Tris and Anne arrived at the restaurant, looking forward to a relaxing lunch with Chris. As they entered, they spotted Chris already seated at a table, lost in thought. He seemed to be staring off into space, his mind a million miles away.As Tris and Anne approached the table, Chris suddenly snapped out of his reverie, looking startled for a moment before breaking into a warm smile. "Hey, guys!" he exclaimed, standing up to greet them.Tris was enveloped in a warm hug, followed by a gentle kiss on the cheek. Anne, on the other hand, received a friendly smile and a nod before Chris sat back down.The three of them settled in, with Tris sitting beside Chris and Anne sitting across from him. Chris couldn't help but feel a little nervous, his eyes darting towards Anne's face and then quickly looking away. Every time he looked at her, he was reminded of what had happened at her apartment a few days ago."Okay, so what's good here?" Tris asked, perusing the menu. "I've never been to this r
The next morning, Tris woke up feeling miserable. She had a high fever, and her body ached all over. She realized that she must have caught a cold from getting caught in the rain the day before. She hadn't even noticed that the seasons had changed. Tris decided to take the day off from work and rest at home. She was just about to drift off to sleep again when her phone rang. It was Chris, calling to check in on her. "Hey, how are you feeling?" Chris asked, sounding worried. Tris tried to reassure him. "I'm fine, just a little under the weather. I think I'll just take it easy today and go see a doctor later." Chris sounded relieved. "Okay, good. I was worried about you. I'll come over and check on you later, okay?" Tris smiled, feeling grateful for Chris's concern. "That's okay, I'll be fine. You don't have to come over." Chris hesitated for a moment before speaking up again. "Actually, I was thinking of meeting up with Anne today to discuss some stuff." Tris's ears per
Back at the office, Chris was consumed by feelings of guilt towards Tris. He had betrayed her trust, allowing Anne to kiss him not once, but twice. And this time, it was even worse. But as he reflected on the encounter, Chris remembered what Anne had said about Tris and Julian. It seemed that Tris had been keeping secrets from him, and Chris couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to confront Tris about it. Why hadn't Tris ever mentioned Julian to him? What was going on between them? Chris's mind was racing with questions, and he knew he had to get to the bottom of it. He couldn't just sit back and do nothing, not when his relationship with Tris was at stake. Chris took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation that was to come. He would confront Tris about Julian, and he would get the truth out of her, no matter what it took. As the day turned into night, Chris visited his girlfriend, Tris, at her home after work. He found her still pale and weak, but thankfully
That evening, Julian opened the car door, and Tris stepped out, her eyes still puffy from crying. But despite her tear-stained face, she looked stunning in her red dress, which showcased her beautiful back. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, and Julian helped her stand up.As they entered the grand mansion, Tris's father, Ed, looked up and smiled. "Ah, Anna, you're here. And with Julian, no less."Ed's eyes sparkled with amusement as he asked, "So, have you made your decision already?"Tris stood tall, her voice firm. "I didn't come here to ask for your pity or help, dad. I didn't come here to ask you to bail Chris out of his debt."Ed's eyebrows rose, intrigued. "Oh? Then why did you come here, Anna?"Tris's eyes flashed with determination. "I came here to tell you that I'm not going to let Chris's mistakes define me. I'm not going to let him drag me down. I deserve better, dad. And I'm going to make sure I get it."Ed's smile grew wider, and he nodded approvingly. "Ah, Anna. You'
A week had passed since Tris had moved back into her father's mansion, and she was certain that Chris would be looking for her by now. But she was safe here, surrounded by her father's security and luxury.As she stepped out of her bedroom, she was greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast. The staff had already set the table, and she could see Ed and Julian walking in from the backyard, their faces serious and intent.But as soon as they saw Tris, they stopped talking and smiled. Ed gave her a warm "good morning" and Julian greeted her with a charming smile. Tris invited them to join her for breakfast, but Ed declined, saying they had already eaten earlier."You go ahead and enjoy your breakfast, Anna," Ed said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "We have some business to discuss."Julian nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving Tris's face. "Yes, we'll catch up with you later, Anna."Tris watched as they walked away, feeling a sense of curiosity and wonder. What were they
Tris woke up in the middle of the night, her heart racing and her body drenched in sweat. She had had a nightmare, a vivid and disturbing dream that had left her feeling shaken and uneasy. In the dream, she had seen Chris, her former lover, embracing another woman, Anne. The image had been seared into her mind, and Tris couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and hurt that lingered long after she woke up. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and saw that it was still 3 am. The house was quiet, the only sound the distant ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway. Tris threw off the covers and got out of bed, slipping into her robe and tying her hair back into a ponytail. She padded softly out of her room, not wanting to disturb the sleeping servants. The night air was cool and crisp, and Tris breathed deeply, feeling the calmness of the night wash over her. She made her way to the backyard, where a small fire was still burning in the outdoor fireplace. She sat down on
Chris woke up with a start as his alarm blared to life. As he opened his eyes, he was shocked to find Anne sleeping beside him, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. He felt a jolt of panic as he realized that neither of them was wearing any clothes under the blanket, and their clothes were scattered all over the floor. Chris's mind raced as he tried to piece together what had happened the night before. He had been drinking, and Anne had been flirting with him...but he had no memory of them actually sleeping together. Feeling a sense of unease and guilt, Chris carefully extricated himself from Anne's grasp and quickly got out of bed. He gathered up his clothes and hurried into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. As he stood under the cold shower, Chris couldn't shake the feeling of regret and shame. What had he done? He thought about Tris, and how he had promised to wait for her. But now...now he had gone and done something stupid, something that could ruin everything.
As they drove away from Anne's parents' house, Chris turned to Anne with a skeptical expression. "So, the pregnancy thing...that was just a lie, right?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.Anne nodded, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Of course it was," she said. "We've only been together twice, and it's not like I planned it or anything."Chris chuckled and shook his head. "You're something else, Anne," he said.Anne's expression turned serious, and she reached out to take Chris's hand. "I know I didn't think this through before, but after being with you, I know I made the right choice," she said, her voice filled with conviction.Chris smiled and squeezed her hand, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Anne. She was willing to do whatever it took to be with him, and he appreciated that."I'm glad you feel that way," Chris said, looking at Anne with affection. "And I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to make you happy."Anne's face lit up with a bright smile, and she
As Tris walked away from Chris, she felt a sense of closure and a new beginning. She knew that she had finally put the past behind her and was ready to move on with her life. Julian was waiting for her outside, a smile on his face as he saw her approaching. "Hey, how did it go?" he asked, concern etched on his face. Tris smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "It went well," she said. "I forgave him and we both got closure." Julian's face lit up with a warm smile. "I'm so proud of you, baby," he said. "You're an amazing woman." Tris blushed, feeling happy and content. "Thanks, Julian," she said. "I couldn't have done it without you." Julian took her hand, his eyes filled with love and adoration. "You'll never have to do anything alone again, Anna," he said. "I'll always be here for you." Tris smiled, feeling grateful for the love and support Julian had given her. "I know," she said. "And that means everything to me." They walked hand in hand for a while, enjo
As Tris thought about Julian's words, she felt a sudden surge of clarity. She realized that she had been holding onto her anger and resentment towards Chris for far too long."It's not his fault," Tris said to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not his fault that my heart and life fell apart."Tris thought back to the beginning of her relationship with Chris. She had chosen to trust him, to believe in him. And when he had betrayed that trust, she had felt like her whole world had been turned upside down.But as she thought about it now, Tris realized that she had been just as much to blame as Chris. She had chosen to ignore the warning signs, to overlook the red flags. She had chosen to believe in Chris, even when her instincts had told her otherwise."I was just as guilty as he was," Tris said to herself, her voice filled with a newfound understanding. "I chose to trust him, to believe in him. And when he betrayed that trust, I felt like my whole world had been turned u
Just as the tension between Tris and Alex was escalating, Julian appeared out of nowhere, his eyes scanning the scene before him. When he saw Chris, his expression darkened, and he quickly moved to stand behind Tris, his arms wrapping protectively around her. "Anna, what's going on?" Julian asked, his voice low and even. Tris turned to him, her eyes welling up with tears. "It's Chris," she said, her voice shaking. Julian's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Chris. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone cold. Chris held up his hands, a placating expression on his face. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble," he said. "I just wanted to start a new life, away from my family and all the drama." Tris snorted, her eyes flashing with anger. "You expect us to believe that?" she said. Chris sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I know I hurt you, Tris," he said. "But I'm not here to cause any more pain. I just want to move on with my life." Julian's arms tightened around Tris, holding he
Two days had passed since Tris and Julian's romantic night together. But now, Tris was feeling far from romantic. She was feeling weak and lethargic, and she couldn't stop vomiting.At first, Tris had tried to brush it off as exhaustion from taking care of the house. But as the day wore on, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.Julian had been watching her with concern, and he had finally had enough. "Anna, we're going to the hospital," he said, his voice firm.Tris shook her head, trying to protest. "I'm fine, Julian. I just need to rest."But Julian was insistent. "No, Anna. You're not fine. You're vomiting and you have a fever. We need to get you checked out."Tris tried to argue, but Julian was too strong. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out to the car.As they drove to the hospital, Tris couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What if something was seriously wrong with her? What if she was really sick?Julian must have sensed her fear, becau
Tris had spent all afternoon cooking Julian's favorite meal: roasted chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. She had set the table with candles and flowers, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.Just as she was finishing up, Tris heard the sound of the front door opening. Julian was home. She smiled to herself, knowing that he would be pleased with the dinner she had prepared.As Julian walked into the kitchen, Tris's heart skipped a beat. He looked tired and hungry, his eyes scanning the room for food. When he saw the spread on the table, his face lit up with a smile."Wow, Anna, you've outdone yourself," Julian said, his stomach growling with anticipation. "I'm starving."Tris laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. "Not yet, you're not eating yet," she said, teasing him.Julian raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "What do you mean? I'm famished."Tris smiled slyly. "I want you to wait. I want to make this a special night."Julian's eyes narro
Tris stood in the stables, her eyes fixed on Starlight, her beloved horse. She was trying to hold back tears, but they kept streaming down her face. Leaving the mansion, where she had grown up and shared so many memories with her family, was harder than she had anticipated.Julian had refused to let her sell the mansion, insisting that it was a part of her heritage and that she should keep it. He had also promised to keep all the staff employed, so they could continue to take care of the estate and Starlight.Tris was grateful for Julian's thoughtfulness, but it didn't make leaving any easier. She felt like she was abandoning a part of herself, leaving behind the only home she had ever known.As she stroked Starlight's mane, Tris whispered, "Thank you for waiting for me, girl. I'm so sorry I had to leave you for so long."Starlight nickered softly, as if she understood Tris's words. Tris smiled through her tears, feeling a deep connection to her horse."I'll be back, I promise," Tris
Days turned into weeks, and Tris struggled to come to terms with her new reality. She had lost her father, and with him, a part of herself. The grief was overwhelming, and she felt like she was drowning in a sea of sadness.As she wandered around the empty mansion, Tris couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness. She had never felt so alone in her life. Her father was gone, and her mother had been gone for years. She had no siblings, no close relatives. All she had was Julian.And Julian, dear Julian, was trying his best to be there for her. But even his love and support couldn't fill the void in her heart. Tris felt like she was just going through the motions, waiting for the day when she could finally find some peace.The wedding, which was supposed to be a joyous celebration, now felt like a distant obligation. Tris and Julian were supposed to get married in just a week, but Tris couldn't muster up the enthusiasm to care. She felt like she was just pretending to be happy, pretend
The day of Ed's funeral arrived, and Tris was surprised to see a sea of faces gathered to pay their respects. She had always thought that her father was a cold and arrogant man, and that no one would show up to his funeral.But as she looked around, she saw that she was wrong. There were hundreds of people there, all of whom seemed to have been touched by Ed's life in some way. Tris didn't recognize a single face, but it was clear that her father had made a profound impact on the lives of those around him.Tris felt a lump form in her throat as she gazed out at the crowd. She had been so blind to her father's true nature, and now it was too late to make amends.Julian, sensing her distress, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "I'm here for you, Anna," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'll never leave your side."Tris felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, and she leaned into Julian's embrace. She was so glad that he was there to support her thro
As they stepped into Julian's apartment, Tris felt a sense of excitement wash over her. It was as if no time had passed at all, and they were back to where they had left off.Julian smiled, his eyes roving over her face. "You look stunning tonight, Anna," he said, his voice low and husky. "That dress was made for you."Tris blushed, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes locked on his.They stood in the living room, the city lights twinkling outside the window. Julian walked over to the window and pushed it open, allowing the cool night air to sweep in.Tris felt a shiver run down her spine as the breeze caressed her skin. Julian turned to her, his eyes burning with intensity."Come here," he whispered, his voice barely audible.Tris's heart skipped a beat as she walked towards him, her heels clicking on the floor. Julian's eyes never left hers, his gaze drawing her in like a magnet.As she reached him, Julian wrapped his arms around her, pulling her clos