[ Tristan ]“Alicia! Is that really you?” I couldn’t believe on my eyes when I saw my friend in such a vulnerable condition, skinny and pale.“Tristan, I knew you’d come to save me.” She said in a broken voice.I took a step forward in her direction. Her frail body was trembling like a dry leaf. My own eyes filled with tears as it was very hard for me to believe that a vibrant girl, who used to be full of life and had fun like crazy, now locked in a dark hell.I touched her face and she closed her eyes while leaning on my shoulder.“How it happened?” I found it hard to speak.She lifted her face and her lips quivered as she tried to speak. I helped her to sit down on the single bed. the place looked awful, the screaming and wailing of mentally disabled women shook my heart, I couldn’t imagine how she had been living in such place.“Marrying him was the biggest mistake of my life.” She sniffed.“I can’t agree more. He is the biggest jerk I have ever seen.” I said, my hatred is increasi
[ Claire ]I waited for the whole day. I was anxious because Tristan didn’t sound good when I called him. He told me to wait because he’d tell me everything once he comes home.“Mom, stop worrying. If Dad told you to be stress free means he can handle the problem he is dealing with. Please, stop killing the floor by continuous pacing.” Travis said to me lifting his face from his book.“You’re right, Travis but I can’t help it. Your father is late. I mean look at the clock, it’s almost eight in the night.” I said glancing for the millionth time in the clock.He shook his head and picked my phone, “I am calling dad again for your mental peace.” He said but before he could make the call, the door bell rang.“I think it’s your father.” I said and Gina went to open the door, I followed behind her because I desperately wanted to see him safe.When the main door opened, I saw his figure on the door step and I sighed in relief but when my eyes shifted on his right side, I was both surprised a
[ Claire ]“Hey, come here.” Tristan said who slipped in the bed beside me after the dinner. Thankfully Alicia requested to eat in her room. I was glad because I am sure I wouldn’t have eaten peacefully in her presence.I snuggled into his arms. It’s my favourite sleeping position though I feel bad for his arm but he doesn’t mind allowing me to use his arm as my pillow.“You know, it is the best time of my day when I can finally have you in my arms and find my peace, no matter how challenging my day was.” He said with a smile. I like this trait about him. He never misses a chance to make me feel wanted.I kissed his chin with a smile, our gaze never breaking. I found surprise in his eyes.“Sleep now, Tristan. You are exhausted, it’s visible on your face.” I said while running my fingers in his hairs, he closed his eyes to feel my touch, his creases relaxed.“I can do anything to have your fingers massaging my head, it’s a heavenly feeling which I missed in five years.” He said with cl
[ Claire ]It wasn’t ethical to ask Alicia about her past link with my husband but I don’t want any kind of danger on him and it wasn’t wrong because I can’t trust Alicia.“What do you want to know, Mrs. Pierce?” She blinked her eyes innocently at me.“Please, drop the formalities now. You can call me Claire.” I said as I am still not habitual being addressed as Mrs. Pierce.“Then stop calling me Mrs. Bale, it feels more like an abuse. I hadn’t adopted Ryan’s surname, one of the many baseless reasons he hated me for.” She told me with hint of sadness.“You’re safe now. You can start your life fresh with your son. It will be challenging and not easy at all but I am sure you’ll overcome.” I said to lift up her courage.“I don’t think, Claire. He has given me deep wounds which I don’t think would heal easily. He is a monster who will chase me to the end of the earth if he won’t be sentenced for his sins.” She said.“He will, he must pay for his crimes. I and Tristan won’t leave him easil
[ Tristan ]I promised Alicia and Claire that I’d fix everything but it’s not as easy as I thought. I received a call from the hospital where Harris was admitted. They told me that he passed away in the midnight but I had pretty doubts, it couldn’t be possible since he was recovering and his reports were normal.To find out what actually happened, I called Mr. Lee to do it for me since I wasn’t allowed to meet the convict of a murder case. The evening rolled on but I hadn’t received anything from Mr. Lee which was making me anxious with passing moments. I hadn’t told Claire about her father yet.“Sir, Mr. Lee is here. Should I send him inside?” My P.A. asked me through the intercom.“Yes.” I said and sat straight to meet my detective, I was having knots in my stomach. I was angry on my fate. I wanted to punish Harris but his death was quick and painless. How could he die so peacefully after ruining many lives?I was busy cursing my fate when the door opened again and Mr. Lee walked in
[ Tristan ]“Are you sure that your sister isn’t playing a trick this time?” I asked Caleb who was frantically yelling on the phone for last one hour.He turned around only to give me a frustrated look, I might offend him but Mia Jones is no less than a spoiled kid who throws fits to gain her family’s attention.“Mia’s phone is found beside the road in a broken condition. No one knows my sister better than I do. She is obsessed her phone and the only time she keeps her phone when she sleeps.” He said.I glanced at my watch, it showed around six. I should be heading back to my home but I couldn’t leave Caleb alone, he was dealing with everything alone and being his friend, it was my duty to help him.“Alright, please calm down. We can look for her with the help of police also. I know they haven’t helped us much in our previous matters but if her life is actually in some kind of risk, then it’s better if we inform the police.” I advised him and it was the most sensible thing to do.“You
[ Claire ]When Tristan came back, it was around ten in the night. Luckily, he was home just before heavy rainfall hit the city. He looked really depressed and it pained me to see him dealing with a lot all alone. I wish I could support him actively but he strictly told me to stay home and recover.“Hey, looking tired. Please, go and change, I’ll serve you the dinner.’ I said to him softly but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a hug. A smiled crept on my lips and I wrapped my arms around him.“Just stay like this for a minute. I need you close to me.” He murmured in the crook of my neck.“I am always here, Tristan.” It came out of my mouth on its own.“I know and you have no idea how much relief I am feeling right now, your words mean a lot.” He said breaking the hug but I was still in his arms and our closeness was making me giddy.“I am not hungry, my love but I will have a cup of strong coffee. I’ll make it myself, you don’t need to stress yourself.” He said giving a pat on my
[ Claire ]I stayed awake most of the time until the effect of medicines kicked in. My mind couldn’t find peace. My thoughts kept running back to my dysfunctional family. Harris died, my brother is torn between is own dreams and handling a disrupted family. Mia, who also wants to see me dead, is missing. I don’t care about her but she is pregnant and I don’t envy her child.“Hey, why are you standing here? You may catch cold.” I heard Tristan’s groggy morning voice but it sounded sexy. He wrapped my shawl around me and hugged me from behind as I stood in the balcony, the heavy pour turned into soft drizzles but temperature fell drastically.“Good morning.” I wished him, I didn’t want to sour his mood first thing in the morning.“Good morning, beautiful. I am thinking to skip office today. What do you say?” He inhaled my hairs.“Sounds like a good idea. I am also planning to escape office for a day but I want only three of us to spend the day together.” I said turning to face.His smil