“I'm sorry,” He suddenly said, taking three steps back as if his retreat would emphasize his apology and his refusal to leave.“No, you're not,” I retorted sharply, crossing my arms.“Nothing happened between Catherine and me, I swear. Cross my heart.”Goodness!“No one gives two shits about Catherine. Why didn't you reply to my texts or answer my calls?”“Because I lost my phone,” He replied, shaking his head like it was the most obvious thing in the world.“Uh huh? Go on.”“So, I got a new phone...” He nodded when I gestured for him to continue. "Oh! I didn't have your number memorized. I do have Damon's, but it'd be suspicious if I asked him for yours, which is something you wouldn't like, so I decided to come by and surprise you. After we landed and I saw Catherine, I wanted to offer her a welcome-back tea out of courtesy, freshen up, and then come meet you. That was when you arrived.”“I saw you half-naked” I pointed out, shutting the door and returning to where I stood earlier.
Victor hadn't gone to work for the past days, was it the homesickness? He just calls me every second to go on dates or cuddle because he was bored. I don't even remember the last time I went to luxury, because he wouldn't let me, and when I complain about the money I'm losing, he gives me his card because he makes times a thousand of what I make monthly, and he makes them everyday. Even at home. So I didn't insist, I just take the card and kiss him to sleep and then go waste my life. One time I was having a meeting with a few council women at the house and he suddenly visited.It was a women's meeting so he was asked why he came and I had to help him answer because I knew whatever was going to come out of his mouth was going to implicate the both of us. He had to go back, or so I thought, because when the women left and I wasn't about to visit Luxury, I was attacked in the dimly lit parking lot. By him.He was sex starved, because I was punishing him and was on my period. So two days
“Huh?”“Get on the bed, princess. Don't keep me waiting, I have to call Ms. Eve back.”“I’m not going to touch myself while you’re on a call. I don’t even know how.” I slowly sat on the edge of the bed, staring at him in disbelief.“Do to yourself what I do to you.”“No.”“Ana, I’m going to tie your legs and hands apart and put a kitchen knife inside of you if you don’t,” he threatened, and my eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.Yet, despite the shock, I found his words strangely arousing.“I’m serious,” he added, sounding unyielding.My eyes lit up against my will. “Are you really going to fuck me with a knife?”He looked at me like I had just said the most unbelievable thing in the world. “You have a weird kink. No, I’m not. I wouldn’t hurt you.”I shrugged, trying to mask my excitement with a nonchalant expression. “Well, I’d love to try that someday,” I said, my voice teasing. I gently kicked off my shoes and climbed fully onto the bed, my breasts swaying slightly with the mo
I found myself standing in the middle of the pack’s cemetery. I knew it was the cemetery when I saw the half fallen gate with rusted iron that Damon has promised to change a million times but never did.It was the dead of night, and everything was cloaked in darkness. I could barely make out the outlines of the gravestones around me. The silence, only broken by the occasional hoot of an owl or a distant, eerie mournful cry.I was holding a bouquet of white roses in my hand, I wasn't holding this earlier. I mean, I just finished having dinner in bed from Victor and a box of chocolate, so how the hell did I get here.“Vee?!"“Victor!?”No reply came.I glanced around, hoping to find someone at least but there was no one, not even an animal.My heart stopped beating momentarily.In front of me was an open grave, its dark, gaping maw seemed to beckon me. It was odd.Who dug a grave and left it open? Where had the cemetery man gone to?And why did the plaque have my name?Suddenly the win
The next morning, I found myself absentmindedly twirling the drink in my cup, glancing occasionally at Cecil, who was engrossed in her phone. Whoever was texting her had been at it for a while, but she wouldn’t reveal who it was. "I’ll tell you at the right time," she had said, leaving me in suspense.She had called me early, just hours after I had finally managed to get some sleep after the horrendous nightmare I had. The vividness of the dream still lingered, making it difficult to even focus on anything else. Despite how hard it was to even leave Victor's side and the house, I made my way over to her place. Initially, it seemed like she had something important to share, but she changed her mind halfway through our conversation. Instead of saying whatever was on her mind, she suggested we go out for a drink.As we settled into a cozy corner of our favorite café, I shared my disturbing dream with her, hoping she might have some insight. Cecil listened intently, her eyes occasionally
The figure turned around, and I got a clear look at who it was."Oh, Catherine.""Oh, Catherine? You don't sound happy to see your mother-in-law," she huffed, a trace of annoyance in her voice.Did I say that out loud?"I'm just tired. Why are you here?" I began to take my shoes off. "And why does the house smell like an ice cream vending machine?" I tried not to sniff too loudly, but the vanilla scent was overwhelming.She turned back to flipping pancakes. "Oh, the house smelled like a flower garden, which is not much of a fancy scent. Besides, I'm having a friend over, and she likes this scent, so I thought, why not go for a change?"I rolled my eyes. "So... why are you here?""To take care of my son's house. I don't need permission to do that, do I?" She looked back at me with a very condescending smile."No, you don't. Make yourself at home. The maids will give you whatever you need," I said, turning to leave, but stopped halfway when she called my name."Why don't you go move you
I stuffed my dried undies back into their bag and dropped it in the closet. With a sigh, I went back to the door to see if Catherine's visitors were still there. From the top of the stairs, I could see the living room teeming with women who were clearly in no hurry to leave. Resigned, I grabbed my car keys and bag, heading downstairs. As I became visible to the living room, all eyes turned to me. Catherine had a scowl on her face, and the other women just stared blankly.There was no greeting. Why? Because they were friends with the previous Luna. One plus one equals two.I turned to Catherine, whose scowl vanished the moment the women looked at her. “I'm going out, don't wait up.”“You can stay for a late lunch,” she said, getting up and ushering the women to the dining room. “I made mac and cheese, your favorite.”“They're not my favorite, and I'm late to wherever I'm going.” I honestly didn't know where I was going. I had tried to sleep, but the women's loud laughter had made it im
I fumbled for my phone, hands shaking, and dialed the emergency services. My voice trembled as I explained my situation, giving them my location as best as I could."Please, hurry," I urged, my anxiety spiking as I glanced back at the burnt car and people from around staring at it and me. "My car just blew up"The operator assured me help was on the way, and I hung up, trying to steady my breathing. Standing by the side of the road, I felt utterly alone and vulnerable. The deserted stretch of road, with its silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves, did nothing to calm my nerves.While waiting for help to arrive, my mind wandered back to the events of the day. Catherine and her friends, the heated confrontation, the nightmare that wouldn't let go—all of it seemed to converge in this moment of crisis. I felt like the universe was testing me, pushing me to my limits.Minutes later, the sound of sirens pierced the air, and I saw the flashing lights of a fire truck and a tow
Leo’s POVShock couldn’t even describe how I felt when Michael and Greg were in the same room as us. It was hard not to show my displeasure as I watched them sit eagerly, rubbing their palms at the delicacy presented to them. While Michael was just interested in whatever this was, Greg cast furtive glances at me, but I paid him no attention.The least he could have done was to have informed me beforehand that my best friend had offered him an invitation to have dinner at the house. I could have told him to decline. If he had, Michael would have done the same, and I wouldn’t have had to watch Lila so uncomfortable.She squirmed in her seat, not looking up from the table. Her plate was empty, as she had yet to take what she wanted. But she had already been accosted, so I doubted she was interested in whatever was in those dishes.“This is amazing,” Michael gushed like a child who had just been handed his favorite candy. “I’m sitting in the same room as Leo and Armani. I can’t wait to te
Ana stepped into the pharmacy on her way to Victor's, with a sense of urgency. She made her way to the counter, her eyes scanning the shelves until she found what she was looking for. Birth control pills. She grabbed a pack, paid for it quickly, and left the store, her mind already focused on the night ahead. Hoping no one's attention was in her.Once outside, she took a deep breath and fished the packet out of her bag. She popped a pill into her mouth and swallowed it dry, anticipating her arrival at the mansion. She could feel the excitement building, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she imagined what was to come.Arriving at the house, she let herself in with the spare key he had given her. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of voices coming from the dining room. She walked in and found him sitting at the dining table, engrossed in a live Zoom call. His laptop was open in front of him, and two businessmen were visible on the screen, discussing some important matte
After getting the things he needed at the store, Carlos' uncle, Frances decided not to drive straight home if maybe not. Instead, he took a detour to a dimly lit tea shop. He parked in front and walked on foot to a bar a bit farther away. It might be calculated move on his part, a way to throw off anyone who might be following him.Entering the bar, he found a secluded corner and settled in, ordering a few less alcoholic drinks. He knew he needed to stay awake, and nit get drunk. As he sipped his drink, he kept an eye on the door, waiting for his contact to show up. He was told this bar sold cookies, and despite the unusual setting, he couldn't resist ordering some.An hour passed, and there was still no sign of his contact. He ordered another drink, more out of a need to maintain his cover than a desire for alcohol. The bar was a typical dive, with dim lighting and the smell of stale beer hanging in the air. He tried to stay calm, but the wait was beginning to get to him.After wait
Ana spent the rest of her morning and early afternoon in blissful solitude. She played games on her phone, The hours slipped by unnoticed, and soon she felt the heavy pull of sleep. Without bothering to change, she curled up on her bed and napped.When she woke up, it was late afternoon. The house was quieter now, the bustle of the morning's chaos having subsided. She stretched and took a moment to reorient herself, then decided it was time to freshen up and shake off the remnants of sleep. She wanted to make the most of her remaining free time before the annual packs' meeting.She dressed up in a casual chiffon dress, applied a little makeup, grabbed her bag and left her room, moving quietly through the house. She tried her best to avoid any lingering annoying family members, not wanting to risk another confrontation or forced interaction, or even an insult regarding her choice not to get pregnant. As she stepped outside, the cool afternoon air greeted her. Smelt like summer was just
The girl jumped, her face paling as she stammered an apology and quickly scurried away. Ana watched her go, irritation still simmering. She put in her key, twisted until she heard a click and then shd pushed the door open, entering her sanctuary. She took a moment to breathe, willing herself to calm down. The last thing she needed was to let anyone down there see her rattled.She freshened up quickly, splashing cold water on her face and running a brush through her hair. She changed into something more presentable, even though the effort felt wasted. These breakfasts were always the same—forced smiles and shallow conversations, or just them plainly trying to piss her off Descending the stairs. Damon was seated at the head of the table, with Catherine by the left, there was someone else by the right and he gestured the lady to move when he saw me approaching.Well, let's just not start on the part where he just acted nice and weird, like he's been doing lately.Victor, predictably, wa
The next morning, Ana lounged in the living room, munching on popcorn while Zara massaged her feet. She watched as Catherine, always the attention-seeker, prepared an extravagant breakfast. As usual, Catherine had invited almost the entire Pierce family for a feast without bothering to inform anyone beforehand. It was such a Catherine thing to do—spontaneous, inconsiderate, and utterly exhausting for everyone else involved.The kitchen was a chaotic mess of clattering pots and pans, the smell of cooking food thick in the air. Selene and the other maids bustled around, trying to keep up with her relentless pace. Ana watched them with detached amusement, knowing full well that any call for help from Catherine would be met with thinly veiled disdain.Catherine, in her own world, directed the maids with sharp commands, her voice carrying over the noise. Ana knew better than to engage. She had learned long ago that nothing she did would ever be good enough for Catherine, and she had stoppe
In the dimly lit warehouse, the men lounged around, a sense of nonchalance hanging in the air. The men were taking a break from their gruesome duties, their faces reflecting a mix of boredom and tiredness and maybe a bit sleepines. The smell of sweat, smoke, and faint hints of blood filled the room."Hey, you got another one of those?" one of the men asked, nodding toward a cigarette as he sprawled on a worn-out couch."Sure," another replied, tossing him a pack. "We're gonna need something stronger if we have to go back to work soon.""Tell me about it," the first man muttered, lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drag. He exhaled slowly, the smoke curling up towards the ceiling. "I’m tired of babysitting that old woman. shouldn't we just clear her. I wonder why she's here.""Seriously man, but orders are orders," the second man shrugged, leaning back and closing his eyes. "Besides, we’ve got that other guy to keep things interesting."In the corner of the warehouse, their other
Ana woke up early the next morning, the soft morning light filtering through her bedroom window, she was driven home last night after dinner by Jules under Victor's order since he refused to let her hail a taxi. She stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Today was the day she would prepare for the annual packs' meeting, an event that required her to be both presentable and versatile. The meeting was a significant occasion, filled with formal discussions and various activities, and she needed to look her best, but to beat the gossips and also build her confidence.As she dressed after freshening up, her thoughts turned to her wardrobe. Many of her clothes seemed dull and uninspired, and so was the ones she bought earlier for the meeting. She decided it was time to update her collection. Grabbing her phone, she made a quick list of the essentials she needed: a few new dresses, some casual outfits, and accessories to match. She also noted that she might need a couple of versatile
Lucas stood up, pondering her words. He exchanged a glance with the leader of the men, who gave a slight nod."You did the right thing by telling us, Maria," Lucas said. "We'll make sure your grandchildren are safe. But you need to understand that if I find out you lied, your grandkids wouldn't be safe in my hands either"She nodded vehemently, tears streaming down her face. "I swear, everything I just told you is the truth. Please, just protect them. They’re all I have left."He gave her a small, almost pitying smile, that to a normal eye would look a bit forced. "Very well then. We'll do our best. Remember, Maria, trust is a fragile thing. Don't give us a reason to break it.""I promise, I'm not lying"As they left her alone in the warehouse, her heart sank into a deep pit of despair, her mind racing with thoughts of her grandchildren. Outside, Lucas walked briskly to his car, which was parked just outside the warehouse. He climbed into the driver's seat, leaving the door open for a