Gerald’s car screeched to a halt in front of Nelson’s building. His heart raced, panic gripping his chest. The thought of Victoria inside with Nelson twisted his insides, a vicious knot tightening with each passing second. He had to make her see reason.He parked quickly and rushed out of the car, his footsteps echoing as he approached the entrance. He tried calling her one more time, but it went straight to voicemail. “Damn it,” he muttered, clenching his fists as his mind raced with thoughts of what might be happening inside—Victoria, vulnerable, angry, and in the arms of the man he had always feared would take her from him.He didn’t care about leaving messages. He needed to act now.As the elevator ascended, Gerald’s heart pounded louder in his chest. He could feel the walls closing in around him. When the doors finally opened, he stepped out, his eyes scanning the hallway. There were only a few doors, but he knew where she would be, and he wasn’t about to let Nelson have her. He
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
Victoria knew she should get up and leave.She should turn around, walk out of this room, and never look back.But she didn’t.Nelson’s fingers lingered against her wrist, his touch light but charged with an intensity that sent a shiver up her spine. He tilted his head, watching her with that same knowing smirk that made her insides twist with both fury and desire."You’re still here," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement.Victoria forced herself to pull her hand away. "This is the last time," she said, her voice sharp.Nelson hummed, unconvinced. "You say that a lot, sweetheart."Her jaw clenched. "I mean it.""Sure you do." He leaned back, shackles clinking softly as he settled against his chair. "Yet here you are. Sitting across from me, breathing a little too fast, legs pressed together like you’re trying to fight off thoughts you shouldn’t be having."Her face burned. "You’re disgusting."Nelson smirked. "And you love it."She wanted to deny it. She needed to deny it. B
Victoria sat in her car outside the precinct, gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her lips were swollen from Nelson’s kisses, her body still humming from their heated encounter, but her mind was a chaotic storm.What have I done?She inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself, but guilt clawed at her chest. She had promised herself she would move on, rebuild her life with Gerald and Cherish. Yet, in the span of a few reckless moments, she had shattered every illusion of control she had.Nelson was a mistake—one she kept making.With a shaky breath, she started the car and drove home, her heart pounding the entire way.When she arrived, Gerald was in the living room, playing with Cherish. He looked up as she entered, smiling warmly.“There you are,” he said, standing and walking toward her. “Where did you go?”Victoria forced a smile, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tension in her posture. “Just ran a few errands,” she lied, her voice even.Gerald studied her
Victoria's breath came in short, shallow bursts as she stood frozen in place, her pulse hammering against her ribs. Nelson’s dark eyes locked onto hers, daring her, taunting her, luring her in like a moth to a flame.She shouldn’t have come.She knew that now.But the problem wasn’t coming here.The problem was that, deep down, a part of her wanted to be here.Her fingers trembled as she clenched them into fists, her mind screaming at her to walk away, to turn her back on this toxic pull that had already done enough damage to her life.And yet… she didn’t move.Nelson smirked as if he knew. He shifted slightly in his chair, the chains around his wrists rattling softly. “See? You don’t hate me as much as you claim,” he murmured, his voice like silk wrapping around her senses. “You came here to see me, and now, you don’t want to leave.”Victoria sucked in a sharp breath, her body betraying her with the way heat rushed through her veins. “I came for closure,” she whispered, more to convi
Victoria lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her body still tingling from Gerald’s touch. The warmth of their passion still clung to her skin, yet an unsettling feeling gnawed at her insides.She turned her head slowly, her gaze landing on Gerald beside her. His breathing was deep and steady, his face peaceful in sleep. He looked so content—so sure of what they had, of what they had just shared.But Victoria wasn’t.A sharp pang of guilt twisted in her stomach.Because as she closed her eyes during their lovemaking… it wasn’t Gerald she had imagined.It was Nelson.Her heart clenched as the truth settled in, suffocating and undeniable.She had wanted Nelson.She had pictured his hands on her, his lips on her skin, his voice whispering things only meant for her ears. And as much as she tried to push the thoughts away, they haunted her, creeping into her mind like a relentless ghost.Why?Why couldn’t she get him out of her head?Victoria curled her fingers into the sheets, frustrati
The atmosphere in the warehouse was thick with unspoken words and exhaustion. Victoria sat at the edge of the couch, her mind replaying her argument with Gerald over and over. He hadn’t returned since storming out, and though she knew he wouldn’t go far, his absence weighed heavily on her.In the next room, Becca had finally managed to get Cherish to sleep, while Bianca sat on the floor, absently spinning an empty glass bottle between her fingers. The silence was deafening, only interrupted by the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards.Then, the sound of a car pulling up outside shattered the stillness.Bianca was the first to her feet, her posture tense until a familiar knock echoed through the door. Mildred.Victoria exhaled in relief as Bianca rushed to let her in. Mildred stepped inside, shaking off the cold, her sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on Victoria.“It’s done,” she announced, her voice firm but tinged with exhaustion. “Nelson is officially in police c
The car sped through the dark streets, the tension thick in the air. Victoria clutched the seatbelt, her pulse refusing to settle. Gerald drove like a man possessed, weaving through traffic, his gaze flicking between the rearview mirror and the road ahead.“He won’t stop,” Victoria murmured, more to herself than anyone else.“He won’t get the chance,” Nelson countered, his grip tightening on the wheel. “I made sure of that.”Victoria turned to her, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”Gerald smirked, glancing at Victoria briefly. “Mildred has handed over the documents to the police, Victoria. We gave them everything—names, locations, proof of every dirty deal he’s ever made. The police were just waiting for a reason to move in. And after what he pulled tonight?” He shook her head. “He’s done.”Bianca let out a low whistle. “Damn, Gerald. That's the best news I have heard in along time.”Gerald chuckled but kept his eyes on the road. “Just doing what needed to be done.”Victoria exhaled
Victoria pulled on her clothes with swift, practiced movements, her heart hammering in her chest. Cherish. The thought of her daughter being anywhere near danger made her stomach twist violently. She had endured a lot, played this sick game with Nelson longer than she wanted, but when it came to Cherish—she would burn this whole place down if she had to.Nelson tucked his gun into his waistband, eyeing her warily. “You should stay out of this.”She shot him a withering glare. “Try and stop me.”His jaw twitched, but he didn’t waste time arguing. Instead, he turned to his man at the door. “Who else knows?”“Just us,” the man answered. “But if Carlos is compromised, it won’t stay quiet for long.”Nelson muttered a curse under his breath. He grabbed a black jacket from a chair and threw it on before motioning for Victoria to follow.They moved quickly through the dimly lit hallways, the heavy scent of old wood and smoke filling Victoria’s nostrils. The tension in the air was suffocating.
As Carlos opened the door, Bianca pressed the gun against his lower back, urging him forward. The hallway was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of old wood and stale cigar smoke. Every creak beneath their feet sent Bianca’s pulse racing. She wasn’t free yet—one wrong move and this could all go sideways. Carlos kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye, but he didn’t dare make a move. He knew she wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. As they approached the staircase, a sudden noise stopped them both in their tracks. The muffled sound of hurried footsteps. Someone else was trying to escape. Bianca’s grip tightened on the gun as she turned the corner—and nearly collided with a woman carrying a small child. Becca. Her eyes were wild with fear, her blonde hair disheveled, and in her arms, clutching tightly to her neck, was Cherish. The little girl was trembling, her tiny fingers digging into Becca’s shoulder as she buried her face against her. Becca gasped when she
Upstairs, Bianca sat on the cold wooden chair, her wrists bound tightly behind her back. The dim glow of a single overhead bulb flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room. The air was thick with the scent of dust and faint traces of cigar smoke—Nelson’s house still carried the stench of power and corruption.Her muscles ached from being tied up for hours, but her mind was sharp, calculating. She had been watching Carlos closely—the way his eyes lingered on her, the way he hesitated before roughening his grip, the way his breath hitched just slightly when she looked at him a certain way.Weakness.And she would use it.Carlos sat by the door, his chair tilted back slightly, a cigarette hanging between his fingers. His job was simple—keep watch, make sure she didn’t escape. But Bianca knew men like him. Men who wanted power but were desperate for something softer.Something tempting.She shifted slightly, her dress riding up just enough to expose more of her thigh. “Carlos…” she m