When I got to my room there was a dinner gown on my bed with a pair of silver heels and a little note that read “for today”Who was he to pick out my outfit for me like I was some doll for him to dress up, I wanted to rebel and wear something else but I needed to gain his favor in a way so I had to bend to his will.I opened the jacket carefully, revealing the gown inside. It was a stunning, full-length black dress with a single strap that draped elegantly over my shoulder. The fabric was soft and smooth, hugging my body in all the right places while flowing down into a graceful hem that just brushed the floor. Tiny black beads were sewn all over the gown, catching the light with every movement and creating a subtle shimmer, like stars scattered across a midnight sky. The neckline was simple yet sophisticated, dipping just enough to hint at elegance without being too revealing. I didn’t want to arrive looking plain or unremarkable. I wanted to make a statement. I wanted them to see
Nick helped Leon out of the car and into his wheelchair while I waited so we could go in together. The venue was a big ass mansion the type that you see in movies, it was so high that I had to tilt my neck to see the top of it “Here,” Nick said “What?” I asked not getting what he was saying, my mind was else were trying to calm my racking nerves, I couldn't let it get the best of me. “You would be the one to wheel him in,” Nick said“Oh okay,” I said taking the handle of the chair from him“Whose house is this?” I leaned in and asked Nick, there was no use asking Leon anything, he made a very simple question seem difficult so I rather direct my questions to someone willing to answer them“This is the Valois mansion, the home of Kane Valois before he passed” he explained to me in an almost whisper. That made sense that it belonged to their father because of how massive it was“Can you stop gossiping and let us go in?” Leon said making me roll my eyes at him“You’ve got this” Nick sa
The silence turned into whispers some were whispering while others were snickering to one another at what I said, I began to regret saying it like that it made it sound like I was thrilled to be a part of their weird family but I just said it because I didn’t want to refer to myself as a Genrey so I went with Valois but that was my new identity regardless of what they thought.“I’m sorry” I whispered to Leon who had been quiet the whole time he was probably holding himself back from reacting to my nonsense. He told me to stick with him and it seemed I was doing too much.“About what?” He asked, I couldn’t tell how he meant it, his face was just blank no emotions on it “For talking too much,” I said“I didn’t complain” he simply said and continued facing ahead, he didn’t say it with words but it was a go-ahead to keep going. If Leon didn’t care then there was no reason for me to be quiet “She didn’t lie did she, she is now part of the family and we should welcome her with open arms,”
KAYLAI was excited to go for the dinner we were invited to by the Valois, it was supposed to be a dinner to welcome Naya into their family which I didn't care about ever since what happened at the funeral that she kept cursing us out calling mom and dad by their names made every tie will have with her break.Not only was she an ungrateful piece of shit, she kept making it seem like we were the ones that killed her stupid sister when she should be grateful to us for ending her pain once and for all. I'm sure Nyla would be grateful to us for ending the treatment.I would always blame my parents for picking them up in the first place, a bunch of ungrateful brats. I was so happy Naya got what was coming to her now she had to spend the rest of her life with that creep, or at least three years. The contracts stated that divorce could only happen after three years of marriage and three years was a long time.“I can't wait to see how drained and disgusting she looks,” I said to myself smilin
The car ride back home started silent, I was itching to say something but I didn't know how to start. I kept stealing glances at Leon who had his head rested on the car seat with his eyes closed“What do you want to say?” he asked with his eyes still closed startling me“Um thank you,” I said “For what?” he asked opening his eyes to look at me“For standing up for me” I whispered“What?” he asked“I said for having my back,” I said and he didn't say anything again“Thank you” I whispered again“I am married to you sadly, it wouldn't be a good look for me to let people shit on my wife,” he said plainly, he just had to ruin it. He should have just kept it to himself than open his stupid ass mouth“Don't look at me with those eyes, I was just saying” he said with a little smile at the corner of his mouth. I rolled my eyes at him and the car went back to being silent“Have you thought about what I discussed with you?” I asked“I don't recall having a discussion with you,” he said, he wen
LEONShe was persistent, always pushing and trying to convince me that she could make it happen. She wasn’t like most people I had come across. Most of them were scared of me, afraid to say the wrong thing or even look me in the eye. But not her.She wasn’t scared, not even a little intimidated. She spoke to me however she liked, without hesitation or fear. And when words weren’t enough, she stabbed me with a pen, of all things just to prove her point.She was crazy. Completely crazy.I rubbed the spot where she stabbed me. The pain was gone now, but it lingered in my mind because it wasn’t just pain it was something I hadn’t felt in years. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt pain in my legs.I had been told over and over that my legs were useless, that they were as good as dead. And I believed it I had to believe it, there was no reason not to. But now… now I wasn’t so sure. That sharp, fleeting pain made me question everything.What if she was right? What if she a
NayaIt was really early in the morning when I heard a knock on my door, I was barely awake when I answered “Who is it?” I asked and I got no response, I was falling back asleep when I heard another knock, a loud groan of frustration left my mouth“Who is it?” I asked again and still no answer, I dragged my legs to the door to check who was it, lo and behold when I opened the door it was Leon, the sleep in my eyes immediately cleared away“What are you doing here?” I asked“I need a detailed explanation of what type of treatment you would want to try on me,” he said, my eyes went to the table clock in my room to see what time it was “It is three in the morning” I reminded him“And so? Or have you given up?” He asked He made it seem like he was doing me a favor by hearing me out“I would be down in a minute,” I said“Don’t keep me waiting” he said wheeling himself to the elevatorHe was so lucky I needed his helpI walked into his study holding the laptop I had been using to do a l
I woke up super excited the next day, once he gave me the go ahead I started to put everything in place, we didn’t have the equipment for the other therapies but Nick was to get that prepared so I had to work with what I had which was a pool. I put some floaters in it which made it look like a seven-year-old was about to have a pool party but I had to work with what I had.“Good morning” I shouted at the top of my voice, before knocking on his bedroom door“Good morning” I sang, and I didn’t get a response again so I knocked one last time before I peeked inside the room “What the hell do you want?” He asked frowning, he was sitting by the window“Our first session start at eight,” I said smiling from ear to ear“It is six what is the noise about?” he asked looking at me like he wanted to murder me with his eyes“I just came to remind you and ask if you needed anything?” I asked grinning, he wasn’t going to spoil my mood it was a great day“And since when is that your business?” He as
For the first time in what felt like forever, I could finally breathe without that weight on my chest. The constant fear, the feeling that something bad was always around the corner was gone, like I would get snatched and stuffed in a trunk once again. It had been weeks since Ryan was hospitalized, and though the memory of everything he’d done lingered in my mind, I was starting to feel at ease.The days had taken on a rhythm that felt… normal. I’d wake up early, make breakfast, and help Leon with his treatment. He had his bad days, days where he felt stuck, frustrated, or just plain tired but for every difficult moment, there was progress. Little by little, we were moving forward.And then there were days like today.The sun reflected through the wide windows of the home gym, casting a golden glow over everything. I stood by Leon, watching him as he prepared for another attempt at walking. His hands gripped the parallel bars tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. Swea
NAYAThe car ride back home was quiet, almost painfully so. Leon sat beside me in the passenger seat while Nick drove, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He hadn’t said much since we left the hospital, and neither had I. But it wasn’t the kind of silence I was used to. This one was heavy, thick with unspoken words that hung in the air like a weight on my chest.My mind raced, piecing together everything I’d overheard at the hospital. I paid attention to Ryan’s and Leon’s conversation, but I didn't grasp the whole thing that was said. But the parts I did hear were enough to unravel the rest. The way Leon spoke to Ryan, the icy calmness in his voice, the way Ryan had reacted to him. He was sure that Leon was the one behind it and Leon never denied it or accepted it. Leon had orchestrated Ryan’s accident.At first, I tried to tell myself I was wrong. Maybe I had misunderstood, maybe I didn’t hear things clearly. But the more I thought about it, the clearer it became. The way Leon had cho
NAYAIt has been a while since the incident but it still doesn't seem to be going away. I am still shaken up. I would get flashbacks of the scenario and fear would grip me like I was relieving the whole thing. My nightmares weren't going away, instead, it felt more vivid and scary. Ryan was laughing psychotically in my dreams haunting me, no matter how I ran or how I begged it all ended the same way. It ended with him putting a bullet through my skull. I was scared of stepping outside the house, I have never tried to but the thought of it scared me.I tried all my best to hide everything from Leon so he wouldn't worry about me, which was almost impossible because he was breathing down my neck twenty-four-seven, watching and monitoring my every move like a hawk. Before I was done with my treatment he insisted on staying by my side every night and now I was done with it he still checks up on me in my room. If he noticed something was wrong with me he would just worry too much and I didn
LEONI have got to learn multiple times that Naya is not someone to back down from a fight no matter how tough it could be. As admirable as that is, it is also worrisome but I have decided to just let it be, I guess the best I could do for her is to protect her. Which was something that scared the shit out of me.What if I'm not about to do it? I have already failed once what if it happens again?It was just a lot, the more I thought about the more nervous I get about the whole thing.I was surprised when she asked that we continue the therapy session, I didn't get how she was not out of bed yet. Her treatment was still ongoing but she cared about the session. I couldn't even tell if the ordeal hurt her or not. Other than the pain she talked about, she didn't talk about anything else almost as if she put this shield in front of her to cover up how she was feeling. I wanted her to be vulnerable with me but she cared more about trying to make me okay than herself and that got me worried
Ryan Everything with me seemed slow, I kept thinking and thinking of ways I could get back at Leon or even sabotage him before he came for me but there was nothing. He didn't have any business or property that I could mess with. He didn't care about his image with the press. The only thing was Naya, which I failed when I had a chance. Now his guard would be high and I wouldn't be able to get another chance. I'm sure my mother was waiting to hear some type of good news from me but I had nothing. No goddamn thing.I was angry thinking about it, I felt so powerless and I hated it so much. The worst of it was that I felt powerless against Leon. The number person I hated most in the whole fucking world. How was I being shaken up by a bastard?It should be that way around, not the way it was. But thanks to Father for making the son of a bitch feel included, now he was trying to contend with me.Growing up, I didn't get my father's attention and that messed with me. Leon proved himself to
NAYAThe sharp ache in my body was impossible to ignore, but it was nothing compared to the weight pressing on my chest. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the faint scent of antiseptic in the air reminding me I was safe now. But the word “safe” felt hollow.Every inch of me hurt, my face throbbed, my wrists stung from the ropes that had bitten into my skin, and the bruises on my ribs made breathing a slow, painful chore. Yet through all of it, one thought refused to leave me. I couldn’t let this stop me.It had been the same routine for me every day, I ate, laid in bed all day, and slept. Leon was very strict with me, he didn't let me do any damn thing and I was tired of arguing with him.Leon sat by the window, his silhouette illuminated by the faint glow of the moonlight. His gaze was distant, his body tense as if he were bracing himself for another fight. The sight of him like that rigid, lost in thought made my chest ache differently.“Leon,” I called softly, my voice hoarse.
NAYAI woke up panicked after having another nightmare, it felt so real that I was sweating profusely when I got up, it was intense. I looked around me and I was still in the room where I was being administered treatment. Leon was in his wheelchair dozing off.“Leon” I called“Huh” he jumped“Do you need anything?” he asked “No,” I said“Come lay down here, you will hurt your neck,” I told him“No I'm fine thank you,” he said“Come on” I whined before he agreedI tried to help him get off his chair but he refused “Don't worry I got it” he said then he got on the bed“Do you feel better?” he asked after a long awkward silence “Yes,” I said staring at the ceiling “Thank you” I whispered “I didn't do anything Naya,” he said with his voice lowHe did a lot. More than I could ever imagine “You-” I started to say then I turned to see he was fast asleep. He had a rough day.Even in his sleep, he looked disturbed, his brows furrowed together. My hands reached out to his face and smoothe
RYAN I was in my office, the silence heavy around me. The usual buzz of phone calls and business meetings was gone, replaced by an unsettling stillness. I was used to chaos, but today felt different. It was as though the weight of my mistakes had finally caught up with me.I had spent the last few hours trying to calm myself, but all I could think about was how I had failed. Naya had slipped away again, and the cops had ruined everything. I had the perfect plan, but it was all for nothing. How could things go so wrong?The frustration built inside me, a seething pit of anger that I couldn't escape. I had underestimated Leon. And now, I had to face the consequences of my incompetence.As I stared out the window, trying to shake off the sinking feeling in my chest, I heard the soft click of my office door."Mr. Valois, you have a delivery," my secretary said, her voice tentative, as though she knew something was off.I didn't respond right away. I just glanced over my shoulder, irrit
LEONShe was being a hard-headed person. How could she have gone through all that but still insists on staying? I would only bring her more harm and she knew that trying to convince her was just like speaking to a wall she doesn't want to listen.Ryan threatened her to leave or die. They feel she is the reason why I decided to come out to the public eye. They think taking her away would make me return to my shell, as much as they were woefully wrong. I still couldn't let Naya stay around me, I just didn't want to press further before her body needed rest.Seeing her wounded and bruised broke me in many ways I never thought, I felt like ripping my heart out. It hurt so bad that I couldn't hold back my tears which felt very foreign even to me.I soft knock came on the door before it opened up slightly revealing Nick. He didn't say a word before I rolled out to meet him.“Did they find fingerprints on the gun?” I asked him. A gun was found on the scene which Nick carefully hid before the