MAISIEThe sudden movement drew everyone's eyes toward us in a moment of deadly silence."You'd better clean that up properly with water because a tissue won't do the trick." Jason was the one to break the silence in a low voice.While everyone seemed to agree with the logic of his words, I was bewildered by his actions. Why was he being so weirdly possessive?"He's right, the bathroom is at the end of that hallway over there. You can go clean your shirt up," Nayeon chimed in helpfully, gesturing toward the bathroom.I stood up quickly, eager to escape the strange tension and headed down the hallway.I could feel Jason's eyes burning a hole into my back the entire way.I unknot Jason's jacket from my waist and hung it neatly on the hanger next to the mirror. Moving on to my own shirt, I started unbuttoning it so I could properly clean the vomit stain, leaving myself in just my black bra.After giving the shirt a good scrub, I hung it up with the jacket to air dry then pulled some tiss
MAISIEI ended up working late into the night finalizing Klay’s schedule for the upcoming month. By the time I finished up, it was already past 1 am.I had talked to Miriam earlier to give her and Don a heads up about the trip. While she was excited, she mentioned having some difficulty convincing Nathan to let her go. But in the end, he relented, knowing she would go regardless of whether he gave his permission or not.I trudged tiredly toward the elevators, already going through my unread messages on my phone. Most were just from various employees that I supervised. But one particular message caught my eye, making me smile. It was from Jason."Still at work?" he had typed out simply.I grinned, feeling a little giddy rush at his message for reasons I couldn't quite explain.I started to type out a reply, but then stopped, deciding I wanted to hear the deep rumble of his voice instead of just reading words on a screen.Deleting my half-written message, I tapped on his contact info an
MAISIEI woke up at 11:09, jolted by the sudden thought that I was late for work.Panic hit me like a bucket of cold water. I jumped out of bed, got dressed in record time, and was about to rush out of my room when it hit me—there was no work today.The trip.Klay had told me yesterday before leaving the company to pack my things and skip work.“There’s no need to come in tomorrow,” he’d said.Relieved, I dropped my bag, kicked off my shoes, and flopped back on my bed with a grin. I could still squeeze in a little more rest.But then it came back to me—the call.I scrambled to find my phone, my mind still foggy from sleep. The memory of last night was hazy, but I remembered Jason.I checked the call log. Four hours.Four hours?I stared at the screen, trying to piece it together. I’d fallen asleep, but what about him? What had he been doing all that time? Listening to me breathe? Did he fall asleep too? I didn’t know, but the thought made me smile.Even though he wasn’t beside me, I f
MAISIEMiriam’s playful tone and exaggerated gesture caught me off guard, and despite the ache in my chest, I couldn’t help but laugh.“They say a friend is a gift you give yourself,” I thought, smiling at her.Miriam was that gift for me. She was the kind of friend who walked toward me when everyone else walked away. Her kindness, sudden and unexpected, was like a balm for every wound life threw at me.I sighed and leaned my head on her shoulder as we walked.“If I were a man,” I said dramatically, “I’d have married you by now. We’d have two or three kids running around.”Miriam burst out laughing. “Two or three? You’re ambitious! I’d stop at one.”Her laughter was infectious, and soon I was laughing too. The absurdity of my words combined with her reaction lightened my mood—at least for a moment.I glanced over at Don, who was walking on Miriam’s other side, his headphones firmly in place. He was completely oblivious to our nonsense, nodding his head slightly to whatever music he wa
MAISIEI blinked then I turned to Klay, frowning. “What are you even talking about?”Klay leaned back in his seat. His expression was unreadable, but there was something sharp in his tone when he replied, “You tell me. Why are you wasting your time staying with him instead of being with me?”For a moment, I thought he might be talking about Jason. But then it hit me—he was talking about Philip.My stomach twisted uncomfortably.I scratched the back of my neck, avoiding his gaze. I didn’t want to have this conversation, not with Klay. It wasn’t in my favor to tell him about my breakup. If I did, he’d latch onto it and I knew he wouldn’t leave me alone.“I told you I love him, sir,” I said flatly, keeping my tone neutral.Klay rolled his eyes so far back into his head, it was almost comical. “Love him,” he repeated with boredom. “I’m better than him, and I can give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Honestly, I don’t see what’s so special about him for you to hold on to. You suit me
MAISIEI pulled myself together, forcing my voice to remain steady.“Don’t call me that silly name!” I snapped, glaring at him.Jason pulled the strap again, letting it snap against my skin. The sting spread through me like wildfire, sharp and unrelenting.My features trembled for a few seconds, betraying the chaos his vague, unreadable gaze stirred inside me.He didn’t let go this time. His grip was firm, deliberate then his voice came low and calm like a storm brewing in the distance.“Disobedience, much like any other aspect of life, evolves over time. Eventually, what once seemed intolerable transforms into something more acceptable, akin to the gradual metamorphosis of a butterfly.”Tolerable.The word lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating, wrapping around me like the rope in his hands.Then he released the strap without warning. The suddenness of it made my whole body jolt as if I’d been struck by lightning.My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I couldn’t move.
MAISIEMy heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder and faster than the last. It felt like I’d just run a marathon, but the only thing I’d been running from was Jason.I believe that when a person falls in love with the right person, they can forgive them for all their mistakes.When you love, you don’t care about what’s been said or done.What do I need in this world when my world is him?I went back to where Miriam and Don were sitting, watching something on my computer. I think it was probably a movie then proceeded to my seat.I couldn’t bring myself to care enough to check. Their laughter, soft and unbothered, filled the space, but it only made me feel more out of place.Karina had pushed her seat back a little, reclining to sleep. It was better this way. I didn’t have the strength—or the patience—to bear her closeness to him. Jason.I hated how aware I was of every little thing about her, about him. The way she’d leaned her head against the seat, the way he didn’t seem to noti
MAISIEI quickly sat up, my fingers moving instinctively to type a reply.I wrote that I had only just seen his message and apologized for the delay. But before pressing send, I hesitated.My pride stepped in, whispering that I didn’t owe him an explanation.My thumb hovered over the screen for a moment longer before I pressed delete. I erased every word as though they had never existed.The hardest thing is when you write something, pouring your thoughts and emotions into it, only to let your pride force you to erase it.I lay back down, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the unsent message settle over me.What was I going to do with him? With myself? With my son?I just wanted to sleep—to escape the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind, even if only for a little while."I'm sorry, my soul," I whispered into the quiet room. "I made mistakes against you. I pressured you so much to be who they wanted you to be, thinking their approval would complete my journey."The words f
MAISIEMy jaw dropped. “He reserved half the stadium for you?”Miriam let out an incredulous laugh. “Half? Are you serious?”I turned back to Don, who was watching me with wide, innocent eyes and his lips pressed together in a poor attempt to stifle a smile.“Did you really think you could fool me and I wouldn’t find out?” I raised an eyebrow.He hesitated, biting his lip before murmuring, “Maybe…”That was it. His shrinking eyes, the way he was trying so hard not to laugh—it was too much. I turned away, sucking my inner cheek to keep from smiling myself.“Forgive me just this once,” he coaxed in a voice sweet and full of charm.I sighed, shaking my head. “Okay.”Don’s face lit up instantly and plopped himself on the bench beside me, smiling brighter than the sun. “Can I go take a picture with Felix?”I nodded.That was all he needed to have him running toward his idol.Miriam leaned closer. “You broke your record this time. What was that—five minutes of being mad?”I sighed, shaking
MAISIEHis words sank into me like a weight pressing down on my chest.Jason’s eyes darkened as his frustration spilled over. “I don’t even know how to explain what I feel without sounding ridiculous.”I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came. “Every aspect of me has changed since Jason’s return to my life. I wasn’t the same woman he met all those years ago.Love has a way of ruining you and making it seem beautiful. It turns pain into poetry.But I wasn’t poetic. I wasn’t romantic. I was just… broken.I’d always heard people talk about “sadness in the heart,” but I never truly understood what they meant. To me, sadness was in tears, in screams, in the physical ache of the body.However, I understand now.Sadness could live in the heart, buried deep beneath a smile. It could hide behind laughter and linger in silences. And Jason… he was the one who made me realize that.He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch was tender, almost reverent.“No doubt
MAISIEKlay burst out laughing. However, Felix looked completely dumbfounded with his expression frozen in disbelief.Harsh. That was harsh.I glanced at Jason, irritation bubbling under my skin. He didn’t even seem to care about how Felix had taken the comment.Poor guy looked like someone had just slapped him with a reality check.I turned my gaze to the glass wall beside me, letting the conversation fade into the background.The server arrived a few minutes later and everyone began ordering breakfast. Everyone except me.My appetite had vanished completely.Felix noticed. “You’re not eating?”I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. “I’m not really hungry.”His expression softened, and for once, he wasn’t joking or teasing. “You should eat something,” he said quietly. “It’s not good to skip meals.”Then he reached out and placed his hand gently over mine. “You know, I’d love to meet your son. If he’s one of my fans, I think we’ll get along great.”He smiled at me, bright and genuine
MAISIEThe undeterred Felix turned his attention back to me. “So, Brit, how are you finding the trip so far?”There it was again—“Brit.” Why does he keep calling me that? Doesn’t he know my name?“It’s good so far.” My voice was soft, almost hesitant, as I tried to keep the conversation as neutral as possible.I turned to face the elevator door like the rest of them, hoping to escape the growing tension.But Felix wasn’t done. “Do you know volleyball?” he asked suddenly with excitement.I tilted my head slightly, trying to recall the familiar name of the game. I knew it, but at the moment, my mind felt a little scrambled.Felix’s brows creased when he noticed my hesitation, obviously considering a way to describe it. “You know, the game where they hit the ball with their hands over a net in the middle between two teams.”Ah, now I remembered. I’d seen it played on the beach before.“Yeah, I remember it now!” I exclaimed, smiling. “It’s a fun game, and I like it a lot.”Felix’s face li
MAISIEI woke up early the next morning, feeling energized and ready for the day. The weather was beautiful, with a light breeze carrying the scent of the ocean.The sun was warm but not overbearing, casting a golden glow over everything. It was the kind of morning that made you feel alive.I decided to sit by the pool, enjoying the calm and peaceful atmosphere. The water sparkled under the sunlight, clear and inviting. I donned a light blue, sleeveless summer shirt adorned with white checks, complemented by long, white linen pants. To complete the look, I had borrowed—or rather, stolen—a beach hat from Miriam. It was oversized and slightly ridiculous, but it suited the vibe of the day perfectly.I sipped from the coffee in my hands, letting the warmth of the drink and the beauty of the morning fill me with a sense of calm.My mind, however, was anything but calm. I kept running through the details of the surprise I had planned for Don. Felix could arrive at any moment, and I needed
MAISIEJason laughed softly, straightening up and helping me to my feet. “I’m saying it depends on trust. Our destiny is written, so let’s live quietly, baby.”I sighed, reluctantly nodding. “I understand.”“I arranged for your room to be upgraded to a two-bedroom suite. This way, both you and Don can enjoy your privacy," Jason informed me.I was taken aback, my mouth opening and closing in disbelief, unable to find the words.Jason gave me a smile that seemed to melt the tension between us. Then, he took my hand and walked me toward the hotel.Do I deserve this man?Later that night, I knocked on Don’s door to check on him. He opened it for me with a toothbrush in hand before disappearing back into the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth.“Did you have dinner with them?” I asked, sitting on the edge of his bed as I waited for him.“No,” Don replied from the bathroom. “But your boss sent me room service.”Klay? Why would he do that? “Anyway, you should go to bed early. Tomorrow’s g
MAISIEI could hear the raw emotion behind his words. The weight of regret, the pain of misplaced blame, the sorrow of a goodbye that never came. It clung to his voice.My chest tightened as I watched his usually composed demeanor crack under the weight of his own memories. It wasn’t just guilt he was carrying—it was grief, and it was deep.“I later regained my memories and discovered it was all my brother’s doing. When I refused to divorce you after the one-year arrangement with your father, he erased everything I’d ever done for him. Every sacrifice, every moment of kindness—it all meant nothing to him. He only saw my refusal as betrayal. I was so angry, so frustrated that I drowned myself in alcohol. And in my drunken state, I made a mistake I’ll regret for the rest of my life,” his words trailed off.My mind couldn’t process everything he’d just revealed. I was too broken and too busy takin in my father’s betrayal.Was I really nothing more than a business deal to my father? He tr
MAISIE My heart skipped a beat and my eyes sparkled with anticipation.Was I really about to learn something that no one else in the world knew about him?For a fleeting moment, I felt special—like I was the only person he trusted enough to reveal this part of himself.“What I’ve spent my life doing,” Jason began low and contemplative, “Is hating the success of others and taking pleasure in their failures. That’s who I was… until someone came into my life and turned it upside down.”He paused, staring out at the waves as if searching for the right words.“Before that someone, another person wreaked havoc in my life, tearing it apart piece by piece. They pushed me to the brink and left me with nothing but a sliver of myself. Yet… their hatred… their coercion never fully destroyed me.”I blinked, trying to make sense of his cryptic words. “Who is this other person?”Jason’s hand resting lightly on my thigh stilled.The sudden halt made my breath catch in my throat.“My brother!” His vo
MAISIEI quickly sat up, my fingers moving instinctively to type a reply.I wrote that I had only just seen his message and apologized for the delay. But before pressing send, I hesitated.My pride stepped in, whispering that I didn’t owe him an explanation.My thumb hovered over the screen for a moment longer before I pressed delete. I erased every word as though they had never existed.The hardest thing is when you write something, pouring your thoughts and emotions into it, only to let your pride force you to erase it.I lay back down, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the unsent message settle over me.What was I going to do with him? With myself? With my son?I just wanted to sleep—to escape the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind, even if only for a little while."I'm sorry, my soul," I whispered into the quiet room. "I made mistakes against you. I pressured you so much to be who they wanted you to be, thinking their approval would complete my journey."The words f