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THIRTEEN
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2024-07-09 22:12:28Related chapters
Terms and Conditions FOURTEEN
EDMOND"Why did I lie?" I asked myself the moment the call ended. May and I were practically stuck in this together. Whatever benefitted me profited her. Yet I found it so difficult to ask for her help. Maybe it was a good thing I had lied. She had been mad about the task Snuggle gave me in the morning. Sure, I hadn't told her but I had my reasons. It was not like Snuggle was the only reason I decided to offer her back her job. I needed custody of the Ivy Estates as soon as possible before Tyrone figured out something was up. The notification from Snuggle was godsent. Who was I kidding? They had probably been listening and utilized the fact that I now had a kryptonite they could weaponize to get me to do exactly what they needed me to do. The date was overkill but it was the perfect ruse to take a photo without May suspecting. Her Instagram and Facebook feed was enough testament to it. I dropped my phone and reclined into my chair. The wheels caused it to push backward and I crossed m
Last Updated : 2024-07-10Terms and Conditions FIFTEEN
MAYRight when I had decided maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was overthinking it and got no reason, his phone chimed. Edmond took one look at it and the smile on his mouth vanished. Only one app could do magic like that. Snuggle. He ignored it. His smile returned and to get over whatever hell Snuggle just gave him, he tried to strike small talk."How is the bucket list?""I unwittingly struck out one," I answered sincerely. "Apparently rejecting your offer was a brave choice and Snuggle regards that as leaving my comfort zone.""Good." He was trying to listen. He was. But it was crystal clear that his mind was elsewhere. Just before I could muster the courage to ask him what the issue was, his phone vibrated again. He picked it up and I could swear that I heard him curse under his breath. I took the opportunity."Is everything okay?""Yes." He lied through his teeth. "I just didn't realize the service here was so slow."He didn't have to speak much more because soon after his statement, a
Last Updated : 2024-07-10Terms and Conditions SIXTEEN
MAY"Why are they sending you this?" I demanded, reading through it again. So I had been right to doubt him. "What truth about this dinner?" I paused for a moment, gathering what I could. "Wait, was this dinner some task given to you by Snuggle to get something?" It probably was but I wanted to hear it from his mouth."I can explain." He said, sounding defeated. I turned around and gave him my best glare."No, you can't!" I snapped. He hung his head but said nothing. The room went silent as I stood glaring at him. "I asked you. More than once and you lied to my face. You would have continued to do so if this stupid app didn't call you out on it. I just want to know what it was. Tell me what the task was."Edmond was reluctant. Finally, he sighed and looked at me. "I didn't mean to lie to you May. But you already didn't trust me and that is understandable. I just didn't have the time to build back that trust. If I had been honest with you in the first instance. There was a high possibi
Last Updated : 2024-07-13Terms and Conditions SEVENTEEN
EDMONDSomething in me died when I watched her leave the restaurant. I did want to follow her. But what was I even going to say? Her anger was valid. Well, I didn't even know. May called me a manipulator who was causing her to believe we had a dynamic. I knew what that meant. I would like to think I did. The way her eyes died after that sentence. She hadn't meant to let it slip. The thought lingered at the back of my mind but I couldn't bring myself to consider it. Did May Wolfe like me? I almost laughed as soon as that thought crossed my mind. Of course not! It's just something she said by accident. I returned to my table and grabbed the half-empty bottle of wine. It was quite pathetic. Finishing the date alone. I looked at my phone. At the picture we both took. I zoomed in on the picture to catch the expression on her face. She was laughing. It wasn't the prettiest laugh but you could tell it was genuine. She looked beautiful. Acknowledging that made me feel like shit. My smile in t
Last Updated : 2024-07-13Terms 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 : 2024-07-16
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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
Terms and Conditions FORTY ONE
MAYEdmond's progress with his mother gave me a glimmer of hope. I knew it might be wishful thinking, but seeing him mend his relationship with her gave me a flicker of optimism. It had been four days since that memorable dinner at the Walters' house, and Edmond was still talking to his mother. They appeared to be growing closer, and what's more, Mrs. Walters expressed genuine interest in getting to know me. It was an unexpected and heartwarming development. However, we still kept our little secret about Snuggle, our leachy companion. Edmond promised he would eventually reveal the truth to his mother, but only when he felt confident that she wouldn't freak out.Meanwhile, my mind was consumed with thoughts and worries about how things would unfold with my own mother. I spent the entire week obsessing and stressing over it. I couldn't help but indulge in fantasies of a smooth reconciliation. In my daydreams, my mother would understand, accept, and embrace me for who I was. It was a bre
Terms and Conditions FORTY
MAYEdmond led me down the grand staircase and towards the sleek black car parked outside. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as we finally made our way toward the exit. It had been a long evening, filled with formalities, fake smiles, and drama, and I was eager to leave. But just as we were about to get into the car, a feeling of panic washed over me. My hands suddenly felt too free, and it was then that I realized I had forgotten my purse inside the house.My hands unconsciously pulled away from Edmond's and I turned to look back at the Walters family home. "Is something wrong?" Edmond asked, his brow furrowing with concern."I forgot my purse," I replied, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. I knew I had to go back inside and retrieve it, but I was eager to leave this place and get away from the pretentiousness of the evening."I'll come with you," Edmond offered, but I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I'll be quick." Was that a lie? Yes. But I didn’t want him to have t
Terms and Conditions THIRTY NINE
MAYHis parents exchanged looks. Looks that were easy to read. His mom didn’t like the threat that Edmond just dropped and the stare she gave her husband was more of a plea that he kept his mouth shut. His father, on the other hand, was still seething. But Mr. Walters also understood that his son was not bluffing and he respected his wife enough to cut the heated conversation shut.“I apologize for losing my temper,” The man forced, licking his teeth before smiling at me. “We are not usually like this May. It just comes as a shock that my son had a whole wife and didn’t bother to tell us anything. Until now. It is wonderful to see you, May. I really hope we can get to know you.”“Yeah,” I nervously answered because there were really no words I could conjure to answer the man. I didn’t want a conversation. I just wanted to survive this dreadful family reunion. Yet, as bad and triggering as being in the Walters family was, I was content. I was at peace. If the night continued, my mind w
