Exelle
"You ruined my life, didn't you know that? So, I must ruin yours, too," he declared with a chilling intensity, his hands gripping my hair tightly as he forcefully dragged me through the front door and into the house. My body collided harshly with the unforgiving floor, leaving painful bruises on my skin and causing a sharp pain to shoot through my knee as it made contact with the hard surface.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought hard to hold them back, feeling utterly helpless in that moment.
"Damn you, bitch! If it weren't for that fucking, worthless paper, I wouldn't have you as my useless wife!" His hand swung violently, striking my face and sending me stumbling to the floor. I struggled to rise, but the pain coursing through my body made it impossible. Every inch of me ached terribly. There were fleeting moments when I contemplated giving up, but a flicker of determination kept me going.
Why am I so foolish?
"I hate you! I wish I never met you!"
His hurtful words reverberated through my mind, each syllable echoing like a discordant melody. It was excruciating to listen to, but I couldn't help but absorb every word. That's how deeply I loved him. My ears were attuned to him alone.
"I hate you, Xiellenna!"
I loved him, and yet he harbored such intense hatred for me. This time, I yearned to shield my ears from the painful onslaught. Hearing the person you love utter words of hatred cuts deeper than any physical blow.
I HATE YOU!
***
I found myself perched on the edge of the bed, gasping for breath as if the oxygen had been sucked out of the room, leaving me gasping for air. Then, it hit me—my dreams. Upon awakening, a profound emptiness engulfed me, leaving me feeling adrift.
What did those dreams mean? They hadn't plagued my sleep in years, and now they resurfaced in my mind without warning. Taking a deep breath, I cast a glance out the window. The world outside remained cloaked in darkness, rain pouring relentlessly from the sky. Determined, I stood up, slipping into my night coat and making my way to the door.
Peering down the dimly lit hallway toward the staircase, I hesitated. I always turned off the lights before retiring to bed, a habit borne out of caution. A nagging feeling told me that I wasn't alone in this house. It was our old house—the place I once shared with my former husband.
I sigh.
The mere thought of him, my ex-husband, sent a shiver down my spine. And the unsettling feeling of not being alone in this familiar space filled me with apprehension. I knew the maids resided in a separate wing of the house, tucked away in their own quarters.
I had considered buying a condominium, but the significance this house held in my heart dissuaded me. It was here that I hoped to witness a transformation, as it would soon undergo renovations. I eagerly anticipated that change.
Yet, what if someone had already infiltrated the premises, lurking in the shadows, ready to strike without warning?
With a resigned sigh, I took a deep breath.
I extended my hand and flicked the light switch, illuminating the staircase. Relief washed over me as I saw no signs of intruders. Gradually, a sense of calm settled within me, urging me to proceed downstairs into the living room. But suddenly, the air grew dense, a heavy weight pressing upon my senses.
"When did this presence make itself known?" I murmured to myself, entertaining the notion of a ghost haunting these walls. It was an eerie thought, but could it be that I was simply succumbing to madness?
Gosh.
Why did I always feel this way when I was alone? Perhaps I hadn't changed at all.
"Since you came back," a chillingly familiar voice echoed from behind, its icy tone freezing me in place. It was a voice that had screamed in my ears countless times, years ago.
This is insane.
Could it be that I was merely hallucinating, trapped in an unaltered house while time marched on? Every nook and cranny whispered memories of the past, a constant reminder of what once was.
"Xiellenna," his voice called out my name, and in that moment, I was stunned, my senses frozen in time. My breaths came in quick succession as my heart raced, its pounding echoing in my chest. Without a second thought, I turned around, only to be met with his presence, standing before me, an enigmatic figure.
A surge of emotions overwhelmed me, and my heart skipped a beat, as if recognizing a long-lost melody. Everything seemed to stand still, the world hushed in anticipation of what was about to unfold.
"W-Who, who are you?" I stammered, feigning ignorance, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and curiosity. His penetrating gaze bore into me, searching for answers, yet he offered no response, his eyes locked onto mine. "W-What do you want? H-How did you get inside this house? T-Tell me--"
"Don't act like you didn't know me, Xiellenna. This is, I mean, this was the house we used to live in together, seven years ago," he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of nostalgia. I averted my gaze, unable to withstand the intensity of his stare.
This was real.
I wasn't trapped within the confines of a dream; I was wide awake, confronted by the past that had long haunted me.
"Hans," I finally mustered the courage to utter his name, my voice tinged with apprehension. Still, I avoided meeting his eyes directly, as if the mere act would expose my vulnerability to him.
Paranoia coursed through my veins, remnants of the pain he had inflicted upon me in the past. Yet, I drew upon every ounce of strength within me, determined not to succumb to my emotions. All the progress I had made, the steps I had taken to move on, would be rendered futile if I allowed fear and anxiety to consume me.
I knew I had to face him, to confront the ghosts of our shared history. Though fear lingered, I refused to let it cripple me.
Yes, I had loved him once, but that was seven years ago, during the chaotic whirlwind of our tumultuous relationship. Now, things had changed. While unease and trepidation gnawed at my core, I was certain I had moved on. My only remaining fear was the prospect of him causing me pain once more, a fear I couldn't shake.
No other connections remained between us.
"Get out of here," I whispered, my voice firm and resolute.
"And why?" he responded, his tone growing colder, his words steeped in seriousness.
Finally, I summoned the strength to meet his gaze directly, displaying the gravity of my intent. "Because you're not welcome here anymore," I declared, half-expecting a reaction from him. However, instead of a fleeting expression, he seized my right arm with an iron grip, yanking me closer to a nearby wall, effectively cornering me with his embrace.
In that moment, a vivid flashback flooded my mind, a recollection of the dream that had plagued me earlier. He would never hurt me again, for I would never allow it. "Let me go, Hans. Leave this place," I commanded, my voice stern, inches away from his face.
The fear that had gripped me moments ago now gave way to an unfamiliar anger, simmering within me. Though revenge was not my intention, my fervent desire was for him to vanish from my life, to leave without a trace.
Now, anger surged through my veins, fueling my defiance. "I said leave," I reiterated, as if he were deaf to my pleas.
"NO!" he bellowed,
his voice reverberating through the space before us, causing me to pause momentarily.
"LEAVE!" I retorted, my voice echoing with a newfound strength.
In that moment, I no longer feared him; instead, I felt a fiery annoyance and resentment burn within me. "Go home, Hans," I spoke with unwavering seriousness. Yet, he remained silent, fixated on me with an unyielding gaze. His actions filled me not with fear, but a potent blend of anger and unease.
"What do you exactly want, Hans Kenji Alvez?"
"You. I want you back, former Mrs. Alvez," he replied, his words hanging in the air, as though igniting the embers of a dormant flame.
Translation done!OMG, I'm crying, after so many years~lol...Hope you like the translation...Love, queenkimzxie
"The moment of truth has come, when fears were set aside, just like when we choose to fight against them instead. The truth is, I’ve come a long way just to reach this peak that we’ve talked about, and to call it success. This building has been here to witness the ups and downs of my life since I came back to this place, from the grains of sand and un-mixed cement that hadn't yet formed the solid foundation we now call walls and floors, into this majestic tower that now battles the heights to reach the sky," I paused, pressing my lips into a thin smile before letting out a soft laugh.That small laugh echoed through the hall, amplified by the speaker connected to the mic I was holding. The unique sound of my laughter traveled across the space.I noticed ripples forming on the surface of the white wine in my glass. It was like a disturbance in the silence, but it was calm, almost inviting. It moved in sync with the subtle movements of my body, and then stopped momentarily, matching the
Third Person's Point of ViewDark clicked his tongue to openly express his dissatisfaction, his gaze sharp as he stared at Hans, who, in turn, was also staring back at him.The frown on the young man's face deepened when Hans simply passed him by after Exelle allowed him into the mansion. Brimming with his usual intimidating aura, Dark strode along to follow Exelle and Hans. They passed through the open living area where Dark and Exelle had spent time together before Hans’ unexpected arrival.Unlike before, when the place was dimly lit, with light sneaking through the slightly opened veranda doors, now the space was illuminated by the bright lights from a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, near the staircase leading to the upper floors. The sound of their footsteps broke the quiet, followed by the creak of a door opening not far from the main hall, where the living area and staircase were located.“Get inside,” Exelle’s soft voice cut through the silence as she led the three o
Third Person's PoVThere was a faint smile on her face as she watched the argument between her two friends, the ones she had last seen a year ago. Her attention was then caught by someone's presence beside her, which caused her smile to widen, turning from a simple curve to something more genuine. Lei, who was sitting beside her stepbrother, Pierce, on the sofa, was still engaged in an argument with him."Tsk, tsk, Pierce. You're so slow," Lei whispered to her stepbrother, Pierce, while stealing a glance at the man Exelle was talking to.If you think about it, Lei couldn't really say anything against that man. Aside from being handsome and having a well-built physique, it was undeniable that he had a certain magnetic aura about him. He was someone filled with a dark presence, but for some reason, that aura could also draw anyone in, as if they were naturally pulled toward him by an invisible force. Thinking about it, Lei couldn't help but form a lopsided smile before giving her brothe
Third Person's Point of View"It's still the same?"A question was heard from Dark as he stood in front of a bookshelf, pulling out a file folder and opening it. He did not glance at his cousin, who was sitting seriously on the sofa in the receiving room. That room was part of Audrey's office, and the only way into it was through the door of her office."I... think so."In the way the man spoke, one could notice a slight hesitation. It was as if he was unsure whether his words would be the right ones to say. Only then did the young woman glance at him, her eyes noting the expression on her cousin Dark's face."You haven't met her since you came back here, have you?" Audrey asked again with a raised eyebrow. When she didn’t hear a reply from her cousin, she merely shook her head.Audrey sighed before placing the file folder back on the shelf.Dark, with his head lowered, waited silently in his seat, and after a moment, he looked up at the ceiling, suddenly lost in thought. His mind was
Third Person's POVExelle remained silent as she watched Dark's unreadable face under the fluorescent light.Her gentle expression returned, unlike the unusual look she had earlier while watching Alexis. Her lifeless eyes, seemingly exhausted, dropped their gaze back to Dark, as if nothing had changed upon seeing Alexis again and knowing that Rylie might already be dead.It was as if her gaze told him she wasn’t bothered by Alexis’s miserable state or Rylie’s death.Exelle simply stared back at Dark, who was still holding her hand. She didn’t know what to say, unable to decipher what he was trying to convey. His head was bowed, and his trembling hand, still holding hers, seemed afraid to let go. Since she couldn’t fathom what was going on in his mind, she stayed quiet, waiting for his next move.“I feel like I’ll lose her once I let her hand go…”Those were the heavy words echoing in Dark’s head.At this moment, the two figures—a man and a woman—stood motionless in the quiet, wide hal