"It's an accident," the driver repeated, his voice a strained monotone, a mantra he clung to even as the flashing blue lights of the police cruiser illuminated the crumpled wreckage of the two vehicles.The officers, their faces grim and professional, weren't buying it. His insistence, though persistent, lacked conviction, a subtle tremor betraying his inner turmoil. They escorted him to the patrol car, the promise of a thorough investigation hanging heavy in the air.At the sterile confines of the police station, the driver's facade began to crumble. The dreaded alcoblow test, a routine procedure, revealed a trace of alcohol in his system."I'm coming from an office party," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously. "Just a little to drink, you know? Maybe that's why I was overspeeding."He seized upon the overspeeding angle, a desperate attempt to deflect blame. He painted a picture of a momentary lapse in judgment, a simple mistake fueled by a celebratory drink. He hoped the police
The tension in the living room was thick, a suffocating blanket of unease. "I think I am the one being targeted, but why?" Megan repeated, her voice barely a whisper. The question hung in the air, unanswered, a dark cloud over their impromptu strategy session.Together with Athena and Cindy, they were analysing the situation.Cindy, who had just returned from a brief phone call, settled onto the sofa, a troubled expression on her face. "Liana's definitely out of the picture. My brother confirmed she's been in the hospital for a week; she tried to take her life and has been in ICU. So, we can cross her off the list.""Which leaves…Briana," Athena said, the name heavy with unspoken implications."Briana?" Megan repeated, the name a bitter taste in her mouth. "But would she go this far? To…to try and kill me?"The memory of their confrontation flashed before her eyes: Briana, her face flushed with rage, accusing Megan of trying to steal her man. The scuffle that followed, a blur of an
Logan emerged from the sleek, black sedan, the car door clicking shut with a muffled thud. He slid on his mirrored sunglasses, the cool lenses a stark contrast to the sweltering heat radiating from the sun-baked earth. This was a place erased from digital maps, a phantom location beyond the reach of GPS satellites, a deliberate absence on the grid. He stood on the edge of a small, dense forest, a labyrinth of gnarled trees and shadowed undergrowth, punctuated by the dark mouths of hidden caves. Rough, untamed roads, barely more than trails, snaked through the wilderness, leading to destinations unknown or, perhaps, deliberately obscure. The gate, a masterfully crafted illusion of interwoven branches and verdant foliage, blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment. It swung open silently, revealing a vast, verdant expanse, a hidden valley teeming with life. From the periphery, one could discern the silhouettes of wild beasts, their forms moving with a primal grace ag
The procession led to the cemetery. The mood was somber and dark clouds hung in the sky, threatening to burst open as the crowd walked slowly behind the white casket that was on a cart, highly decorated with purple and green ribbons. The cart was being pulled by black mares that trotted with their heads held high as if they knew the magnitude of their duty.The purple ribbons signified the highest rank that the deceased had held in the army; before retirement, he was the Major General, answering directly to the President. The green ribbons represented the clan color of the Waynes, the wealthiest family that ruled the business society in the country.A lady in her late sixties was being held on both sides by two gentleman as they helped her up the slope where the family cemetery was situated. On her right was her only son while her nephew, the son to her younger brother, held her left hand. She sniffed and shivered slightly in the cold and immediately, a young lady with gentle but sorr
By the time that Megan reached home, lunch was being served in the dining room. She had no appetite not the mood to face any kind of humiliation or insults from the family it was better to just hide in her bedroom.Mother Elizabeth was seated at the head of the table as she had taken over as the head of the family now that the patriarch had fallen. Rich was seated at her right with Liana by his side. Cindy, Rich's younger sister was seated on her mother's left hand with her uncle and cousin who had come to live with them after the passing of Father Wayne. The only seat left was next to Liana and there was no way that Megan was going to degrade herself to seat there. “Mother may I be excused? I am not feeling well so I will not be having lunch.” She did with her head bowed.“Will you stop being such a drama queen? Father is no longer here to see your acting” her sister-in-law admonished her. She had never liked Megan and did not understand why her father had to face her brother I to m
Liana was caressing Rich's back, tracing his spinal cord with her fingers which sent shivers down his back. He loved the feeling of her hands on him and was soon raining kisses on her throat as he grunted. Because she was the facing the house, Liana could see Megan looking out of her bedroom window that was on the first floor. She took Rich's hand and placed it on the slit of her skirt as she spread her legs wide while still keeping her eyes on Megan. The sooner Megan knew her place in Rich's life, the earlier she would work at divorcing him, Liana thought.Rich who’s back was facing the house had no idea that his wife was looking at them and was engrossed in his business of pleasuring his woman as his fingers caressed her thigh.The section of the garden where they were standing was surrounded by various plants making it a good hiding spot so he had no worry of being exposed.As the kiss deepened and the heat was rising between them, Rich took a hold of her panty and stretched it to
“Rich, have you had dinner, I can make a plate for you.” she offered as she got up from the couch. She had saved a plate for him during dinner and all she had to do was to warm the food. Before she could even take a step, Rich turned to look at her, a sneer on his face.“Did I say that I want anything from you? Why are you even talking to me?” He had a disgusted look on his face. He hated this person standing near him with a passion. Just the thought of being in one house with her was always revolting to him.Megan hung her head low in humiliation. Whenever she tried to have a conversation with him, it always ended up in a bad way either with him insulating her of or he would just walk away as if she did not exist.“I am sorry but please I would like to discuss something with you if you can spare a few minutes for me”, she braced herself for more insults but Rich remained silent.He never liked being in the same space with her but since everyone had gone to bed and it was just the two
Megan had already spent two weeks looking for a job to no avail. She would leave the house early in the morning with Benny as she dropped him off at school then head out job searching.It became a routine for her to go into the cyber café in town to search and apply for jobs in the internet. After spending about three hours doing this, she would then start walking in the offices around in search of job vacancies while dropping her resumes.The one disadvantage that she encountered was that the companies wanted someone with at least two years of experience in a prior job so even though she had the papers to prove her qualifications as a Human Resource Manager, she failed in the interviews when it came to work experience.All this could have been made easier for her if her husband had agreed to get her a position at the company.This was all her fault, she thought as she got into the car to pick up Benny from school in the afternoon. If only she had not rushed to get married to her uni
Logan emerged from the sleek, black sedan, the car door clicking shut with a muffled thud. He slid on his mirrored sunglasses, the cool lenses a stark contrast to the sweltering heat radiating from the sun-baked earth. This was a place erased from digital maps, a phantom location beyond the reach of GPS satellites, a deliberate absence on the grid. He stood on the edge of a small, dense forest, a labyrinth of gnarled trees and shadowed undergrowth, punctuated by the dark mouths of hidden caves. Rough, untamed roads, barely more than trails, snaked through the wilderness, leading to destinations unknown or, perhaps, deliberately obscure. The gate, a masterfully crafted illusion of interwoven branches and verdant foliage, blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment. It swung open silently, revealing a vast, verdant expanse, a hidden valley teeming with life. From the periphery, one could discern the silhouettes of wild beasts, their forms moving with a primal grace ag
The tension in the living room was thick, a suffocating blanket of unease. "I think I am the one being targeted, but why?" Megan repeated, her voice barely a whisper. The question hung in the air, unanswered, a dark cloud over their impromptu strategy session.Together with Athena and Cindy, they were analysing the situation.Cindy, who had just returned from a brief phone call, settled onto the sofa, a troubled expression on her face. "Liana's definitely out of the picture. My brother confirmed she's been in the hospital for a week; she tried to take her life and has been in ICU. So, we can cross her off the list.""Which leaves…Briana," Athena said, the name heavy with unspoken implications."Briana?" Megan repeated, the name a bitter taste in her mouth. "But would she go this far? To…to try and kill me?"The memory of their confrontation flashed before her eyes: Briana, her face flushed with rage, accusing Megan of trying to steal her man. The scuffle that followed, a blur of an
"It's an accident," the driver repeated, his voice a strained monotone, a mantra he clung to even as the flashing blue lights of the police cruiser illuminated the crumpled wreckage of the two vehicles.The officers, their faces grim and professional, weren't buying it. His insistence, though persistent, lacked conviction, a subtle tremor betraying his inner turmoil. They escorted him to the patrol car, the promise of a thorough investigation hanging heavy in the air.At the sterile confines of the police station, the driver's facade began to crumble. The dreaded alcoblow test, a routine procedure, revealed a trace of alcohol in his system."I'm coming from an office party," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously. "Just a little to drink, you know? Maybe that's why I was overspeeding."He seized upon the overspeeding angle, a desperate attempt to deflect blame. He painted a picture of a momentary lapse in judgment, a simple mistake fueled by a celebratory drink. He hoped the police
They had been in a serious accident. "Athena, just call the police," Megan said, her voice firm. "Let them handle this." She pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialled Logan’s number. She needed to let him know what had happened, to give him their location. He would know what to do.As she spoke to Logan, relaying the details of the accident, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Athena’s reaction, the sheer ferocity of her attack, seemed disproportionate to a simple traffic accident. But she trusted Athena’s instincts, and she knew that if Athena felt something was wrong, then something probably was. Still, she wanted to follow the procedure and ensure everything was handled by the proper authorities.The moment the man heard the word "police," a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He made a sudden, desperate attempt to scramble to his feet, but Athena, her reflexes honed to a razor’s edge, reacted instantly. She slammed him back dow
Megan's gaze drifted, unfocused, as she settled into the plush leather of the company car's backseat. The city lights blurred into streaks of color, mirroring the chaotic whirl of thoughts in her mind. Athena, ever vigilant, her assistant, bodyguard, and now, trusted driver, navigated the winding streets with a practiced ease that Megan had come to rely on. The company had furnished her with the executive-level car, a perk befitting her position as Vice President.Logan, with his characteristic blend of generosity and persistence, had also offered her a sprawling, impeccably designed house but Megan had politely declined.It wasn't a matter of ingratitude, but a desperate need for the familiar. The bond she'd forged with Athena and Cindy in their home, had been instrumental in her arduous journey of healing. Their little home, a haven of warmth, love, and the comforting rhythm of everyday life, provided the emotional stability she craved. The thought of exchanging it for the ster
After Briana had been kicked out by the security team, the company settled down. Logan called Megan to his office because she was still shaken up. He watched her walk in, fragile but guarded and all he wanted to do was envelope her in a protective hug. Megan sat nervously across Logan, the huge mahogany office desk creating a boundary between them. "Megan, thank you for coming in. I wanted to address what happened just now." He said as he tried to read her face. "Oh Okay," Megan looked down as she intertwined her fingers. "First, I want to be absolutely clear: there is nothing, and I mean nothing, going on between Briana and myself." "I don't even understand why she would think that we have a thing going on". He continued but Megan only gave a slight nod, her eyes avoiding him. "I also want to apologize for any discomfort or distress that Briana caused you. That was completely unacceptable." Megan trembled slightly. It was… unsettling, to say the least, but she remained silent
The sterile, hushed atmosphere of the ICU was a stark contrast to the storm brewing within its walls. Liana lay pale and still, a network of tubes and wires snaking across her body, the rhythmic beeping of the monitors a constant, unsettling pulse. After hours in the operating theatre, she was alive, but barely. The doors to the ICU burst open, and Liana's parents, their faces etched with grief and rage, stormed in. Their eyes, red and swollen, immediately locked onto Rich and Beth. "What have you done to her?!" Liana's mother shrieked, her voice cracking with emotion. "You've driven her to this! You've pushed her too far!" Liana's father, his face a mask of fury, pointed a trembling finger at Rich. "You! You're the reason she's lying there! You never appreciated her! You never deserved her!" "How could you let this happen?" Liana's mother wailed, her voice rising in hysteria. "She was always so happy, so vibrant! You've destroyed her!" Beth, her own guilt a heavy weight in her
He lurched forward, his hand instinctively reaching for her wrist, searching for a pulse. The water, now a chilling, viscous crimson, sloshed as he moved. His fingers, slick with the bloody water, fumbled against her skin, finding it cold and unnervingly still. A wave of nausea washed over him, the scent of iron thick in his nostrils. He pressed his fingers harder, desperately trying to feel the faintest thrum of life. Nothing. A strangled gasp escaped his lips, a sound of pure, raw terror. He yanked her arm up, the delicate white rose petals clinging to her skin, now stained a gruesome pink. He stared at the deep, ragged cuts, the blood still seeping slowly into the water, and a primal scream threatened to erupt from his chest. He had to do something.Anything. He couldn't just stand there, watching her slip away. He fumbled for his phone, his hands shaking so violently he almost dropped it. He had to call Brian. He had to call an ambulance. He had to save her.Brian rushed
"Sir, maybe you should go back and check on her." Brian was a worrier, and he had heard what Liana had said on the phone.In the bedroom, Liana had changed into a silky black lingerie that hugged her bust and hips, accentuating her small waist.She then filled the bathtub with water and taking the white rose flowers that she had decorated the room with, she started to slowly remove the petals, placing them from the door all the way to the bathroom. She then sprinkled some in the bathtub, leaving them floating.After admiring her handiwork, she took a glass of wine and sat on the bed, perusing a fashion magazine where she was featured on the cover as she waited.Rich lifted his glass and then put it down again without drinking. Something flashed in his mind but disappeared before he could process the thought.He had always been alcohol tolerant and knew his limit, so he didn't understand how, on that particular night, he was so drunk that he couldn't remember signing the divorce papers