After dropping the document, I sat back on the bed and gazed at it for some time feeling the weight leave my hands. A troubling voidin my chest had replaced the yearning that had once consumed me. I was unable to dispose of the biting sensation and anxious vulnerability that was within me. I didn't have a clue about the responses. My memory was blank... the file. Despite the fact that I had barely given it a look it felt importantBut what was I meant to do with it? Finally,I forced myself out of bed and padded across the room barefoot feeling strangely detached from my body with every step as if I wasn't giving this moment my whole attention.I walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind me.As my clothes slipped off my body, I felt both defenseless and uncovered.I felt like a concealed power was overwhelming me from all that I was unable to remember and all that I didn't understand. I turned on the shower without giving it much thought and as I did so steam rose all around m
I walked into my room and shut the doorleaving a reverberating sound in the emptyspace. My chest ached with a familiar gnawingpain and my hands felt clammy.I made an effort to ignore it and concentrate onmy tasks but the weight of everything wasbeginning to overwhelm me.With my weight, the mattress dipped under meas I sat down heavily on the bed. Even thoughthe room was dark and the walls were coveredin shadows it made no difference.It seemed as though the darkness had longsince it infiltrated my being. I stared up at theceiling while leaning back against theheadboard. It was clear to me that I should beworking, planning and doing anything thatwould help me save my fortune.Rather I simply sat there and allowed thesilence to linger while my thoughts took over.The phone buzzed on the nightstand, itspiercing ring like a knife cutting through thesilence.With a knot in my stomach I hesitated beforereaching for it. It was from the doctor. My wife'sdoctor. I got up an
I was unable to concentrate.My wife's situation was weighing heavily on me and my mind was racing with a thousand other ideas. My ears were still ringing from the doctor's words and I felt like there was an endless list of things I needed to do to protect my future. However I was unable to stop worrying and I thought of Ava. Since I hadn't seen her in a while I thought it was time to check if she had signed the file now that she was holding it. She had to do it for me.The clock was ticking so quickly and I didn't want to glance at it. I didn't want to acknowledge the fact that with every ticking second, I was running out of time.I sighed in frustration and shut my laptop slowly, I raked my fingers through my hair and pushed myself up on my feet. My head was spinning, still a jumble of thoughts as I left my room. My feet were moving on their own motivated by the need to know where Ava was and I hardly paid attention to the hallway. Her room's door was just wide enough. I was so pr
Ava stood motionless staring at me with flushed embarrassed cheeks. The suffocating silence between us was accompanied by a racing pulse. I tried to take back control of the situation by clearing my throat. Despite the tension in the room I forced myself to say I uh I just came to check if you signed the contract trying to sound informal. After giving a quick nod Ava leaned over and grabbed the contract she had set on the side table. I couldn't help but observe how the towel clung to her wet body as she moved. For a moment I stared at her butt but then I made myself turn away.I tried to ignore the unexpected wave by shoving my hands into my pockets, trying to ignore the sudden erection I was having. Her motions were smooth and elegant and it was difficult to ignore the way the towel embraced her body and accentuated her features in a way that left me gasping. I had never planned to see it but here I was unable to ignore my body's reaction. My mind briefly went blank as she handed
The water was glistening like liquid diamonds in the sunlight as I sat outside by the pool. My thoughts going far off than I could control.Then I heard footsteps coming softly.For a moment everything inside of me froze when I turned to see Ava approaching. She was really beautiful. The breeze blew across her short wavy dress which clung to her lap so tightly that it was hard to miss her silhouette.Her baby bump appeared when the wind pulled at her hair. She was so serene and vulnerable at the same time and she looked stunning."Hi." she uttered in a steady yet gentle tone. I jolted out of my thoughts."Hi" I managed to say.She smiled."Can I sit?"I gave a quick nod while maintaining my poise. "Yes, it is."She sat beside me and we both watched the water glistened in silence. Then she broke the quiet."This is a nice view." She said in a quiet almost stunned voice. I smiled but it wasn't strong enough to cover my eyes. "Yes, my wife also thought it was fantastic. She used to sit h
I kept a close eye on her as she slowly removed the contents of the envelope with trembling fingers.With every second that went by it seemed as though the weight of whatever was inside this envelope was pressing down on the room. The sight of it made Ava's face go white. Her breathing became labored and her eyes grew wide."Divorce papers."She said in a whisper as though she was having trouble believing what she was reading.The shock was like a kick to the stomach. I was surprised by this. I had no idea how to console her or what to say. Despite the fact that we had both been taken by surprise I felt sorry for her.Her brows furrowed as she absorbed the details of the papers which she read silently. She was clearly having trouble processing the words but with each line the bewilderment in her eyes grew. "A divorce Contract. They have come to an agreement. Ava Williams. (Hereinafter referred to as Wife) and Liam Harris. (Hereinafter referred to as husband)The dissolution of their ma
I walked next to Alex, my eyes still swollen from the tears I had just shed. I had a hunch to trust him, afterall he had been so kind to me.We got to my door and I glanced up at him. "I'll give my private investigator a call as soon as I can." he said in a soothing calm voice. "We'll know Liam's identity. Well investigate this."Thankful for his resolve I nodded. I said in a whisper "Thank you Alex." "Ava, everything will work out. Discovering the truth about your divorce is one step closer to what actually transpired." He said, giving my hand a light squeeze.His words caused a tiny flicker of relief as if the burden on my chest had been lifted. Perhaps I wasn't as isolated as I believed. Perhaps there was hope after all."I'm not going to cry anymore." I told him with a feeling of resolve. "Enough cryin for me. Alex you've been a huge help to me. I mean emotionally and in other ways too."He gave a slight smile and nodded as though he comprehended. "Alright. Look after yourself Av
I scurried out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. It was impossible to breathe or think clearly because of the severe nausea.I barely made it to the bathroom before I heaved my stomach emptying and a sour taste filling my mouth. In a desperate attempt to regain control of my body I braced myself against the cold porcelain as the dizziness swirled around me.After some time I flushed the toilet making a noise that was nearly too loud for the room's silence. I splashed some water on my face and looked up at the mirror to see my pale reflection.Stress and exhaustion had become her constant companions leaving my face pallid and my eyes bloodshot and exhausted. I had no idea how the pregnancy would manifest itself, the nausea, lightheadedness and unexpected flashbacks.I was unable to distinguish between what was real and what was merely a figment of my imagination as if I were living in a fog and rambling from one moment to the next. I closed my eyes as the slightest pressure as though
Ava tried to make sense of everything that had just been revealed while sitting up on the bed with the cozy blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She had questions she wasnt yet able to answer and her mind was racing with ideas. Beside her Alex was fiddling with his hands,his movements deliberate and composed as if he hadnt just thrown a bombshell into her life.The news had arrived too quickly for her to process. With the shock still weighing heavily on her she looked down at her hands. She had possessed everything including cars mansions and opulent items that she had never given much thought to.How was it possible that she had forgotten everything? How had she not questioned the pricey suitcase the designer clothes the watches with jewels on them? Ava felt her heart racing. Before the mishap she was wealthy. It had all belonged to her. Her world had been so different—so straightforward—prior to the accident but that seemed impossible didnt it?Her life had been a fresh start a cle
With my heart racing I hastily sat up. I needed to know what Alex had said because it was significant and made the room feel heavier. In a curious yet nervous tone I asked “What is it Alex?” My gaze locked with his seeking clarification. He paused his brow furrowed as if he was still considering how best to phrase it. He sighed though and then reached for his phone which had been left on the floor next to his pants.After fumbling with it for a moment he extended it toward me. Anxiety fluttering in my stomach I took the phone from him. Whatever information he was about to show me or whatever was displayed on the screen had to be significant. As soon as I looked down my eyes locked onto the picture that occupied the screen. An expansive stunning estate was depicted in the image it was an amazing property that would have appeared in a luxury publication.Large and contemporary, the mansion was tucked away in a beautiful setting. It was amazing. I was drawn to more than just the esta
Under the sheets we lay with our bodies entangled and the warmth of his skin against mine brought me a sense of calm that I hadnt experienced in a while. My hair was softly smoothed by Alex's hand which was reassuring and gentle.For a while neither of us spoke because we were both absorbed in the moment. The gentle rhythm of his breathing and the steady rise and fall of his chest felt perfect at that moment. There was no hurry or sense of urgency. The outside world was irrelevant for once. We were connected in silence in that bed and that was all that mattered. And I allowed myself to enjoy it for the first time in a long time. I just let myself be. His arm grew tighter around me drawing me in closer as his warmth enveloped me. Both of us were silently lying there absorbed in our own thoughts. Eventually though I felt compelled to speak up. I gently moved raising my head off his chest and uttered “It feels good you know? I never realized how much I needed this.”I needed something
Ava gasped when I gave her a gentle but startled kiss. As I moved more slowly and intensified the kiss tasting her lips as though this was the only thing that mattered my heart pounded in my chest.Her hands arched into me hesitant at first then more confident as if she too was giving in to the sensation to the connection we were sharing in that delicate moment. Every inch of my body seemed to react to hers with a surge of heat building up in my chest. Feeling the warmth of her body against mine I pulled her closer as I slid my hands around her back.There was a sense of urgency and desperation but there was also tenderness and something more profound than simple desire. Her body pressing against mine and her leaning into me as though she couldnt get close enough made it seem like the distance between us had always been too great and too far away but now we were closing it and drawing each other closer in a way I hadnt anticipated.But then I pulled back a little breathing in short ga
The cool metal of the door pressed against my fingers as I stood there with my hand hovering over the knob. With deliberate slowness I knocked again. A faint sound of footsteps approached the shuffle of an indecisive uncertain person.The anticipation was palpable and my heart was racing in my chest. When the door creaked open she was standing there. Ava. I was surprised for a moment. She had changed in appearance.Her long curly hair had been chopped short and her head was lowered, her eyes averted from mine. She appeared to have done it quickly because the strands were unkempt and uneven.This stood in sharp contrast to the woman I remembered who had always exuded elegance. I kept wondering what had happened and what had prompted her to take such a drastic action.I could see it right away when she finally raised her head to face me: the redness in her eyes the faint quiver in her lip. She had shed tears. The sight caused my chest to tighten. I was unnerved by it in a surprising way
I sat looking at my reflection in the mirror. I was unable to fully comprehend the whirlpool of memories feelings and ideas in my head. Something significant that had once belonged to me seemed to be just out of reach.However just like the warmth that was once mine it slipped away each time I attempted to grasp it. I looked back at the woman in the mirror and blinked. I wasnt entirely sure who she was. It appeared as though she was carrying a burden she was unable to get rid of as her eyes were worn out and aloof.Even though I didnt really know her I knew that I couldnt keep acting in this way. I couldnt keep looking in the mirror and wondering who I was before. I had to alter my behavior. I didnt know exactly how but I had to take charge. With the exception of a slight nighttime hum the room was quiet. I reached into my drawer and took out a pair of scissors.I spent a lot of time staring at them almost mesmerized by the blades gleam. Cutting off the previous version of myself seem
As Liam and his fiancée finished their dinner I observed them standing up and gathering their belongings as their conversation came to an end. They were moving in no hurry or sense of urgency it was just another night another ostentatious show of wealth and indifference to others.Observing them as they moved toward the door I got up from my seat in the corner. I was all set to go. I had to. The cool night air hit me as the door opened and I repositioned my jacket and put the earpiece back in to continue communicating with my investigator. I had to exercise caution now. Changes were occurring in the game. I waited for the appropriate time to follow Liam and his fiancée as they went outside. They appeared to be too preoccupied with one another to notice anything wrong as they made their way to the Lamborghini's parking spot.Under the restaurants lights the svelte pricey car shone as everything else in Liams life had been meticulously planned and built to dazzle. Without a word they c
I parked in a corner of the lot and looked at the classy restaurant in front of me. The location was opulent with women wearing glittering gowns and men wearing tuxedos strolling hand in hand with their heads held high. It was the type of place where the elite went to unwind make connections and block out the outside world.However this was not a place for me to relax tonight. It served as a springboard for a more significant endeavor. For a moment I stayed in the car and looked around. The level of security was strict possibly more so than I liked but I couldnt afford to make a mistake here. I had to be exact. I observed the guards positions and movements.They were well-trained and effective but if it came to that I could manage them. I straightened my shirt until it was neat crisp and free of any distractions. After inhaling deeply I got out of the car and felt the cool night air caress my skin. It seemed as though nothing could possibly go wrong within the restaurants walls as th
I stood looking out the glass walls of my piano room at the mansion. There was a lot of tension in the dark thick night. Even though the moon below were dim they were still able to illuminate the world in subdued yellow hues which allowed me to observe it without having to take part in it. I wasnt here for the evening.The tranquility that surrounded me was not something I was here to enjoy. No I was thinking of something else tonight. It was something much more bitter than discomfort that made my chest feel constricted even though my suit felt a little too tight and the fabric tugged a little as I moved.I took another look at my wristwatch. In the last few minutes I had done this far too often but I was unable to stop. The waiting seemed to go on forever with each second seeming to drag on longer than it should. I felt like the time this evening was mocking me. The knowledge of what was ahead made every moment feel heavy as if it were weighing me down.The moment had come.The sound