The next morning, the entire house was unusually quiet. The tension in the air was palpable as the maids moved about, attending to their duties in near silence. Suzanne walked down the grand staircase, her presence commanding attention. She looked stunning—dressed immaculately, her hair falling perfectly around her shoulders. Every step she took exuded confidence, the weight of the previous day's confrontation still hanging in the air, but now it was like a new, stronger Suzanne had emerged.Charles looked up from his seat at the table, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of what was happening. "Where are you going?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and irritation.Suzanne didn’t even slow down. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turned to him with a look of disbelief, and shot back, "And what sort of stupid question is that, Charles?" Her tone was icy, sharp, and filled with an edge that was new—she was done with him.In the midst of her biting response
Elisa's eyes widened in disbelief, but she quickly masked her shock with a forced smile. She had not expected Paul Nick, of all people, to intervene on Suzanne's behalf. The audacity of the director—who was used to being the one in control—ordering her to apologize was enough to make her blood boil.She hesitated, a flicker of defiance in her eyes as she glanced from Suzanne to Paul, but the pressure in the room was undeniable. The whispers grew louder, the crowd's expectations building, and Elisa could feel the eyes of everyone on her. She was no longer in control of the narrative."Apologize, Elisa," Paul repeated, his voice steady, his posture unwavering.Elisa’s jaw clenched as she reluctantly turned to Suzanne. "Fine," she spat, her voice laced with venom. "I’m sorry," she muttered, barely audible. The insincerity in her tone was unmistakable, but the words left her lips nonetheless.Suzanne, however, was unfazed. She hadn’t expected anything genuine from Elisa. She simply nodded
The employee paused, clearly caught off guard by Elisa’s attitude. "Yes, Ms. Moon, you’re also needed. The audition’s for both of you." He didn’t let the tension in the air stop him from doing his job, gesturing for both women to follow him.The two women walked into the room, the atmosphere heavy with competition. The director and a few producers sat at the table, papers in hand, waiting for them to start.Elisa walked in first, her confidence as sharp as ever. She gave them a quick, bright smile. "I’m ready to impress," she said with a hint of challenge in her voice.Suzanne followed, but there was no arrogance in her step—only quiet determination. She knew what she was capable of, and she had nothing to prove to anyone.The director, Paul Nick, cleared his throat, ready to begin. "Ladies," he began, his eyes moving between the two of them, "we're looking for someone who can truly embody the pain and depth of this character. The female lead has suffered years of abuse in her marriag
As Suzanne stepped outside the building, she inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the frustration that had been building up all day. Her mind raced, but the cool breeze helped calm her nerves. She turned to the driver and began to tell him to bring her car around when suddenly, another vehicle pulled up in front of her, blocking her path.She paused, brow furrowed, and as the tinted window rolled down, she recognized the man sitting behind the wheel.Dr. Liam Carter.Her heart skipped a beat, though she quickly masked it with a look of annoyance. She crossed her arms, her expression cool as she addressed him."What is it, Dr. Carter? Do you have a problem with me, or are you just following me now?" she asked, her voice sharp but not entirely unamused.Liam leaned back in his seat, a smirk playing on his lips. "I told you, Suzanne," he said, his voice smooth and teasing. "I’m not going anywhere. I won’t stay away from you."Suzanne rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at the cor
Liam leaned back in his chair, giving her a playful look as he picked up his fork. "You know, I was just thinking about high school the other day," he said with a mischievous grin. "Remember how everyone thought we were the best couple in school?"Suzanne laughed, taking a sip of her water. "Oh, don't remind me. We were so obnoxious about it," she teased, her eyes twinkling. "I swear, we acted like we had it all figured out, but we were just two kids trying to survive high school."Liam grinned, leaning forward. "We had our moments, though. Remember that one time we went on that epic first date to that tiny diner by the school? I think I spent the whole night trying to impress you with my 'cool' dance moves."Suzanne burst out laughing, almost choking on her food. "You mean the two-step disaster?" she asked, holding her stomach as she tried to catch her breath. "You looked like you were having a seizure on the dance floor! I was so embarrassed, but I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.
"I'm not going anywhere." Came her voice."What?" He shouted in disbelief.Suzanne’s jaw tightened as she locked eyes with Charles. “I said, I’m not going anywhere with you. You don’t control me,” she replied, her voice cutting through the tension. There was no hesitation, no fear in her words, just an icy resolve.Charles’s face reddened, but before he could snap back, Sarah, looking like a predator with a false mask of concern, reached over and grabbed Suzanne’s arm. “Suzanne, please,” she said, her voice dripping with syrupy sweetness, “don’t punish Charles. I think I’m the problem here, please don’t punish him.”Suzanne’s eyes blazed with fury. Without thinking, she flung Sarah’s hand off her arm, sending her staggering back. The force caught Sarah off guard, and she tumbled, but Charles was quick to grab her, pulling her back to her feet.“Suzanne, you’re doing too much,” Charles growled, his voice a low warning.Suzanne’s chest heaved with anger as she looked at him, disgust thi
The faint sound of an engine rumbling outside made him freeze. He bolted upright, his heart pounding as he hurried to the window. Peering through the curtains, he saw her car pulling into the driveway.His breath caught.Charles froze at the window as the headlights of her car dimmed. His heart thudded when he saw Suzanne step out, her figure poised but relaxed. For a fleeting moment, a hopeful smile tugged at his lips—until the passenger door opened.Liam.Charles’s breath hitched as he watched the man step out of the car, moving with an ease and confidence that Charles couldn’t help but resent.Then, he saw it.Suzanne laughed.It wasn’t just a polite chuckle or a forced smile. It was genuine, the kind of laughter that lit up her face, her eyes sparkling in a way Charles hadn’t seen in years. She leaned slightly toward Liam, her hand brushing against his arm as they shared some private joke.Charles’s chest tightened, a sharp pang of jealousy and regret stabbing through him. That la
The morning light filtered through the curtains, and Charles was already in the kitchen, determined to make things right. He hadn’t slept much, his mind racing with plans to prove to Suzanne that he was serious about changing. Cooking breakfast seemed like a good start—or so he thought.Unfortunately, the reality was far from ideal.The kitchen was a mess. Flour dusted the countertops, eggshells littered the sink, and a faint smell of something burnt lingered in the air. Charles stood over the stove, flipping pancakes that were either charred or undercooked.“This can’t be that hard,” he muttered under his breath, glancing at his phone for the recipe yet again.By the time Suzanne descended the stairs, dressed immaculately for work, the dining table was set. There were pancakes, a fruit salad that looked more like a chaotic mix of whatever he could find, and a pot of coffee that was suspiciously dark.She paused at the sight of the table, her eyebrows raising slightly in surprise. “Wh
Charles’ voice came through the phone line, sharp and demanding. “Anna, what do you mean Suzanne’s gone?”Anna stood outside, staring down at the phone in her trembling hand. The words were hard to say, but she forced them out. “She… she left, Charles. I don’t know where she went, but she packed up everything and walked out.”There was a brief silence before Charles spoke again, his voice tight with frustration. “What do you mean, she left? Why would she leave? Anna, what the hell is going on?”Anna’s chest tightened as she gathered the strength to continue. “She found out about the oath. The promise you made to Sarah’s parents… that you’d marry her and take care of her. Suzanne knows everything.”Charles let out a sharp breath, and then the line went dead.“Charles?” Anna’s voice wavered with confusion. “Charles?”The call had ended abruptly.A loud, mocking laugh interrupted her thoughts. Anna whipped her head around, eyes burning with fury, to see Sarah standing in the doorway of t
Suzanne stumbled into the house, her body heavy with exhaustion, but her mind even more so. Her eyes burned with unshed tears as she dragged herself through the door, fighting the weight of everything she had just learned. She moved slowly, her steps faltering with each breath, as if her entire world was crashing around her.Just as she reached the base of the stairs, she felt her foot catch. Her body lurched forward, but before she could lose balance, a steady hand grasped her arm.“Suzy? Are you alright?” Anna’s voice was soft, filled with concern as she helped Suzanne steady herself.Suzanne barely glanced at her, her eyes cast downward. She took a deep breath, willing herself to hold it together. She lifted her leg to take another step up the stairs but nearly missed it, causing her to grip the railing tightly. Anna’s hand hovered, ready to help.“I’m fine,” Suzanne snapped, her voice tight. She raised a hand, stopping Anna. “I’ll take care of myself.”Anna didn’t back off. “Suzy,
Suzanne pushed open the heavy doors of the lounge, the dim lighting inside contrasting with the brightness of the night outside. Sarah was sitting at the far end of a long, sleek table, her fingers tapping lightly on the surface. The moment she spotted Suzanne, her lips curled into a small, almost mocking smile.“Over here,” Sarah called, her voice cold but calm.Suzanne’s heart raced. She had no idea what this meeting was about, but she already felt her patience thinning. She approached the table, glancing around, her eyes narrowing as she finally faced Sarah.“What do you want, Sarah?” Suzanne’s voice was steady, but the tension in the air was palpable.Sarah shifted in her seat, her eyes meeting Suzanne's with a deliberate coolness. “I wanted to speak with you. About Charles.”Suzanne’s brows furrowed. “Charles? What could you possibly want to say about him?”"Oh, come on, baby. Sit down and relax. Let me get the bartender," Sarah said, raising her hand to call over the bartender,
Liam’s expression hardened slightly at the mention of Miriam’s name. He took a step closer to Suzanne, lowering his voice as if the words he was about to say were too heavy for the celebration around them.“I learned some things… things I’m not sure you’ll want to hear,” he said, his tone cautious.Suzanne’s gaze narrowed, and she motioned for him to follow her further into the hallway, where the noise of the ongoing setup grew quieter. “We can talk in private,” she suggested, her voice steady, though a flicker of worry crossed her face.Once they were alone, Suzanne turned to face him, her eyes searching his for any hint of what was coming. “Tell me, Liam. What did you find out?”Liam ran a hand through his hair, his frustration and unease visible. “Miriam admitted that Mr. Langford was behind everything. She didn’t hesitate to tell me. But I think there’s more to it. It’s not just about him... there’s something else going on here, Suzanne. Something bigger than what we’ve been led t
The director shouted, “Cut!” with a sense of finality, his voice echoing through the set. “That’s a wrap, everyone! Great work, great work! This is the last scene of the movie!” His face broke into a wide smile as the cast and crew burst into applause, all of them proud of what they had just completed.Suzanne leaned back in her chair, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. She felt the satisfaction of finishing another project, the exhaustion melting away as she opened a can of juice, letting the cool liquid soothe her parched throat.Before she could take a sip, Paul Nick, her manager, rushed over to her, grinning ear to ear. “That was amazing! You nailed it, Suzanne,” he said, his voice full of admiration. He leaned down slightly to give her a quick peck on the cheek, a gesture that felt both professional and familiar.Suzanne’s lips curved into a smile as she looked up at him. “I have to say, I really like that stunt woman,” she replied, her tone playful. “Tell the producers to incre
After Suzanne left, Liam felt a sense of urgency. He had to know what was going on with the prescriptions.Determined, Liam went in search of Dr. Miriam Thompson’s office. It wasn’t hard to find—he knew the hospital well enough. When he reached her office, he knocked lightly before entering. Miriam was finishing up with a patient, her back turned as she wrote a prescription.The patient, an elderly woman, thanked Miriam and left, leaving the office quiet. Miriam turned to face Liam, her expression unreadable. She looked like someone who had been expecting him.“Dr. Carter, please sit down,” she said smoothly, gesturing toward the chair across from her desk.Liam did as she asked, sitting down slowly, his mind racing with questions.Miriam folded her hands in front of her, looking at him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “So, what brings you here today?”Liam didn’t waste any time. He reached into his bag and pulled out the bottle of pills Suzanne had shown him. He placed them on t
Suzanne made her way through the busy hospital, her heels clicking against the floor as she approached the emergency desk. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Dr. Liam Carter,” she asked, her tone polite but purposeful. The nurse behind the counter gave a quick nod. “Straight down the hall, take a left. His office is right there.”“Thank you,” Suzanne replied, already turning toward the direction she’d been pointed in.But as she rounded the corner of the hallway, a flash of movement caught Sarah’s eye. She froze, her heart giving a little jolt. Is that Mrs. Langford? The woman walking just ahead of her looked unmistakably like Suzanne, but Sarah couldn’t be sure. She squinted, watching as Suzanne moved farther down the hallway.Her instincts kicked in. I have to be sure. Without a second thought, Sarah followed, silently slipping through the corridor, making sure to stay out of sight. Her footsteps were light, her presence barely noticeable as she trailed Suzanne like a shadow.Unaware of th
-Presently-Charles’s car screeched to a halt in front of Sarah’s apartment building, the tires leaving faint marks on the pavement. He stepped out, slamming the door behind him as his heart pounded in his chest. His fury hadn’t subsided during the drive—it had only grown, fueled by the realization of just how much damage Sarah had caused.And without hesitation, he stormed up the steps and pounded on her door.It swung open, and Sarah appeared, her face lighting up at the sight of him. “Charles—”But he didn’t let her finish. “We need to talk,” he snapped, pushing past her into the apartment.Sarah closed the door behind him, her smile faltering. “What’s going on? You look—”Charles spun around, his eyes blazing. “What’s going on? You want to know what’s going on, Sarah? Suzanne lost the baby.”The color drained from Sarah’s face. “What?” she whispered.“She lost our child!” Charles roared, his voice echoing in the small space. “Do you know why? Because of you! Because of your jealou
Charles was pacing back and forth in front of the police officers, his hands trembling with frustration. His mind raced, a storm of panic and anger swirling inside him as he tried to make sense of everything. The last few minutes felt like a blur, and all he could focus on was Suzanne.One of the officers stepped forward, trying to calm him down. “Sir, we need you to take a breath. We’re going to help you, but right now, you need to remain calm.”Charles’s eyes narrowed in disbelief, and his chest tightened. He spun around to face the officer, his voice shaking with fury. “Calm down?” he repeated, his words coming out in a strained shout. “My wife is missing, and you want me to calm down? Are you serious? You think I’m supposed to just sit here and wait while she’s out there, God knows where, with God knows who?”The officer took a step back, surprised by the outburst, but Charles didn’t care. He ran a hand through his hair, a sharp, bitter laugh escaping his lips. “You don’t get it,