TessaI couldn't help but wonder why I'd been meeting so many rude and cold guys lately. Mr. Grumpy at the hospital and now my neighbor was no different. It made me miss Mr. Carter even more.I shrugged my shoulder and made my way inside to get prepared before time knocked on my foot.I opened the door walk to my room the usual smell filled my nose. I picked out an outfit from my closet before heading into the bathroom to take a refreshing cold shower. The cool water invaded my body.After I was done bathing, I quickly dried myself, slipped into my chosen outfit, applied light makeup to soothe my face, and styled my hair.Feeling refreshed and confident, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. I was in the middle of locking the door when my phone vibrated inside the bag. I wondered who it was, but I doubted it wasn't Leah. I locked the door and brought out the phone, and as I had suggested, she was the one. I slid the green button."Are you on your way?" Leah asked almost bursti
TessaWe both walked out and Leah grabbed the first taxi that was packed in front of us. She waved and drove off my eyes lingered on her car until she was out of view. I scoffed and grabbed the next taxi giving the driver the home address since Mom was still at the hospital, I could just catch a quick sleep at home.The driver started driving, I rested my head in the mirror side my mind wandering around but the sudden sound of my phone startled me and I flung up surprising the driver but he kept quiet. I held my chest bringing out my phone with the aim to curse the person but it turned out to be my mum calling. I hissed inwardly before sliding the green button. "Hey sweetie, change of plans," she said immediately I picked up and I frowned my brows at what she meant by that. "I have to go to work," she revealed taking me by surprise. "Why? Didn't you submit a leave form?" I asked angrily. "Yes, I did, but my boss needs me, I'm also not expecting this, I don't know why he specializ
TessaMy eyes were wide and I couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding in front of me right now. Mr. Carter was staring at me with a sly smile crept on his lips. "Did I have an eye problem?" I contemplate, running my palm on my eyes but it was still the same. I woke myself up, It wasn't like I wasn't expecting him to wake or something but it was too sudden to feel real. I mean? "Mr. Carter!" I finally exclaimed accepting the scene in front of me, astonishment etched on my face, my eyes wide with joy.I rushed toward him, my feet moving swiftly, a smile spreading across my face. He smiled weakly, his eyes sparkling, warmth radiating from his gaze.I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug, relief washing over me. "I'm so glad you're awake!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with tears.Mr. Carter's frail arms enveloped me, his face still pale, but a hint of color had returned."Easy, Tessa don't choke me," he whispered, his voice low and soothing.I released him, concern flooding in
TessaThe next day, the doctor informed us that Mr. Carter would be discharged that day, yesterday evening. Mom had gone home to prepare dinner, leaving me alone with Mr. Carter. If not for the doctor's presence, I knew what Mr. Carter would have done.After the doctor finished his check-up, he assured us that we could leave within the next three hours, as Mr. Carter had fully recovered. He left, and I turned to Mr. Carter on the bed, our gazes aligned.I had missed him so much, but I knew I wasn't in the best position to act on it, considering it could ruin my mum's health and relationship with him.He gestured for me to sit on the bed, and I did. He dragged me closer by the waist, his mouth pressed against my skin, his breath filling my body, making me shiver."I miss you," he murmured, sucking on my ear, and my body became tender, my vision blurring.His hand roamed over my body, sending waves of sensation as he gently cupped my breast, snatching a gasp from me."I miss your nippl
TessaThe sudden footstep echoing made me flinch as I pushed Mr. Carter away, my heart racing repeatedly. I walked to sit on the couch, while his eyes followed me in astonishment.Immediately I sat, the door slid open, and my mum stepped in, she was kind of surprised to meet us inside the house."You guys are back?" She asked, dropping the bag of things she had went to purchase.She walked toward Mr. Carter and held his cheeks, checking through them as if that would give her enough time to make up for what she had missed seeing when he was lying in the hospital bed."Are you feeling weak anywhere? Do you feel any discomfort?" She rushed her questions with a worried face.Mr. Carter shook his head, held her waist, and I didn't know when I bit my lower lip. How could he hold her like that? I slapped myself out of the thought. Had I forgotten the man belonged to my mum in the first place?I watched them talk to each other, a wave of anger boiling over me. I folded my fists together, not
TessaMy eyes became wide open as my tongue lost words to say. Mr. Carter swallowed hard before standing up and flashing mum a bitter smile.The most scary part was the knife mum was holding, as if she would slash us if we dared lie to her."What did you mean by your question? Isn't it a normal thing to do? Especially when she just came back from the hospital and I heard from her conversation that she's going to tutor a colleague? Don't you think it necessary to bathe?" He played it cool.Mum's gaze took a second before softening, and she nodded twice."True, you should take your bath," she gestured toward my room and walked back to the kitchen.I held my heart, which was bumping out. I'd seen many people lie, but Mr. Carter seemed different. He seemed to know how to lie naturally, all words coming from his lips sounded truthful.I knew he had told me to bathe because of our encounter at the hospital earlier, but seeing him lie about it made me smile.He smirked naughtily at me before
TessaI wiped my eyes with the back of my palm, wondering if I was seeing things, but no, I wasn't. Mr. Grumpy stood right there, staring at me with a strange glare, his hand supporting his waist."What are you doing here?" The question fell from my lips before I realized I wasn't in my own house."I should be asking you those questions. What are you doing in my house?" His voice was sharp, like he would punch me in the face."Your house," I swallowed hard, feeling the emptiness down my throat, and he took a step closer to me."You heard me right. What are you doing in my house?" His eyes pierced into my soul.I tried standing up, but my legs were weak, and I couldn't even lift my body up."You seem like a bold person in the hospital, but now?" He knelt closer to me. His hand reached for the tip of my hair when I yanked him away and stood up.He seemed shocked, releasing a heavy pant as he stood up. I swallowed hard, staring around the room in a daze, unsure what to do.I felt like di
TessaFear caught my breath as Leah's curious gaze shifted between me and Mr. Grumpy, waiting for an explanation. "What's going on?" She asked, this time around her voice was sharp, and her brow furrowed in confusion."Nothing out of the ordinary, Just a coincidence. Don't worry about it." Mr. Grumpy's expression softened a little bit, and he flashed a reassuring smile."Okay, if you're sure..." her eyes lingered on me for a moment before nodding. I exhaled silently, relieved that she didn't press the issue further. But my body was still trembling from the intense encounter with Mr. Grumpy."And one more thing," Mr. Grumpy suddenly shifted his eyes to me, his voice was low and firm. "Don't call me Mr. Grumpy again, this will be my last warning, there won't be next," his voice dropped with coldness. "Oh!O ...Okay." My eyes widened, and I nodded hastily. "Mr. Grumpy?" Leah chuckled on her breath. "It's not funny, is it?" Mr. Grumpy's eyes narrowed. But Leah continued to laugh. "
CarterI was anxious as I stepped into the hospital with Samuel by my side. The atmosphere was heavy with worry, the kind that clings to you like a shadow. Tessa has been through so much of lately."Let's go to the security room," Samuel said, his voice steady but his eyes revealed his own concern. I nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. We made our way through the busy hallways, past doctors and nurses who moved quickly, their faces focused and serious. Each step felt like it took forever, and the sounds of the hospital echoed in my mind, amplifying my anxiety.When we reached the security room, I took a deep breath. The room was small and dimly lit, filled with screens showing different angles of the hospital. I felt a mix of hope and fear as I wondered what we would find in the footage. The security guard looked up from his monitor, noticing us."What can I help you with?" he asked, his tone professional but kind."We need to see the footage of when Leah was brought in for some
TessaI sat on the cold, hard bench in my prison cell, tears streaming down my cheeks. I never thought a simple favor would land me here, but life had a funny way of twisting things. I felt the weight of my choices, heavy and suffocating. All I wanted was to help someone, but now I was paying the price.The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, and my heart raced. I looked up to see my mother, Mila, Carter, and Samuel approaching. Relief washed over me at the sight of them, but it was quickly overshadowed by sadness. I wanted to be strong, but the tears wouldn't stop.Mila rushed to me, her arms wrapping around me tightly. I could feel her warmth, her love, and it made my heart ache even more. I hugged her back, trying to find comfort in her embrace. "I'm okay, really, Mom, I am fine," I said, but my voice wavered. "This is just what my help got me into."Mila pulled back, her eyes searching my face. "Tessa, I'm so sorry. I didn't want this for you." Her voice was soft, filled wit
CarterI felt a rush of confusion and anger as I paced the living room, my phone still buzzing in my hand. Mila had just told me that Tessa was arrested. "Why would they arrest Tessa?" I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls. My heart raced. Tessa was my friend; she was kind and caring. It made no sense to me.When I finally got home, the weight of the news sat heavy in my stomach. Mila was waiting for me, her face serious. My heart was racing. Mila was sitting on the couch, her eyes wide with worry and she looked concerned, and that only made my heart beat faster. I needed answers. I wanted to know why this was happening."Carter, you need to sit down. I have something to tell you," she said. I felt a knot form in my stomach. The tone in her voice told me it wasn't good news."Mila," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What happened? Why was Tessa arrested?" I asked, already treading the answer.She took a deep breath, her eyes searching mine as if she were trying to gauge how
Tessa I stood there, my heart racing as I faced Liam. The anger in his eyes felt like a storm, and I could barely breathe. "I didn't poison Leah!" I shouted, my voice shaking. "She called me when she got sick! You can't seriously think I would do something like that!"Liam's face was cold, his disbelief cutting deep. "Prove it," he said, crossing his arms. "You were the last one with her. You need to show me that you didn't do this."I fumbled for my phone, my hands trembling as I pulled up the chat with Leah. "Look! She messaged me just before she got sick. She was asking for help!" I held the phone out to him, desperate for him to see the truth.Liam glanced at the screen but then shook his head. "This doesn't mean anything. You could have staged this. You could have poisoned her and then acted like you were trying to help.""Staged it? Are you serious?" I felt a surge of frustration. "I rushed her to the hospital because I was scared! I thought she was going to die!""Then why is
TessaI stood in the dimly lit room, my heart racing as I stared at the screen in my hands. His words was more of like present, echoed in my mind."You poisoned my sister, Leah." I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Leah was not just his sister; she was my best friend. The anger bubbled up inside me, mixing with confusion. How could he say something like that?"Why would you say something like that?" I demanded, my voice shaking. "You're joking, right? This isn't funny!"Liam's expression was serious, and that only made my fury grow. I had known him for years, but in this moment, I felt like I was looking at a stranger. "Tessa, I'm not joking," he said quietly, his eyes locking onto mine. "You did it. You poisoned her."I couldn't take it in. My mind raced, searching for answers. Leah was sweet, kind, and always there for me. How could Liam accuse me of this? I remembered all the times we laughed together, the secrets we shared, and the dreams we talked about. "Why would I hu
TessaI paced anxiously up and down in front of the emergency door, my mind racing with terrifying possibilities. What if Leah died? What would I do? The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread.Tears streamed down my face, and my heart pounded rapidly, threatening to burst out of my chest. My fingers hurt from clenching my fists, and I kept glaring at the emergency door, willing myself to see what was happening inside."Calm down, she'll be okay," the driver who had dropped me off earlier said, his eyes red-rimmed, filled with empathy.I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Thank you," I replied, genuinely thankful. If not for him, maybe, I might still be at home. Even though I told him to go so I wouldn't delay his work but he was proven too stubborn to heed. I wanted to tell him to be going but his phone rang, he contemplated for some minutes before he slid the green button and pressed the phone against his right ear. He went mute
TessaThe multiple calls and messages on my phone jolted me awake from my deep slumber, shattering the peaceful silence. I yawned countless times, my eyes puffy from sleeping all day. I rubbed my red eyes, trying to shake off the fatigue, before picking up the phone to check who the persistent caller was. Shockwaves ran through me as I saw all the calls and messages were from Leah.Why had she flooded my phone with calls and messages at the same time? Concern etched on my face, I clicked on her number and put her on speaker. The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before her voice chimed in, weak and uncharacteristic."What's up? I saw your missed calls and dozen messages," I said, trying to sound casual despite my growing unease."I'm good," she replied, but something about her tone sent alarm bells ringing in my mind. Her usual jovial demeanor was replaced by a frailty that unsettled me."Is everything okay with you?" I pressed, my brow furrowed with worry. Her labored breat
TessaI had already gone to bed, the warmth of my blanket wrapping around me like a cocoon. I was trying to forget the day and the picture of Carter with that woman. My heart was heavy, and sleep felt miles away. Just as I was starting to drift off, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I grabbed it, squinting at the screen.It was a message from Carter. My heart jumped into my throat. What now? Did he want to talk again? I opened the message, but my stomach twisted when I read it.Carter: "Do you know Liam? He's here at the meeting. I don't know who he is but he keeps on watching me like a magnet glued to a metal."Liam? My mind raced. Carter didn't know about Liam... unless Liam had done something. My breath caught in my chest. I had thought I could keep Liam a secret, but now it felt like everything was unraveling."Is there any possibility he was the one you sent to stalk me? I mean, your doctor friend?" I was still thinking about the first message when the second one popped in.I sa
CarterImmediately, Tessa ended the call even though she gave me no chance to explain myself and pacify her, which I badly wanted to do; I felt a strange feeling settled in my stomach. I looked around, feeling hyper-aware of my surroundings. It was as if someone was watching me, tracking my every move. The thought nagged at me. Had Tessa told a friend to keep an eye on me? Would she stoop so low to order a friend to monitor my every movement, the people I talk to and move with? I shook my head, trying to dismiss the idea. But doubt lingered.I glanced around, my heart racing. In the corner, I spotted a man who looked familiar. It was Liam—the same guy who had been at the conference and had sent Tessa that picture. He was drinking and chatting with another man, and I felt a wave of discomfort wash over me.I wondered if he was the one who had been watching me. Maybe he was reporting back to Tessa, telling her things that weren't true. The idea made my blood boil. Why would he want to c