“Mal,” Dazzle greeted, trying to keep his voice neutral. “What are you doing here?”“I was on my way out of town, but I thought I’d stop by and say goodbye,” Mal replied, his gaze flicking over Dazzle’s shoulder, clearly aware that something was off. “Is everything okay?”Dazzle hesitated, glancing back towards the bedroom where Kimberly was lying. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just… a bit of a situation.”Mal raised an eyebrow. “What kind of situation?”Dazzle sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s complicated, man. Kim’s not feeling well, and she’s… she’s worried about the baby.”Mal’s expression softened slightly, though there was still a hint of skepticism in his eyes. “You think she’s being straight with you?”Dazzle frowned, taken aback by the question. “What do you mean?”Mal shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. “I mean, she’s pulling you into a lot of stuff, Daz. Are you sure she’s not just… I don’t know, trying to keep you close?”The implication hung in the air, and Daz
Dazzle sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. It was just 6:40am, the following morning. His thoughts were a tangled mess, swirling with doubts and fears that he couldn’t shake. The decision he was about to make felt monumental, like a heavy weight pressing down on his chest.Kimberly was still asleep, her breathing soft and steady. She looked peaceful, almost serene, but Dazzle knew that beneath that calm exterior lay a world of ambitions and wants. She had made her wishes clear—she wanted to be married, to be a family for the sake of their unborn child. And now, after a sleepless night of agonizing over the decision, Dazzle had finally come to a conclusion.He would marry her.The thought sent a chill down his spine, not because he didn’t care about Kimberly, but because he knew deep down that this wasn’t the life he had envisioned for himself. But sometimes life didn’t go according to plan, and he couldn’t turn his back on his responsibilities.With a deep sigh,
The phone in Alex's hand felt heavier than it had ever been before. He sat in the living room, the silence of the house pressing down on him like a thick blanket. It was late, far too late to be making this call, but the turmoil inside him couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to talk to someone, someone who had been there for him through every bad decision, every heartbreak. He needed to talk to his mother.With a deep breath, he pressed her contact on his phone. The ringing seemed to stretch on forever, each second amplifying the doubts swirling in his mind. When she finally answered, her voice was warm, even though it was tinged with the grogginess of having just woken up.“Alex? Is everything okay? It’s really late,” she said, her concern evident.“Mom, I... I’m sorry for calling so late. I just needed to talk,” Alex replied, his voice shaky, betraying the emotions he was trying to keep in check.“What’s wrong, honey? You sound upset,” his mom said, her voice softening, maternal ins
Alex woke up before dawn, the first light of day just beginning to creep through the curtains. His mind was made up. There was no more room for hesitation or second-guessing. Today was the day he would finally put an end to the nightmare his marriage had become.He moved through the house quietly, showering and dressing with robotic precision. Each action felt like a small step toward reclaiming his life, a life that had spiraled out of control since the day he and Emily had said their vows. But those vows were nothing more than empty promises now, shattered by the endless arguments, the cold silences, and the growing resentment that hung between them like a thick fog.As he stood in front of the mirror, tying his tie with trembling hands, Alex caught a glimpse of himself. He hardly recognized the man staring back. He looked tired, worn down by the weight of a marriage that had long since turned toxic. But beneath the exhaustion, there was a flicker of resolve, a spark that reminded h
It was 12 noon. Everyone had gathered for the final part, the property shares.The courtroom was a cold, sterile place, the kind of setting that will make anyone feel insignificant the moment they stepped inside. Alex sat at the plaintiff's table, his lawyer, Liam sat beside him, the tension in the air was palpable. Across the aisle, Emily and her mother, Mary, sat with their own legal team, both women exuding an icy confidence that made Alex’s stomach churn.This was it. The end of the months of bitterness. What had started as a once-loving marriage had devolved into a legal battlefield, where every asset, every dollar, was a prize to be fought over. And today, the company that Alex had helped build for the past seven years, the same company that had fueled most of the disagreements in their marriage, was fought over too.The judge, a stern woman with graying hair and a no-nonsense demeanor, took her seat at the bench. She glanced down at the files before her, her expression unrea
Alex has not been in the office for over three consecutive days and he wasn't coming home anymore….Emily sat on the edge of her bed, her eyes red and swollen from hours of crying. The events of the past few days played on a loop in her mind, a relentless stream of anger, regret, and sorrow. The divorce, the courtroom battle over the company, the way things had spiraled out of control—she felt like she was drowning in a sea of emotions, unable to catch her breath.She reached for her phone, scrolling through her contacts with trembling fingers. There was only one person she wanted to talk to right now, someone who would understand, who wouldn’t judge her for feeling this way. Omari.Omari had been Alex’s business associate, but over time, he had become more of a friend to Emily than to her ex-husband. They had been in touch most of the time even after she met to end all ties and forget the mistake they made..He had always been there, offering a listening ear and a shoulder to lean o
Dazzle had barely slept the night before, after his discussion with Kim. His mind was too tangled up in the consequences of the decision he had made. The decision to marry Kimberly.He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as if he could wipe away the exhaustion that clung to him like a second skin. He had told himself that marrying Kimberly was the right thing to do—for the baby, for the stability they both needed. But now that the reality had set in, he wasn’t so sure. His heart felt heavy, weighed down by a commitment he wasn’t ready for, to a woman he didn’t truly love.As he sat there, lost in thought, he didn’t notice Leah approach until she was standing right beside his desk, a teasing smile on her lips.“Hey, Daz, what’s with the long face?” she asked, leaning against the edge of his desk. “You look like someone stole your lunch money.”Dazzle glanced up at her, trying to muster a smile, but it felt like too much effort. “I’m just tired, Leah,” he said, his voice flat.Leah ra
Jack and Mariam had spent a lovely evening together, enjoying a delicious dinner at a cozy little restaurant. The ambiance had been perfect—soft lighting, warm colors, and the gentle hum of conversations around them just like Mariam had liked it.. She chose the restaurant herself though.Jack had been completely engrossed in Mariam's company, savoring every moment with her. He’d been seeing her for a few months now, and though things were going well, there was still one aspect of their relationship that hadn’t progressed, their physical intimacy.After dinner, Jack invited Mariam back to his place. It had become something of a routine for them—dinner, a movie, and then maybe a quick night drive around the city. Mariam accepted the invitation with a smile, and they drove back to his place in comfortable silence, holding hands while he drove home.When they arrived, Jack opened the door for Mariam, and they walked into the warmth of his home. As he shut the door behind them, he turned t