We had come full circle, and the grumpy man had reverted to his usual self, or perhaps even grumpier than before. It seemed that he was determined to ignore me at any cost, going out of his way to avoid any interaction. Surprisingly, he had even stopped asking for his daily coffee, which was a sure sign that something was amiss. This change in behavior puzzled me.In the past, he would often scold me for the smallest mistakes or quirks, like using a purple pen on the draft file. But now, he didn't seem to care about such trivial matters. It was as if I had become invisible to him, and that feeling of being constantly ignored was frustrating.I couldn't shake off the curiosity and the desire to know what had gone wrong to cause this sudden avoidance. Had I done something to offend him unknowingly? Or was there an issue unrelated to me that was affecting his behavior?As much as I tried to maintain my professionalism and focus on my work, this situation was taking a toll on my emotions.
I stood confidently in front of him, exuding a self-assurance that matched his usual demeanor. Placing the file on his desk, I turned to leave, purposefully disregarding his presence, just as he often did with me. From my peripheral vision, I could feel his intense stare, but I refused to let it affect me. “Olivia, where are the notes for this file?" he asked, his voice firm and insistent. I turned to face him, a hint of sass in my voice, "It's already in the file, Sir." He seemed taken aback by my response, his voice slightly louder, "What's wrong?" My composure remained steadfast as I replied firmly, "Nothing." "It's definitely something if you're running out of my office like I ate your last slice of cake," he retorted, raising an eyebrow. For a moment, I was caught off guard, "What? Did you eat my cake?" I asked, a touch of worry creeping into my voice. I had kept a slice in the office fridge earlier, and I wondered how he could possibly know. He sighed, "No, Olivia, I didn'
Since I got up in the morning, I struggled to reconcile my overwhelming emotions regarding what went on between Lucas and me. However, despite the inner turmoil, I found it difficult to come to terms with the intensity of our connection. I have no regrets about what happened. I wondered if he regretted the intimate moment we shared or if his feelings toward the kiss were not as strong as mine. The sense of vulnerability made me want to hide under the covers in my bed all day. Despite these doubts, I finally gathered the courage to get up and head to the office to see him, hoping that meeting him would provide some clarity about where we stood with each other.As I stepped into the office, an unfamiliar aura enveloped me, making it seem like a whole new place. It was as if everything had changed overnight. I made my way to my desk, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling, and began organizing my tasks for the day.Soon after, I noticed Lucas arriving, but he seemed distant and pre
Lucas Pov:Every resolve I had started to crumble as I saw tears starting to form in her eyes, leaving me stunned as she left my office. I was surrounded by a cloud of anguish as I struggled to decide what hurt me more—my haunted past or the person who left after being hurt by my actions. It broke my heart that I had hurt her so.She somehow instilled in me the notion that happiness was a possibility, and I learned this in her presence. She proved to be peaceful in my chaotic and otherwise dull life, despite my earlier claim that she disturbed it.The office door swung open abruptly and I got up from my chair in the hopes that she had come back. Imagining wrapping her in my arms while offering sincere apologies filled my thoughts. Every chance of pushing her away fied out of my mind. However, disappointment settled in as it wasn't her who stood there; it was my cousin, Blake Adams. His astonished gaze met mine, leaving me no choice but to avert my eyes, unable to meet his gaze."What
Olivia’s pov I stood alongside Cara as tears streamed down her face. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow, and I longed to alleviate some of her pain. The overwhelming sadness around me only deepened my confusion about why such a vibrant soul had been taken away from their parents. After the somber burial ceremony concluded, the attendees began to disperse. However, I remained beside Cara, feeling compelled to offer my support. "I really appreciate you being here, Olivia," Cara expressed, her voice tinged with gratitude. "You stayed by my side even though you didn't have to. It's getting late though, and you should go. I'll probably see you at the office tomorrow." Cara's hand rested on my shoulder, and I nodded in understanding. Before parting ways, I pulled her into a gentle hug, whispering words of comfort and encouraging her to take care of herself during this difficult time. As I walked away, my gaze was drawn to a figure hunched over a grave. There was a familiarity in his t
The following week unfolded without any dramatic occurrences. Lucas's whole week was tightly scheduled, leaving us with limited time to engage in conversation. However, upon arriving today, I was greeted by a box resting on my desk. Upon opening it, I discovered an assortment of vibrant markers alongside pink and purple sticky notes. A message accompanied the items: "Use these! Infuse color to your and my world." The note bore his signature at the end. A blush crept onto my cheeks, but I resolved not to let it affect me at all. I closed the box and kept it aside.As the day concluded, Caroline, Regina, and I went on shopping to find the ideal dress for tomorrow's event. After briefing Caroline about the plan, she eagerly agreed to join the mission and enveil Lucas’s intention. It surprised me when I noticed a familiar mischievous grin on her face, similar to the one I had seen on Regina. I wonder why they both are too dramatic but they both are behaving as if they are saving the world
Caroline had assured me that she'd pick up both Regina and me. I was all set when her call informed me she was downstairs. I swiftly grabbed my purse, locked my door, and joined them in the car. We reached the event venue promptly."So, Liv, are you ready to make your grand entrance?" Caroline asked with a playful grin.I chuckled nervously. "I hope so. Thanks for helping me pull this off, you guys."Regina chimed in, adjusting her dress. "Of course, Liv. We've got your back. And speaking of dresses, Caroline, that gown is stunning on you."Caroline gestured towards her gown, showcasing its elegance."Thanks, Regina. You both look amazing too. Liv, that red dress is going to turn heads."I glanced at Regina's dress, an intricate purple gown that seemed to shimmer in the light. "And Regina, your dress is just as gorgeous. You both really know how to pick 'em."Caroline winked. "Well, it's a team effort, remember?"As we approached the event venue, my heart raced with a mix of excitement
As I ran from the event, a whirlwind of emotions churned within me. The intensity of the encounter with Lucas had left me breathless and flustered. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts, to make sense of the conflicting feelings that had been stirred up.Just as I found a quiet corner to gather myself, Lucas's voice reached me, causing my heart to skip a beat. "Olivia," he called, his tone urgent yet gentle.His words had sent a shiver down my spine, his possessiveness was both surprising and oddly thrilling. I met his intense gaze, a mix of emotions swirling within me. "I'm not anyone's possession, Lucas."He quickly took my hands, his fingers grazing softly as he held me. "I don't mean it like that, Liv. I just... I've realized that I can't stand the thought of you being in someone else's arms."The sincerity in his eyes was undeniable, and I found myself speechless for a moment. "Lucas, I..."He interrupted me, his voice a mere whisper against the backdrop of the music that came
The room was cold and utterly silent, cloaked in a thick, endless darkness that seemed to swallow sound itself. A small boy sat on the hard floor, his back pressed against the unyielding door, fists clenched and eyes wide with fear. He had pounded on that door, over and over, until his small hands throbbed, his knuckles raw and bruised. Every desperate knock echoed back, empty and unanswered. And as his strength waned, so did the knocks — at first loud, desperate slams, but now, weak, faint taps, barely audible, as though he was fading along with the sound.He didn’t know how long he had been here. The hours twisted into each other, stretching endlessly until he lost any sense of time. His stomach growled, the ache growing sharper, more painful, each minute as he tried to swallow down the thirst that scraped his throat dry. But worse than hunger, worse than thirst, was the creeping dread that seeped into his bones, the feeling of being forgotten, abandoned, and left alone in the dark.
Why did I even bother going after her? Why did I think, for one second, that I could fix everything? That somehow seeing her, talking to her, would make everything alright. What a fool I was. I wanted so badly to believe in her, to believe that this love we had was something real, something worth fighting for.But now, all I see is the truth, plain and brutal. She was cheating on me with another man—Simon, of all people. And the worst part is, she didn’t even care. She didn’t care that she was tearing me apart, ripping out the very heart I had so stupidly placed in her hands. She looked at him, she let him touch her, and I was the one left there standing like an idiot, watching the whole thing play out. And then, when she saw me standing there, her eyes wide with shock, she didn’t even have the decency to chase after me. She didn’t call my name, didn’t explain, didn’t do anything that might show me I still mattered to her.No, she just stood there, frozen, as if my heartbreak meant n
I walked back to my apartment, each step weighed down by the heavy burden of everything that had happened today. My mind was a blur of thoughts, each one more painful than the last. Was this what it felt like to lose everything? I never imagined that falling in love with Lucas would happen so quickly, so intensely. These past three months had been like a beautiful whirlwind, filling my life with joy and hope I hadn’t felt in so long. But now, all of that felt like it was slipping through my fingers, and I couldn’t shake the fear that I might never get him back, that he might never forgive me.Even though Lucas had said those hurtful words to me, there was something in his eyes that made me pause. He seemed distant, almost lost, like he was trapped in his own thoughts, questioning his own words. I couldn’t help but think that maybe he was hiding something too, something he wasn’t ready to share. It gave me a sliver of hope, but also filled me with confusion. What if I wasn’t the only on
The bell rang, its sound piercing through the fog of my hangover. I knew in my heart who it was. Did I want to meet her? Certainly not. All I wanted was to run away and never see her face again. But my heart was beating too fast, a conflicting desire pulling me toward the door. I wanted to reach her, to take her in my arms, but I was too scared. What if she was here to throw it in my face, to mock me for being so foolish to fall in love with her? What if my mother was right all along, and I didn’t deserve love?The bell rang again, cutting through my thoughts. It was persistent, just like her. She was determined to see me and hadn't left yet. Was there hope for us? Could we save this relationship?With a sigh, I put on my slippers, my head pounding from the hangover. I placed a hand on my forehead, trying to steady myself. Each step toward the door felt like a march toward the inevitable. I wasn’t ready to forgive her, but I wasn’t ready to lose her either. The conflict tore at my hea
Life could have been anything but not a disaster like this one. It was too tough and, at the same time, bone-crushing. Looking at Blake gave me both anxiety and immense relief. I could see the anger in his eyes, reflecting the betrayal he felt on behalf of his brother. He knew. He knew about my betrayal to Lucas.My legs felt like they were made of lead. I wanted to reach out to him, to explain, but every step I tried to take felt like I was moving backward instead of forward. Blake took a determined step toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. All I wanted was to turn and run as fast as I could, to escape this confrontation, but we both knew silently that I wouldn’t.Just like me, Blake needed answers. And I needed to know if Lucas was safe. My efforts felt futile, but I still wanted to stay—stay for Lucas, stay for our relationship, which we had built so beautifully in such a short time."Blake," I managed to say, my voice trembling. "What are you doing here?"Blake stepped closer,
The night was a blur of tears and regret. I sat on the edge of our bed, clutching my phone tightly, waiting for Lucas to call back. Each passing minute felt like an eternity, and the silence from his end was deafening. I had called him repeatedly, leaving voicemails, but he never picked up. The weight of my secrets and the fear of losing him pressed heavily on my chest."Please, Lucas, just pick up," I whispered, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my cheeks.But the phone remained silent, mocking my desperation. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and I cried myself to sleep, curled up in a ball, feeling more alone than ever.Morning came too soon, and I jolted awake, a sense of dread settling over me. My first instinct was to reach for my phone, hoping that maybe, just maybe, Lucas had called. My heart raced as I saw the screen light up, but my hope was quickly dashed when I saw the name: Cara.Caroline was calling me. I wondered what she wanted at this time of the morning. Reluc
The dim lights of the bar cast long shadows, creating a cocoon of anonymity that I desperately needed. I slumped onto a barstool, feeling the weight of my sorrow and confusion press heavily upon me. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke, a fitting backdrop for my current state of mind.I howled at the waiter, my voice rough and edged with desperation. "Keep serving me your strongest drink," I demanded, my words slurred with a mix of anger and sadness. The bartender nodded, not questioning my obvious distress, and poured me a glass of something amber and potent.I took a long, burning swig, the alcohol searing a path down my throat. I wasn't sure if it was to my liking, but I didn't care. My taste was peculiar tonight, just like the tangled mess of emotions inside me. Olivia's deception gnawed at my mind like a relentless parasite. She had hidden something monumental from me, and now I couldn't fathom who she had been cheating with exactly. Was it t
I woke up to the sound of Olivia's phone ringing. She was already asleep beside me, her soft breathing filling the room with a sense of calm. As I reached over to silence the incessant ringing, I noticed the caller ID – an unfamiliar number.A jolt of curiosity surged through me as I hesitated, wondering who could be calling at this hour. Should I answer? Ignore it? I glanced at Olivia, her peaceful expression betraying no hint of the turmoil that lay beneath the surface of our relationship.Taking a deep breath, I pressed the answer button, my hand trembling slightly as I held the phone to my ear. "Hello?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper."Is Olivia there?" a man's voice came through the line, unfamiliar and yet oddly familiar.I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "Uh, no, she's asleep. Can I take a message?" I managed to reply, trying to keep my voice steady despite the racing of my heart."This is Simon, her fiancé. Could you please let her know I called?" he said, his
Lucas pov:I enjoy our daily routine now. We work in the office in the morning, and in the evening, we either go to her place or mine for dinner and maybe watch a movie. After meeting Olivia, my life took an unexpected turn, one filled with laughter, love, and a newfound sense of purpose. She waltzed into my world like a breath of fresh air, bringing with her a warmth and light that I didn't know I was missing. With her by my side, every day feels like an adventure, and every moment brims with possibility. Olivia has a way of effortlessly melting away the barriers I've spent years building, replacing them with a sense of vulnerability and connection that I never knew I craved. Each morning, as the sun peeked over the horizon, I found myself eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Stepping into the bustling office, I was greeted by the familiar reassuring presence of Olivia by my side. Together, we navigated through meetings, deadlines, and endless meetings. Olivia's unwavering support an