QUINN'S POVI woke up to an empty bed, my hands searching for any sign of Bryan. I had been so exhausted the night before, after showering and collapsing onto the bed. My body had been screaming for rest, and I had finally given in.As I lay there, I had felt Bryan come in later that night. He had pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight. I had felt a sense of safety and security in his arms, and I had finally been able to drift off to sleep.But now, as I woke up to an empty bed, I felt a pang of disappointment. I had been hoping that Bryan would still be there, that we could spend the morning together.As I searched the bed for any sign of Bryan, my hands suddenly stopped moving. I looked up to see Bryan standing in front of me, a smile on his face."Good morning," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.I opened my eyes in shock, springing up from the bed. "Bryan!" I exclaimed, my heart racing with surprise.Bryan only laughed, his eyes crinkling
QUINN'S POVI sat at the breakfast table, staring blankly at the plate of food in front of me. The tension between me and Bryan was very visible, and I could feel the weight of his eyes on me. He attempted to make small talk with me, but I remained silent. I was still fuming from the way he had treated me the day before.Soon, his calm and apologetic voice filled the room. "Hey, okay, I'm sorry about yesterday. I know I overreacted, and I shouldn't have. Can I make it up to you?"I still didn't respond. For all it's worth, Bryan rarely apologizes. So whenever he does, I don’t know if he’s doing it because he is sorry or because he has other things planned. He’s that master planner. I pushed his hands away as he tried to feed me on several occasions, my frustration growing by the second."Quinn, come on," he said, the frustration also becoming evident in his voice. "I'm trying to apologize here. Can you at least talk to me?"How was I supposed to talk? This is all living was for me. N
JASPER'S POVI pulled up in front of the apartment I once visited, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Something didn't feel right. I'd been thinking about Quinn nonstop since our last conversation.Did something go wrong, and she's possibly in hiding? I couldn't shake the feeling that Bryan was in trouble. He must have threatened her or something. He sounded very convincing the last time we spoke.I got out of the car and walked up to the apartment, my heart beating a little faster with each step. Terrified though convinced, I took the first knock on the door, once, twice, three times, four. There was a pause, and then I heard the sound of the door rattling from the inside.I took a step back, preparing myself for whatever I might see. The door opened, and I was expecting to see Quinn's bright smile. But instead, I saw Eva, Quinn's roommate. Her face scrunched up into a little squeeze, and she looked at me warily."Hi," she said, her voice hesitant. Her voice squeezed up a lily
QUINN'S POVI waited patiently for what felt like an eternity for Bryan to leave the house. I had been watching him from the window, my eyes fixed on his car as he pulled out of the driveway. The moment I was sure he was gone, I sprang into action.I searched the whole house from top to bottom, scouring every room for a spare device. I checked the living room, the kitchen, even the bedrooms, but I couldn't find a single phone or tablet. It was as if Bryan had deliberately removed all forms of communication from the house.Just as I was starting to feel frustrated, a chef walked past me, carrying a tray of food. I had to stop her. "Hello, sorry to bother you," I said, trying to sound as polite and non-threatening as possible. "But I was wondering if I could use your device for a few seconds?"The chef looked at me with a mixture of surprise and suspicion. She shook her head firmly, her expression disapproving. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but you can't," she said, her voice firm but polite.I fel
BRYAN'S POVAs I sat behind my desk, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Quinn was finally back where she belonged - under my control. I had been watching her from afar, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And now, with Jasper breathing down my neck, I knew I had to act fast.A call broke my thoughts. It was from my secretary. I only managed to hear three words, "Mr. Jasper's here." Right on time, I thought. I had been expecting him, and I was more than ready to deal with him.I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of anticipation. This was going to be fun. "Send him in," I ordered, leaning back in my chair, fizzling with my fingers together as I watched Jasper storm into my office. He was angry, I could tell. But I wasn't intimidated. I had been preparing for this moment for a long time."Where is she?" Jasper demanded, his voice low and menacing. I smiled, enjoying the show."I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied, my voice dripping with innocence. Jasp
As soon as my hand made contact with her face, I knew I had made a terrible mistake. Quinn's hands flew up to her cheek, and her eyes grew red and puffy as tears began to well up. She looked at me with a mixture of shock, pain, and fear, and I felt regret wash over me."Oh no, Quinn, I'm so sorry," I said, taking a step forward, but she was already turning and running up the stairs, her body shaking with sobs.I was left standing alone in the room, feeling like a monster. I paced back and forth, trying to calm myself down, but my mind was racing with thoughts of what I had just done."Bryan, you don't hit a woman," I yelled at myself, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. I threw the vase that sat on the table a few inches away from me. It shattered on the floor, but it didn't make me feel any better.I dug my fist into the wall, feeling the pain shoot through my hand and up my arm. It was still a futile attempt to punish myself for my actions, but it was all I could think of how t
I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. My head was pounding with a terrible headache, and I could feel the pain beating against my skull. As I looked around, I saw the empty bottle on the floor, a reminder of the previous night's events. I must have drunk too much, because I couldn't remember much of what had happened.I tried to sit up, but my body ached all over. My muscles felt stiff and sore, and I could feel the weight of my exhaustion bearing down on me. I looked around the room, taking in the mess that I had made. My shirt was stained and wrinkled, and my hair was a tangled mess. I looked like I had been through a war.I slowly got to my feet, using the wall to support myself. I felt dizzy, and I had to close my eyes for a moment to steady myself. When I opened them again, I made my way to the mirror to assess the damage. What I saw wasn't pretty. My eyes were still red and bloodshot, and my skin was pale. It looked like I had been up all night, which I pro
Another 24 hours had passed, and I still hadn't seen Quinn. I was really worried about her. I couldn't focus on anything, and all I could think of was her. I was scared that something bad might happen to her.I had promised myself that I would never hurt her again. I felt terrible about what I had done, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Everyone around me was worried about Quinn too. I could see the look on their faces.This wasn't how I had planned things. I had wanted us to spend some quality time together, but now everything seemed to be falling apart. I made a big mistake, and I needed to fix it.With this incident, she might just go back to Jasper in any slightest chance she gets. I needed to do something to stop that from happening. But the problem was, she had locked herself in her room, and I didn't know how to get to her.I paced back and forth in the hallway, trying to think of a solution. Then, I got an idea - maybe I should get rid of the door that was keeping us apar
I couldn’t break free from Bryan's grasp and, before I knew it, I was kissing him back. It was suffocating to some extent, but none of us wanted to break the tie that we created.Again, my subconscious yelled at me, trying to shake me of the trance-like state I was in. This isn't the reason you’re here, Quinn.She was right.I started to make an attempt to push him off, but it was too late. I heard a loud ripping sound of fabric. He had just torn my dress, exposing my skin to the cold air. Bryan’s hands flew to my back as he undid my bra. Then his lips moved to my neck. In one instance, I threw my head backward, giving him all the access he needed.His hands moved to my core, his fingers rubbing against it gently, sending shock through me. I knew I was lost. I gasped at the effect. My eyes met his gaze and he looked completely blown. His pupils were so dilated as he watched me moan.His lips moved to my boobs aggressively as he sucked on one of them, giving me a light bite. I cried o
I woke up to an empty bed, my hands searching for any sign of Bryan. I had been so exhausted the night before, after showering and collapsing onto the bed. My body had been screaming for rest, and I had finally given in.As I lay there, I had felt Bryan come in later that night. He had pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight. I had felt a sense of safety and security in his arms, and I had finally been able to drift off to sleep.But now, as I woke up to an empty bed, I felt a pang of disappointment. I had been hoping that Bryan would still be there, that we could spend the morning together.As I searched the bed for any sign of Bryan, my hands suddenly stopped moving. I looked up to see Bryan standing in front of me, a smile on his face."Good morning," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.I opened my eyes in shock, springing up from the bed. "Bryan!" I exclaimed, my heart racing with surprise.Bryan only laughed, his eyes crinkling at the cor
lSoon the driver arrived, and I got in, my mind still reeling from the event that had just happened.I pulled out my phone and started to dial Bryan's number. I was going to confront him but hung up on second thought.Maybe I should go to Eva, except that I didn't want to disturb her either. Besides, I'm not sure if she's ready to talk to me yet.I needed a distraction, something to channel this anger and frustration into. I spotted a small art studio nearby and quickly asked the driver to stop. I made my way inside. The smell of paint enveloping me, and calming my racing thoughts. It looked like a paint and sip recreational center, but it seemed quiet today.I settled in at a stand, picking up a brush and dipping it into a bright shade of blue. As I began to paint, I felt my tension slowly began to ease, replaced by a sense of calmness and focus.Just as I was getting lost in the creative process, my phone buzzed again. I hesitated, wondering if it was worth it. But as I looked ove
As I spotted her, I caught her eyes and nodded subtly towards the backyard. She nodded back in understanding as we both slipped away from the crowd.Once we were outside, Eva turned to me, her expression serious. "I've been waiting for you to resume work for the longest," she said as her eyes scanned me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.I let out a small laugh, trying to downplay the severity of my injuries. "I'm better, Eva. Just a few bruises here and scratches."But she wasn't buying it. She rolled her eyes, and took a step closer to me. "Are you ready then to tell me what's happening? Who did this to you?" she demanded, her voice firm.I tried to brush it off, resorting to the same excuse I had given them earlier. "I had already told you guys, I got into a fight..." But Eva wasn't having it.She cut me off mid-sentence. "Na-uh. You can tell that crap to Quinn, not me, Matt. I'm not daft!" She crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with annoyance.I raised my right hand in t
"Sir?" she called, poking her head into the room.I turned my attention towards her. "Yes? You can come in."She stepped inside, with a discreet envelope in her hand. "A courier just dropped this off, sir. It's marked 'urgent' and 'personal'."My eyes narrowed slightly as I took the envelope from her hand. It had my name typed on the front, but there was no indication of who had sent it or what it might contain."Thank you. That's all for now." I announced, dismissing her. She nodded and backed out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.I scanned the contents of the envelope, my expression darkened. "This is highly unacceptable. No, I wouldn't let her walk away from the agreement so easily."I picked up my phone and dialed my lawyer. "I need you to come to my office, right now.""Is everything okay, Mr Braxton?" His calm tone replied along the line."Well, if you get here now, you'll figure that out." I dropped the call.-----------------I spent the remaining few minutes pa
BRYAN'S POVI leaned back in my chair with my fingers entwined together as I stared out of the window. My mind, rummaging through different directions, each one even more calculating than the last."What's the point of having power if you can't control the ones who mattered?" I muttered to myself. "Very few people matter to me and I should be able to control them if so."Just then, there was a knock on my door. It was my secretary."Sir?" she called, poking her head into the room.I turned my attention towards her. "Yes? You can come in."She stepped inside, with a discreet envelope in her hand. "A courier just dropped this off, sir. It's marked 'urgent' and 'personal'."My eyes narrowed slightly as I took the envelope from her hand. It had my name typed on the front, but there was no indication of who had sent it or what it might contain."Thank you. That's all for now." I announced, dismissing her. She nodded and backed out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.I scanned t
MATT'S POVI navigated through the crowded hallway of Eclipse, scanning the area for Eva. We needed to talk, and I'd been waiting for a chance to grab her attention.As I spotted her, I caught her eyes and nodded subtly towards the backyard. She nodded back in understanding as we both slipped away from the crowd.Once we were outside, Eva turned to me, her expression serious. "I've been waiting for you to resume work for the longest," she said as her eyes scanned me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.I let out a small laugh, trying to downplay the severity of my injuries. "I'm better, Eva. Just a few bruises here and scratches."But she wasn't buying it. She rolled her eyes, and took a step closer to me. "Are you ready then to tell me what's happening? Who did this to you?" she demanded, her voice firm.I tried to brush it off, resorting to the same excuse I had given them earlier. "I had already told you guys, I got into a fight..." But Eva wasn't having it.She cut me off m
I stood outside the sleek, modern building, checking the address on the piece of paper for what felt like the hundredth time. This was it – the office of Mrs. Stone, Jasper's lawyer.I took a deep breath, smoothing out my dress and mentally preparing myself for the meeting.As I pushed open the door, I stepped into an elegant lobby. The receptionist looked up from behind the desk, smiling politely."Can I help you?" she asked."I'm here to see Mrs. Stone," I replied, trying to sound confident. "I have an appointment."The receptionist nodded, typing something into her computer. "Of course, Mrs. Stone is expecting you. Please, take a seat, and I'll let her know you're here."I sat down in one of the plush chairs, flipping through a magazine I saw on the desk to distract myself. I came for something important – something that could change my entire life.After a few minutes, the receptionist called out to me. "Mrs. Stone will see you now."I stood up, taking a deep breath as I followed
QUINN'S POVI watched Matt.A million questions flowed through my mind. He was lying. I didn't know how, but my instinct told me he was hiding something.Seeing his battered body made me want to puke. Who could have possibly done this to him? I thought back to our previous discussion.Could it be Jasper... or Bryan?Just because his story wasn't adding up, it seemed too convenient and too rehearsed.He tried to speak, his voice low, almost coming off as a whisper "Concerning our previous discussion, Quinn... permit me to take that back?"I narrowed my eyes, my grip on the ice pack tightening. "What are you talking about, Matt?" Matt's gaze fixed on mine, his eyes pleading. "About... what I said. I was mistaken. I didn't mean to—"My anger boiled over. "Mistaken?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You showed me a picture, Matt. You told me things. What are you trying to take back?""I…I just didn’t want you to end up with him." He stammered, his eyes darting between Eva and I. "Yes, I got