**I don’t know what you’re talking about!** Damien tries to deny it, seeming unaware that this only makes things harder for her.**So… someone else kissed me last night?**Damien’s eyebrows lift in surprise, but he remains silent. She tries to search for an answer in his eyes and meet with coldness and indifference. She sighs deeply.There’s no reason to misunderstand or hide the truth. They’re legally married and allow certain liberties with each other. She has already told him that he is allowed to ask for certain rights as a husband. However, Carol has made it clear she doesn’t want third parties complicating their relationship.Yet, things between them have escalated to an unbearable level of confusion.Carol, observant and perceptive, detects a hint of guilt in his eyes. She decides to stop overthinking. Maybe she kissed him, and he’s simply too embarrassed to admit it. Or maybe—Her eyes shift to Lucy, standing behind them, completely unapologetic after pulling her into the poo
**You betrayed me?** Carol’s hands tremble as she signs the words, her gaze locked onto Damien. He looks… different now, like someone she barely recognizes. The man she once trusted feels like a stranger before her eyes. The silence between them is heavy, suffocating. Carol waits, heart pounding, as his cold expression pierces her. She feels the regret beginning to gnaw at her heart. Finally, she lets the question she’s been dreading slip out, her fingers moving hesitantly, signing, **How long have you known me? Did… did you know me before our wedding?** Damien's jaw tightens. His eyes shift to the floor, avoiding hers. Carol’s heart sinks deeper, and it’s as if the floor beneath her is crumbling away. **So, it’s true…** she signs, heartbroken. This isn’t a misunderstanding. Those people were telling her the truth. He knew her before the wedding! Every cherished memory, every quiet, shared moment—it all feels like a lie, unraveling thread by thread. She steps back, clutching her
**This ring belonged to my great-grandmother,** Carol signs, gently tracing the diamond’s surface. Damien, holding her close, smiles and kisses her knuckles.**Should I buy a matching ring?** he signs.**Really? That would be perfect! Let me buy it for you... for my husband!** she grins.Her husband! Damien grins and nods, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder, making Carol blush. His eyes are intense and she can't keep looking at him for a few seconds. ** I am looking forward to it!**Carol nods shyly. He’s such a gentleman.She turns, resting her head on his chest. Next to his broad frame, she feels tiny. She’d been surprised to notice his defined abs; he’s clearly dedicated to staying fit.She gently rubs his abs while staring at his legs. She wants to touch his legs but somehow hesitates. She wants to take things slowly. Not too rush or becoming too personal. After all, the heartbreak and betrayal of love has been a fresh wound that has started healing recently. She doesn't want t
** I will be back as soon as possible.** Damien gives a warm peck on her forehead, before leaving the house with James. He has to go to the Art exhibition with his parents and certainly she can't tag along with him for obvious reasons that he has been telling her since the first day. Carol hasn't protested as well. After all, she has to meet her Doc today since she has been taking regular therapy. She waves her hand, watching the car leaving the house. It's not like she never watched Troy leaving. However, she doesn't know whether it's because of her medical condition or something else, her heart keeps pounding against her chest every time she touches Damien or he shows affection. She loves him. She is aware of this but somehow she can't look at him without blushing at all. 'It's disappointing that we can't share a good weekend together! Ugh! Whatever. I need to prepare for my therapy.' She heads inside the house, feeling a bit lonely. ' Should I really get that treatmen
Sitting in her doctor’s office, Carol sends a picture to her friends’ group chat.Eunice, who’s been buried in work, glances at her phone. They've been trying to get together for ages, so she's eager to see what Carol’s sent.But as soon as they look at the picture, instead of sending heart reactions, Eunice calls Carol on a group video chat, and Sarah, Katie, and Grace join within seconds.**What is this, sweetheart?** Eunice signs.**This isn’t real, is it?** Sarah exclaims, her eyes wide with excitement and disbelief.**Are you serious?** Grace’s eyes sparkle as she asks.**Let her talk, you guys!** Katie signs with a sigh, watching them all act like excited teenagers.Blushing, Carol nods, **Yes, it’s real! He wants us to be official, so… we are official now!**Carol shows the ring, her cheeks flushing as she stares at her hand. It looks beautiful on her finger, carrying a new, precious meaning.**Wow, that was fast!** Katie grins. **What about throwing a party to celebrate?****T
Sitting in the quiet of her parked car, Carol feels her hands trembling as she clutches her phone. Her mind spins, flooded with memories she can't quite piece together. They begin with flashes of her parents’ cold words and harsh voices, memories that evoke a deep sadness she’s carried her whole life. She recalls herself as a small girl, clutching a stuffed toy behind a rocking chair, tears silently streaming down her face. But everything beyond that? It’s all a fog.Then, there are memories she can picture more vividly—terrifying, murky images of herself underwater, flailing as she saw her mother and stepfather standing on the shore, laughing. But when she tries to recall when, where, or why these things happened, the edges blur. She can’t seem to connect the dots, to pull the fragmented images into a single, coherent story.Outside the doctor’s office, she sits for a while, unable to start the car. In the aftermath of the visit, she can’t shake the fear bubbling up inside her. Is sh
Carol waits for Brianna for a while but she never comes. Damien isn't available to talk either since he is in an exhibition. Almost two hours passes by Brianna doesn't reply or comes to the café. Feeling a bit impatient, she sends another message but this time Brianna doesn't read the message. Carol sighs deeply, feeling a bit lost. She has been dealing with the things that she can't bear. But God never gives people something that is unbearable. Carol's frown between her brows deepens, realizing that Brianna is ignoring her. ' I shouldn't have mentioned it beforehand. Uhh! Now I miss Damien!' She rests her head on the table while thinking about Damien. It feels refreshing. Thinking that whatever It is, fake, false or imagination, Damien's present has made everything better. She takes another glance at her phone. Clearly Brianna is ignoring her message. She stands up, deciding whether she should leave or not. But her attention goes to the diamond jewelry shop. A famous br
The usual normal days return soon. Carol is expected to return to the company for work, and Damien has been acting giddy since morning. She applies a bit of lip gloss, trying to look her best. Ever since she started physical therapy and other treatments, she looks a bit tired. Since she has no intention of telling Damien about her medical situation to avoid adding more stress, she focuses on perfecting her appearance with makeup. Her effort to present her best self to Damien outweighs even her desire to keep her struggles hidden. After giving herself a satisfied smile, she walks downstairs. Whether it’s reality or a memory, whether she is mentally unstable or not, right now, she is happy to have Damien in her life. If it is a memory, she would rather never wake up. She could continue living in this dream. She grabs the ring box as well. Last night, she couldn’t give it to him. Before she remembered, she had fallen asleep in his embrace like a little baby. His arms feel warm, pro
With a long-suffering sigh, he nods. “Fine. I promise.” Aria beams, hugging him tightly. “Yay! My Julie forever!” Irene smirks, crossing her arms. “We’ll see about that.” Julian groans, rubbing his temples as Aria and Irene continue their tug-of-war over him. He has had enough. “Can you both just stop?!” He snaps finally, his patience finally breaking and wearing off. Especially to Aria who is clinging onto him like a slime. Silence falls. Aria blinks, her grip on his shirt loosening. “J-Julie…?” Her voice is small, uncertain. Julian exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Irene, you always mess with me and now her, and Aria, you act like a spoiled kid whenever I talk to anyone else!” His voice is firm, frustrated. “I can be friends with other people! You don’t own me, Aria!” His sharp cold eyes shudders Aria who looks confused with Julian's cold and indifferent gaze. The room suddenly feels too quiet. Aria’s fingers tremble as she stares at him,
Julian narrows his eyes before walking towards the door, " What's their name!?" He asks. " Julie! You got friends. What about me?" She follows him hugging her plush. " I don't know her name but she is here to play with you!" Julian walks downstairs while Aria skips the staircases one after one. " Why do you have friends? I don't have friends. I want to be friends with your friend!" She keeps whining while running towards Julian. " Hi! Julian!" A girl wearing a beautiful dress shyly waves her hand. " I am here to play." " Irene! Why are you here?" Julian asks, frowning a bit. " To play -!" Julian barely takes two steps forward before Aria latches onto his arm, her plush carrot squeezed against her chest like a battle shield. Her big, round eyes lock onto the girl standing before them, her lips pursed in a deep frown. Irene blinks, then smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is this your little sister, Julian?” Aria gasps dramatically, releasing Julian just to s
Two days ago, Julian told her that he hated her for touching his homework. Now she is yet to get over from that shock. Julian barely stirs under the warmth of his blanket, his face half-buried in his pillow. The room is quiet except for the faint rustling of fabric as he tries to sink deeper into sleep. But Aria stands frozen at his bedside, her tiny fists clenched, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "He said he hates me…" Her lips tremble, but not from sadness—from determination. She knows Julian better than anyone. He can say all he wants, but the moment she starts crying, he’ll melt like an ice cream cone in the sun. Taking a deep breath, she clenches her plush carrot and prepares for battle. She sniffs. Loudly. A little whimper escapes her lips, followed by another dramatic sniff. Then, with precise control, her lower lip wobbles as she blinks rapidly, allowing fat, glistening tears to pool in her big eyes. Julian shifts slightly under the blanket. She s
The ending of the vacation is coming soon. Throughout the days with James, everything starts feeling like before. His warmth, his flirtatious tease and sometimes stealing glances, it makes her heart more warm. At some point, I have started worrying about the matter of me transferring to Australia. I haven't told him about it. Not yet. I am not ready for this. The farmhouse is quiet, the night settling over us like a warm, comforting blanket. Outside, the crickets sing softly, their rhythmic melody blending with the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. The silver light of the moon streams in through the sheer curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring down at my hands, unsure of what to do next. My heart feels like it’s carrying too many emotions all at once—excitement, fear, longing, and something I can’t quite name yet. James is sitting on the small armchair by the window, his gaze fixed on me. The weight of his eyes is almost unbearab
The morning air is crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers as I step out onto the porch. The mountains loom in the distance, their peaks kissed by soft streaks of sunlight. For a moment, I let the tranquility wash over me, the weight in my chest easing ever so slightly. “You ready?” James’s voice startles me, and I turn to see him standing behind me, a lopsided grin on his face and a woven basket in his hand. He’s wearing a loose white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the sunlight makes his hair look almost golden. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, brushing past him toward the dirt path leading to the fields. We’re harvesting watermelons today. Margaret had asked us last night, her kind eyes twinkling with excitement as she explained that the ripe melons were waiting just beyond the river near the base of the mountain. James falls into step beside me, his strides easy and unhurried. “Do you think you’ll manage to carry a watermelon all the w
And, he tagged along...The hum of the plane’s engine fills the quiet space as I glance out the window, watching the horizon shift from fiery orange to muted pinks and purples. The first-class seat feels too large, yet somehow suffocating. I didn’t even want to be here with him. James, sitting beside me, stretches his legs, his presence filling the space like an anchor I can’t seem to escape. He taps his fingers rhythmically on the armrest, his gaze fixed ahead. “How are you feeling?” he asks, his voice soft but insistent, like he’s trying to sound casual. I keep my eyes on the clouds. “Fine.” “You’ve been quiet,” he presses. I let out a sigh. “What do you expect me to say, James? You weren’t supposed to be here.” He shifts in his seat to face me. “And yet here I am.” His voice carries that infuriating confidence that used to make me swoon—but now it only grates. I don’t reply, turning my attention back to the window. James doesn’t let the silence linger. “Eunice, I ju
Eunice, The hum of activity fills the office as I sit at my desk, tapping away at my tablet. My messages with James flicker on the screen, a mixture of casual banter and the occasional helpful advice about a recipe. He’s been staying with me for a while now, and honestly, he’s taken over my small apartment like it’s his. Cooking, cleaning, rearranging things—I can’t decide if it’s annoying or a blessing. How did I let him get so comfortable? “Hm? Bed and breakfast? How lucky!” Lea’s teasing tone pulls me out of my thoughts. I glance up just in time to see her leaning over my shoulder, her mischievous grin wide as she peers at my messages. I immediately turn the screen off, rolling my eyes. “Stop staring at other people’s messages! It’s nothing.” Lea smirks, unbothered by my annoyance, and pulls up a chair beside me. “Not ‘other people.’ My dearest colleague. Who, by the way, is leaving us soon. Got a boyfriend who’s tagging along, hmm?” I shake my head, gripping the tablet t
The sun streams through the large bay window of the living room, painting everything in a soft, golden glow. Aria is perched on the floor, her legs folded under her as she busily colors in her sketchbook. Her curly brown hair bounces every time she hums to herself—a random melody she makes up on the spot. Julian, sitting cross-legged a few feet away, is flipping through a book about dinosaurs, though his focus wavers. Aria’s humming is getting louder. He glances up from his book, arching an eyebrow. “Aria, what are you so happy about?” he finally asks, setting the book down on the coffee table. “You’ll never guess what!” she declares, her brown eyes wide with excitement. Julian raises an eyebrow, setting his book aside. “You found a unicorn in the backyard?” “No!” she giggles, shaking her head. “You finally learned how to fly?” he guesses again, his tone teasing. “Ugh! You are a bully, Julian!” She pouts, crossing her arms in mock annoyance. Julian smirks. “Okay, fine.
Carol sits on the edge of the desk, her hand still loosely gripping Damien's collar. She studies his face—the soft curve of his smirk, the playful glint in his eyes, and the way his hair falls slightly over his forehead. He always has this maddening ability to disarm her with a single look, as if he holds all the cards to a game she doesn’t even realize she’s playing. “Damien,” she begins, her voice softening just a touch. “We’ve talked about this. Another baby is a big commitment.” He leans in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he murmurs, “You mean the best kind of commitment.” His hands find their way to her waist, gently pulling her closer. “Besides, you already handle everything so perfectly. I know you can handle another little one running around.” Carol groans and leans back slightly to look at him, her brow furrowed. “Perfectly? Have you seen our daughter? She’s practically glued to me 24/7. I can’t even finish a cup of coffee without her demanding something or