ANTHONY I looked at my phone and sighed in bliss, my plan had worked perfectly. I had abducted Nicole and had managed to fool everyone, including Marcus, into thinking that I was dead.Beside me, Mariella lay naked, her fingers curled around a cigarette as she exhaled a stream of smoke into the air.With a sly smile, I held out my phone to her, my eyes glinting with triumph."Take a look at this," I said, my voice laced with satisfaction. "I pulled it off. They all fell for it, hook, line, and sinker."Mariella's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned towards me, her lips curved into a mischievous grin."Can you believe it?" she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "Our plan worked perfectly. But this is just the beginning."It had been Mariella's idea, to begin with, and I had executed it flawlessly. When she had suggested abducting Nicole and staging my death, I had been hesitant at first. But now, seeing how well everything had gone, I knew it was the right decision.I
NICOLEI entered the therapist's office waiting room, my eyes darted around the space, taking in the familiar surroundings. The soothing scent of lavender candles mingled with the sterile smell of disinfectant, creating an odd but calming aroma. I tried to steady my breathing, but my fingers betrayed my nervousness as they danced over each other in a frenzied rhythm.Beside me, Marcus radiated a warmth that helped me feel grounded, even though my insides were twisted in knots. His hand was a solid anchor that kept me from spiraling into a panic attack. His presence gave me strength.With a gentle squeeze, Marcus spoke in a hushed voice, cutting through the tension like a knife."You're doing the right thing, Nicole. I'm proud of you." His eyes sparkled with an unwavering love that gave me the courage to face my demons head-on.I tilted my head to meet his gaze, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability. "I just want to feel like myself again," I whispered, my voice shaky. "I hate f
NICOLE “What happened to me?" I asked, my eyes darting from my father to my mother, searching for answers. Their forced smiles did little to ease the tension in the room.I fidgeted in my seat, desperate for any explanation. "Can you please tell me what happened to me? Why can't I remember most things, especially the major part of my childhood?" I implored.Silence hung heavy in the air as my parents exchanged a meaningful look. Their furrowed brows spoke volumes, but they remained tight-lipped. My heart thudded in my chest as I waited for a response.Finally, my mother let out a deep sigh, and her shoulders slumped. Her voice was soft and hesitant as she spoke. "Nicole, you got into an accident when you were nine years old," she said, her eyes locked onto mine.My heart sank as my mother continued. "You hit your head pretty hard, and the doctors said you suffered some memory loss. They weren't sure if you would recover, but you did, for the most part. But there are still some memor
NICOLE The doctor's words hung heavy in the air, the room suddenly feeling suffocatingly small. "You're pregnant," he said simply, his tone devoid of emotion. For a moment, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, my mind struggling to comprehend what he had just said.I sat there in silence, my eyes fixed on a random spot on the wall as I tried to process the news. This wasn't supposed to happen. I was on birth control, and I always used protection. How could this have gone wrong?I sat there lost in thought, the weight of what was happening started to sink in. I was going to be a mother. Me. The thought was terrifying. I wasn't ready for this. I wasn't ready to give up my freedom, my independence, my life as I knew it. The mere thought of motherhood filled me with a sense of overwhelming dread.Marcus looked at me with concern, but I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze. I felt like I had been blindsided, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to face this new reality.The
NICOLE I sat on the floor, feeling anxious and on edge. I had just another dream.I couldn't ignore these dreams any longer.My pregnancy was making things even more difficult. I couldn't eat anything without feeling nauseous, and my stomach was constantly churning. I needed to take care of myself and the baby, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.I sat on the bathroom floor for a while, trying to calm my breathing and steady my nerves. I still haven't told Marcus about my recurring dreams. I should have told him but I didn't want to worry him. He might even think I was going crazy or being paranoid as usual.Eventually, I got up and made my way back to the bedroom. Marcus was still sleeping, but I couldn't bring myself to lie down next to him. I felt too anxious and restless.I tiptoed out of bed, careful not to disturb Marcus' peaceful slumber. I made my way to the computer and powered it on. As the familiar startup chime rang out, a notification popped up on the screen i
NicoleMarcus' voice boomed in the museum, which caught us all off guard.I watched in disbelief as he towered over the staff member, his voice shaking the very walls of the museum. "Where are they?" he demanded. "I was promised these paintings would be here. Don't tell me you've lost them."The staff member remained calm in the face of Marcus' fury, her voice barely audible above the din. "Calm down sir," she said. "We can't purposely hoard the paintings. If they were truly here, then we would show you."I stood frozen in place, my eyes darting back and forth between Marcus and the staff member. I couldn't believe what was happening. But then Marcus turned to me, his voice still ringing with anger. "Did you hear that?" he spat. "They're lying to us."I shook my head, my mind reeling. "But I was told by the receptionist at the front desk that they had arrived," I said. "I have emails confirming the delivery."The staff nodded, looking thoughtful. "I see," he said. "Well, let me look i
NicoleWho could have stolen my paintings and why would they do such a thing ?Was it someone who had a personal grudge against me? Or was it a calculated theft by someone hoping to make a profit?All those thoughts had been spiraling through my mind.Even though Nicole had assured me she was going to assist me in painting I was still skeptical. I wanted it to be my handwork and sweat.The Museum had put so much trust in me and had given me the incredible opportunity. I felt guilty that I had let them down.Even though it wasn't my fault.I was currently in the art studio, trying to see if I could come up with something.But as soon as the familiar scent of oil paint filled my nostrils, my stomach churned and a wave of nausea hit me like a ton of bricks.I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying to stifle the urge to vomit as I made my way over to my easel. But the pungent odor only seemed to intensify, assaulting my senses with every step.I couldn't deny it any longer - my pregnancy was
MARCUS“Thank goodness," Nicole muttered under her breath, her voice laced with a mix of relief and anger. "What are we still waiting for? Let's go to the station now and see the face of that wicked person."I put a hand on her shoulder, feeling the tension in her muscles. "No!" I said firmly, my voice cutting through her impatience. "Wait here, I will go alone."Nicole's eyes widened in surprise and protest. "Alone? Why? I want to see her too!"I shook my head. "It's not safe for both of us to go charging in there. I need to assess the situation first and make sure it's not a trap."Nicole's expression softened slightly "Okay," she said, her voice quieting. "Just be careful, okay?"I rushed to the police station to go see the culprit. My feet pounded against the pavement as I ran towards the police station.When I finally burst through the doors, my eyes scanned the crowded room, searching for any sign of the culprit.That's when I saw her. Sitting there in handcuffs, looking small
"Daddy! Daddy! How does it look?"My eyes shifted from the desk to the little princess In front of me, she was holding her canvas and her eyes were glittering with so much love and hope, I never thought I would melt at such beauty but ever since I met Nicole, things changed.I was amazed at her realistic creation painting, it was a plant growing from the earth and it looked like I was watching it happen live."It's…" I paused for a while, pulling her closer to me. Ellie's eyes dulled and so her posture slacked with her emotional change."You don't like it?" It was almost a whimper before I scoffed."Ellie, I love it! It's so beautiful I wasn't able to comprehend it. It's something your mom would have painted." I smiled at her and she set the canvas down before jumping on my lap, "she'll be proud.""Do you think she's going to come back?" The question always stung my heart, I didn't have the answer to it, I've always had a solution for every problem, except for this one."Yes, she will
NICOLE “If you think some superhero is going to swoop in and save your sorry asses, then you thought wrong," Mariella sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.We were holed up in an underground house, a safe haven turned into a grim prison. Ellie and I sat huddled on the floor, our hair disheveled, our clothes stained and torn.Mariella paced around the room like she owned the place, her hand confidently planted on her hips. She chewed her gum obnoxiously, the sound echoing through the tense air.“Now that I think about it," she said, her words laced with cruel calculation. "How much should I sell you both for? Let's leave the little girl out of it. You, my dear, are worth way more than her. You're a package deal, two for the price of one."I instinctively placed my hand on my belly, a protective gesture that seemed to amuse Mariella. She let out a mocking laugh as she observed my action."Aww, Marcus' little heir is in there, huh? Poor baby," she sneered, scrunching down to my lev
MARCUSI sat at the dimly lit bar, swirling the drink in my hand, my mind wandered to Vicky. She had been nothing but kind to me. I prayed she was still alive, hoping that fate had spared her from the clutches of the child trafficking ring. I felt responsible for her since she had no one else to help her.She had no family or friends and she looked to me like a brother.My concerns deepened as the realization struck that I hadn't heard from Nicole in days. The last time we spoke was when I called and she informed me that she now had the company of a little girl at home.I was happy with that. At least she won't be lonely and would have someone to talk to. Even if it was just a child.I tried calling her number a few times, but it was unreachable. The bar had started to empty out, leaving only a rowdy group of girls. From the moment I arrived, I could feel their eyes on me, but I did my best to ignore their glances.As the place grew practically deserted, I couldn't help but notice o
NICOLE The police were still trying to trace Mariella’s location, yet nothing has been found. It was as if she was no longer on planet earth.I was trying to finish up another of my paintings that I had started a few days back. I was hoping to go donate it at the orphanage. These past weeks I've grown accustomed to visiting the place. Marcus came in and peeped at my work, nodding his head in approval. “You’re almost done”I smiled, “Yes I am. It just needs some finishing touches”“I'm going to the police station to see how far they've gone with the investigation, I'll be back in a few days” he said, stroking my back.“Alright. Be good” I watched Marcus leave the room, his footsteps fading away as he made his way toe find Vicky.With a sigh, I turned my attention back to my painting.Hours passed, and my painting finally took its final form.I stepped back to admire it. It was a depiction of a serene meadow, with blooming flowers and a radiant sunset in the background.I prepared to l
MARCUSAll three of us sat at the dining table, the aroma of freshly cooked waffles and sausages filling the air. I had woken up early, determined to mend the strained atmosphere with a delicious breakfast. Nicole, however, was still giving me the silent treatment, her expression somber as she pushed her food around her plate.The tension was palpable, and I could feel my own discomfort growing with each passing second. It seemed like an eternity until Vicky decided to break the ice.“Nicole," Vicky spoke up, her voice soft but pleading. Nicole looked up, her eyes meeting Vicky's gentle gaze. "Yeah?""I understand that you might be upset, but please don't take it all out on Marcus. He was just trying to help me”Nicole let out a sigh and muttered, "Don't worry about it. We're cool." But her dismissive tone revealed that she wasn't cool at all. She finished eating in silence, abruptly standing up from the table and leaving me and Vicky behind.Vicky let out a disappointed sigh, her ta
MARCUSRight now me and Nicole were sitting next to each other, and Mia was sitting across from us at the station. There was this barricade thing separating us.Nicole, being her stubborn self, had insisted that we take care of Mia's kid. And I had no choice but to go along with it. What else could I do? Nicole can be pretty persuasive when she wants to be.“Thank you both so much for forgiving me and forgetting the past. I don’t know how else I can thank you, but I really appreciate your effort” Mia clasped her hands together. Her nose was a bit swollen due to her condition, she was probably in her third Trimester while Nicole was in her second.“It’s fine. We are more than happy to help” Nicole beamed at her.I nodded in agreement, offering a smile to Mia. "Absolutely, Mia. We understand that people make mistakes, and we believe in giving second chances."She reached out to touch her swollen belly. "This baby means the world to me. I promise I'll do whatever it takes to make thing
NICOLEShe did a double take. “Nicole? What a surprise. I didn't know you were coming” Well, I didn't know it was going to be your house too. I pressed my lips together, attempting to regain composure. "Lovely home," I managed to say, glancing around at the interior."You're already drenched from the rain. Come, let me change you into a comfortable outfit," she offered, guiding me towards her room located down the hallway.So Marcus had sneaked out of the house to come to visit Vicky. I was getting closer to the answer but I didn't like how it was headed.Her room was big and painted in lavender. A cozy armchair was placed near a bookshelf. Nearby, a small vanity table displayed a collection of antique perfume bottles, a hand mirror, and a hairbrush.“You can take your seat over there” she gestured to the armchair and walked into her walk-in closet. After a moment, she emerged with this loose fitting dress and handed it to me.“Here," she said, passing me the clothes. "Put these on
NICOLE “Ms. Nicole?" the little voice called out, unsure. I looked down and recognized Ellie, the little girl I had met at the art gallery previously.What was she doing out here alone?I grinned. "Hey, Ellie. We meet again. How are you?""I'm fine. I'm so happy to see you," she smiled brightly. That was when I noticed the frame she was holding, wrapped in brown paper."What are you doing here all by yourself?"She gestured to the frame she was holding. It was a wonder how she was able to carry it alone. "Oh, I came to donate this work of art.""Really? That's so thoughtful of you," I said, holding her hands in mine and helping her carry the painting. "Come on, let's go submit it, and after that, we can get some ice cream. How does that sound?""Perfect!" she cheered. Together, we walked to the front desk, and I assisted her in signing her name before we dropped off the painting.I was still surprised that a girl of her age could come all the way to the orphanage without a guardian.
NICOLE“What is he doing here?" I poked the window of my car as I saw my husband standing at the entrance of some strange house. His composure seemed anxious and though I was no detective, he looked like he was about to do something shady.A figure opened the door and it looked like it was wearing a robe. A woman? Was it Vicky??I tried to look closer but I couldn't see her face, his body language softened when she opened the door and she let him in.Marcus was with another woman."No, I can't be thinking like this." I relaxed my back in the chair as I rubbed my temples, there was no way he could be cheating, not after everything we have been through but why would he choose to hide this from me? What was the big deal that he couldn't tell me he needed to see someone at 2 am?Oh.Realization dawned on me and I kicked the ignition, I needed to get home,he could come out at any time and he was a better driver. I revved the engine and off I was. The road was free, everyone was at home