The toy . “Ariel, save me!” I screamed, my eyes opened,casting its gaze on the ceiling. As I rose, I caught a whiff of pancakes. That’s right, Damon was here. I ran to the kitchen. I had to force Damon to sleep on the chair; I couldn’t bear the thought of him lying on a bed where I had sex with another man. Since I was mad at him about the charity event, he complied without suspecting anything. “Good morning, Binky.” Damon greeted me, standing shirtless with an apron on and exposing his perfectly sculpted muscles. “What are you doing in my kitchen?” I settled into the dining area situated at the center of the kitchen. “Our kitchen,” he retorted, "is making you breakfast.” Damon handed me a plate of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and hotdogs. “What happened to my alcohol?” He asked. My stomach twisted as I remembered myself and Logan drinking it yesterday. “I poured them down the sink,” I replied, turning my face away from him. “You what? That wine was motherfucking expensive.” He
The toy . Although it had been a week since Damon said he would handle the media, headlines still painted me as the crazy bitch. Meanwhile, pictures of him and Lucy have also been all over the media—romantic dates, holding hands at events. Seeing those photos made me relive the heartbreak all over again. Jessie and I had decided to go on vacation to get our minds off things. I glanced at the apartment, wondering how Damon would feel when he came back, and I realized I was gone. He’d definitely pull the life support on my mother by himself. “Our flight is at 11 a.m. We’ve got less than two hours to get to the airport.” Jessie reminded me. “You’re taking forever. Are you scared the Demon will pull your mother's life support with his bare hands?” Jessie chuckled. “You always know what I’m thinking.” I smiled, closing the door behind me. "That is why we are friends. Just tell him you are going on vacation. You need some time for yourself,” Jessie said, tossing the luggage
The CEO . It was like I was set on fire, my blood boiling at 100 degrees Celsius, as I saw those bloody, horny men flooding her comment. I posted it for myself—I scoffed at the message. If it’s for herself, then it should remain in her gallery, not on her social page. After writing a long paragraph about why she should arrange her bags and return to New York, I deleted it. I didn’t want to sound controlling, and she does need a break from all this drama. “Are you with another man?” I asked as I adjusted my red tie against my white dress shirt, seated alone in my office. I was reading through some contracts when my phone chimed. Glancing at my notifications bar, I saw—Ari. S had posted a picture. As I clicked on it, a picture of her in a red bikini, accentuating her cleavage and hips, popped up. I was pleased with it until I saw those bloody men staring at my woman. My phone chimed, and I picked it up. Aria: Are you with your missing piece? She had been haunting me with thi
The toy . “I can walk—put me down!” I yelled, banging my clenched fist against his back. As we arrived at the reception, my screams drew attention. Instantly, I covered my face with my palms to avoid any further embarrassment. I didn’t need pictures of me being carried like a sack of rice flooding the internet. After all, no face, no case. Damon slipped me into his black sports Ferrari before entering the driver’s seat. Starting his car, he advised, “You should always fasten your seatbelt,” as he leaned over and did it for me. There he goes, acting like he actually cares. “Where is Jessie?” I asked, scanning the outside through the car’s tinted glass. “Behind us, with Zach.” Staring back, I saw Zach’s red sports Ferrari behind. “We are leaving Jessie alone with that womanizer friend of yours.” “What, are you scared he would steal her heart?” That was the least of my worries. I just didn’t want to be left alone in the same space with Damon. Although Zach is a very charming
The toy . Damon noticed my discomfort. "Why are you nervous?" he asked. “I’m not.” I struggled not to scratch my forehead to not affirm his deductions. Just then, my phone rang—Logan's name lit up the screen. “Who is Logan?” Damon’s tone was intense, causing a thunderous silence. I swallowed hard as my body trembled. “My friend.” Jessie snatched my phone away, feigning nonchalance. "Probably just trying to reach me since my phone was off," she added, disappearing into the other room. Although Jessie had intervened, my hands didn’t stop trembling as Damon still stared at me, his eyes hinting at his disbelief. Jessie walked back in and handed over my phone. “I was right; he tried calling me. Guess my phone was switched off.” Damon's suspicions seemed to intensify. "Your phone's not off," Zach noted as Jessie's phone chimed, drawing her attention. I closed my eyes, hoping to disappear. Without uttering a word, Damon shifted his focus back to the game. An unsettling feeli
The CEO . My eyes widened as I saw her, and my phone slipped from my grasp, clattering to the floor. “Binky,” I whispered, my heart aching as tears streamed down her face. “I was stupid to believe you,” she sobbed, her voice trembling as she broke down completely. She turned and ran into the next room, slamming the door so hard that it echoed through the house. “There’s been a lot of door-slamming lately,” Zach observed. “What did you do to her?” Jessie demanded, her brows furrowed. “Ari, please open the door!” Jessie pounded on it. A claustrophobic sensation began to crawl up my throat, and I clenched my fists as conflicting thoughts warred in my mind—one screaming for me to drown my sorrows in alcohol. I marched over to the indoor bar and downed five glasses in quick succession. Zach, understanding me all too well, stood silently, offering no reproach. Grabbing my car keys, I headed for the door, only to be intercepted by Zach. “You’ve had too much to drink,” he cautioned
The toy .I woke up to sunlight piercing through my puffy, red eyes. I turned and noticed Jessie wasn't in bed. With a slow gait, I strode out of the room, drawn by the sound of her laughter coming from the kitchen."Morning, sunshine," Zach greeted me as I entered."How are you feeling?" Jessie asked."Like I've been stung by a thousand bees," I replied, gulping down a glass of water."You'll get better," Jessie said.My eyes darted around the room, scanning for someone I wasn’t ready to face. Just one smile from him, and my heart would foolishly skip a beat."So, what are your plans for today?" I asked Jessie."Well, Zach is taking me shopping with the money I won yesterday.""When did you two become friends?" I inquired."We were never enemies," Zach said, taking a swig of his drink.It reminded me of Damon, who liked to start drinking early in the morning—birds of a feather."And you don’t have to worry about the demon," Jessie added. "He’s gone back to New York."I should have
The toy . Suddenly, I regretted why I hid in the closet. I should have jumped out— should have risked breaking my leg. I closed my eyes, and the taste of fear—metallic and bitter—lingered on my tongue as I awaited my end. “Ariel,” his surprisingly soft voice called out. I opened one eye before the other, sizing the huge man before me. “It’s me, Tony your neighbor.” He scoffed jokingly. “I mean your former neighbor.” He stared at the knife before tossing it to the floor. “Sorry, I must have scared you. I saw a car packed outside, and I thought it was one of those junkies that come around.” I was still too stunned to speak; fear was still coursing through my veins. “Aria” He asked. Noticing I flinched at the mention of the name, he apologized. "Sorry, I thought it was Ariel. Cause of the hair.” I stepped out of the closet and dusted off the cobwebs draping my outfit. Turning to him, “the hair?” “Ariel loved her hair long, and you, you know, you loved yours short.” He explaine
Lucy pov ...Amidst the lush greenery, the breeze sung a calm song to me. I sat on the bench watching other patients. They were all crazy. I scoffed and skimmed my hands on my patient outfit. I turned and faced Logan, who arrived a few seconds later. “It’s been ages.” Logan smiled. “I wanted to get red roses, but you said you love yellow flowers." He handed me a bouquet of yellow roses.I smiled and accepted it. “How’s your sister?” I faced him. “Tell me you have stopped smoking.”It’s been a long time since I had a conversation with the outside world. I had no family and no friends ever came to visit. It was nice to see him.Logan chuckled. “I have stopped smoking.” His green eyes gleamed beneath the yellow hues of the sun. “And for my sister.” He paused and clenched the edge of the wooden seat. “She didn’t make it.” His voice softened.“I am so sorry.” My chest tightened. I knew how much he loved his sister.“But I opened a bar.” A wide smile formed across his lips. “When you g
Lucy ..(This chapter contains violence that might disturb viewers. Viewers' discretion is advised.)The news had already spread like wildfire. Damon hadn’t said anything, nor have I; people could only wonder what happened that led to us canceling our wedding a day before. My friend had asked, and I told them that I ended it after discovering Damon wanted to absorb my company just like his father did to other companies.Leaning back on my office chair, I sighed. I was this close to having him. I jolted up as the door opened. “There’s a meeting with the board of directors,” Tina announced. “Now?” I raised a brow. “Why?” She adjusted her glasses. “Yes, Ma’am. I really don’t know. But all the members are around.” I sprang to my feet. The clicks of my heels echoed. My heart pounded. How come I wasn’t aware of the meeting? Sweat swathed across my palm.Opening the door, my eyes fell on the seven members—they were all here. It was hard for them to gather together, except something v
The toy ..I dragged the last luggage down the stairs and placed it at the door. I was tired of being his toy. I was stupid to think that we would end up together. I had enough savings to start up my life. I need to run away from Manhattan, from New York. I need to move far away, to another place.I glanced around the apartment; so many beautiful and ugly memories; both of them haunted me.Opening the door, I gasped as my eyes fell on Damon. I held the tears that welled in my eyes. My heart twisted yet fluttered. Pain and relief fought to dominate my chest—neither won.His eyes fell on my luggage, and he frowned. “Where are you going?” What is he going to say to me? No, stay here and watch me get married to another woman. I rolled my wet eyes. “I’m leaving Damon.” I tried to bolster my voice, to show resolve.He inched closer and shut the door behind him. His beautiful amber eyes burned into mine. The eyes I had loved so much, that had caused me so much pain. Now one of my babies
The CEO..I climbed the stairs, each step feeling as heavy as the weight pressing down on my heart. Pearl had handed over the remaining 10 percent of the company shares to me, knowing that once the engagement and merger were finalized, the Wesley Corporation would likely dissolve Beckham Construction. The certificate was cold in my hands, but it felt meaningless now.As I passed by Lucy's room, the sound of her soft chuckle drifted out, followed by her mother's voice. I glared at the door. The thought of me spending the rest of my life with her was mentally gnawing. I was doing this for the child; once the child is enough, I'll get a divorce and just focus on my child. The memories of my childhood after my mother flooded in—just me and my father. "Damon isn’t around, right?" Mrs. Beckham asked. "Are you sure he is?"I was about to walk away, but the question glued my feet to the floor and, like a magnet, pulled my ears to the door."He isn't," Lucy replied, a note of excitement bub
The toy ..Tears streamed down my face, warm and bitter as they traced the curves of my cheeks. The room around me was silent like it was holding its breath, waiting for me to break.And I did.I muffled my sobs, pressing the back of my hand against my mouth, trying to keep it together, even though no one was around to witness. My elbows dug into my thighs as I leaned forward, staring at the two red lines on the pregnancy test. They glared back at me, mocking me. I shook my head, refusing to believe it. This couldn’t be real. What now? My mind raced, thoughts crashing into each other like waves against a rock. Damon’s wedding was just two days away. Two days. Even if I told him, what would change? I could hear Mr. Brian's voice in my head, loud and clear. Men know who they want to marry, and they keep the others around just for fun.I had brushed off those words when he first said them, but now they are repeated. in my mind, each repetition drilling pain into my heart—I should ha
The CEO..The drive was perfect, the kind of perfect that only comes once in a long while. The wind whipped through my hair as the convertible glided down the winding road, the sun casting a golden glow over everything it touched. The expression on my father when I testified against him in court felt like an award—a medal.Opening the door to my house, my gaze fell on Mrs. Beckham and Lucy.Mrs. Beckham stood in the center of the room, her presence cold.My smile faded, “Mrs. Beckham,” I greeted her with a curt nod. Mrs. Beckham was the female version of my father, so I spoke, a knot formed in my stomach as her presence gnawed at me.She didn’t return my pleasantries. Instead, she placed a crisp white envelope on the burly wood table, her eyes boring into mine. “Open it,” she instructed, her tone strict and firm. I hesitated for a second before crossing the room.I hardened my gaze as I snatched up the envelope, the paper cool and smooth against my skin. I tore it open and pulled
(This chapter contains violence that might disturb viewers. Viewers' discretion is advised.) The CEO . . I had changed into another outfit as I sat on the bed in my room. I constantly rubbed my hands, although they were clean. I could still feel Zach’s blood on my hand. How could I lose control? How could I hurt him? I smacked my head with my hand, letting out a grunt. Tracy trudged in. She only kept thinner and paler. “How are you doing?” “How is Zach? Is he up?” My fingers fidgeted. “No.” She tossed a file to me. “That’s the rest of my company.” “Why are you giving me?” Tracy’s expression softened. “Damon, I can die any moment. I need to leave my company with someone competent.” A weak smile stretched her lip. “Now let go and take your freedom from your father.” She gripped my hand, a failed attempt to pull me up. My chest tightened; this heart of mine had experienced too much pain. Another gloominess lingered at the mention of her dying any moment. I was too
The CEO . .Lying on the bed, I felt the sheets beneath me, my eyes closed, yet my mind was restless, buzzing with haunting images I couldn’t escape. Binky's tears haunted me; her face burned into my thoughts. But it was my father’s smile that truly kept me awake—the coldness, the quiet satisfaction he always had when things went his way. My hand gripped the bedsheet, twisting it, hoping it could ease my pain— but nothing.I couldn’t shake the thought—if only I’d been better, if only I’d been stronger if only I could’ve been more than this... this puppet he so easily manipulated. But I wasn’t. I was nothing more than a piece on his board and moved around to suit his game. The bitterness of it tore me from the inside out, choking with helplessness. If only I could turn the tables and make him pay for all of it. I wasn’t that person—not powerful enough, not anything enough.Stumbling to the closet, I flung open a drawer, my heart racing as I reached for the revolver inside. The c
Toy..I sat in the large, imposing courtroom. The air thickened with tension, but Nope still hung over, hoping Justice could be served. The murmurs of spectators seized as the proceedings began, leaving the shuffle of the papers. My eyes fixed on Damon’s father, who stood in the defendant box. Occasionally, he would stare at me and flash a smile that aggravated me. His words still rang in my ears, the way he casually told me how I looked softer than Aria outside the courtroom. I clenched my fist, hoping he would rot in jail for eternity. Mr. Jackson stood at the defendant's box. His eyes constantly darted between me and Mr. Wesley. My chest was tight like I was carrying the weight of the world on my chest. The flutters in my stomach were so grave that I might have developed stomach cancer. I sighed, hoping Damon’s threat should have walked in. Damon had messaged Mr. Jackson once he confessed to Mr. Wesley. He would protect him as Mr. Wesley would be powerless and be behind bars.