I stumbled down the drenched streets of LA, my clothes clinging to me, heavy and soaked from the rain. Although the downpour had stopped, a bitter chill remained, and each raindrop that lingered felt like an icy needle pressing into my skin.
Wrapping my arms tightly around myself, I shivered as a cold wind sliced through the empty streets. As I dragged my heavy feet forward, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a foggy storefront window and for a moment, I froze, staring at the massive figure staring back at me. My eyes roamed over my face, my chest, then to my entire body, and a weary, hollow expression grace onto my face. As I looked at my own reflection, for the first time in my life, I hated what I saw. I hated myself. I hated the way I looked and the way I felt, the weight of everything pressing down on me. Growing up, I’d been teased mercilessly by family members and even mates for my plus-size figure, but I’d found solace in the belief that there were at least three people who didn’t care about how I looked—my parents and my best friend, Kingsley. But I used to think they were just trying not to make me feel bad but when I met Lance…everything changed. He also claimed he loved me for who I was and I believed him. I….I really thought he saw me beyond appearances, that he loved me for who I was, not for some shallow ideal of beauty. But the harsh truth in his words earlier tonight had shattered that illusion. He cared, after all….and he was just like all of them. And hearing him admit it…it hurt more than I could have ever imagined. I closed my eyes, trying to drown out his voice echoing in my head, but the questions gnawed at me, tearing through the silence like knives. “What if I were different? What if I looked like Ashley, slender and model-like? Would he have treated me any better? Would he have looked only at me and no one else? Would we have had a different ending and live happily?” The questions lingered, twisting inside me with answers I didn’t have. Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the figure stumbling toward me until he was almost upon me. A foul stench of alcohol filled the air, sharp and nauseating, and I looked up, only to find a man with bloodshot eyes staring down at me, swaying unsteadily. He seemed to be in his mid-fifties, tall, broad-shouldered, with a balding head that gleamed under the city lights. "Hey there, pretty lady," he slurred towards my side, his words dripping with sweetness as he swayed on his feet. In one staggering motion, he yanked my hand, pulling me closer to him. A gasp escaped my lip and my heart thudded widely against my chest. I had never felt this kind of terror before, not even when I was asked to sign the divorce papers or when I was thrown out of the house by my in-laws with nothing. But being in the grip of a drunken stranger who reeked of danger and had a crazed glint in his eyes—left me frozen, my breath caught in my throat. I glanced around, hoping someone would step in, but the few passersby who noticed only spared quick, disinterested glances, probably assuming we were a couple having a heated arguement. Frustration boiled within me as I looked back at this leering stranger, furious that I was trapped, furious at him, at myself, at this entire miserable night. why was he like this to me? “ Let go of me,” I spat, trying to wrench my arm from his grip but he only tightened his hold on me with his arm curling around my waist and his dirty fingers digging into my skin which brought nothing but irritation to me. “ Aw, don't be like that,” he mouthed a kiss at me and I could feel his hot and foul breath against my face. “ Just trying to keep you company, sweetheart and I promise I will give you a very good rewards for your time.” What the heck! I couldn't believe what exactly was happening. I think I must have unloads a pack of misfortune boxes today as bad things just keep happening to me and to even makes it worst…it.. it's now a drunkard that is trying to harassed me now. My stomach was twisted with fear and even disgust at the sound of his words: “ I will give you a very good rewards for your time.” What did he think of me? A prostitute? I pulled harder, trying to free myself. "I said let go of me," but he refused to let go. Panic surged through me like a wild fire and without a second thought, I balled my fist, swung it at him and gave him a very hard punch in his face. I watched him as he let me go Immediately and he began to staggered backwards, clutching his nose as he hit the ground. “Ow! You crazy…” he writhed in a pain amd for a second I felt a little bad as I saw blood running out of his nose but what brought me back to my senses was when he held his stomach, then to another prt of his body, screaming in pain as o If I had hit him in multiple places. Wow, this dude was a real actor….. But I didn't really have much for his drama, so I decided to leave him but my consciousness would not let me. I retracted my steps to ask him if he was alright but the approaching sound of sirens make me stop at me track and before I knew what was happening, two police officers rushed towards us, as they thought something big happened. "What's going on here?" one of them demanded, looking between me and the drunkard on the ground. But before I could say any word, that drunkard beat me to it. "Officer, thank God you’re here! She attacked me!" he whined, still groaning in pain. "She punched me out of nowhere….oh God...I think.. I think she broke my ribs!" He groaned as he pointed a shaky finger at me. Like seriously…. My eyes widened in disbelief as I could not believe that he could tell such a lie when he was the one that tried to molest me. “Broke your ribs? What the hell are you saying? I barely touched you and I only hit your face for crying out loud.” Turning back the the officers. “No, that's not true! He tried to harass me. I was just defending myself!" The officers exchanged glances, clearly skeptical about what I said. "Sir, are you hurt?" one of them asked the drunkard as he approached him and bend to his level. He nodded, still clutching his stomach. "Yes, she hit me hard. I can bareIy breath, so please I need a doctor." I was beyond shocked as I watched the live drama that was happening before me and before I knew what was happening…. "Ma'am, you're under arrest for assault," the other officer said, stepping towards me and while I retracted my step in fear, but he quickly grabbed my arm. "But I didn't do anything wrong! He was the one who…….." My protests were cut short as the officer suddenly pulled my arms behind my back and cuffed my wrists. "You have the right to remain silent," the other one added, his was voice cold and detached. I felt hot tears streaming down my face as I had been wrongly accused of what I didn't do. This couldn't be happening to me right now again. It was all a terrible mistake. I tried to tell them about what really happened but they didn't even listen to my side of story as they were fixated on the man who claimed to be injured. One of them led me to the police car while the other one called an ambulance. As I was pushed into the back seat, I looked out at the dark, empty street and remembered how my life had fallen apart in a matter of hours. Now, I was being taken to a place I never imagined I'd be.I sat on the hard chair of the dimly lit police station with my hands trembling. I had never been to this place and what scared me most about this place was the the loud voices of thugs and criminals. And yet, here I was, caught between regret and humiliation, surrounded by strangers and criminals. I swallowed hard, trying to remind myself that not everyone here was guilty of being here. After all, I wasn’t either. One of the cops from earlier returned and sat across from me, holding a clipboard. His stare was unyielding as he tapped his pen against the paper, a hint of impatience lining his face. “Alright, miss. You need to call someone,” he said, his tone brusque. “You’re facing assault charges.” “ Assault charges?” I repeated and my heart sank as I had no one to call but I couldn't really think of anyone to call…no one except for the family that threw me out and the husband that abandoned me. And only a person without self respect or pride will even think of doing such and tho
After four long years of endurance, endless nights of tears, and the quiet, gnawing ache of one-sided love, here I was—divorced, broken, but not defeated. Eight months ago, I had thought my marriage to Lance left me with nothing but scars and regrets. Yet, as I cradled my daughter Bella, watching her tiny face as she slept, I realized she was my unexpected miracle, my blessing born from pain. Bella yawned softly, her pink, toothless mouth stretching as her tiny hand instinctively reached up, gripping my finger. My heart swelled at the sight of it, remembering the intensity of her birth. The labor pain was like fire coursing through my veins, far more excruciating than anything my mother had described when I wasn still pregnant. But holding Bella now, I felt every ounce of that pain was worth it. I'm now back to my parents house, it was a difficult journey but I'm still trying to reclaim my life back, especially when my parents had lied to everyone that their daughter was studying in
I looked at my father and for a moment I was speechless, disbelief freezing my words. I also glanced at Mom, hoping—no, pleading—for a sign that this was some twisted misunderstanding. But her face mirrored Dad’s expression: as if I was demanding for a child I never have…as I I was crazy, that was how they are looking at me. My body trembled as I now realize what my parents are demanding from me. Yes, I knew that I must pay a price for returning leaving them and then return back….but not this…not with my own daughter. I made the decision to come back home because of her, not to lose her. “No,” I breathed, shaking my head. My lips trembled as I struggled to form words. “Dad… please… tell me this is some kind of horrible joke. Bella… she’s my daughter. She's also your own granddaughter!” Dad’s gaze hardened. “No, she is not! And.. will never be a Roderigo.” He thundered. “ You have humiliated me far enough and now you will abide by my own decisions. That ‘child,’ as you call her, will
****LANCE'S POV**** I stood at the edge of the terrace of my mansion, overlooking the everywhere bathed in evening lights. The skyline stretched endlessly before me, a concrete jungle of success and power that I’d conquered, bit by bit. Six years ago, I was already at the rock bottom, at the edge of losing it all but now I have acquired it back, not all but I'm now stable. In one hand, I held a glass of wine; the other rested in my pocket as I leaned forward, but the taste felt as hollow as the accomplishments that filled my life. I had it all back now or so they said. The fame I wanted, the wealth that I never wanted to exhaust and the Influence with more powerful people across the world. But still, there was something missing that not even the finest champagne or most lavish parties could not replace. And I knew exactly what was missing in my life: it nothing but a pair of honey-brown eyes that once lit up my mornings, a warm smile that washed away my worries whenever I looked at
*****MAYA'S POV**** I took a deep breath as I leaned back in the plush seat of the limousine, my gaze settling on my own reflection in the dark, tinted window. For a brief moment, I almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me. It seemed like I was looking at a completely different person. I hadn’t undergone any plastic surgery or liposuction; I earned this look and my toned body through hard work, sweat and dieting. Betsy and Mia were there to support me every time I felt like giving up, especially on days when I couldn't resist the urge to eat. And of course…our little Bella whose smile alone was worth every sacrifice. I had also changed my name from Maya to Ariel. Just wanted to leave everything behind. My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my reverie and a smile graced my face as it was no other than Betsy. “Hey, I just arrived,” I said softly, a smile already forming. “Finally! I’m already missing you like crazy, even though you just left!” Betsy’s voice was a comforti
“ I don't think so.” I replied almost immediately, not turning to her and continuing splashing water on my hands. “ Really? But I ….” Ashley was cut short by another voice that chimed in and I released the breath that I didn't know I was holding in. “Right, Ashley! Why didn’t you and your husband arrive together?” the woman asked, her tone both casual and probing. I could feel her gaze shifted back to the mirror as she continued her business. With a dismissive chuckle, she replied, “I had a late shoot and couldn’t make it home in time, so I told him to go ahead. I’ll catch up, as I always do.” Her smile was a practiced mask, perfectly concealing whatever emotions lay beneath. “Oh, I see,” the woman replied, nodding knowingly. “To be honest, I thought something might have happened between the two of you. You know...there are rumors you two might be getting di….” But before she could finish the sentence, another woman beside her gently elbowed her, trying to signal her to stop, bu
****LANCE POV**** "I'm very sorry, but i’ve changed my mind. I won't settle for anything less than 80%." I said, after finding out that the contract has been finalized with Marcus Roderigo. It was true that he recommended me for the contract but demanding for fifty percent was a bit much and since I have me own plan back then, I decided to agree with him but now that everything had been sorted out, I changed my mind. He leaned forward, eyes darkening as he hissed under his breath."What?! You…" he started, his voice sharp and heated. But he quickly lower his volume when he remembers that was are in public setting. "Are you trying to be ungrateful right now?" His tone was a low, dangerous growl. "Don’t forget Lance, you wouldn’t even have the chance if it weren't for me. I pulled the strings, I opened the doors for you. And this is how you repay me? Demanding 80%?” He growl. I forced myself to remain calm, hiding the anger simmering within. This is exactly why I hate accepting favor
Everyone looked at me, confused. “Is something wrong?”My wife asked but I'm struggling to form anywords, my thoughts was a chaotic mess. Wait, did he just say that Maya… no Ariel Roderigo… my ex-wife? Is going to be the one in charge now? If she was the new representative for A&R, that meant our entire contract was in her hands. The very woman I’d walked away from was now the gatekeeper to my company’s future. But how could I explain any of this to anyone? How could I admit that the poised, powerful woman on stage was once my wife whom I abandoned for their daughter? No matters how i put it, I think it will be a letting insane. I managed to stammer, “No, it’s… it’s nothing.” I turned back to Henry, desperation lacing my voice. “This isn’t confirmed, right? I mean, Marcus… he can’t really be putting her in charge of everything.”Henry gave me a look that was both grave and resigned. “It’s already a done deal. Marcus approved it himself, so there is nothing for her to do about it
****LANCE'S POV****Victory should feel better than this but it seems totally different from what Maya was feeling as if we lost the case. She had been lost in thought since morning. Her brow narrowed as she finally let out what was bothering her."But why is Kingsley laughing like that?" she murmured, enough for me to hear. "Maybe he never for once dreamed of a day that he would be beaten like this? Or Maybe…the defeat hit him hard," I replied, forcing a smile. " But Maya are you now alright? I was so worried when Ethan was pressuring you so much. You had…”I stopped mid-sentence when I realized her attention wasn’t on me. Her eyes were distant, her lips parted slightly as she leaned against the pillar with her arms crossed, lost in her own world. No, not her world—’his’. “Do you think he’s alright?” she murmured softly, almost as if she were asking herself.Her words hit me hard. My jaw tightened, my hand curling into a fist at my side as an unfamiliar wave of jealousy coursed
I leaned back, crossing my legs as I watched the drama. The outcome of this trial was already clear. Then, it was Ethan's turn. “Your Honor,” Ethan began, “may I call Ms. Maya Roderigo to the stand?” The judge approved, and Maya took her place in the witness box. Ethan wasted no time. “Miss Roderigo,” he started, “could you kindly explain to the court how you came to own Wells Enterprises?” Before Maya could answer, Henry Wallace shot to his feet. “Objection, Your Honor! This is irrelevant to the case at hand.” Ethan turned to the judge, unfazed. “Your Honor, this question is highly relevant. The financial state of Wells Enterprises prior to Miss Roderigo’s ownership directly pertains to the viability of the rezoning proposal. The company’s struggles predate my client’s involvement, and now they are planning a daylight robbery, claiming that the rezoning rumors are the reason behind their poor business performance.First, they brought a fake document about land use and n
****KINGSLEY’S POV****The civil court was a circus today, as there were far more people than I had expected to be here and reporters were even present, but they were not allowed to record anything and could only take notes on what they heard and saw.I had a front-row seat, sitting in the defendant’s chair. My lawyer, Ethan Shaw, whose brow furrowed as he flipped through stacks of documents, was seated on my left, with his assistant on my right.And across the room, Maya sat with her lawyer, her face was a mixture of determination and anger, as if she were upset about something. Was it because I had snubbed her earlier? I don't think so.I looked around, and my gaze landed on Lance Wells, who lounged smugly among the audience, the expression on his face was that of sadness as if he was separated from something important to him . Then, when my eyes shifted to the person next to him, I immediately understood why Maya seemed so angry and why his own expression wa alos like that.I sigh
We turned in unison, and there she was—Ashley. Her radiant smile beamed as if she’d just won the lottery. She waved enthusiastically, her left hand high in the air, drawing every ounce of attention toward herself. My fists curled into tight balls at my sides, anger surging through me like a storm. And what the fuck is she doing here?In anger, I glared at Lance, who also looked a little bit surprised by her presence. He gave me that “I’m sorry” look, but that’s not what I wanted from him. I wanted him to tell me why she was here.Ashley rushed toward our side and then stormed into the midst of Lance and Henry, pushing Henry away from Lance. My stomach churned when she flashed him that annoying smile and looped her arm through Lance’s. My patience thinned. “What are you doing here?” Lance growled before I could say a word. His voice was low but sharp. Ashley tilted her head coyly. “Oh, honey, don’t be like that. Have you forgotten that I told you I would support you no matte
Standing in the corridor of the courtroom on the first floor of the tall building, I let out a soft sigh as I intertwined my fingers nervously. I was trying so hard to convince myself that I wouldn’t embarrass myself in court today especially since it looked like I would be appearing without my lawyer. "I’ve really underestimated my opponent. I should have foreseen this," I muttered under my breath as I was already feeling frustrated. Behind me, Lance paced back and forth with his phone totally glued to his ear. He had been trying to reach Henry for the past hours, but there was no answer. Many bad thought had already been playing on my head. Each time I heard the automatic response from the network provider, my frustration grew as I thought what I actually thought had happened. "Where the hell is he?" Lance growled, ending another failed call. I leaned against one of the stone pillars, watching the steady stream of people going in and out of the courthouse and deep down
I exhaled slowly. “I won’t forgive you,” I said and I could see a flicker of something like sadness—or was it disappointment? across his face. “At least, not yet. But if you win this case for us…” I let my words hang in the air, a faint smile tugging at my lips. Immediately he heard that, Henry’s head shot up. Relief washed over his face. “I’ll win it. You have my word,” he promised. “Bold of you to promise that,” Lance interjected with a teasing smirk. “You’ll be up against one of the biggest firms in America. Do you even stand a chance?” Henry straightened and said confidently. “I’ll take your doubt as fuel to prove you wrong man.” His tone was defiant, and the two men exchanged chuckles. Henry glanced up at Lance hesitantly. “You’re not angry with me?” Lance responded, looking at me. “Since she said she’d forgive you eventually…” He trailed off, mouthing a quiet ‘thank you’ in my direction. I cleared my throat as I quickly shifted my gaze away from him, clearly uncomfort
Sitting in the meeting room with Lance and Bryan seated across from me, I lightly tapped my fingers against the polished surface of the table. My gaze which was fixed on the stack of files before me, was now starting to blur. I’d been poring over documents since morning as we’re all desperately searching for legal precedents to block the rezoning of this building. My temples throbbed, and I sighed in exhaustion. Even, the words on the pages are beginning to dance, moving around on their own. My eyes were failing me. Who exactly would have thought this is what I’d be doing the moment I took over Lance’s company? If I’d known it would be like this, I swear I never as done it. Just as I was nearing the end of the document in front of me, the door creaked open, and Janet entered, pushing a cart that was stacked high with dusty files and documents. She wheeled it to the table and began to unload them right in front of me. “These are the last documents,” she announced as she placed
***KINGSLEY'S POV***The tension in the room was suffocating as Maya said she was here to talk about us. About us? Did she mean the same ‘us’ that she abandoned because she didn't trust me enough. She didn't believe that I could protect her and she left.Maya stood right in front of me, looking at me with those pleading eyes that once had the power to melt my resolve. But not anymore. Not after what she had done to me and the humiliation she had made me go through. I became a man that wasn't only lied to but was also abandoned; as my family had no idea that I was aware of everything about her. I was sure if not because she fainted that day, she would have run out of the hall, abandoning me on the altar.My jaw tightened as I looked at her but I held it all back in, and forced my gaze back to the files in my hand, pretending to be unbothered by her presence. “We have nothing left to talk about," I said flatly, flipping a page I wasn’t even reading, but just pretending to be busy. "No
Looking out of the car window, my gaze was fixed on the cityscape rushing by. I could feel my fingers tangling and twisting together in a restless dance on my lap.The memories of how I landed in the hospital on my wedding day, all rushed in. I remembered how I woke up, the faint beeping of the heart monitor rang in my ears and the nurse's soft voice, asked me if I was alright but my eyes just scanned through the room. There’s no one else in this room apart from her. Then she mentioned that Kingsley had stepped out to take a call and will be back soon. Immediately she left the room to get the doctor, I yanked the IV drip from my arm, the bright red dot of blood that bloomed on my skin and then… fled the hospital.Since that day…I haven't contacted him again, not even when I was back. I knew that he had the right to be angry at me…I knew that he must have felt betrayed when we both promised that we will stick through together but I only abandoned him, let him alone face the critics