VARYA’S POVIt was still very early in the morning when I was going to work, and the sun had not yet penetrated through the low grey clouds. The events of yesterday night were a haze of pain as Kylo left me feeling emptier than before.My heart was rage-filled with anger, sadness, confusion, and a grieving sense of unfaithfulness.I walked toward the office with a foreboding feeling coming over me. Scandalous photos of me with that guy outside had gone viral overnight thus spoiling my name. I could already hear people murmuring and turning their faces in disgust at me.When I stepped into the building, it felt like all eyes were on me. Conversations stopped as I passed by and started up again in hushed whispers and stifled laughter.My colleagues who used to be so friendly and welcoming now only glance at me with investigatory interest mixed with some disdain.“Heard about those pictures?” someone said behind me in hushed tones."Unbelievable," another voice said. "She's married and s
“Varya, we'll work things out. You're not by yourself. We'll work to have your name cleared."Although her words soothed my hurting heart, the ache remained, raw and excruciating. I tried to get my strength back by wiping my eyes and taking a big breath.This could not shatter me. To save my life and my honor, I had to figure out how to fight back.It was a war the rest of the day. I made an effort to block out the murmurs and critical looks and concentrate only on my work. No matter how routine the task, it was a tiny victory and a step toward taking back control.However, the scandal's weight hovered over me, a continual reminder of the nightmare my life had become.I packed up my belongings as the day came to an end and got ready to go. The office was almost empty, the quiet a sharp contrast to the morning's turmoil. I tread down the shadowy hallways, my footfall resonating in the silence.It was a relief to get outside at last and feel the cool evening air. I inhaled deeply, attem
I did not wait for him to continue whatever he was going to say. I angrily spun around and headed off in the other direction, with my pulse racing in my chest.God, the cafeteria did not sound even remotely appealing now, but it was crucial to distance myself from him. So I walked to a small park right opposite the office thinking that somehow the fresh air would help me.Perching on a bench I felt my heart rate rising. The things Theo said to me played in my mind like a movie, something I wanted and worked so hard to wipe off my memory.Our relationship was a sad story, a drama of pain and deceit that had been a part of my life. It has not been easy for me to leave him but that was the best decision I made for my own good.In fact, he was the reason I had to go through all the hell I have been through in my life until now. I suffered the deadly pain from that surgery and had my miserable heartbroken, thrown away like a piece of trash.Finally landed myself in a billionaire’s mess, an
VARYA’S POVThe constant beeping from my phone on the nightstand jolted me out of a restless sleep. I reached over and squinted my sleepy eyes at the TV. I kept seeing headline after story, each one more dramatic than the last.Everything in its path was being consumed by the scandal, which had taken on a life of its own."Mrs. Cassian Caught in Hotel Scandal: Cheating on Husband?""Cassian Family Business Suffers as Scandal Erupts!""Is CEO Kylo Divorcing His Wife Over Recent Scandal?"That last blow really hit me hard. I threw down the phone on the table and dropped my head into my hands as if I hoped this might bring some peace from everything surrounding me.My life had become a huge joke in public with all media taking up the news about it. My reputation was ruined and there were serious losses incurred by the Cassian family business because of that nasty incident.With great difficulty, I made myself get up and face the day, even though I wanted nothing more than to hide under t
KYLO’S POVThe office was quiet, too quiet. That kind of quiet gnawed away at my mind while letting the scandal send its tendrils back. The headlines were unceasing, daggers pointed directly at Cassian's family’s heart."Is CEO Kylo Divorcing His Wife Over Recent Scandal?"I clenched my jaw and slammed the laptop shut. The scandal had not only ruined Varya’s reputation but was also starting to damage the business. Clients were getting spooked, investors were nervous. This was exactly what I had always tried to avoid.As I drove home my head was a mess of anger and confusion. Varya had let me down and also our family, now our name was mud because of Varya.But there was also one more thing I did not want to acknowledge: the pain. Why was it that painful? The marriage was not based on love. It was an economic deal. So when she betrayed me why did it feel like someone hit me in the stomach?I drove into the driveway and stayed there for a minute in my car taking deep breaths. I needed to
KYLO’S POVThis morning was full of confusing meetings and telephone calls which bored me from one occasion to another. Everybody else seemed to be haunted by the Varya affair and its resulting effects on business but I still tried bearing with them until lunchtime when I found myself out of patience.The wretched things were happening; people would come in here at odd hours and invade my privacy when all I wanted was some peace to ponder about life’s matters. My table appeared as if it hadn’t seen life for ages.Suddenly without knocking the door swung open bringing Dora and Cassandra who wore faces that said one thing - they were determined to know more or less everything behind everything. However, this particular discussion had been anticipated long enough for sometimes to follow through.“Kylo,” began Dora sweetly smirkingly, “let’s have a word concerning Varya.”I flinched back from my chair looking utterly apathetic despite the confusion in their eyes. "What about her?"Cassand
DORA’S POVAs he walked from one corner of his study to the other, a storm of conflicting emotions on his face, I realized with an awful sense of satisfaction that I was savoring. It had separated them but now was time for me to take my next step.Varya had already done the damage; this seemed an opportunity for me to cause closeness to Kylo.My strategy began small at first with minor but deliberate acts. I ensured to be there whenever he sought assistance by lending an ear and a shoulder for him to cry on. Initially, he was aloof and absorbed in the aftermath of embarrassment.However, over time he became less guarded around me by expressing his frustrations and pain.Through the keyhole when I passed his office one night, I heard him talking bitterly about some matters to himself. Knocking lightly at the door I entered without knocking again."Kylo are you fine?" I asked softly as though there was something serious about it was like that.He looked straight up at me while dodging e
DORA’S POV “Good morning, Kylo already had his face buried in a newspaper when I got to the breakfast table” He raised his eyes towards me as I entered hinting at anger and determination. “Dora, have you seen this?” asked he lifting up the paper. With a seat next to him, I nodded at him indicating that I had seen it all. “It’s shameful.” He sighed pulling his hair backward amusedly. “It’s incredible that everything ended up here like some kind of a nightmare that never goes away” To boost morale during our meal, I reached out a comforting hand towards his arms. “We’ll pull through this, Kylo.” Together, we shall face it.” Our plans were drawn through various conversations over breakfast. Each day brought forth more signs that Varya’s position was increasingly becoming untenable – there had been no stopping media hype around her since earlier times ago; likewise, Kaylo was under mounting pressure as well. “There’s a need for a decisive move,” I said lowering my voice to