FreyaSeeing the tears in my eyes scared Victor so much. He didn’t even wait a second before snatching the phone from me the moment I turned the screen to him.“See for yourself…” that was all I could manage to say. He kept scrolling through while I started pacing the room, the headlines screaming loudly at me. After everything, how could they still be blaming me? “This isn’t good.” He finally found his voice, while I quickly turned back to him.“I know right. I mean I am the victim here. Why am I still the one getting all the hate? Why? Was I supposed to cover for my cheating fiancé? Is that really what they want from me? To cover for him, keep sponsoring his affair with my money? Keep quiet while he keeps f*cking that b*tch?” I let out and just had to stop when the tears started to choke me. I crashed heavily onto the sofa, and it got out of my control. I couldn’t stop the tears from coming, but I was silent. It was more of a quiet sobbing and that was the worst. I knew I was goi
VictorThe first thing I checked as I opened my eyes was the time. I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw it was only fifteen minutes to six in the morning. I would have set an alarm if I was back at home, but I didn’t want anything to disturb Freya’s sleep. I knew it must have been a bit difficult for her to get some sleep.I lay still on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, and before I knew it, I had drifted back into a short sleep. I saw the morning light streaming through the curtains and then checked the time again. It was twelve minutes past six now and though I had an important meeting later, I indulged my mind in the different thoughts that were fighting for attention. All thoughts were entirely consumed by Freya. I’d even spent half the night wondering if she was okay. The weight of everything she had been through hung in the air like an unspoken truth, and I knew today wasn’t going to be any easier for her. I sat up, did a little meditation to prepare myself ahead for the day
SoniaThe night at the police station felt like a never-ending nightmare. The cold metal bench beneath me, the dim lights flickering overhead, the muffled sounds of inmates arguing, it all felt surreal. I hadn’t stopped shaking since the moment we were separated. Every second stretched endlessly, the knot in my stomach growing tighter with each tick of the clock. Dennis hadn’t even looked at me. Not once. I’d spent most of the drive here pleading with him to talk to me, to at least let us talk and reason together. We both said mean things to each other in the heat of the moment, but he was taking it too far… ignoring me and refusing to talk to me. I mean, we have no one but each other… we planned it all together and a little bust isn’t the end of it. Dennis was playing right into Freya’s hands, she wanted us divided because she knew that was the only way she could win. I won’t let that. I would have gotten through to him in the car if the officers had to shut me up when my voice
Freya After Victor left for work, I just pushed aside the tray and crashed back into the bed. I had little to no sleep at all throughout the night. I kept tossing from side to side, trying to get everything out of my head. I did that for a long time before I could eventually get some sleep, and it hadn’t even been an hour before I heard Victor’s knock. I think it did me some good, talking to him and getting some food in me. I don’t think I will be able to get myself to eat throughout today. “Argggggh… f*ck you, Dennis!!” I screamed angrily while I ran my hands through my hair. I thought exposing him for who he is was all to it, but it seemed that even made it worse for me. I can’t believe he’s out of my life and still wreaking havoc…I picked up my phone just in time to get a text message from Victor.“I know what you’re about to do. Don’t do it. Stop checking, I have it all under control already.” I smiled as I read the words out, but I didn’t listen. I went ahead to check and,
Freya“I’m really not mad at you… I’m mad at the fact that I got to know about it online, and not directly from my daughter. I mean, you should never have put up with such disrespect… and trust me, that bastard is going to get what he deserves. I will make sure of it!” My dad let out as we walked out of the room. “No daddy, you really don’t have to do anything. I’ve got it all under control.” I quickly let out while he turned at me and scoffed.“That’s not going to happen. No one maltreats my daughter that way and gets away with it. I’m going to deal with him.” He said fiercely,“Trust me, dad. I need to do this myself. I have my plan and my friend is helping me out too.” I pressed.“And who is this new friend of yours that I don’t know about?” He quizzed.“Who said anything about new? We go way back, and he’s been really helpful since the whole thing started.” I explained, and it wasn’t until I saw the smirk on his face that I realized he had misunderstood me.“So he’s a ‘he’. That’
FreyaThe drive home was silent, but not in a peaceful way. It was the kind of silence that pressed on my chest, making it harder to breathe. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past, but nothing stuck in my mind. It was as if my thoughts had shut off completely, leaving only this hollow, aching void inside me. I was completely blank.My dad didn’t push me to talk. He was always good at knowing when I needed space. After all that drama, he knew I knew my time alone to process things. He just drove, his hands steady on the wheel, his presence calm and grounding. For that, I was grateful. Halfway home, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, frowning slightly before answering. “Yes?” he said curtly. I couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, but his expression shifted to one of realization, and then frustration. He rubbed a hand down his face. “I totally forgot. I have some things going on at the moment, it completely slipped my mind… No, I’ll handle it.” H
FreyaI woke up in my mom’s bed, more relieved than ever. I sat up and stayed in bed for some minutes. I had woken up briefly in the middle of the night, thought about everything again and determined not to let it get to me. I knew what I was getting into right from time so it shouldn’t be so much bother that things were going this way. People will always talk, and maybe it’s just my turn to get talked about. I’m just going to keep my head high while I get my ‘win’ and staying at home and wallowing wasn’t an option. I’d just drown in my own thoughts if I didn’t keep myself busy. I stood up, grabbed the family photo, and made my way back to my room. I sat the photo by my bedside and went into the bathroom to freshen up. In no time, I was done and all dressed in a sharp navy suit, I grabbed my bag and made my way downstairs. To my surprise, my dad was already seated at the dining table, scrolling through his tablet while sipping coffee. The slight furrow in his brows gave away his
FreyaMy morning went by in a rush. I would be meeting with Sonia today, and I didn’t want that to affect my work, so I made sure to attend to everything on my morning schedule. The moment I sat in my chair, I was buried in work and didn’t even realize time had gone by so quickly until my phone rang. Once I saw Victor’s face lit up my screen, I knew it was noon already. I had told him to just call me when he gets here and not bother coming up into the office.“I’m outside,” he said simply. “Be right down,” I replied, “I just need to wrap up the final touches on this email… and I’m done! I’ll be with you in a second.” I let out and then hung up.I quickly grabbed my bag and smoothed my outfit while I made my way out of the office. My heart thudded as I hurried to the elevator, desperate not to keep him waiting another second.When I stepped outside, Victor was waiting near his car, leaning against the passenger side door. His calm demeanor always had a way of grounding me, even when
VictorThe doorbell jolted me out of sleep, echoing through the house like an alarm. I had slept late thinking about Freya and it was just overwhelming. Talking to Stacey had helped a bit, but the relief cleared off once doubts and errors started creeping in. I stayed in bed for a long time, tossing around until I was finally able to force myself to sleep…Hearing the doorbell, I was going to ignore it at first, since I wasn’t expecting anyone, but then, my heart raced, and for a split second, I thought it might be Freya. What if she came over to the house instead? I didn’t even check the time… I just jumped out of bed, threw on a shirt, and hurried downstairs. A million thoughts swirled in my head as I approached the door. Is she here? Did she decide to come with me after all? But why would she come to the house though? We agreed to meet at the airport…But when I opened the door, my heart sank. “Anna?” I let out, my voice laced with surprise and disappointment, which I was sure sh
StaceyI had barely ended the call with Freya when my phone buzzed again. I glanced at the screen and sighed. Victor. I didn’t even need to pick up to know why he was calling, but I answered anyway. “Hey, Victor,” I said, keeping my tone casual as I leaned back into the couch. “Stace…” His voice was low and hesitant, which was so unlike him that I immediately knew this was serious. “I think I screwed up.” He let out while I smirked a little to myself but kept my voice neutral. “What did you do this time?” I quizzed.There was a long pause, followed by a deep sigh. “I told Freya.” “Told her what?” I asked, even though I already knew where this was going. “About how I feel,” he admitted. His voice sounded tight, like he was bracing himself for me to scold him. “And?” I prompted, trying to keep the amusement out of my voice. “And I think I made a mistake,” he said quickly, his words tumbling over each other. “She’s going through so much right now… Sonia, Dennis, all the chaos
Freya The ride home was painfully quiet. I hated awkward silences, and this one stretched between Victor and me like a heavy fog. That was why, after our little talk, I wanted to take a ride home, but he wouldn’t let me. I knew it would be awkward being in the same car, but he insisted on taking me home. In his words - after all, I brought you out here. It’s courtesy that I take you home. Besides, I need to be sure you’re home and safe. I wouldn’t be able to rest if I don’t drop you off myself…I stared out the window, trying to focus on the passing streetlights, but all I could think about was his confession earlier. I felt… conflicted. Victor, as always, was polite and composed, his hands steady on the wheel, his jaw set in a way that made him unreadable. When we pulled up in front of the house, I hesitated before unbuckling my seatbelt. “Freya,” he said softly, finally finding his voice and breaking the silence. I turned to him, clutching my bag tighter. “Yes?” I let out so
VictorI couldn’t take my eyes off Freya as she sat across from me. She looked even more beautiful than she had ever been. It’s evening already and her light makeup was still sitting perfectly on her pretty face, further enhanced by the restaurant’s warm lights. There was something about the way she carried herself, the way she’d put Sonia in her place earlier… it was magical. I’d always known she was special, but today, I’d seen a new side of her. Strong, unyielding, commanding. I was in awe. The bill arrived, and I handled it quickly, eager to step out into the fresh air. When we got outside, Freya paused, looking around at the softly lit scenery surrounding the restaurant. “I don’t feel like going home yet,” she said quietly, her gaze distant but calm. My heart skipped. I was so happy. I didn’t want the evening to end either. “The restaurant has a beautiful garden and some scenic spots,” I offered. “Why don’t we take a look around?” She smiled, a soft, grateful curve of her
Freya As I raced out of the building, I felt a rush of emotions. Her words kept pairing back, and I couldn’t take it anymore. The betrayal, the lies, the sheer audacity… it was all too much. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t pull in enough air, and the dizziness hit me out of nowhere as I kept stumbling on.The world around me spun, and my legs started getting heavy till they couldn’t carry my weight anymore. I knew I was going to fall. My head was so light and my eyes were blank. I was going to pass out and soon enough, my legs eventually gave way. I braced for the hard impact of the pavement, but it never came. Strong arms caught me just in time. “Freya!” Victor’s voice was sharp with concern, and he quickly guided me to lean against his chest. “Breathe, Freya. Just breathe.” “I… I can’t,” I choked out, struggling to draw in air. “Yes, you can,” he said firmly, his hand gently rubbing my back. “Focus on me. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Slowly.” He let out
FreyaMy morning went by in a rush. I would be meeting with Sonia today, and I didn’t want that to affect my work, so I made sure to attend to everything on my morning schedule. The moment I sat in my chair, I was buried in work and didn’t even realize time had gone by so quickly until my phone rang. Once I saw Victor’s face lit up my screen, I knew it was noon already. I had told him to just call me when he gets here and not bother coming up into the office.“I’m outside,” he said simply. “Be right down,” I replied, “I just need to wrap up the final touches on this email… and I’m done! I’ll be with you in a second.” I let out and then hung up.I quickly grabbed my bag and smoothed my outfit while I made my way out of the office. My heart thudded as I hurried to the elevator, desperate not to keep him waiting another second.When I stepped outside, Victor was waiting near his car, leaning against the passenger side door. His calm demeanor always had a way of grounding me, even when
FreyaI woke up in my mom’s bed, more relieved than ever. I sat up and stayed in bed for some minutes. I had woken up briefly in the middle of the night, thought about everything again and determined not to let it get to me. I knew what I was getting into right from time so it shouldn’t be so much bother that things were going this way. People will always talk, and maybe it’s just my turn to get talked about. I’m just going to keep my head high while I get my ‘win’ and staying at home and wallowing wasn’t an option. I’d just drown in my own thoughts if I didn’t keep myself busy. I stood up, grabbed the family photo, and made my way back to my room. I sat the photo by my bedside and went into the bathroom to freshen up. In no time, I was done and all dressed in a sharp navy suit, I grabbed my bag and made my way downstairs. To my surprise, my dad was already seated at the dining table, scrolling through his tablet while sipping coffee. The slight furrow in his brows gave away his
FreyaThe drive home was silent, but not in a peaceful way. It was the kind of silence that pressed on my chest, making it harder to breathe. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past, but nothing stuck in my mind. It was as if my thoughts had shut off completely, leaving only this hollow, aching void inside me. I was completely blank.My dad didn’t push me to talk. He was always good at knowing when I needed space. After all that drama, he knew I knew my time alone to process things. He just drove, his hands steady on the wheel, his presence calm and grounding. For that, I was grateful. Halfway home, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, frowning slightly before answering. “Yes?” he said curtly. I couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, but his expression shifted to one of realization, and then frustration. He rubbed a hand down his face. “I totally forgot. I have some things going on at the moment, it completely slipped my mind… No, I’ll handle it.” H
Freya“I’m really not mad at you… I’m mad at the fact that I got to know about it online, and not directly from my daughter. I mean, you should never have put up with such disrespect… and trust me, that bastard is going to get what he deserves. I will make sure of it!” My dad let out as we walked out of the room. “No daddy, you really don’t have to do anything. I’ve got it all under control.” I quickly let out while he turned at me and scoffed.“That’s not going to happen. No one maltreats my daughter that way and gets away with it. I’m going to deal with him.” He said fiercely,“Trust me, dad. I need to do this myself. I have my plan and my friend is helping me out too.” I pressed.“And who is this new friend of yours that I don’t know about?” He quizzed.“Who said anything about new? We go way back, and he’s been really helpful since the whole thing started.” I explained, and it wasn’t until I saw the smirk on his face that I realized he had misunderstood me.“So he’s a ‘he’. That’