“Yokoso!”“Irrashaimase!”Therese couldn’t believe it. She’s finally in her dream country with the most important people in her life right now! If she would die today, she decided there is no better final memory to have. Knock on woods, though. She would still want to experience a lot of things with the two boys.“How are you feeling so far?” Beside her, Raven cradled the sleeping Keith as they boarded in Tokyo international airport. The weather was cold yet the feeling that spread on her chest at the sight of the two was warm. “I’m excited to explore the city! But I guess we need to rest first. Our little guy is knocked out right here.” She whispered-talk as she tiptoed to kiss Keith’s forehead gently.He chuckled as he tightened his hold on his son. “The hotel is not too far from here.”“I’m starving.”“Do you want to eat first or maybe we could just order in?”“Order in for now.” She smiled at the domesticity of it all.“Right. We have the whole week to explore anyways.”When Raven
RIIIIIINGGGG.Today is a beautiful day. Their professor’s sleepy voice was music to Therese’s ears and the boring subject was suddenly her favorite one.“Argh! I really hate that subject! Thank God it’s over.”“Sush, just double your efforts and you’ll be fine.”She was still riding her recent high from Japan and no one could ruin her mood today! Especially not her bestfriend’s foul one.“Wow, what happened to you, girl? You used to hate that prof and that subject more than me!” Aly’s face soured as the two walked to exit the school grounds.Therese browsed through her camera roll, smiling from ear to ear as she swiped through the tons of pictures she took with Raven and Keith. She’s alone in her own bubble now, Aly’s words disappeared in the background.“Hey, I haven’t seen that one yet!” Her bestfriend practically pounded behind her like a dog as she snatched her phone playfully.If today was a different day, she would’ve been pissed by her actions. But again, no one could ruin her
“Raven Desmond.”“You single, handsome?” Erika inched closer, batting her lashes while angling her body lower. Raven gulped hard when he saw her cleavage. “Eyes up. I asked you a question.”Oh god, how could she choose him out of everyone in the bar to flirt with? There was a very drunk and very cleary smitten Jayce beside her for fuck’s sake!She chuckled as satisfaction ran down her spine at the sight of his reaction. “I’d take your silence as a no, then?”“No, I’m…I’m single.” It was pure reflex. It’s not like he’s lying. He is, indeed, single. But the moment he said it, Therese’s face flashed in his mind.If he was still his past self, he wouldn’t hesitate to jump this woman’s skin.“Hmmm. Interesting.”Erika smirked before she brushed her fingers down Raven’s chest. “Dance with me, then?”“Oh. I think I’ll stay here for now.” Raven politely shook his head as he drowned his guilt with whiskey.“Hey, beautiful! Why don’t you dance with me instead? Don’t mind that guy. I bet he’s th
The number you have dialed is unattended. Please try again later. “Please…Raven pick up.”The number you have dialed is unattended. Please try again later.For the past three hours, Therese has been calling Raven nonstop as she lay awake in bed, tears streaming down her face. Leonor Desmond’s words still echo inside her head. Because of him, she learned that words uttered in a harmless way could hurt the most. “I’m sorry, Mr. Desmond. I appreciate the offer but I’m not a person who could be bought.” Therese played their conversation inside her head for the nth time. She remembered how her hands trembled as she stood up against the tallest wall she’s ever encountered. “I’m not buying you, Ms. Barlow. I’m giving you a way out. You’re young, smart, and beautiful. You have a bright future ahead of you and you don’t deserve to be…entangled with our family’s messy business.” In hindsight, she knew he made sense. He’s giving her an opportunity to start again. Money and a scholarship. Wit
“Turn around. I’m not done with you yet.” Sweat trickled down her nape. Therese breathed heavily as she turned to look at him gritting his teeth. “Raven, please. Let’s take a break for a while, hm?” She tried to reach out and brush her fingers on his face only to be slapped away. “No. I say when we stop.” “Ah!” He was dealing with roughly. Far too rough for her preference. Still, Therese let herself be pushed and pulled in bed, hoping that after this, Raven will finally clear his mind enough to talk to her. To hear what she’s about to say. For now, she gripped the sheets tightly and swallowed her cries. “Mine. Fucking mine.” He uttered in a frenzy voice sounding almost like a growl as he lifted her hips up the air and drilled his cock inside her in a brutal phase. He reached to press her beck solidly on the pillow and grabbed her waist hard. His left hand was almost choking her but he didn’t stop. The sound of skin clapping against skin filled the room. Most of the time, Therese
Raven’s fiance.It felt like an ice-cold bucket of water was poured directly above her. Therese stood frozen on the ground, forcing her weakening knees to carry her weight. Coming to his office was a bad idea. She shouldn’t have followed her gut. When he wasn’t anywhere to be found in the house, she thought he would be here. She thought she could talk to him about what happened to Keith.She wasn’t expecting to see anything close to this.She felt her heart shatter into pieces. Her vision blurred with unshed tears as she witnessed Raven’s tongue throat-deep with a woman she just met earlier. A woman she thought she could befriend. “I’m so sorry that you witnessed that. It’s embarrassing but it’s not like we’re doing anything wrong, right? We’ll be husband and wife soon.” “Wife.” She repeated the word inside her head.What’s this woman’s name again? Right, Erika. Erika’s demeanor is the complete opposite of what she’s saying. She wasn’t embarrassed or sorry at all. She snickered a
He would never tolerate it. Jayce knew what Raven did to Therese was a total dick move. He’s here to hammer some morals inside his best friend’s head whether he likes it or not. “You were an asshole. You know that right?” “I know! One more bottle here please!” Raven took a shot of the strongest, most expensive liquor in the bar. “Therese didn’t deserve that. What the hell, man?” “I wasn’t expecting her to be there, alright? I was just…testing the waters with Erika. That’s all.” His hold on the glass tightened as he remembered her crying face. Jayce sighed heavily, massaging his temples as he dealt with the Desmond drama. “Okay, so how was it? With Erika?” Silence passed between them save for the instrumental music in the background. Raven slumped over the counter as his lips formed a thin line. “She’s…she’s okay, I guess. Too soon to tell.” “No shit.”Jayce leaned forward, tapping his shoulder forcefully. “Raven, I’ve known how you were with women since forever! You’re always
“N-no, I don’t…mhmmp!” Therese pulled Raven’s chest with all her might but he is way stronger than her. She couldn’t help the tears streaming down her face now. “Mine.” Raven growled as he kissed her deeply, passionately. She could taste alcohol in his tongue. She could smell the scents of other women who clung to him. She could see Erika’s face when she closed her eyes. And maybe it was the alcohol but she suddenly felt a pang of possessiveness in her heart. Raven swallowed her moans and she countered his heated kisses with as much passion, biting his lower lip until it bled. “Fuck.”“You’re mine too! They can’t have you…S-she can’t have you.” Therese hooked her legs around Raven’s lower back. She didn’t need to elaborate further for him to know who she’s talking about. “Always been yours, darling.”“‘Mm sorry. I’m sorry.” He kissed her like there’s no tomorrow."No matter what happens, I'm gonna be yours." There was desperation in his voice and touches.The sloppy sound of their
Therese stood in front of the mirror, admiring her dream wedding dress. "You can do this!" She encouraged herself to calm her nerves. Her hands smoothed the elegant pleats of her gown before they went to caress the beautiful bouquet that sat silently in her hands. A sense of overwhelming love and happiness flooded through her. At last, the day has come. She couldn't be more excited and anxious at the same time. But it's Raven who she's going to get married to. Nothing could go wrong. Time has already tested their relationship and she knows that they have each other for better or for worse. All she has to do is walk down the aisle and say I do. "Let's go?" Aly stood beside her wearing a proud smile while her eyes brimmed with tears of joy. She reached to hold her best friend's hand and led her to happily ever after.----Therese thought that she was not the emotional type. But as soon as their wedding song played and the door opened to reveal her groom, her heart clenched in an ove
2 WEEKS LATER“Please, come here…” Therese begged as she cupped Raven’s cheeks, ushering his naked body upwards to press over hers. Under the dim yellow lamplight, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Therese..." Raven uttered his name and she brushed her fingers over his cheekbones, nose, and lips, burning the image of his face in memory just in case she was dreaming again. Raven leaned down to capture her lips in a tender kiss. "I'm real. I'm here." He whispered in her ear before sucking on the column of her neck, making sure that she could feel his teeth and tongue on her skin.Therese pulled him down as he embraced him tightly. She buried her face on the crook of his neck, smelling his familiar scent that she missed. "Say my name again. I want to hear your voice." Raven brushed his erection over her stomach, making her moan. She closed her eyes, feeling overwhelmed by emotions and Raven was there to kiss them away. Two weeks have passed since he woke up. Two weeks since the
DISCLAIMER: This chapter contains mention of suicide and self-harm that might be triggering to some readers. Read at your own risk. 2 MONTHS LATER"Will you be going to the hospital?" "Where else would I be?" Therese smiled sadly at her best friend's inquiry. They were on the way outside the campus since they just finished their major. Aly sighed, avoiding the elephant in the room. "Jayce and I could take turns watching over him, you know? You don't have to push yourself too much. You need to rest too." Her best friend snaked her arm around hers as she looked at her with genuine concern. She appreciated her offer, she really did. But Therese couldn't bring herself to say that there is no better rest in this world other than being by Raven's side, awake or asleep. "I'm fine, Aly. Besides, his parents are there to take care of him too." Still, Aly tightened her hold around her arm. "Just call me if you need anything, alright?""Thank you, though. You've always been there for us...
"Clear...Shocking on three. One, two, three!"Therese followed the creaking sound of the emergency bed's movement where Raven was laid bloody and unconscious. Her feet numbed from walking and running all day. Her head felt like it was floating. Her heart..."Check rythm. Do we have a pulse?"Her heart sank to her stomach, making her feel like she's drowning. Therese watched the doctors try to revive her dying lover in slow motion. Two electric metal devices that she doesn't know the name of, pulled Raven's chest upwards again and again. And again. Yet, everytime...Raven wasn't budging. "No, no..." She shook her head as she clutched the handle of the bed as the medical personnel kept moving it towards the ICU. Her vision started becoming watery as the weight of reality slowly sinks in her mind. "Starting manual CPR now!" The doctor who climbed on the bed to pump his chest using her hands desperately clung onto the weak pulse point and his heart's fading beats. Soon, they placed an
BANG! BANG! It was almost funny how fast the turn of events took place. One moment, Stephanie was offering her son's internal organs to the man who lent her billions of dollars, the next, gunshots were heard around the yacht. "Show yourself, Stephanie. We know you're in there." She didn't know when they arrived or how they managed to sneak past her men but her ears weren't deceiving her. That voice was of Raven's. "Right, right...I'm here, you got me. Geez! No need to be so dramatic." She rolled her eyes before walking up the stairs, hiding her gun underneath her dress just in case. Stephanie showed up, hands in the air. A part of her was startled to see Raven and Therese with a bunch of officers guarding them as they rode three boats a few distance away from the nose of the yacht. Yet, another part of her had already expected for this to happen. "How did you know where I was?" She smirked mockingly, tilting her head to the side as she eyed the anxious couple. Raven dismissed h
“When is she going to get here?” Keith stared at his toy truck for the hundreth of time as he waited for Stephanie's promise. He still refused to call her his mother at this point. The small circular window that allowed the small room of the yacht to breathe was the only solace he had in his miserable days. At least he gets to see how the sun kisses the ocean good night."Have patience, my son...She'll be here soon." Stephanie entered the room, eyeing the untouched toys and food that scattered around. She took a step closer and knelt before his son who was pouting and glaring at her. "I'm not your son and you have said the same thing since we got here! I wanna go home." He protested bravely, throwing the truck on the wall with much force and making it break. CRASH! Stephanie's patience was wearing thin. She closed her eyes and held herself back from striking his silly little face that resembles his asshole of a father. Fuck, speaking of the Desmonds, why isn't Raven taking her b
“I’m way past revenge. If that’s all you have to tell me, you can scram away.”Warren laid on his prison bed, arms raised to cover his eyes. He contemplated Stephanie's words and their conversation when she visited him.Yes, he was an asshole but not the kind who will use his own flesh and blood for his benefit.He had sinned enough."Warren! Stephanie desperately called for him the moment he turned his back on her. The glass partition almost shook in the intensity of her voice and all eyes in the area was suddenly on them."Have you forgotten about me, then? Don't you remember how you left me in the dirt after you promised me heaven?!" She knocked her hands on top of the table as angry tears started forming at the corner of her eyes. Looking at the state she was in, Warren couldn't help the guilt that rose up his throat. "I was doing just fine! I was...Raven and I were fine. How could you barge in and tempt me with my c-career and..." Stephanie looked down as she bawled her eyes out
“Hello, you must be Keith!” Stephanie flashed a friendly smile towards her son, the mini version of Warren Desmond. And if she squinted a little, she could tell that his eyes were no different from Raven too.Well, it doesn't matter.What's important is the kid's uncanny resemblance to the Desmonds gave her the success of her plans until now. He would exploit it over and over again if it meant furthering her said success. She doesn't feel an ounce of love or attachment to her own son."Who are you?" Keith inquired, tilting his head to the side as he took a bit of his apple bun. After all, he is the product of all her past mistakes. "Oh, your father didn't tell you?" It was after school. Thanks to her men, she found out what school Keith was enrolled at. It wasn't easy. Being the youngest Desmond in the family, his security was top notch. It was a great challenge infiltrating his school. This is a one in a million chance that she must ensure the success of. Stephanie kneeled and r
As much as she tried to hold back her tears, her heart and mind wouldn't cooperate. "Hush, it's okay...I'm not blaming you." Raven gently cupped her cheeks and kissed the trail of her tears starting from her eyelids down to both sides of her nose until he reached her lips. The moment Therese tasted his tongue on hers, she gave in. "'Mmmm sorry. I'll make it up to you." She uttered in what she thought was the most genuine her voice ever sounded. She tangled her tongue with Raven, swallowing his every grunt and groan as she explored the inside of his mouth she once memorized.The rain should have helped drop the temperature inside the car. But it seems like their heavy and passionate kisses and rising body heat dominated the cold. Therese's chest and neck was flushed red while the tips of Raven's ears were tainted pink. "I thought I'd lost you." He mumbled between the kisses, snaking his hands around Therese's neck as he pressed her face closer to her, diving down to suck on the colum