Shawn smiled as his gaze fell on Antonio, ignoring the dagger glare he was receiving from him, he took his seat close to Ruby.“ Antonio, how have you been?” he asked with a jovial tone. Without waiting for a response, he diverted his gaze to Eloise and his eyes lit up, “And who's this gorgeous lady sitting here?”“ That's Antonio's financeé,” Ruby answered, smiling,“ Financeé?” Shawn repeated, raising an eyebrow, his tone laced with surprise that didn’t feel entirely sincere.Antonio rolled his eyes, clenching his jaw and trying not to say a word to him but when he glanced at him and saw the way he was looking at Eloise, his boiling blood became hotter.“ What do you want?” he snapped,“ Huh?” he turned his gaze to Antonio and chuckled, “What do you mean?”“ You're here for a reason. What's it?”Shawn shook his head, the corner of his lips lifting in a smirk. “ What if I don't have a reason ?”“You didn’t come here just to smile and stir up trouble.”“Antonio,” Ruby warned softly.“
“ Just call me Ruby,” the grandmother said, beaming ear to ear as she sat beside Eloise on the couch, clasping her hands between hers.Eloise couldn't bring herself to keep a smile, she felt a pang of guilt against her chest. If only she'd known.She bit her lip as she remembered the grandmother telling her about her grandsons. She could remember her strong belief about Antonio's brother and her worries and wishes for Antonio. ‘ How can I lie to her? Wouldn't it seem cruel?’ Her brow wrinkled as she thought.“ Do you know how happy I am?” Ruby giggled as she turned to Antonio, “ I liked her the moment I saw her at the hospital, I even asked if she was married.”Antonio smiled, a tiny one that one could barely see. He glanced from his grandmother to Eloise and could see how unsettled she was. She was biting her lip again.“ This is fate,” Ruby said, looking at Yasmin, who nodded, grinning ear to ear.“ Welcome to the Braydens family,” She said to Eloise, beaming.“ Thanks, grandmother
Eloise could feel her sweaty palm as she curled her fingers on her lap. She sat quietly through the drive, staring out the window, at the flashing lone road. On both sides of the road are nothing but green, tall trees. Her chest was switching between skips and aches.She glanced over at Antonio, his cold gaze fixed on the road, one of his hands against the wheel while the other elbow relaxed at the tip of the window with his fingers resting against the side of his head. He looked so calm, so controlled like he cares about nothing in the world.“ Do you think we should be meeting your grandmother yet?” She asked, unable to stop the pinch of wrinkle creeping onto her forehead.“ Why? Is there any reason why we shouldn't yet?”She rolled her eyes. He had told her to go dress up that morning that they're meeting with his grandmother without bothering to ask when she'd be free enough or more comfortable. But a deal was a deal and she seems to have no say.“ Maybe you're forgetting that yo
| WOLF RIVER PRISON |Just a call, within a limited time, each prisoner was granted access to whichever person they wished to speak with. Michael's lips tightened into a thin line, his heart racing as he took the phone from the inmate before him. He wants to eagerly call his wife, to ask her how their son was, what the doctor was saying about their son's health, but rather, his fingers typed in someone else's contact number.The first ring. The second ring. Then the call was picked.“ Hello,” the curious voice of a familiar person said over the phone,“ It's Michael,” he said, darting his eyes and lowering his voice.“ What's going on? Why are you calling me?” he could hear the anger and panic laced in the person's voice,“ Relax, you already know why I'm calling,”“ I don't know why you're calling and I don't care, we have no business together anymore…,”“ Oh..of course we do,” he quickly interrupted, “ What are you talking about? I paid for the job and we parted ways,”“ You paid f
Eloise whimpered as her body jerked beneath the sheets, sweat coated her skin despite the cool air in the room, soaking into the pillow beneath her head. Her breath became restless as her fingers clenched the sheets tightly. Eyelids fluttered wildly, pupils darting beneath them in chaotic patterns. “ Ahh,” she yelped as her legs kicked violently, jerking her up from the horrifying nightmare. She sat on the bed panting heavily, her body shivering, and her eyes wide open. The nightmare seems to be getting worse each night. Every night has been the same since, but tonight's different; it was more vivid and more terrifying. Eloise swallowed hard and pushed the duvet off her thigh. She sat at the edge of the bed, feeling the cold floor beneath her leg, and palmed her face. “ It's okay, Eloise, it's okay, it's just a nightmare,” she mumbled before brushing her hair back with her trembling fingers. She turned on the table lamp and her chest heaved. “ Why can't I just have a peaceful n
She wanted to tell her; every part of her ached to spill the truth, to confide in Laera about everything. But would she believe her? Would she not look at her like she's crazy? How can she tell her she was reborn, that she died and returned in time.Sniffling, Eloise wiped her tears with the back of her hand.“ Alisha is someone that hasn't existed,” she muttered.“ Hm?” Laera's brow wrinkled in confusion, “ someone that hasn't existed?.”Eloise forced a brittle smile, trying to wave away the growing questions in Laera's eyes."Forget it," she said quickly, brushing imaginary dust off her lap. "I still can’t shake off the guilt. You lost your job because of me. What are you going to do now? Do you have a plan?"Laera sighed, the sound heavy with uncertainty. She understood that Eloise was hiding something, but then again, they weren’t exactly best friends. Business partners. Good friends, maybe. But not close enough for secrets that might be too big.“ I don't know,” she sighed deepl