LIANA As I made my way through the bustling office during lunchtime, the events of the morning still weighed heavily on my mind. I noticed that James took a half-day leave after my ultimatum. Serves him right! Let him struggle now. As I approached the break room, Lara intercepted me with a bright smile. "Hey, Liana! Want to grab lunch together?" she chirped, her voice filled with warmth. If I was the previous Liana, I would have never guessed that it was all fake. But now I know. "Thanks, Lara, but I'm going to eat with Sara and Kiara today," I replied, my tone polite but distant. Lara's smile faltered slightly. "Oh, okay. Then maybe next time." With a nod of farewell, I made my way to the table where Sara and Kiara were already seated. “Why are you still talking politely to that Lara?” Sara grumbled. “I hate her, ugh.” “I know, right? She deserves to rot in hell,” Kiara added. I smiled at their words. Is that how actual friends behave? Combinedly hate one person even t
LIANA “Why? What's on the office page? And why is our boss on the office page in the first place?” I furrowed my eyebrows. Zaylen twitched his lips. “Jordan showed me.” “Jordan needs to be kicked out of the page then. He's a spy, spilling all the tea to our boss,” I retorted as I took out my phone to check the forum. He chuckled. “He will find a way to creep his way back in. He is extremely resourceful.” “I expect no less. He's our scary boss's assistant—” I paused the moment I saw the latest post about a cheating story about two colleagues from the marketing department from an anonymous person. A gasp escaped my lips as I read the post. It cleared up everything that Lara used to spread lies about me too. Although names were not explicitly mentioned, everyone guessed the people involved anyway, and it was the latest tea of the office. Oh, my God. Who made it public? Sara and Kiara! Of course! “It must have those two,” I grumbled, feeling steam coming out of my ears. “W
LIANAI couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief as Sara, Kiara, and I sat down for lunch, the events of the previous day still fresh in my mind. "You guys are crazy," I chuckled, shaking my head incredulously, "I can't believe you went and aired everything out on the office page like that. Talk about exposing Lara and clearing my name in one fell swoop." Sara grinned mischievously, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Well, desperate times call for desperate measures," she replied, her tone light with satisfaction, "and Lara had it coming." Kiara nodded in agreement, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, she can't just go around spreading lies about you without consequences," she added, her voice tinged with satisfaction. But our laughter was short-lived, as the atmosphere suddenly shifted with Lara's sudden arrival. She stormed over to our table, her face flushed with anger as she launched into a tirade. "How could you do this, Liana?" she yelled, her voice echoin
LIANA As I was getting ready for the day ahead, my phone buzzed with a text message from Zaylen. Curiosity piqued, I opened the message to find an unexpected invitation. Zaylen: Hey, Liana. Do you want to meet for breakfast? I want to talk to you about Lara's background and what James has been up to. A surge of intrigue coursed through me at his words, curiosity mingling with apprehension as I considered his proposition. He said he was going to investigate Lara since her background was unknown, but what did he find about James that needs to be urgently discussed? After a moment of hesitation, I quickly typed out a reply. Liana: Sure, Zaylen. Zaylen: Great. See you at the café. I read his text again with a smile, forgetting about my worries for the moment. He was so caring and considerate. The thought of spending time with him outside of office filled me with a sense of anticipation that I couldn't quite shake. I couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to Zayle
LIANA “He bought his current apartment and car,” Zaylen stated. I buried my face in my hands as I bit my bottom lip, unable to digest the words. My entire body was boiling with anger. “Not only was he cheating on me, he was using me for money too?” “I am so sorry, Liana. You deserved so much better,” he mumbled, his tone laced with sympathy. “I thought I was going to take my time making James suffer throughout the month as he struggled to put together the money before the deadline, but now,” I put down my hands from my face as a look of determination and conviction took over my expressions, “I am going to give him a serious blow that he will be unable to recover from.” Zaylen couldn't help but smile, a look of pride on his face. “I am glad you are not breaking down over this.” “Gone are the days that I will have a breakdown because of that asshole,” I spat out. “The only thing he deserves is my wrath. At first, I was just going to make him suffer with the loan, but now, I am goin
LIANA Just as I was about to walk away, someone grabbed my wrist, stopping me. My heart pounded in my chest as James's grip tightened around my wrist, his words laced with venom as he spat them out in a tirade of anger and resentment. "Who the fuck do you think you are?" he snarled, his voice rising with each word, "just because you have money, do you think you can talk to me like that?” “I knew it. You always looked down on me because you have got your rich daddy's money in your bank account, don't you?” he spat out, his eyes a little psychotic. I winced as his fingers dug into my skin, pain shooting through me with each harsh tug. "Let go of me, James," I demanded, my voice trembling with defiance. “You think you can talk to me like this just because you gave me some money and I made a mistake? I am not your servant who will just take down whatever you say to me.” “What you did was not a mistake.” I glared at him. “And I am only asking you to return what I rightfully deserve to
LIANA I saw that James was fuming in anger as he left the place. My Gosh! That was so humiliating for him. Getting fired in front of everyone without a written notice? Well, he deserved that. I wasn’t feeling sorry for him at all. Zaylen turned to me and asked, “Are you okay? Did James hurt you?” I saw that his eyes were filled with concern, making my heart skip a beat. However, I assured him, “I am okay.” “Your hand…” He looked down at the bruise caused by James. “Oh, this? It doesn't hurt. It just looks a little red right now, but it will be okay soon. Don't worry.” He hummed, not looking satisfied. “Put some cream on it, though.” “Okay!” I turned to Sara, who was now sitting on a chair. “How are you feeling?” I asked her. Sara groaned. “I thought I was okay and didn't get any injuries, but now, I think I got a sprain on my ankle. It sucks, but apart from that, I am perfectly fine.” Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes as I looked at Sara. I bent to her and pulled
LIANA I was working when Lara approached me, ruining my work aura. I glanced at her tear-stricken face. “What happened?” I ended up asking. “I had no idea James was like that. I am so sorry, Liana,” she started, with tears in her eyes falling continuously, “If I knew he was such a jerk, I would have never hurt you. I swear on our friendship.” I put on a tight-lipped smile. Friendship? Did it even exist? It was only manipulation, lies, and deceit. Why did you do that, Lara? What were your reasons to stick by my side for so long if you hated me this much? I wish I could confront her directly. But I had to be patient. Speaking of patience, I had none left to deal with her right now. James sucked up all my patience for the day. So I brushed past Lara and went to Zaylen’s cabin. “Come in,” came his voice. I stepped in and he glanced at me from head to toe before arching an eyebrow, “What’s wrong?” After mustering enough courage, I finally asked, “Zaylen, do you mind if I take th
LIANAThe morning sun poured through the curtains, casting a gentle light across our bedroom. I woke up to the soft, familiar hum of the world outside, the sound of birds chirping in the distance. I turned to see Zaylen sleeping beside me, his face relaxed in peaceful slumber. The sight of him always filled me with a profound sense of contentment and love.I stretched, carefully sliding out of bed to avoid waking him. Today wasn’t just any day—it was a day I had looked forward to for a long time. The house was still, the calm before the storm of our bustling family life. I tiptoed down the hallway, my heart swelling with excitement as I made my way to the nursery.Our twins had brought a new kind of joy into our lives, their arrival a culmination of love and anticipation. The nursery was painted in soft pastel colors, with a cozy crib in the corner and shelves lined with toys and books. The gentle hum of the white noise machine filled the room, blending with the soft sunlight filte
LIANA It was mid-morning, and the office was bustling with the usual activity. The gentle hum of conversation and the clacking of keyboards filled the air, but I could barely focus on anything other than the growing discomfort and irritability that had become a constant companion over the past few weeks. I sat at my desk, my fingers drumming impatiently on the surface. The pile of paperwork before me seemed to mock my inability to concentrate. I sighed heavily, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. Zaylen, ever observant, noticed my agitation from his office. He appeared at my desk, a look of concern etched on his face. “Hey, baby. How’s it going?” I glanced up, trying to muster a polite smile. “Just peachy,” I said, though the words were more of a snarl than anything else. “If you consider battling an insurm
LIANA The next few days, I couldn’t shake a strange feeling. I was more tired than usual, and the scent of coffee, which I normally loved, was suddenly making me nauseous. Sara noticed my discomfort. “Liana, are you feeling okay?” she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. “I’m fine, just a bit tired” I replied, trying to brush it off. “Been feeling nauseous and my head is pounding these last few days.” Sara gave me a knowing look. “Maybe you should take a pregnancy test.” I blinked, surprised by her suggestion. “A pregnancy test?” She nodded. “There might be a possibility.” The idea was both thrilling and terrifying. Could it be possible? I decided to take Sara’s advice to heart. During my lunch break, I headed to the pharmacy just a few blocks away. The fluorescent lights and the hum of the store seemed unusually bright as I picked out a pregnancy test kit. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety as I made my way back to the office, clutchin
LIANAThe past few months had flown by in a blissful haze. Our honeymoon had taken us from the Maldives to the enchanting streets of Paris, and finally, to the serene countryside of Tuscany. Each day had been filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments. But now, it was back to reality—our reality, where Zaylen and I were not only husband and wife but also Alpha and Luna, and for the time being, colleagues.I walked into the office, the familiar scent of coffee and paper filling the air. As I made my way to my desk, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with nerves. This was our first day back after the long honeymoon, and though I was eager to dive back into work, I couldn’t ignore the butterflies in my stomach.Zaylen’s office door was slightly ajar, and as I passed by, I saw him sitting behind his desk, engrossed in a document. He looked up, catching my eye, and a slow, mischievous smile spread across his face.“Good morning, my Luna,” he called out, his
LIANAThe following morning, we decided to explore more of the city. After a quick breakfast, we set off to visit the Louvre Museum. As we walked through the grand halls, admiring the masterpieces, Zaylen kept me close, his hand never leaving mine."Look at this one," he said, pointing to a painting. "Doesn't it remind you of one of our dates?"“The one we had just before you proposed to me?” I asked to be sure. As he nodded, I laughed, remembering that endearing evening. "It does. We have come a long way, haven't we?""We have," he agreed, his eyes softening as he looked at me. "And I wouldn't change a thing."We continued our tour, losing ourselves in the beauty of the art and the history that surrounded us. As we exited the museum, we found a street vendor selling crepes. Zaylen insisted on buying one for each of us, and we sat on a nearby bench, enjoying the sweet treat."These are delicious," I said, licking a bit of Nutella from my fingers."Almost as sweet as you," Zaylen tea
LIANAThe Eiffel Tower stood tall and majestic against the twilight sky, its twinkling lights casting a romantic glow over the city of Paris. I marveled at the sight, my heart swelling with awe and excitement. Our long honeymoon had brought us from the tropical paradise of the Maldives to the enchanting streets of Paris, and I couldn't have been happier.Zaylen and I strolled hand in hand along the Seine River, the soft murmur of French conversations and the distant sound of street musicians creating a magical atmosphere. He looked dashing in a tailored suit, and I felt like a princess in my flowing dress."Isn't this beautiful?" I sighed, leaning my head on his shoulder."It is," he agreed, pressing a kiss to my temple. "But not as beautiful as you."I blushed, my heart fluttering at his words. "Always the charmer.""For you, always," he replied with a playful wink.As we walked, we passed a quaint café with outdoor seating. Zaylen tugged me toward it. "How about a little dessert?"
LIANAThe soft rustling of palm trees and the rhythmic lapping of waves greeted me as I stepped onto the sunlit balcony. The warm, salty breeze of the Maldives caressed my face, bringing with it a sense of serene contentment I hadn't felt in years. The crystal-clear waters stretched out endlessly, a shimmering expanse of turquoise that promised days of relaxation and intimate moments with Zaylen.I leaned against the railing, closing my eyes and letting the sounds of paradise envelop me. A gentle smile tugged at my lips as I thought of Zaylen still asleep in our villa, the man who had turned my world upside down in the best way possible."Liana?" Zaylen's voice, husky with sleep, reached me, making my heart flutter.I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his dark hair tousled and his eyes still heavy with sleep. He looked so different from the domineering, fierce leader I had first met. Here, he was just Zaylen, my husband, the man I loved with all my heart."Good morning, sle
LIANAToday was the day—the day Zaylen and I would finally stand before our loved ones, pledging our hearts to each other in marriage. The anticipation and excitement in the air were palpable, mingling with the fragrant scents of blooming flowers and the soft rustle of leaves. Our wedding was set against a backdrop of lush greenery, the venue a picturesque garden that seemed to be alive with joy and celebration.The sun shone brightly, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. The ceremony was to be held in a charming outdoor setting, with a floral arch adorned with cascading white roses and delicate greenery. The aisle, lined with white rose petals, led to a beautifully decorated altar where Zaylen and I would exchange our vows.I took a deep breath, feeling the flutter of nervous excitement in my stomach as I prepared to walk down the aisle. Noelle, radiating beauty even with her eight-month baby bump, adjusted her position next to me. She looked stunning in her deep emerald g
LIANAThe morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled light across the campsite. The soft, golden rays glinted off the sparkling surface of the waterfall, creating a mesmerizing display of light and water. The gentle roar of the falls provided a soothing soundtrack as the water cascaded into a clear, shimmering pool below.The campsite, nestled beside this natural wonder, was waking up with the day. The cool, fresh air carried the crisp scent of pine and morning dew. The grass was still damp from the night, and the tents stood slightly crumpled, evidence of a night spent in cozy slumber.Trevor, ever the early riser and mischief-maker, had a gleam in his eye as he set his plan into motion. He crept quietly towards Zaylen, who was enjoying a leisurely breakfast by the fire, unaware of the prank that was about to unfold. Trevor had filled a bucket with water and carefully rigged it to tip over when Zaylen’s chair was moved.I observed from a distance, sipping my