Once she thought, maybe, just maybe there was a chance to be reborn, she would want to be with some people who genuinely love her. Maybe in another universe, she will extend her arms to ask for help and someone will help her without making her guilty. She doesn't know how God controls a person's life and fate. But sitting here, right next to the Man who suddenly popped up in her life, telling her that he was concerned about her if knowing the truth, she became overwhelmed and stressed. Why does someone like him, who has been there for her, who didn't ask anything from her, who didn't even reschedule to meet his parents even though it was her first task as his wife because he didn't want her to face their wrath now keeps worrying about it? She doesn't know why... ** I have moved on!** She signs, ** Troy is nothing but a dark past that I want to remove from my life entirely! So you didn't have to do anything. But - Is Grace involved with this?** She asks since Damien hasn't m
Working hard on the dream to make it happen, dealing with thousands of nights, empty stomachs, thousands of strokes, revisions, readjust, tears, pain has never been easy to deal with. Some people are talented, have creative minds, have a strong focus and concentration, some people are lucky, have good imagination and excellent skills to achieve their dreams. But some people who keep staring at the blank white sheet, tears flowing, questioning themselves - Why? Why can't I do something better? Why can't I think of something beautiful? Why can't I be like others? Each question is like stabs to their own hearts. They keep working hard, they keep working more than twice that an average person does. Yet, at the end of the day, they know - It doesn't matter. Grace has been keeping herself shut since that day the cops called her for interrogations. Damien was supportive enough to let her have her own explanation. She was scared, she was terrified of everything. She shouldn't hav
Four of them lie down on the floor, covered with paints, filled with laughter and heavy breath. It was fun, the best moment after all the things that have happened between them. ** So-!** Eunice raises her hands, getting everyone's attention, ** Gracie!!! You should have directly come to us where things happened , you know?** She turns, glancing at Grace who takes a deep breath. ** I was scared!** She says, her voice trembling. ** Idiot!!! We are friends - No, We are family! You should come to us without any hesitation. Good or bad, you are ours!** Sarah pinches her cheeks, making Grace laugh. ** I apologize! I didn't think that I should share my problems with you. You all have been holding so much for yourself!** Grace says, hugging Carol. Carol pats her head, looking at Katie who is busy with making circles on the floor, ** Don't you think that we should just move on? Those bastards will be in jail.** Carol adds, trying to change the depressing subject. ** That's true!** Ka
Carol's friends see her off since she has to drive to another city. Eunice grabs her helmet before looking at her girls who are enjoying the time, " We shouldn't have mentioned how fast their relationship is improving. Maybe Damien wants to accept her as a real wife. You don't have any idea how much he was worried about her!" Everyone remains silent. Deep down they know that they shouldn't have mentioned it before Carol who looked happy and beaming. At least she doesn't have any depression thanks to this sudden marriage. " That's true. Let's see what happens. Carol is strongest amongst us. She will be able to handle her own business!" " That's right. But Should we apologize?" Grace asks feeling concerned. " No!" Eunice puts the helmet on. " She will think we were serious about it!" ________ Carol arrives at home at 5 pm. Throughout the day, she didn't get message from Damien and she quite forgot to let him know by herself that she is returning. Sometimes the thought of
Damien clenches his fist, his gaze burning into Jay, who stands before him with his head bowed. “Lucy did this?” “Yes, Master.” “And when,” Damien growls, his voice dangerously low, “did I give her the audacity to do whatever the hell she wants in my house?” The room falls into stunned silence. Even the butler, who has served Damien for years, shifts uneasily. Damien has always treated Lucy like a sister, granting her every wish without hesitation. But now, seeing the cold fury simmering in his expression, everyone stands frozen, unsure how to react. “Bring her here,” Damien commands, his voice sharp and final. Everyone exchanges anxious glances, realizing the situation has spiraled out of their control. They thought the issue could be fixed before it escalated, but Carol’s return—and Damien’s unexpected involvement—has shattered that hope. After a few hesitant looks, the group turns to the butler for guidance. He is Damien’s most trusted right hand, and they cling to
Alex walks downstairs with a gloomy and cold expression, giving away the fuming rage he is feeling. Jay and others hurry to approach him. Their stretched out face twitches more with tension when Alex takes a glance at Carol and Damien. " What happened? Did she really take it? She didn't right? We know Lucy. She will never do something disgusting like this!" Everyone agrees with Jay who looks desperate to clear her name. However, Alex's dark expression has given away the truth that they're scared of. " She did?" Jay mumbles, forming his fingers into a clench. Lucy has been the apple of everyone's eyes. Since they've been together, living under the same roof as family, Lucy is an inseparable part of this family. They know each other well, so this doesn't make any sense. They were shocked when she started going crazy and destroying things. But they couldn't do anything because it felt so bad for her to see her distress. " Maybe - Maybe she... She just -!" " She stole it. N
" Master! What are you going to do with Lucy? It's unexpected but... She has gone through a lot." Alex stands next to Damien who is working in his study. He asks, looking indifferent but the frown creases his brows in tension. Lucy has always been a soft spot for everyone. But this incident is unexpectedly creating the holes. The sound of fingers hitting the keys, the sharp unbothered subtle noise of AC comes between them. Damien is silent, serious and unconcerned about what he will do with Lucy. Alex says nothing after that. When Damien doesn't think It's important enough to think about it, he will never talk about it. That makes Alex more scared. If Damien has already decided what he will do with Lucy, there is no force in the world that can actually change his mind. Time passes, the noise of the fingertips hitting the keys, soft breath of Damien, Alex standing silently behind him remains the same. But the tranquility of the room has been disrupted by the door slammed ope
This is the very first time, Carol enters Damien's room. Despite having her room next to his, they both respected each other's personal space. However as soon as she enters the room, her expression changes entirely. Her jaw drops. Their rooms are opposite. When her room is cozy and warm, mostly bright and shiny... Damien's room is an entirely authentic masculine haven. She observes every inch of the room. The room feels calm and stylish, with deep gray and black colors. The walls are a soft charcoal gray, adding warmth without making it too dark. A low, black bed rests against the wall, covered with gray blankets and a few soft pillows. A tall black lamp in the corner spreads a cozy, gentle light. Next to a large window with the garden view. Even the wooden desk, chair and rocking chair everything is black. Two abstract paintings in black and white hang above the bed, giving the room a bit of character without being too bold. Every detail feels simple but thoughtfully placed.
It’s late evening, and the house is quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. Everyone left except Carol. She just put Aria in her bed after a long day. Carol is curled up on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, catching up on the day’s events. The soft glow from the screen lights up her face, and she can’t help but smile as she reads a message from her best friend, Eunice. After what felt like a long stretch of tension and uncertainty, Eunice and James have decided to try again—James is back, and it seems like they’re working things out. Carol’s heart swells with happiness for her friend. Just as she leans back, stretching her legs on the couch, the front door opens, and Damien walks in. His shoulders are hunched, his tie slightly loosened, and he looks exhausted. The stress from his day is evident, and he doesn’t even bother to take off his shoes before walking towards the living room. Carol raises an eyebrow, putting her phone down and watching
Aria sits quietly on the couch, her little body curled up into a ball, her plush carrot tightly held against her chest. Her small face is scrunched up, a mixture of confusion and sadness overtaking her usual lively demeanor. She can’t stop thinking about what happened with Julian earlier, and it's hurting her innocence heart more than she’s willing to admit. She is confused why Julian wants to play with someone else when she is playing with him. Damien, noticing his daughter’s silence, looks over at her from the kitchen, where he’s sipping his coffee. His heart clenches at the sight of her pouting face. Aria usually bounces around the house with boundless energy, but today, she’s a shell of her usual self. He places the mug down on the counter and walks over to her. “Hey, kiddo,” he says softly, sitting beside her on the couch. He gently pulls her onto his lap, his big hands rubbing circles on her back as he tries to comfort her. “What’s wrong, princess? Why the long face?” Aria d
The apartment is filled with the sound of the faint rustling of clothes and the occasional thud of a box being moved around. It’s quiet in a way that feels almost suffocating, the air thick with the unspoken tension that has been building for weeks. Since James hasn't been in his company, I couldn't ignore the situation. He wants to stay a few days to travel around the city. However, he has been getting lots of calls from his assistant. I can't let him slack off all day like a lazy ass. I sit cross-legged on the bed, staring at the half-packed suitcase in front of me, my fingers mindlessly folding the clothes I’ve laid out. My thoughts are a jumbled mess, as usual, filled with a thousand things—mostly about what’s coming next, about leaving and starting over, about the future that feels uncertain. But there’s one constant. One person. James. I can feel him watching me from across the room, where he’s leaned lazily against the dresser, arms crossed, his gaze locked onto me
Although I couldn't secure a position in the American branch of my company, for our best interests, James has asked me to work for him in his company. Although it's a new company, Damien has been helping him with lots of projects. We will leave soon. I have resigned my position. The bar is alive with music, the low hum of conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter as glasses clink together in celebration. The air is thick with the scent of alcohol, fried food, and something bittersweet that lingers beneath it all—farewells. My farewell. I should be celebrating. This is my night, after all. A send-off from colleagues who’ve become friends, from a place that’s been my home for years. A place I fought to leave, worked tirelessly to outgrow. But as I sit at the bar, nursing my fourth—or maybe fifth?—drink, there’s a hollow feeling settling deep inside me, like something slipping through my fingers no matter how tightly I try to hold on. Maybe because I acknowledged th
The apartment is unbearably quiet. I sit curled up on the couch, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. The only sound is the faint hum of the refrigerator, but even that feels distant—like the world outside this room no longer exists. James’s message from last night is still on my phone, the words burning into my mind. "Staying at a hotel tonight. Don’t wait up."He didn’t call. Didn’t ask to talk. Didn’t even ask why. I clutch the blanket around me, my fingers tightening in the fabric. The weight in my chest is suffocating, pressing down like a stone. Sleep never came, only hours of staring at the walls, thinking about the moment he found that ticket—how his expression darkened, how he left without another word. He knows. And I hurt him. The sky outside turns from black to gray, signaling morning, but it doesn’t bring relief. The ache in my chest only deepens. I can’t sit in this silence any longer. My hands tremble as I pick up my phone and d
Eunice, The morning sunlight drapes across the living room, casting a golden warmth over the space. Everything feels too still, too peaceful, as if the world itself is oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. James moves around the kitchen with ease, sleeves rolled up, flipping pancakes like it’s second nature. I watch him, mesmerized by the way he hums under his breath, his presence so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. It should be comforting—this domesticity, this quiet moment between us. But instead, my chest tightens, because I know that soon, everything will change. Since we have returned home, I have been fighting with myself for a decision that I thought was simple a month ago. However, his appearance, me falling in love with him again made that simple decision one of the hardest decisions ever. I haven’t told him yet. “You’re staring,” James teases, his voice smooth, pulling me out of my thoughts. He glances over his shoulder, flashing that boyish grin that u
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