TristanShe kept laughing so hard it's started to get hysterical I didn’t move.Didn’t know how.Her body was still close. Not held, exactly, just there like a flicker of warmth I didn’t dare reach for. I loosened my grip when she pulled back, but I didn’t let her fall.And when she finally stopped laughing and looked up at me with her eyes red and raw. I’d seen her fight, seen her spit venom just to survive. But this? This was the aftermath. The quiet after the storm, when the world’s cracked and no one knows what to say because the damage has already been done.“Liora,” I said quietly.She didn’t respond. Just bent to grab the clothes she probably had no idea had fallen off her hand and brushed past me like I wasn’t even there.I stood there and watched as she went straight to the bathroom and shut the door.And I stayed there, outside the door, my hand clenched at my side.I hadn’t come here to hurt her.But somehow, I kept finding new ways to be the worst part of her life. It's a
LioraI got back to the house just as the sun was starting to dip. The sky had softened into that warm, orange hue that made everything feel quieter somehow. When I stepped inside, the living room was empty. No Tristan in sight. I let out a silent breath of relief.At least he hadn’t shown up at Mande's and dragged me out like some unhinged bodyguard. The meeting had happened. And I… I was still sorting through everything they said. None of it made any sense given that after I'd let everyone at the company go. I thought the court would’ve sold it off by now. But now they’re saying it’s still under my family’s name?” This is just too much to process at once.I climbed the stairs, already thinking about changing out of these trousers and slipping into something more comfortable. The day had been long. My body felt heavy, like I’d been carrying more than just myself.But when I opened the bedroom door, I stopped short.Tristan was sitting on the edge of the bed, one arm resting on his
Liora“Do you still remember when I first came to the company?” Jasmine asked, a small, almost shy smile playing on her lips.I looked at her, caught a little off guard by the question. Then I let out a soft breath, leaning back slightly. “Yeah,” I said, my voice gentler than I expected. “You came in as an intern.”She laughed under her breath, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “God, I was so nervous I could barely remember my own name.”That day only happens to be one of the few I had clung unto Tristan to take me to the company, after all, father's so strict about the company, and he was grooming him for it, looking back now, I wasn't really interested in the position, in fact, I'd thought Tristan will look good as the group director someday. I chuckled at that, the memory surfacing like a ripple in still water. I remember her clutching that folder like it was her lifeline. She had even introduced herself twice to the same person. She groaned, covering her face for a
LioraI left the dining table the moment I finished eating and headed straight upstairs. No point lingering.Thankfully, he didn’t bring up the whole “come work for me as my personal secretary” nonsense again. I swear, that man could be hilarious in the most unexpected ways, because what on earth made him think I’d actually want to work for him?This was a contract marriage. One year. Play the wife. Keep up the appearances. And nowhere, absolutely nowhere, in that contract did it say I had to be his employee too.I slipped back into the bedroom and shut the door behind me. The silence greeted me like always, calm and cold.And truth be told... It was boring here.I got up, wandered over to the mirror, and leaned forward to check my reflection. But the moment my eyes caught the image staring back at me, I froze.No. No, that couldn't be—I quickly turned my face away, my chest tightening as I forced myself to blink, to breathe. I must’ve seen that wrong. I had to.A sharp exhale left
LioraWhen Helen said “lunch,” I’d pictured something quiet and simple.But instead… who knows I would be seated across from him? I didn’t realize it right away given that I'd followed Helen mainly due to my own personal reasons, so I didn't put it into thought that he'll be here. He was already eating, calm as ever, and if it wasn't for the handprints against his cheeks, no one would believe he was the same person who'd done those annoying things a few hours ago.So I held myself still, spine straight, and walked to the table, drew a seat out and settled myself into the seat, my fingers lightly resting on the edge of the table.I didn’t speak. Neither did he.Helen, cheerfully oblivious, or willfully ignoring the tension began placing a plate in front of me. She moved with care, even setting out a small plate of snacks I hadn’t asked for in front of me. I offered her a brief, polite smile. Something in my eyes must have made her hesitate for a second, but she said nothing.“Eat,
LioraI slammed the door behind me, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the silence. My back hit the door fast as I leaned against it, chest rising and falling.My heart was racing, loud, wild, out of control, and I pressed a hand over it like that could somehow slow it down.What the hell just happened?Was I out of my mind?My heart was still hammering in my chest, wild and relentless. Why was it so loud? It had to be the anger. That was all. Not him. Definitely not him.I nodded to myself, forcing slow, deep breaths.Knowing within myself that It wasn’t the kiss, it was the audacity, The sheer nerve of that arrogant psycho.That had to be it.Considering the facts that I was doing this for Caleb.Only for Caleb.“Tristan’s definitely insane,” I muttered aloud, as if saying it would make everything easier to believe. “So I shouldn’t waste another second getting worked up over him.”That thought gave me just enough strength to push off the door and cross the room.Right, Caleb. I’d