VARYA’S POVThe house felt close, the air thick with unheard speech and poised quarrels. I could not take it anymore as I felt myself closing in on its walls. I needed to think plainly so I chose to go for a walk hoping that perhaps the coolness of the night would provide clarity.When I slipped out through the unlocked gate of the front porch I covered myself using my shoulders wrapping my arms around them for comfort in that simple act. The road was quiet with only an elusive far noise from a car’s movement somewhere around.I kept my eyes bound on the soil; remaining in deep contemplation repeating over and over again about what had happened previously within several weeks ago. Kylo was too cold; there were some smug faces from both Dora and Cassandra; people would always say anything they wanted – it was just too much.When I finally reached where the pavement met the edge of the road, pausing a little to sort out my mind. Streetlights cast long and flickering shadows that were da
VARYA’S POVJasmin was seated near me, her eyes straying to Kylo sometimes who was looking ahead impassively. I had not yet wrapped my head around everything that had transpired earlier; my mind was fuzzy with confusion and fear.From the hospital to the accident to Kylo’s unexpected concern it all seemed like a blur in my memory. My body was sore but it wasn’t anything compared to the pain in my chest – an emotional injury that wouldn’t go away.We got to the mansion where I was completely worn out, both physically and emotionally drained. As we entered the large foyer, Cassandra and Dora were waiting for us in the living room.You could feel the heaviness in the air as they were about to add more on top of what was already weighing heavily on my shoulders.The drive had been quiet on Kylo’s part and therefore I found myself stealing glances at him trying to read his expression. Was he angry? Concerned? Did he regret staying by my side at the hospital? I couldn't tell.Cassandra was
VARYA’S POVIn my bed I remained, trapped in a storm of feelings, uncertain as to what was real or an imagination with the force of nature ever since it happened to me.The silence in the room was occasionally broken by some sounds coming from somewhere far away. All parts of me were sore, but even more unbearable was the hurt I felt inside me.The door creaked open, and I glanced up, expecting to see Kylo or Jasmin. But instead, Dora and Cassandra marched in with determination, their faces set with contempt.My heart sank as I saw Kylo following them, his face taut with frustration as he tried to call them back.“Varya needs to rest. Don’t disturb her,” Kylo’s voice was firm, but it fell on deaf ears.Cassandra was the first to speak, her tone dripping with scorn."In case you didn’t hear what my brother said earlier, let me make it clear. He doesn’t love you or care about you. He’s just doing his duties. So, if you played this accident game to get pity from him, it’s not happening.
KYLO’S POVI stood by the doorway, watching as Dora and Cassandra stormed into Varya's room with their usual determination. My attempts to call them back, to stop them from disturbing her, had fallen on deaf ears.They had always been headstrong, but this time, something felt different—a tension in the air that made my chest tighten with unease.“In case you didn’t hear what my brother said earlier,” Cassandra began, her voice laced with venom,“let me make it clear. He doesn’t love you or care about you. He’s just doing his duties. So, if you played this accident game to get pity from him, it’s not happening. Get well and get out of this house.”Her words struck like a dagger to my heart. I had said those things, hadn’t I? I had made it clear that I didn’t care, that I only wanted her to pay for the scandal she had caused.But hearing them repeated by Cassandra made them feel crueler than I had intended. Did I really mean it? Was I truly that indifferent?Before I could process my th
DORA’S POVThe atmosphere in Varya's room was thick with tension. Cassandra’s words hung in the air like a poisonous cloud, suffocating and malicious. I stood beside her, feeling the familiar rush of satisfaction as she delivered her venomous message to Varya.But something was gnawing at the edges of my confidence, a feeling I couldn’t quite shake.“And would she leave her house?”The unexpected voice from the doorway froze me in place. I turned slowly, my heart lurching in my chest. Grandpa Cassian stood there, his stern gaze sweeping over the room. The air seemed to be still as his presence demanded attention.My pulse quickened, and a cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck. What was he doing here? He wasn’t supposed to be back for another month. How much had he heard?Cassandra stammered beside me, her usual confidence faltering. “Grandpa, you weren’t supposed to be back until next month. We… we didn’t know.”Grandpa ignored her, his eyes now fixed on Varya. I followed his ga
KYLO’S POVThe moment the truth came out, everything shifted. As Grandpa Cassian spoke, detailing how he had seen Varya that day at the hotel, the weight of my actions started pressing down on me. I almost choked as it hit home—Varya wasn’t flirting with anyone else.She wasn’t cheating on me either. All these while I was punishing her for something that she did not do.The truth hit me like an uppercut to the ribs; I was left shaken and breathless. My thinking kept going over every mean thing I had said to her, every harsh stare and casual move away.I thought she had betrayed me and brought shame to our family name so much so that I couldn’t possibly think otherwise. And yet, here she was, standing innocent in the wake of my accusations.As Grandpa continued to speak, recounting his encounter with Varya, I couldn’t bring myself to look at her. Shame gnawed at me, biting deeper with each passing second.How could I have been so blind? So quick to judge without even giving her a chanc
VARYA’S POV The mansion feels so empty without Kylo. Each time I move, my feet make sounds that roll across the shiny floor; that is the only sound that reminds me of the loneliness that has set in my heart. One day I convinced myself that it was normal, that it was what was promised when we got married; it could never be about love and companionship but a part of me wants the man that made me feel safe in this cruel world. But he is not here; he has left for a business trip; I am here all alone with Dora and Cassandra. Whereas earlier they used to humiliate with their winks and sneers, now they are openly abusive. One hardly has to remind ourselves of it anymore. I can see it in the way they look at me; the hatred in their eyes, the way they speak to each other when they assume that I am out of earshot. The staff has also followed this trend and taken their positions. The respect that they used to keep in their behavior has transformed into rudeness. It’s in the way they bar
Every dawn, I wrestle out of bed, gripping the worn-out edges of a routine that’s barely keeping me intact. I stand up, get dressed, and make an attempt at readying myself for whatever lies ahead but it seems more challenging every day.The longer shockingly Kylo is away, the more I feel like am coming apart.I channel my attention towards work which is the only thing left in me under control. My designs have always served as an asylum to escape the stifling reality surrounding my life here. But even that doesn’t seem easy anymore. As I sit at my desk with my pencil poised above the paper, it wouldn’t allow any line to be drawn by hand.The blank page seems to taunt me as if reminding me about how hollow I am inside.It doesn’t help that Dora and Cassandra have made it their mission to destroy whatever little peace I have left. They’re always watching, waiting for me to slip up.It started with small things—misplacing my sketches, moving my tools so I’d waste time looking for them—but