HaraldI was still processing what I had just heard. Glory's words echoed in my mind, over and over again, like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. "I killed Charles." I couldn't understand what that really meant. Every time I tried to rationalize what had been said, it seemed like the surrounding reality crumbled a little more. I knew that my father and I had a complicated relationship, filled with abuse, manipulation, and resentment. Maybe, at some point, I wanted him to disappear, for him to leave the scene. But imagining that this had actually happened — and at the hands of Glory, the woman with whom I was emotionally involved, the person I thought I knew — was an idea that tore me apart inside.The cold of the night seemed to envelop my body, but it didn't bring the relief I expected. Leaning against the porch wall, I tried to organize my thoughts, but everything was chaotic. My head was spinning, and I felt a growing pressure in my chest. What should I do? What would anyone do
HaraldAfter I ended the call with Glory, I rushed to the bedroom, my head spinning from everything that had just happened. My hands shook as I tried to quickly unbutton my shirt, as if every second wasted was crucial. “I killed Charles.” Glory's words rang in my mind over and over, like an ominous echo that I couldn't shake. It couldn't be real, it couldn't be possible that she had actually done that. As much as my father was a monster in many ways—someone who controlled and manipulated me—he was still my father. And Glory, the woman I had fallen for so deviously, had taken his life. I threw on some jeans and pulled a random jacket from my closet, my hands still shaking as I tried to process what I needed to do next. I needed to find glory; I needed to understand what the hell happened. Maybe she was in shock, maybe she was confused—I didn't know. But I had to go to her. I had to resolve this. Before I could get out of the closet, the door was slammed open, and Candace appeared. He
GloryThe night was already advancing when I realized that Harald would not come. Every second that passed was a blow, a wound that deepened, reminding me of how much I had been betrayed. I looked at my cell phone once again, waiting for a message, a call... anything. But nothing. He abandoned me.I felt my body shaking, not from fear but from pure anger. The man who said he loved me, the man I sacrificed everything for, simply disappeared when I needed him most. The despair I felt was quickly replaced by a coldness that took over me completely. If Harald wasn't coming, I needed to make my own decisions. I couldn't stay there. I had to run away and disappear before everything fell apart.Furthermore, when I got out of bed, the sheets were still messy from what had been a normal day until a few hours ago. Now everything was turned upside down. I passed Charles' body, stretched out on the bedroom floor, his eyes still open and empty, as if he were watching the ceiling without really see
NancyThe morning sun peeked through the trees in the Morton mansion's garden, its filtered light creating dancing shadows on the stone floor. My feet felt heavy as I said goodbye to Amber and Peter in the driveway. The cold winter air mixed with the warmth of a moment that I didn't know if I wanted to prolong or shorten. Peter's suitcase was already in the car, and he, always so excited, talked about all the things he wanted to do in New York."You're going to love New York, my boy," I said, bending down to his level. I adjusted his jacket and stroked his hair. He laughed a sweet laugh, so innocent and carefree about everything around him. I envied the simplicity with which he approached life."Yes, mom. It gonna be awesome! And I'm going to bring you gifts!" Peter replied, his eyes shining with excitement of the trip. The driver was already waiting, the car engine purring softly, ready to take them away.Amber, on the other hand, was different. I watched her sideways, waiting for th
NancyI was leaning against the large window, watching Charles' wake unfold with a mix of relief and discomfort. Relief knowing that my children, Amber and Peter, were far from all that farce, in New York, and discomfort because, even without wanting to, I was there, in the middle of it all, witnessing every morbid detail of this performance. Nothing there seemed genuine. Charles Morton's death was a spectacle, and everyone played their roles perfectly.Bruce, of course, was at the center of it all. Dressed impeccably in black, he seemed to fulfill his role as a grieving son almost automatically. His serious but restrained expression, the way he received greetings and condolences—everything was so calculated. I watched him from a distance, recognizing the mechanical gestures of someone suffocated by responsibility but without allowing any emotion to escape.It was then that I noticed three young women approaching, wearing clothes that were clearly inappropriate for the occasion. Tight
NancyWinter had already covered everything with its icy blanket, and the air outside the great Morton mansion felt thick and sharp. The wind blew in gusts, carrying with it a damp cold that made even the stones on the path to the cemetery seem frozen. The branches of dry trees swayed in the distance, casting long, flickering shadows on the lawn that led to the family mausoleum. The snow, which had fallen lightly the day before, covered the ground in a thin layer of white, almost as if it was announcing the arrival of something dark and definitive.Inside, the wake had already gone on for hours. The heated air of the mansion was unable to dispel the oppressive feeling that hung over us all. The smell of mortuary flowers mixed with the expensive perfume of the women present created a suffocating atmosphere, as if mourning were just another formality among many others. Every person in that room seemed more concerned about being seen than actually feeling the loss. There was no genuine p
Nancy"Are you going to deny that you were in love with our father's wife, brother?" Bruce roared, his voice echoing through the hall like thunder. He was on the verge of breaking down, his face contorted into a mask of pure hatred. His breathing came in ragged gasps, and his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white. The veins in his neck stood out, and there was saliva accumulating in the corners of his mouth, which he involuntarily spat out with each scream.Those words seemed to have a physical force, like a slap in the face of everyone present. The silence that followed was suffocating, interrupted only by the sound of heavy breathing and the cold wind outside, which blew against the windows."Arrest this useless person!" Bruce shouted again, now turning to the police officers who were present. "You heard what I said! He killed our father! That worm!" His voice was a mix of despair and revenge, echoing in the hall like a desperate plea for justice — or perhaps f
NancyThat was bad, but I preferred not to judge Harald. He was a man who had suffered greatly at the hands of his father, a tyrant who always sought control over his life and his choices. The last thing I wanted was to add more weight to your conscience. If he got to the point of getting involved with Charles' wife, that was something he had to resolve on his own. I was not one to give opinions or point fingers. For a moment, I let Harald and Candace take Ivor, who was sad, not understanding where his mother was. He was only five years old and deserved some peace, even in the midst of so much confusion.After the wake, people began to disperse. The mansion, once full of laughter and conversation, was now empty, like an echo of what had been. I felt suffocated by that loneliness, surrounded by walls that had witnessed so many lies and betrayals. The silence became deafening, and the feeling of despair grew in my chest.I walked through the cold corridors of the mansion to the living r