AdrianI am awake before my alarm clock and sound off. A bubbling anticipation forms inside my chest, helping me move throughout my usual morning routine with complete ease. I eat my breakfast, knowing that Stella will be home soon to cook it for me like she always does, and get dressed as fast as I
It is a direct line of sight from end to beginning. The hallway is empty with only a few stragglers from previous meetings leaving and entering. My heart races and my chest tightens only to calm whenever a new figure enters, one that is not Stella.I look at my lawyer, sitting up in my chair before
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
It is a direct line of sight from end to beginning. The hallway is empty with only a few stragglers from previous meetings leaving and entering. My heart races and my chest tightens only to calm whenever a new figure enters, one that is not Stella.I look at my lawyer, sitting up in my chair before
AdrianI am awake before my alarm clock and sound off. A bubbling anticipation forms inside my chest, helping me move throughout my usual morning routine with complete ease. I eat my breakfast, knowing that Stella will be home soon to cook it for me like she always does, and get dressed as fast as I
To them, I am simply a bag of spare parts that they can pick apart and freely choose from. To them, I am nothing more than an inconvenience until they decide that I am worthy enough for their love.It doesn’t help that Adrian, a man who was supposed to fulfill the role as my husband, always takes th
StellaI smile and wave goodbye to my family as they exit the restaurant. My parents get into their car and drive away just as Luca pulls up in his modified sports car. Silas gets inside the passenger seat, with Dominic shoving himself into the tiny backseat, and they wave before Luca’s car lunges a
I turn my gaze to Luca who looks like he is about to blow up from excitement. I hold back a laugh and turn to grab his first. I walk around the table, watching as he vibrates from excitement, and place the bag in front of his eyes.“What is it?” Luca looks up at him.I play coy and shrug. I walk bac
StellaI approach the restaurant with a big smile on my face while dragging a small wagon of wrapped gifts behind me. The host immediately opens the door for me and I thank him, allowing him to guide me to the back of the building where I have reserved a large room for my family and I to privately d
“Did something happen?” Silas breaks free from his silence and steps forward. His expression looks like he is ready to kill someone.“Her other family happened,” Sebastian sighs, “Clara and that mother of hers caused a scene when Stella and our mother were out today. Now mom is closed off again and
Third Person“Mom? Is everything okay?” Sebastian asks as soon as he begins to drive away from the mall. He glances at her through the rearview mirror, his eyes just barely meeting hers.“I met her foster family,” his mother lets out a long and aggravated sigh. She looks out the window and frowns. “
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