I stood a few meters away from the car and silently watched Regan open the car door and was about to get in when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down, frowning when I saw it was a message from my older brother, Christopher. A sense of unease washed over me as I read the text.
'Come to the company' "Who’s that?" Regan had one hand on the car door, his blue eyes fixed on me. "It's Christopher. He's asking me to go to the company." Regan's expression hardened slightly. "Maybe it's about that inheritance you're all fighting over. Why don’t you just give it to them?” The shock and pain from his words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I managed to maintain my composure. “You think so?" I said, my smile feeling more like a grimace. "So, they can stop bothering us," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if the solution was that simple. My smile wavered but didn'tI moved to the empty chair, across from my father, keeping my expression neutral. The weight of their stares bore down on me, but I refused to show any sign of weakness. As I sat, I could feel the anger rising against my calm exterior, especially as I looked at Marianne. The woman who had wormed her way into our family, who now sat in my mother’s place, pretending to be the matriarch."Let's get this over with. I know you don't particularly want me here, and the feelings are mutual. So, tell me, what's this charade all about?"My father remained impassive for a moment, the silence stretching into an eternity. Then, he pulled out a stack of photographs. He slammed them down on the table, the sound echoing through the opulent room like a gunshot."Explain these"I glanced down, my heart dropping as I recognized the images. They were of me and Alex under the bridge, the day when I broke down after seeing Regan and Zarina. My jaw tense but I maintain
Then, an eerie silence descended upon the room. Everyone stood frozen. My father, his face pale and contorted with a mixture of shock and guilt, stared at me, the figurine still clutched in his trembling hand before his face hardened again.“Is that what you learned all this time? To be ungrateful?!” he added.Ignoring the sting, I reacted on autopilot. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a handkerchief, the crisp white fabric already stained crimson as I pressed it against the wound. With trembling hands, I fished out my phone, the screen illuminating the stunned faces around me. Quickly, I snapped a series of pictures – the shattered porcelain fragments scattered on the floor, the incriminating evidence of their staged photos lying on the table, and finally, a close-up of my bleeding cheek.“What the fuck are you doing?“ Christopher spat.A bitter smile twisted my lips. They hadn't even bothered to ask if I was alright. "Evidence,"
The scent of garlic and herbs slapped me in the face as we pulled up to the restaurant. Le Grand Bistro, a fancy Italian place my family frequented for special occasions. My stomach clenched, not from hunger, but from nervousness.Following my grandfather, I plastered a smile on my face as the restaurant guard greeted us. "Good day, Mr. Alonso," Then, his gaze shifted to me. "And Ms. Anastasia.""Hi," I mumbled, the smile feeling strained.The hostess led us towards a secluded area curtained off from the main dining room. My heart hammered against my chest as she pushed open the heavy velvet drapes, revealing a private room.There, seated at the center of a large table was Regan dressed impeccably in a sharp suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean physique, which appeared to be the picture of composure. Surprise crossed his features as his mesmerizing green eyes met mine. Was it just my imagination, or did I detect a hint of... concern
I forced myself to focus on my plate, mechanically cutting my food and bringing it to my mouth. The knot in my stomach made it hard to swallow, but I kept eating, desperate to appear unaffected by the tension around me."And Regan," my father said suddenly, dabbing the napkin to his mouth, "you should consider convincing Anastasia about the inheritance. It's crucial for the future of our company."I froze my fork halfway to my mouth. I could feel Regan's eyes on me, and for a moment, the table went silent.“That’s unnecessary, Dad” I replied sharply.Regan's response was calm, "May I ask why?"My father glanced at me and shook his head as if disappointed, "Well, she's a little stubborn. You know how she is she can be a little selfish.""Gregory, that's enough," my grandfather warned."But Dad it's true. She can be a little brat."I can even feel and hear his disgust and hate towards me. My grip on the fork tightened. I stopped
After an evening steeped in business talk and subtle tensions, my family bid their goodbyes first. My grandfather lingered a bit longer, discussing our marriage with Regan, his eyes twinkling with something I couldn’t quite place."Take good care of her, Regan," my grandfather said, patting him on the back."I will, sir," Regan replied.As my grandfather left, Regan and I followed, walking out of the restaurant.We approached the car, and I felt an itch spreading across my skin. I frowned and tried to ignore it, not wanting to embarrass myself in front of Regan. I mentally ran through the dishes we had, wondering if I had accidentally eaten something with nuts, my known allergen.We got into the car, and as I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I began rubbing my arms to lessen the itchiness. I mentally cursed when I saw my arms getting red and red splotches on my skin."Shit" I murmured and looked for my coat, discreetly covering my arms.
As the car rolled down the long, winding driveway, my grip on my bag tightened. My gaze darted out the window, taking in every detail of this place that felt both familiar and utterly foreign. I couldn't help but admire the grand estate, especially the mansion. The house stood tall with large windows. Its exterior was constructed from light-colored stone, giving it a stately and classic appearance. While the front yard was expansive, stretching out in a well-manicured lawn dotted with flower beds bursting with color. Majestic oak trees lined the driveway. The far end of the property revealed a glimpse of the family’s large land.I'd been here once before, last year, yet stepping out of the car today felt like a debut all over again. Butterflies danced in my stomach. Throughout the entire flight in Regan's private jet, his attention glued to his laptop screen. It was as if I were invisible, a mere passenger on a journey I wasn't a part of.The car finally came to a halt in front of
As the door clicked shut behind her, Regan let out a long sigh. He shrugged off his jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair before turning to me. His gaze, usually cool and guarded, held a surprising gentleness. "You should get some rest," he said, his voice unexpectedly soft. "There'll be a lot of people tomorrow. This reunion is a big deal for everyone in the family."Taken aback by his concern, I could only nod. "Alright,""I'll just go downstairs and check in with Dad," he added back to its usual stoic quality.Again, I nodded. With a brief smile, he turned and left the room, leaving me alone in the silence.“Ugh,” I groaned, feeling the exhaustion settle into my bones. I walked over to the bed and lay down, sinking into the soft mattress.Staring at the ceiling, I just stare blankly at the ceiling. After a few minutes, I realized I wasn’t going to find any peace lying there. With a sigh, I decided to take a shower first, hoping it would help me clear my head. I got up and ma
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains. A wave of disorientation washed over me as I blinked them open, the room unfamiliar for a moment. It took a sluggish mental count to register the time – 3 pm. “Had I really slept that late?” The exhaustion must have been deeper than I realized.Sitting up slowly, I scanned the room, my gaze landing on a tray perched on the bedside table. A steaming cup of tea sat beside a plate piled high with colorful pastries. A small, folded note beside the tray. Reaching for it, I unfolded the paper, my mother-in-law’s familiar handwriting filling the page.Eat this, honey. I didn’t wake you up because you looked so tired. - Love, Caroline.I picked up a pastry, the flaky crust giving way to a satisfying crunch. The filling, a sweet blend of fruit and spices, danced on my tongue. I took a sip of the tea, loosening the stiffness in my muscles. I made a quick trip to the bathroom for a splash of water and a swipe of lipstick. Deciding it's ti