“Mrs Rayne got into an accident.”Brielle felt air being sucked out of her lungs as soon as the words left Dr Lorey’s mouth. Her eyes widened as fear crept in immediately.“W-what? An accident?” She whispered, her heart still racing. “That’s not possible. I was with her a few hours ago.” She shook her head, hoping Dr Lorey would tell her that it was just a joke.“Oh dear. She’s in here right now. Come see for yourself.” Dr Lorey answered hurriedly and turned to enter the room.Brielle stayed rooted in her position for a few seconds, thinking about what could have happened and why it had to happen to Vivian. Then, with a deep breath, she took a step forward and entered the room.Nothing could have prepared her for the sight before her.“Oh my God!” Brielle almost screamed, her hands rising to cover her mouth.Vivian lay motionless on the bed, various tubes connected to her, and her head wrapped in a bandage but the blood stains were still visible. Beside her was her husband, Raymond, A
“We’re divorced…Ethan and I,” Brielle whispered. “What was that, dear? I don’t think I heard you.” Vivian leaned forward with a curious face but just as Brielle opened her mouth to speak clearly, a call came through. Startled by the vibration from her legs, Vivian jerked. “Oh!” She laughed when she realized it was just her phone. “Give me a moment, my dear. I must take this.” She told Brielle once she saw that it was Raymond on the call. Brielle nodded, telling herself that she would continue after Vivian’s call. “What? Is it bad?” Vivian suddenly said, panicking. “Oh dear. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She said hurriedly and ended the call quickly. She stood with an apologetic look, grabbing her purse. “I’m so sorry, Brielle but, Raymond needs me at the house. I’ll give you a call once I finish with him and we can reschedule, okay?” She pleaded. Brielle’s shoulder slouched, her expression saddening. “Mother—” She stood, hoping to speak before she left. “I’m really
Brielle shut the door to her apartment and leaned against it, her suitcase long forgotten at the door. The silence in her home was calming, a sharp contrast to the chaos she had just left behind. She dragged her feet into the room, dropped the suitcase near the closet, and collapsed onto the bed.As soon as her body touched the mattress, the tears came. Uncontrolled, heavy sobs broke free from her chest as she buried her face into the sheets. All the emotions she’d kept bottled up poured out of her anger, disappointment, heartbreak, and above all, shame.Shame that she had let the situation with Ethan drag on for so long. Shame that she had ignored the warnings and continuously lied to herself…convinced herself that things would change and that maybe he would become the man she wanted.But, she was only fooling herself. She was a coward who blamed her inability to walk away from toxicity on her love for Vivian.Brielle bawled her eyes out that night until sleep finally took her.*****
Ethan runs a hand through his hair in frustration. Just when things were getting slightly better between him and Brielle, they come here and do this!With blazing eyes, Ethan turns to his sister and Jessica who was stationed beside her, holding her arm like her life depended on it. “Make sure you are both gone by the time I return.” He pointed at them, eying his sister with both disappointment and rage.“I thought you were on my side, Anita. I trusted you.” His voice was laced with hurt that was deeply rooted.Anita opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She knew she was wrong and had crossed the line but she was too strong-headed to admit that.“Don’t come to the house anymore, Anita. I’m not playing this time. You know how I feel about backstabbers.” He warned in a stern voice that sent shivers up Anita’s skin.For the first time in her life, she saw him as a man. Not the little boy she always scolded.And that was when she realized that the relationship she once had with
Jessica sat comfortably on Brielle’s bed like she owned it, her suitcase placed boldly beside the dresser. Anita settled beside her, one leg crossed over the other, staring at them without a care in the world.“What the hell is going on here?” Ethan’s voice thundered through the room.Neither Jessica nor Anita flinched.Jessica lowered her eyes like a cornered deer, pressing her hand to her stomach as though protecting the child within her.A move meant to make Ethan believe her claims.Anita, however, rolled her eyes lazily and met Ethan’s glare without fear. “Why are you shouting? We’re not intruders. We let ourselves in.”“In my house?” Ethan growled. “And in my wife’s room? Have you both gone mad?” He pointed toward Brielle, whose shock was evident on her face. However, she remained silent.Jessica sniffled softly. “I…I told her this wasn’t a good idea, Ethan,” she murmured, “but she insisted—she said it’s your child and I needed to feel safe, and…”“Oh shut up!” Ethan snapped, cu
Ethan sat in the sleek luxury desk at his office, eyes skimming the contract on the table while his business partner went on about a new expansion plan. He tapped a pen lightly against the folder, paying rapt attention to what he was saying and trying to go through the document at the same time. Just as the man across from him leaned forward to discuss revenue projections, Ethan’s phone buzzed beside him.He glanced down and saw the name: Brielle. His heart skipped in a good way.“Excuse me,” Ethan said, raising a hand. “Give me a minute. I need to take this.”The business partner nodded immediately. Seeing the bright look on Ethan’s face, he thought that it might be his wife.Ethan stood and walked toward the glass wall at the edge of the room, answering the call.“Brielle?”“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said quickly. “I know you’re probably busy.”“It’s fine,” Ethan said, already softening. As a matter of fact, he was glad she called. It was something she rarely did these days. “The