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
Victor watched her as she breathed raggedly, coming down from the high. As the last tremors of her climax faded, his touch became gentler, his movements slowed. She threw her head back against his body and shut her eyes, trying to catch her breath, her mouth half open. He found that endearing, cute even. He kissed her temple, his lips soft against her skin."Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low.Ana nodded, her eyes still closed, her body still pressed against his. "Yeah," she whispered. "I am, still trying to catch my breath though."He chuckled softly, and held her for a while longer. The water around them had cooled, but neither of them seemed to notice. They were wrapped in their own world, so focused on each other that the rest of the world could have disappeared and they wouldn't have cared. The power had gone out at some point, but the solar-powered bulbs cast a soft glow around the room, and they still didn't notice.Eventually, he helped her out of the tub, wrapping her and
Penelope stood in front of the window, her gaze fixed on the horizon as the first light of dawn crept into the room. Outside, early morning workers bustled about, their day already in motion. The soft hues of sunrise painted the sky, casting a calming glow over the awakening city. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the bottle of water on the nightstand beside her. She lifted it to her lips, taking a measured sip, she then placed the bottle back on the table carefully, ensuring it stood as steadily as she wished she felt. Then, she returned her attention to the window. The world outside continued its routine.How did she not know?How could she not know?!These questions tormented her.Why did she think about it? Why did it even cross her mind now, when it was all too late? She had been here, literally begging every person she could call to help, pouring out her heart and soul into finding answers. Every night, she stayed up late, thoughts of this shit consuming her, tryin
"It's alright, Laura," The older woman said gently. "Go back downstairs and continue what you were doing. This is just one of Penelope's breakdown moments. You don't have to worry"Laura hesitated. "But Mrs. Torres, I heard—"She shook her head. "I know, dear. But there's nothing you can do right now. Penelope needs her space to work through this. She'll come down when she's ready."Laura glanced up the stairs, for a long moment, then she reluctantly, turned and made her way back to the kitchen.Genevieve Torres watched her retreat to the kitchen before slowly making her way back upstairs. As she reached the top of the stairs, she paused outside her room, listening to the quiet that had followed the storm of noise. She didn't enter; she knew her daughter's need for privacy. Instead, she placed a gentle hand on the closed door, and sighed. Penelope sighed deeply. Her eyes was red and puffy from crying, and they were fixed on the screen of her phone. There, staring back at her, w
Ana dropped the pancake back onto the plate and stood up, gathering the plate to put it back into the fridge with the other heap that Victor had left before he went to freshen up. She put all the pancakes in one plate. The refrigerator door swung open with a gentle tug, the cool air brushing against her skin as she carefully placed the plate inside. She took a moment to rearrange the other items, making sure everything was neatly organized before shutting the door with a satisfying click.Turning towards the sink, she hummed as she walked to it, washing the sticky remnants of syrup, whipped cream and crumbs from her hands. She was drying her hands with a towel when her phone, sitting on the counter nearby, started to ring.The sudden noise broke the quiet, making her jump slightly. She grabbed the phone, glancing at the screen to see who was calling. She picked immediately.“Hey, C,” Ana called.“I’m switching to video,” Cecil said abruptly from the other end. Before Ana could respond
Just as she was about to leave the kitchen, she heard footsteps on the stairs. She turned and saw Victor coming down, his hair still damp from his shower and a fresh shirt on. He looked at her with a smile, a look that never failed to make her heart flutter.“Hey,” he called. “Sorry I took so long. Everything okay?”Ana smiled back. “Everything’s fine. Just finished up the dishes. How was your shower?”“Refreshing,” he replied, stepping into the kitchen and wrapping his arms around her. “Thanks for cleaning up. I didn’t know what to wear, so I came down to call my fashion mistress.” He placed a soft kiss on her nose, making her giggle.She leaned into his embrace, savoring the feeling. “No problem. I enjoyed talking to Cecil and seeing Camden’s pack mark. It’s so cute. So, about the clothes, you’ve met the right person. What occasion is it?”Victor chuckled at her sudden attempt at a French accent, pulling back slightly to look at her with a smile. “I have a meeting with a new investo
As the car approached one the supervisor she frequented, Ana found herself contemplating whether she should buy fruits. She didn’t want to show up with a basket of produce only to find that Theo had already stocked up. After a moment of indecision, she shrugged and decided to get a few apples and bananas. Better safe than sorry, she thought. Besides, there was no way Cecil would reject fresh fruits.At the store, she wandered through the aisles, picking up the apples and bananas, and then her eyes caught on a section of baby toys. She smiled, thinking of little Camden, and grabbed a few colorful rattles and teething rings. As she moved further down the aisle, she remembered the dark circles she had noticed under Cecil’s eyes during their video call. So she decided to pick a few eye masks and a few face masks also, hoping they might help the tired look she had.With her purchases in hand, she headed to the checkout, went back to the car and then continued her journey. Fourteen minutes
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