"Hey, what kind of house is this?" Juliette inquired as Andrew brought the car to a halt. The mansion before her loomed large, but an eerie feeling permeated the air. It was as if a sense of darkness lingered, or something crucial was amiss, yet the silence enveloped the place like a desolate graveyard. "Follow me..." Andrew instructed, his voice commanding. Juliette observed him striding towards the front door, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. An involuntary scoff escaped her lips as she reluctantly trailed after him. As she entered, her annoyance only intensified upon reaching the living area and spotting a portrait hanging prominently on the wall. It was a grand portrait of Adrienne. "Why is her picture here? Is this her house? I distinctly remember you saying it belonged to a 'he' and not a 'she'!" Juliette's eyes rolled indignantly. "No, this is not her house, and it indeed belongs to a 'he,'" a deep baritone voice resonated from behind Juliette. Startled, she sw
Juliette's eyes widened with shock, her voice barely a whisper as she asked, "What do you mean you know where my dad is? How do you know my dad?" Juliette asked Richard, her voice trembling. Richard paused for a moment, assessing the emotions in Juliette's eyes. "The question here is... do you know your dad?" he said, choosing his words carefully. "My dad is... dead," Juliette said, her voice choked with grief. Richard's expression softened slightly. "No, he's not," he replied, his voice gentle yet firm. A tinge of annoyance flickered in Juliette's eyes. "Well, if he's alive, then where is he?" she asked, desperation evident in her tone. Richard hesitated before speaking. "Did you witness your 'late' father's passing, just as you did with your mom? Did you ever see his lifeless body?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity. Juliette was taken aback, her thoughts racing. "So... that man might still be alive?" Richard's eyes met hers, his demeanor grave. "I can't sa
"Good morning," Ryan greeted Adrienne, a warm smile lighting up his face as he glanced up from his laptop. Adrienne, disheveled from sleep, yawned and rubbed her eyes in response. "Good morning. Did I oversleep?" Adrienne asked sheepishly, feeling a hint of embarrassment at waking up late. Ryan chuckled. "Nah, you got the perfect amount of sleep your body needed," he reassured her, his voice filled with sincerity. Adrienne stretched her weary limbs and let out a contented sigh. "I'll be right back," she said, mustering enough energy to head to the bathroom for a quick refreshing routine. After brushing her teeth and splashing cold water on her face, she emerged, feeling much more awake. She made her way towards Ryan, bending down to plant a tender kiss on the top of his hair. Curiosity sparked in her eyes as she noticed the intensity of his focus. "What are you up to?" Adrienne inquired, genuinely interested. "Just going over some account reports I've neglected. It's about t
Juliette walked into Ryan's living room, finding him engrossed in whatever he was doing on his laptop. Surprised by her sudden entrance, Ryan quickly closed his laptop, attempting to hide whatever he had been looking at. Juliette couldn't help but smirk at his reaction. "Why? Are you hiding something from me?" she teased, raising an eyebrow. "Good morning to you too," Ryan retorted with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Rather than getting into a snarky banter, Juliette scoffed and settled herself on the couch across from Ryan. He leaned back, crossing his legs and folding his hands on his chest. His eyes locked onto hers, silently urging her to speak. "So..." he started, breaking the silence. "Why did you want to see me?" he asked. "Why didn't you ask why I looked disheveled yesterday?" Juliette replied, her tone slightly softer. Ryan paused for a moment, sensing a subtle shift in her demeanor. "Simple. I love minding my own business. Is there a problem with that?" he retort
Adrienne stood in her cozy kitchen, a cloud of flour floating in the air as she vigorously mixed the cookie batter. An unexplained craving for homemade cookies had taken hold of her, prompting her to embark on her very first baking adventure. Thankfully, Lucy, her self-proclaimed baking expert, had offered to lend a hand. "I love the end result, but hate the process of cooking," Adrienne sighed, her voice tinged with a hint of laziness. "Oh, Adrienne, you truly are something else," Lucy chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. Curiosity sparked in Adrienne's eyes as she inquired, "Is Daniel still sound asleep?" Lucy pondered for a moment before nodding her head, her brows furrowing. "I'm not entirely sure why he came here just to sleep. But hey, as long as he's happy, right? Our doors are always open for him. Although, having him join us in the kitchen would've been an added bonus." "Lazy girl. Is this how you plan to behave once you're a wife?" Adrienne scoffed, a smirk tu
Juliette entered Daniel's house after successfully inputting the passcode. As she stepped inside, the emptiness of the place confirmed her suspicion that he wasn't home. She recalled hearing his phone ring at Adrienne's house, which only fueled her frustration. Disdainfully, Juliette settled herself on the couch. "And he had the audacity to claim he was working here," she muttered under her breath, her disbelief evident in her tone. Sitting there, she found herself staring at the ceiling, an overwhelming sense of misery flooding through her. "This misery should be Adrienne's burden, not mine," She blurted out, as if speaking to the vacant room. Attempting to shake off her despondency, she decided to rest her eyes and patiently wait for Daniel's return, hoping for an explanation. Her dozing state was interrupted by the distinct beeping sound of the door unlocking. Someone was inputting the passcode, and Juliette's heart raced in anticipation with the realization that Daniel had r
Adrienne cautiously stepped into the room, her heart pounding in her chest. Her eyes darted around, searching for any signs, any trace of Richard's presence. But it was clear that he wasn't there, leaving behind an unsettling stillness that seemed to suffocate the space. With hesitant steps, she edged towards his study, instinctively drawn by a hauntingly familiar scent hanging in the air. The unmistakable aroma of cigarette smoke wrapped around her senses, an undeniable sign that Richard had been indulging in his vice within the confines of this room. Pushing open the door to the study, Adrienne found herself confronted by a scene of dimly illuminated books and scattered papers. A faint haze hovered in the air, only illuminated by the gentle glow of a desk lamp. Her gaze traveled towards the figure silhouetted by the moonlight, leaning effortlessly against the window frame. Richard's intense stare locked onto hers, a silent understanding passing between them. For a fleeting m
"I want more..." she confessed, her words barely a whisper but brimming with conviction. "I was going to give you more, even if you didn't ask for it..." He whispered in her ear, causing her heart to race once more. He swiftly gathered her in his arms and carried her to the desk. With one hand, he cleared the items from his table, causing a loud crash as something glass-like shattered, but they paid no attention. All they desired was the intimacy their bodies craved. "Adrienne..." she heard him murmur. Seated on the desk, with Richard standing before her, she moved her hands sensually up her dress, teasing Richard's senses as her fingers found the zipper. Slowly, she unzipped her dress and rolled the straps gently to her waist, revealing her breasts in the confines of her bra. She intended to unhook it, but he grasped her hand, halting her movements. A soft smile danced at the corners of his lips as he said, "Allow me," his voice filled with a mix of desire and tenderness. He