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
As we walked, I couldn't help but scan the crowd anxiously, searching for Regan amongst the throngs of family members. But he was nowhere to be seen, something I probably should have expected. Outside, a fleet of jeeps lined the driveway which was also filled with excited chatter."Why don't you ride with us?" my mother-in-law suggested, ushering me towards the jeep where her husband stood waiting.“Yeah, you can come with us.”I nodded, my smile a little strained as I continued to search for Regan. “O-okay”Just as I was about to climb into the passenger seat, a hand clamped down on my arm."She's coming with me, Mom," a voice spoke from behind me.I turned, my breath catching in my throat at the sight of Regan. He looked effortlessly handsome, clad in a crisp white button-down shirt that clung to his broad frame, the sleeves casually rolled up to reveal toned forearms. His strong jawline and high cheekbones gave his face
I stood with my mother-in-law, Caroline, and other relatives as we watched the men gather around the stables, each stall housing magnificent horses with coats gleaming in the sunlight. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and excitement, everyone chatting and laughing."Isn't this lovely?" Caroline said, her eyes sparkling with joy."It certainly is," I agreed, a smile gracing my lips as I watched Regan emerge from the stable, a vision of equestrian grace.He wore riding breeches that hugged his toned legs, a crisp white polo shirt with the collar popped, and a tweed hacking jacket. A pair of polished riding boots completed the picture. He moved with a quiet confidence, a natural at home in the saddle. As he mounted his horse, a powerful black stallion, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride."Who usually wins these races?" I asked, turning to Caroline."Oh, Regan often takes the prize," Caroline replied, beaming. "He's been riding sinc
As we got inside the car, Regan stared out the window, a deep frown etching lines on his forehead. I stole a glance at him, the carefree mood I had earlier dissipating like mist. Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.“So,” I began, needing to break the ice, “how did you get into horse riding?”He flinched a little at the question as if yanked back from his thoughts. “Lessons”It wasn’t much, but it was a start. “Lessons, huh? Must have been amazing. I saw this video online the other day, this rider going full gallop across a field, the wind whipping through their hair… looked exhilarating.”A flicker of something crossed his face, a spark of emotion I couldn’t quite place. Pressed on, refusing to let the conversation die. “And you just did it earlier. How did you learn to do that?”“Practice,” he responded, his ton
Inside, the dining room buzzed with conversation. A long table stretched down the center of the room, groaning under the weight of a feast. Platters heaped with roasted meats, glistening vegetables, and golden-brown bread filled the air with a mouthwatering aroma. I found my seat amongst Regan's family on the right side of the table.As the clinking of silverware and polite chatter filled the room, the conversation inevitably shifted towards us. My mother-in-law, her face creased with a wide grin, leaned towards me."So, Anastasia, when are you two lovebirds going to give us a little grandchild to spoil?"A blush crept up my cheeks, warming my face like a summer sun. I stole a glance at Regan, but his attention remained fixed on his plate, his expression unreadable."We're working on it," I replied with a shy smile, "Hopefully it won't be too much longer."My words were met with a chorus of delighted gasps and excited chatter."Oh, that's wo
My eyes fell upon a horse tethered nearby, a magnificent brown stallion. Almost on autopilot, I moved towards it, untying the lead rope with shaking hands. Swinging myself onto its back, I urged the horse forward.I needed to get away.Kicking the horse into a gallop, I rode towards the familiar sight of the forest. The trees blurred past me as I pushed the horse harder, the wind whipping through my hair and stealing my tears. Reila's words echoed in my mind, each one a cruel arrow piercing my heart.Deep within the forest, far from the mansion and the judging eyes, I finally reined in the horse. Dismounting, my legs gave way beneath me, and I sank to the ground, leaning against the rough bark of a tree."It's fine," I whispered, "It's all fine."But the lie tasted like ashes in my mouth when Reila's words, dripping with smug satisfaction, replayed on a loop in my mind. "It's not fine, fuck it is not" I choked out, a sob escaping my lips. Tears streamed down my face now. "I’m not fin
The cool evening air kissed our wet skin as we found ourselves emerging from the lake, our clothes clinging to us. The moonlight filtered through the trees as the sounds of the forest surrounded us. Suddenly, Regan caught my waist, and I squealed as he pushed me back against a tree. My hands landed on his shoulders as if I were going to push him off, but I didn't.“Regan,” I breathed, my heart pounding.“Hmm?” he murmured; his lips dangerously close to mine.Before I could say anything else, he leaned forward and kissed me. My heart leaped, my skin tingled, and my traitorous body gave in to his demand. I was supposed to be angry at him. I was supposed to be shoving him off and telling him to stay away from me. Telling him I hate him. But instead, I found myself pulling him closer, my hands fisting in the material of his shirt, my lips parting to admit his tongue.A groan of desire escaped him, the heat of his kiss lighting me up from within. I gave up any thoughts of pushing him away.
The large garden loomed ahead, its vibrant flowers and sprawling yard basking under the afternoon sun—so bright, so full of life. The contrast made my emptiness feel all the more suffocating.Then, suddenly—SLAP!The force of it sent me crashing to the ground. A sharp sting spread across my cheek, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth where my teeth cut into my lip. I gasped, my mind spinning, the world tilting as I stared at the dirt beneath me, too stunned to move.“Marianne, what the hell?!” Sheila shrieked.And then, in the chaos of it all, her voice sliced through the air like a blade."She’s pregnant!" Sheila’s voice cracked as if the weight of it had finally been too much to bear.The world went still. The air shifted, suffocating and thick with an emotion too heavy to name. Marianne stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat. Her anger twisted into something else—shock, disbelief, devastation. Her lips parted, but no words came out.I could barely move. My body was
Sheila froze. I finally looked at her, and there was nothing in my gaze. No fight. No anger. No will left to argue. Just sheer, crushing exhaustion.“I’m tired,” I murmured. “I feel sick. I don’t want to do this right now.”Sheila opened her mouth to protest, but then she really looked at me. I knew what she saw. I was pale. My lips were dry, almost cracked. The dark circles beneath my eyes were so deep they looked bruised. My hands, resting limply on my lap, trembled slightly.I wasn’t just exhausted.I was broken.Sheila swallowed hard, her frustration shifting into something else—something much more painful.For the first time, she didn’t argue. I just turned my head, looking back out at the horizon, my eyes unfocused, lost in the vast emptiness stretching before me.Sheila was quiet for a moment. I thought she had given up, that she would just walk away like everyone else eventually did.But then, suddenly, she broke.A soft sob escaped her lips, barely audible at first, before it
A Week LaterThe house was quiet. Too quiet.I sat motionless on the balcony of my bedroom, staring out at the vast expanse of green surrounding the mansion. It was a beautiful home—secluded, peaceful, far from the suffocating noise of the city. The kind of place people would call an escape. But for me, it was just another prison.Beside me, the plate of untouched food sat, the scent alone making my stomach twist. Nausea curled in my throat, threatening to rise. It had been this way for days. Every time I tried to eat, I ended up hunched over a toilet, dry heaving until there was nothing left. The exhaustion had settled deep into my bones, dragging me down, and making my body feel unbearably heavy.Susan and the other maids were here. I hadn’t asked them to resign; after Susan had called to tell me they resigned, I told them to stay. I didn’t know why. Maybe I didn’t want to be alone. Maybe I just didn’t care.They moved around the house, doing what they could, but none of it reached
My head shook automatically, small, frantic motions, my chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven breaths. "I—I don’t—what are you—?"Caroline pressed forward, her voice calm but firm. "Regan and Zarina—this is what’s best, Anastasia. You need to understand. The child, their child, deserves—"The words sliced through me like a jagged blade, making me flinch as if she had physically struck me. My ears started ringing, drowning out whatever else she was saying.Zarina’s child.Regan’s child.The bile rose so fast in my throat that I thought I would throw up again. My vision blurred, my hands shaking uncontrollably as I forced myself to focus on Caroline’s face. She was still talking—explaining, justifying, yapping—but the words jumbled together into meaningless noise. I barely recognized my own voice when I finally spoke. It was hoarse, breathless."Is this…" I swallowed hard, forcing the words out, "…because Zarina is pregnant?"Caroline visibly tensed. For the first time, she falter
After Sheila left, silence flooded back into the room, heavy and oppressive. I stared blankly at the untouched tray of food she had left behind. Forcing myself, I took a small spoonful, but the moment it touched my tongue, nausea surged violently. My stomach twisted painfully, and I barely made it to the small bathroom before I doubled over the sink, retching.Tears pricked at my eyes as I wiped my mouth with shaking hands. My body felt drained like all the energy had been sucked out of me. I pressed my forehead against the cool surface of the mirror, staring at the hollow-eyed reflection that stared back at me. The weight of everything—the betrayal, the heartbreak, the loneliness—wrapped around me like an unshakable fog.I forced myself back to bed, curling into myself, arms wrapped protectively over my belly. I wouldn’t cry. Not again. I was too exhausted to cry.Just as exhaustion began pulling me under, the door burst open again, revealing my mother-in-law, and startling me awake.
When I opened my eyes, the room was bathed in pale, cold sunlight filtering through the half-closed blinds. Everything felt disorienting, surreal, and heavy—as if the very air around me pressed down on my chest. For a few seconds, I stared blankly at the white ceiling, the only sound the steady beeping of machines at my side.And then it hit me—the baby.Panic surged through me like wildfire. My hands flew to my stomach, pressing desperately against the blanket. Fear rose so fast it choked me, and I gasped, tears instantly blurring my vision.“No… please, no,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “My baby…”I glanced around frantically, my heart racing. The room was empty. Sheila wasn’t here. No nurse. No doctor. No one to tell me anything. The silence suddenly felt deafening. I couldn't wait another second. I had to know.I pushed myself up, ignoring the sharp ache that jolted through my body. Every movement felt like agony, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was my child. I swung
Susan and the maids rushed toward me as I descended the stairs, their worried faces blurring as my vision swam. My legs felt like they weren’t my own, each step unsteady. The world tilted, and for a terrifying second, I thought I would collapse right there on the marble steps.“Miss Anastasia!” Susan gasped, reaching out just in time to steady me. The other maids circled around, their hands hovering anxiously, unsure if they should hold me up or let me go.I swallowed thickly, blinking rapidly to chase away the dizziness. My chest was tight, each breath a struggle against the sobs clawing their way up.“I’m fine,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, but my body betrayed me as I wobbled again.Susan’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re not fine, Miss. Please, let’s get you some water, sit down for a moment—”But I shook my head, my heart hammering in my chest. No. I needed to leave. I needed to get away from this place, from him. The moment I stepped outside, the cool air hit my
I felt sick. I felt so utterly sick."What if I was pregnant too?" the words came out my mouth before I realized it, my voice so soft I almost couldn’t hear myself.Regan’s head snapped toward me. And for the first time, he hesitated. For a single, gut-wrenching moment, something flickered across his face—something almost human—but it was gone as fast as it came.Then, with the same cold finality, the same knife to my throat, he answered:"Then I would ask you to get rid of it."Silence.I stopped existing. I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry. I just stopped.The world tilted. My body felt weightless, my ears ringing so loudly I couldn’t even hear my own breathing. I stared at him—at the man I had loved more than anything—standing there, looking at me as if I were nothing.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. I wanted to hate him. I wanted to rip him apart, to throw something, to scream why why why until my throat bled. But I couldn’t do any of it. Because what was the point? He had already ma
The words escaped me in gasps, strangled and desperate. I needed him to stop hurting me. To stop choosing her. To stop breaking me every time he looked at me like I didn’t matter.I gripped him harder, my fingers trembling against his chest. “Why, Regan?” I choked out, “Why did you let it get this far? Why didn’t you—” I couldn’t finish. I couldn’t get the words out. The truth was suffocating me.I lifted my head, looking up at him through the tears streaming down my face. My heart was pounding in my chest, so loud I thought it would burst. My hands shook as I cupped his face, but he didn’t meet my gaze. His eyes were focused somewhere past me, distant. Empty. I didn’t know this man anymore. I didn’t know the man I had loved, the man I had trusted with everything.“I don’t want to hurt anymore, Regan. Please… just make it stop. Please.” My breath hitched, and I clutched him tighter, pressing my forehead against his chest, wishing that I could somehow make it all go away. “I loved you.