cold leaking through the sheets that did little to keep her warm.She was unable to close her eyes even though it was cold. In the fog of her mind, sleep seemed so far away. She kept thinking about Aaron.Not doing so was unavoidable. Her mind was still clear with the picture of him in the rain holding her so tenderly and fiercely at the same time. She could feel his heart beating in time with hers, his chest rising and falling against hers, and the warmth of his embrace.The bond they had formed at that moment had not been significantly weakened by the wet clothing.It had been honest, open and vulnerable. As well as his statement. As they stood there in the rain, he spoke to her in those gentle, almost contrite words. She had been surprised by the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke. She had never anticipated him lowering a wall, but it felt as though he was opening up in a way that he had never done before. Her memory was etched with that g
Marie's eyes fluttered open, and she lay on the bed for a while, enjoying the gentle morning light that came in through the curtains.She felt airy and a lightness in her chest that hadn't been there the day before. She had the feeling... excited. She was excited to see Aaron once more. The recollection of their fleeting passionate moments together—in his arms in the rain—made her heart race.His words and the warmth of his touch had made an impression that would last. She was eager to see him again to have a nice connection and to see if he would behave the same way he had the previous evening.Smiling to herself, she tossed the covers, climbed out of bed and hurriedly started getting ready for the day. She tried to look perfect, to get every detail just right when applying her makeup using a steady hand.She was having trouble focusing because her mind was racing. She was only able to think about Aaron and the way he had held her and gazed at her. What had changed in him during th
Marie’s heart was pounding as she stared at Aaron, expecting him to turn to face her and ask why. But Aaron continued to move. He persisted and did not reduce speed.He moved quickly, but his back was stiff. When they got to the door, he held it open for her, but his jaw was clenched, and his eyes were still focused forward.“We are late,” He said curtly as if that clarified everything.” Go out.”Marie's chest became constricted. The distance was there once more—the chilly temperature. Still following him, still surprised, she went outside. Did she say or do something that caused the change overnight, or did she misinterpret every moment between them? She followed him while keeping an eye on the back of his as he took deliberate, quick, and long steps.It crossed her mind that he might have cut her off because of something that had happened, but she was unaware of it. Her thoughts were disrupted when Susann walked alongside Aaron, catching up to them.She stated in her typically comp
Marie bit her lip, fighting the frustration that was growing inside her. She wanted to question him about his behavior and why, after everything they had discussed, he had abruptly distanced himself. She was unable to ask because the words felt stuck in her throat.She was careful not to exacerbate the situation. She became increasingly irate as the minutes passed. The silence was intolerable. She was confused by what had happened.The memory of the warmth between them the night before when everything had felt so right only made the present more painful. What had she done to deserve this coldness? Why was he acting this way? In what way was he able to simply cut her off? She looked at Aaron once more, but he ignored her. He didn’t even turn to face her. While he drove, she could see his clenched jaw and focused face, but there was no warmth or connection.Just a detached icy concentration on the path ahead.With her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine, Marie muttered, “wh
They reached the entrance of the building, and Aaron stepped inside without a second glance at Marie. She observed him in, glancing over her shoulder to peer at Susann walking in at the back of her, looking just as impartial as Aaron. Marie felt a pang of jealousy. Susann appeared to understand exactly how to handle Aaron’s coldness, while Marie felt like she changed into wholly lost.Why the hell was he giving her a cold reception?They walked into the big assembly room, where numerous shareholders had already been waiting. The room became full of an irritating, expert atmosphere. Marie felt small and out of place, standing in the back of the room at the same time as Aaron took his seat at the top of the table. He right away started talking about enterprise, his voice consistent and commanding as he went over the figures and strategies.Marie watched him with a mixture of admiration and frustration. This became the man she had seen the nighttime earlier than—sturdy, assured, and deci
As quickly as the last shareholder walked out, Marie didn’t wait for Aaron. She drove her chair back and stood up quickly, feeling a rush of hysteria. She couldn’t sit down there anymore or live in the cold room packed with unstated tension. She didn’t need to make it worse by means of lingering. She didn’t need to force herself on him.Without a glance at everyone else, she walked out of the room. Her footsteps echoed inside the hallway, everyone louder than the final. Her coronary heart beat quicker as she moved, and her thoughts had been scattered. Why is Aaron performing like this? What had passed off? Why had he pulled far away from her so unexpectedly?She drove those thoughts apart as she moved towards their workplace. It was less complicated to keep on foot and moving than to sit down in that silence and attempt to make sense of all of it. However, as quickly as she stepped into the office, the stress in her chest elevated. There was no escaping this. There was no escaping the
Aaron cleared his throat. There was a small sound in the silence. He stepped again and commenced to stroll away, but Marie wasn’t equipped to allow him to move. She wasn't going to allow him to shut her out once more, not without some answers.She jumped and blocked his way, standing before him, her eyes flitting over his face and looking for some sign of the man she thought she knew.Aaron froze, his back nonetheless to her. He didn’t flip, didn’t examine her.She took a deep breath. “Aaron, ” she stated, softer than she wanted to, “I want you to tell me something. ” Her eyes stayed fixed at the return of his head, but he didn’t circulate. “One minute you’re sweet to me, you’re apologizing and maintaining me close. And the following minute, you’re distant, bloodless even. What is it? Why are you doing this? ”Aaron tensed; however, he didn’t flip to stand her. He took a step back as if to position the distance between them, even though there was already so much between them. His shou
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