CHAPTER 17 ANNAAs I step into the house, an eerie silence greets me. Once neat and inviting, the living room now looks like a war zone.The coffee table is overturned, and the cushions from the sofa are slashed open, foam spilling out. Picture frames of my parents lie shattered, their glass fragments glinting menacingly in the dim light. I move slowly, my heart pounding, noticing the gaping emptiness where the television and other electronics used to be.In the kitchen, cabinet doors hang open, and broken dishes litter the countertops and floor. The refrigerator door is wide open, its contents hastily ransacked. I step over the debris, feeling anger and sadness wash over me.As I head upstairs, my footfalls echo in the unsettling quiet. The bedrooms are no better; closets are emptied, and clothes and personal belongings are tossed carelessly around. I pause at the doorway of the master bedroom, seeing the open safe with its contents missing.The sense of violation is overwhelming. I
CHAPTER 18ANNAThe morning light filters softly through the curtains, waking me gently from my slumber. I forget where I am for a moment, but the cozy surroundings quickly remind me of Lola’s guest bedroom. I stretch and sit up, feeling more rested than I have in days.I swing my legs over the side of the bed and slip into my slippers. The house is quiet, and I can hear the faint chirping of birds outside. It’s a peaceful sound, a stark contrast to the turmoil of yesterday. I gather my things and head to the bathroom down the hall to freshen up.After a quick shower, I make my way downstairs. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee greets me, mingling with the scent of something delicious cooking. I follow the smells to the kitchen, where I find Lola at the stove, flipping pancakes."Good morning," she says with a bright smile. "I hope you slept well.""I did, thank you. This smells amazing," I reply, taking a seat at the kitchen island.Lola hands me a steaming mug of coffee. "I thought
CHAPTER 19ANNAThe day of the funeral dawns gray and sad as if the sky itself mourns my father’s passing. I stand at the entrance of St. Mary’s Church, feeling the chill in the air seep into my bones. Friends and family mill around, their faces etched with sorrow, sharing quiet condolences and supportive hugs.Inside, the church is filled with the soft strains of Beethoven, the music echoing through the vaulted ceilings. The scent of lilies and roses fills the air, their white petals starkly contrasting to the darkness I feel inside. I take a deep breath and step forward, my heart heavy with grief. Damien really sorted everything as he said and I am grateful.As I walk down the aisle with Lola, I see my father’s casket at the front of the church, draped in a simple, elegant cloth. Tears blur my vision, and I feel Damien’s stare on me. Lola holds my hand, gently squeezing it, reminding me that I’m not alone.We take our seats in the front row, and I can feel the weight of everyone’s ey
CHAPTER 20ANNAThe next morning, I wake up to a house that feels too quiet, too still. The weight of yesterday hangs heavily in the air, and I don’t move for a moment, staring up at the ceiling. It takes a few seconds to remember where I am—Lola’s guest room.I pull myself out of bed, every movement slow and heavy. The sunlight filters weakly through the curtains, casting a dull glow on the walls. It doesn’t feel like a new day; it feels like a continuation of the one before, as if time is stuck in the same endless loop of grief.I shuffle to the bathroom, splash cold water on my face, and stare at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are puffy, red-rimmed, and exhausted. I barely recognize the person looking back at me. It’s like I’ve aged years in a day.When I finally step into the hallway, I hear the faint clinking of dishes coming from the kitchen. Lola’s already up, of course—she’s always been the early riser, the one who keeps things together. The smell of coffee drifts throug
ANNAI walk into the wedding planner's office with a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. Damien is already there, sitting stiffly in one of the plush chairs, his jaw set in a hard line. He barely glances up when I enter, his focus fixed on the wedding planner’s notes spread out on the table.“Glad you could finally make it,” he says, his tone clipped. The wedding planner, a petite woman with perfectly coiffed hair and a bright smile, looks up at me with a warm greeting, but I can barely muster a nod in return.I take a seat beside Damien, the tension between us palpable. My hands tremble as I reach for the glass of water in front of me, trying to steady my nerves. The planner starts going over the agenda, her voice chirpy and professional, but all I can hear is the echo of Damien's harsh words from our phone call.“We’ve got a lot to cover today,” the planner says, flipping through her notes. “First, let’s finalize the guest list. We need to make sure everyone important is includ
DAMIENI sit across from Anna in the wedding planner’s office, barely listening to whatever nonsense is being discussed. My mind is elsewhere—on the mess of this whole situation, on how suffocating it’s all become. She’s staring at me, I can feel it, but I refuse to meet her gaze. What’s the point? Every time I look at her, I see the weight of everything she’s been through, and it just drags me down.Then the planner’s phone buzzes, and I watch as she glances at the screen. Her face pales instantly, and she stammers something before pushing the phone across the table toward Anna. I keep my expression neutral. Whatever this is, I’ll deal with it like I always do.Anna’s hand shakes as she picks up the phone, and for a second, I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. But as soon as she reads the message, She looks at me like I’m some monster, and maybe I am, but I’m not about to grovel.“What is it?” I ask, my tone flat, completely unbothered. She whispers something about it being about m
ANNA I’m still reeling from the video, the video of Damien intimate with the other lady still burns in my mind, but I force myself to stay calm. My heart feels like it’s been ripped out of my chest, but I can’t let that show. Not now. Not when we’re so close to the end of this nightmare. Every step feels like walking through molasses, slow and heavy, dragging me down. But I keep going. I have to. There’s no other choice.Damien is still seated, his face a mask of indifference, as if nothing has happened. As if that video, the one that’s tearing me apart inside, doesn’t exist. I honestly don’t even know why I am reacting like this. As he said this is a contract marriage.The wedding planner glances between us, her eyes filled with pity, but I refuse to meet her gaze. I’m not here for sympathy as I know the kind of person I agreed to marry.“Let’s just get through this,” I say, my voice sounding steadier than I feel. I don’t want to talk about the video, what I’ve seen, or what it mea
ANNA I slump onto the couch, the weight of the day pressing down on my shoulders. My mind is a storm of thoughts and emotions, each one more overwhelming than the last. I don’t know how much longer I can keep holding it together. I feel like I’m going to break.Lola sits beside me, her face etched with concern. She’s been by my side through everything, and right now, she’s the only person I can trust. The only one who truly understands what I’m going through.“I can’t believe this is happening,” I whisper, my voice shaky. “I can’t believe I am getting married to that nonchalant fellow Damien in a matter of seven days.” Lola reaches out, taking my hand in hers. “I know, Anna. I know. But you need to think about what’s best for you. Do you want to marry him out of just fulfilment because I honestly believe that he doesn’t deserve you. I suggest you call this charade of marriage off Anna, just take a good look at yourself, girl. You’re a shadow of yourself, you’re not even married yet