[Arella]Touching up the last bits of makeup, I smooth a hand over my dress, the sapphire color catching the warm glow of the overhead lights. The fabric hugs my frame, and its rich color compliments my skin perfectly. My hand pauses at my tummy. A life is growing inside me. Pregnant.I'm really pregnant, and this isn't some kind of dream.The thought settles over me like a heavy blanket—both comforting and suffocating. Feeling my eyes sting, I blink rapidly, forcing down that strange mixture of joy and sadness. I can’t afford to mess this up, not with Deric and Vivian waiting for any excuse to trample on me.The quietness of the back room is broken by the creak of the door. Through the mirror, I catch Sasha’s reflection as she steps in, the gentle sway of her identical sapphire dress mirroring mine. We’re the planners, after all."When were you going to tell me that you're dating Lincoln Sawyer?"I freeze, my heart thudding loudly, as if the truth were pounding to escape. Turning t
[Lincoln] "Right this way, Mr. Sawyer. I'm glad you could make it," Deric says, gesturing toward the grand entrance of the venue. The air inside is warm, heavy with the mingling scents of cologne, champagne, and freshly polished wood. I nod and step in, frustration simmering beneath the surface. I wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for Mr. Thompson agreeing to meet on ‘fair grounds.’ Not exactly sure what that means, but here I am. "Hi, I’m Vivian, Deric’s girlfriend," a woman in a short black dress says, extending her hand with a practiced innocent looking smile. So, she’s the one Deric abandoned Arella for. Her eyes are too wide, her smile too bright and calculating. Her mask doesn’t fool me—I can see it all, every crack beneath her polished “pure” exterior, makes me wonder how full of a man Deric actually is to fall for this act. "Yes, she’s my loving girlfriend," Deric adds quickly when I don’t take her hand, his voice faltering just slightly. "You left Arella f
[Arella]Every thought evaporates from my mind as I take his hand. Lincoln leads me to the dance floor, the smooth, soft music wrapping around us like a velvet ribbon. The scent of fresh flowers and expensive cologne lingers in the air.Chandeliers above cast a golden glow over everything, but it all fades into the background as he looks at me."You’ve been avoiding me, Arella," he says, his voice low and probing. The words send a shiver down my spine. I feel myself freeze, the warmth of his hand on mine holding me in place."N-no, it’s not like that," I stammer, my voice barely audible over the hum of the music. "I’ve just been… busy.""If that’s the case, then why aren’t you looking at me?"His words pierce through me. My eyes snap to his, and the way he looks at me—it’s just so… intense, so searching, like he’s seeing every secret I’ve tried to hide. My breath catches. The soft light gleams off his sharp jawline, and his presence feels like a cocoon, shutting out everything else
[Arella]The stain is horrendous—huge, red, and blotchy. Knowing how Vivian is, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d mixed red paint together with the wine. It’s a ridiculous thought, I know, but it’s Vivian after all.I can’t go out in this anymore.Searching around for the sundress I wore before changing into this, I don’t find it. Frustration prickles at my skin as I grab my phone and dial Sasha, hoping she’ll come help.Before the call connects, the door swings open suddenly, and I’m startled.My blood freezes.It’s Frank."What are you doing here?" I demand, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound firm.Frank smirks, his eyes hazy, and the stench of alcohol hits me like a wave. He’s drunk."I told you to watch your back," he slurs, stepping closer.My heart begins thumping loudly, a heavy drumbeat that drowns out everything else. I back away instinctively. "What are you trying to do? Don’t come closer, or I’ll scream!"He giggles—a high-pitched, unnerving sound, like a child
10 Minutes Earlier[Lincoln]I watch Arella walk away, her figure disappearing into the crowd. My jaw tightens as I turn my cold gaze back to Deric and Vivian, glaring particularly at her. She’d be stupid if she thinks we believed her excuse about the spill not being on purpose.Deric clears his throat, his expression carefully neutral, and gives me a smile. "Mr. Sawyer, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the big oil merge coming up. You see, the last time we spoke abou—""Sir," Janet’s voice interrupts from beside me, cutting Deric off. Her tone is crisp, urgent. "Mr. Thompson is already here. I didn’t want to interrupt your dance, but he is getting crankier by the second."I stiffen, my frustration barely contained. The reminder of why I even attended this pointless gala claws at my mind. Business obligations always come first."Where is he now?""In one of the lounges, sir."I follow her lead, my steps brisk, past the clinking glasses and murmured conversations. We enter a q
[Arella]Lincoln lets me back down gently, and I can feel his anger bubbling as he stalks toward Deric, who's yelling at the top of his voice."Can someone tell me what's Omph!—"His words are cut short as Lincoln grips his collar tightly.""You! This is on you!" Lincoln's voice thunders, his fury palpable. "Is this how you organize a gala? Allowing any random degenerate to slip in unnoticed? Look at that drunkard over there!" He points sharply toward Frank, his tone seething with disdain. "He tried to assault Arella!"Gasps echo around us, and I realize they’re from Vivian, Kaitlin, and a few others from the party. Something feels off about they way they all piled in at once—very off—but I’m too stunned to speak, too scared to say anything. My hand instinctively goes to my stomach. Did I lose my baby? The thought creeps in, and my heart twists painfully. Surely that would be too much of a stretch… right?"That’s not a drunkard! He’s my friend!" Deric’s eyes turn to me, blazing with
[Arella] The steady beeping sound of a machine slowly lures me awake. My head feels heavy, like it’s stuffed with cotton. Where am I? My eyes flutter open to find walls that are sterile and white. The smell of antiseptic fills my nose as a lady in a white coat looms above me. “Good, you’re awake. How do you feel now, ma’am?” she asks, helping me sit up slowly. I blink, my mind clearing. Last night comes rushing back. I must have fainted. “I feel okay. Just a little groggy.” She nods and continues her checks. I wonder where Lincoln is, he probably left already. That thought makes me sad and I don't know why. “Do you know where the man—” “You mean your husband, right?” the doctor interrupts with a wide grin. “He just stepped out a few minutes ago. He watched you all night, you know. Such a loving man.” My ears perk up. My husband? Is she talking about Lincoln? He watched me all night? I feel my cheeks heat up, a pink flush spreading across my face. But thoughts of
[Arella]"Accept the papers, Kaitlin. I quit."The office feels suffocating, the sharp scent of stale coffee and papers only adding to the tension. Kaitlin’s eyes flash with fury as she snatches the papers from my hand with a sneer."Frank was right after all. You’re just a sleazy bitch that’s managed to cling to another big shot."Her words feel like sharp knives aimed at me, but I refuse to flinch. They bounce off me like air as my face remains impassive. I won't give her the satisfaction of a reaction."I will not be paying the fine, Kaitlin," I state firmly, my voice unwavering despite the storm building inside me.Seconds pass before she bursts into laughter. The sound like a fork scraping a chalkboard, against my ears."You think I’ll let you quit without the fine of a thousand dollars? Or do you think, because Lincoln Sawyer is backing you up, you’re a queen now? Look here, let me tell you—"Slamming my hand on her desk, the sharp thud echoes across the small room. She squea
[Arella]“My memories are back.”The words sound in my head like a bad omen, curling around me like smoke, thick and suffocating. For a moment, my heart stops.There was a time when I dreamed of this—of him remembering, of him looking at me the way he used to, of the boy I fell in love with in my sophomore year coming back to me.But things change.People change.And Deric? He became something else entirely.Apart from the small, fleeting shock that zips across my skin, I feel nothing now. Nothing but pure, numbing apathy.But beside me, there’s something else—something sharp, electric.Lincoln.The energy radiating from him is different, dangerous. A nervous, explosive energy, coiled tight like a wire about to snap. I can feel his restraint, the way his muscles lock in place, his breathing steady but tense.He’s waiting. Holding back.For me.For my move.Keeping my face blank, I yank my hands away with force, stepping back a few inches. My voice comes out steady, deceptively cold.“
[Arella]Vivian is the first to notice me. Her eyes widen, not just from the sting of Deric’s slap but from the fact that I saw it happen. Despite the firestorm raging inside me, a self-satisfied smirk tugs at my lips. Trouble in paradise? I wonder what woman is strong enough to break these two apart.I ignore her. She’s insignificant. My gaze zeroes in on Deric, and he’s already looking at me. His eyes also wide but hold something foreign—something sickening. Like I’m the light in his dark world. Like… how he used to look at me.Disgust coils in my stomach.He steps closer, his fingers twitching as if reaching for me. But, all I see is him, drenched in a drunken haze, tossing money at my foster mother’s dying body like she was some disposable trash.“Arella…” His voice cracks. “It’s… you. I’m not dreaming, am I?”My hand moves before I even think. The sharp crack echoes through the room, my palm meeting his cheek with enough force to tilt his head to the side. But I don’t feel the s
[Arella]The ringing in my ears is deafening, a sharp, unbearable screech that drowns out everything else. My heart pounds against my ribs, hammering so hard I swear it might break through. What did she just say?"What?!" I sputter, the words barely forming as the world tilts on its axis. My throat is dry, my pulse a wild, erratic mess. I watch Ava’s lips move, the syllables barely escaping before her eyes dim."It was...Deric Smith…"Then, she collapses against my shoulder, her body going limp like a marionette doll with its strings cut.A strangled sound escapes me. Panic—raw and unforgiving—roars through my veins, squeezing my lungs like a vise."Doctor! Doctor!" I scream, my voice breaking, my hands gripping her lifeless body. It feels like an eternity before the door bursts open and the doctor rushes in, a nurse trailing behind her. They don’t hesitate. I’m shoved aside, my arms suddenly empty, and I stumble back, disoriented.My breathing is erratic, the walls pressing in, the h
[Arella]Giving Lincoln one last look of reassurance, I follow the doctor into Ava’s ward. Two nurses are flocking around her, checking her pulse. The sterile scent of the hospital room fills the air, mixing with the anxiety that seems to hang in the atmosphere. Ava’s eyes jump around, frantic, her movements tense like she’s scared that even the slightest touch will hurt her. It twists something deep inside me—this isn’t my Ava.Her eyes instinctively catch mine, and I feel a lump rise in my throat. The tears in her eyes are like a punch to the gut. She’s lost, broken, and it feels like the world has fallen apart for her."Ava?" I say softly, my voice cracking as I step closer."Ella?" she asks, her voice so fragile it feels like she’s whispering to the air, unsure if she’s truly seeing me or if I’m just a figment of her shattered mind."Hi, baby," I coo gently, moving closer. I sit on the bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her trembling body. Her arms respond immediately, but th
Cold, sterile stench of the hospital clings to me like a second skin as I hurry down the dimly lit corridor, my pulse pounding so loudly it drowns out the sound of my heels clicking against the floor. The bright overhead lights feel too harsh, the air too cold, and my whole body is tight with panic. "Calm down," Lincoln whispers beside me, his hand finding mine, his grip firm and reassuring. Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down when my sister is in critical condition? When I am supposed to be on my honeymoon, yet here I am, sprinting toward a doctor’s office like my life depends on it? My chest heaves as I force myself to breathe, trying to push back the overwhelming fear clawing at me. Then I spot My mother-in-law, She sits stiffly in a chair outside the doctor’s office, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles have turned white. Her usually warm eyes are clouded with worry, her lips pressed into a thin, trembling line. The second she sees me, her expres
[Deric]This migraine will be the death of me."Bring me more bottles!" I roar at the bartender, my voice thick with alcohol and fury. The dim lighting of the bar barely does anything to soothe the pounding in my skull, the ache digging in deep like a knife.The bartender flinches, his face paling. “S-Sir, I think you’ve had enough,” he stammers, his Spanish accent tangling with his words.Enough?I jerk up so fast the stool scrapes against the floor, the sound grating against my ears. Grabbing him by the collar, I twist it hard, pulling him close enough to see the panic flashing in his eyes."Listen here, buddy. If you don’t get me more bottles of beer right now—""Whoa, whoa!"A strong grip yanks me back. My vision sways. The migraine slashes through my skull, and I almost collapse right there if not for the thick, muscular arms shoving me down onto my stool.A man looms over me—a huge guy with a thick mustache and a jagged gash running across his left eye. He mutters something in S
[Arella]"Oh, c'mon, Lincoln, not this again."My eyes roll as a pout tugs at my lips. I know he can’t resist when I do that."Our honeymoon’s almost over—we should make the most of it," I plead, tugging his arm repeatedly like a child."We should," he finally turns to face me, a scowl on his handsome face, his deep honey brown eyes flickering with something sinful. "Like every other normal honeymooners, we should be in bed all day for the next two days before we go back."A look of horror flashes across my face, and Lincoln immediately chokes on his suppressed laugh.I take a step back, my core tightening at the memory of last night—his punishment. The way he handled me like I was nothing but his to ruin, the way his voice dropped to that deadly whisper before…No. No way in hell.His laugh settles, but his gaze doesn’t waver. He knows. He knows exactly what I’m thinking about, and I hate that. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and he clicks his tongue, his lips curving into that wicked smir
[Arella]Pulling out the towel Lincoln packed for me, I wrap it around her shivering frame. Her skin is cool to the touch, damp with seawater, and her breath is still uneven from the near-drowning."Thank you," she whispers softly, almost as if she’s still in shock.“You're welco—”“Thank you!” she repeats, louder this time. But her eyes aren’t on me anymore; they’re locked onto Lincoln.My socially awkward husband, who doesn’t even acknowledge her. He just brushes past us like she doesn’t exist, heading straight for his phone on the table. No glance. No nod. Just complete, ice-cold disregard.I want to facepalm myself.Her face falls slightly, her shoulders drooping just a bit before she looks back at me with an uncertain expression. "Help me thank your brother. I really do appreciate it."My brows furrow. Brother? Did Lincoln and I look… alike? I let out an awkward laugh, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "He's my husband actually, and don't worry—he's glad to help. Jus
[Lincoln]With my pulse drumming in my ears, I bolt out of my seat, every noise fading beneath the roaring waves of the ocean. My mind hones in on one thing—my wife…drowning the water. Fuck. What was she thinking?Without hesitation, I dive in, my body slicing through the surface as cold water engulfs me. A figure is sinking lower, deeper. My muscles burn as I push forward, lungs tight, heart slamming against my ribs. I reach out, my fingers wrapping around an ankle before I shift to grab her waist.Something suddenly feels... off.A prickle runs down my spine, but my subconscious pushes it aside. Not now. I haul her upward, breaking through the surface, my movements frantic. Water cascades off us as I drag her toward the shore, my steps hurried, my pulse erratic. Her face is completely covered by thick, wet black hair, and that nagging sensation creeps up my spine again.I barely register the growing crowd gathering on the sand. Focus. Adrenaline fills my veins, making my hands shak