LANCE'S POV***FLASH BACK***For some reason, since I had gotten married to Maya, it seemed like luck had woven itself into my life. Good things just kept coming my way and it's as if her presence in my life had turned everything around. Not only was she kind-hearted and beautiful in her own way, but Maya radiated a charm that felt almost magical which just keep in drawing me to her despite the fact that I still long ofr Ashley. She brought a sense of peace and joy which I thought I could only get with Ashley, and I couldn't wait to share today’s news with her.I drummed my fingers on my knee, staring out the car window as the cityscape blurred by. I just couldn't wait any longer to get home soon and break the news to her. I had just secured a multi-million-dollar deal which I had never imagined that I would be able to get. I even lost hope on it when I found out that I was competing against many best in the industry and I’d been tense for weeks. But Maya, with her unwavering belief,
***MAYA'S POV***The memory of that night came flooding back, gripping my heart with a familiar ache. I could hardly believe that one fleeting encounter not long after my marriage had been the turning point, the reason Lance had grown distant, cold, and unfeeling to me all those years. He’d had countless opportunities to confront me, to question my intentions for what I did. But instead, he’d chosen the silence which brings nothing but destruction into our marriage. I remembered clearly, It was that same day when everything shifted and Lance stopped defending me from his family whenever they mistreated me. The man I was talking to that night was Marlow, one of my cousin Alexandra’s friends. I hadn’t seen him in years and had no reason to seek him out but when I been was about to enter the mall, I accidentally bumped into him with one of his girlfriend, and to my dismay, he wouldn’t leave me alone after telling his girlfriend to leave. He began to followed me everywhere, even as I
*****ASHLEY'S POV**** "No, don't carry that. We won’t be needing it,” I said, waving Hilda away from the box of shrimp. "Why not? Shrimps are…" "My dad's allergic to shrimp. Even smallest quantity of it can be fatal to him. So we have to avoid it," I explained, cutting her off with a shake of my head. “Oh! Got it.” She dropped it quickly and picked up a box of fresh vegetables instead. I carried the last box of ingredients from the car, lugging it toward the outdoor kitchen area which has been set up under the canopy of oak trees. As we walked towards there, a small smile play at my lips as I didn't see that bitch face around here. She would not be joining me in cooking and that brought nothing but satisfaction to me as I knew she was planning something under her sleeves which was why she approached Courtney earlier. Actually I saw her talking before Courtney suddenly called everyone and suggested this. Brittany was usually easygoing and has never for once taken such inter
I never believe that there's always a happy ending after a sad and bad begining but now ... .I do as I was now experiencing mine. I've decided to let all go…everything that hurt me, everything that made me cry, I’ve decided to it go and just seek my own happiness.Seeing Ashley in that condition last time, made me think rethink about what I was doing. I’ve been gradually turning into a monster all in the name of revenge. I couldn't believe that I tried to kill an innocent man because of the mistake of his daughter. And the way Ashley reacted when she was almost hit by her brother, clearly shows that she was once abused either by him or someone else.Deep down the dark heart of all monsters, there's always a reason for their evil act….or always someone that drove them to the path of evilness. Now I’ve decided to let them be..they are free to enjoy their marriage while I also live my own life…with my daughter.Standing in front of a mirror, I looked at my own reflection with a bright sm
The faint blue light of dawn seeped through the worn curtains, casting a soft glow over the cramped space. It's now morning. I let out a small yawn as I leaned back into my chair, stretching my neck and then my arms. I felt a little ache from the several hours I had spent hunched over my computer. Knowing that I didn't have much more time left, I resumed my job. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, trembling slightly from fatigue. It's an all-nighter, again and the deadline for me was just in a few minutes. Life as a content editor isn't that easy especially if you had an inconsiderate client who gave you just a day to complete her job.If not because the pay was nice, I definitely wouldn't have accepted it….no, even if it wasn't, I think I needed to accept it because right now….I'm broke. And we need some cash for this month's feeding. So no matter how rude my clients are, I have no other options than to endure it all.A soft knock sounded, followed by the door creaking open. My ha
We both say it at the same time. Bella raised her gaze and looked at me feeling apologetic. “No, I'm the one that is wrong. I'm not supposed to raise my voice at you when you are confiding in me.” Gently touching her cheeks, “ I'm really sorry.”“ I'm also sorry. I shouldn't have talked about my dad.”“No no, sweetheart. It's good you talk about it. It's just that …you know your mom doesn't like talking about him? So that's why I was a bit worked up. I'm really sorry.” I apologize. “It's alright, Miss Ariel. I'm not angry at you.”“ Do you really want to see your father? why?” I asked She was hesitant a little, “ Not really. Just wanted to ask why he did that to us. Why he abandoned mom and I. I wanted to asked him that.”“ Bella…”“ But now I don't want to know again.” A smile tucked the corner of her lip. “ I'm alright with you two.” With that she went to the dinning but I knew that she wasn't alright but just trying to because of what I did.I sighed heavily as I knew that I real
“ You can't live like this…hiding away like a coward all your life.”I inhaled heavily, letting her words to sink in but no matter how much I tried to brace myself…..tried to stand up again.. I just can't. I'm scared.I swallowed, forcing myself to keep a neutral expression. “All what you are saying is nothing but my past, Sophia. This…” Referring to the life and home I was now living in, “ Is my present, now and I really don’t want any connection to that world again. It's scary and I don't think I can… survive it again.” I rose, desperate to end this conversation, but her voice stopped me in my tracks.“Don’t you care about your parents? About the empire they’ve been trying so hard to hand against you? But you let it all in the hand of another man who is bound to destroy it?”“My parents?” I spat, feeling the bitterness rising up. “Sophia…” My voice cracked as tears pooled in my eyes. “They’re one of the damn reasons I’m in this mess. Their greediness and selfishness are the same rea
*****LANCE'S POV*****A heavy headache hit me hard as my eyes fluttered open. My mind was already heavy even before I woke up with this kind of headache that sat at the back of my skull and pulsed with every heartbeat. Squinting over at the bedside clock, its red digits glared back at me—11:04 a.m. I’d missed another morning.With a groan, I rolled over, reaching for my phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up, showing thsr Henry had called me for like 30 times.“ Did something happen?” I thought as I wondered but then I remembered Maya and wondered if he had found her because that's the only reason why he could have called my number urgently.I hit redial, pressing the phone to my ear, but it rang out—no answer. I tried again, and again, already feeling nervous at the news he's going to break to me.I had been searching for Maya all these months but just couldn't find any traces of her like before. I wondered why exactly she like disappearing without traces. I knew how she must hav
As Lance was wheeled into the emergency center, my eyes stayed glued to him. My feet felt like they were rooted to the floor, and I just couldn’t stop shaking. I glanced down at my hand and then my dress, which was now soaked with his blood, and the scene kept replaying in my head.How he ran towards me, shouting my name. The fear in his eyes and voice as he tried to save me from danger. How the chandelier had come crashing down, but I just couldn't move at that moment because of the shock. And then he’d shoved me out of the way, making it fall on him.I sank into one of the chairs outside the emergency ward. My legs felt like jelly and were also too weak to hold me up any longer. Wrapping my arms around myself, I tried to stop the trembling.I could sense people bustling around me and voices blending into a blur. But I just couldn't look up to identify them as I wasn't in my right state of mind.Why was it at that moment that the chandelier had to fall? Why?A coat draped over my sh
“And who exactly are you to be making such demands from me?” He scoffed. “ I don't actually think you are in such position to say something like that as you have recently become one of the country clown man.” “ Have I?”“ Yes you have.” He said in a mocking tone. “ And it also seems you’re taking my warning as a joke.” Kingsley’s voice was firm, his tone dripping with authority as he dipped his hand in his pocket.I gave a short laugh, meeting his gaze. “Well, I’m sorry about that, but I hardly see such warnings as threats. You see, I’ve got nothing much to lose, so I wonder what exactly I should be scared of. You, on the other hand…” I pointed a finger at him, my voice sharpening. “You’ve got a lot to lose if you decide to make an enemy of me. So, I’ll make this simple. Leave her alone and face me.”Kingsley raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Face you? Don’t make me laugh, Lance. You’re not even worth my time. You’re just a man who couldn’t even make a proper decision for himself not to…
Across the room, Ashley and I gaze locked for a while. I could see a flickering of something I could not quite place in them. Maybe it was defiance or was it a desperate attempt to provoke a reaction. I don't really know. But if she thought she could stir jealousy in me, she was clearly mistaken as whatever feelings I once had for her were long gone, buried beneath the weight of every pain she had caused me. I nodded slightly, more to myself than to her as I felt nothing but pity for her. She really had no idea of what she was getting into by falling into Kinglsey's hand. Well that's none of my concern. Seeing that it's time as I was already feeling someone's burning gaze on me, I leaned toward Lysol. “I’ll be back in a minute,” I murmured before slipping away toward the restroom.Getting to the male section of the restroom, as I pushed open the door, the scent of citrus-scented disinfectant greeted me. I stepped inside and did a quick sweep of the stalls, trying to confirm if ther
His words hit like a slap, but I refused to falter as I didn't regret the decision I had made. I straightened my shoulders and met his cold stare. “I never said I wasn’t part of this family, Dad. I’m still your daughter and I will always be. But it's just that I’ve chosen not to follow your rules blindly anymore. That doesn’t make me any less a Roderigo.” “And yet, you dare to lecture me about the company I keep? Or about what my brother has done?” His voice dropped dangerously low. “You, who abandoned us? Atleast he's still with us ” “Abandoned?” I repeated, my voice trembling with anger. “I stood up for myself after you forced your decision on me. For once, I chose to live on my own terms, and if that offends you, so be it. But seeing you laugh and drink with the man who almost destroyed you..almost took away what belonged to you while calling himself your brother—don’t you see how hypocritical that is?” “Maya, stop,” Mom whispered, tugging at my arm gently. “Please.” But I
As the nurse entered Mia's ward, I quickly rushed after her, feeling the heat rushing to my face. My cheeks burned like wildfire, and I clenched my fists as I stormed into Mia’s ward, slamming the door shut behind me. Leaning against the door, I pressed my back against the cool wood, my chest heaving. What the fuck did I just do? Are you insane? He's your ex, how could you even think of doing that?I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to calm down, but it was useless. The memory of his lips on mine, the way he held me so firmly, the warmth of his breath—it all came rushing back. I raised my fingers to my lips, brushing over them lightly. They still tingled, and I hated it. Butterflies swirled in my stomach, making me feel both nauseous and... something else I didn’t want to name. And then suddenly, I felt the weight of several gazes on me, only to open my eyes and see Mia, Bella, and the nurse all staring at me. Their expressions ranged from confusion to amusement, and I ins
But I finally managed to mutter, “Oh. Well, that’s... quite unfortunate. I actually thought you and Ashley were a match made in heaven, and this is… really sad.” He let out a soft chuckle. “No, it wasn't sad, and we are not a good match. Ever since I lost a match made in heaven, I lost my entire life. And now… I want it all back. Everything.” His eyes didn’t leave mine, as though searching for something more—for me to say something. But I couldn’t find anything to say. “Is that all you have to say?” He asked.“Yes, it is. Do you want me to say something else?” My tone was sharp, each word a deliberate dagger. “I thought you’d be happy about it… I thought you’d be… you know, fine that I got what I deserved.” He’s right. I was supposed to be happy seeing them broken apart and losing everything. But now… I really didn’t feel much. I felt like I had done too much damage to him, more than he deserved, and I couldn’t even bring myself to look at him properly. But I still didn’t wa
***MAYA'S POV***"And then the tortoise said to his wife, 'If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I’m not around as I have no money to give to them,' Bella began, her small hands emphasizing the words as she read aloud."So, the tortoise hid. But minutes later, a man arrived and asked the wife, ‘Is your husband home?’ The wife replied, ‘Oh, he’s traveled far, and I doubt he’ll ever return back to this house.’ Then the man sighed and said, ‘That’s unfortunate. I came to repay a debt I owe him, but since he’s not here, I’ll keep the money.’Bella paused dramatically, leaning closer as if sharing a secret. "Hearing this, the tortoise shouted from his hiding place, ‘Wait! I’m home!’ He rushed out from his hiding place to collect the money but on seeing the man, the tortoise's smile faded as the man was actually one of his debtors.” Mia and I couldn’t help but smile as Bella acted out each character with exaggerated expressions. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she giggled, clearly
***ASHLEY'S POV***I never imagined it would end like this—a quiet, heart-wrenching conclusion where we walked away from each other for good. When I decided to step back into Lance’s life six years ago, I was determined never to let him go, never to let anyone take him from me again. But now… it’s over. Standing on the courthouse steps, I watched his figure retreating, growing smaller with each step he took down the stairs. The crisp autumn air bit at my skin, but the cold I felt ran deeper. It wasn’t the chill of the weather—it was the weight of everything that had just happened. The closure I thought I wanted had left me feeling emptier than I ever imagined. The divorce was final. The court had granted it without a fight. Lance had surprised me by agreeing to sign the papers, though he made it clear I wouldn’t get a cent of his property. I didn’t care. I never wanted anything from him but this divorce… even if getting it meant resorting to things I never thought I’d be capable of
****FLASHBACKS****The classroom was bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, shadows stretching long across the floor. My lips brushed Lysol's owe last time, the moment abruptly shattered by the door bursting open and we both flinched apart.“Maya!” I barked, my heart leaping into my throat. Relief washed over me when I saw her standing there, smirking. For a brief moment, I thought it was a teacher or someone who could ruin everything.“What?” she drawled, leaning against the doorframe with a smug grin. “Relax, it’s just me.” She turned to Lysol with a playful tilt of her head. “Hi, handsome.”Lysol flushed, offering her a small smile. “Hi, Maya and congratulations on your graduation.” Today was actually the day we’re graduating from highschool. Others were outside celebrating but I prefer being here.“Same to you,” she replied breezily.Lysol turned to me, his smile softening. “I’ll see you later, Kingsley,” he murmured, slipping past Maya and out the door.As the door click