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SEVENTEEN
Last Updated:
2024-07-13 18:35:16
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Terms and Conditions EIGHTEEN
MAYThe movie was far from over when I felt Edmond's head droop onto my shoulder. He was snoring softly, and I tried my best to ignore the tingle that ran through my arm at the feeling of his breath on my skin. I should have woken him up - that would have been the normal thing to do - but I couldn't bring myself to disturb his peaceful slumber. Instead, I let my mind wander, replaying the memory of our hug earlier. The way his hands had rested on my waist, the warmth of his body against mine...it made my heart race all over again.I had been so sure Edmond was going to kiss me and I wasn't even sure I would have the sheer strength to stop him. Admitting that made my heart pound even harder. But I had been overthinking. The last thing Edmond Walters wanted to do was kiss me. With one hand, I deftly picked up the remote and paused the movie making sure not to disturb Edmond. I took some time to mentally prepare myself for the awkwardness that was sure to follow when I woke him up.Onc
Last Updated : 2024-07-16Terms and Conditions NINETEEN
MAYI did not sleep. Heaven knows I couldn't sleep. I kept turning and thinking of what I would do when tomorrow finally came. I dreaded every minute that passed because it signified that time was not in my favor. I wanted to keep the task Snuggle gave me a secret but that would make me a goddamned hypocrite. I had been pissed when Edmond kept his task a secret and played me like a fool. It would be stupid to do the same. But was it? The whole purpose of keeping the task a secret was simply because I didn't want to follow through with it. That did for me. It wasn't really deceitful if I wasn't getting Edmond to do the task while he was in the dark. But there would be consequences. That I knew well. Snuggle would find something to corner me. It would give me no choice until I succumbed but what could they really take from me at this point? My house was confiscated and so was all my life savings. Pennies and a roof were all I had to my name. Admitting there was nothing else to snatch fr
Last Updated : 2024-07-16Terms and Conditions TWENTY
MAYMy mother was a force of nature. Disappointed wouldn't be the right word to describe the energy she would send my way if she found out her daughter was now homeless, penniless, and married all because I didn't read the fine print. I was cornered but if I had to choose, I would choose to survive a kiss with Edmond any day. I decided I would tell him the task Snuggle had handed me the minute he walked out of the bathroom. But as seconds trickled by, I wasn't finding it that easy to talk myself out into this one. My first kiss was going to be fiction. Something Edmond and I just had to do because it was for the best and not because we wanted to. The fear was clawing at me again, and it was taking more than an extra few minutes to stop shaking. I grabbed the phone and read through the pop-ups that Snuggle had sent just to remind my brain that this was not the time to be afraid or rational. It was just one kiss. It wouldn't even mean anything. It would be over before it even got awkwar
Last Updated : 2024-07-16Terms and Conditions TWENTY ONE
EDMONDI sat at my desk, staring at the computer screen, but not really seeing the words on it. Instead, my mind wandered back to the kiss I shared with May. It was just a small moment, a brief brush of our lips, but it left me feeling something I haven't felt before. I tried to push the thoughts away, reminding myself that this marriage is just a convenience, a way to keep ourselves safe from Snuggle’s insanity. But it was getting harder to tell myself that was just the case. I had wanted to kiss her last night. This just made things… Why did I feel so conflicted? Why was my heart beating faster whenever I was around her? These were questions I could not answer, and they frustrated me to no end.“Are you alright, Mr. Walters?”I looked up to see my assistant. I hadn't even realized she had opened the door. The look on her face told me she could tell something was wrong. I was that easy to read.“Yeah… I’m good.” I forced a smile. It didn’t look like she bought it but she did not pry
Last Updated : 2024-07-16Terms and Conditions TWENTY TWO
MAYBe a fashion Icon. No matter how much I rang the words in my head, this item on the bucket list did not seem achievable. Not anymore. I would never lie to myself. I was not conventionally pretty. No the modeling world claimed that beauty wasn’t what they were looking for. The goal was to sell clothes and symmetrical and bland faces were enough. But that was a lie. Even if it were true, I truly did not think fashion was something I wanted to make a career out of anymore. I was satisfied with working in real estate. It was easier and surprisingly, less tasking on my body. I was going to stick with it. I pushed that thought aside. Two items had been struck out from the bucket list. I had bleached my hair and somehow done something out of my comfort zone. Now that I thought about it, perhaps it had been foolish. All that was left was a teen girl’s fantasy, shellfish, and fear. Yes… Conquer a fear. What did I fear?Against my will, a memory from the morning flashed brightly in my mind.
Last Updated : 2024-07-16Terms and Conditions TWENTY THREE
EDMONDThe perplexed look on May’s face told me everything I needed to know. This was going to be just like that night at Mox. Except I wasn’t even trying to be dishonest this time around. It was just hard telling her the task Snuggle had handed me. I watched her face continue to twist. So much so, that I could not decipher whether she was disgusted or mad.“I was going to tell you,” I finally blurted out, dropping the crab leg in my hand back into my plate. “I swear.”“Tell me what?” She asked, her eyebrows arching in suspicion.Was this a trick? Had I been reading too much into things? No… This had to be a test and May just wanted to see if I would keep on lying. “I was… What did Snuggle send you? The text was from them, right?”May nodded. “They sent me an appreciation. Why? Should I be worried?”Shit! I really jumped the gun. “Forget it.” I answered, immediately fixating on my plate while silently praying that she would let it go. But I had to be kidding myself. May and I had not
Last Updated : 2024-07-16Terms and Conditions TWENTY FOUR
MAYI had to be crazy. I should have nipped this in the bud before it blossomed. Now, it was a little too late. We could tell ourselves it was just a kiss that got out of hand. But I knew it was more than that. My opinion about Edmond had changed since that movie night and the wet dreams were just the start of this rendezvous of madness. It killed me a little to see that look on his face when he pulled away from me. It was almost as if he regretted it. The silence between us stretched for the longest time until Edmond’s phone beeped. As if trying to escape the loop of painful awkwardness, Edmond reached for the phone and looked at it.“It is from Snuggle,” Edmond filled me in.I nodded, knowing he was only trying his best to make us forget the kiss. I wish I could. But if that was what was needed for the tension in the air to subside, then so be it.“Let me guess, no reward?”“They offered me an opportunity to answer a question I had no answer too. I guess I have the answer now.”The
Last Updated : 2024-07-21Terms and Conditions TWENTY FIVE
EDMOND“Do I still love my ex?” I repeated. Where was this coming from? She looked visibly upset. I looked around, wondering what could have fire-started it. She had mentioned Snuggle incoherently before bringing up Lucille. So I imagined it was some task she was given. If it disturbed her that much, I was going to answer it. “Lucille has basically moved on and practically hates me. Do I still feel something for her? Yes. A part of me will always feel something for Lucille but I am content. I am okay with her moving on. I might not be there yet. But I will be.”“Are you sure?” May asked me. She meant it too. “Because if you still love this Lucille, we have to tell the app now.”“Why?” I quizzed, taking a step closer. I noticed May mirrored me and took me one step back, as if cautious of me.May stormed to the table and picked up her device. She took a moment to unlock it before shoving it in my face. “Look at this,” She urged and I obeyed because she seemed agitated. I was staring at
Last Updated : 2024-07-21
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Terms and Conditions FIFTY
EDMOND“Mother-in-law or Monster-in-law? Find out.” That was my task. It was simple. But it also meant hiding things from May. I knew how she despised secrecy but I could not bear opening barely healing wounds on the basis of making the relationship we now had built on honesty. I had gotten May’s mother to reach out to me. The woman did not even give me an opportunity to speak.“The Tea Cafe. 10 AM sharp.” And she cut. Not bothering to know if I would acknowledge the rather rude invitation.I did. Snuggle was right. I needed to determine what kind of hell this woman was and I bet she was just as curious. By 9:45, after lying through my teeth and leaving the house before I could blurt out anything to May, I was outside The Tea’s parking lot. Looking over at the simple cafe, I decided to make one last call.“I will be late to the agency today Sarah” There was a pause on the line and for a brief second, all I could hear was white noise. So I had to ask. “Can you hear me, Sarah?”“Yes,” M
Terms and Conditions FORTY NINE
MAYIn an effort to forget the not-so-hearty reunion I had with my mother, I proceeded to bury myself in other things. I needed a more glaring distraction. So I scrapped the thought of checking another box from my bucket list. I needed a job. I already had experience in real estate. So there was really no point in fooling myself. My mother’s claws had dug deep and gotten enough flesh. Her will still dealt a heavy hand on my life and some things just couldn’t be changed. I considered it. While Edmond cooked me breakfast, I considered asking if I could get my old job back. But I eventually decided against it. Edmond would give me in a heartbeat. But it suddenly felt like I didn’t deserve it anymore. It wasn’t like before. I didn’t battle other job hunters to get the job. Not to mention if I did get the job back and follow as his plus one on the opening night of the Ivy Estates, people would talk. Plus, it looked like Edmond had a lot on his mind too.“Are you alright?” I asked as soon a
Terms and Conditions FORTY EIGHT
EDMONDI wanted to convince May that my feelings for her were genuine, even if there were doubts and uncertainties lingering in her mind. I understood her hesitations, given what she had been through. Instead of relying solely on words, I decided to let my actions speak for themselves. So, without attempting to convince her verbally, I focused on the plate of food in front of me and began devouring it. However, my mind couldn't let go of the desire to break down the walls she had built around herself.Her conversation with her mother seemed to have reminded her of the harsh reality of our situation and the potential for getting hurt. I empathized with her, knowing that it made things even more challenging. The thought of kissing her crossed my mind, as I believed it could break down those barriers. Yet, I couldn't be certain. A kiss or any further intimacy might provide an easy escape, but it also ran the risk of complicating matters further. May was prone to overthinking, and the las
Terms and Conditions FORTY SEVEN
EDMONDI helped May out of the bar and guided her towards my car. It was what I would call a very original experience. Straddling her close so she wouldn’t fall and having her kiss and whisper utter nonsense as we made our way back to my parking spot was weirdly comforting. It made me feel close to her. May was not the shy type. But I could tell that with me, she held back. With Alcohol in her system, she didn’t have to be reserved. I could see my wife in all her chaos. She was…beautiful. The sun was setting and the skies that were once vibrant now had a dark purple hue to it. It was cool. Just like I felt with her now. The drive home was filled with silence. But not the awkward kind. It was peaceful. I had May sit at the back because she told me she was tired and excluding her occasional sniffles and giggles, she seemed to be asleep. I helped her out of the car when once we arrived home and led her inside. I noticed her drunk smile soften when we entered. The familiarity of the place
Terms and Conditions FORTY SIX
EDMONDI pushed back my chair, the wheels scraping against the floor in protest. The stifling air seemed to thin as I rose with a single thought. My hands swiped at my desk and I picked up my car keys before rushing for the door. The heavy lumber door slammed shut behind me as I stormed out of my office and outside the parking lot.May was breaking my monotonous routine and it was a change I welcomed. The sight of my car greeting me in the fading sunlight greeted me. May had become a catalyst for my liberation. She was a force that had completely obliterated my predictable and normal life. Her presence in my life breathed new life into my days, challenging me to dare spontaneity. With determined steps, I made my way to the car.With a quick turn of the key, my car’s engine roared to life as I slid into the driver’s seat. Snuggle had caused me to realize May and I were like creatures. It was still a surprise that our lives were that easy to read by a matchmaking app. But Snuggle was no
Terms and Conditions FORTY FIVE
EDMONDAs I sat at my desk, my mind swirled with a jumble of thoughts and worries. The weight of the world seemed to press down on my shoulders, making it hard to focus on anything else. May was on my mind. She was the only thing dominating my thoughts. The impending task that Snuggle had forced her to undertake gnawed at my insides, filling me with a mix of anxiety and concern.Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the door to my office open, and my personal assistant stepping in. She cleared her throat, interrupting the whirlwind in my mind. I looked up, momentarily startled by her presence."Is everything alright, Mr. Walters?" Her voice carried a hint of genuine concern.I blinked, trying to gather my scattered thoughts and bring myself back to the present. "Oh, sorry, I must have been lost in my own world there for a moment.""It has been consistent these past few days," she said, out of concern. And she was right. It was hard to concentrate at work lately. The weight of Snuggle
Terms and Conditions FORTY FOUR
MAYGoodbyes held power, whether it was filled with love or drenched in hate. Love's farewell brought pain and suffering, while hatred's parting was supposed to bring peace. Cutting ties with my mother was meant to bring me the freedom I craved. But one glance at her anguished eyes shattered any notion of liberation. I had seen that look before, hidden behind her false smiles. Every time I did something that reminded her of the man who ruined our lives, I caught a glimpse of that pain. But this time was different. She made no effort to conceal her disappointment and hatred. In her eyes, I was just like my father—a deserter.But there was no turning back. I had reached my breaking point. Enough with self-loathing. Enough with the fear of letting her down and walking on eggshells to avoid triggering memories of my father. I took the first step, walking past her. My body trembled uncontrollably as I brushed past, barely avoiding a collision. It didn't feel good. None of it felt good. Let
Terms and Conditions FORTY THREE
MAY*Trigger Warning: This episode contains family conflict, emotional abuse, and Narcissistic behavior*I didn't remember much about my father. The memories of the good times had faded away, although there were photos at home that told stories I couldn't quite recall. One picture stood out to me—the one where we had messy ice cream all over our faces, yet wore big smiles for the camera. But amidst the haze, the memories of the difficult moments remained vivid. I would hide in my room as a child, tears streaming down my face, as the fights grew worse. Thankfully, they were never physically violent, but that didn't make them any less painful.As I got older, I began to understand that my parents didn't love themselves, and the only reason they stayed together was for my sake. However, I couldn't be the glue that held our family together, no matter how much I wished for it. My mom's hurtful words became increasingly unbearable. Eventually, my dad reached a breaking point. One night, he
Terms and Conditions FORTY TWO
MAYThere was barely a moment to catch my breath when another message appeared on my screen, causing my stomach to plummet as I quickly scanned its contents. "Was this the work of that crazy app?" My mother was not one to leave things in the dark. I had unknowingly given her a clue that connected to my current predicament. I knew she would dig into it, especially if it involved Snuggle. If she could associate Snuggle with the app, it meant she already knew a lot about them.Edmond noticed the change in my reaction and inquired, "Is that Snuggle?""No," I replied, showing Edmond my phone. "It's even worse. My mom is in town.""Oh, she sounds angry," Edmond mused. "I can drive you.""No," I refused. "I think I should handle this alone. I don't want my mom to cause a scene in my neighborhood. I may not be popular, but I don't want to become the subject of gossip once all of this is over and I return home.""Okay then," Edmond gave me a wry smile before planting a kiss on my cheek and lea
