Raymond's POV“Ladies and gentlemen, the next item on our list is the…” the auctioneer said, addressing the crowd.I took a deep breath and placed the necklace around her.I noticed the way she looked at me, which made me very irritated.“What’s that for?” I inquired, still fixing my eyes on the show.“Raymond,” she began, her voice calm and soft. “I appreciate your kind gesture, but I'm sorry, I can't accept this gift. It's too expensive.”Her words were like a slap to my face. She thrust the shimmering necklace into my hands and stood up.“What the heck?” I said, watching her move through the crowd.What was wrong with her? How dare she reject a priceless necklace? I stood up and trailed behind her, slipping the necklace into my pocket.My feet pounded on the pavement as I ran after her,“Elena, stop!” I yelled.She slowed her pace and I caught up with her at the parking slot.My hand grazed her sleeve, her body stiffened but she didn't withdraw. “What’s t
Elena's POV“Raymond, I think someone wants to meet you, ” I whispered as I watched the lady place her hand on his shoulder.Raymond caught a glimpse of the strange lady with a subtle A smile curled up his lips as he stood up, his eyes locking with the lady's eyes.“Emily,” he greeted, extending his hand for a handshake.Surprisingly, Emily waved away his offered handshake and spread her arms, in a welcoming gesture, foran embrace.“Elena, meet an old friend Emily, Emily…” Before he could finish his introduction, Emily cut in.“Old friend?” she scoffed, her eyes rolling as she walked close to me. “You are indeed a terrible liar.”“Emily, what do you want?” a hint of seriousness in Raymond's voice.Emily simply ignored him and looked me in the eye, a mirthful chuckle escaping her lips.“Sorry to interrupt your date,” she said, her attention on me., “ But I couldn't resist. You're his wife, aren't you?” she asked, raising her brow.I straightened my posture,
Elena's POV“Goddamnit, both of you! You’re grown men, not little kids!” I heard my stepfather roar, his voice echoing.“What have I done? ” I whimpered, clutching my lips with my palm.If I had known my actions would result in this, I would have swallowed the pain and gotten myself some medication.I took a glance at my hand, as pain coursed through it. Tears rolled down my eyes as I tried hard to conceal my pain.The sudden creak of the door startled me out of my thoughts, and I froze as a muscular silhouette emerged.“Elena, are you okay?” Raymond asked, his voice laced with concern.Instinctively, I wiped away my tears and feigned a smile, trying to mask my pain.Raymond's face was grim as he stared at me scrutinizing my features. His eyes bore into me, stripping away my masked emotions.“Really?” He said with a twinge of disbelief in his voice as he scoffed.“I am fine, now” I replied, trying to control my already broken voice.He walked into the room,
Elena's POVThe director's piercing voice cut through the air as I strolled down the red carpet. "Wrong! Wrong! You’re doing the steps all wrong!"The words reverberated in my head, as I mumbled an apology, "I... I'm sorry, can we try again?" My voice was shaking with nervousness.His words were like daggers in my heart as he snapped, “This is fucking wrong! Can't you do anything right?"Bowing my head in shame, I muttered, "I'll try my best, sir." My voice was barely audible.“Your best isn't good enough,“ he sneered.Just then, the door flung open revealing Jeff Noah's face as he strode him, the strong scent of cologne from his fabric, dominating the air.“Elena of the Laurence family?” His voice boomed with authority as he approached.Head still bowed, I whispered“Yes, sir, I am.” He closed his distance between us,“You don't look well,” concern etched in his voice. “Anything wrong?” he asked. I raised my face, replacing my grim look with a plastic sm
Raymond's POV“Elena!” I called, shaking her violently. She raised her head with a smile running across her lips.“Raymond, you look adorable,” she replied in a drunken haze, laughing loudly.A smirk curled up my lips as I stared at her,“Not much of a good girl, are you?” I shook my head, watching her lean close for a kiss.“I love you, Raymond. I just want you,” she whispered, her tongue rubbing on my lips.I didn't want anyone to see her in her drunken state.“We need to live, Elena,” I said, my voice laced with worry. “But I don't want to leave,” she protested as I gently pulled her up.“Yes, you do,” I replied, wrapping my hand around her waist and guiding her out of the club.“I’m going to drench myself in tears if you don't let me stay,” she said, her hand hitting my chest as she staggered.I ignored her, understanding she was under the influence of alcohol. I led her to the garage and securely fastened her seat belt. I slipped into the driver's seat and
Elena's POVI wake up squinting to get my pupils accustomed to the light rays.“Another day to smile at the camera,” I whispered as I stood up, slipping my leg into my sneakers.Just as I was about to make a move, I felt a pain course through the vein that surrounded my groin.“Shit!” I cursed under my breath, just as I looked at my reflection which was on the mirror, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened at the sight I beheld; I was stark Naked.I grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around my waist.Different questions swirled in my head, searching for possible answers but found none.How did I get here? The last thing I remembered, I was at a club with Raymond, what happened next? I could remember taking the hot liquid that was served at the club.I held my head as it pounded. My body ached and was so weak I had to grab a seat before I passed out. Another thought came crawling into my busy mind; How did I end up naked? “Raymond!” I muttered, anger etched on the
Raymond's POV “The fuck! ” I cursed under my breath, my firm grip on the steering wheel wondering why there should be traffic at this time. The blaring of horns could be heard rhythmically, coming from different cars.I rolled my eyes, biting my lips in frustration as I rested my head on the steering wheel.“Why on earth does this have to happen now?” I asked myself.Finally, the traffic cleared and I sped down the road, the street lights passing by in a blur.I pulled up at the parking slot and rushed down, dashing into the cop's department.“You are in a hurry, Raymond. What's the problem?” One of the detectives asked, observing the pace I walked.A smile tugged beside my lips, masking my uneasiness as I dashed into my family detective's office, my hand gripping the doorknob. “You sent for me?” I said, trying to catch my breath.“Mr Raymond?” she called, her brows knitted in confusion. “, You are in such a haste,” she said, a mocking smile on her lips.“Strai
Elena's POV“What’s wrong with him?” I muttered, descending the stairs in search of a cup of water.He was acting so weird, my thoughts wandered as I gulped down the water which sent a cold sensation down my spine.Without further hesitation, I climbed the stairs and traced my steps back to my bedroom, trying to relax my raging mind.Slowly, I got myself tangled in the warm embrace of sleep, my eyelids so heavy I couldn't fight back, making me drift into the world of unconsciousness.Just then, the doors creaked open revealing Raymond's face as he obstructed the light rays.My eyes fluttered open as I stared at him. He stood at the corner for a brief moment, his mind lost in the labyrinth of different thoughts; so I guessed.He shrugged his shoulders as he walked in, his fingers running across the walls and the lights flickered on.I closed my eyes immediately, feigning the position of a sleeping damsel.“Damn it,” he cursed under his breath, clearly seethed in
Elena's Point of ViewI stood in the poorly illuminated room, tears streaming down my face as I recounted everything I'd been through—the loss, the pain, the gain… everything.I hugged myself, memories of my son flashing before my eyes. I could still see him running toward me and planting kisses on my face. I shut my eyes, letting the tears fall freely, hoping that maybe the pain would go away if I just admitted that I was hurt. I could still hear Ralph's deep voice speaking to me:“Elena, stay strong. Raymond might be a jerk, but once you understand him, you'll be cool with him,” he would tell me each time he saw me drowning in pain.Now, they were all gone. The building made me feel a little uncomfortable with its tranquil state. Raymond, on the other hand, had always been moody, unwilling to discuss anything with me.I wiped my tears with the edge of my palm and stood up. Today, my father-in-law would be buried at the cemetery.I glanced at the mirror. I was dressed in a dark gown,
Raymond's point of viewThe sitting room was filled with laughter and sift clinging of glasses, particularly from my friends. I had invited only a few friends; we didn't want to make it known to avoid the prying eyes of the journalists.My father sat on the stool like a king with a warm smile, watching my friends drink to their satisfaction; it was his birthday.“Where is the baker?” I asked, my mom's eyes scanning the room as I searched for her. Just then, she walked in with the cake cradled in her hand. Her face was covered with a veil; she was an Indian, and maybe she was respecting her culture. I knew little about Indian culture. She had tattoos on her hand, which I observed as she slowly dropped the cake on the table.“I should be taking my leave,” she whispered, her voice tiny.“So early?” Elena asked, walking up to her.“Yeah, I've got some unfinished business to attend to,” she replied, her voice firm.Elena tried protesting, but I stopped her just in time with a kiss, which
Alana's Point of ViewI sat in the corner of the room, my eyes stretched wide as I focused on the window. Cadwell Psychiatric Hospital could be defined as hell. My hair was unkempt and untangled, resting on my pale face, and my clothes were loose, hanging on my shrugged shoulders. I had spent two months in this hell, and no one bothered to reach out to me.I dragged my hair and groaned, my eyes reddening as I thought about Elena. Her life was fixed, and mine was damaged.Just then, a lady walked into the room with a guard, her face pale.“Alana Laurence, you have a visitor,” she said. Visitor? That sounded like a word foreign to my life.I stood from the marble floor and strutted out of the room with her. My heart sank as I stared at Violet on the other end of the table, a smile crawling up her lips. Her hair was tinted, her lips crimson, and she wore a long red gown. She stole my breath away at that moment.She picked up the phone at the other end, her eyes urging me to do the same.
Alana's Point of ViewThe distant hum of machines could be heard, the strong scent of antiseptic evident in the air. I tossed and turned on the bed, pain coursing down my abdomen. I was at the hospital; even without opening my eyes, I knew it.The low, distant chatter of patients and doctors added to my unease, and I had no other option but to let my eyes open.“Damn it,” I cursed, sitting upright. Sweat raced down my forehead as I stared at the doctors and nurses running around me.“She is awake, Doctor,” one of the nurses said, signaling the attention of Doctor Lucas.Maintaining his friendly demeanor, he walked over to me, a smile spreading across his lips.“Alana, welcome on board,” he teased, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. Honestly, his sense of humor sucked. I couldn't believe that I had come to the hospital after being pushed down by Elena.“How do you feel?” he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.“Better,” I grumbled. To be honest, I felt that he should shut up and
Elena's point of viewEver since my stepmother's burial, Alana's health has deteriorated. She had handled her departure like a grown woman, but now she acts like she lost it. Her change of behavior was secretly causing an alarm. I don't mean to use the word, but she acted insane.“You awake this morning?” Raymond's voice sliced through the air, startling me from my thoughts. A smile tugged beside my lips as he leaned in, his hands cupping my boobs. He pressed my nipples, and I let out a soft moan.“What's bothering my angel?” He asked, his voice hoarse.“Nothin’.” I replied, relaxing on his chest, his cologne dominating the air.“Alright, if you say so,” he whispered, biting my ear, and I giggled in response.“You going to jog today?” I asked, playing with his darkened nipples, which were perched on his muscular pecs.“The only exercise I want to do is with you,” he whispered, rolling me over and staying on top of me. I could feel his bulge harden on my stomach, our gaze fixated for
Alana's point of viewMy eyes were weary as I stared on a pillar, trying to avoid everyone's attention from my direction. The hot, steamy chocolate coffee enveloped the air. I reached out and took a sip, my eyes still fixated on the pillars. It wasn't easy acting like I was grieving my mother; well, I was good at what I did. It was obvious I was better than I had given myself credit for.Raymond stared at me from a distance as he played with Hope. I wasn't a telepath, but I was sure whatever was going on in his mind was clearly not good. The news felt unbelievable in his ears. It was pretty obvious that he wasn't convinced that my mother died so fast, even after he demanded an autopsy.I got up from the couch, walked over to the table, and dropped the coffee cup. I could notice his gaze trailing behind me as I walked out sobbing. I had requested an emergency burial for mom; the authorities had their doubts, but I seventy had my way after so many pleadings from my lawyer and my surna
Alana's point of viewI could feel anger course through my veins as I paced back and forth.My mother had one job to do, and now she screwed it up. If she was as smart as she claimed to be, I wouldn't be stuck in this mess.My knuckles collided with the pillars, and my brows arched as I stared at the mirror in front of me. The beating of my heart quickened as I bit my lips. I rolled my eyes in anger, sinking into the soft mattress. I was torn apart between seeing my mother's face and staying back at home. With a frustrated sigh, I rose, dragging my feet across my spacious room. Striding gracefully with a poised elegance, I walked down the stairs, Elena's gaze trailing behind. She had halted her lively conversation after she saw me. My shoulders shrugged, and I walked outside the sitting room and into my car. The car swerved through the streets, and I got to the police station in no time.The harsh fluorescent light of the prison visiting room flickered slightly as I walked in, my f
Elena's point of viewThe afternoon sun streamed down the window, casting warm glows on the floor.My hand grasped the baking pan as I carefully grazed butter on it, humming my favorite song ‘Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.’ It was Hope's birthday; he just turned six, and we decided to throw a little party. I had chosen not to allow my dad's condition to take a toll on me for now.The scent of freshly baked chocolate cake wafted through the atmosphere, perching on my nostrils. I stood erect as my eyes scanned the kitchen for any other thing that needed to be done; thankfully there was none.Quickly, I dropped everything I was holding and walked into the shower cubicle to wash away the day's exhaustion and grimness. As the cool liquid ran down my spine, I felt a sigh of relief engulf me. Seconds stretched into minutes, and I was done with my bath. Just as I was about to select a gown from the vast collection of clothing in my wardrobe, my eyes rested on the CD, which stayed lazily on the n
Elena's Pov.I was seated by the balcony and delighted in the refreshing cool breeze and invigorating fresh air, which provided much-needed comfort for my stressed body.Been pretty stressed lately, and I was advised by Doctor Lucas to have enough rest. The sweet melodies of the birds nearby transferred a calm sensation into my soul.So lost in thoughts, I jerked upon hearing the shrill sound of my phone ringing. I got back into my bedroom to check who the caller was. On realizing that it was my father's doctor, I picked it up instantly.“Good evening, doctor, please, how is my father doing?” “I am so sorry to break this news to you, Elena; your father passed on in the early hours of the day,” he explained with sadness evident in his voice. What! How!“This isn't happening, W- What happened?” I stuttered with short breaths. My heart raced rapidly as my fears began to resurface. I could feel sweat beads forming on my forehead even with the cool breeze that filled the air.“I have in