Michael's words hit me like a cold slap, and I'm left speechless for a moment. The shock and disbelief wash over me, mingling with the urgency of the situation.The man I knew, the one who helped me in the past, seems like a stranger now. His demeanor is callous. He doesn’t even show a sign of mercy after seeing George in this condition."What do you want?" I ask, curious.He chuckles and circles me before standing in front of me. "If you are willing to sleep with me tonight, I will consider saving George." He drags his finger down my arm.My mind spins. This isn't the Michael I remember. The man who was kind, who saved me before, wouldn't stoop to exploiting such a dire situation. But here he stands, unrecognizable in his indifference."You are free to say no," he says with a blank face. "I won’t touch you. I will just leave. But remember, George won’t survive."His malicious grin chills me to the core. I know the gravity of the situation. We are far away from the city, in a dissolut
I watch Michael's retreating figure. The room feels suffocating, and the air is thick with tension and fear. The promise I made hangs heavily over me, like a dark cloud that refuses to dissipate. I can't believe the turn of events—how the man I once considered a friend has become someone unrecognizable.I take a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady my nerves. I know I have no choice but to fulfill his request, to save George's life. It's a harsh reality that I can't escape from. Trembling fingers fumble with the edge of the blanket as I try to steady myself.Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slowly get to my feet. Every step feels like a heavy burden, and every inch of the distance separating me from George feels like another layer of despair. My footsteps echo through the room, a hollow sound that mirrors the hollowness I feel inside.The bathroom door creaks as I push it open, revealing a space that suddenly feels foreign and unwelcome. The bathroom tiles are cold underfoot. The s
The next morning…I don’t know when I fall asleep in Michael’s bed. When the door knocks, I wake up in a daze. I quickly get out of bed and open the door. The maid is standing there and informs me that George is awake.I am relieved to hear that. Thanking her, I walk into the guest room."Vivian…" George smiles as I walk into the room. He tries to sit up but winces in pain.My heart skips a beat as I rush over to help him, and concern etches on my face."Thank God, you are all right," he murmurs, pulling me into his arms.I say nothing; my mind is blank.He cups my face and asks, "Did Michael hurt you? Did he do anything to you?"I open my mouth to respond, but before that, I hear a chuckle. I turn my attention to the source of the voice and notice Michael standing at the threshold, leaning against the door with his arms crossed across his chest.His casual and arrogant stance contradicts the gravity of the situation. He seems detached as if the events that transpired hold no weight f
"George…" I rush to his side, momentarily erasing the tension and decisions of the past moments. I kneel beside him, my heart racing as I see the blood seeping through the bandage. The wound has opened up. Panic wells up within me, the urgency to save him overpowering any lingering doubts.Gritting my teeth, I summon all the strength I have and manage to pull him up into a sitting position. His weight is heavy, and his body is weak from the ordeal he's been through. With each step, I can feel his labored breath against my shoulder and his consciousness slipping away.As I exit the room, the cold air of the corridor hits me, adding to the tension that already coils around my chest. George's head lolls against my shoulder, his face pale and strained. The urgency pushes me forward, my determination to save him fueling every step. My arms ache from the effort, but I refuse to let go.We finally came out of the villa, and my breath came in short gasps, a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline. W
I come back to my parents’ house. Mom and Dad rush over, their faces etched with worry and relief. Mom's arms envelop me in a tight embrace, and her voice quivers as she speaks, "Oh, dear, you scared us to death."Dad's eyes hold a complex blend of fear and regret as he explains, "Those men tied us up, and we couldn't help you. Thank goodness you and the kids are fine."Gently freeing myself from my mother's embrace, I can't help but ask the question that's been burning in my mind: "Where are they?""They are resting…" Mom's sentence is cut short as my two bundles of energy burst out of the bedroom, Evan and Barbe running toward me in unison, their voices filled with relief, "Mommy!""My babies." A lump forms in my throat as I kneel down; my arms open wide, and they rush into my embrace. Tears well up in my eyes as the weight of the situation slowly lifts—my children are safe."Two men came and dropped them here early this morning." Dad's voice breaks through the emotional moment.Loo
George’s POV…As I watch Vivian retreat, my heart plummets and the realization of her distancing hits me with a dull ache. Without a second thought, I reach out, desperation lacing my voice and say, "Vivian, wait. Don't push me away. I miss you. I want to be with you." Her wrist is in my grip, but her gaze is unwavering, and her voice is cold. "Don't touch me."The force with which she jerks her hand away sends a jolt through me, making me unsteady due to my already weakened state. I stumble backward, a fiery pain radiating from my chest, where my wound resides. Clutching at my chest, I wince as the pain courses through me, the wound having reopened and staining my clothes with blood.Vivian turns away, her seeming indifference to my suffering piercing deeper than any physical pain. It's as if she no longer cares; her emotional distance is a reflection of the distance she has put between us.The weight of my past actions, my betrayals, hangs heavy in the air, and I'm acutely aware tha
His grip on my arm is tight, almost crushing my bones. Panic wells up inside me as I look into his cold, impassive face. Is he going to take revenge on me for not letting him into the house last night?Desperate to resist, I protest, "What are you doing?"But my words seem feeble in the face of his determination.He shoves me into the back seat with an urgency that only heightens my anxiety, and in the blink of an eye, he's beside me, the door slamming shut and locking me in. The driver initiates the journey without delay, and my heart races faster as I furiously attempt to open the locked door.Fury burns in my eyes as I turn my attention to George, demanding answers like, "Where are you taking me?"His voice is as icy as his gaze as he replies, "To my place," his focus unwaveringly on the road ahead.My protests grow louder and more desperate, a reflection of my increasing fear. "No… I don't want to go there. Stop the car right now!""Listen, Vivian," he interjects, his voice unyiel
The rapid pounding of my heart matches the urgency with which I dial George's number. The call connects immediately; his voice is light and almost carefree as he greets me, "Hey, how are you doing?"His words are like salt in an open wound, igniting a spark of anger within me. The audacity of his question, given the situation, grates on my nerves. The time for pleasantries and games is long past."How dare you ask me that? Do you think I'm enjoying being cooped up here?" My voice carries a simmering fury, laced with the frustration that's been building for weeks.He chuckles and says, his response a stark contrast to my seething anger. "I’ll be there in half an hour. Wait for me."Beep…The line goes dead, leaving me to stare at the phone in disbelief. The combination of his casual attitude and the feeling of being brushed aside fuels my irritation to new heights."Huh!" My scowl deepens as I mutter to myself, my frustration palpable. "He just hung up on me!"A surge of prickling anno