After a passionate, steamy night, Rebecca felt the man beside her rise from the bed and enter the bathroom. She lay motionless, utterly drained and unable to move.
The sound of water flowing could be heard coming from the bathroom. Rebecca forced her eyes open and glanced at the clothes scattered all around the floor. The fresh memory of the night’s activities surfaced in her mind, and she instinctively clutched the blanket as her cheeks blushed crimson. She and Edward.... Since they were young, both of them had been betrothed to each other by their respective families. But over the last few months, Edward’s behaviour had changed. He grew distant, treating her with cold indifference as if she had upset him somehow. Yet, no matter how many times she asked, he never gave an explanation. After his car accident, during which she stayed by his side for three months, nursing him back to health, that was when his attitude toward her had changed a little. Now that they had consummated their relationship, he was going to take responsibility and marry her, wasn’t he? She couldn't help but tremble in excitement at the thought; her eyes twinkled with happiness. As she was lost in her thoughts, the door of the bathroom suddenly opened, and the man came out leisurely; Rebecca looked over. He had tied a towel around his hips, revealing his sexy, sculpted chest. His body was still covered in water droplets, and he looked mesmerizing. Even though they had already consummated their relationship, Rebecca yet felt impossible to look straight at his face. She was shy. However, she noticed Edward was giving her cold shoulder as he walked past her and grabbed his clothes from the floor. He put on his clothes unhurriedly. Rebecca tightened her fist around the sheet, a nervousness crossed her eyes. She took a deep breath and began, "Ed...." Rebecca bit her lower lips and felt impossible to voice out her thoughts. In contrast, Edward was indifferent as if he did not care about Rebecca or the night they had spent. Rebecca was disheartened, but she quickly collected herself and continued, "Since we have already done it, don't you think." Edward finished buttoning up the suit and turned around at Rebecca. He lifted his eyebrows and rested his eyes on her. He was silent and cold which caused Rebecca's nerves to rattle. His unresponsiveness was cruel for Rebecca to tolerate. She was about to open her mouth again, but Edward's voice interfered, "Done it? Done what?" Rebecca froze in shock. What was that supposed to mean? They had spent such a night together. Was not he thinking of marrying her? The thoughts plummeted heavy on her heart. Edward saw the blank look in Rebecca's eyes, and the meaning dawned on him, causing his lips to twitch. He said sarcastically and crudely, “You voluntarily threw yourself into my arms and gave me your virginity. And now you’re telling me that you want me to take responsibility for you?” His words crashed like thunder in Rebecca's brain, momentarily causing her to zone out. A chill ran down her spine. Blood drained from her face as her hand trembled. Though it was true she took the initiative to kiss him under the influence of Alcohol, he did not stop her advances. Now, how could he say that she threw herself into his arms voluntarily? She loved him! She cherished the night she had spent with him. But to Edward, it was just a mere night with a girl. All these thoughts were extremely painful for Rebecca to settle. She stared at Edward with baffled eyes as her thoughts killed her inside of her head, 'Everything had been fine. Why did he suddenly become so cold? Why was he saying such cruel things? Had she done something wrong?' Edward took a step forward, got his phone from the bedside table, and said, "I will give you an answer later because right now I have very important work to do." And Edward turned around and headed toward the door. He opened the door to leave, but stopped and looked over his shoulder, saying, "I was always clear about my feelings." And stepped out, closing the door behind him, leaving Rebecca alone in the room. The tears in her eyes rolled out, and her breath stuck to her throat. Rebecca couldn't believe that the person she loved had just walked out, saying he was clear about his feelings.  Rebecca waited for a week to get a call from Edward. She kept convincing herself that he must have been upset that morning and just needed some time to think. Any moment now, he would surely reach out to her. However, she got a call from Edward's assistant, who said, "Miss Rebecca, I know it is not appropriate for me to say, but I have to deliver the message as instructed by my boss.” Ummm.." the assistant's voice showed strong hesitation. Rebecca was holding her breath. Sweat formed on her forehead and she asked, "I hope it is not that bad." "Well, he wanted to break off the engagement, and he would compensate your family," the assistant said, and it was enough to shut Rebecca. After the call was disconnected, Rebecca sat on the couch, dumbfounded. Her face slowly turned white. Her father saw her expression, and asked matter-of-factly, “Sweetheart, was that Ed on the line? What did he say? Is there going to be a wedding soon?” Her mother looked at her expectantly from the side, waiting for her reply. "Is there going to be a wedding soon?" she asked. Their question broke Rebecca out of her stupor, and she met her parent's eyes as she trembled violently. The news of her spending a night with Edward spread like wildfire. As a result, she and her family were hoping that Edward would agree to this marriage. Now what? She would become a laughing stock to the world. "For God's sake, Rebecca, say something!" "He broke off the engagement. He doesn't want to marry me," Rebecca said through shaky breath, her eyes brimming with tears as she grabbled with the pain she had never known. On the contrary, Rebecca's mother was unable to process the information and fell to the ground in shock, fainting from the devastating news.Daily update
★★★★★"Edward, what is the meaning of this? How could you break off the engagement!? I demand an answer!" Elder Harrington fumed over his grandson, who sat leisurely by the window and swirling a glass of wine in his hand."There is nothing to explain, Grandfather. I simply no longer wish to marry her," Edward said coldly, his voice devoid any emotion."What? She is been betrothed to you when both of you were younger. You were happy back then and never questioned it. Now, what makes you change your emotion," Elder Harrington struggled to catch his breath; his voice was wrapped in tension, "She loves you and cares for you. How can you forget when you were bedridden, she took care of you? That girl stayed by you like an angel.""I have already informed them that I will compensate. Don't worry!" Edward replied, standing up from his seat in order to leave the room.Hearing him, Elder Harrington shouted, "You are a pathetic and heartless human, Edward."Edward paused, casting a glance at hi
★★★★"Oh my god! Is she really with Mr. Pete, who is twice her age?" Veronica gasped, her eyes were wide in shock. Though Mr Pete did not carry the notorious reputation many businessmen in his circle had, he was older than Rebecca. To anyone watching, it looked as if Rebecca had gotten herself a sugar daddy.Edward glanced over his shoulder catching sight of Rebecca smiling brightly at the crowd, Mr. Pete's arm draped possessively around her. A flash of anger shone in Edward's eyes, but he quickly covered it. Breathing out, he turned back to his drink at the bar.Just then two of his friends approached, "Starting early, Ed!" One friend teased Edward while another friend greeted Veronica and said, "You look gorgeous, Veronica!""Thank you, Henrick!" Veronica replied calmly to Henrick before saying to Edward, "I am heading over to my friends!"However, Edward did not say anything to her; instead, Henrick chimed, "You should, Veronica. And do not forget to remind Jacqueline that I still
★★★★★"Rebecca, you could have at least given him a chance to talk. I am sure he wanted to clear up the misunderstanding you two have," Rebecca's father began, settling down at the dinner table.The fork in Rebecca's hand paused mid-air, and she stared down at her plate, her expression clouded with gloom."What? You spoke with Ed!?" Her mother chimed in, and her surprise was evident, "What did he say?""Stop mentioning him in front of me!" Rebecca snapped, her frustration boiling over, "I have no relation with him, nor do I care about his existence," Rebecca flared at her parents, "And both of you get over with him. If you are still thinking he is some kind of gentleman and would care for our family, then you are wrong. None of you understand his twisted nature and any help for our business from him is a complete fantasy.""Can you explain why he suddenly cancelled the engagement 3 years ago without giving us any solid reason? I went to his office, but he informed the staff that I was
★★★★★Rebecca drove the car to Edward Harrington's office, her mind swirling with reluctance. Confronting him was the last thing she wanted, but her father’s business was on the line, she had no other choice.Stepping out of the car she lessened her hair from the tight bun, allowing it to fall freely, softening her professional look. It could not be an exaggeration if people said she resembled a striking model.She walked up to the receptionist, who was working on her desk computer."Excuse me, I would like to meet Mr Harrington. Could I get an appointment?" Rebecca asked.The woman looked up, her eyes briefly scanning Rebecca before asking, "What is your name?""Rebecca Matthew," Rebecca said, her tone steady. If this had been three years ago, she would not have had to fill out the formality like any other person. However, things had changed. Plus, this was the new girl at this Reception desk."Oh!" Came a surprise reply from the receptionist, shifting her eyes from Rebecca to the co
★★★★ "Why do you think I would be the reason for Pete's downfall?" Edward questioned back, there was eerie calmness on his face. Rebecca stared closely into his eyes and felt that something had happened, something tied to Edward. But she could not point a finger at him- he stood to gain nothing by causing Pete's trouble. "Your thoughtful silence says it all," Edward answered with a smile. "Why do you want me to be your woman? Don't you hate me!" Rebecca questioned, her brows knitted in confusion. The expression in Edward's eyes shifted abruptly and he spat, "Yes, I dislike you. That is exactly why I want you to be my woman." His words struck Rebecca like a dagger, her breath catching as the weight of his meaning settled over her. But she steadied herself, her voice firm as she replied, "You want to torture me, don't you?" "I could not agree more," Edward said; his tone was cold and hard. It made Rebecca feel like she had never held a place in his heart. "Don't give me tho
★★★★Rebecca drove toward the Red Bar and Casino, the location where Henrick Den had asked her father to meet him for a business deal. But with her father too ill to make the trip himself, Rebecca decided to go in his place, accompanied by his assistant who had already arrived.After parking, she made her way inside and was guided by a man to a private cabin. Rebecca knew Henrik Den well- he was one of Edward's close friends- but she had never liked him.As she stepped through the door, she found Henrick lounging on a couch, a woman by his side serving him a drink. His eyes widened in surprise seeing her, but a sly smile quickly crept across his face."Well, well. What a pleasant surprise, Miss Jones. I was expecting your father to come to meet me," Henrick said, gesturing the woman to leave with a flick of his hand."My father’s health has taken a bad turn. He is unable to leave his bed which is why I am here in his place," Rebecca replied, her voice firm and her expression unreadabl
★★★★ Rebecca was visibly intoxicated after just three glasses of whisky. She slumped The Glass on the table, muttering, "I cannot take anymore. My stomach is turning!" Her eyes were droopy and her cheek flushed with heat, clearly indicating the intoxication. "You will need to keep going if you want the deal," Henrick insisted, his tone unyielding, "I have already had more than you. Come on, you are almost there," his persistent made it clear he was intent on pushing her further, sensing her defences weakening. "Cannot you see her condition? She cannot drink anymore!" The assistant snapped his voice firm with urgency. "This nonsense has to stop. If you insist on this, I will take her place and finish the bottle myself. Let her go!" His eyes flashed with concern as he glanced at Rebecca, who looked ready to collapse at any moment. It was clear- she was either about to friend or worse, might need to be rushed to the hospital. “If you interfere again, I’ll throw you out of this room m
★★★★★Edward shoved off the servant’s hand as he was laid on the bed, muttering, “I’m fine, I can handle myself. Leave.” His voice was groggy and weak but still carried enough weight to make the servant obey. Reluctantly, the servant nodded and hurried out of the room, but not before swallowing hard at the sight of Rebecca, already fast asleep on the same bed.“I can’t even imagine how the morning’s going to go in this house. Only God can save us from the young master’s wrath,” the servant muttered to another junior servant, standing just outside the room.“Elder Harrington’s here, stop worrying like a lunatic,” the other servant replied as they both started to walk away from the room.Sigh! “You don’t know the history, so you don’t feel the weight of what’s about to unfold tomorrow.”“What history, Breton?”“Another time. Good night!” Breton said, shaking his head as he headed toward his quarters.Back in the room, Edward irritably pulled off his shirt, his eyes half-closed and his h
★★★★★Rebecca’s confession landed like a bomb in the room, silencing everyone in its wake. Edward’s face twisted in fury, his breathing ragged as he stepped back and reached behind him.In one fluid motion, he pulled out a gun, the metallic glint catching the faint light. His eyes were ablaze with unrestrained rage.“I shouldn’t have trusted you,” Edward growled, his voice low and venomous. “I shouldn’t have saved your face from public humiliation. You don’t deserve redemption. You deserve to die in the filth you’ve created.”Rebecca’s breath hitched, her bravado wavering as she took a step back. Connor instinctively moved to shield her, his hands raised in a plea.“Edward, stop!” Connor shouted, his voice edged with panic.Edward ignored him, his gaze fixed solely on Rebecca. “Your entire family ruined mine,” he snarled, his grip tightening on the gun. He raised it, the barrel now trained on Rebecca.Imara gasped, her heart pounding in terror as she instinctively stepped forward. “Ed
★★★★★“I didn’t know this place was so far from the town,” Imara said as she stepped out of the car, glancing around at the pitch-black surroundings. The faint crunch of gravel beneath her shoes was the only sound in the still night. Her arms crossed instinctively as a cool breeze brushed past.Edward closed the car door behind him and stepped forward, his eyes scanning the unlit house in the distance. “This is the place my father bought,” he said, his voice low but calm. “He used to bring us here when he wanted to escape the chaos of work… to relax with the family.”Imara tilted her head, her curiosity piqued as she followed his gaze to the looming structure. “It looks so isolated,” she remarked, her tone a mix of awe and unease. “No wonder it’s good for getting away.”Edward nodded, his expression darkening slightly as he noticed the lack of lighting around the house. “Connor should’ve turned on the lights,” he muttered, his voice edged with irritation. “It’s too quiet.”Imara stepp
★★★★“I know where they are,” Imara said hesitantly, her voice laced with reluctance. She withdrew her hand from Edward, her other hand fidgeting with the edge of her scarf. “Rebecca told me… but she made me promise not to tell you. She said, under no circumstances, should you know where she’s gone.” Her eyes briefly flickered back to Edward before darting away again. “But seeing you like this… feeling betrayed, struggling… I can’t keep it from you.”Edward leaned forward slightly, his intense gaze fixed on her. His expression softened for a brief moment, though the storm brewing in his eyes remained. “Thank you, Imara,” he said with a firm nod. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like you to come with me. It’ll be safer that way. I’ll send someone to keep an eye on your father.”Imara shook her head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “No, you don’t need to worry about him. Father… he prefers being alone. He usually lies to make sure I won’t fuss over him.” She grabbed h
★★★★★"You were with Rebecca?" Edward’s voice cut through the air, sharp but measured, as he fixed his piercing gaze on Imara. His dark eyes searched hers, but Imara refused to meet his look, her attention darting around the room instead. Her restless fingers fiddled with the hem of her jacket, an obvious tell that something was off. Anyone watching them would have easily pegged this as a date gone sour.“Yes,” Imara finally said, her voice barely audible. She brought her hands to the table, but her eyes stayed glued to the surface, tracing invisible patterns on the polished wood. “She dropped Ella and me at our homes after dinner.”Edward leaned forward slightly, his brows knitting together, though his tone remained controlled. “Hmmm,” he murmured, his composure wavering as the edges of his frustration began to show. “Do you have any idea where she might be now? Or if she met anyone while you were with her?”Imara’s head shot up briefly, her lips parting as if to speak, but then she
★★★★★The first picture stopped Edward in his tracks, his gaze freezing on the screen. It was Rebecca, embracing Connor in the middle of the road. Her arms were wrapped around him, her expression soft.The next image was worse. Connor’s lips pressed against Rebecca’s neck, her eyes closed as if savouring the moment. They were in a car, the angle of the shot suggesting it had been taken from a deliberate distance.Edward’s blood boiled. His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. He swallowed back the roar building in his chest, his mind spiralling into chaos. His fingers worked furiously, dialling Connor’s number.Out of reach.He growled under his breath and immediately tried Rebecca’s number. The same result.With a sharp exhale, Edward called Imara instead.“Edward?” Imara’s voice came through, calm and comforting as always. “What’s going on?”“Where are you?” Edward barked, his tone cutting through her pleasantries.“At home,” she replied cautiously. “Is there
★★★★★"You don’t have to lie to me," Edward hissed, his voice venomous, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to contain his rage. "I went deep, Mrs. Jonas—deep enough to uncover every detail. The resort, the night you spent with my father... everything. Each piece of evidence screams your name."Rebecca’s mother staggered backwards, her composure unravelling as a thread pulled too tight. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground, trembling. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of his words sank in. The sin she had buried, the one she had tried so desperately to forget, now loomed over her, undeniable and raw."Edward..." she whispered, her voice cracking. "It wasn’t... it wasn’t what you think.""Spare me the excuses," Edward snapped, his eyes ablaze with fury. "Do you have any idea what you did to my family? To my mother? You shattered her life, and for what? Your selfish desires?"Mrs Jonas covered her face with her hands; her sobs muffled but gut-wren
★★★★"Are you hurt?" Connor asked, his voice low yet steady, as his eyes swept over Rebecca, searching for any sign of injury. His gaze lingered on her trembling frame, moving from her face to her scraped knees and bruised legs."You… you killed that man," Rebecca exclaimed, her voice shaky, ignoring his question entirely.Connor sighed, his expression unreadable. "I had no choice but to gun him down," he replied, his tone devoid of regret. "He had a knife in his pocket, and you were defenceless."He stepped closer, his hand lifting to gently cup her cheek, his eyes scanning hers for reassurance. But Rebecca flinched, taking a small step back.Connor lowered his hand, his expression softening as he placed the gun back in its holster. “Relax,” he murmured, his tone quieter. “I didn’t think this through—I only thought about saving you. That’s all.”Rebecca’s breath hitched, her mind reeling. “There’s someone else we need to save,” she said urgently, her words tumbling out. “Imara.
★★★★★Imara chuckled, her breath warm against Veronica’s ear as she leaned in close, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “Oh, you’re so smart, aren’t you? Always figuring things out,” she said, her tone mocking yet laced with something darker.Veronica flinched but mustered the courage to reply, her voice trembling. “Then why are you so eager to save Rebecca? If Edward loves her, why are you risking everything for her?” She was grasping at straws now, hoping to bargain her way out of this unnerving situation.Imara pulled back slightly, her face calm but her eyes cold and calculating. “That’s a beautiful story, Veronica,” she said softly, her lips curling into a sinister smile. “But there’s no value in you knowing the details, is there? What matters is that Edward loves her, not you. And that’s why, up until now, no harm ever came your way. But you…” Imara’s voice hardened as she stepped closer. “…you decided to interfere in my plans. So tell me, Veronica, why shouldn’t I inv
★★★★ "Rebecca, run! Now!" Imara’s voice was sharp, her tone laced with urgency as she kept the blade pressed firmly against Veronica's neck. Rebecca froze, her wide eyes darting between Imara and the men advancing toward them. “I can’t leave you like this!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with guilt. “I have to help you!” Imara didn’t even glance at her, her focus locked on Veronica, who flinched as the blade pricked her skin. “They won’t touch me,” Imara said firmly, though her knuckles whitened around the hilt of the weapon. “But if you don’t run and find help, none of us will make it out of here.” Veronica hissed in pain, her lips curling into a sneer. “If you stab me again, I’ll make sure your body is unrecognizable before it hits the river. You’ll be a memory no one mourns.” “Shut up,” Imara shot back, her voice low and ice-cold, her lashes briefly lowering as though to steady herself before snapping back to attention. “Rebecca, go!” she commanded, her eyes blazing. “