Stella“Ma’am, Mr. Adrian’s $1 million compensation has been successfully deposited.” The message from my husband’s assistant arrives just as I regain consciousness.As the wife of Adrian, the youngest CEO of a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, everyone envies the life I appear to have. But be
StellaMy face twitches, a grimaced smile blossoming on my face. The two of them don’t even notice me standing inside the room. I take a couple of steps forward, clearing my throat.Even with the sound I made, they simply do not look at me. They remain totally engrossed in each other’s presence, una
Stella“What is wrong with you today?” Adrian’s brows knit together. “Nobody is treating you like a slave. Go throw your temper tantrum somewhere else.”My husband turns away from me. He brushes loose strands of blonde hair out of Clara’s face, his expression softening as soon as his eyes land on he
Stella“Clara is Adrian’s first love! She is the reason that he built the pharmaceutical company! He wants to save her, to bring her back to life!”My world shatters from all around me.I hate the way they look at me. The way they so easily laugh at the concept of me being a bag of spare parts for t
AdrianWith Clara in my arms, my mind can finally go quiet. There are no anxious voices lurking in the depths of my consciousness, no lingering thoughts of hopelessness or despair revolving around her health condition. I gently brush her hair out of her face, a small smile spreading across her face.
AdrianMy feet hesitate when I hear the low hum of the engine. I can’t tear my gaze away from Stella’s shaded appearance in the window. She doesn’t meet my gaze as the car drives by me.Did Stella actually defy me? She always listened to me in the past, what changed?I snatch my phone from my pocket
My wish? It would be to go back to the old days where I worked with them as hacker. The love I felt from them then will make me feel whole again.“I want to return as a hacker,” my words surprise them at first but they all nod, agreeing to my wish.Determination strengthens my body. I can’t let Clar
AdrianI blink at my phone screen, mouth hanging open as Stella’s name flickers into darkness. Stella has never hung up on me before. I scoff and look around in disbelief before turning back to the screen.Go find someone else with your money.Stella’s words repeat on an endless loop inside my mind.
My finger taps the desk at a slow and steady pace. I pucker my lips and turn to the computer screen, looking at Stella’s face through the images. I pick the phone up and stare at the text messages finally deciding to type.Adrian: Yes. I’ll transfer the money to you soon.I place my phone on the des
Third PersonAdrian’s private investigator enters the mall without raising any suspicion. He blends in with all of the other personal assistants and butlers that have accompanied their employers to the mall. He carries a small black bag around his side, a small yet high definition camera sitting jus
StellaThe fire that burns inside my chest and mind cools. It does not let up, though, and the flames that were once red and orange have turned blue and white. It is a cold fire that decimates any of the love and kindness I once held towards the tao of them, and by extension my foster father.“Do yo
“Excuse me?” my mother scoffs and steps froward. Her heels click against the floor, eyes narrowing at the duo that stands before us.“We know Stella,” Clara sneers, her blue eyes attaching onto mine, “she is as broke as they come.Clara steps forward, her fingers curl around the gold metal chain and
Stella“What about this one, dear?” my mother’s voice carries over the low volume of music that plays inside the store. I glance up from the clothing rack filled with high end dresses that are worth more than a year’s rent in the building I live in.My mother holds a light blue dress in her hands. T
My breath gets caught in my throat. I look back up at Stella, who laughs to herself, and brings the phone to her ear. A lump forms in my throat.Stella…never did this. She never thanked me for the money I have given her throughout the years. She has never once told me the two words I never thought I
Adrian“Thank you for visiting our restaurant, sir, please come again soon,” the hostess who stands at the front door of the restaurant beams at me as I pass them by. A bag hangs from my hands with two to go boxes inside. Clara’s untouched meal and my leftovers sit inside.Walking out to my car, I c
AdrianI sit at a table inside Clara’s favorite restaurant. Looking between my watch and around the room, I begin to feel impatient as time ticks away. Just as I’m about to get up and leave, Clara rushes inside the dining hall in my direction.“Adrian! I am so sorry I’m late. Traffic was so slow,” s
Third Person POVClara lounges on the couch inside her parents’ home, aimlessly scrolling throughout her social media profiles. They have been carefully sculpted to fit the image of a perfect wife for Adrian, never showing too much skin or too much of her life to her followers while also being just