Tasha's life had become a constant cycle of fear and uncertainty. Ever since that day, when her world had turned upside down with accusations she could hardly defend herself against, she had retreated into a shell. The warmth she once felt seemed like a distant memory. And though time moved on, it didn't ease her fears—it only blurred them, like shadows stretching longer in the fading light.Her aunt had always tried to make life seem brighter. Today, she was positively glowing with excitement. Her husband, Mr. James, was finally returning after ten long years. She headed eagerly to the Venice airport to welcome him back, the joy evident in her every word.When Uncle James arrived, Tasha greeted him respectfully. "How are you, Uncle." He waved his hand dismissively, a teasing smile playing on his lips."Uncle? Come on, I’m not that old. Think of me as a friend. Isn’t that what young people say these days?” But when he reached out, placing his hand on her shoulder, she froze. The gestu
Tasha was busy baking bread, her mind lost in the repetitive motions. Her hands moved automatically, a temporary escape from the anxiety that clouded her days. Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, making her jump."Hey, you got scared. I just came to check if the bread's done," Uncle James said, his smile holding a predatory edge. His eyes lingered on her with a familiarity she despised. Tasha's pulse quickened."It's not done yet. You should go sit outside. I'll bring it to you." She tried to keep her voice steady, but fear laced her tone. Carl’s words echoed in her mind, urging her to be brave, to stand up for herself. Uncle James ignored her, stepping closer. "Hey, the bread’s burning," he said, seizing her wrist. His grip was too tight, his intentions all too clear."Leave my hand!" Tasha yanked her hand back, her voice rising.She picked up the hot tongs, her grip firm despite the fear that churned in her stomach. With a surge of anger, she swung them at him. The tongs seared
The café stood silent in the dead of night, a refuge from the chaos of the outside world. She returned, her heart heavy with sorrow, only to find the door unlocked. Pushing it open, she stepped inside, greeted by an emptiness that mirrored her own. She needed solitude, a moment to gather her thoughts and process the turmoil churning within her.As she leaned against the wall, grief washed over her like a tidal wave. How could she have turned her back on love? The very hands that had once embraced him now felt like shackles, binding her to the pain of rejection. The weight of Daniel's cruelty pressed down on her, a constant reminder of the loss of her favorite person, taken away forever by his brutality.A fire ignited within her—an anger that had been simmering just beneath the surface. For the first time, the thought of Daniel didn't fill her with fear; instead, it fueled a burning desire for revenge. She wanted him to feel the same anguish she endured, to suffer as she did. The idea
Tasha had made the café her new home, finding comfort in its familiar surroundings. Her aunt had taken care of everything, stocking the storeroom with all the necessities Tasha would need. Despite the sadness that lingered in her heart, she tried to keep herself busy, throwing herself into her work as she washed dishes and cleaned tables.One afternoon, after scrubbing the last plate, Tasha wiped her hands on a towel and reached into her pocket for her phone. Her eyes lit up when she saw a new email notification.It was from the architectural department she had applied. Tasha opened the email with trembling hands and read the message eagerly. They had liked her CV and were impressed enough to offer her a position as the S.O. Manager. Along with the job came a generous salary, an apartment in Venice, and even a driver!As she read the email, Tasha's heart soared.When she rushed to share the news with her aunt, tears of happiness filled her aunt’s eyes. “Oh, Tasha! This is wonderful!”
“Not this time,” he growled, his eyes burning with a fierce desire for revenge. “What did you think? You could kill me and walk away in peace? Today, the tables have turned. Your soul will tremble before mine.” He gripped her delicate arm tightly, his fingers digging in as if he were afraid she might slip away. With his other hand, he seized her dupatta, yanking it off her head and throwing it aside as if it were nothing.In a flash, he pushed her fragile body to the floor, climbing on top of her. Panic washed over her. “Someone save me! Please! Help!” she cried, her voice shaking with fear. She couldn’t believe this was happening again. After Daniel’s betrayal, now she was facing her uncle’s brutality. The helplessness was overwhelming, igniting a flame of rage within her.“Shut up! Just be quiet for a moment!” he barked, his temper boiling over. Without warning, he slapped her hard across the face, but the pain did little to silence her. Instead, she gritted her teeth and bit down o
She sat curled up against the wall of her dimly lit room, her heart heavy with worry. “Yes, I’m very worried,” she murmured, her voice trembling. It had been two long days since her uncle had disappeared, and she hadn’t even bothered to turn on her phone. “He told me he would return after a day, but he hasn’t. I just can’t shake this feeling of dread.” Her aunt’s voice hit her ears.Every minute stretched painfully as she thought about her. Her aunt had always been there for her, a steady presence in her chaotic life. Now, with her absence, her world felt as if it were crumbling around her. Fear gripped her tightly, squeezing the breath from her lungs. She could barely imagine stepping outside; Daniel’s threat loomed over her like a dark cloud.With tears streaming down her face, she leaned her head against the cool wall. She looked up at the empty ceiling, her heart aching for comfort. The phone rang, cutting through her thoughts, and she quickly grabbed it. It was her aunt, her voic
“Hello? Can I speak to Tasha?” A call came from an unfamiliar number, ringing persistently. Tasha hesitated, her heart racing as she considered picking up. She had been ignoring it for days, but the thought crossed her mind that it might be the office calling. With a deep breath, she answered.“Hello?” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.“Tasha, it’s Shaista,” the voice on the other end said, soft but urgent. Tasha recognized her neighbor instantly.“Yes, Auntie Shaista, how are you?” she replied quickly, but a knot formed in her stomach at the tone of Shaista's voice.“I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your aunt… she’s had a heart attack. We’re taking her to the hospital. You need to come right away.”Tasha felt the world tilt beneath her as the words sunk in. A heart attack? It was as if time froze. The thought of her aunt, a woman who had always treated her like a daughter, left her reeling. She had always found comfort in his warmth, a stark contrast to the cruelty she had f
Despite the darkness that surrounded her, her anger toward Daniel fueled a fire within her, giving her strength to fight against the enemy. "I will kill you," she vowed, her voice low and fierce. "You will see. One day, I will kill you."Tasha felt utterly exhausted. Her hands were red and sore, the weight of the world pressing down on her. She could feel her body beginning to give in, the darkness creeping back into her vision like a thick fog. Just when she thought she might collapse, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, preventing her from falling to the floor.“Sit here,” he said gently, helping her onto the sofa.“Jake, get her some water!” he ordered, and immediately, Jake snapped to attention. He nodded quickly and rushed to fill a glass with water.“Drink,” he urged, bringing the glass to her lips. But Tasha hesitated, her lips refusing to part for the water. “Come on, drink some water. You need to eat too. Then we’ll take you to your aunt. He’s in the hospital.”The mention
“Tasha, open your eyes.” The lights above flickered as the hum of machines filled the room. Daniel sat at her side, his hand gripping hers with a desperation that made his fingers ache. Tasha’s once-vibrant face was now pale, her breath shallow, a thin sheen of sweat clinging to her forehead. The blood that had poured from the wound in her side had soaked through the hospital sheets, staining them a dark red. Her body was fragile, lifeless, and as still as the silence in the room.His heart was breaking in ways he never thought possible, each beat a painful reminder that the woman he loved was slipping away from him, and he could do nothing to stop it. His eyes were swollen from tears, his face streaked with them.His grip tightened around her hand, as if he could hold on to the last fragments of her life with sheer will alone. But even as he held her, even as he whispered her name over and over, it felt like the world was slowly fading to black."Tasha, please… please, wake up. I’m
The opening of the mall had arrived, and excitement filled the air. Daniel, standing near a jewelry stall, was busy directing his workers, making sure everything was perfect for the big day. The mall was filled with people, buzzing with energy, and yet, Daniel's mind seemed distracted.A flicker of movement caught his eye in the mirror before him. A boy stood behind a pillar, but Daniel thought nothing of it at first. After all, it was such a crowded day, and people were everywhere.But when Tasha entered the makeup shop a little later, Daniel's mind was drawn back to the strange sensation that someone was watching her. She was absorbed in picking out lipstick shades, inspecting them carefully in the mirror, when suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. In the reflection, she saw the boy from earlier – Carl – standing just behind her.She spun around quickly, her breath caught in her throat, but no one was there. It must have been a trick of the light, she thought, dismissing the unease cr
For the grand opening of the mall, Daniel had decided not to invite any actors, actresses, or high-profile political figures as special guests. Instead, he wanted the moment to be about one person—his wife.Tasha’s car pulled up outside the mall, and without hesitation, Daniel stepped forward to open the door for her, right in front of the waiting media. His smile was warm and inviting as he extended his hand to her."Come on," he said, his voice full of affection. Tasha, her heart racing, placed her hand in his, stepping out of the car gently. She was standing in front of the media for the very first time, and it made her feel a bit anxious. But before she could get too nervous, Daniel wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. The simple act of his touch helped to calm her nerves, making her feel more at ease."Here, take the scissors," he said, holding them out to her. Tasha, still in a bit of a daze, had assumed he was joking, but seeing the serious expression o
That evening, after a long and grueling day, Tasha returned home to find Daniel waiting for her in the living room. The apartment was dimly lit, the soft golden hue of the table lamps casting a warm glow. The aroma of fresh coffee lingered in the air. She closed the door behind her with a tired sigh, and there he was—Daniel—lounging on the couch with an easy, mischievous smile on his face.“How was your first day as boss?” he asked, setting his laptop aside with a deliberate slowness, as if he were savoring the moment of her arrival.“Exhausting,” Tasha admitted, kicking off her heels with a grateful grunt and collapsing beside him on the couch. Her shoulders were tense, her muscles aching from a day filled with meetings, decisions, and memories she had been trying to bury for years.Daniel’s arm was around her in an instant, pulling her closer to him. His touch was grounding, like a lifeline. “And yet, you survived. That’s my girl,” he said, his voice full of pride.She smiled weakly
They had been working together for a week, but it seemed unlikely that this girl had even seen him once. He was lying beside his new bride, lost in thought, remembering Tasha. The image of her beautiful yet simple face, full of confidence, kept playing in his mind. A wave of deep regret swept over him. He wished he had appreciated her more, that he had valued her in the way she deserved. Maybe, if he had, she would still be with him now.Tears welled up in his eyes, and he quickly sat up, rubbing his eyes roughly, trying to push the painful thoughts away. His heart was breaking. The girl he had once known, the girl he had lost, was now married to someone else. She was no longer his, and it was all because of his own foolishness and insecurities."How's everything going?" She asked softly, her voice gentle as she styled her hair. She leaned her chin on his shoulder, wrapping her delicate arms around him, showing concern. He could feel her care for him, yet his thoughts were elsewhere.
Shehryar paced back and forth in his office, his brow furrowed with frustration. The weight of the company’s recent losses pressed heavily on him, and his temper simmered. His brother, Carl, sat across from him, visibly worn from the arguments they’d been having for weeks.“Has our time come?” Shehryar snapped, slamming his fist onto the desk. “Now we’ll work like employees in our own office under a girl?”Carl adjusted his glasses and sighed deeply, his patience thinning. “We’re not employees, Shehryar. We’re still partners.”“Partners?” Shehryar barked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t joke with me, Carl. She owns 70 percent of the shares, and we only have 30 between us. That means she calls the shots in everything from now on!” He slammed the back of his chair in frustration, his anger palpable.Carl leaned forward, rubbing his temples. “Instead of yelling, maybe we should hope she’s competent enough to save what’s left of this sinking ship. We’ve got nothing left but this c
“Would you help me with something?” Daniel asked, holding a stack of papers in his hand. He extended them toward Tasha with a warm, encouraging smile.“Help? With what exactly?” she asked curiously, raising her eyebrows as she took the papers from him.“Well…” He leaned back casually, his tone light but deliberate. “I bought seventy percent of the shares of a failing company.”“What?” Her voice shot up in surprise, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Why would someone as smart as you invest in a company that’s going under?”“Because I thought I could turn it around,” he replied with a shrug. “But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and I’ve been too busy to focus on it. So, here’s the deal: I’m handing it over to you. You’ll be managing it from tomorrow.”Tasha’s jaw dropped. “Me? Are you serious? I don’t know the first thing about running a company!”Daniel raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk forming on his lips. “Why not? Did you get your degree just to decorate the house?”“That’s not
Tasha lay in bed, her eyes heavy but stubbornly refusing to close. Beside her, Daniel was peacefully asleep, his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. Yet, even in his sleep, he seemed restless, as if the memory of something unresolved lingered in his subconscious. A soft whisper escaped his lips, almost an apology directed at himself.Tasha couldn’t help but study his face, her gaze tracing every line and curve. “How beautiful he is,” she thought, a soft smile playing on her lips. Daniel was her prince, flawed yet captivating, and even in the darkness of the room, he exuded a warmth that drew her closer.She leaned in, her nose brushing lightly against his, and closed her eyes. The heat of his breath fanned her cheeks, and for a moment, the world stilled. “This,” she whispered to herself, “this is the most beautiful moment.”Daniel stirred slightly but remained asleep. Tasha chuckled softly, a memory tugging at her heart. “I remember,” she began, speaking to him though sh
"Let’s have breakfast quickly. You must be starving,” Daniel said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of concern. He watched Tasha closely, as though gauging her mood.Tasha raised her eyebrows, her lips curling into a wry smile. “I must be? How do you know?” she asked, her tone teasing yet laced with curiosity.Daniel hesitated for a moment, his confusion evident. “What do you mean?”“That I’m hungry,” she replied softly, leaning back slightly, her eyes never leaving his.Daniel smirked, though his gaze turned serious. “How could you think for a second that I’d have breakfast without you? Especially today, after you called me yourself. Do you know what that means to me?” His voice dropped, becoming almost a whisper.Tasha blinked, slightly caught off guard. Daniel wasn’t the type to show his emotions so openly. But when he referred to her as his “E” – the affectionate nickname only he used – her heart skipped a beat. He could have called himself Daniel, the name the world knew him