Reigna“After you.” Opening the car door for me, I smiled at Carlisle before stepping in.He did everything—starting from packing up Erwin’s things, picking up the sleepy child, and even the task of driving us home“I really should’ve just taken a cab home.” I spoke as he started the engine. It was tough, trying to hide Erwin, being discreet, and even lying to my best friend, Venice!But for the child’s sake, and for my involvement of Carlisle’s secret, I must endure.“And have this brat whine about his mommy being away?” he grumbled, a low chuckle erupting afterwards. “No thanks.”The soft hum of the car engine filled the silence as we made our way home. Outside, the city lights flickered like a kaleidoscope of color, but my gaze lingered on the rearview mirror. Erwin was fast asleep in the back seat, his small hands clutching the edges of his blanket, his face relaxed in a way that only deep, innocent sleep could bring.“He fell asleep so quickly,” I murmured, breaking the silence.
Reigna“Did you really think you were good enough for me?” Axle’s voice was ice, slicing through the tension like a dagger.“What?” I whispered, my throat dry, my voice trembling as I stared at him. “Axle, I—”“Stop.” He raised a hand, silencing me. “You’re pathetic, Reigna. Always have been. Clinging to me like I was your lifeline, thinking you could actually keep up. Look at yourself.”I glanced down instinctively, my reflection in the mirrored walls mocking me. My office clothes hung loose and unflattering, my makeup smudged as if I had worked all day and tried too hard to look presentable.“You’re not worth anything,” Emma added, her tone saccharine, though her eyes gleamed with malice. “You never were. That’s why he came to me. Isn’t that right, Axle?”He smirked, nodding without hesitation. “That’s right. Emma was everything you could never be—beautiful, successful, confident. I needed a real partner, not some sad excuse of a woman trying to play house.”I staggered back a step,
ReignaToday, our setting is a bit...dramatically different.The evening air carried a chill, but stepping into the grand ballroom was like entering another world. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, their golden light reflecting off the glittering gowns and sleek tuxedos of the city’s elite.“Representatives for the XCC Corporation, CEO Carlisle Amoroso!”Applause echoed as the host announced his arrival.Carlisle Amoroso stood tall beside me, his presence commanding as always, dressed in a sharp black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, a subtle rebellion against the formal atmosphere.I adjusted the delicate strap of my dark emerald gown, the satin fabric cascading over my figure like water. I felt Carlisle's gaze linger for a moment before he turned his attention back to the crowd, his expression unreadable.“You’ll be fine,” he murmured, his deep voice low enough for only me to hear.“I know,” I replied, though my heart was po
ReignaThat scene from five days ago is stuck in my head!“Stop it.” mumbling to myself, I gave myself a few pats on the cheek, waking my system up to focus on my work. “He remembered nothing of it…Like I expected.” Sighing, I kept on walking a frustratingly slow pace on my way to take my break, feeling dejected even when I convince myself not to.Why am I so caught up with Carlisle?“Enough with it. I have much more problems at hand.”My birthday.Birthdays were overrated. Or maybe that was just what I told myself to feel better about the fact that no one ever made a big deal about mine. No family. No plans. Just another year marking time in the office, the air filled with the hum of keyboards and the endless scent of coffee.And tomorrow would be no different.Sighs. “Guess I’ll be swamped with work tomorrow again.”As I entered the break room during lunch, Venice was already there, stirring her coffee with a thoughtful look on her face. She glanced up when I walked in, her expressi
Reigna“Happy birthday to you…happy birthday, dear Reigna…”The apartment felt colder than usual, even with the heater humming faintly in the background. I sat at the small table in the kitchen, staring at the flickering candle atop a store-bought cake I hadn’t even bothered to cut. The flame wavered, much like my resolve not to cry.“Happy birthday to me.” Finishing the song that I sang for myself, I blew the candle, my eyes watched as the flames disappeared and smoke replaced the one bright light atop the cake.Birthdays weren’t supposed to feel this empty.A sudden knock at the door startled me, shattering the heavy silence. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Rising cautiously, I peered through the peephole, and my breath caught.“Axle.” I whispered.lMy ex. The man who had shattered me into a million pieces and left me to pick up the shards. He was drenched from the rain, looking oddly out of place yet annoyingly confident, as if he belonged here.I hesitated before opening the door. “Wha
ReignaThe morning felt like a cruel reminder of the night before. Pale sunlight filtered through the blinds, doing little to chase away the heaviness lingering in the air.I pulled my cardigan tighter around me, pacing the small space as I tried to make sense of the thoughts swirling in my head. Carlisle’s words replayed endlessly. Reigna won’t leave unless she’s told. Each time, it cut deeper.A knock on the door startled me. It wasn’t tentative; it was firm and deliberate. My heart leapt painfully in my chest. For a fleeting moment, I thought it was Carlisle.But when I opened the door, it wasn’t him. It was Axle, holding a brown paper bag and looking as unsure of himself as I’d ever seen him.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said, the bitterness in my tone making his expression falter.“I—I wasn’t expecting you to be here,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. His eyes darted past me to the apartment behind me. “I thought… I don’t know. I thought I’d drop this off and leave.”
CarlisleThe penthouse was eerily silent, save for the distant hum of the city lights below. Erwin’s muffled cries from the other room were a stark contrast to the usual laughter and chatter that filled the space when Reigna was here.“Why isn’t mommy coming home lately?”The emptiness pressed against me like a physical weight. I leaned heavily against the kitchen counter, staring blankly at the remnants of dinner—a shattered bowl on the floor, spaghetti sauce splattered across the pristine white tiles.“Did I do something wrong that mommy wants to leave Erwin behind?”The evening had been a disaster. Every attempt to calm Erwin, to coax him into eating, had been met with resistance. Reigna would have known what to do—she always did. But she wasn’t here, and I was failing.Tonight, like any other nights, his gentle questions turned into loud cries and tantrums.“Mommy!” Erwin’s voice pierced the quiet, sharp and tearful. “I want Mommy!”I turned toward the living room, my patience alre
ReignaThe past few days had blurred together, each one more suffocating than the last. I’d stopped going to work, stopped answering calls. My apartment had become my sanctuary and my prison, the walls closing in as I avoided the world outside. The ache in my chest refused to subside, but at least here, alone, I didn’t have to pretend.I was curled up on the couch, the television humming softly in the background, though I hadn’t been paying attention to it for hours. A knock at the door startled me out of my haze. My heart sank. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and I didn’t want to see anyone either.The knocking grew louder, more insistent.“Reigna! Open the door!”Emma.I froze, gripping the edge of the couch. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the silence of the apartment.“I told you, we should leave.” Another voice joined hers, lower and more frustrated. Axle.My stomach churned. Before I could decide what to do, the door flew open from God knows what kind of trick, and there they we
ReignaThe morning sun poured over the island in golden streaks, casting a warm glow over the sprawling estate that housed the guests of the charity gala. Everything looked postcard-perfect—the blue waves lapping at the white shore, the distant hum of morning chatter from the estate’s balconies, the glint of silverware catching the early light as staff prepared the grand breakfast buffet.It was beautiful.But it was suffocating.I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the elegant resort robe draped over my shoulders. I hadn’t slept much. The weight of the previous night still sat heavy in my chest, pressing against my ribs like an ache that refused to fade.Carlisle had played his part to perfection.And I had stood beside him, smiling, nodding, pretending like his words didn’t carve into me.I exhaled sharply, pushing the thought aside. There was no point in dwelling on it. We had agreed to this. I knew what I signed up for. It wasn’t supposed to hurt.A sharp knock on my door snapp
Reigna“As much as possible, never interact with them. Do you understand, princess?” His reminder echoed in my head the entire night—I obeyed, and basically, our set-up was him doing all the talking, and I am just there, nodding, smiling, or waving my and no.The ballroom continued to hum with life, laughter and conversations blending into the clinking of glasses and soft orchestral music in the background. The golden chandeliers above us flickered, casting an ambient glow that reflected off the sea of designer gowns and tailored suits. The auction had ended, but the night was far from over.Just a few hours more and maybe we could finally leave. I sat beside Carlisle, the taste of champagne still lingering on my lips, my fingers absently toying with the rim of my glass. My pulse had only just begun to settle after the tense exchange with Axle, but the weight of the evening still pressed down on me.This entire night had been suffocating.The scrutiny. The whispers. The way people lo
Carlisle“Are you doing fine?” I asked, glancing at her.Reigna hummed in response as she sat across from me, her gaze fixed on the open book in her lap. She wasn’t reading it—her eyes weren’t moving, and her fingers were gripping the pages too tightly. I knew she was nervous.The charity gala was supposed to be a platform to clear her name, a public display to shift the narrative, but it also meant walking into a lion’s den. The press would be relentless, the socialites unforgiving.And I had to be the cold, distant bastard they expected me to be.I took a slow sip of my whiskey, watching her beneath hooded eyes. She hadn’t spoken much since we boarded, but I could feel her unease.The moment the plane landed, my guard was up. “Remember what I told you before, princess?” before I stood up, I turned to face her, gauging her delicate features laced with anxiety.“About what?” she breathed, clearly intoxicated by the upcoming social battle. After a few moments, a hint of recognition is
Reigna“Say goodnight to mommy, little brat.” Carlisle grinned as he took Erwin away from my lap, earning us an ear piercing screech.“NOOO!”Laughing, I closed the story book and stood up to cup the little boy’s cheeks and kiss his forehead. “We’ve read two stories already, sweetheart. You have school tomorrow.” I tried to explain while caressing his cheeks, but he only pouted with a huff, crossing his cute little arms.“But how come dada gets to spend more time with you? He have work too!” he reasoned, making Carlisle and I blink and then look at each other, and before we knew it, we chuckled.“Well,” not knowing what to say, I smiled and turned to Carlisle, wanting him to explain on our stead.“Because adults get to sleep later and children don’t.” with his believable tone laced with his ‘no-more-questions-to-be-asked’ vibes, Erwin stared at him for a while before dramatically sighing.“Okay, goodnight, mommy.”***While Carlisle is working in his study room, I stayed inside while
CarlisleThe city lights flickered beyond the glass walls of my penthouse, a quiet hum settling in the space around me. It was past midnight, and yet, sleep was the furthest thing from my mind.“You’ve been drinking often, Carlisle.” I am too accustomed of her voice that I didn’t turn around—instead, I just savored the feeling of knowing she’s right behind me.“I need a break every now and then, princess.” I stood by the bar, a glass of whiskey in hand, the amber liquid swirling slowly as I stared at nothing in particular. My thoughts were a mess, tangled in things I didn’t know how to name, things I didn’t want to name.I had spent years building my walls, perfecting the art of control, of detachment. But lately, it felt like I was slipping, like something—or someone—was slipping through the cracks.“I don’t know what I should do to help, but I also don’t want to leave you alone either.”And that someone is here in my penthouse, unaware of the way she was pulling me under.I exhaled
Reigna“Mommy, I don’t really hate this, but why are you always h-”“-Happy to see him draw a family portrait.” Lucy cut off, chuckling nervously as she covered Erwin’s mouth. “That’s what he wanted to say, hehe.”I smiled, nodding at her given that I understand her—Erwin was supposed to ask why I’m always home, after all.Three days had passed since Axle showed up at the penthouse, and I hadn’t seen or heard from him since. Not that I expected him to stay quiet for long—he was stubborn like that, always believing he had a right to my life just because he was once a part of it. But right now, I had more important things to focus on.I leaned against the counter in the penthouse kitchen, staring into my untouched cup of coffee, the rich aroma doing little to soothe the tension knotting my shoulders. Carlisle was at work, and for the first time in days, I finally had a moment to breathe.Except, I wasn’t breathing. Not properly, at least. My mind kept circling back to the things I could
Reigna“Princess, if you’ll leave without permission, I’m locking you inside.”The penthouse was silent.Too silent.I shifted on the couch, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the afternoon pressing down on me like a heavy blanket I couldn’t shake off. Carlisle had left for work early, brushing his lips against my forehead with a whispered, Stay home, princess, please. Erwin had pouted the entire way out the door, clearly unhappy that I wasn’t coming along to watch him get on the school bus.And me? I was stuck here.The realization made something itch beneath my skin.I had tried to argue this morning, had insisted that I was fine, that I could go to work like any normal person would after a scandal, a confrontation with their ex, and an emotionally exhausting night.But Carlisle had simply given me that sharp, unyielding look of his—the kind that made resistance feel utterly useless—and said, You’re staying home today. And just like that, my fate had been sealed.I sighed, shift
CarlisleThe morning light spilled through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the penthouse. The city outside was already alive, the faint hum of traffic a distant backdrop to the quiet within. I had been awake for hours, my mind restless, my body tense. Sleep had never come easily for me, but last night, it had been damn near impossible. Not with Reigna so close, her presence a constant reminder of the storm circling us.I sat at the dining table, flipping through the morning paper, though my eyes barely skimmed the words. My focus kept drifting back to the woman still asleep in my bed—our bed. She hadn’t protested when I told her to stay. Hadn’t argued or insisted on going back to her room. Instead, she had simply curled up under the blankets, exhaustion claiming her before she could think twice about it.A part of me wanted to check on her, to make sure she was still there. But I forced myself to stay put, fingers tightening around the coffee mug in my hands.“Sir?”I looked u
ReignaThe silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words and unanswered questions.Carlisle’s silver eyes locked onto mine, his expression carefully controlled, but I could see it—the storm brewing beneath the surface. He was waiting, waiting for me to speak, to give him something, but my throat felt tight, my hands cold despite the warmth of the penthouse.I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to focus. "Someone called me again today." My voice was quieter than I intended, but I pushed through. "Twice. But it was about a different matter this time."Carlisle’s jaw ticked, his fingers flexing at his sides. "What did they say?"I hesitated. How was I supposed to explain the creeping dread, the feeling that no matter what I did, I was always a step behind whoever was pulling the strings? I swallowed hard, fingers curling into fists at my sides."They said I shouldn’t get too comfortable being Erwin’s mother," I admitted, keeping my voice even.His entire body stiffened, his posture