I emptied my stomach for the fifth time today, and I still feel sick.“Hailey, maybe I should call the doctor?” Hollis said as he was holding my hair, another nauseous wave hit me. I shook my head weakly, holding his hand tight. “I am fine; it is just because I am pregnant and my body is adjusting to the changes. I’ll be okay; just give me a minute.” I tried to reassure Hollis, but the nausea was overwhelming. After a few minutes, I finally managed to sit up and take a deep breath, hoping the worst had passed. “I think I just need to rest for a bit,” I said, closing my eyes as Hollis carried me inside the room from the bathroom. He laid me down gently on the bed, placing a cool cloth on my forehead. “I’ll stay with you until you feel better,” he whispered softly, his concern evident in his eyes.“Drink some water and try to relax,” he suggested, sitting beside me. I nodded weakly as I placed the cold water of water on my lips and took a few sips, feeling the refreshing liquid soothe m
My whole body is shaking furiously, and I can’t seem to calm down. I feel like my heart is racing a mile a minute, and I can’t catch my breath.He is here; he is back; he found me. I can feel the panic rising in my chest, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. Every fiber of my being is on high alert, ready to fight or flee at a moment’s notice.The smile of the grim reaper is etched on his face, sending chills down my spine. I know he will do nothing to get me back under his control. I can’t let that happen.The pain, the trauma, and the memories flood back in an overwhelming wave, threatening to consume me. “Hailey...” I heard his voice in my mind, making me shudder. I must find a way to break free from his grasp once and for all. The smirk on his face tells me he enjoys seeing me suffer, gripping my heart with fear.“Hailey...” I heard him again, his voice sending chills down my spine. I close my eyes tightly, taking a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that h
I stare at Hailey, who is sleeping on the bed peacefully, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The soft glow of the bedside lamp casts a warm light on her peaceful face, and I can’t help but feel grateful for this moment of tranquility.She has been so stressed the whole day today, and seeing her finally able to relax brings me a sense of relief. I gently brush a strand of hair away from her face, hoping she can feel my love and support, even in her dreams.I sat beside her on the couch, staring at the peaceful expression on her face as I drank a strong liquor to ease my own nerves. The flavor tingles my tongue with a sharp bitterness that matches the ache in my chest.I stare at the glass with liquid swirling inside, wishing I could find the same sense of calm that she had found in her slumber. The weight of the day’s events settles heavily on my shoulders. Seeing Hailey in pain—the trauma that she endured is still fresh in my mind. I take another sip, hoping the alcohol
What the fuck? I crumbled up the paper in my fist and clenched my jaw, feeling a surge of anger and determination to protect Hailey at all costs. This was no time to back down; we needed to find out who was behind this and stop them before it was too late.I turn my head on Hailey, who is sitting across from me, her eyes wide with fear. “What is written on the note?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. I hesitated, unsure of how to break the news to her without causing more panic.I took a deep breath, brushing her hair away from her face before finally responding, “Nothing you need to worry about. Just some nonsense from a prankster, nothing to be concerned about.” Hailey’s expression relaxed slightly, but I could tell she wasn’t fully convinced.She leaned her head on her chest as I wrapped my arms protectively around her, hoping to provide some comfort in the midst of her unease. “I was so scared after seeing Ben in the ice cream parlor; I thought he was trying to make a m
I stared at Hollis as he was reading the note, trying to gauge his reaction. My body was shaking, scared of what might have been written on it. Was it bad news? Was it a threat? I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear creeping over me.I know for sure that it was Ben behind all this, and that is what makes me even more anxious. I have to find a way to protect myself and Hollis from whatever danger may be lurking.“What is written on the note?” I asked, with my heart pounding in my chest, my voice quivering with fear.Hollis turns his eyes on me as he crumbles the notes in his fist, clenching his jaw. “Nothing you need to worry about. Just some nonsense from a prankster, nothing to be concerned about,” he replied, but his eyes betrayed his attempt to hide the truth. I knew then that we were in deeper trouble than I had imagined.Is what Hollis is saying true, or is he trying to protect me from something he thinks I can’t handle? No, I don’t think he will deliberately lie to me. I rela
A loud cry escaped my lips as I sank to the ground, tears streaming down my face. The trauma of his presence lingered in the room—a constant reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the memories, but his sinister laugh echoed in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. He will take me with him, I thought to myself, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. The fear of his return consumed me, leaving me paralyzed with uncertainty about what horrors awaited me next.A felt hand landing on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts, causing me to shudder in terror.“Hailey,” a calm voice said, bringing me back to reality as I opened my eyes to see Hollis standing beside me, worried about my well-being. “What happened? Why are you like these?” he asked the room, all messed up with glass shattered on the floor.I feel him take my hand in his as I hiss from the stinking pain in my foot. “He’s coming back,” I whispered, my voice trembling with fear
“Please...” I whispered again, my voice barely audible as I buried my face in his chest, pulling myself closer to him, seeking solace in his embrace.Hollis remained silent, his grip on me firm and reassuring, providing the comfort and security I so desperately needed in that moment, but he still didn’t fulfill my need to make love to him. I longed for a deeper connection, a way to express my passion and desire for him beyond just physical touch.I don’t know if I am being selfish or if my feelings are valid, but I couldn’t help but yearn for more from our relationship. I needed to find a way to communicate my desires and fears to Hollis in order to truly feel fulfilled in our connection.I moved my head from his chest and looked into his eyes, searching for a way to convey my innermost thoughts. “Please help me forget my insecurities and fears,” I whispered, hoping he would understand the depth of my emotions. “Please touch me and show me that you care for me in more ways than one.”
“For once, I want to feel like I belong and am truly appreciated for simply being me,” I added, my voice cracking with emotion. “Is that too much to ask for?”Tears streamed down my face as I awaited their response. Hollis kissed my forehead and whispered, “Ask my life; I can give you that and more.” He kissed both my cheeks, his lips lingering with a tenderness that made my heart ache. “You don’t have a mere idea how much your presence means to me,” he murmured softly, his lips brushing against my ear and sucking on my earlobe, gently nipping at it. “You are everything to me, my love,” he whispered, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine as his lips moved to my neck, leaving a trail of delicate kisses. Sucking on my neck, biting gently on the skin as he whispered. “You are the most beautiful person I have ever met.”A moan escaped from my neck, both from the sensation of his lips on my skin and the overwhelming emotions his words stirred within me. “Tell me, is this real?” I w
Hailey***The night sky stretched out above us like a blanket of stars, the villa bathed in golden light, as though the universe itself was celebrating this moment with us. It was a night of endings and beginnings—a night where we would seal our future with the promise of love, joy, and family.We all returned to the old house, the villa where we had shared so many memories. It was filled with a sense of nostalgia, yet excitement for what was to come, as if everything we’d fought for was now within our reach.I stood in front of the grand fireplace, the flames casting a warm, flickering glow across the room. The villa, with its rustic charm and luxurious touches, felt like home—not just a house, but the foundation of the life we were building together.Summer and Max were tucked into bed, their soft breaths filling the quiet house. The stillness was peaceful, broken only by the occasional hum of the night air and the distant call of crickets. The world outside was calm, but inside, my
Hailey***The evening air was cool yet soothing, wrapping the farmhouse in a stillness that only the countryside could offer. As the first stars began to sprinkle the deepening indigo sky, the farmhouse seemed to glow with a warmth that hadn’t been there before. It wasn’t just a hiding place anymore—it was a sanctuary, a space where love and healing had begun to take root.I stood at the edge of the garden, watching Hollis and Summer as they worked side by side. Their laughter blended with the soft rustle of leaves, a melody of simple joy. Little Max toddled after them, his chubby hands grasping at flowers with an earnestness that only a one-year-old could muster. My hand instinctively rested on the curve of my belly, a habit that had become second nature. The new life growing inside me was a quiet reminder of hope and resilience.The sight before me filled my heart with peace, fragile yet overwhelming. After everything we’d endured, it was hard to believe we were here—together. The w
Hailey***The farmhouse had always been both a haven and a cage—a place far removed from the chaos that had consumed our lives. It was where I could pretend, even for a moment, that the world beyond its weathered walls didn’t exist. The isolation was a strange kind of comfort, one that held both solace and loneliness. The days passed quietly, the rhythm of the countryside punctuated only by the laughter of my children or the occasional rustle of wind through the trees.Summer, who had always been shy and reserved, had shown a bright curiosity these past few days. The seven-year-old had taken to exploring the nearby fields, dragging her little brother Max behind her like a loyal shadow. At just over a year old, Max was the perfect mimic, his chubby hands reaching for flowers or clapping at birds that flitted overhead. Watching them filled my heart with a fragile kind of peace. Here, they were safe. Here, they were untouched by the dangers that lurked outside.That morning, I busied mys
Hollis***The world I had once known—the world that had held me captive for so long—had finally crumbled. It wasn't just what my grandfather had done to me. It was everything he had done to the people who couldn’t protect themselves. The families he destroyed in his pursuit of power, the lives he crushed beneath his heel. I had suffered, but the worst part was always what he did to them, to those who trusted him. Now, finally, the time had come to make him pay. Slowly, methodically, piece by piece, I would tear him apart. Years of planning and waiting had led to this moment, and I was ready to exact my revenge with a cold determination that matched his own cruelty. He would regret ever crossing me.But even now, sitting in his seat, there’s a moment of hesitation. A part of me wonders—what if this isn’t enough? What if revenge won’t fix what was broken? I’d spent months walking a tightrope, pretending, smiling, nodding, showing the world I was the weak, compliant heir he wanted me to
Hailey***A few months have passed. I can still feel the ache in my chest, like a constant companion. It’s become a part of me now, something I carry with every breath. The farmhouse is quiet. Too quiet. Every creak of the floorboards, every gust of wind that rattles the windows, feels like a reminder of what’s missing. Him.In this foreign country, with only the sprawling fields and endless sky for company, silence is suffocating. The outside world feels like it’s moving—always in motion—while I’m trapped in this stillness. I long for the noise, the chaos, the comfort of someone else’s voice. But here, with only my own thoughts echoing in the empty rooms, I’ve become too aware of every passing second.I walk into the kitchen, my bare feet silent against the cool floor, my movements automatic. Max is sitting on the floor with his blocks, his laughter a bright, shining contrast to the dark cloud hanging over me. His joy is innocent, pure—but it only deepens the hollow inside me. It rem
Hailey***I never imagined this would be how it ends—this final moment between us, the last time I hold her, touch her, feel her warmth. But here we are. Time has been slipping through my fingers like sand, and I can’t stop it. The reality of what I’m doing weighs on me. I know what it means for Hailey, for me, and for all of us. But this is the only way to protect her. To protect them.I watch her in the soft light, the way her eyes search mine as though trying to find an answer, some reassurance. But I don’t have one to give her. Not anymore. There’s nothing left except this moment, and I want to give it to her fully. To make it count.Her hands tremble slightly as she reaches for me, her touch tentative but longing. I step into her embrace, feeling the heat of her body against mine, and the moment she wraps her arms around me, pulling me close, I feel my heart crack a little more. I don’t want to let go either. Not now. Not ever.Her lips find mine, soft but urgent, as though they’
Hailey***A month has passed, but it feels like years. Hollis's wounds have finally healed, but the ache in my heart still remains. The memories of that day haunt me, replaying in my mind, a constant reminder of the pain and loss I endured. I fear that the scars will never fully fade, no matter how much time passes. But now there’s a new pain, different from the physical and emotional wounds I’ve known before. It’s the pain of separation, the feeling of being lost without someone who once meant everything to me. The emptiness inside grows deeper with each passing day, leaving me longing for a sense of wholeness that may never return.The house is so quiet now—too quiet. Without Summer’s laughter echoing through the halls or Max’s tiny giggles filling the air, it feels hollow. Every room reminds me of them. Every corner holds the weight of what’s been lost.I sit on the couch, cradling a photo frame in my trembling hands. The smiles staring back at me feel like a lifetime ago. A fragme
Hailey***The silence between us was suffocating, a heavy weight pressing down on my chest as I tried to steady my breath. My fingers gripped Hollis tightly, as though by holding him in my arms, I could shield him from the pain that clung to him like a shadow. His past, the betrayal of his father, the haunting loss of his mother—each memory swirled around us, invisible but all-encompassing. I could feel the rawness of it in his every breath, and it broke my heart to know how deep the wounds ran.For a moment, I closed my eyes, allowing the rhythmic thrum of his heartbeat to ground me. I let the sound wash over me, offering a moment of peace amid the storm that raged inside him. But as I exhaled, a harsh truth settled in my chest. He didn’t want history to repeat itself. He didn’t want to become like his father—the man who had been torn apart by forces beyond his control, the man who had lost everything in his desperate attempts to hold onto something that could never be his.It was a
Hailey***"If you want to see me alive again, you have to leave now," Hollis said firmly. "Or do you want to see my dead body lying in front of you?"The words hung in the air, suffocating, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. My heart raced, each beat louder than the last, my body trembling as I struggled to grasp what he was asking. I stared at him, searching his face for any sign of doubt, some indication that this was just another cruel game, another way to push me away. But there was nothing. His expression was cold, almost empty, and yet in his eyes, I could see the pain—the broken pieces of the man I once knew.I took a shaky breath, feeling as though the world were closing in on me. How could he ask me to leave him? How could he force me to leave him with the children?But deep down, I knew—he wasn’t asking; he was pleading. This wasn’t a choice anymore; it was a sacrifice, one I had to make to keep us all safe. The weight of it crushed me, but I knew there was no other wa