ROCHELLE Their fiancee?The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the sprawling estate that was home to Aries, Adrien and I. I stepped into the entrance hall, my heart heavy and throat tight with disappointment. Just earlier that evening, they had canceled our plans for a movie date, citing a sudden emergency business meeting. I felt as though I were trapped in a gilded cage—beautiful yet suffocating, high above the world where no one could see my struggles.They had promised to make it up to me, but after so many empty promises—skipped dates and forgotten plans—I couldn’t help but feel li
ROCHELLE One question begging for an answer! “Rochelle, I know exactly what you are,” Julie paused, her eyes fixed on me. “You are priceless.”A flickering flame of hope ignited within me at her words, but uncertainty quickly doused it. “And what does that mean if they’re parading around with another woman? I can’t just stand on the sidelines, feeling like a number in their game.”“You won’t be a number. You’ll take charge! Have you talked to them about how this makes you feel?” she pressed, leaning forward on the café table, her hands clasped together.“You speak as if you don't know already! All they see is a sexy distraction,” I sighed, feeling the weight of my frustration settle between our conversation. “I don’t want to be a toy. I want something real, something that goes beyond the surface. But they’re playing a game they’ve created, and I’m not invited.”Julie took a deep breath, looking thoughtfully at the door as if searching for the right words.
ADRIEN Confrontation and DesiresThe morning sun filtered through the expensive curtains of the penthouse, spilling golden light across immaculate floors. I paced the spacious living room, running a hand through my tousled hair, still raging over the conversation I’d had with my brother, Aries.“Aries,” I had said, barely managing to keep my voice steady, “what kind of stupid decision is it to bring Delight here? Do you even listen to yourself?”"But she’s family now!" Aries shot back, his hazel eyes flashing with defiance. “You think I wanted this? I didn’t know she would make such a request.”“Of course, you did!” I fired back, frustration boiling over. “You wanted to impress her, to make her happy, which, by the way, is the worst possible idea. Haven’t you thought this through? Delight is not just some random woman. She’s the worst complication we could have right now. She’ll mess everything up right before our eyes! She'll fucking blow our cover!”My brother crossed his arms
ADRIEN A tough ask!“Rochelle, I…” I began, but I could feel the anxiety creeping back in, and her expression shifted from soft to guarded. It seemed the day of passionate surrender brought with it new tensions we hadn’t discussed yet.And then it landed squarely on me, the urgency to face the consequences of my actions. As if reading my thoughts, she pulled away, leaving the warmth of our bodies behind as she shuffled out of bed and grabbed the oversized sweater again, enveloping herself in layers, a permanent barrier once more.“Maybe you should leave,” she said, hurt lacing her tone. My heart sank, realizing the burden my brother’s decision had added to what ought to be straightforward.“Rochelle, I don’t want it to end like this,” I urged, my own intensity fading into desperation. “You know how I feel about you. This last night was…” I hesitated, the words heavy and stumbling. “I don’t want to lose what we could have.”“Delight was right. I'm not good for any of yo
ROCHELLE Playing games!Eventually, I’d had it up to my neck. My life had turned into a twisted carnival ride of desires gone wrong. It wasn’t enough to just be involved with Adrien and Aries, brothers whose smiles could launch a thousand ships—or at least, a thousand insecurities within me. Like I said before, I wanted more than the fleeting touches of passion. I craved a connection that was deeper than skin. But sharing their attention with that golddigger extinguished that hope almost immediately. Again, they hadn’t even bothered to deny it, and that truth stung like salt in a wound.Driven by a storm of emotions erupting from my heart and a fierce determination to feel something—anything other than the bitterness Delight brought into my life—I started going out more frequently. To spite Aries and Adrien, I kissed random guys, bringing them home to our shared space. Oh, how delightful it was to see the tension in their faces, the fury in their eyes, and the hints of
ROCHELLE It's not working!A week passed, and my defiance turned into an all-out rebellion. I met more guys—each kiss filled with spite and rebellion. I recalled how Aries once pulled me close and whispered sweet nothings when I least expected it. I longed for that connection, but instead, I found myself challenging the very boundaries they had set.Then, there came a night I truly thought I had crossed a line. I brought home a guy named Mike, who was a little too cocky for my taste but had a charming smile. We were entwined in laughter as we stumbled into the apartment, clearly much too overwhelmed from the night’s
ROCHELLE It's all messed up… again!After that call, I lay on my bed for a good while, staring at the ceiling. The money, the freedom, the lavish lifestyle—none of that mattered without warmth and honesty in my life. My avoidance tactics crumbled into ash.Later that evening, I tried to drown my insecurities and anxieties in the depths of a bottle of red wine. I convinced myself that I could go through the motions just one more time without caving into the despair I felt for being sidelined in this extravagant relationship.The doorbell rang, echoing through our lavish apartment as I rose unsteadily on my feet. When I swung the door open, my eyes fell on Adrien and Aries, each impeccably dressed but turbulent emotions sparkling in their eyes.“Good to see you’re ready for dinner,” Adrien remarked but his gaze dropped to the wine glass in my hand.“Oh, it’s just a little something to loosen up,” I said, feigning nonchalance.He frowned. “You look unwell, Rochelle.”“Don’t fus
ARIES He blew hot!The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the silence that filled the room. Adrien sat across from me, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression calm and unbothered. Meanwhile, my blood was boiling. I slammed my hand on the table, making the papers and coffee mug shake slightly.“Adrien, I can’t do this anymore,” I said through gritted teeth. “She’s driving me insane!”Adrien arched an eyebrow, not moving an inch. “Aries, you’ve been saying that for days now. You’re still breathing. Barely insane.”“Don’t test me,” I growled. “This is serious, Adrien. Rochelle acts like she owns this place. You saw what she did to Delight earlier, right? She couldn’t even sit on the couch without Rochelle glaring at her like she was some criminal trespassing on her territory.”Adrien rubbed his temples, sighing deeply. “Look, I get it. Rochelle’s attitude is… difficult. But what do you want me to do? Kick her out? She has nowhere else to go.”I threw my hands in
DELIGHT Out of sight!I stared at my phone for what felt like the hundredth time that day, my patience thinning with each passing second. Aries and Adrien had promised to call as soon as the arms for Edgar were ready. It wasn’t just any arms deal—this was for Edgar, the ruthless Mafia lord of the Red Sect, and he was breathing down my neck with threats that didn’t feel empty.I couldn’t understand it. Aries and Adrien were never this careless, especially not with Edgar involved. They had assured me they’d handle everything, and all I needed to do was show up and pick up the supplies. But here I was, waiting like a fool, trying to calm my nerves.The silence was maddening. I tapped my phone, pulling up Aries’ number first. It rang and rang, but he didn’t pick up. Next, Adrien. Same result. I left a voicemail, trying to keep my tone even though I was fuming inside.“Aries, Adrien, it’s Delight. Where the hell are you guys? Edgar’s losing his patience, and so am I. If
ADRIEN The only way out!I felt a knot in my stomach as the cops carefully searched through our things. I could practically feel the tension in the air, like this whole encounter was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off.After what felt like hours—although it was likely just a few minutes—the officers stepped back into the living room, empty-handed but not defeated. “We know you two have your hands dirty,” the lead officer said, fixing us both with a steely gaze. “You’re not as smart as you think you are. We will be keeping our eyes on you.”Aries scoffed. “You can’t prove anything against us. You’ve got nothing. We’re innocent. You found nothing on us, remember.”“You can play that game all you want,” the officer replied coldly. “But mark my words, we won’t be far behind you.”“Hope you keep up with the pace of the game,” Aries smiled.“We shall see about that,” he replied.With that, they turned and left, the door clicking shut behind them. The moment we were al
ADRIEN A City on FireThe tension in the city was thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel it in the air every time I stepped outside. The streets that had once buzzed with life were now filled with an ominous silence, interrupted only by the distant sounds of sirens and gunfire. Each day brought new reports of gang wars escalating, innocent lives caught in the crossfire. My heart sank further with each headline I read or news bulletin I heard. This was no longer a city; it had become a battleground.Sitting in our living room that afternoon, I glanced over at Aries, who was scrolling through a news article on his phone. His face was set in a frown, evidence of the weight pressing down on his shoulders. Both of us had seen what this life did to the people of this city, yet here we were, playing our part in it. “Look at this, Adrien,” Aries said, his voice gruff. “Another shooting last night. A seven year old girl. Just like that, her li
ROCHELLEI broke the ice!The rhythmic sound of my heart thumped loudly in my ears as I lay in bed. I couldn’t shake the burning memory of dinner with Prince Herold from last night. The disdain he had for women echoed in my mind like a haunting song. How could someone so powerful be so disgustingly ignorant?Just as I settled deeper into my thoughts, a heavy bang jolted me awake.“Open the fucki
ROCHELLE Racist!As Dos Santos led me back toward the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment. I had finally seen them again, and now I had to leave? Why was everything so complicated?The ride back to the mansion felt like a blur. I sat in silence, mulling over the events of the day. Deep down, I wished things were different, that I could just walk up to Aries and Adrien and tell them I was alive, that I was okay. Once we returned home, the maids were already waiting for me, dressed in their crisp uniforms, ready to prepare me for dinner. I had little choice in the matter; I could feel their urgency as they moved me to a lavish room filled with expensive beauty products.“Please, who is this boss?” I asked one of the maids while they applied makeup, but she remained silent as always, only smiling at me. It frustrated me to hell, honestly.“Is he important? What does he look like?” I couldn’t help but press. Again, I was met with silence and mo
ROCHELLEI saw them… Aries and Adrien!I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the large window of my room. The sun streamed in, painting the walls golden. For a moment, I forgot where I was. My memories raced back, grabbing hold of me like a vise. I was no longer in my own home, but rather a mansion I didn’t recognize, hidden away in Tijuana, Mexico.Every morning was the same. I would stretch, taking in the lavish surroundings that felt eerily like a dream. I looked around a
ADRIEN More questions than answers!We moved from clinic to clinic, asking questions, scanning records, but still no sign of Rochelle. Frustration began sinking in, gnawing at the edges of our hopes. At one hospital, we were met with the same disheartening response—they had no record of her. I could feel the spark of hope dimming, giving way to doubt. “What if the sheriff was right?” I asked Aries, dread pooling in my stomach. “What if she really is gone? What if it was another person's autopsy result that was mistaken for Rochelle's?”A lot of what ifs.“No!” he snapped, determination coursing through him. “I refuse to believe that. Rochelle is strong. She wouldn’t just disappear into thin air without leaving us a clue as to what happened. Come on, don't tell me you've given up”“I don't know what to say,” I admitted.“Then let's talk less and act more,” he said. “We have a long way to go before we can call it quits,” he added.There was nothing to admire about his faith… bli
ADRIEN Searching for the dead!I could barely contain my excitement as I sat in the car next to Aries. It felt surreal that we were driving to the sheriff's office, finally about to confront the circumstances surrounding Rochelle. The thought that she might still be alive was like a burning flame in my chest. We hadn’t spoken much since we got the news, but every glance I tossed at Aries echoed the same sentiment. Hope.“Can you believe it?” I said, breaking the silence that clung heavily between us. “Rochelle might actually be out there!”Aries turned to me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and excitement. “I can’t. I always thought... I thought we’d lost her for good. After everything.”I nodded, feeling my pulse quickening as we pulled into the small parking lot of the sheriff’s office. “Let’s find out how far they’ve gone in trying to find her. We need to know, dammit.”We entered the building, and instantly I felt the change in atmosphere. The walls carried a weight
DELIGHT Covering my tracks!The world stood still when I heard the news. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The autopsy showed that Rochelle was not the woman buried.What? How?My nails dug into the soft leather of the armchair as the information sank in. It couldn’t be. I had made sure of it. Rochelle was supposed to be dead, lying six feet under, with no way of ever coming back to haunt me. But now, the news confirmed what I feared the most. I clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white.“Are you okay, Delight?” Adrien’s voice cut through my racing thoughts.I quickly schooled my expression, offering him a weak smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”But they weren’t looking at me. Aries and Adrien were completely engrossed in the news report on the TV. For the first time in several weeks, I saw the fire in their eyes, the spark that Rochelle’s supposed death had dimmed. And it made my blood boil.“Did you hear that?” Aries said,