I raise an eyebrow, caught off guard but also amused by his actions. “Who?”“Don’t play dumb,” he snaps. “I want to see Mina. She hasn’t been seen. She hasn’t been heard. She’s not picking up my calls. She and I had a lot of plans. We had an understanding, and she’s not doing her part. Today is supposed to be her wedding. I was supposed to be in her wedding, but zip! Nothing from her. And my mom just tells me there’s no wedding.”He steps closer, his face twisted in anger.“Where is she?” His voice rises. “Did you kill her? Where did you bury her body? Did you kidnap her, where did you lock her in this house?”“Treyson, are you okay?“ I ask him, This little boy must be insane.“Wherever you hid her, whatever you did…. I am going to find out.““ It's too early in the morning to deal with this,” I mutter under my breath.For now, I just want him gone.“Get out of my house,” I say, turning around to go back to the bedroom.But no—he runs in front of me, standing there as if he can block
MinaI woke up today, and the first thing I did was laugh.Today was supposed to be my wedding day.But instead, it was going to be the day I severed ties—with Emerson, with my family, with the life that had been planned for me.Today was the day I set myself free.Sitting in this house all these days, I used the time to grieve. To mourn what I thought I had, what I knew I had lost. I allowed myself to feel everything—anger, sadness, regret—but then I decided.I was moving on.I wasn’t going to let Emerson control me. I wasn’t going to let him dictate my life, tell me what to do, or make decisions for me.Yesterday, I bought a ticket.I was going to Rio.When I first told Emerson about it—during our argument—it had been an impulsive idea, something that slipped out in the heat of the moment. He brushed it off and dismissed it like it was nothing.But it had taken root.The more I sat in this house, the more I realised—I had nothing left here. No friends. No family. Not even the man I
My husband’s phone pinged with a message. I was about to take it to him at work because he’d forgotten it at home. The message was from my sister. Curiosity piqued, I entered the password to unlock the phone and went to the message.“I AM PREGNANT.”My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. Pregnant? I had to sit down for this. I sank into a nearby chair and began scrolling through the messages between my sister and my husband. The evidence was clear: they had been having an affair for a very long time, and now it looked like she was pregnant. Something I couldn’t even manage to do.A tear escaped my eye as I tried to compose myself. It shouldn’t have been a complete surprise, considering how close they had recently become and how oddly they had been acting. I had suspected they might be involved, but I didn’t want to believe that the two people I trusted most could betray me in this way. Still, I should have suspected it.She’s probably not pregnant with him, I lied to myself as I texted
While still dancing and thinking about the man who had just walked into the bar, I felt the guy I was grinding against starting to get a little too handsy. His hands clumsily wandered towards my waist, then my butt, and soon he was trying to slip his fingers inside my dress. I swatted at his hands, but he didn't stop. Frustrated, I decided to leave the dance floor, but he grabbed me and pulled me back.I was too drunk and uncoordinated to fight him off effectively. As I pushed him away, telling him to leave me alone, “Let go of me…..let me go.“ His hands continued their unwanted exploration. The music was too loud and everyone around us was lost in their own world, and no one seemed to notice or care.Just as his hand began to gain entrance into my dress, rising higher and higher, dread filled me. I struggled to push him away. Suddenly, I heard a fierce growl. "Stay away from her! She said no."The man was shoved away from me, and I looked towards my rescuer. The voice sounded fam
“No, I don't think it's a great idea. I think I’m just going to go. You're already here, you’re fine," he responds, clearly uncomfortable."What if something happens to me?" I ask."Nothing's going to happen to you here. Its a great hotel and there is good security. I wouldn't just leave you anywhere.....," he says."How do you know that?“ I interrupt him."Because....." He sighs as he watches me again before asking, “What do you want from me now?““ Come inside, we can stay on the couch or something. Don’t leave me alone; I really don’t want to be alone tonight. Please....!"He looks at me, weighing his options, before finally relenting. "Alright, fine," he says, closing the door behind him and stepping into the room.He goes and takes a seat on the sofa, and I sit down next to him. "Do you want some coffee?" he asks. "Maybe I could order it or something.""No, just a glass of water, maybe," I say softly.He pours water into a glass from a bottle and hands it to me. Our eyes meet, an
“Yes, Rita is the one I should have married. It was a mistake marrying you, but don't think you can come crawling back to me. When we're finally divorced, I don't want to ever see you again.""I will never crawl back to you, but you'll regret betraying me and going behind my back. I’ll make sure of it.""Aha, you wish." He answers mockingly "You can't do nothing. You have no power, atleast not without me. You are going to regret this decision. I am still on the fence on wether I should fire you from the company, so tread lightly.""Whatever you want Eric" I say back with a broad smile."I don't know what I ever saw in you. Rita is just so amazing to me and we are so happy together."“You can't fight love, sis” Rita adds proudly, kissing Eric's cheek.Emerson, who had been sitting quietly all this time, finally spoke up. "Eric, I'm really disappointed in you. You know that Rita and Mina are sisters. What you did has broken her family. Why would you sleep with Nina, and even worse, get
"What?" Both Rita and Eric asked in unison, their voices laced with disbelief. "You can't be serious," Rita added, her face twisted in shock. Eric, on the other hand, was filled with a combination of anger and confusion. "It can't… you can't marry her. Dad, what do you mean you asked her to marry you? This will make me a laughing stock. You can't do this, Dad. You can't! She's my wife. You can't marry her!""Your 'ex-wife'," I corrected him, smiling as I took Emerson's hand in mine. By now, we had gained the curious gazes of people around us. The guests, sensing the tension, began to inch closer, eager to hear what the argument was all about. When they noticed our intertwined hands, mine and Emerson's the whispers started. Murmurs spread like wildfire. I could see Eric growing more anxious, his face reddening as the embarrassment consumed him. Rita stood next to him, clearly as mortified as he was."Dad, what the fuck do you think you're doing? You can't marry her!" Eric's voice
Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks as the gravity of the moment hit me. I had never expected this, not here, not now. I could barely hear the murmurs and whispers from the guests surrounding us, all my focus on the man kneeling before me."Mina," he continued, his voice firm and strong, sure of himself "I'm asking you, Mina, would you make me the happiest man in the world and agree to marry me?“"Yes, yes, yes, and again, yes! I'm ready, I will marry you!" I said, my voice trembling with excitement as I let Emerson, Eric’s father, slip the engagement ring onto my finger. The diamond was huge, far bigger and heavier than the one Eric had given me. My fingers felt the weight, and I couldn’t help but compare them. Emerson's ring was much more beautiful, a true piece of art and a clear statement. Unlike Eric’s, which now seemed like a hollow promise.He stood and pulled me into a hug. I hesitated, not sure if it was appropriate to kiss him right there with everyone watc
MinaI woke up today, and the first thing I did was laugh.Today was supposed to be my wedding day.But instead, it was going to be the day I severed ties—with Emerson, with my family, with the life that had been planned for me.Today was the day I set myself free.Sitting in this house all these days, I used the time to grieve. To mourn what I thought I had, what I knew I had lost. I allowed myself to feel everything—anger, sadness, regret—but then I decided.I was moving on.I wasn’t going to let Emerson control me. I wasn’t going to let him dictate my life, tell me what to do, or make decisions for me.Yesterday, I bought a ticket.I was going to Rio.When I first told Emerson about it—during our argument—it had been an impulsive idea, something that slipped out in the heat of the moment. He brushed it off and dismissed it like it was nothing.But it had taken root.The more I sat in this house, the more I realised—I had nothing left here. No friends. No family. Not even the man I
I raise an eyebrow, caught off guard but also amused by his actions. “Who?”“Don’t play dumb,” he snaps. “I want to see Mina. She hasn’t been seen. She hasn’t been heard. She’s not picking up my calls. She and I had a lot of plans. We had an understanding, and she’s not doing her part. Today is supposed to be her wedding. I was supposed to be in her wedding, but zip! Nothing from her. And my mom just tells me there’s no wedding.”He steps closer, his face twisted in anger.“Where is she?” His voice rises. “Did you kill her? Where did you bury her body? Did you kidnap her, where did you lock her in this house?”“Treyson, are you okay?“ I ask him, This little boy must be insane.“Wherever you hid her, whatever you did…. I am going to find out.““ It's too early in the morning to deal with this,” I mutter under my breath.For now, I just want him gone.“Get out of my house,” I say, turning around to go back to the bedroom.But no—he runs in front of me, standing there as if he can block
I know Tomas here under the title of a butler, but in reality, I hired him as security. He started as a bodyguard, but having visible security inside the house made things uncomfortable. So, he took on the role of a butler to keep people at ease.No one expects a butler to be security. No one suspects that he watches over everything—over the house, the estate, the staff.He's the real manager of this place, the one who keeps it all running.And over the years, we’ve formed a kind of friendship.I wouldn’t say I have many real friends, people I can truly talk to, be my true self. But Thomas—he’s different. Sometimes, when I have things weighing on my mind, I talk to him. And over time, he’s proven to be very wise and have very good advice.So, yes. He became family. A friend. Someone I trust.If I were asked to name my closest confidants, Thomas would be one of them.Now, as he steps into the office, his face is grim.He doesn’t need to ask why I called him here.He already knows.And
I wonder if Eric ever really saw it—how happy I had been with Mina.I wonder if he could tell that the fact there is no wedding, whether that means I’m with her or not, is tearing me apart inside.And I wonder if he even cares.Does it matter to him if what Mina and I had was real? Does he care that she made me happy? Or is he only focused on himself, on what he thinks he’s won?The thought lingers, heavy in my chest.But I don’t want to entertain him, so I say, “I’m glad that you’re happy. Can you leave now?”Eric grins wider. “I brought you a gift.” He pushes the box closer to me. “I knew you weren’t going to marry her. I just knew. I was like, my father? To do that to me? Hell no! And I tried to tell people that you wouldn't actually marry her, but they didn’t believe me. Can you believe it? I just knew it. Thanks, Dad.”He stands up, still shaking his head, convinced of his own delusion. “I just knew you were always going to be on my side. I just knew you wouldn’t choose her ov
EmmersonAs Mina left, angrily, not sparing a glance or looking back towards us, I was still down on my knees. But this time, I wasn’t filled with desperation—I was filled with relief.At least she wasn’t leaving.At least I would be sure she was close and taken care of.I knew how her mind worked. When she was angry, she just did things and acted on impulse. I just needed her to cool down and understand what I was saying to her.I was doing all of this for her.Even if it killed me in the end.If we got married now, I would keep asking myself—did she truly have real feelings for me? Or would she always have Eric in her heart?Even though every part of me wanted to ask her to come back, to take her back so everything could return to normal, so I could hold her in my arms again and be with her, I knew this was the right choice for both of us. This would be good for us.And if she did decide that she wanted me, if she chose me in the end, then that would be the best thing to ever happen
"Okay, just calm down. You're getting a little ahead of yourself here." Emmerson says halting my thoughts and dismissing what I said.I stare at Emerson, my blood boiling. "Do you really think so? I'm getting ahead of myself here? Is that what you think now?" I let out a bitter laugh, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, please, just tell me what's next. Since you're the one in control of everything, why don’t you go ahead and tell me what I feel? What I think? What I should do?" My arms fly up in frustration. "You’re just going to plan my whole life out for me, aren't you? Even though you don’t want me, even though you’re not with me anymore, you still want to control me!" I find myself raising my voice with every word.Before he can respond, there's a knock at the door.Knock, knock.We both freeze, our argument hanging heavy in the air. My breathing is uneven, my chest rising and falling as I glare at Emerson.Knock, knock.And then—Madeline’s voice.“Mina? Emerson?” Another pause
Emerson’s jaw tightens, but he holds his ground. "Yeah, I get it, Mina. You don’t want my money. But you can count it as a loan if that makes you feel better."I shake my head, "It’s not about feeling better, Emerson.""But listen," he presses on. "You want to leave this house and go look for a hotel? How long will that money sustain you? And a motel? Come on, Mina. Then what? You’re going to rent a place? Do you have enough for the deposit and the first month’s rent? You’d probably need a roommate to afford it. Or are you planning to move into some rough neighbourhood just so you don't have to stay here?" He pauses, his voice dipping lower. "Or what? Are you going to go home to Mommy? Move in with your sister?"I snap. "How dare you?" My voice comes out sharp, cutting through.But before I can unleash everything boiling inside me, he cuts me off, "Mina, you’re a smart woman. We both know that. Just think about what I’m saying. You know I’m right."I scoff, shaking my head in disbel
"Mina, I don't want you to leave," Emmerson says,I lift my face, looking at him in surprise. Did I hear that right?"I don't understand," I say, confused. "Are you going back on the words you said to me yesterday?""No," he says quickly. "I really think we need some time apart. Not just you—me too. I need time to think about everything .""So, you were lying yesterday?""What?" he asks, clearly caught off guard."Yesterday, when you told me this was all about me, you were lying." I narrow my eyes at him. "So it’s not just about me. It’s about you too. You don’t know how you feel about me, and now you need to step back and figure it out? So this has been all about you the whole time.""No, no. That’s not what I meant." He exhales sharply, rubbing his temple before looking at me again. "What I meant was, I realized a lot of things about you, about us. And those realizations have nothing to do with how I feel about you. Because what I feel for you—it cannot be challenged. I have no doub
I start walking past him, determined, but he doesn’t move. He just stands there, blocking the doorway.I sigh, frustrated. "What is this? What do you think you're doing?" I ask. "Are you going to stop me? What are you going to do? Hold me here against my will? Keep me hostage in your house?""No, that’s not what I’m doing," he says quickly."Then please," I say through clenched teeth, "get out of the way."He steps aside, but his eyes are pleading, his hands slightly raised in surrender. "Wait."I stop and look at him."Okay, fine," he says. "If you want to leave, fine. You can go. I won't stop you."I scoff. "Emerson, I thought that was obvious. I came here of my own free will. I will leave here of my own free will. I wasn’t asking for your permission.""Just… hear me out. Please."I fold my arms. "Okay, what is it?""You want to leave? Fine. But you don’t have to leave this way. It’s late," he says, glancing at his watch. "It’s the middle of the night—one in the morning. There’s no