“What’s going on?” Ana muttered under her breath, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. Zara’s face paled, her confusion deepening into genuine concern. “I swear, Luna, I told you. I even remember you nodding and telling me to have a good time. Are you sure you’re remembering correctly?” Her voice trembled slightly.Ana shook her head, feeling a strange mix of frustration, worry and fear. “I don’t know. Everything after the attack is a bit of a blur, but I distinctly remember calling you. Over and over.” Her voice wavered, betraying the fear gnawing at her.Ana looked down. There might have been some sort of mix-up, or something else is going on that they don’t understand.Ana bit her lip, considering the unsettling possibilities. “Could someone have tampered with your phone? Or maybe mine?” She glanced at Zara's phone again.Zara glanced at her phone, then back at Ana. “I suppose it’s possible. But why would anyone do that?” Her mind raced through potential scenarios, none of t
Ana’s irritation softened slightly at his explanation. She noticed his shivering and the genuine look of remorse in his eyes. “Then a heads-up would've been better,” she said, He glanced at the pizza boxes, then back at Ana. “My boss felt really bad about the delay, so he personally prepared your order. He made sure it was perfect, different from the usual, to make up for the wait. Please don't drop bad review”Ana sighed, her frustration melting into understanding. “Okay, I get it. Just... try to be faster next time”The boy nodded vigorously. “Yes, ma’am. I promise. Thank you for being understanding.”She handed him a few dollar note, another tip, even more than she had initially planned. “Here, take this. Get yourself something warm to drink.”The boy’s eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. “Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.”“You can go,” Ana muttered, taking the boxes. She closed the door and carried the pizza to the kitchen, setting it on the counter. As she opened
Penelope returned home from grocery shopping, balancing bags full of fresh produce and ingredients she hadn't cooked with in a while. The house was quiet, and she took a deep breath, relishing the silence. It had been a tough few weeks, filled with arguments after arguments, especially between her and her mother. Today, she wanted to make amends. She decided to prepare dinner herself, hoping it would be a peace offering that could smooth over their recent disagreements.After putting away the groceries, she headed upstairs to freshen up. She spent a few extra minutes in the shower, letting the hot water relax her muscles and wash away the stress. When she was done, she changed into comfortable clothes and tied her hair back. Feeling rejuvenated, she was about to make her way downstairs, but decided to stop by her mother’s room first. She knocked softly and waited for an answer, but none came. Pushing open the door, she found the room empty. Her mother must have gone out.Must be to the
The next morning, Penelope’s phone rang, jolting her out of a restless sleep. She had a sinking feeling she knew exactly who it was, seeing the unknown number on the screen, she almost cried, terrified even. Sighing, she answered it and listened quietly as the caller gave her another address and instructions like they always did.It's almost a norm now.After ending the call, she knew she had to leave early. Dressing quickly, she scribbled a note for her mother, explaining that she had some errands to run and would be back later. She didn’t mention the call or the address; it was better not to worry her mother unnecessarily.She slipped out of the house and got into her car, the morning sun just starting to rise. The city was beginning to wake up, normally she'd appreciate the sight and feeling but her mind was focused on the how horrible her morning and the rest of the day was definitely going to be as she drove, Penelope’s journey took her through different parts of the city, some f
She hesitated, the glass still in her hand. The comforting gesture had taken a very unsettling turn, and now she found herself grappling with a surge of mistrust. What was in the milk? And why would Laura, who had seemed so kind and attentive, give her something that smelled strange?Penelope’s grip tightened on the glass as she tried to decide what to do next.She glanced at the TV, the flickering images and writings barely registering in her mind as her thoughts raced. She could still feel Laura presence in the kitchen. The realization hit her like a cold wave—there was poison in the milk, Wolfsbane. This one was nearly scentless and would burn her insides in minutes. Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to maintain her composure.She couldn't confront the maid directly. If the girl had managed to muster the courage to give a fully awake and sober half human that could perceive just anything a poisoned drink, who knew what else she was capable of?Her mind spun with quest
SOMEWHERE A rough-looking man entered the corner store in , his very presence causing a ripple of discomfort among the customers. His clothes were filthy, and the overpowering stench of dirt, smoke, and alcohol surrounded him like an invisible cloud. He walked with a slow, deliberate gait, his eyes scanning the shelves for his usual poison.Reaching the alcohol section, he grabbed a few bottles of the cheapest liquor available. As he made his way to the counter, he ignored the whispers and disgusted looks thrown his way. The cashier, a young woman with dark circles under her eyes, looked up and visibly recoiled. She quickly composed herself, though the disdain never left her eyes.“Just these,” the man grunted, his voice a gravelly rasp that seemed to echo his rough exterior.“That’ll be twenty-five bucks,” the cashier said, trying to maintain a professional tone despite her obvious discomfort.The man pulled out a crumpled wad of cash from his pocket, peeling off bills and slapping
Jefferson stood there for a moment, watching the mysterious woman disappear into the distance. The weight of what she just said began to sink in, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He glanced around nervously, suddenly feeling exposed in the street. The gravity of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. Did she know who his benefactor is?Of course she would know, else she wouldn't have threatened him with it.He hurried the remaining distance to his apartment and basically ran into building, the echo of his footsteps bouncing off the grimy walls of the narrow hallway. Reaching his door, he fumbled with the keys, finally managing to unlock it and slip inside. He leaned against the door, trying to steady his breathing. Jefferson’s apartment was a cluttered mess, reflecting the chaos of his life. He dumped the paper bag of alcohol on the small kitchen table and paced the room, the woman's words replaying in his mind. His benefactor withdrawing support meant he would be on
Penelope stared at the phone after the man her friend had recommended ended the call abruptly. The conversation had been brief and unproductive, leaving her frustrated and more than a little annoyed.She scoffed, muttering to herself, “Half the money I’m offering is enough to change his life. What an arrogant douchebag.” She cursed under her breath, unable to fathom why anyone would turn down such a generous offer.He wouldn't even recommend someone else. Was he that full of himself? Being great at one's job doesn't give the right to be arrogant and rude. She was sure there was no way he could work up that amount of money she was offering in a year.“Lousy human,” she groaned, throwing the phone onto her bed with a scoff. She stood up, her frustration boiling over, and began pacing the room, biting her neatly manicured nails. The rejection stung more than she wanted to admit, and she could feel the familiar anxiety creeping up on her.Yes, she had earlier dismissed the idea of running
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