Eve The silence was suffocating. I stared straight ahead, refusing to meet his gaze. My hands clutched the bouquet of white roses. The veil cascaded down over my face. I wanted them to open the doors for this to be over with. How uncomfortable. “Are you that uncomfortable with me?” His voice broke through the silence. My body froze, I slowly turned my head to look at him. His cold, emotionless gaze met mine, the same look he had always given me. No warmth, no tenderness, just emptiness. I shifted my gaze away. “What do you mean, Mr. Blackwell?” He chuckled. “Are you going to be calling me that forever? Are you not done with your tantrums?” I turned to him again, this time holding his gaze longer than I normally would. I used to think this man was… admirable. Cool, even. There was a time when the thought of him speaking to me, acknowledging me, would’ve made my entire day. But now? Now, I felt nothing. It was almost amusing how fragile human emotions were. One moment, som
Eve “It’s true, isn’t it? You’re standing here, all dressed up, ready to marry some rich guy after sleeping with me last night!” The whole room was silent, the kind of silence that pressed against your ears and made it difficult to breathe. Nobody moved, and nobody spoke. Everyone was stunned in place as eyes darted between me and the man I couldn’t look at anyone. My entire focus was on the man in front of me, his wild eyes boring into mine, his voice ringing in my ears. My mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Me? Slept with him? Impossible. I didn’t even know who this man was until a minute ago, much less slept with him. I tried to piece together his words. He couldn’t mean me—no, no, it had to be someone else. I was about to dismiss it completely when something clicked. Mia. He called me Mia. Of course. Mia. He wasn’t talking about me—he was talking about her. He didn’t call me Eve, he called me Mia, my twin sister. I wanted to tell him the truth, but the prob
Xander A few minutes ago I adjusted my glasses, flipping through the stack of files in my lap. My focus shifted from one document to the next as the car sped through the city streets. The black suit I wore felt stiff and unfamiliar for my taste. Normally, I’d prefer something minimalist, comfortable. But today was my wedding. The car slowed to a halt at a red light. I leaned back. My gaze lazily shifted to the side mirror, catching the blur of flashing lights. A massive billboard loomed in the distance, displaying the face of someone… familiar. I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes as I wound the car window down. The breeze brushed against my face as I squinted, finally seeing it clearly—a photo of an elderly woman, the caption announcing her death along with her age. I froze. The face on the screen wasn’t just familiar. It was hers. Theodore’s grandmother. Leaning back in my seat, I exhaled, the tension in my shoulders easing into something heavier. So, she was gone. I
Xander "Excuse me, we want to see the director," Luke said, standing in front of the hospital secretary's desk. I was seated in my wheelchair, my fingers resting lightly on the armrest. My gaze moved to the secretary as she slowly looked up from her computer, her eyebrow arching as she scanned us. Her eyes lingered on me, then her lips curled into a disdainful smile. Interesting. "Do you have an appointment with the director?" She asked. "An appointment? I don’t think we need to book an appointment." Luke replied. "What are you saying? Of course you do," she said, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. "I’m sorry, but no matter who you are, you can’t come in without booking an appointment. That’s protocol." He blinked at her. "You must be new here. Just call the director and say Mr. Wint—" The secretary cut him off sharply. "I'm sorry, but If you don’t have an appointment, I’ll call security to escort you out." The room went quiet for a moment until I fi
Xander Present time “If you don’t get your hands off my wife, you will lose your life, and everything you have ever loved.” The sound of my voice echoed through the hall, silencing everyone. I didn’t have to look around to see everyone frozen in place, their gazes locked on me. My eyes, however, stayed fixed on her. Eve. She stood there trembling, her hand red from where that bastard had gripped it too tightly. Her lips parted slightly in shock and disbelief, as if she couldn't believe I was standing before her. And then I saw a flicker in her eyes. It was quick, but I saw it. Hurt?…….. betrayal? I raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t expected that from her. I expected anger, shock, maybe even relief, but not that. The way she looked at me stirred something deep inside me. I didn’t have time to think about what that was because she suddenly winced, and her soft whine of pain snapped me out of my thoughts. My gaze slid to the man beside her. This bastard had dared lay his hand
Eve “Sign the wedding contract.” My heart skipped a beat when I heard his words, and I hated myself for it. I finally looked up, my eyes locking onto the paper in Luke’s hand. The bold letters of the marriage contract stared back at me like a slap to the face. My gaze shifted to him, the man seated before me, cold and emotionless, as if this were nothing more than a routine business transaction. My chest tightened, and I instinctively placed a hand over my heart. It hurt. Why? Why did it hurt? It made no sense. He never treated me well. There was nothing between us. So why? Why was the fact that he was treating me like this so painful? This man—this man who took my virginity, who was the first man in years to make me feel even remotely safe was just like the rest of them. He had been playing with me all along. I thought he was different. Yes, he might have been cold to me. He never gave me the idea that he cared about me, but… at least he didn't stab me in the back. He d
Theodore I leaned back in the chair beside her bed, my gaze fixed on her sleeping face. Eve looked fragile, pale, like a ghost of herself. She looked like she had been through hell in just a week. What the hell had happened to her? I rubbed a hand over my face, the exhaustion catching up with me. It had been a week since my grandmother passed away, and everything after that had been chaos. I had barely had time to breathe, let alone think about anything outside of business and managing her affairs. Endless meetings, documents to sign, condolences to receive, it felt like I was drowning in responsibilities. I hadn’t even called or seen Xander in days, though I assumed he was managing fine. He always did. But now, staring at her like this, I couldn’t shake the guilt clawing at my insides. I should have checked in. I should have made time. When I finally managed to carve out a few minutes of freedom, I came to see her at the hospital only to hear she’d quit. Quit. Eve, who lived
Xander The evening sun bathed the backyard in hues of amber and gold. I sat in my wheelchair, my usual place, with my usual boredom, watching two Rottweilers sprint around the field. Except, this wasn’t just their regular play. The dogs were chasing a man. A bloody, beaten man in nothing but a pair of tattered boxers. His screams echoed across the yard as he scrambled, stumbling and crying out in desperation. They lunged at him like hunters closing in on prey, their sharp teeth tearing at his legs and arms whenever he slowed down. The man begged for his life as he tried to outrun them, but no matter where he turned, they were always just a step behind. When the man’s cries became too pitiful, two handlers would step in and pull the dogs back, letting him to rest. But it never lasted. They let him catch his breath, only to set the dogs loose again. And each time, the chase became more savage, more hopeless. I leaned back in my wheelchair, my hands resting on the armrests, my ey
Xander I opened my eyes. Everything was a blur, and the world spun around me. My body felt like dead weight against the mattress, refusing to respond. My face was damp with sweat. This was the aftereffect of the drug. The only sleeping drug that could actually knock me out, but the price was paralysis. A few seconds where I was nothing more than a prisoner in my own body. I let my gaze drift to the window. It was bright outside. I stared at the ceiling. How exhausting. After a moment, I flexed my fingers, feeling the stiffness in my joints fade. With effort, I pushed myself up. Normally, I shouldn’t be able to stand for an hour, but my body had already adapted to the drug. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, sliding my feet into the slippers. My shirt clung to my skin, damp with sweat. Annoyed, I tugged it off and tossed it onto the bed before heading to the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face, brushed my teeth, and stepped into the shower. Running a hand through
RosaI stared at the photographs on the table, my expression indifferent. My legs were crossed, one foot bouncing lazily as I skimmed through them. Levi stopped in front of me, shifting slightly, his face tinged red. “Dr. Rosa, I brought your favourite mint ice cream on my way here.”I glanced up at the big cup in his hands. My eyes flickered to the side, catching Elijah nudging Asher with a knowing grin. “She’s becoming more popular every day,” Elijah muttered under his breath. “You should improve on your moves.”Asher ignored him, as if he were spouting nonsense.Levi hesitated when I didn't say anything. “I’m sorry for getting it without your permission. I didn’t kno—”I smiled, taking the ice cream from him. “Thank you, Levi. I was craving some.”He sighed in relief. I peeled off the lid and scooped a bite with the tiny plastic spoon, letting out a small moan at the taste.“Oh, how’s your older brother?” I asked, eyes still on the photographs. “He’s still going for his checkups,
Rosa “Hahahaha!” I laughed, my stomach aching from the effort. I clutched my wine glass tightly, trying to keep it from spilling all over my black hoodie and sweatpants. But the more I looked at the three boys in front of me, the harder it was to stop. "How long are you going to laugh for?" Asher asked. I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, barely catching my breath. "Hah, until I’m satisfied." He scoffed, clearly not amused, which only made it worse. I took a deep breath, shaking my head as I tried to regain composure. "Okay, let me get this straight," I said, holding up a hand. "Elijah and Roman decided to play thief and steal Mia's purse. But then, just like a badly written action movie, our hero, Asher, swooped in and stopped it?" “Yes. How many times am I going to repeat myself?” "Haha. Men," I sighed between giggles. "Sometimes, I seriously wonder what goes on in their heads." Elijah huffed. "It was a perfectly good plan, you know." I arched my brow, smirking. "L
Mia I stared at the man in front of me. He was too attractive. So much so that my brain struggled to function properly. Xander and this man were both devastatingly good-looking, but in completely different ways. Xander’s beauty was something rare. He looked dignified, refined, almost otherworldly. He looked like he belonged in a painting, a masterpiece that captured everyone's attention. He didn’t need to do anything to make women fall for him, his mere existence was enough. But this man was the kind of beautiful that made you sin. His presence alone was sinful. He was temptation wrapped in leather and tattoos. Everything about him screamed dangerous. "Who the fuck are you?!" The leader of the robbers spun around, aiming his gun at the man. But before he could do anything, his companion froze, his eyes widening in sheer terror. “T-That man… he’s Asher.” The leader stiffened, his face losing all color. "Oh my god," the second man whispered. "What are we going to do?" So, his n
Mia “You’re so beautiful in person, Mia,” she said warmly.I smiled politely, glancing up from my plate as Mrs. Smith beamed at me.“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Smith.” I returned the smile. “You’re too kind. You’re even more beautiful than I am.”The middle-aged woman laughed, touching her face lightly. “Well, we old folks can’t lose to you young ones.”Beside me, my mother chimed in with her usual charm. “Oh, what are you saying, old folks? You’re very young and beautiful, Mrs. Smith. Sometimes, I have to put in extra effort when dressing up because I don’t want you to outshine me.”Mrs. Smith waved her off playfully. “Oh, really? Well, I’ve been using this new cream lately.”My mother’s eyes lit up. “Really? What kind of cream?”Mrs. Smith leaned in slightly, as if sharing a secret. “Don’t tell anyone, okay? The cream isn’t widely available yet, so all the rich ladies are scrambling to get their hands on it.”My mother eagerly nodded. “Of course, I won’t tell.”Mrs. Smith smiled. “It’s ca
RosaThe maintenance worker leaned down, extending his hand. “Dr. Rosa, can you raise your hand higher so I can pull you up?”I stretched my arm as high as I could, but my fingers barely brushed his. Damn it. I bent my knees slightly, ready to jump and try again when a strong arm wrapped around my waist.I paused at the sudden touch. Before I could react, Xander lifted me effortlessly, one hand securely gripping my waist, the other... resting firmly on my ass.“....”Don’t look at him, Rosa. Don’t you dare.I clenched my jaw, focusing on the open hatch above. But my body betrayed me. Curiosity won, and I glanced down.Xander met my gaze, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. He raised an eyebrow. “Are you not going to raise your hands?”I smiled playfully. “Mr. Xander, it's not that I'm complaining, but are you perhaps using this opportunity to—” I felt his fingers press ever so slightly “Keep talking like that, and I might reconsider my help, Dr. Rosa.”I chuckled and
Rosa Twelve years ago They say when you’re about to die, different emotions surface. Some people regret their life choices. Others think about how unfair it all is. Some don’t even understand what’s happening. But I felt nothing. I should have cried. I should have been angry at how unfair this was. It was just tomorrow, and everything would have been over. I would have been free. I could have lived however I wanted. Just one more day. But the world doesn’t give you tomorrows. It only takes and takes until there’s nothing left. The cold water surrounded me, pulling me under. I couldn’t move, and my consciousness was fading. I tried to look for Daisy, but the darkness swallowed everything. She could have fallen anywhere. And from what I saw, I doubted she survived, the car had hit her hard. Ah… so this was how I was going to die. Drowning alone, with no one by my side. I didn’t pity myself. But I pitied the ones who actually cared about me. Theodore, his family….. Xander. Would
Xander I looked at the woman in front of me, her hand resting on the wall beside me. I turned my head to the other side, but before I could step away, she lifted her other hand, blocking my path. The elevator doors shut behind her, leaving me with no way out until we reached my floor. I exhaled sharply, finally lifting my gaze to her. She was smiling mischievously, her face close but not too close, it was just enough to be annoying. “What are you doing, Dr. Rosa?” I asked, my voice flat. Her smile widened. "I think I should be asking you that, Mr. Xander, because I definitely saw you trying to close the elevator the moment you saw me." I arched a brow, unimpressed. “And?” “And, it looks like the person you were running away from was me. Normally, people don’t run away from me,” she mused, as if genuinely puzzled. “Like you might have noticed, I’m way too pretty for people to do that. So, Mr. Xander,” she grinned, “I’m a little confused. Why are you running away from me?”
RosaI stared at the CT scan displayed on the computer screen, my fingers lightly tapping against the desk. The results were almost identical to the previous ones, there were no significant improvement. His case was complicated.I glanced toward the see-through observation window. Inside the CT room, Mr. Winters was laying still, the machine scanning his unresponsive body. Beside me, the young doctor shifted nervously. “As we can see from the results, the trauma to his skull caused a severe hemorrhage, leading to the formation of multiple blood clots. The pressure on his brainstem is significant, which likely contributed to his coma.” He adjusted his glasses. “Given his age and the extent of the damage, his chances of regaining consciousness naturally are extremely low. The human brain is unpredictable, and coma recovery is rarely something we can force. It depends entirely on the patient’s response.”I continued analyzing the results. Blood clots. That was the key. Removing them cou