Chapter: Thirty-OnePatricia“Alright honey, I’ll give the phone to grandpa now, so don’t be shy to read him the poem you wrote for him,” I told Nellana, while making sure the phone didn’t slip from my fingers. I wouldn’t have drunk that much if I knew the wine was that strong.I didn’t enjoy wine much, but I guess I got carried away with pushing my feelings aside after my unintentional confession to Ethan. Although we didn’t talk much after that, there wasn’t any air of awkwardness around us. After my walking in on my conversation with Marcel, he just came closer to me and pulled me out while playfully telling his father off for ‘questioning’ me.I spent most of the day with Stephanie, mostly to avoid Ethan so he wouldn’t have to pretend to be fine with me beside him more times than necessary. Even after all that I still had to stand next to him as we cut the cake and took pictures. His arm was draped around my shoulder the whole time with a huge grin on his face. I almost thought he actually felt at ea
Last Updated: 2025-05-01
Chapter: ThirtyPatriciaI stepped closer, but I still didn’t look him in the eye.“Clearly, you’re aware that I know what’s going on between you and my son.”I nodded slowly. “I understand if you preferred for me not to be here.”“Patricia.” The way he mentioned my name gave me no option but to look up at his face.I was taken aback for a moment. He expression was all but what I expected it to be. There wasn’t any sign of resentment or disgust or plain hatred. If anything. I sensed a slight look of concern on his face. But this did nothing to make me feel better. It just made me hate myself even more.“You’ve been very good to Ethan, and to me these past years and it’s very difficult for me as it is for him to accept what you’ve done. I don’t know or want to know the reasons you have, but I really want to believe you’re indeed remorseful.”
Last Updated: 2025-04-29
Chapter: Twenty-NinePatriciaI stared at her nervous face for a while before asking, “About sex?”Her eyes widened immediately. “Gosh no!”I burst into laughter and she joined me instantly. “Oh my God, Patricia you’re so straightforward.”I giggled. “You think so?”“Stop it.” Her face flushed even deeper. “Anyway that’s not it. I just want simple marriage advice from a friend, and you’ve been married for five years. So I feel like you’re the best person to tell me some of what I need to know.”My smile faltered.Me? The best person to give marriage advice? Was this the universe’s way of making sure my conscience was active 24/7?I never thought I could feel guiltier than I already did.I concentrated on how Stephanie was now looking at me in anticipation. The was so much pride in her eyes for me, I nearly shed a tear.
Last Updated: 2025-04-27
Chapter: Twenty-EightEthan“Yes,” the word came out of his mouth smoothly.“Dad!”“Then why are you together. How do you think this is going to work if you don’t?”I exhaled heavily and run my hand through my hair, turning away from him because I couldn’t handle it anymore.“Just listen. If your mother was still alive and she came back today to ask for my forgiveness, I could forgive her, because I wouldn’t want to continue hurting because of a grudge when I am not the guilty one. I could do that, but it doesn’t mean I would take her back. She stayed away for twenty years, and I have already moved on. But Patricia is different. I’m not comparing her to your mother or defending her. Cheating is totally wrong, but forgive me. I’m still finding it difficult associating that word with her. I’m hurt because you’re hurt, but I can’t see her as a bad person.“
Last Updated: 2025-04-25
Chapter: Twenty-SevenEthan“Patricia?” I called out again.Her head snapped to me, eyes widening as if she had just realised I was holding the door out for her. She switched the gift bag to her left hand so she could take my hand as I helped her out of the car.“I wonder how you don’t tire of overthinking,” I mumbled to her as I locked the car. I didn’t let go of her hand as we entered the house. My dad had kept the gate unlocked since he was expecting visitors.“I can’t help it.”I found myself rubbing my thumb over her hand in a way to calm her down. I felt her shiver immediately, but I didn’t let go. I don’t know what came over me at that moment, and I honestly didn’t want to know why I wanted to comfort her. I’d rather not be doing any thinking today.I opened the door leading inside the house and that’s where I felt her trying to slip her hand out of mine. I stopped
Last Updated: 2025-04-23
Chapter: Twenty-SixEthan“No,” Patricia’s voice was shaky and uncertain. “I don’t know,” she finally added.I leaned forward. “I shouldn’t. Just talk to me like you normally would.”She furrowed her brows. “I hurt you Ethan, I’m sure you’d want to give me some boundaries...”“Forget it,” I snapped. “I suggested we work things out. So I should be able to deal with it, right?”Amusement and a hint of disbelief flickered in her eyes. “You don’t even want to know why it happened...?”I shook my head no, even though it was the direct opposite of what I wanted, but it had to be done. I couldn’t stay in this marriage if I was going to hold on to what she did. I was going to try everything including pretending to forget, then maybe I actually would.“Okay,” she breathed out, a confused smile forming on her face. I co
Last Updated: 2025-04-21
My Dear Nightmare
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Daniela. Daniela Stevens," she responded.
"Look at me Stevens... now that I've met you, I promise I'll work even harder to make you unhappy, just as you made me. Maybe... you'll not feel the pain I felt, but I promise I will never allow you to be happy."
"Why?" she whispered.
"... because I can't let you be happy while I suffer everyday because of the memory of my parents being killed in front of me."
"So what are you going to do to me?"
"You're going to marry me."
* * * * * * * * *
Daniela Stevens could have been any normal woman, but the sins of her father and the endless nightmares, changed her life more than she could ever imagine. And that scar she carried everyday, was the permanent reminder of the pain she had caused a certain stranger, and the fact that she didn't deserve to find happiness. As long as she lived.
This stranger, who is her nightmare, is Alexander Jackson. He has not been able to let go of the pain of being orphaned, therefore he feels the urge to take revenge, even if it meant making an innocent person suffer.
His life and hers get tangled together, and they have to make a decision, whether to keep suffering, or to let go of the past. But letting go deals with change and trust, and that is their only obstacle.
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Chapter: Chapter TenDaniela’s POVMike looked at me through the rear-view mirror. “Are you okay ma’am?”I looked away from him, and towards the window and nodded. “Yeah, why?”“You haven’t said a word.”Did he really care? I shook my head anyway. “I’m just a bit tired. You’re taking me straight home, right?”“Yes, ma’am.”I nodded, more to myself and clasped my hands together. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It wasn’t even a real kiss. It was just something a little more than a peck on the lips, but I still couldn’t stop thinking about it. Neither could I control the shivers I felt each time I replayed it in my mind. How he touched me. How attractive he looked so close to me. And I liked it.Damn it!There was no way I was attracted to the same man from my nightmares. Especially now that I hate
Last Updated: 2025-04-25
Chapter: Chapter NineAlexander’s POVI watched her as she walked out, to make sure she had the rings before she left my space. It was in times like this, when she wasn’t speaking, when I could stare at her without her realising, that I sometimes couldn’t believe this was real.The girl I had spent all my teenage years detesting, was now here, a woman, my prospective wife, mine to control. I could finally get closure, knowing that there was someone who could at least pay for the injustice served me a decade ago.The door clicked shut. I dropped the smirk and looked at Jason who was still fuming. He had probably head that a certain lady had been escorted to my office and wanted to see for himself. “What?”“I can’t believe you’re going through with this. You didn’t even say anything to me.”I rolled my eyes and turned back to my computer. “You can tell why now, can’t you?”He sig
Last Updated: 2025-04-15
Chapter: Chapter EightDaniela’s POVFleur stood up slowly, looking between Alexander and me, as if he couldn’t believe it. It was understandable. I couldn’t believe Alexander could pull this on me with no heads up, either, but with the tightness of his hold on my waist, I knew it was no excuse to flop this. So, I smiled wider to ease the tension in the room, even though I had no certainty that I could pull this off.“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you sir.” I offered my hand to him and glanced at Alexander, who still had that down-to-earth smile on his face. It was almost ridiculous. “I didn’t know I was going to meet you today. Otherwise, I would’ve have brought a gift or something.”The elderly man’s gaze finally settled on me, and he took my hand. “Oh, it’s no bother. Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, dear. I’m just still in a bit of shock. How…”His gaze shifted to Alexander and his hand slipped away.“We’ve been keeping our union a secret for a whil
Last Updated: 2025-04-11
Chapter: Chapter SevenDaniela's POVBy the time I was back in the car and enroute to Jackson tower, Alexander’s building, I felt like an entirely different person. No, not in a good way. I didn’t feel like my own person anymore, and it wasn’t entirely an exaggeration. Alexander had total control over me now.I was different clothes. A light blue business casual dress, whose material alone probably cost more than the monthly rent we paid for my aunt’s restaurant. I had on equally expensive heels and accessories to match. Before that, Mike took me for a skin and hair treatment appointment. They didn’t cut much of my hair, but they added a few curls to the ends. I had a new bag moderately filled with the handy stuff I would need in the day, and a new freaking phone!In another life, I would have been thrilled, but right now I felt like an imposter. I had complained as much as I could to Mike, but he only replied that they were Alexander’s ord
Last Updated: 2025-04-05
Chapter: Chapter SixDaniela's POVMike will pick you up at nine. I didn’t know how long I had been staring at the message, but whatever time had elapsed, still wasn’t enough to help me understand that yesterday wasn’t a dream in the least bit. And as if this wasn’t enough, a notification popped up with a message from Justin.You’ve ignored me enough. Please, let me see you.I watched as the notification slid off the screen. I couldn’t open his message. For a while I had even forgotten that he existed and that we still needed to talk about what was going to become of our relationship.Obviously, we had to end it. And this left a sour taste in my mouth as I thought about it, because I couldn’t be certain if I would’ve stood by the same decision had Alexander not been in the picture.I read over the text again and again. I missed him. So much, as embarrassing as it was to admit it, it was
Last Updated: 2025-04-03
Chapter: Chapter FiveDaniela’s POVThe moment I got home, I rushed upstairs for my laptop and immediately looked up flights that were leaving this evening. It didn’t matter where- the next town or the next country. Whatever my savings could afford for my aunt and I was alright for now. We just needed to get away right this moment, and think about the rest when we were safer.I wasn’t thinking clearly, sure. But today had been equally unhinged. How could my life change so drastically in just one day. One person shouldn’t have the power to do this. It was unfair. And scary. He knew everything about my life, so he could really do all that he had threatened to, but I still couldn’t just sit there and let him. I had to at least try.And if it didn’t work…?No, he couldn’t possibly be serious. Marry him? How could he even come up with that in a matter of minutes, and act as if it was completely normal. I thought about how he
Last Updated: 2025-03-06
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