I woke up the next morning, still feeling the weight of last night’s encounter with Marco. I dressed quickly, determined to face him with as much composure as I could muster. When Marco finally stirred, he looked disoriented. Good, I thought. At least he wouldn’t have the upper hand completely. “How did I get here?” he asked, his voice groggy. I crossed my arms and gave him a cold stare. “You came into my room reeking of alcohol and tried to force yourself on me,” I replied flatly. Marco smirked, his eyes narrowing as he assessed me. “Did it work?” I felt a surge of anger. “The least you could do is show some gratitude for not leaving you on the floor all night,” I snapped. He chuckled darkly. “I owe you no gratitude. You seem to forget that you’re my wife. My possession.” The words hit me like a slap. “I am not your possession, Marco,” I retorted. “You can’t just treat me like a thing you own.” He moved closer, the space between us charged with tension. “You think you ha
MARCOI sat alone in the dimly lit corner of the club, the thumping bass running through my body. The girl had left a few minutes ago, and I had time to think. My mind raced with conflicting thoughts. She had been a distraction, something to calmly take my mind off things. But it wasn’t enough. I couldn't get into it.I took a sip of my drink, feeling the burn as it slid down my throat. Since when have I become this sensitive? The life I lead was dangerous, and any moment of weakness could be my downfall. I couldn’t afford distractions, especially ones that made me question my decisions.I glanced around the club, watching people lose themselves in the music, the alcohol, the fleeting moments of pleasure. Was I any different? No. I couldn’t let myself be.I stood up, my mind firming with resolve. It was time to go. I had indulged enough nonsense for one night. I needed to get back to reality, back to the life I had built with blood and sweat.As I made my way through the line of peopl
SARAHWalking to Marco’s study, my mind kept drifting back to Marcel’s phone call. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Marcel’s concern and kindness were like a distant dream compared to the harsh reality I lived in. What was I thinking, even considering talking to him again? Marco had me under constant surveillance, and any hint of disobedience could spell disaster.I wondered if Marco knew about the call. Had he overheard? Was that why he summoned me? My heart pounded with each step, anxiety gnawing at me. I barely noticed my surroundings until I found myself standing in front of Marco’s office door. With a deep breath, I steeled myself and walked in.Marco was sitting in his chair, swinging it slightly as he twirled a fancy pen in his fingers. He ignored my presence at first, his gaze fixed on the pen. His nonchalance made my stomach churn with unease. I scoffed, trying to mask my fear. “You called for me?” I said, my voice more defiant than I felt.Marco smirked, finally looking
SARAHIt’s been two days since Marco set out his rules for me, and they’ve made me utterly miserable. I couldn’t forget the way he forced me into agreeing to his terms, the satisfaction gleaming in his eyes as he watched me crumble, helpless and with no choice but to sign it.I hated him with every fiber of my being. Who does he think he is? I thought, my rage steaming beneath the surface. Every time I pictured his smug face, my blood boiled. The audacity of that man! To think he could control every aspect of my life like I was his puppet. I paced around my room, the walls closing in on me, suffocating me with the weight of his oppressive rules.Curfews, restricted areas, dress codes, behavioral expectations—every detail annoyingly planned to strip away my freedom. I sneered at the silliness of it all, mocking the rules in my mind. Morning curfews? Like I was a child who needed to be told when to wake up. Restricted areas? Did he think I would stumble upon some dark secret that would
SARAHI stood there, stunned by the sight of the baby clothes and toys scattered around the room. It was shocking. Why would Marco have a room like this? The thought of him being connected to something so innocent and tender didn’t make any sense. My curiosity, mixed with a growing sense of fear, urged me to explore further.I tiptoed further into the room, my heart pounding. Suddenly, I stepped on a toy. It squeaked loudly, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I quickly realized it was just a toy and exhaled in relief. But the noise had unnerved me, and my fear increased.Despite my growing anxiety, I approached a shelf that caught my eye. Among the dusty books and knick-knacks, there was a diary. The name “Noe-” was scribbled at the bottom. My hands trembled as I reached for it, eager to uncover whatever secrets it held. I started to flip it open.Just then, a voice cut through the silence, freezing me in my tracks. “What are you doing here?” Marco’s voice was cold and menacing, and
SARAHI woke up from a nap, my head pounding and my body aching. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep. The room was dark, and it took me a few moments to reorient myself. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was already evening. The realization hit me hard; it had been a full day since Marco had locked me up in that small, suffocating room.I had spent most of the day holed up in my room, refusing to talk to anyone, including the maids. The memory of Marco’s cruel smirk as he threw me into the basement replayed in my mind, fueling my hatred for him and his absurd rules.Who does he think he is? I thought bitterly. Treating me like some kind of possession, dictating every aspect of my life. I despised the way he seemed to enjoy punishing me, the satisfaction he got from my suffering. It made my skin crawl.I stared at the ceiling, trying to push the memories away, but they kept flooding back. The feeling of being trapped, of having no control over my own life, was overwhelming. I h
SARAHI stared at the dress Marco had laid out for me. It was a slinky, revealing dress that screamed for attention. The shimmering fabric, cut low in the front and high on the thigh, made my skin crawl. I hated it. I hated everything it represented. It was just another way for Marco to control me, to humiliate me. My fists clenched at my sides as I tried to summon the strength to put it on.“It’s just for one night,” I muttered to myself, the words barely more than a whisper in the silent room. “You can do this.”I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Each inhale felt like I was dragging a boulder up a hill. My fingers trembled as I unzipped the dress, the sound sharp in the quiet. With a sense of defeat, I stripped off my clothes and slipped into the dress. The fabric clung to me like a second skin, making me feel exposed and vulnerable. I looked at myself in the mirror, hating what I saw. My reflection seemed to mock me, the dress transforming me into something I didn’t
SARAHI stared at her, confused and taken aback. “What do you mean, replacement for a ghost?” I managed to ask, my voice shaky.She smirked, taking a step closer to me. “Oh, you don’t know, do you?” She relished the moment, enjoying my discomfort. “Noelle was Marco’s… special friend, let’s say. She had everything—beauty, class, and sophistication. Everything you lack.”My heart pounded in my chest. I felt a mix of confusion and anger boiling up inside me. “Noelle? “Special friend?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “What are you talking about?”She chuckled, a cold, mocking sound. “You really are clueless, aren’t you? Noelle was the one who mattered, the one who—”“Isabella!” Marco’s voice cut through the air like a knife, sharp and unyielding.She spun around, her demeanor changing in an instant. She threw herself at Marco, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Marco, darling, I was just having a little chat with your… new addition,” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.Marco bar
SARAHI woke up to a pounding headache, the kind that made it feel like my skull was being split open. My entire body felt heavy, sluggish, and for a moment, I just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, trying to piece together why I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. My mouth was dry, my limbs ached, and my mind was clouded with a strange, disoriented fog.Something was off.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push past the grogginess. Then, like a slap to the face, it all hit me at once.The party.The drinks.Marco.Him disappearing.Me looking for him.Me finding him.Shirtless.Drunk.And mumbling her name.Aisha.My stomach twisted violently.I sat up so fast the room spun around me, a wave of dizziness crashing over me. I gripped the sheets, my breathing uneven as I tried to steady myself. But my mind was already running a mile a minute, shoving painful reminders to the surface.Marco had been laying there, barely able to hold himself up, his body swaying, his words slurred
SARAHI sat on the edge of the bed, watching Marco’s unconscious form. His chest rose and fell steadily, his face slack with sleep, completely unaware of the storm he had left in my head.I should have just walked away. I should have left the second I saw him like that—drunk, shirtless, and muttering her name. Aisha. His so-called secretary.If that was even true.A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat, but I swallowed it down. The thought alone made my stomach twist. My mind wouldn’t stop running through the possibilities. What if he had been lying to me all along? What if she wasn’t just his secretary? What if I had been stupid enough to believe all of his excuses while they—I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled through my nose.No. I needed to calm down. I needed to wait. Jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help anything.But God, how could I not?Everything about tonight had been wrong. The party, the forced smiles, the tension in the air I hadn’t been able to shake. And then to find him
SARAHI stared at Marco, my entire body frozen.Did I just hear that right?His voice had been slurred, thick with alcohol, but the name he mumbled was as clear as day.Aisha.Something inside me cracked, sharp and painful, like glass shattering.I swallowed, trying to steady myself, but my hands trembled as I reached for his shoulder, shaking him harder this time. “Marco, wake up,” I said, my voice uneven, breathless. “Get up, dammit.”He barely moved. His head lolled to the side, his lips parting slightly before another mumble slipped out.“…Aisha…”I sucked in a sharp breath, my nails digging into his arm.No.My heart slammed against my ribs, a sickening weight settling in my stomach.I shook him again, harder this time. “Marco, wake up! What the fuck is wrong with you?”Still, nothing.Just a groggy groan, his brows twitching slightly, his face slack. He was completely out of it.I clenched my jaw, my eyes burning as I stared at him, at the way he lay there so carelessly, unaware
SARAHThe party was alive—music blasting, laughter ringing out, people moving around with drinks in their hands. I was caught up in it, letting the distractions pull me in. The energy was infectious, and for a while, I didn’t think about anything else. But then, out of nowhere, a nagging feeling crept up on me.Marco.I hadn’t seen him in a while.I glanced around the crowded room, scanning the faces, but there was no sign of him. My stomach tightened slightly, but I tried to brush it off. Maybe he had just stepped out for air. Or maybe he had gone to take a call. It wasn’t a big deal.Except… it was unlike him.Marco didn’t just disappear without a word. If he needed to step away, he usually let me know. And the last time I had seen him, he had been with Aisha.I swallowed, my unease growing. Something wasn’t right.I turned my head again, trying to spot him through the mass of people. Nothing. No glimpse of his dark suit, no familiar presence near the bar or in the corners where he
AISHAMarco’s weight leaned into me as I carefully guided him through the grand hallways of his mansion. His steps were sluggish, his body heavy, but I kept moving, dragging him forward as subtly as I could. Every few steps, he mumbled something—half-slurred directions that barely made sense, but I forced myself to listen.“Left,” he muttered, pointing vaguely with his free hand. “Then, uh… another left.”I nodded like I was paying attention, though my focus was split between keeping us moving and making sure we weren’t being watched. My eyes flicked around constantly, scanning for any sign of Sarah or anyone else who might get in the way. The last thing I needed was someone questioning why I was hauling Marco through the halls like this.My heart pounded so hard it felt like I could hear it in my ears.Not from fear—at least, that’s what I told myself—but from the sheer pressure of the situation. I needed to get this over with. Fast.Isabella was waiting.And once I was done with thi
AISHAMarco took a seat beside me, stretching his arms across the back of the barstool, looking way too relaxed for someone who had just thrown a man out of his own party. His eyes flickered toward me, then to his drink, then back to me again.“You okay?” His voice was low, steady, but there was something else beneath it. Something unreadable.I exhaled through my nose, picking up my glass and taking a slow sip. “I’m fine.”Marco hummed, not entirely convinced. “Bastard’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”I let out a small laugh. “What, one punch wasn’t enough?”He smirked. “You think he deserved more?”“I think men like that deserve worse.” I took another sip before setting my glass down. “But he’s not worth it.”Marco nodded slightly, rubbing his jaw as he glanced toward the bartender. “What are you drinking?”“Whiskey.”His brows lifted slightly. “Didn’t take you for a whiskey person.”“I’m full of surprises.”Marco chuckled under his breath, then signaled for the bartender. “I’ll ta
AISHAMarco took a seat beside me, stretching his arms across the back of the barstool, looking way too relaxed for someone who had just thrown a man out of his own party. His eyes flickered toward me, then to his drink, then back to me again.“You okay?” His voice was low, steady, but there was something else beneath it. Something unreadable.I exhaled through my nose, picking up my glass and taking a slow sip. “I’m fine.”Marco hummed, not entirely convinced. “Bastard’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”I let out a small laugh. “What, one punch wasn’t enough?”He smirked. “You think he deserved more?”“I think men like that deserve worse.” I took another sip before setting my glass down. “But he’s not worth it.”Marco nodded slightly, rubbing his jaw as he glanced toward the bartender. “What are you drinking?”“Whiskey.”His brows lifted slightly. “Didn’t take you for a whiskey person.”“I’m full of surprises.”Marco chuckled under his breath, then signaled for the bartender. “I’ll ta
AISHASarah doesn’t like me. That much was obvious.I could see it in her eyes—the way she shook my hand, the way her fingers tensed just slightly, the way her lips curled into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was polite, controlled, but I wasn’t stupid.She didn’t trust me.Not that I blamed her.Women like Sarah had instincts. And mine was telling me that hers were screaming at her that I was a problem.Which, of course, I was. But she couldn’t know that. At least, not yet.I needed to be careful. I needed to move slowly, smartly, if I wanted to get close to Marco without raising too many alarms. If she thought I was just a secretary, an employee who happened to be a little friendly, she might let her guard down.I could work with that.I sighed, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear as I made my way toward the bar, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The party was elegant, the music low and sophisticated, the lighting dim and warm. Everything about the atmos
SARAHI watched them.My grip on my glass was tight, my fingers curling around the delicate stem as if it was the only thing keeping me tethered. The cool condensation seeped against my skin, but I barely registered it. My eyes were locked on them—Marco and that woman.She was too close. Too comfortable.Her laugh was light, airy, laced with familiarity. Every few seconds, she touched his arm, her manicured fingers gliding over the fabric of his suit like she had every right. A brush of her hand against his shoulder. A playful tap against his chest. And Marco—he wasn’t pulling away.My jaw tightened.The murmurs around me weren’t helping.“Who is she?”“She looks like she knows him well.”“She’s stunning. No wonder she walked in like she owned the place.”I exhaled sharply through my nose, willing myself to stay composed. I knew exactly what they were thinking because I was thinking it too. And I hated it.My husband, standing there with some woman draped all over him like she had eve