Okoro Elizabeth 의 작품

“Let’s take a break? No, Serafina, I'm done.”Jared's voice was cold, each word slicing through the thick silence like a blade. “You’re exhausted… pathetic.”Serafina froze.“What?!” Her voice cracked like lightning splitting the sky.She stormed toward him, fury burning in her eyes. “Are you being serious right now, Jared?”“You’re not listening to me, Serafina! You never listen!” he snapped, fists clenched at his sides.Her lips curled. “Oh, I’m listening now. I’m listening to the man who once swore I was his destiny suddenly acting like I’m the burden. How convenient.”“I heard you,” Jared said, voice low and hard. “But this... whatever this has become between us, it’s toxic. It’s done. It should’ve ended a long time ago.”The silence that followed wasn’t calm.It was the kind of silence that came before something exploded.Serafina took a slow step back, her chest rising and falling. “You think you can walk away from me? After everything? After me?”“Yes,” he said simply, stepping

"She’s unfit for her role, you know," the maid whispered, her voice sharp as broken glass. As they gossip about serafina.Serafina froze behind the corner, her fists tightening until her nails carved red moons into her palms."Mad," another murmured. "Dangerous."Their words swirled through the stone halls like smoke, curling around her throat, choking her.She should step forward.She should slap the girl so hard her descendants would feel it.Her body trembled with the urge, raw, hot, violent, but she didn’t move.Not because she couldn’t.Because they weren’t worth it.Serafina turned on her heel, her boots clicking sharply on the marble. She didn’t look back, didn’t let them see the wildfire rising in her chest. She marched past them like they were less than dirt.Her face, cold as winter.But inside?Inside, she was crumbling, screaming, clawing at the walls of her own ribs.They dared.They dared.She shoved through the palace doors and into the open courtyard, the evening sky b

"Do it clean," Serafina said coldly, her eyes never leaving the horizon. "Yes, my Lady," Kae murmured, already melting into the shadows like smoke.She stood there for a long moment, fists still trembling, feeling the sting of broken skin and broken trust. The air was thick, hot, like it could swallow her whole.She turned, cloak swirling, and stalked back through the palace gates. The guards didn’t dare meet her gaze.Good. Fear was easier to command than loyalty.Each step she took echoed loudly, bouncing off the cold marble walls. She didn't slow down. She didn’t look back. Her blood pounded in her ears, louder than the roaring whispers of servants scrambling to get out of her way.She didn’t care.She didn’t care about their looks, their mutterings, their prayers.She had a storm inside her chest, and it needed somewhere to go.By the time she reached her quarters, Serafina was breathing hard, her chest heaving. She threw the heavy doors open and let them slam behind her.Sile

"Where is he?" Serafina’s voice sliced through the humid morning air like a blade. No one answered. The soldiers in the training yard froze mid-swing, the clang of steel against steel dying in the tension. A few exchanged glances, daring each other to speak. She stormed forward, barefoot still, blood dried around her knuckles, her once-glorious nightgown hidden now under a dark cloak she had grabbed from her closet. Her hair was wild, her eyes two burning embers that promised nothing but ruin. "I said—" she roared, fists clenched at her sides, "WHERE IS HE?!"A young squire, no older than fifteen, pointed a trembling finger toward the center of the field.Caleb.He stood with a training sword in hand, mid-spar with another knight. His back was to her, unaware of the storm about to crash into him.Serafina didn't walk to him. She charged."CALEB!" she screamed, her voice cracking the air like thunder. The boy turned, confused, then his eyes widened in horror.It was too lat

The next morning, Serafina stirred from a restless sleep, if two hours of tossing and turning even counted as rest. Her head throbbed, her eyes burned, but she refused to appear weak. She snapped her fingers, summoning one of her maidens.“Bring me tea. Now.”The girl rushed off, anxious to avoid another outburst. She returned minutes later, hands trembling as she placed the cup on the tray.Serafina took one sip, and froze.Her expression darkened like a brewing storm.“You dare call this tea?!” she thundered, slamming the cup so hard against the table the china cracked. “Did you boil this with swamp water or tears?!”The porcelain cup shattered against the wall, spewing golden liquid across the velvet drapes like blood. The young maid gasped, eyes wide as the fragments rained to the marble floor.Serafina’s voice was a whip. "If you want to serve me lukewarm water, go fetch it from the stables, not my damn breakfast tray!"The maid bowed deeply, trembling, but Serafina didn’t give h

"Answer me, Jared!" Serafina’s voice cracked like thunder across the grand chamber. "You’re just going to stand there?! Say something!"The air between them was thick with rage, heartbreak, and disbelief. Jared didn’t speak. He didn’t blink. He didn’t even breathe for a moment. He just stood there, jaw clenched so tight his muscles trembled. His eyes, those usually fierce, calculating eyes, were now dark and hollow. Then, with no explanation, no apology, no glance, he turned around and walked out.Serafina froze.“What…?” her voice dropped to a whisper, trembling. “You’re walking away from me?”She blinked fast, as if her vision had betrayed her. But the sound of his footsteps, heavy and deliberate, echoed louder than any confession.“Jared!” she shouted, storming after him. Her heels clacked furiously against the marble floor. “I’m talking to you and you’re walking away from me?! Don’t you DARE walk away!”He didn’t stop. Not until she caught up with him just outside the chamber door

Lyra’s POV The day had finally arrived: my wedding day. The world outside seemed to know it was special, too. The sky was a canvas of soft blues and wispy white clouds, with the sun gently warming the seaside breeze. Every detail of the morning felt surreal, like I was walking through a dream I never wanted to wake up from. In my bridal suite, the air buzzed with excitement. Sophie, my bridesmaid and Angela’s closest friend, was helping me into my wedding dress. The dress was everything I’d imagined, sleek and elegant with delicate lace running down the sleeves and tiny pearls dotting the bodice. The train cascaded behind me like a flowing river of ivory silk. As Sophie zipped the back, I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror. For a moment, I didn’t recognize myself. “You look stunning, Lyra,” Sophie said, stepping back to admire me. Her voice was thick with emotion. I turned to her, my own heart brimming. “Do you think Kurtis will like it?” Sophie laughed. “Like i

Lyra's POV The next morning, I woke up to the smell of coffee drifting up to my room. For a moment, I stayed under the covers, savoring the warmth of my bed and the quiet anticipation that filled the air. Tomorrow, I would become Mrs. Lyra Hartley. The thought sent a flutter of excitement and nerves through me. Finally, curiosity got the better of me, and I padded downstairs, barefoot, my robe loosely tied. In the kitchen, I found Angela standing by the counter, a steaming mug in her hands. Her back was to me, and she seemed lost in thought. “Good morning,” I said, stepping closer, my voice soft so as not to startle her. Angela jumped slightly but quickly recovered, turning around with a faint smile. “Good morning. I didn’t mean to wake you. I just... couldn’t sleep.” I reached for a mug and poured myself some coffee, the rich aroma wrapping around me like a comforting hug. “You didn’t wake me,” I assured her. “But you being up this early is definitely unusual. What’s on your

Lyra’s POVThe morning light streamed through my bedroom window, painting everything in soft gold. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me out of my thoughts. I reached for it, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Kurtis’s name flashing on the screen. “Good morning, baby girl,” his deep voice greeted me. “Good morning,” I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest. Even after everything we’d been through, his voice still had that effect on me. “How did you sleep?” he asked. “Better than I have in weeks,” I admitted. “Knowing Alice is finally in custody helps.” There was a pause, and then he chuckled. “I knew that would ease your mind. But listen, we have something more important to focus on now—our wedding.” My heart soared. “You’re right. No more delays.” “Exactly. Can you meet me at the venue later today? I’ve already called a decorator and the caterer to start discussing ideas.” “Of course,” I said, excitement bubbling up. “What time?” “Around two. I’ll text you

Kurtis’s POVThe morning after James was arrested, I woke up feeling lighter, yet there was still a lingering weight on my chest. Alice. She was the real puppet master, the mastermind behind James’s schemes. If I let my guard down now, it could all be for nothing. I sat at the edge of the bed, watching Lyra sleep. Her face was serene, untouched by the chaos that constantly tried to invade our lives. I wanted to keep it that way. Standing up, I grabbed my phone and dialed Detective Harper. “Harper,” her voice was sharp and awake despite the early hour. “We’ve got to move on Alice,” I said, my tone firm. “If she gets wind of James’s arrest, she’ll bolt. We need to act now.” There was a pause on the other end of the line before Harper responded. “Agreed. Do you have anything concrete on her yet?” “Not enough to keep her locked up for long,” I admitted. “But James’s arrest is going to shake her. If we can catch her making a move, we’ll have something to work with.” “I’ll dispa

Kurtis’s POVI was still seeing the the moment the handcuffs clicked around James’s wrists, playing in my eye, how I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It wasn’t just about justice, it was about keeping Lyra safe, about making sure that maniac wouldn’t come anywhere near her again. As the officers led him out, his defiance hadn’t wavered. “This isn’t over, Kurtis,” James hissed, his eyes filled with venom. “You think taking me down changes anything? You have no idea what you’re up against.” His voice echoed back in my ear.I didn’t respond. He could spit all the poison he wanted; his threats didn’t matter anymore. His reign of terror had ended the moment those cuffs locked into place. Once the police cars disappeared into the night, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Detective Harper walked up to me, her expression grim but satisfied. “You did good tonight, Kurtis,” she told me.“I just did what needed to be done,” I replied, glancing at the warehouse where

Kurtis’s POVJames was a menace, a shadow that loomed over Lyra and Angela's lives for far too long. As I stood by the window of my penthouse suite, staring at the city lights below, the thought of letting him roam free even for another day was unbearable. Lyra’s safety wasn’t just a responsibility, it was personal. “I’m not waiting for him to make his next move,” I said, turning to Detective Harper on the other end of the phone. Harper’s voice was professional but tinged with determination. “We need solid evidence to make the arrest stick, Kurtis. What you’ve given us so far is compelling, but I need more to ensure he doesn’t wriggle out on a technicality.” I clenched my fist. “Then you’ll have it. I’ll send over every document, every email, every recording we’ve compiled so far. And I’ll make sure he has no place to run.” After hanging up, I paced the room, my mind racing. James was clever, but arrogance was his fatal flaw. He never imagined I’d play the long game, collectin