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TWENTY SEVEN
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2024-07-26 05:19:27Related chapters
Terms and Conditions TWENTY EIGHT
EDMONDThere was something different in the air. My cooking felt a million times better and I was practically frolicking all the way to my car all while ignoring the fact that I was running late and my personal assistant had called me a million times. I suspected it had something to do with the project party she had goaded me into throwing.As I settled into the driver's seat of my black Mercedes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the day ahead. I could feel it in my bones. Today was going to be perfect and without any hitches. With a quick turn of the ignition, the powerful engine roared to life, and I pulled out of the gated mansion and into the open road. The morning sun continued to peek over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city. It had been so long since I had found the metropolis a beautiful place. But it was when you weren't so busy. This was a city of glass and light. The skyscrapers towered above the streets, shimmering in the sunlight, their glass
Last Updated : 2024-07-26Terms and Conditions TWENTY NINE
MAYWith a new determination and a stuffed stomach, I surfed the internet to find out the best way to enter the fashion industry considering I never majored in fashion. My search led me to find a program called Queendom. It was a coming-of-age site that seemed to focus on fashion internships. It seemed like the safest manner to launch myself into the fashion industry. The reviews I looked up about the program seemed genuine. There were not a lot of success stories and many bitched about how competitive it was for a mere internship program that paid stipends. That only proved how real the program was. It urged me to sign up. I hit the keywords into my phone and browsed through their website.I could feel my nerves getting the best of me as I continued to scroll through the website. The home page was filled with girls too good to be true. Their smile was perfect. They all wore lipstick that contrasted with their pearly white teeth. A lot of people would argue that it was photo-shopped b
Last Updated : 2024-07-26Terms and Conditions THIRTY
EDMOND“Congratulations,” I read aloud. “Your devotion to making this work and for your hard work, Snuggle is happy to inform you that your family has unlocked the trials and tribulations privilege.”The app did not even make an attempt to hide the insidious meaning that came with that horrible title. My mind raced for a minute. I had questions. Like, What did that even mean? What predicament was the app going to throw us into this time around? The box of troubles vibrated in my head and I dared to look. It was another pop-up from Snuggle. Do you wish to speak to a representative? I hit the accept button and put the phone close to my ear.“Hello,” I breathed, picking up Ronald’s business card with my free hand.“It is wonderful to hear from you again Mr. Edmond, I am Cupid, your love manager. How can Snuggle help you today?” The vaguely familiar voice replied on the other end.“What the hell is a trial and tribulations privilege feature?”“Do not let the name frighten you. The purpose
Last Updated : 2024-07-26Terms and Conditions THIRTY ONE
EDMONDMy personal assistant picked the worst time to waltz in. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. I hated this. I hated feeling powerless and what hit harder was the fact that it happened to concern my carefully calculated relationship with my family; especially my father.She noticed it because I could not even bother to hide the inferno raging inside of me. “Edmond, are you alright?”“Do I look alright?” I flared. An action I regretted almost immediately. But I could not take it back. I brushed my troubled hair backward with my fingers and took in a deep breath. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I am just dealing with stuff.”“If you don’t mind me prying, Edmond, is it that bad?”I dropped Ronald’s business card back on my desk and looked at her. She was worried for me. I felt the same way too. I could not continuously lose my cool pending the time that the Snuggle app still had us wrapped around its little fingers. It was bad for business in all aspects. “We all ha
Last Updated : 2024-07-31Terms and Conditions THIRTY TWO
MAYCan you survive yours? I despised how that one sentence managed to stick to my brain. No, I couldn’t. Even if I could, why would I willingly put myself in that situation? It had taken a lot of sacrifices to get away from her and how she constantly made me feel. I did not understand it. The trials were supposed to be about sustaining this relationship. So why- Why was this the trial I had to face? I picked up my phone and with shaky hands dared to type in the word ‘mom’ into the search box of my contacts app. It had been so long. But I had to know. If my mom made it here… she would flip. I had no job. I was trapped with a dating app and married. That would be the worst part too. I was married to my ex-boss. A man who did not have to worry about money. If there was something April Wolfe hated more than men who did not fit her fairytale narrative, it was broke women who married the rich. I fitted that box quite perfectly.I hesitated. If I called her, what would I say? I wondered tho
Last Updated : 2024-07-31Terms and Conditions THIRTY THREE
EDMONDMay had me worried so I left work early. I made sure to call her, to know how she was. But each call went to voicemail. It was not like her. Driving home, I could not shake the concern that boiled my blood. What could Snuggle have fucking put her through?The traffic lights turned red, but I did not stop. Instead, I hit the gas, and my car sped through the intersection. I knew I was breaking the law, but I did not care. I needed to get home, and I needed to get there fast.I weaved in and out of traffic, cutting off other drivers and honking my horn. My mind was racing, and I couldn't seem to slow it down. Thoughts of everything that had gone wrong today spun in my head like a hurricane. I could feel my blood pressure rising, and my heart is pounding in my chest. Yet I was taking it out on the road. In the back of my mind, I knew what it was. I had always thought May and I weren’t like creatures. But Snuggle knew better. Her task had to be something related to her mother. Even
Last Updated : 2024-07-31Terms and Conditions THIRTY FOUR
MAYHe sounded right out of a fairytale. My very own Prince Charming. It was hard not to swoon. The man left his work which happened to be his love child because he was worried about me. That was the stuff you only read in books. I could tell he was still worried about me even if he promised that he was not going to pester me. In a way, that bothered me. So I tried to break the ice while he was washing my plate.“I listened to your voicemail,” I said, staring at my fingers while I continued. I still felt a ton of guilt for practically ghosting him. I did not want to be a burden. Mom would hate that. “You vaguely mentioned the Trial and Tribulations prestige function. So I am curious. What did Snuggle demand from you?”Edmond continued to wash in silence. I almost believed I had asked the wrong question. But then a chuckle escaped his lips and he turned to face me. “It is a trial. Trust me, mine is just as bad as yours. If you think you are the only one with family drama, wait till you
Last Updated : 2024-08-08Terms and Conditions THIRTY FIVE
EDMONDCupid told me that the goal of the trial and tribulations was not to break us but to make us stronger as a couple. A couple who could face whatever tribulations were thrown their way and survive would only wax stronger. They were not wrong too. Being here. Being this close to May made me feel… okay. It made me feel like I could actually survive dinner with my father.“Dinner with my parents will be tomorrow. I am thinking maybe we should go shopping tomorrow. What do you think?” I said, my hands still firmly grasping her shoulders.“You think I dress badly?” May replied. Her voice was soft and low.I was forced to break the hug to make eye contact. “No,” I replied. “I do not think you dress badly. You dress like May Wolfe. If we are going to waltz right into a pack-house, it is best we make you look like a wolf too.” The pun was unintentional. But I was not lying. My parents would probably find out I was married to May. With enough probing, they would also find out how that cam
Last Updated : 2024-08-08
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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
