JOANNE—I let out an explosive gasp and felt as if every drop of blood in my body rose to my face and accumulated around my nose; my heart was as heavy as my head, and I was about to sprint somewhere, anyplace away from the intruder who had grasped my shoulder. His grasp tightened on me, he took my other shoulder in his other hand, and the hotel lights turned back on immediately. “Joanne..” A familiar voice called softly.I turned around swiftly to see Trevor looking at me with a small smile.“Ah..” I let out an inaudible sigh of relief as I brought my hand to my chest.“Goodness. You scared me,” I could feel my blood vessels functioning well again.“I’m sorry,” He took his hand off my shoulders. “I didn’t mean to, I saw you and was about to approach you when the lights went out. And I should have said something when I grabbed you, I just didn’t think fast and didn’t want you to run around in the dark”I nodded and let myself catch my breath.I cast a furtive look about before retur
—HARDY“I leave you for one minute and you go on go to throw yourself at some man—“I’m sorry?” Joanne turned to look at me as we both got back into my hotel room and she slowly let out a scoff.“You’re joking right?” She blasted.“Does it look like I am?” My voice came out as hard as I wanted it to be.“I had no idea Trevor was here and throw myself at him?” I scoffed.What was it to him if I actually threw myself to him.“Sure you had no idea. And why the hell is he here?” I scoffed.I only came here to let Lisa’s killer see me loose and tail me.“I don’t know,” Joanne shrugged.She looked clueless and as I watched those eyes looked at me like it needed someone to answer. I let myself breathe.Even if I was making Joanne bait. She deserved to know at least the truth that someone was onto her.“Joanne” I called and she turned and gawked at me like calling her name had made some part of her soul crash and burn.Ignoring her response, I carried on. "The purpose of this operation is to
JOANNE-I opened my eyes to see a white surface and the smell of flowers meeting my nose. My body felt like peace, and my mind was as bland as my thoughts.I blinked rapidly before fully opening my eyes and taking in the white ceilings above my eyes.“She’s awake” Hardy’s thick voice filled the air, and I quietly turned to meet him talking to another man.I slowly started to sit up, only to be stopped by Hardy.“Do not get up,” he said.I ignored him and slowly sat up, taking in the room in front of my eyes.I glanced at the door to see a plate above and the word VIP room written above it.Suddenly, I noticed the IV attached to my hand, and the memory of feeling sick and throwing up came rushing back. I realized that I must have passed out, and I was in a hospital or some other kind of medical facility. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together in my mind.The man Hardy was talking to left the room, and Hardy walked up to me.“What are you doing?” He spat. “I told you to no
-JOANNE Four days had passed since the incident in the hotel suite. Hardy and I were back in the mansion, and the tension between us was palpable. We hadn't spoken much since I challenged him to end my life, and he had walked away without comment. We both seemed to understand that it was better to give each other space, but it didn't make things any less awkward.His behavior was juvenile, moping about Lisa's death as if everyone else was to blame. At first, I thought it was jealousy fueling my irritation, but as I ruminated over the baby growing inside me, the real cause became clear: anger. Unrelenting, simmering anger that boiled just below the surface. It was infuriating to watch him wallow in self-pity while I carried the weight of responsibility, the burden of life, within me.Standing in my room and staring at the manically desired painting that somewhat gave me slight solace and redirected my anger every now and then. Trinity walked into the room, looking tired.She’s b
AUTHOR’s POV.FLASHBACK- Two years ago.-With a sense of impending urgency, Trinity sprang into action, leading a team of maids in a flurry of activity to prepare the mansion for Hardy's imminent return from his six-month vacation. As the maids worked diligently, a distinct humming noise pierced the silence, heralding the imminent landing of Hardy's private jet.Rushing outside to greet him, Trinity's dress billowed in the relentless wind, the fabric dancing in playful rebellion against her attempts to tame it. Joining the rest of the mansion's maids, she stood poised in anticipation, awaiting the arrival of her boss.She was so focused on getting her dress better that she didn’t realise when Hardy had started to walk into the mansion with a young lady beside him.And immediately, Trinity took sight of them; she hopped on her feet and dashed up to them.“Hardy. You’re home,” she sounded delighted, trying to help him with his suitcase.Hardy disagreed.“I’ll take them in myself,” Hard
Author POVFLASHBACK contd. -Trinity could feel her entire body heating up from the inside.What was going on?How did her little advances get out of the way for Lisa to notice their great deal?If Hardy were to find out about it, He’d get disgusted and throw her out of his domain.Her quietness and shame caused Lisa to burst out laughing.“Look at you. I’ve got you right where I wanted.” Trinity snapped back to reality and shook her head.“I believe you’re mistaken.” “Mistaken?” Lisa laughed.“The only mistake here is you denying it.”Trinity gently walked out of bed and shook her head.“You are deeply mistaken. And to have my beauty sleep. I would love it if you left.“So now you’re throwing me out?” Lisa scoffed.“I’m sorry.” Was the only thing Trinity said.And after a few gazes of disbelief, Lisa walked out of the room.***Hardy's wedding to Lisa was a whirlwind of excitement, the talk of the town. Everyone wanted to be in Lisa's shoes, wishing they could understand the allu
AUTHOR POV-Last part of FLASHBACK- 2years ago- - Days passed, and Trinity avoided Lisa altogether. She made sure Hardy was aware by making it explicit. She had told him, rather erroneously, that she had contracted a flu that might potentially be fatal for a pregnant woman. Even though Lisa tried to convince herself that she couldn't get sick from her sickness. As per her request, Hardy put Trinity in charge of the loo while assigning other maids to take care of Lisa. To genuinely keep Lisa at bay, Trinity had installed a new lock on her door. And when Lisa found out what Trinity had actually done to genuinely keep her at bay. She also stayed away. Under the Bensimon roof, they both became strangers, and even when Trinity's alleged sickness was curedShe and Lisa never spoke to each other properly again.- For what seemed like an eternity, Trinity languished in a bottomless pit of remorse. Until one fateful night, when she stumbled upon a scene that made her heart stop. T
I simultaneously felt the cold nail polish on my fingers and the soft brush on my hair. The strong metallic and sweet odor caused my stomach to churn, but I couldn't tell whether it was the nail polish or my nervousness that was involved.As one of the maids attempted to apply mascara to my unstable blinking eyes, I apologized after she attempted to conceal her anger by tsking incessantly."Ma’am”, please," she pleaded.I apologized again after clearing my voice.Once I had completed adorning my face, I was calmly instructed to stand and cautiously enter my luxurious purple silk gown.I was following whatever these maids in black and blue uniforms told me, and before I knew it, I looked like a completely different person as I stood in front of the mirror to look at myself."You look amazing, ma'am." The youngest-looking maid among them said, smiling at me.I wanted to thank her, but I couldn't find my voice after she continued."Master will really be pleased with you."Master...The wo