ACEIA'S POVHudson's gaze collided with mine, and the unfolding realization etched across his face hinted at the tangible waves of anger emanating from me. Internally seething, I found myself incredulous at his audacity to engage with another woman in my absence. Though devoid of romantic sentiments, there existed an unspoken understanding—a boundary of respect that I had expected not to be transgressed."Of course, we can extend our stay here if that's your preference, but..." Hudson's attempt to offer an explanation faltered under the intensity of my glare.Maintaining a polite smile, I interjected, "But? So, you're not interested in spending more time with me? I'm not prone to violence, but I can certainly be menacing."As Hudson visibly gulped, his eyes darted nervously between me and Vinice, who stood as an unwitting spectator to this unfolding drama. "Sorry, I'm busy. Perhaps some other time," he stammered, attempting to salvage the conversation."Maybe never?" I turned my sweet
ACEIA’S POVI gazed into Hudson's eyes, grappling with the realization that his heart might still be entwined with the woman he met 16 years ago. "The woman he met 16 years ago? So, she's the only one who has held his heart all this time? Then why did she agree to marry me? Does that mean she doesn't reciprocate his feelings?" My mind buzzed with questions, anxiety gripping me as I navigated the tumultuous sea of emotions.Desperation seeped into my voice as I mustered the courage to inquire further. "Does that woman not feel the same way about him?" My words hung in the air, aching with the uncertainty that clouded my newfound reality. I turned to Hudson, struggling to conceal the insecurity clawing at my insides.His eyes, once a refuge, now seemed to harbor secrets. I ventured to probe deeper, my voice faltering with each word. "Is she the reason you carry a piece of the past with you every day?" I felt a pang of vulnerability, my heart exposed to the possibility that I might be a m
ACEIA'S POVAfter a blissful two weeks of vacation, we found ourselves back in New York because of Hudson's mounting responsibilities. Surprisingly, the international escapade had provided an unexpected buffer, allowing me the space to adapt to my surroundings in ways I hadn't anticipated.As the first rays of morning painted the sky, I awoke at 6 AM, only to discover an empty space beside me—a telltale sign that Hudson had risen earlier and vanished into the tasks that awaited him.The notion to explore his walk-in closet struck me—a spontaneous decision that led to me donning Hudson's polo long sleeve without a second thought. The fabric enveloped me, carrying a sense of familiarity that transcended mere clothing.The enticing aroma of breakfast beckoned, pulling me toward the kitchen. The living room remained deserted, so I navigated my way to where the source of the delicious scent emanated. A subtle curiosity lingered—could Hudson, in fact, cook?"Morning!" Hudson greeted me as I
ACEIA'S POVHudson dropped me off at the busy mall, making sure it was convenient for me. Later, he arranged for the family driver to be ready to take me home after my errands. I sighed, feeling a bit restricted because I couldn't spontaneously hang out with friends, even though Hudson worries about them.In the mall, I enjoyed using Hudson's black card since I didn't have my own money. I went to a home decor store and picked things for our new house that matched the vibe.I chuckled at myself because I never thought I could do these things alone. In the past, my mom's secretary took care of everything, from basic grocery shopping to getting fancy stuff.Pleased with my purchases, I realize it's time to tackle grocery shopping independently, wanting to show Hudson my capability. With this goal in mind, I carefully select foods essential to our home.After wrapping up my tasks, it's past 3, and I decide to unwind at the nearest cafe. I delegate the handling of my purchases to the driver
ACEIA'S POVI stirred, feeling as if I'd been through a rough encounter. When I opened my eyes, a blush crept up my cheeks as I observed my tangled position with Hudson.His arm encircled my waist, his head nestled in the curve of my neck, and one of his legs rested on my thighs. The pulsing presence of his manhood, fully awake and alert, left me acknowledging the existence of a morning erection. Good Lord.While we'd shared a bed for three days now, waking up in this intimate manner was a first. Perhaps Hudson believed our relationship had improved, especially after he generously gave me ice cream the night before.Admit it, you enjoy this. The little voice in my mind suggested.Hudson groaned, tightening his embrace, and his lips found their way to my neck, causing a ticklish sensation.A flutter danced in my chest when his hand slipped beneath my blouse, venturing toward my chest. I should have protested or raised my voice, but instead, I found myself strangely liking it, yearning f
HUDSON'S POVI found myself changing the bedsheet, determined to get rid of the stubborn stain from the night before, as Aceia suggested. With a grin stretching from ear to ear, I swapped the old sheet for a fresh one, reveling in the satisfying feeling of a clean bed.Suddenly, a loud shriek echoed through the air, jolting me out of my contentment. "What the..." I rushed towards the source of the scream.Pushing open the bathroom door, I discovered Aceia perched on the bowl, visibly in pain and distress."What happened?" I kneeled down, aligning our faces. "Why are you screaming?"Her eyes shot me a sharp look. "I hate you!" she yelled. "You should have told me it hurts when I pee! It didn't hurt earlier, but now it hurts. I hate you, Hudson! My cat is in pain!"I blinked. "C-Cat?""Vagina! You idiot!" Aceia seized my shoulder, squeezing it tightly. "Darn it! Hudson, it hurts. We've done it before, so why does it still hurt?”I felt a surge of frustration, observing the pain etched on
ACEIA'S POVIt's been five days since the doctor said that I should take a rest. And those five days, Hudson took care of me, and at the same time, it bores me to stay at home. What if it stays like this until I am fully healed?Hudson is overreacting to taking care of me, but I couldn't say no. I'm just thankful because he doesn't accompany me to the bathroom to take a shower or to clean myself.Thank God for that.I carefully got up from the bed, then looked at the clock on the bedside table.Nine AM.I stretched my arms, then left the bed and slowly walked towards the bathroom to fix myself.I smiled as I felt only a little pain in my femininity. The first few days after what happened were the worst of all. I almost pass out from the pain when I urinate. The pain was so excruciating that I had been killing Hudson in my mind over and over again as I peed.After I brushed my teeth, I washed myself in the hot tub, then slowly walked back to bed. It was only right when the door opened
The next day, I cooked breakfast for Hudson. I don't know why I did it. Maybe because I'm just happy about what happened last night.I don't know what to feel anymore. I don't want this marriage, but here I am doing the job of being a housewife, cooking for a husband.Maybe I should give it a try? This is for the meantime; after all, if someone is in this situation, they might also let things unfold to their places.I brought the food that I cooked to our bedroom. I looked at Hudson, who was still sleeping, so I just sat on the edge of the bed, gently caressing Hudson's face.Hudson groaned and rubbed his eyes, then woke up."Ace?"Good morning, my husband! "Hudson finally opened his eyes. He didn't say anything; he just stared at me as if confused."Your wake-up call is nice, isn't it? Now get up and have breakfast." I stood up and took the bed tray containing the food from the table. I placed it in front of Hudson after he sat down. I sat again on the edge of the bed."This is new.
HUDSON'S POVIt began when my parents decided I should attend a math camp, assuring me it would be a joyful experience while they were away. Little did they know that it would become the catalyst for a traumatic event, pushing my life to the edge of death.As Sunday afternoon descended, we meticulously packed our belongings, getting ready to head home. The facilitator signaled the end, prompting us to board the bus. The journey commenced serenely, and I immersed myself in a book, oblivious to the impending disruption.Suddenly, the bus screeched to a halt, shattering the tranquility. My eyes darted outside, revealing an eerie silence only disturbed by the entrance of an armed stranger.Chaos erupted as the man discharged his weapon, sending children into fits of panic. Fear gripped me too, yet I chose to remain silent.Soon, we found ourselves at the mercy of these assailants. Tears flowed from frightened children yearning to return home. Amid the gunfire, a rescue mission unfolded, c
ACEIA'S POVWith all that had happened, I felt like I needed to find closure because of the overwhelming weight that was on my shoulders. I understood that knowing the truth was essential if I was going to embrace a happy future.After receiving confirmation that my daughter was safe, I set off to visit my parents. There were secrets hanging in the air, and it was time to face the ghosts of the past. As I walked up to the door, the air crackled with expectation, and I felt a mixture of resolution and nervousness in my veins.As I sat across from my father, a guy with many life experiences and unspoken stories, I forced myself to go deeper into our family's past. It was as though the walls were listening closely to everything I said, and the weight of unspoken truths echoed throughout the room.For an instant, my father wavered, a trace of regret visible in his eyes. Subsequently, he started to reveal a story of love and sorrow in a voice that carried the weight of decades. He added, "M
ACEIA'S POVHudson and I ran across the sterile hallway, our footsteps hitting the chilly hospital walls like cries for help. The fluorescent lights pulsed harshly overhead, creating eerie shadows that reflected the turmoil in our hearts. Seated on the emergency bed, our daughter was a delicate figure among the difficult chaos of life-threatening medical situations.My vision became blurry as we approached the surgical room. Hudson, who was equally upset, desperately tried to hold onto our hand to help steady ourselves in the emotional storm. The sobs of a pained mother resonated with the far-off wails of sirens outside.The door to the operating room flew open, showing a surgeon whose face reflected the seriousness of the situation. As I talked, my voice quivered, and the words came out of my mouth like thin whispers in the storm.My eyes gleamed with worry as I asked, "Is she... is she going to be okay?" but the surgeon's grave expression offered no instant comfort.The surgeon gave
ACEIA'S POVWhen the man finally tore my top off, I forced myself to get away from him, even though it was difficult to do. I scooted away, trying to get away, but my legs were yanked back with force.Tears were flowing down my cheeks as I looked at Alison, who was still crying. "No, please. Don't do this," I begged.Marthina spoke, casually playing with the gun in her hand while still sitting in front of me, interrupting the terrifying image. "You know, when I was young..."Captivated by her words, I turned to face her. She related the heartbreaking story of how my father abandoned them when she was a young girl, leaving her mother hopeless. She stated, "I never had a happy childhood because your father took that away from me. When he left, my mother fell into madness, unable to care for me. I had to work to survive," before suddenly pressing the trigger, deafening Alison with her cry.I tried again, desperate to get out of the man's grasp, but I was quite conscious that all that was
ACEIA'S POVMy head was hammering when I woke up, like a relentless hammer, causing unbearable pain. The agony in my brain was getting closer to breaking, so I tried to get up and looked around as it did.Alison and I ended up sitting on the ground, tied, and surrounded by rusting, run-down cars in an abandoned car factory.I had no idea where we were.I had flashbacks to Alison, and I went for ice cream, but they were cut short as Marthina barged in holding a gun.After being made to sign a document and given a numbing agent, our bodies passed out. As we awoke, the terrible truth of our imprisonment became apparent.There was one thing we knew for sure: Marthina had planned our kidnapping. Her intentions were still unclear, but she acted with malice in her eyes.Turning to the sound of Alison’s soft sobs, I took a deep breath to compose myself, resisting the urge to succumb to fear.The uncertainty of impending help gnawed at me. All I could hope for was that Hudson was actively searc
ACEIA'S POVIt had been a full week since the intenseencounter with Marthina. I didn't talk to my father after that. I purposefully chose to keep this distance because I needed time to gather my thoughts and reflect before bringing up the hard topic. Even though I really should be talking to my dad and making sure Marthina and Alexander are telling the truth, I take comfort in these quiet times, letting my ideas settle before facing the storm that is coming.This self-imposed break from face-to-face interaction is making my internal turmoil even more confusing. My logical mind begs me to speak with my father immediately in order to get clarification and closure. It is full of longing for pure clarity, wanting to remove any doubt from Marthina's charges and Alexander's remarks. However, the soft murmurs of my heart beg me to take my time, to temper the urgency with a measured resolution, so that feelings don't overshadow any revelations that may come to light.There is a constant feeli
ACEIA'S POVMy mind was jumbled with doubts as I looked at the man in front of us. His manner was sincere, yet there was a persistent suspicion that persisted in the back of my mind. Was he trustworthy? Are we to believe all he said? My eyes studied his facial expressions, searching for any hints while she considered these questions.I questioned whether there was a process for figuring out what defines authenticity or a guide that explained how to deal with the complexities of trust. As the silence lingered between them, I thought about the importance of every word that was said. Was there a clue in his eyes—a slight change in the way he held himself—that would expose the truth?As I kept talking to myself, I fought with the problem of making choices based solely on beliefs. What actions should I take to make sure I'm not misled if I decide to trust? I felt the weight of the situation pressing down on me, forcing me to choose between being sincere and lying. I realized that the way fo
ACEIA'S POV I woke up to a fairly normal workday with very little on my schedule. Driven by the need to give priority to the things that really mattered, I made an unusual decision. Choosing to stay at home, I made the most of my unexpected free day by spending it with my kid. As we explored the simple pleasures of reading aloud, making cookies, and playing games,Following our different adventures, Alison fell into sleepiness and went to bed. Driven, it seemed, by an ongoing restlessness, I sat in the soft light of my laptop, expecting to lose myself in the routine work of checking files.A distant memory emerged as the room filled with the quiet hum of the laptop: a USB card placed in my bags. After getting it back, I started looking for files in its small memory. But somewhere among the things in my bag, I found a strange calling card—something to remember from the mysterious stranger who had passed me by the day before.The card was silently inviting me to inquire as it settled in
ACEIA'S POVI used to have so much wonderful family time, but the burden of running the family business left me exhausted, and my daughter Alison would sulk even on the weekends. I was determined to stop this cycle, so I made the decision to finish work early today and give my scheduled time for bonding with her and Hudson top priority.“Ma’am, you have a board meeting in 30 minutes, followed by a lunch meeting with Mr. Perales. I've arranged a restaurant reservation for that,” my secretary informed me, her voice cutting through the endless stack of reports I was sifting through."Okay, just let me know when it's time for lunch," I replied, my focus still immersed in the sea of paperwork that demanded my attention.While I was signing documents, my secretary gently reminded me that the board members were still waiting. He nodded, and I got up, gathered up my coat, and made my way to the boardroom, wondering aloud if Marthina, who had always been concerned about the company, would be am