Novels by Mikayla Rivera

Simon walked into the luxurious home of the wealthy young widow he had been seeing for the past few months. His expression was tense and agitated, betraying a sense of suppressed aggression.A blonde woman approached him, wearing a black evening gown and holding a glass of wine. She smiled seductively, as if sensing the anxiety her lover was feeling."What is it, darling? Why do you look so tense?" She asked, gently caressing the face of the man standing before her. Her gentle touch did nothing to calm him, instead, it only brought to mind the cold gaze and cynical voice of the woman he had been married to for eight years."I'm not in the mood for this, Erika!" He replied tensely, brushing her hand away to signal that he didn't want to be touched."What’s wrong with you, Simon? You’ve just come back, yet you’re acting so cold toward me!""I just saw Nina!""What? Really?" Erika’s expression shifted instantly upon hearing Simon’s words."I went back to that house and asked her to meet

His face clearly showed just how furious he was at my words. I knew he was wondering where I had suddenly found the courage to speak up like this.Throughout our eight years of marriage, I had hardly ever contradicted him, let alone openly defied him the way I was doing now. My devotion as a wife over those eight years meant absolutely nothing to him."Damn it, so you’ve got the guts to stand up to me now, huh?" He tried to intimidate me, hoping I would lose my nerve and tremble with fear. I knew him better than anyone—better even than his own mother did. Simon was a master at manipulating people's emotions; he was a narcissist who always believed he was right and entitled to everything."I’ve always disagreed with you; it’s just that my love for you made me choose to back down most of the time. I loved you so much that I forgot to put myself above my feelings for you. But I won't do that anymore. I’ve offered you a choice: we can continue this marriage as an open one—where we’re both

I returned home as Simon had told me to, and in the driveway, I saw his car parked. It turned out he'd come home before me.I didn't know what he was planning, nor did I know if he wanted me back because he still wanted me or because he realized his divorce due to his affair could ruin his reputation. I didn't know what he was really thinking."You're home already?" He said as soon as I turned the knob on the unlocked door. I heard his voice, as if he'd already known I'd arrived."You're even home before me!" I said as I walked into the living room. Simon came from the kitchen carrying a bottle of wine and two empty glasses. When he saw me, he looked surprised."Wow, Nina, is it really you?" He said, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His eyes darted from head to toe, as if this was the first time he'd seen me. They were wild and made me a little nauseous."Of course! Have you forgotten your own wife's face after two days of not seeing her?""Hahaha...when was the last time

I stared at my phone screen, staring at Simon's name flashing across the screen. I couldn't believe he was calling me again two days after our last argument that night.I hesitated to answer, but I was also curious about what he would say. Would he regret his actions and ask me to come home? Or was he angry that I left so suddenly before everything was clear?"Hello?" I said, suppressing all my disappointment at his indifference."Where are you now?""I'm at work, what do you need?""What do you need? Haha...is that what you're asking your husband after he hasn't come home for two days?" Simon's tone was exactly the same as when he'd scolded me in the churchyard that day. It sounded angry and disgusted, as if I were the person he hated most in the world.I paused for a moment, not answering the question immediately. Deep inside me was a feeling that I was still very much aware was love. I still loved him, and I still wanted my husband back. But I felt like we couldn't be like we used

I walked through the clinic corridor as usual, as if my heart still wished that what I did last night had never happened. Even though I had already told Jake that I didn't care what would happen after the video appeared online, being here felt like I was back in my right mind."Nina?"David's voice calling my name somehow made me feel incredibly shocked, as if I had just made a fatal mistake and was trying to hide it."Y-yes, David?" I stammered, turning around.David stood behind me with a sad look that reminded me of yesterday when I had sex with Pierre in his office. When I opened the door, David was standing in front of me, his face disbelieving."You're not your usual self today.""R-really?""Did you dress up?" David asked. I immediately remembered that I had taken the time to dress up this morning, unlike my usual routine."Oh yeah, does it look bad? Doesn't it suit me? Haha..." I laughed awkwardly, embarrassed at myself for doing something I usually don't do."So beautiful.""

I was stunned by Jake's words, which somehow felt like a compliment to me. I also didn't know what made Simon choose her over me. Erika Gonzales was clearly not as beautiful as me; she was even older. But in Simon's eyes, Erika was more attractive and aroused him."He said I was unattractive, gloomy, and didn't excite him," I said, imitating Simon's words."Have you always been like that?""Like what?""Dressed like a middle-aged woman from the Victorian era?""What?""Haha...the first time I saw you, I knew you were beautiful. But beauty alone isn't enough to keep a man around.""I don't need attention from men, I don't want to impress anyone!""Really? Then, why are you doing all this? If not to impress men with your beautiful body? What are you really hoping for?"Jake's questions grew more intense, making me feel intimidated. Why was I doing all this? I wasn't doing it to attract anyone's attention. I was doing it because I wanted to break free from the chains that had held me cap