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Internal perception
Last Updated:
2024-10-05 03:24:00Related chapters
Love Under Fire The day everything changed
GloryI sat there at the table as chaos began to unfold before me. I knew that discussion was inevitable. Ever since Harald decided to go his own way, away from Charles's oppressive shadow, I knew everything would blow up. Still, I wasn't prepared for the whirlwind of emotions that hit me at that moment.The sharp, cutting words that Charles spoke to Harald always bothered me. Although I never had enough courage to face my husband, as Harald did now, my heart sank whenever Charles belittled his own son. Even with all the resentment I felt towards Harald for ignoring me and being completely enchanted by that slut Candace, I couldn't deny that he deserved, at the very least, respect that was never given to him. And there, at that moment, she was defending him, not me. Candace was standing up to Charles, something I had never had the courage to do.I looked at Harald. His eyes were fixed on Candace, shining with admiration. I couldn't help but feel a lump in my throat. He never looked at
Last Updated : 2024-10-05Love Under Fire The despicable Mortons
NancyAs I watched the Morton family disintegrate before my eyes, I remained silent, appearing to be the submissive, irrelevant wife everyone expected me to be. But inside, my mind was buzzing with satisfaction. Finally, those masks were coming off. Seeing those dogs fighting each other as if they were beasts trapped in a cage was what I always wanted. Every hateful word and every look of contempt between them was a gift to me. My wish, always hidden, was that they would all fall and that they would destroy themselves with their own hands.Sitting there, with my face impassive, I watched the pathetic spectacle unfold. When Harald stood up and left with Candace, I felt a twinge of something that could almost be described as admiration. Not for Candace, of course. But Harald... there was something about him that set him apart from the others. He wasn't a real Morton, not like Bruce or Charles. And that always put him in a different position, one that Charles would never accept.Charles,
Last Updated : 2024-10-08Love Under Fire And it's my fault, of course
NancyI had already gotten used to Bruce's accusations. To him, everything that was wrong in our lives—everything that didn't follow the Mortons' perfect plan—was my fault. And at that moment, as he launched into the issue once again, blaming me for what Amber had become, I felt the weariness and anger building up inside me like poison."You raised Amber badly, Nancy. She turned into this angry girl because you never disciplined her properly!" Bruce's voice echoed through the room angrily, and his eyes fixed on me as if I were to blame for everything bad in his life.I looked down at the coffee he was pouring, my hands shaking slightly as I poured the hot liquid into the cups placed in front of him and Charles. We were in the living room, both of us sitting in leather armchairs in front of the fireplace, while I moved like a servant, obedient and silent."Amber has no respect for men. She doesn't have an ounce of submissiveness or modesty. Of course that's coming from you," Bruce cont
Last Updated : 2024-10-08Love Under Fire It's between the lines
AmberI was there, smoking in the cold, hiding, trying to find some kind of relief in the smoke that rose and disappeared in the freezing Denver air. Everything has felt so out of control lately. The Morton family was falling apart before my eyes, and I, in the midst of this chaos, felt more lost than ever. Cigarettes had become a crutch, an escape. I knew it wasn't the best solution, but it was what I had at the moment.When I saw my mother approaching, my heart skipped a beat. Shit! She had seen it. I threw the cigarette on the floor, stepping on it, as if that would erase the evidence of my addiction. But there was no hiding it, not from her. I knew she noticed.I tensed, expecting some kind of scolding, or maybe even worse. Nancy was never a woman with sweet words, especially when she was hurt. And I knew I had hurt her deeply. What I did in the past—selling my own mother, betraying her trust—was unforgivable. But I had no choice – or at least that's what I told myself every night
Last Updated : 2024-10-09Love Under Fire What happens under the covers
AmberI followed my mother into the kitchen, where she had returned to her chores. Nancy, as she always was, seemed to find some kind of solace in mundane tasks like washing dishes. The water was running in the sink, and the sound of the plate scraping the metal sounded muffled, distant, as I felt the weight of what I had just heard in the garden.I couldn't contain myself any longer. Something inside me was screaming to come out, like I needed answers or, maybe, relief. Anything to relieve the pressure that had been building since our family began to fall apart.“Mom, why did you say those things like that outside?” My voice was more hesitant than I expected, but it was charged with the desperate need to understand.She continued to focus on the dishes, scrubbing hard, without looking at me immediately. For a moment, I thought she was going to ignore my question. Her silence reminded me of how, as a child, I feared her for this same behavior. She always knew how to use silence as a p
Last Updated : 2024-10-09Love Under Fire Secretly allies
GloryAfter dinner, I stood in front of the mirror in my room, staring at my own reflection with my mind spinning with thoughts. Everything was happening so fast. Harald was finally creating his own business, something he had always wanted to do. Maybe that would be to my advantage. If he could achieve success and become the rich man I always knew he could be, his divorce from Candace would only be a matter of time. And when that happened, he would be free to marry me. After all, despite everything, I still believed that Harald loved me.I ran my fingers through my hair, watching the brunette waves fall to my shoulders. I was beautiful—even more beautiful than Candace. And smarter too. I knew how to play the power game, and so far, I was doing well. Even though my morals were long forgotten, there was no turning back. I wouldn't be like my parents, living a miserable life on the sidelines of everything. I would be rich and powerful, and I would do anything to ensure that.While I was
Last Updated : 2024-10-10Love Under Fire God Bruce
NancyI went back to my tasks feeling bad after the serious conversation I had with Amber. The words I said were still ringing in my head, and although I knew she needed to hear them, it didn't lessen the weight in my chest. I couldn't forgive her, not after everything she did. However, she was still my daughter, and that left me torn. The conflict between love and disappointment was suffocating.When I got to the kitchen, I prepared a new pot of coffee. My thoughts were scattered, and my hands shook a little as I filled the cups. Charles and Bruce were in the living room facing the fireplace as they talked; Peter and Ivor would be upstairs playing with his expensive toys, Amber would be in her room, reflecting, Glory would be sleeping right now in the room she shared with Charles, it seemed like a normal night for a normal family, but this was far from normal. The two men seemed so absorbed in their own problems that they barely noticed my absence.I placed the tray on the table and
Last Updated : 2024-10-10Love Under Fire Only one monster can kill another
GloryI was sitting in front of my dressing table, calmly brushing my hair, trying to shake off the thoughts that haunted me. Everything around me was falling apart, but that wasn't why I was going to stop taking care of myself. I was already in my bed dress, ready to go to bed, when I heard the bedroom door open with force. Charles entered with heavy steps, his presence filling the space in a way that made me shudder."It's going to be one of those nights..." I thought about it and resigned. He had been drinking, that much was obvious. His uncoordinated walk, the strong smell of alcohol that filled the air, and that predatory look... everything indicated that Charles wanted to satisfy himself, like so many other times. I mentally prepared myself for what was to come. It wasn't the first time he'd forced himself on me, and I doubted it would be the last.He approached quickly, without saying a word, just staring at me with those empty eyes. Suddenly, his hands were on me, his lips wer
Last Updated : 2024-10-11
Latest chapter
Love Under Fire So, now we can say thank you, Las Vegas!
Nancy“Argh, don’t tighten it too much… You’re hurting my neck!” Peter was grumbling with a grimace as I straightened his tie.“Remain calm; just lift your chin; I’m almost done,” I told him, adjusting my collar. Today was my wedding day with Jake. I was already dressed as a bride and everything, and the ceremony would start in a few minutes. I was so nervous. Not only that, but I really hoped everything would go well.He grumbled in disgust. “Did you know that children shouldn’t be present at their parents’ weddings, Mom?” he said, making me frown.“What? Why do you think that?” I asked.“Because naturally, children are not born before their parents marry. It's not the natural order of things, let alone divorce and second marriages,” he said, being clear in his opinion, as he didn't want to accept my relationship with Jake.I sighed, smoothing his jacket after straightening his tie. “You're getting so big. You're even taller than me.” I smiled softly, and I stroked his black hair. “I
Love Under Fire Such a good friends
NancyMoments later, Jason and Jake were in the wine cellar, somewhere in the mansion, talking about wine and things like that. Laura and I were walking in the manicured gardens of their mansion, which were so beautiful and comforting.“Why aren’t they coming?” I asked after a while, looking behind me to see if her husband and my fiancé were coming to catch up with us, since they were just getting us some wine to drink and talk on the sofas that were there in the garden under a cozy porch."Oh my God! Jason must have stuck him with a long wine conversation,” Laura said with a long chuckle. “We received bottles of the first line from a friend of ours in Chicago, Carter,” she added.“Are you talking about Joshua Carter?” I asked because I knew that name and knew that he had a wine production company.“Yes, I am,” Laura nodded. “What a fortuity that you know him, too.”“Um, I actually met him because of Bruce,” I said. “The Mortons were an influential family, and from time to time Bruce
Love Under Fire How is life?
NancyJake and I traveled to New York to visit our friends who lived there, the couple Jason and Laura Davies, who, since the last time we had seen them, had evolved a lot in their relationship, that is, when I met them, they were still fighting and trying to see what they were going to do in their relationship because they also had issues to resolve. But I remembered Laura's words, when she told me at the time that her husband had hurt her heart, but that nothing he had done compared to what Bruce had done to me. So today it was very satisfying for me to be able to see the two of them together and happy after having solved all their problems. They had even had another set of twins, and they seemed so happy now that their eldest daughter was playing with the babies, running around exuding happiness and joy while Jake, I, and the couple were sitting on the mansion's porch, drinking wine and talking about everything that had happened. This couple had been very important in helping us
Love Under Fire I miss you so much...
Nancy "What? Give it back in kind and make him taste his own medicine? What are you suggesting, Lanie?” I asked, being a little dumbfounded. She and I were still at the dinner table, and she had just suggested that. She shrugged now. "Yes. Didn't your husband go to bed with someone else? Then you also go to bed with another man, and then you become equals,” she explained, making me gasp. “How can you suggest such a thing? Do you think I'm such a vulgar woman up to this point? Do you think me going to bed with another man will solve things for me?” I asked, shocked that she was suggesting such a deviant thing. “It probably won't solve anything, but it will make you feel a little better. What is it? Do you think Bruce deserves happiness after all these years he played with you?” She retorted. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to smudge my body by getting involved with someone I don’t know just to get revenge on him,” I countered. Lanie laughed, waving her hand. “I don't see it
Love Under Fire One year after Lanie's death
Days were passing, and I thanked the heavens that everything was going so well, but today in particular, it was a year since Lanie, my dear friend, had died, and I was terribly sad remembering her.I remembered how she had done everything she could to cheer me up when I was at rock bottom after finding out who Bruce Morton really was.I remembered in detail what the season at her house had been like and how much she helped me, God in heaven...Nancy On that day, the ringing of my cell phone woke me up, and I felt my lamp, picked up the device, and saw that my daughter was calling me. “Hi, my love,” I said as soon as I answered, rubbing my face with my hand, still drowsy. “Hello, Mom? Haven’t you come home yet?” Amber asked on the other end of the line. "Um… Not yet, darling,” I replied a little fearfully. It had been two weeks since I was at my friend Lanie's house. "Um... Okay? When do you plan to return?” She asked in a somewhat petulant manner. I sighed. “To be honest, I
Love Under Fire How good it is to be normal
NancyThe last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions. After everything that happened with Candace, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders. The scars of pain and struggle were still there, but the feeling of relief was in the air. It was a new beginning for all of us. Like a good mother, I tried my best to care for Candace, and now, seeing her at home, taking a deep breath and starting to rebuild her life, my heart is filled with hope.It was on a mild morning that we realized that life was returning to normal. Amber's laughter echoed through the house as she tried to decide what to wear for a date. I watched her from the kitchen, where she was preparing a simple but nutritious breakfast. The smell of toasting bread mixed with the aroma of fresh coffee, creating a welcoming atmosphere.“Amber, do you need help?” I asked, trying to hide my smile at seeing her so excited and nervous at the same time.“No, mom, I can do it!” she replied, a little louder than usua
Love Under Fire It's a beautiful girl
CandaceThe joy I felt holding my daughter in my arms was indescribable. After hours of pain and struggle, the little one was finally here, and I couldn't stop smiling. It was a girl. The doctor had shown me quickly, and I couldn't believe that this little creature, so perfect, was my daughter. I felt a wave of love that I had never experienced before, and that feeling enveloped me like a warm blanket on a cold day. I looked at her face, so small and vulnerable, and wondered what the future held for us.Jake and Harald were in the room, both overjoyed with the news. The energy was contagious, and the happiness in the atmosphere was palpable, like happy music that filled every space. The smell of disinfectant mixed with the light scent of flowers someone had brought, creating an atmosphere of celebration and hope."Look, Candace, you did an amazing job!" Jake said it with a wide smile that lit up his face. He seemed genuinely touched, and I could feel that he was genuinely happy for me
Love Under Fire Time heals everything
NancyThe morning seemed perfect, the kind of day I always imagined as a normal family, without constant tension or fears. Recent times had been full of challenges, losses and changes, but being there, in Jake's house, surrounded by the people he loved most, brought a feeling of completeness. Everything felt a little lighter. Of course, there were still traces of the past that occasionally appeared in our conversations and gestures, but something had changed within me, and perhaps even within my children.That day, we decided to have a family lunch. Me, Amber, Peter, Jake, Harald, Ivor and Candace, all gathered at a table for the first time, without formalities and without protocols. I wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting, especially with Harald there, a presence that, some time ago, would perhaps have been unthinkable in such an intimate environment. But, little by little, everyone had found a way to live together, with the wounds still healing, but now ready for a new phase.
Love Under Fire We'll be fine
NancyThe next morning, very early, before the sun even fully illuminated the house, I was already awake, organizing my thoughts. I knew I needed to talk to Amber and Peter, just the three of us, without Jake around. This moment was very important, and I wanted them to feel comfortable saying what they really thought, without fear. I knew this conversation was necessary, as there was a lot at stake. Jake was part of this new life I wanted to build, but most of all, my children needed to feel part of it.I took a deep breath before entering their room. Amber was already stretching, her eyes still sleepy, but she noticed my presence and smiled. Peter, still sleeping soundly, had a serene face, something rare to see. I approached him gently, touching his shoulder lightly. “Peter, honey, are we going to wake up? I need to talk to you and Amber. Just the three of us, without Jake.”He opened his eyes slowly, still confused from sleep, but nodded. Amber looked at me with a mix of curiosity
