LUCY..Seeing him in such a state was heartbreaking. It was clear that the weight of his decisions had finally caught up with him. He brought it upon himself. There was a sense of helplessness, knowing that he had the power to change his fate but chose not to. All he had to do to end this kind of pain was leave his toy and pick me up.“What wasn’t I doing right? Wasn’t I pretty enough?” I thought to myself. I replayed every moment in my mind, scrutinizing every word and action. I questioned whether I had missed something obvious or if there was a flaw in me that pushed him away.The self-doubt was overwhelming, a constant whisper in my mind that perhaps I wasn’t enough. I wondered if I could have done something differently, something better, to change the outcome. The uncertainty and insecurity gnawed at me, leaving me restless and searching for answers that might never come.What did he see in Binky? I couldn't understand it. I had seen her, and there was nothing special about her—
The toy...Jessie and I sat in the office, the table between us cluttered with stacks of papers, documents, notes, and reports, evidence of our ongoing project.Jessie’s eyes widened. “You really accepted the deal?” she asked, holding a pen in her hand, surprise boldly written on her face, the pen poised mid-air as if frozen in time. “It’s a trap. You know it’s a trap.”I sighed heavily. “There was nothing I could do. Mrs. Johnson wouldn’t take no for an answer,” I replied, frustration straining my voice. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on my chest.Jessie’s expression shifted from surprise to concern as she lowered the pen onto the table, her fingers drumming lightly on the cluttered surface.“So, what about Damon? Does he know you'll be planning Lucy's mother's party?” She asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern, leaning forward slightly, her eyes searching mine for answers.“Yes, I’ve told him,” I replied. I sighed, feelin
The toy...His eyes widened as he jerked back. “Binky!” His hands flew to cover his chest, but they couldn’t hide the bruises that coated almost every inch of his skin.A grimace formed on my face as my eyes trailed over the bruises. My heart sank when I saw the fading bruise around his face.“Who did this to you?” I questioned myself, my voice on the verge of breaking.“Is it only my face you care about?” A smile tugged at the left corner of his lips.“Of course not.” I threw a light punch at his hard chest. “What happened to you? Did you get involved in a street fight? How many were they? What did you do?” The deeper my heart sank, the more questions I bombarded him with.A slight frown creased his face. “I don’t want to talk about it. Just be glad I’m okay.”I sighed in defeat, knowing if Damon didn’t want to talk about something, he wouldn’t.He arched a brow. “What are you doing here?”I flung my hand behind my back, swinging my leg as I walked from his closet to his bedroom. “
The Toy.."Ariel," my mother called out, her voice fragile."No, it's me, Aria. Mummy, it's me.” I rushed to her side, taking hold of her hand. Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt her weak grip. My chest fluttered, but it felt mocking.Deep down, I knew she wasn’t looking for me. "See, Ariel has long hair; mine is short, Mummy," I said, my voice trembling with desperation and sadness.I gently stroked her hand, trying to anchor her to the present, hoping for a flicker of recognition. "It’s me, Aria," I repeated softly, searching her face.She frowned. "Why did you cut your hair? You looked prettier with it longer." Her hand rubbed my face with a tenderness that momentarily bridged the gap between her confusion and my reality.Her voice was soothing and calm, nothing like what I had imagined while reading her diary. She wiped my tears with her hand, wearing a warm smile that made me yearn for her acceptance even more.“It’s me, not Ariel,” I whispered, my voice trembling with pain.
The CEO..Driving through the city of Madrid, heading to a business appointment I had set with a famous club owner, I read the headlines.‘More business moguls investing after Damon Wesley, a business tycoon, invest millions of dollars in Zee-Tech.The headline celebrated my unparalleled investment skills, highlighting that every business I backed had never experienced a loss under my influence.My phone rang, and as I glanced at the screen, I saw it was my father. His authoritative voice came through the line. "Have you seen the news?""Uh, yes, sir," I replied, unsure what he was on about.Can you see how you lead and others follow? He said it with a chuckle, his laugh dripping with pride."Uh, yes," I replied, even though I still didn’t know where he was headed with this. His chuckle hung in the air, leaving me both curious and slightly apprehensive about the direction of the conversation."In the business world, I've made you a god among men," he chuckled. "You should be gratef
The toy ..Walking through the hallways leading out of the hospital, my arms could barely support my bag, the weight seeming to increase with every step.I barely managed to reach my car, my legs heavy with exhaustion. Driving off toward the bustling city, my eyes struggled to stay focused on the road. Everything replayed in my head over and over again, each memory a relentless reminder of the day's events. By the time I arrived home, I felt utterly drained, my body and mind begging for rest.I went straight to my room, tiredly shedding my clothes without care for where they fell. Walking into the bathroom, I craved the relief of a hot shower. The sound of water hitting the tiles was soothing, a brief escape from the exhaustion that had settled deep in my bones.Dressing as quickly as possible, knowing I was late for work, my movements were hurried and clumsy, a stark contrast to my usual routine. With no time to spare, I grabbed my bag and rushed out the door...Entering my offic
The CEO ..I got out of the car, the warm evening air hitting my face as I closed the door behind me. Before me stood a large, impressive club, its grand entrance illuminated by stylish lights. The building exuded an air of exclusivity and elegance; its sleek design was an attestation to modern architecture. I couldn't help but smirk as I took in the sight. "Well, well," I murmured to myself, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. Indeed, I was thoroughly impressed by the grandeur that lay before me.The bouncer kept unwelcome guests from entering, his imposing figure ensuring that only those invited could pass through the doors. I walked in, the atmosphere immediately enveloping me with its blend of luxury and sophistication. Shortly after, I was joined by Mr. Andres."Welcome, Mr. Wesley. I'm glad you could join us," he said. He stood tall, his legs slightly spread wide, and his chin held high. It was clear that he was proud of his club."Thank you, Mr. Andres. Your club i
The toy.. In the therapist's office, the serene atmosphere that once comforted me whenever I came here couldn’t ease the burden my heart was carrying.“Hi Aria, welcome back. I noticed you’ve missed a few sessions recently. Is there something specific that brought you in today, or anything you’d like to talk about?” Amelia stated as she settled down in her seat, her big jotter on her lap and a pen in her left hand.Swallowing hard, I sighed. “For some time, it just feels like something is hanging in my throat.”“I understand that life can get very busy, and it sounds like you’ve been dealing with a lot. Would you like to talk more about what’s been happening at work and in other areas of your life?”“I don’t even know where to begin,” I responded.“It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. We can start wherever feels most comfortable for you. Is there a particular event or feeling that’s been on your mind lately, or something you’d like to explore first?” Amelia encouraged me to ponder aloud.