Victoria sat by the window of Nelson's apartment, her fingers gripping the warm mug of tea he’d handed her hours ago. The skyline outside was a blur of lights, but her mind was somewhere else—stuck in the doorway where Gerald had stood, pleading with her. His voice still echoed in her ears, raw and broken.Nelson moved quietly in the background, and stood behind her. He had sensed her unease since Gerald’s departure, and though he didn’t say much, his presence was comforting. She appreciated it—but it didn’t stop the storm brewing in her chest.Finally, she set the mug down and turned toward him. “Make me forget him, please?”Nelson looked at her, his eyes darkened with lust. The vulnerability in her voice struck him deeply, stirring something primal within him. He stepped closer, his hands finding her shoulders. "I'm not only going to make you forget him, but also male sure you never forget me again, Toria" he said with a hoarse voice that made Toria shiver. She nodded, her breath
The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the room. Victoria stirred in Nelson's arms, her mind tugged from the haze of sleep by the familiar pang of unease. The warmth of his body beside her was comforting, yet her thoughts drifted back to Gerald—the heartbreak etched into his face as he stood in the doorway.She untangled herself carefully, not wanting to wake Nelson, and padded barefoot to the window. The city below bustled with life, oblivious to the turmoil in her heart. She wrapped her arms around herself, the chill of uncertainty seeping into her bones. Despite the sizziling sex she had with Nelson last night, it couldn't still take Gerald out of her thoughts. It felt odd to be here and not with Gerald.A soft rustle behind her made her turn. Nelson was awake, his dark eyes watching her with a mix of concern and longing. "You're up early," he said, his voice husky from sleep."I couldn’t sleep," she admitted, her gaze dropping to the floor.Nel
Victoria stepped out of the coffee shop, her heart heavy and her mind a swirl of emotions. Gerald’s words clung to her like a shadow, each step away from him feeling like a betrayal of the love they once shared.Her phone buzzed again. She pulled it from her bag, half expecting another message from Gerald. Instead, it was Nelson.Nelson: Back early. Dinner tonight?She hesitated before replying. Being with Nelson had become a way to escape her pain, but now it felt hollow. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard before she typed a short reply:Victoria: Sure.As she slipped the phone back into her bag, her thoughts returned to the strained conversation at the café. Gerald’s pain was raw and real, but his accusations still stung. How could he claim to still love her after what he’d done?The chill in the air bit at her cheeks as she walked toward her apartment. She needed to clear her head, to sort through the chaos.---Nelson was waiting for her when she got home, a bottle of wine open o
Victoria awoke the next morning to an empty bed. The space beside her was cold, the sheets undisturbed, as though Nelson had been gone for hours. Her body ached—a reminder of the night before—but her mind was restless. The unanswered questions from the text thread she’d glimpsed now gnawed at her thoughts.She reached for her phone, only to find Nelson’s still sitting on the nightstand. Her heart raced. He’d never leave it behind.Temptation won.Unlocking it with the code, she scrolled back to the messages with Mildred. The words on the screen froze her in place:Mildred: Don’t forget our agreement. You need to talk to Gerald.Her blood ran cold. What agreement? What were they hiding? And what does Gerald have to do with all of this?Nelson’s voice startled her, breaking the silence. “Looking for something?”Victoria turned to see him leaning casually against the doorframe, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were sharp, watching her ever
Victoria’s declaration hung in the air like a thunderclap. Nelson’s eyes widened, and his lips curled into a satisfied smirk, but she caught a flash of something darker—triumph.“Finally,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “You’re making the right choice, Toria. Gerald doesn’t deserve you or your loyalty.”“He doesn't,” she repeated, her voice shaking. “I need to take control of my life, my future. And my daughter’s.”Nelson stepped closer, his expression softening. “And I’ll be by your side every step of the way. Whatever you need.”But Victoria wasn’t ready to let her guard down. She stepped back, clutching the envelope like a shield. “I’ll handle this myself. I need to get custody of my baby, Nelson.”He nodded his head in agreement with het. “Of course. Whatever you want. I will get you the best lawyer.”Victoria looked away, her thoughts racing. The photograph in her hand was damning, and it gave her the ammunition she needed against Gerald. But it also raised more questions
Across town, Gerald paced in the park, his mind racing. The arranged meeting didn’t sit right with him. Victoria’s tone in the message was uncharacteristically curt, and her sudden urgency was a far cry from their last tense interaction. He had come prepared, though—he was going to tell her everything he knew that would definitely blow Nelson’s schemes wide open.At exactly 10 a.m., Gerald spotted Nelson approaching, his stride confident and deliberate. Gerald’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s Victoria?”Nelson’s smile was all charm, but his eyes carried a glint of malice. “She couldn't make it, she sent me instead. In the meantime, why don’t we cut to the chase? You’ve been lying to her, Gerald. Manipulating her. That ends today.”Gerald clenched his fists, his temper rising. “You don’t get to play the savior, Nelson. I know exactly what you’ve been doing—feeding her doubts, twisting her reality. She deserves the truth.”Nelson tilted his head, his smile widening. “The truth? That’s a subjec
Nelson’s words, brazen and unapologetic, sent a jolt through Victoria’s body. Her breath hitched as her heart began to race—not with anger, but with an undeniable spark of something deeper, something primal that she couldn’t ignore. His audacity, his raw confidence, and the sheer power in his tone ignited a fire within her, one she hadn’t felt in a long time.She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice, but it came out as a whisper. “Nelson…”He stepped closer, his presence commanding as he tilted her chin upward, his fingers grazing her skin. His voice softened, but the intensity remained. “You’re overthinking, Victoria. Let me remind you what it feels like to let go… to feel alive.”Her body betrayed her protests, leaning into his touch as her worries, fears, and doubts began to dissolve in the heat of the moment. His lips brushed hers, not with urgency but with a slow, deliberate claim that sent a shiver down her spine. The weight of her concerns faded away, replaced by a desperat
Gerald sat in the quiet café, his eyes glued to the entrance. He stirred his coffee absently, glancing at his watch for the fifth time in ten minutes. Victoria was late—later than she’d ever been for any of their previous meetings. His fingers drummed against the table as unease settled over him.She wouldn’t just not show up, he thought. Something’s wrong.The minutes dragged on, each one amplifying his worry. Finally, he pulled out his phone and dialed her number. The ringing seemed to stretch endlessly, each second tightening the knot in his chest.“Hello?” Victoria’s voice came through, sounding distant and flat.Relief flooded him for a brief moment. “Victoria! Where are you? I’ve been waiting for over an hour. Are you okay?”There was a pause—just long enough to make Gerald’s stomach churn. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm but cold, like a practiced script. “I won’t be coming, Gerald.”The words hit him like a punch to the gut. “What? Why? We agreed to talk, to clear th
The air inside the courtroom was thick with tension. Every seat was filled, and the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. Reporters sat at the back, cameras ready to capture the moment.Victoria’s heart pounded as she scanned the room in search of Gerald. She hadn't seen or spoken with him ever since that day he left.Mildred. Bianca. Becca.They were all seated around her, to give moral support.And then—her eyes landed on Gerald, sitting way behind in the courtroom, he looked so unkempt with overgrown beard.My heart, went out to him. But for now we were all here to witness the downfall of Nelson Brown.This was it.The end of Nelson Brown.At the defendant’s table, Nelson sat motionless, his jaw clenched. His once-powerful presence had diminished—no longer the untouchable crime lord he once was. He had lost weight, his face was gaunt, and his expensive suit did nothing to hide the desperation in his eyes.But it wasn’t over yet.The prosecution was just getting started.The attorne
Nelson Brown sat in the small, dimly lit common area of the prison, staring at the old television bolted to the wall.His hands tightened into fists as the news anchor repeated the words."Sources say this footage directly contradicts previous statements given by officials tied to the case, raising questions about a possible cover-up. Nelson Brown, currently serving time for—"The cup in Nelson’s hand shattered against the floor.The entire room fell silent.The other inmates knew better than to speak when Nelson was angry.A guard approached cautiously. “Brown. You good?”Nelson slowly turned his head, his expression terrifyingly calm. “Phone call. Now.”The guard hesitated—then nodded, leading him to the secured phone.Nelson punched in the number with controlled precision.It rang once. Twice.Julian picked up."You have something to tell me?" Nelson’s voice was low, lethal.Julian kept his tone neutral. “You saw the news.”“I did. And I want to know who the hell betrayed me.”Juli
Victoria opened the door just enough for Julian to slip inside.The room was dark except for the faint glow of the bedside lamp. She glanced toward the bed—Gerald and Cherish still fast asleep.She turned to Julian. “You said we need to talk.”Julian studied her, his expression unreadable. “Yeah,” He exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on the door handle. “Nelson wants you dead. All of you. Including your daughter.” Her breath hitched. “Why are you telling me this?”"Because I can't bring myself to follow through with his orders." Julian answered."Then help me stop him." Victoria pleaded.A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. “You think it’s that simple?” He took a step closer, lowering his voice. “You don’t understand the kind of man Nelson is. The kind of power he still has.”“I understand just fine,” Victoria shot back. “But I also know you hesitated.”Julian’s eyes flickered.“If you were really as far gone as Nelson thinks you are,” she continued, “we wouldn’t be having this conv
Victoria’s breath hitched.The weight of Gerald’s words settled over her like a suffocating blanket. The cameras. The interrogation room. The truth recorded in grainy, inescapable footage.She gripped the sheets beneath her, her heart pounding so hard it threatened to crack her ribs.“Victoria?” Gerald’s voice was steady, but his eyes were sharp, searching her face. “You okay?”No. She wasn’t.Because if they got access to those tapes, Nelson’s threat would be undeniable. It would be proof—hard evidence that he was still pulling strings from behind bars.But it wouldn’t be all it revealed.Her body stiffened at the memory, shame crawling up her spine like a cold, unwelcome touch.The way Nelson had backed her into a corner. The way she had let herself get lost, let herself fall.She couldn’t let Gerald see that.“I—I don’t know if that’s the best idea,” she stammered, forcing herself to look away. “Even if we get the footage, who’s to say it won’t get buried? Nelson has people in his
The car ride to the daycare was filled with tense silence. Gerald gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white, his jaw clenched in unspoken frustration. Becca sat in the backseat with Victoria, her hand resting over Victoria’s in quiet reassurance.Victoria barely noticed.Her thoughts were consumed by one name.Nelson.She knew him too well. This wasn’t a coincidence. It wasn’t bad luck. It was him.Her heart pounded as she thought of Cherish, of what could have happened if they had been home.Gerald suddenly slammed his palm against the wheel, breaking the silence."This doesn't make sense!" he burst out. "Why would someone do this? Who the hell would want to burn our home down?"Victoria pressed her lips together, looking out the window. She wanted to tell him. She needed to tell him. But how?Would he even believe her?Nelson was behind bars. To Gerald, he was already dealt with, out of their lives. But Victoria knew he still had power. She had felt his influen
Victoria’s phone buzzed against the table, cutting through the low hum of the café. She glanced at the screen—Becca.Frowning, she picked up. "Hey, Becca, what’s—""Victoria! Where are you?" Becca’s voice was frantic, breathless."Why?" she questioned."Your apartment—it's on fire!" Becca screamed with terror in her voice.Victoria’s heart slammed against her ribs. "What?""I-I don’t know how it happened, but it’s bad! The whole building is up in flames—firefighters just arrived, but it’s spreading fast!"The world tilted.Victoria's fingers clenched around the phone, her breath hitching in disbelief."Is Cherish with you?" Becca asked with panic."She’s at daycare," Victoria quickly reassured her. "She’s safe. And Gerald's here with me."But nothing felt safe anymore.Victoria shot up from her seat, nearly knocking over her coffee. Gerald looked at her in alarm. "What’s wrong?"She could barely get the words out. "Our apartment… it's on fire."Gerald’s face went pale. "What?""We hav
Victoria sat in the quiet café, her fingers tapping anxiously against the wooden table as she stared at her phone. The moment Mildred left, she knew what she had to do. No more hiding. No more lying. Gerald deserved the truth, even if it shattered everything they were trying to rebuild.She took a deep breath and dialed his number.It rang twice before he answered. “Hey, sweetheart.” His voice was warm, familiar, and it sent a pang of guilt through her.“Gerald,” she said, her voice steady but tense. “Can you meet me at the café? I need to talk to you.”A pause. Then, “Is everything okay?”Victoria hesitated. “Just come. Please.”Another pause. Then, “I’ll be there in twenty.”She hung up and exhaled, trying to prepare herself for what she was about to do.No more games, Victoria. Just the truth.Twenty minutes later, Gerald walked through the door. He spotted her immediately, his expression unreadable as he approached. Dressed in his usual crisp button-down and dark slacks, he looked
Victoria sat in the corner of a quiet café, her fingers absently stirring the cappuccino in front of her. She had barely taken a sip, her mind too restless, her stomach too unsettled.The weight of last night’s dream lingered, thick and suffocating, and she knew she couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer. That's why she had called Mildred, and set up a meeting here.She needed advice, and maybe Mildred could give her. She was the only one out of her friends fully involved int the mess Nelson created.A few minutes later, the door swung open, and Mildred stepped inside, her sharp eyes scanning the café before landing on Victoria. She approached with that same effortless confidence, sliding into the chair across from her.“You sounded urgent on the phone,” Mildred said, raising a brow. “What’s going on?”Victoria hesitated. Now that she was here, she wasn’t sure where to start.Mildred leaned back, crossing her arms. “Does this have to do with Nelson?”Victoria let out a slow breath. “I
Nelson sat on the edge of his narrow cot, elbows resting on his knees, fingers interlocked. The dim fluorescent light buzzed above, casting sharp shadows across the cold, gray walls of his cell.His recent meeting with Victoria still haunted him. How could she say those words to her? Has she forgotten who he was?"You’re done. You’re nothing."His jaw clenched. His hands balled into fists.She thought she had won.She thought she could walk away, rebuild her perfect little life, and leave him to rot in this cage."You lose."The hell he did.A slow, dark smile curved his lips as an idea formed in his mind.Nelson stood, cracking his neck before stepping toward the cell bars. He spotted one of the new inmates—scrawny, nervous, desperate. The type who’d do anything for protection.Perfect."Hey, kid," Nelson murmured, leaning against the bars. The young man looked up, wary."You want to make yourself useful?" Nelson continued, his voice smooth, deceptively calm. "Do me a little favor, a