NARRATION "Let's find out together, then," Mavis said turning to the door. "You were pretty drunk that night, I believe you have no clue that you dumped it there." "Dumped what?" "Her panties," Mavis gave him a brief response as he held on the door knob. "Seriously, Mavis?" Jackson replied, "This is quite ridiculous." He slid the key into the lock panel and pushed the door. "Alright, fine," Jackson said as he led Mavis into the house, their shoes clicking against the hardwood floors as they strode toward his bedroom. "If that's what it takes to prove my innocence, then I'll do it. I've got nothing to hide." He threw open the closet doors, revealing a neat row of shirts and trousers. With a wave of his hand, Jackson gestured towards the garments. "Here there are, everything I wore to the party. Get the panties and let's see, " As Mavis reached for Jackson's trousers ransacking the pockets carefully, he felt a silken fabric, smooth and light against his fingertips. He froz
ISABELLA I repeatedly blinked away the tears that were welling up in my eyes. "What do you mean by what you just said?" He didn't look up but pretended to be more interested in his phone. "I did nothing with Jackson, are you trying to fabricate a story or what?" "Where's the orange-colored panties I bought for you? If you can produce it right now, maybe I'll reconsider the information I received earlier today." Overwhelmed by his demands, I struggled to comprehend his insistence on the same panties I wore to the party. Alarmingly, it crossed my mind that Jackson might have taken advantage of me during my intoxicated state. I arrived pantless at the beach and still couldn't comprehend what could have happened, or, who could have got hold of my panties during the party. I found myself frozen in place, uncertain how to process the situation or respond to him, as feelings of being exploited consumed me. "You may now leave," He stated, noticing my apparent confusion and
ISABELLA Aware of the potential consequences, I refrained from showing the photo to my mother. Emotionally broken and yearning for a confidant, I was weighed down by the realization that I had been naive all along. A sense of self-blame pervaded my thoughts as I struggled to reconcile with the unfolding events, feeling as though I had brought this mess upon myself. I made an effort to complete the estimates on the paper, mustering the strength to rise and make my way upstairs to meet my stepfather. With a reassuring pat on my back, my stepfather declared, "That's wonderful. I'll reach out to my account manager right away, and you can expect to receive the funds before the end of the day." A small smile formed on my lips as I walked away, turning my attention to packing my bags in preparation for my departure. I intended to leave the house well before Mavis' return, and though the possibility of him spending the night with his ex at the hotel lingered in my mind, I res
ISABELLA The atmosphere was charged with an expression of emotions especially by the children. I reassured them that I would return to visit them shortly. I just needed to leave in a hurry so that Mavis wouldn't see me leave. Amidst the emotional farewells, one person's reaction stood out to me. Amelia seemed to be devoid of the sadness that engulfed everyone else. Instead, her demeanor suggested an underlying indifference to my leaving, or perhaps a hint of satisfaction. It occurred to me that she may have viewed my departure as an opportunity to interact with Mavis in a manner that she had always desired, unhindered by my presence. In a display of affection, I embraced Jane tightly, knowing that my heart would ache with her absence. This sentiment extended to my younger step-brothers, particularly Jessie, and most significantly, to my beloved mother. The driver pulled away from the confines of our home, and as we drove along the road, I nodded to the gentle melody of a song play
ISABEL "Are you crying?""No," I said quickly. "Words, I lack words to express my feelings right now. I will really love to see you, please. I have something to discuss with you.""Just breathe and try to calm down. Everything will be okay," Bennett's soothing voice offered comfort over the phone. "Can we meet tomorrow then?""Thank you so much," I replied, nodding despite knowing she couldn't see me. "Yes, please come as early as you can. I'm staying at a hotel because I couldn't bear to remain at home. I'm planning to leave first thing tomorrow morning.""That's unfortunate," Bennett sympathized, "I'll see you soon. Get some rest, good night.""Good night," I replied. With the phone set aside on the bed, I proceeded to the bathroom to take a shower.Throughout the night, my mind was disturbed with diverse thoughts. Mavis getting involved with his ex-lover again weighed heavily on me, stirring up a series of emotions and causing a great deal of distress. It was incredibly difficul
ISABELLA I hastily brushed my teeth and stepped into the shower and afterward, I got back into the room. As I stood before my wardrobe, I pondered the choices before me. There were a variety of dresses to choose from. Ultimately, I opted for a lovely sundress, with its light, airy fabric and charming floral pattern. As I slipped into the sundress and stood before the mirror, I was pleasantly surprised by the flattering silhouette it created. The dress accentuated my figure in all the right places. I couldn't help but smile at my reflection, basking in the newfound confidence that the dress offered. The sound of a knock at my door drew my attention away from the mirror. When I opened it, I was greeted by the driver accompanied by the hotel attendant. The attendant politely inquired, "Good morning, Miss Mulan. Were you expecting this man?"Just as I was about to respond, the room service attendant led Bennett towwards us. I slightly took my attention away from the man and waited u
ISABEL "Please, try not to let this stress you out. I plan to have a meeting with Jackson tomorrow or the next day to try to understand what's really going on. It all sounds rather peculiar to me." I nodded, "I'm moving out of Los Angeles, I'll be starting all over somewhere distant from home.""I understand," Bennett replied, "I believe a fresh start could be beneficial. You should consider relocating to San Francisco or San Diego both of which are renowned counties that could offer a new beginning.""I'm interested in San Diego, that's where my mind is, ""What about your baby?" "I'm confident in my ability to raise my child independently," I replied, rising from my chair and spreading my arms to embrace my Bennett in gratitude, adding, "I'll manage. Thank you for your support and kindness."Accepting my gratitude with a gesture of kindness, Bennett said, "Allow me to lend a helping hand with your luggage." He then picked up the small box that was situated on the floor, lending h
MAVIS After we had made love, we drifted into a peaceful sleep. However, when I awoke, I was amazed, when I found out that Estelle was nowhere to be found on the bed. Her sudden absence raised a multitude of questions in my mind.In my drowsy state, I stretched out my arms, lazily running my hands over the bed in search of Estelle. The realization that she was no longer there left me disorientation. I mean, she should have informed me. Why would she vanish without a word or explanation, leaving me to grapple with her absence? Groggily, I propped myself up to check the clock, only to discover that I had slept overslept and she could have probably refused to disturb my sleep. I yawned and sat up on the bed, the sun's rays emitting so much light into the room.While I slept, I was completely drawn out of my troubles. Now, I had to face them again. It seemed that the effects of the alcohol had rendered me unconscious, allowing Estelle ample time to play with my body as she desired w