“Victoria, wait!” Becca called out, hurrying after her. Victoria didn’t stop, her heels clicking against the pavement as she strode to her car. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, betrayal, and the faint sting of vulnerability.“Victoria, please!” Becca’s voice cracked, and something about the desperation in her tone made Victoria pause.She turned sharply, her eyes blazing. “What could you possibly have to say to me, Becca? That you’re just another one of Gerald’s flings?”Becca flinched as if struck. “It’s not what you think. Please, just hear me out.”Victoria folded her arms, her glare icy. “You’ve got thirty seconds.”Becca took a deep breath. “I’m not here because of Gerald. I’m here because I want to fix this mess between you two.”Victoria blinked, her anger wavering. “Fix? You show up unannounced, and I’m supposed to believe you’re playing matchmaker?”“Yes,” Becca said firmly. “Gerald didn’t call me here. I came because I see how miserable he is without you. And befo
The room fell silent, her words hanging heavily in the air. Nelson’s jaw tightened, and he looked away, the bouquet slipping slightly in his grip.“Is this about Gerald?” he asked angrily, his voice laced with pain.Victoria hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. I... I still love him. I thought I could move on, but I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”Nelson closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before setting the flowers down on the table. “I see,” he said softly. “I always knew a part of you was still with him. I just hoped...I just hoped you'll be smart enough not to go back to him.”Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Nelson. You’ve been amazing, and you deserve someone who can give you their whole heart. I can’t do that right now.”He shook his head slowly, his face a mixture of anger and something else. “Thank you for being honest,” he said after a long pause. “But remember what I told you when you came back to me?"Victoria sighed. "Nelson..."He shushes her and stepped closer, "Alw
Nelson's hands roamed over her waist, pulling her closer as the heat between them intensified. Becca let out a soft gasp, her head tilting back as his lips found the curve of her neck.Her thoughts whirled, caught between the fire of the moment and the consequences that loomed over them. “Nelson,” she murmured, her voice trembling, “this… this is madness.”He paused, his breath warm against her skin. “Maybe it is,” he replied, his voice low and gravelly. “But you want this too, don’t you? The pull. The need.”Becca’s hands rested on his chest, her fingers clutching his shirt. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she searched his eyes. She could see the turmoil, the frustration that matched her own. But there was something more—something unspoken that made it impossible to step away.She bit her lip, her resolve weakening as his hand slid to the small of her back. “This doesn’t change what I think about you,” she said softly, her words more to herself than him.Nelson nodded, his foreh
The golden rays of the setting sun bathed the park in a warm glow. Laughter echoed as Victoria watched her daughter, Cherish, as she walked wobbly around the park, her curly hair bouncing with each step. Gerald chuckled beside her, his hands in his pockets as he admired their energetic one-year-old.“She’s unstoppable,” Gerald said, smiling.“She gets that from you,” Victoria replied with a teasing nudge.They walked side by side to a nearby bench, settling down as Cherish wobbled round and round, her giggles filling the air. For a moment, the world felt peaceful, and Victoria allowed herself to breathe.“I'm so gald we could spend today together as a family,” Gerald said, breaking the silence. His tone was casual, but his gaze was steady.Victoria hesitated, knowing exactly where this was heading. “I don't know if things can ever get back to normal.” she replied, avoiding his eyes.Gerald wasn’t convinced. “Nelson?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.Victoria’s heart skipped a
The mysterious photographer reviewed the pictures, their phone buzzing with an incoming message. They smirked as they attached several of the photos and hit send. Whoever was on the receiving end of those images had plans—and Victoria’s peaceful moment in the park was about to be disrupted in ways she couldn’t yet imagine.His phone buzzed again:Get the girl.An order that had an urgency tone to it. It was now or never.-----As Victoria drove home, the soft hum of the car’s engine filled the silence. Her mind was restless, still mulling over her conversation with Gerald. How was she ever going to get away from Nelson?Her phone buzzed in the console, and she glanced at the caller ID. It was Becca. Pulling over to the side of the road, she answered, curiosity prickling at her.“Becca? What’s up?” Victoria asked, trying to keep her tone light.“Victoria,” Becca’s voice was tense, almost shaky. “I need to tell you something. It’s about Nelson.”Victoria’s stomach tightened. “What about
Victoria’s grip on the bag tightened as her mind scrambled for an explanation. The room felt suffocating under Nelson’s piercing gaze, his calm demeanor unnervingly deceptive.“I… I was just… taking some things to Gerald’s for our daughter,” she stuttered, forcing a shaky smile. “She’s been feeling down lately. I thought I’d spend the night with her.”Nelson’s eyes narrowed slightly, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. He stepped closer, his imposing presence filling the room. “Cherish's feeling down, huh?” His tone was conversational, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “Funny, you didn’t mention anything about this earlier.”Victoria swallowed hard, her heartbeat thunderous in her ears. “It just came up,” she said quickly, trying to steady her voice. “Her nanny called while I was out.”Nelson tilted his head, studying her like a predator sizing up its prey. “And you didn’t think to tell me before packing up and sneaking out in the middle of the night?”“I wasn’t
Victoria’s mind raced. She had to act fast, but she needed help. But who could actually help her? Her phone suddenly buzzed in her hand. She looked at it and saw a call from Gerald. With trembling hands, she picked the call, her heart pounding as she waited to hear the worst news ever. “Toria,” he whispered urgently when the call connected, “It's Cherish. She… she has been taken.”Victoria's sharp intake of breath was audible through the line. “What? How did it happen? Are you okay?”“I don’t know,” Gerald said, his voice breaking. “Last I remember, I was hit hard on the head. I woke up now and Cherish and her nanny are nowhere to be found.""It's Nelson." She told him immediately."How do you know?" he asked."He told me, though i thought he was bluffing." she answered, her eyes darting towards the direction Nelson had gone, hopin he wasn't listening on their conversation."I'm going to call the police on him." Gerald said firmly."No..." Victoria pleaded, "Please don't, he is goin
Victoria sat on the couch, her chest heaving as pain radiated through her ankle and tears blurred her vision. Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic storm, but one thing was clear—she couldn’t give up.She needed another way to reach Gerald. She didn’t know how, but she would find one. Cherish was out there, scared and alone, and her daughter needed her to be strong.Gingerly, Victoria shifted her leg, testing the limits of her injury. The sharp sting confirmed what she already knew—it was bad, but she’d have to push through. She glanced toward the door Nelson had disappeared through. His shadow loomed over her life, controlling her every move.She clenched her fists. Not for much longer.Her eyes darted around the room, searching for anything that could serve as a weapon or a means to call for help. Her gaze fell on a table lamp. It wasn’t much, but it was heavy and could buy her a chance to escape if Nelson returned and got too close.Victoria reached for the lamp, her fingers brushing i
Nelson Brown sat on the edge of his thin mattress, elbows on his knees, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. The dim light flickered above him, casting long shadows across the cold, lifeless walls of his cell.He played back every word Victoria had spat at him in his mind."You’re a nobody now.""A washed-up, pathetic loser.""You will rot here, while I go on with my life, happier than I’ve ever been."His jaw tightened as the words cut through him like razor blades. He had seen many sides of Victoria before—desperate, angry, vulnerable. But today?Today, she had looked at him like he was nothing.That pissed him off.Nelson exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He had known she would come, and he had been prepared. But not for this. Not for her venom. Not for the way she had twisted the knife and walked away without a second glance."You’re never getting out of here, Nelson. You’re done. You’re nothing."A muscle ticked in his jaw.She had meant those word
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