SOMEWHERE. 9:00PMVictor sighed as he picked a ball out of the basket, balancing it on the gold tee with meticulous care. He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he focused on his target. With a swift, powerful swing, he hit the ball off the tee. It soared through the air, cutting through the darkness before colliding with a sickening thud into the stomach of a bloodied, half-dead man tied to a pole.The man’s body convulsed upon impact, his head lolling forward as a fresh wave of blood splattered onto his blue checkered shirt, its buttons barely hanging on. He couldn't even scream; the pain was too overwhelming, reducing him to nothing more than a series of gurgling coughs that echoed in the still night air. Blood dribbled down his chin, mixing with the grime and sweat that caked his bruised face.The night was illuminated only by the pole lights and the silvery glow of the moon. The scene and eerie, shadows stretching long and dark across the field. Besides him, there were only
Penelope took the hairbrush, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scrutinized Laura’s face. “Uh... thank you, Laura,” she said slowly. “It's...understandable. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”Laura nodded, sporting a respectful smile. “Of course, Miss Penelope. It won’t happen again.”As Laura turned to leave, Penelope’s mind raced. The hairbrush had been in Laura’s room. It was possible she had mistaken it for her own, but something about the situation didn’t sit right with her. She glanced down at the hairbrush, turning it over in her hands. It was unmistakably hers, a gift from a friend, and she knew Laura’s claim of having a similar one could be true, but it felt too convenient.Her's has been in her room all the while, how the fuck did the maid see it and even had the chance to mistake it for her's.Penelope placed the hairbrush on the coffee table and leaned back, watching as Laura continued her journey to the kitchen. The maid’s calmness, her efficiency, even her politene
With a deep breath, she clicked on it and began to read through the contents. The report was comprehensive, detailing every single thing.Molly Stewart, Laura wasn't her real name. She had changed her identity several times over the past few years. There were inconsistencies in her history, gaps that didn’t add up. And then, there was the criminal record – minor offenses, but enough to raise red flags. Petty theft, a few charges of fraud, and a restraining order filed against her by a former employer. It painted a picture of someone who was far from trustworthy.The background report on Laura—or rather, Molly—painted a grim picture. Her relationship history was tumultuous at best. Two exes, one of whom was dead under suspicious circumstances, and the other had left the country abruptly, leaving no forwarding address or contact details. The mere mention of a deceased ex sent a shiver down Penelope’s spine. Molly also had a seven-year-old sister who had been missing for years now. The
151(pictures)Laura moved around, helping the guests with their coats and guiding them to the front door while penelope stood by with a force polite smile and saying goodnight, all while keeping a close eye on Laura. She also noticed the glances the girl sneaked her way from time to time."Thank you for coming," Penelope said to Mrs. Owen, as she helped her with her coat. She was the closest to her mother and wasn't as judgey as the other women. "It was lovely to have you.""Always a pleasure, dear," Mrs. Owen replied, giving Penelope a warm hug before stepping out into the cool night air.Her mother had gone in for the night, as she was tired because of the cooking and preparations she did for the guests, and it also because of that kind of pride in older women, especially towards their peers. She wasn't going to see them off, they don't see each other off, it was their thing.As the last of the guests left, a few women decided to stay the night. They made themselves comfortable in
Anastasia turned over in bed for what felt like the millionth time that night. She sighed deeply and groaned into her pillow, the frustration bubbling up inside her. Sleep was elusive, slipping through her fingers like sand. This was the third time that week Victor was sleeping out, and it disturbed her. Every chance she got to leave the house without Catherine’s hawk-like vigilance, she made her way to the Pierce mansion. But Victor always has something to do, spending little time with her before disappearing and returning only by morning. He never explained where he went, always coming up with a another discussion to divert her attention or simply avoiding the conversation altogether. It was becoming more than just disturbing; it was infuriating.Now, at midnight, she lay awake, worry chewing on her insides. She had sent him a text earlier, and there was still no reply. Sitting up, she grabbed her phone and checked it again—still nothing. Her anxiety spiked as she sent another messa
Anastasia looked away from Lucas and turned on the TV, trying to focus on something else, anything else. The noise didn't fill the room, but at least it did little to ease her mind. “So you're going to stand there all night?” she asked, her voice edged with irritation.Lucas chuckled, but his attempt at humor fell flat. “If that makes you comfortable.”She snapped her head towards him, anger bubbling to the surface. “Comfortable? No, I'm not. You being here doesn't make me comfortable in any way. It's disturbing and creepy, and you won't say where Victor is. But do I have a choice? No! Because he's an asshole who does whatever he wants.”Lucas looked taken aback by her outburst. He shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to respond. “Uh... I apologize, but I'm not in any position to say a word about his work or anything right now, please understand.”Her frustration only grew. She felt trapped by the presence of this stranger in her home, why? did Victor she was incapable of taking care
Anastasia watched as Victor moved to stand in front of her, shielding her from the enraged crowd armed with spears, swords, and torches. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably."Please, don't. You're wounded and they won't stop. They're going to hurt you. Please," she sobbed, clutching his blood-stained shirt.His grip on his dagger tightened, his eyes flickering to the deep, gaping wound in his shoulder. He winced but stood firm, a deep frown etched on his face. "I will let no one lay their filthy hands on you or our child," he said, his voice resolute despite the pain."Please, Vee, for my sake. Please!!" she screamed, desperation lacing her voice.At the front of the crowd, a familiar face came out: Damon, his expression twisted into a sinister smirk. He brandished a bloody, wolfsbane-laced dagger. "I would love to watch but, I have a date. Kill him. I want her alive though," he commanded, then turned away, walking through the middle of the crowd as if he had all the time in t
“How does a bath sound? The tub here is bigger,” Victor said softly, his voice gentle. He reached out and carefully picked the strands of hair that had stuck to her tear-streaked face, tucking them behind her ears with a tenderness that made her chest tighten. It was almost 4 am now, and Ana had cried herself out. Her sobs had finally subsided into quiet hiccups, and she laid there, in his arms, exhausted and hollow, staring at him. She couldn't bring herself to say what she had dreamed about, what had scared her so badly. Victor watched her for a moment, his eyes full of concern. “Or we could just ransack the fridge for sodas and ice cream, and microwave us the leftover pizza,” he suggested with a soft smile, trying to coax her out of the trance that she seemed to be in.Ana sniffed, still wouldn't say a word. She just stared at him, her eyes wide and unblinking, as if afraid that he would disappear if she looked away even for a second. Yet his smile didn't waver. “Or both,” he sa
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