After the call from Alexander, Adrian spent several minutes brooding over the matter, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He was pulled back to reality by Caelia’s voice, her curiosity piqued by his intense reaction.“What was the call about?” she asked, her honey voice breaking through his thoughts as her eyes fixed on him with anticipation.Adrian cleared his throat, masking his emotions with a neutral expression. “Alexander was just updating me about someone from my company,” he replied, returning to his meal with deliberate calm.Caelia wasn’t convinced. She had noticed his reaction when the woman was mentioned and couldn’t shake her suspicions. Adrian was notoriously private, even with his family, who had been frustratingly tight-lipped whenever she inquired about him. Her thoughts whirled as she watched him, wondering who this woman was and what she meant to him. A flicker of jealousy sparked within her as she contemplated the possibility of a romantic connection.“So, is A
In the days following the ominous phone call, Ashleigh didn't receive any more from that number, but the tension lingered, threading its way into every moment. The authorities, informed of the incident, swiftly launched an investigation, focusing on anyone who had been in the vicinity when the call was made. Security protocols were tightened across campus. Students now had to present their IDs before entering faculty buildings or any restricted areas. Security personnel monitored the main entrances and patrolled the grounds, their presence a constant reminder of the threat that loomed. Arthur, Oliver, and Damien were ever vigilant, ensuring Ashleigh was never alone. From the moment she stepped out of her hostel until she returned at night, they were by her side. They tried to trace the phone number, but it proved impossible. Despite their reassurances that the stalker would be caught, Ashleigh couldn't shake the paranoia that gripped her. During her tests, she would glance nervously
Megan stormed into the room, closing the door behind her with a sharp click. She stood there, fists clenched at her sides, her eyes fixed on Ashleigh with an accusatory glare. "What gave you the audacity to call Alexander and tell him what happened to me?" she demanded, her voice taut with anger, her hands planted on her hips. Ashleigh’s gaze swept over Megan from head to toe. There were no visible signs of abuse or distress. Instead, Megan looked healthier than ever—her skin glowed, and looked much better than when she used to stumble in to the room drunk and out of her mind. "Firstly, your fiancé called me, not the other way around. Someone from your family needed to know what happened. Secondly, you look fine—what’s the real problem?" Ashleigh asked, her voice calm but probing. Megan’s eyes flashed with irritation. "The problem," she snapped, "is that you should mind your own business! Like I told you on Saturday, it's my burden to carry, not anyone else's. Now, because of you,
Alana sat in the reserved section of the hall, watching the chaos of the Robinette Bash preparations unfold around her. Decorations were being hastily hung, the DJ was testing sound equipment, and a few seniors scrambled to set up tables near the bar. Her friends surrounded her, caught up in their own conversations about the party, but Alana was far from interested. She had other things on her mind.Alana had been waiting all day to hear about the results of the midterm exams—results that would determine who would represent the university in the global biochemistry competition. She knew she had to be at the top of the list. After all, she had worked harder than anyone and had all the right connections within the faculty. There was no way she could lose.A sudden movement caught her eye, and she turned to see a girl approaching their group, her face partially covered by a cap and mask. It was Lauren, Professor Patel’s assistant, slipping in unnoticed. Alana straightened up, her heart r
A brief silence followed. Cameron was the first to speak. “I’m in. I have a personal bone to pick with that girl. She needs to be shown her real place.”Seeing Cameron’s support, the others slowly nodded in agreement, though the uncertainty in their eyes lingered.“Good,” Alana said, a sharp smile tugging at her lips. “Cameron, I’ll need your help to set everything up.”He nodded, already reaching for his phone to make the necessary calls. Alana’s heart thudded with excitement, her earlier frustration turning into something much darker. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore—it was about reclaiming what was rightfully hers and making sure Ashleigh never stood in her way again.As the evening wore on, the preparations were finalized. Alana’s plan was simple but devastating: they would have one of their accomplices pretend to be the stalker, sending threatening messages to Ashleigh throughout the night. With enough pressure, she would break—and when
The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Music thumped through the air, neon lights pulsed to the beat, and the hall was packed with students dancing, laughing, and drinking. Ashleigh stood at the entrance, momentarily overwhelmed by the chaos. She glanced at the others—they seemed unbothered, immediately diving into the festivities. “Alright, guys, let me introduce you to my friends,” Oliver announced, leading them deeper into the crowd. He grabbed Ashleigh’s hand, pulling her toward a table near the bar where a group of students sat. Upon seeing Oliver, the group erupted in greetings, their faces lighting up. Ashleigh was welcomed with curious glances as they invited them to sit. "Arthurrrr, it’s been too long!" one of the girls slurred, clearly tipsy. She reached across the table to grab his hand, her voice wobbling. Arthur laughed, apologizing with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Sorry! It’s been a crazy few weeks, but I’m here now to turn up!" Before he could say more,
The night was electric with energy. The music blared from the speakers, reverberating through the walls, while the lights flashed in hypnotic patterns, casting the room in vibrant hues. Oliver, Arthur, and Damien were in their element, dancing, laughing, and drinking to their heart's content. For Oliver, this was his natural habitat—he thrived on the chaos and excitement of parties. Arthur and Damien, on the other hand, had been laying low ever since the incident at the club, so tonight felt like a long-overdue release.After what felt like hours on the dance floor, the trio finally retreated to their table, sweating and out of breath. They flopped into their chairs, still buzzing with adrenaline. The others from their group remained on the dance floor, too wrapped up in the rhythm to notice their absence. Damien leaned back, taking in the sight of the room, while Oliver wrapped an arm around Sue, who had curled up on his lap, lips locked in a passionate kiss.Arthur was deep in conve
Meanwhile, Ashleigh’s unconscious form lay on the cold, muddy ground behind the building. The hooded man standing over her grinned in satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with malice.“You two, drag her over there,” he ordered, gesturing toward a dark corner where trash was piled high. The stench of decay filled the air, making the men gag, but they followed orders, dropping Ashleigh into the filth.The hooded man stepped closer, pulling a small perfume bottle from his pocket and dabbing it on his mask to mask the horrid smell. As he knelt beside Ashleigh, his eyes traced her figure. Despite being covered in mud, she looked stunning, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.“Such a shame,” he muttered, his voice filled with contempt. “She’ll pay the price for what her friend did.”He signaled to the others to start recording, their phones aimed at the unconscious girl. He ran a hand down Ashleigh’s face, his touch lingering as she whimpered i
Ashleigh felt the world around her blur into silence. The café, once a warm haven of familiar scents and quiet chatter, now felt suffocating. Across the table, three sets of eyes burned into her—Fiona’s sharp, unwavering stare, James’s disapproving frown, and Arthur’s cool, assessing gaze. The weight of their scrutiny made her throat tighten, but the real pressure came from the phone resting on her lap, as heavy as a brick. Adrian’s name glowed on the screen, his text burning into her mind.Why aren’t you responding? I hope you haven’t lied to me again.Her fingers curled tightly around her phone, flipping it facedown before anyone noticed. But Arthur did.“Who was that?” His voice was neutral, but there was something unreadable in his expression, something sharp.“No one important,” she answered too quickly. His eyes narrowed.“Still lying, Ashleigh?” He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head as he leaned back. “You’re insufferable.”Ashleigh swallowed, her grip tightening on her pur
The room was drenched in darkness, save for the flicker of a single bare bulb overhead. The silence was broken by the shuffling of chains and the faint drip of water pooling somewhere unseen. Tristan and Jake knelt behind the iron bars, their once-proud postures now bent with shame and fear. Adrian sat in the corner, cloaked in shadow. His piercing gaze cut through the dim light, fixed on the two men who had failed him. His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair, the rhythmic tapping the only sound besides their labored breaths.“Boss, please,” Tristan started, his voice hoarse. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, evidence of the earlier punishment. “We didn’t expect the attack to happen then. We—”“You didn’t expect,” Adrian interrupted softly, his voice calm but laced with menace. “That’s the problem, isn’t it?” Jake flinched, his trembling hands gripping the bars.“We’re sorry, sir. We’ll make it right. Just give us another chance.” Adrian rose slowly, his impo
Ashleigh arrived at the dinner table, a rare giddy smile lighting up her face. For the first time in weeks, she felt like her life was falling back into place. Her conversation with Arthur had gone smoothly—he was relieved to hear she was safe and suggested they meet to discuss things in depth. She had agreed without hesitation. Yet, as she settled into her chair, her thoughts wandered to Adrian. Now came the hard part: convincing Adrian.Her heart sank slightly at the thought. She hadn’t seen him anywhere in the house since the call, which probably meant he was out for business. Good—she needed time to plan her approach.“Mrs. Ashleigh, you seem to be in a good mood,” Susan observed, interrupting her thoughts. Her assistant stood beside Chef Larry, helping him place steaming dishes on the table.“Yes" Ashleigh declared with a grin, sliding into her chair. “I am in a good mood”“I am beginning to feel like myself once again” she added, and Susan a
“Funny how you were so quick to leave last night, but you’re here now" Adrian mused casually, leaning against the closet, as Ashleigh placed the rest of her things in his closet.She paused mid-fold, her hands freezing momentarily before returning like nothing happened. She expected his words, yet it still managed to tug at her heart.“Just shut it, Adrian.” Ashleigh snapped instead, her voice sharp and defensive as she shot him a scowl over her shoulder.Adrian chuckled lowly, amused by her reaction. Although the situation was not ideal, he couldn’t hide his appreciation for the perpetrator, as it now brought Ashleigh to his side. And now, she will not be able to leave even if she wanted to. Once Ashleigh was done, she closed it and walked toward the center of the wide room, taking in it’s aesthetic. Unlike her room which was filled with lighter colors, and personal touches, Adrian used deep tones and neutral colored paintings and furniture. The room was also less decorated than Ashl
The air in the room was less frigid now, but Ashleigh could not help but still feel hot inside. Her heart was literally racing as she saw that the distance between her and Adrian was almost nonexistent, and not only were they physically close but now they were emotionally close as well. Adrian who was oblivious to her thoughts was deep in conversation with someone on the phone about her college case, and he only looked at her from time to time.A knock at the door disrupted her spiraling thoughts. Mr. Atkinson entered, carrying a tray of food, followed by Susan, who carried water and a small dish containing her medication. Susan's eyes lit up when she saw Ashleigh sitting up, her usual warmth battling a nervous tension. Ashleigh instantly knew Adrian had been intimidating her again.“Mrs. Cagliari,” Susan greeted softly, her voice tinged with hesitance.“Susan,” Ashleigh said, reaching out to gently grab her hand. “Are you okay?”Susan hesitated, casting a wary glance at Adrian, who c
Ashleigh felt the air leave her lungs as Adrian's words echoed in the quiet room. She knew, deep down, that he’d been avoiding her after the karaoke celebration at her college. Yet, hearing him admit it so bluntly left her reeling. She stared at him, her heart pounding as though it might give out, the silence stretching far beyond what her fragile emotions could handle. “Huh?” she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her mind scrambled to make sense of his confession, and Adrian, standing composed before her, nodded solemnly. “Ashleigh,” he began, his voice steady but tinged with regret. “I knew everything. Mr. Atkinson informed me the moment you left for Robin College. I knew about your day-to-day activities—when you got injured saving Megan, when you started receiving those threats. I knew it all.” Her breath caught as his words sunk in, each revelation like a weight pressing harder on her chest. “I didn’t reach out,” Adrian continued. “I thought I’d done enou
Adrian placed Ashleigh gently on the couch in his study, her expression troubled even in unconsciousness. He lingered for a moment, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, before turning to step outside. As he stepped out of his study, the heavy door clicked shut behind him. His gaze immediately fell on the cluster of staff lingering in the hallway, their curious whispers abruptly silenced when his cold eyes met theirs. Susan was crying hysterically, her face buried in Chef Larry’s chest, while Mrs. Smith stood nearby, frowning with disapproval.Adrian’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as the scene grated on his nerves. “And why are you all still standing here?” his voice cut through the air, sharp as a whip. “Do you not want your jobs anymore?” The reprimand snapped them back to reality. The staff scattered, scurrying back to their assigned duties, their heads bowed. Only Susan lingered, still sobbing as Chef Larry tried to console her. Adrian strode toward them,
“Ashleigh, in all this, why didn’t you call your husband?”The question hit her harder than she expected. She’d imagined countless times how she’d answer if he asked—how she’d finally let her anger spill over, shouting about the missed karaoke night she planned, the insults instead of an apology, the countless ways Adrian had hurt her. But hearing it from Mrs. Smith left her frozen.The words she longed to scream shriveled in her throat, leaving only a bitter weight in her stomach. But as Mrs. Smith waited for her answer, Ashleigh found herself not saying anything, it was like the words dried up in her throat, and left a bitter feeling in her belly instead.“I’m still waiting for you, dear,” Mrs. Smith’s voice was calm but firm, pulling Ashleigh from her swirling thoughts.“I didn’t feel like I needed to depend on him,” Ashleigh finally said, her voice steady but strained. “I thought I could handle it myself.”“My dear, Adrian is always there to help you. He cares for you very much, y
The view from Ashleigh’s window should have been calming, even breathtaking. The sprawling gardens of the Cagliari mansion were meticulously maintained, with vibrant blossoms swaying in the gentle afternoon breeze and perfectly trimmed hedges lining the walkways like green soldiers at attention. Beyond them, the ornate fountains shimmered in the sunlight, their cascading water catching the golden light. It was a postcard-perfect scene.Yet, to Ashleigh, it was all a cruel reminder of her confinement. The beauty outside was unreachable, as always at the Cagliari mansion. She sat curled on the window sill, her knees drawn to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them as if to keep herself from unraveling. The afternoon sun warmed her skin, but it did nothing to thaw the cold ache that had settled deep in her chest. Her eyes flicked to her phone lying on the small table beside her. The messages on her department’s group chat haunted her. Each text, each comment had felt like a blow