REINA "You did! You gave me the right when you felt like it was going to be nice to return to him after everything I've done for you. You rejected me now than a hundred times so what? You could return to your ex who didn't care about you huh?" He spat standing up to match my glare and I took two steps backward in shock.The chair screeched against the floor as a sad smile formed on my face."Wow, Bruce. Wow." His gaze softened as it seemed like he just got into realization of what he had done."Reina..." He trailed off and I didn't even wait for him to find his words before I would be able to reply him."Bruce, say nothing please. Thank you so much for clearing my doubts that people change and metamorphose into something that their close friends can not even recognize. You really did a good job at proving me wrong and proving that Ethan was right about." I picked up my bag to leave when he waltzed in front of me and blocked my path."What did I do that is so bad? Tell me." He grunted
REINA"Oh my God." I was shivering as I placed my hands over my mouth to prevent me from shrieking out while shock filled me at the sight of blood running down Bruce face and Ethan crackling his fingers like he had not just launched an attack.I must admit that I have never seen this side of both men, they are so new to me right now."Ethan." I whispered and he turned to me racing a brow."Yes princess." He answered plainly like he hadn't just punched Bruce in the face, I turned to see Bruce trying to scramble to his feet as he took few steps towards Ethan.Bruce folded his hand into his fist while i placed myself in front of them because i was quite sure that if I didn't do that, a huge fight would break out and i didn't want that."Get out of the way, Reina." Bruce warned as he staggered looking murderous with blood dripping from his face down to the floor. A little crowd has gathered and I could hear some people whispering that they would have to call the police if the fight escala
"Andrew?" I dropped my bag in the living room and ran over to his room to check if he was there with the nanny that Ethan hired but they weren't. I know I'm not supposed o be this aggravated but there was no human being in the house and Ethan had said that the nanny was supposed to be with my son in the house. They weren't supposed to go anywhere, they were supposed to be here by the time I returned. I checked the balcony and every other place but they weren't there as well which had my heart wavering as I wondered if something had had happened. I mean, something bad must have happened right? I picked up my phone immediately and began dialing Ethan's number again ,I am so remorseful that I might be disrupting his call with his lawyer but if he doesn't pick up, I might pass out by the time he gets here. And thank goodness, he did pick up. "Ethan, they're not here. There's no one in the house, there's no sign—" I was literally rapping the entire thing I was saying that he had to i
ETHAN "I just called the paramedics to pick you just for the sake of he fact that you're a distant relative and I wouldn't want a taint on my name because of you." I stated as I walked back into the cafe to Bruce and he grunted trying to crawl over to me. I know what he was trying to do. Trying to retaliate in any way he can do he doesn't look stupid, so he doesn't look like he can't protect protect his aura and pride. "Stop trying to do that, boy. You would end up hurting yourself. Do you need a hand to sit?" I questioned and he glared at me. There was no more to be said as everything he would want to say was contained in that glare. "Alright, it's up to you then." Just then, I heard sirens blaring and I knew that it was the paramedics I had called for. "He's bleeding." I simply said when I walked up to them and after we exchanged pleasantries, I left them to do whatever they wanted to. "Take care of yourself, buddy. Next time try to keep your filthy dirty hands off people's
UNKNOWN POV I lingered in the hospital's dimly lit corridor, my eyes fixed on Bruce's room. The soft beeps of machines and hushed conversations created an eerie symphony. A nurse emerged, her expression grave. "He's stable, but..." Her voice trailed off, leaving me wondering. "...severe head trauma and potential amnesia," she continued, her words dripping with weight. My pulse quickened, a mix of curiosity and concern swirling within me. A doctor approached, clipboard in hand. "Mr. Walter's condition is critical. We're doing everything we can." A faint sense of satisfaction crept over me. Bruce, the man who had tormented so many, now lay vulnerable. "Will he remember?" a voice asked, laced with anxiety. The doctor's hesitation spoke volumes. "It's uncertain. The impact was severe." I melted into the shadows, my mind racing. Bruce's amnesia could upend everything. Later that night, I slipped into Bruce's room, the darkness swallowing me whole, only the clanking of my heels was
ETHANI stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, gazing out at the city skyline, feeling like a trapped animal. My mind raced with the weight of accusations, my heart heavy with frustration.How could they think I'd hurt Bruce?The news had spread like wildfire, fueling the whispers and pointed fingers. Bruce Walter, hospitalized with amnesia, and I was the prime suspect.A knot formed in my stomach as I scanned the office. Employees' hushed conversations halted as I passed, their accusing glances burning like embers.Fear and anger simmered beneath my surface, but I kept my expression neutral, refusing to give in.Only Reina knew the truth. I turned to her, my voice barely above a whisper, desperation creeping in."Reina, I swear, I didn't hurt Bruce. I'm being framed." Her eyes locked onto mine, filled with unwavering conviction, a beacon of hope."I believe you, Ethan," she said. But doubt crept in, insidious and suffocating."Everyone thinks I did it," I admitted. Sham
REINAI sat beside Ethan in his dimly lit study, surrounded by stacks of files and documents. We were digging deeper into Bruce's past, searching for answers."Ethan, I don't know how much more of this I can take," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Ethan's eyes, filled with determination, met mine. "We have to know the truth, Reina. For ourselves, for the victims."I nodded, steeling myself. "You're right."We poured over the documents, our fingers tracing the lines of text. Names, dates, and numbers blurred together.Suddenly, Ethan's finger stopped on a particular line. "Reina, look at this."My heart sank as I read the words. "Oh no...Bruce was involved with some shady organizations."Ethan's jaw clenched. "And look at the dates. This was during his rise to power."A chill ran down my spine. "He used his influence to cover his tracks."Ethan's eyes locked onto mine, filled with anger and sadness. "We were blind, Reina. We trusted him."I reached out, taking his hand. "We did
REINAI walked into Ethan's study, finding him staring at his phone."Ethan, what's wrong?" I asked.His face was pale. "I received a threatening message."My heart skipped a beat. "What does it say?"Ethan hesitated before handing me the phone."You'll pay for digging into Bruce's past."I felt a chill run down my spine."We can't back down," I said.Ethan's eyes locked onto mine. "I won't let anyone hurt you."Just then, my phone buzzed.I showed Ethan the message:"You're next."Ethan's jaw clenched. "We're going to the police."Detective James listened intently as we showed him the messages."I'll increase protection," he promised.But I couldn't shake off the fear."Ethan, what if they hurt us?" I whispered.Ethan wrapped his arms around me."I won't let that happen."That night, I lay awake, my mind racing.Ethan's hand found mine in the darkness."Reina, I'm here.""I'm scared," I admitted.Ethan pulled me close."Me too."The next morning, we received another message:"Stop i
ReinaThe next morning, the sunlight shon through the bedroom windows felt softer and warmer than before.Everything felt as if the world itself had decided to give us a fresh start. Ethan was still asleep beside me and his breathing felt calm. I could not remember the last time we had shared a bed without a wall of tension between us.Quietly, I slipped out of bed and went into the kitchen. The lake house was so calm and serene in the early morning light and I could hear the sound of birdsong in t h air through the open windows.I made myself a cup of coffee and stood at the counter, staring out at the shimmering lake.This was what I wanted. Peace and a life where Ethan and I were not at each other’s throats. But could it last? That was my greatest fear. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Ethan’s footsteps behind me. I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his hair messy and his eyes still heavy with sleep.“Morning, sweetheart,” he said to me. His voice was kinda
ReinaIt was the weekend already and it came faster than I expected. I had not even told Ethan if I was going to the lake house with him, and yet, he was packed and ready by Friday morning. His suitcase was beside the door and I knew that he might not take no for an answer. As I passed by it, I sighed to myself. I was so indecisive and it felt like something was pulling me down. Could I really spend the weekend with him?“Reina,” Ethan called softly, interrupting my thoughts.I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.He looked so casual and neat but his look didn’t match the tension in his eyes.“Are you coming with me or not?” He asked but his voice trailed off after a while, as if he was afraid of my answer.I hesitated, looking at the floor, the ceiling, anywhere but his face. “I don’t know, Ethan.”He took a step closer and his face fell. “What are you afraid of?”“Everything,” I admitted with my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m afraid that if
Reina’s POVBefore I knew what was happening, the weeks had gone past really fast. It was surprising how time went fast most of the time. I had just delivered some designs for aj international brand and I decided to take a week off to calm my nerves down since I had been working my ass off over the week. There was still a lot of work to be done but that would be attended to later. I don't care about that now. What I care about is my mental health and my physical health. As the days moved fast into weeks, Ethan’s persistence didn’t waver a bit. I could feel his frustration everytime I looked at him. It was always written all over his face and he could not hide it.I was not sure if it was at me, at himself, or at the situation we had both created. Whatever it was, I knew one thing, he wanted us to be okay.But could we be? Could we really be okay? Could we forget everything that has happened between the both of us? All these questions are difficult to answer. It was a quiet eveni
Reina's POVThe air between Ethan and me felt...different. Not entirely warm, but it was not cold either. Ethan was giving me some signs that he was a good husband. He was going extra miles to win my heart and it amused me. The last thing I thought Ethan would do was for him not to divorce me. I had been preparing my mind ever since for a divorce. There were moments when I had caught him watching me with a funny expression that I could not quite read. His face always looked so soft, almost tender. But I was not ready to let my guard down. Not yet.I had spent so long trying to please him, begging him to forgive me, and now I was tired. I didn’t know how to go about this new phase of my life. He was trying and I could see it but the pain and resentment I had buried deep still clung to me like shadows.Well, his kindness towards me all started with small gestures.As I walked into the living room, I noticed a bouquet of red roses on the coffee table. At first, I thought they were f
Reina POV I could feel Ethan’s eyes on me as I poured myself a second glass of wine. The intensity of his gaze on me was suffocating, but I refused to let my eyes meet his. Let him watch. Let him wonder. I have spent too many nights begging for his attention; now it was his turn to sit with it and beg me for my attention. The silence stretched between us like a long string and I swirled the wine in my glass, feeling that I didn't care about his feelings, though my heart raced. I could still hear his words from the other night, the way he practically begged me for answers, for me to talk to him. It was crazy but funny at the same time. “I want us to fix this.” But fix what, exactly? The broken shards of a marriage that neither of us seemed willing to sweep up? The years of neglect, the lies and the half-hearted apologies? Oh, let's not forget. The cheating. No. I was done being the one to bend. That night, I stayed up late in the guest bedroom I had claimed as my own.
Ethan POVReina’s words echoed in my mind so loudly like a drum that one could not silence. “Do your worst, Ethan.” She had said it with so much conviction, like she doesn't care about any action that I took. What the hell has come over her? This was not the wife that I got married to . She was so indifferent and that alone cut deeper than I thought words ever could.I stared at the ceiling that night, trying to piece together the shattered pieces of our life. Our lives were nothing to write home about and I have lost all hope in making sure that things went back to normal. Divorce was what was staring at us from another end and it now seemed like a threat that we both threw around like a knife, but neither of us had the courage to file for a divorce. Truth was, I didn’t want to divorce Reina.Not because I was scared of the fallout between us or the bad press, or the whispers and gossips from our so-called friends. No, that is not it. I could not bring myself to do it because
EthanI couldn’t focus on anything anymore. Not work, not Andrew, not even the endless distractions I used to drown myself in. My mind was consumed by Reina. Her sudden indifference towards me, her mysterious outings, and the unsettling confidence she carried these days. It was as though she had transformed into someone I didn’t recognize, someone who didn’t need me anymore.The change that I saw in her made me mad and angry. She used to plead, cry, and beg for my attention. Now, she barely looked at me. She left the house dressed to kill, and returned late at night without a single explanation. When I asked where she had been, her replies were casual and almost dismissive.“It is none of your business, Ethan,” she said one night, brushing past me as though I were invisible.And that smile, she smiled more these days, but never at me. Always at her phone. One evening, I heard the door close softly behind her as she left. I sat in the living room, staring at the television, but I
ReinaTaking your friend's advice? That was a good thing to do. I sat at the dining table, absently twirling the spoon in my cup of tea. Ethan was seated across from me, but I didn’t dare look at him. I could feel his eyes on me, as though he was waiting for me to break the silence. A month ago, I would have. I would have pleaded, begged him to talk to me. But not anymore. I had decided to follow Celia’s advice. If Ethan wanted space, he would get it, more than he bargained for.“You are not going to say anything?” he asked finally, breaking the silence between the both of us. I looked up briefly, then shrugged, giving him a neutral look. “What is there to say?”His brows furrowed. “You have been quiet lately. It’s…unlike you.”I shrugged again and stood, carrying my cup to the sink. “If you have something to say, Ethan, say it. Otherwise, I have work to do.”I walked out of the kitchen without waiting for a response. My hands trembled slightly as I made my way to the livin
ReinaA divorce? A fucking divorce!!!Did I hear right or was I dreaming? Has it come to this now that he was suddenly asking for a divorce? No, no. He has to be joking. He has to be seriously joking about this. He will come around soon. I hit my head with my hand countless times as the days passed in a rush. The once vibrant and intoxicating energy that filled our home had been replaced with a heavy, suffocating silence. Ethan barely spoke to me unless it was about Andrew or something essential that he felt I should know about.Even then, his words were short and straight to the point and his tone was cold. It was like talking to a stranger.I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the framed photo on the nightstand. It was from our honeymoon. Ethan and I were on a beach, laughing at something I could not even remember. We looked so happy, so carefree. That version of us felt like a distant dream, a life that didn’t belong to me anymore.How did all these disappear in the blink