Usually, I would shrug off these kinds of occurrences as though they were completely nothing. However, looking at them right at this moment made me all of a sudden feel as though something hidden deep within me is about to blow up any second now.When I opened the door to the other dressing room, which was right next to the one where I tried on my dress, my eyes widened in shock as I saw that it was actually Justin and the saleswoman making out inside. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.I usually only see this in movies, and I can honestly say that not once in my entire life have I ever entertained the thought of actually being able to witness it happening in real life. At this point, the only sensation that I could detect within me was one of complete numbness.At the same time, it feels like a bomb is ticking inside of me, and I'm just waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger so that it can finally go off. And it seems as though that trigger has been pulled apparently by
How was I supposed to answer him at all?โWould you please stop this nonsense, Justin?โ I immediately protested followed by getting myself off from Justinโs arms.I couldnโt possibly let him continue to mock me in a way that he would use my emotion against me. It was not fair.โWait, come back here, Marga!โ Justin called for me but I paid him no mind. I took the opportunity to go and leave him. He didnโt expect that I was able to move swiftly. I was even trying to still be cautious in a way because I was scared that something might happen with the child inside my belly. Although for some reason, my belly isnโt that much big compared to other pregnant women at this stage.Which was why even though I finally allowed Justin to have his way and sleep with me, he was still unable to distinguish that I was pregnant.โI will not come back. Iโd rather go home.โ I replied back while not trying to stop my feet from moving. And yet, Justin was eventually able to come after me within seconds pu
Everything around us went quietly awkward for the next few seconds.Only the sound of other footsteps walking not so distant from us was the only thing that we could hear.Justin, who was just staring at me at the moment, leaves me an unbearable decision of wanting to leave him right away, knowing that nothing would simply result from all of this.โAnd thatโs the reason why we donโt have to talk things out because it would be meaningless anyway. I know that there was no way that you would ever want to continue this marriage. A bond that you so much loathe.โ I finally mustered up the courage to finally tell him. Otherwise, I knew that it would only make me more miserable than I already was should I even consider staying here for much longer.And as Justin didnโt even seem to bother saying anything anymore, I was forced to struggle getting his grip off my arms and left him behind. As expected, Justin didnโt even bother to chase after me any more.A DAY PAST and it was the day that ever
I had to forcibly pull my arm off from my mother-in-law’s grip as I replied, “There’s no need for you to brush that off to my face, mother. Again, don’t you think it’s unnecessary that you’re doing this to me while everybody might be staring at us?”With a brief moment, I quickly pulled away my arm enough to make her let go of me.“You should be grateful that there was a party going on,” Mother pressed on me. Her voice was trying to contain the animosity she has for me. She doesn’t have to directly tell it, it was already too obvious with her words.“I’m sorry, mother.” Was then the only words I could say. Unfortunately, t
I longed to release a piercing scream, to confront my mother-in-law and expose her outrageous behavior. Yet, I found myself unable to do so, for the garden was filled with countless guests who would bear witness to my outburst. She could still find reasons to scold me for being a failure if I had truly done something wrong, but my intentions were pure when it came to those cookies.“Weren’t you aware of what you just did, mother?” I finally couldn’t help myself from telling her. I can not help but feel that my mother-in-law has taken things to a whole new level this time."And you are really going to go against me?" Mother gave me a stern look, clearly indicating that she did not want me to go against her.
I had all the reasons to laugh, but I tried hard not to.At this point, it would seem that the table had just reversed and my mother-in-law was the one who was getting roasted from trying to overstep her role. โWhatโs wrong, Wilma? Did the cat get your tongue?โ grandma pressed on her and I could see that Wilma was really starting to get so pissed by the way that grandma has been giving her the same dose of her own medicine.I badly wanted to tell her how she deserved it. yet, I simply couldn't just indulge myself with this knowing my mother-in-law would eventually retaliate later on.It wasn't something I needed to be surprised of. My mother-in-law would for sure do that, regardless."Mother, I hope you're not trying to humiliate me in front of everyone." Wilma bravely said She was quick to retaliate. I suppose she wasn't a lawyer for nothing. However, even with her legal degree, she still had no match against grandma,of course.Grandma simply grin at her in a mischievous way as sh
“What is the meaning of this?” I screamed at the top of my lungs witnessing the infidelity of my husband right before my eyes.Justin could no longer justify himself for this act because what I've just witnessed could never get me wrong.“Marga, let me explain.” Justin began to speak to me, trying to explain his side of the story.Out of the fury I had been mustering up until now, I immediately raise my hand and flew it towards Justin’s face. My force was too intense that my hand left a red mark on his face.“You have nothing to explain. That’s not something you can explain.” I screamed at his fac
My body stood frozen as though I had been turned into a sculpture of ice.In an instance, everyone looked at my direction while the last projection screen in front of everyone continued to flash those scandalous images that depict a so-called image of me with another man.The worst part of it all was that I didn't even know that man.I was completely clueless while everyone looked at me with such disgust. "That's...that's not true." my head shaking as I screamed my protest against what was on the screen. "I don't know anything about those photos."Yet, to my horror, Justin suddenly pulled me by the elbow to face him. "You dare come clean and yet, you are much worse than a hoe for hiding this all this time."Justin was obviously furious after witnessing those farce photos of me with another man entering a motel."There was no truth about that, Justin. believe me." I quickly denied accepting that accusation
The rain was falling again.It always did on days like thisโdays that felt like endings.I stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stormy waters of Anacortes, my coat pulled tightly around me, the hood shielding my face from the wind that carried the scent of salt and something olderโsomething like goodbye.Leon stood behind me. I didnโt have to turn around to feel him there. His presence was familiar now, carved into my skin like muscle memory. Heโd been my gravity, my storm, my salvation, and my ruinโsometimes all at once.โItโs really over, isnโt it?โ I whispered, more to the wind than to him.He didnโt answer right away. His silence was as heavy as the stormclouds above us.โI wanted to fix everything for you,โ he said finally, his voice hoarse, like it had been dragged across a battlefield. โI wanted to give you a life that didnโt hurt.โI closed my eyes. The ache in my chest pulsed with every beat of my heart. โYou did,โ I said. โFor a while, you did.โI heard the crunch
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. โIโm not the same person I was before,โ I said, my voice firm, unwavering. โAnd Iโm not walking away this time.โThe manโs eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, just enough for me to catch. And then, before I could even register what had happened, Leon moved.Faster than I could blink, Leon was in front of me, his hand grabbing the gun and twisting it out of the manโs grasp. The force of it sent the man stumbling back, but he didnโt go down easily. His bodyguards rushed in, but Leon was already a step ahead, disarming one of them with a swift, calculated move.I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what I was witnessing. Leonโalways so calm, always so carefulโwas ruthless. He was like a force of nature, determined to protect me at all costs.But the fight wasnโt over yet. The man recovered, his eyes burning with rage. โYou really think youโve won?โ he spat, his voice dripping with venom. โYouโre nothing but a pawn in a game you canโt ev
The sound of boots drew closer, pounding the floor with an urgency that echoed through the cavernous halls of the estate. My heart raced as the reality of what I had just heard crashed into me like a tidal wave. The man who had once been a part of my lifeโmy familyโs betrayer, the one who had orchestrated their deathsโstood there, calmly, as if this was just another night for him.Leonโs grip on my hand tightened, but I didnโt let him pull me away. I could feel the air thickening with tension, the walls pressing in as everything I thought I knew began to crumble.The intruders were only moments away.The manโheโsmirked, watching us. โYou think this will end well? Youโve no idea what youโre up against. My people are everywhere.โI took a step forward, ignoring Leonโs silent plea to retreat. โYou killed them. And you thought I would be the next one to fall in line?โ My voice was a whisper, but it held a power I hadnโt realized I had. โYou were wrong.โThe manโs face faltered, just for a
Next Morning at the Estate Archives. The basement was cold and damp, and the air smelled of mildew and secrets. Old boxes lined the walls, labeled in my fatherโs tidy script. Financial records. Land deeds. Correspondence.Leon sifted through a crate of documents while I dug through another.Then something caught my eye.A faded folder labeled: Project Thornfield.I opened it slowly.Inside were blueprintsโplans for development across coastal land that was supposed to be protected forest. There were signatures from multiple board members, including names I recognized.And then, one I didnโt.N. Vallis.Leon leaned over. โYou know that name?โI shook my head. โNo. But look hereโhe signed off on the project two weeks before my parents died.โLeon pulled out his phone. โIโll run a background check.โI kept flipping through the documentsโand found something that made my blood run cold.An aerial photo.Of the cliffside. Our property.With a giant red X drawn over the coordinates where my p
THREE WEEKS LATER...The investigation moved faster than Iโd expected. With the board fully on our side now, the paper trail unraveled like a thread pulled from an old sweaterโeach piece of evidence exposing the next. Shell companies. Forged contracts. Witnesses who had remained silent out of fear but were finally coming forward.Still, no one had seen him since the day of the summit. He had vanished without a trace. No flights. No offshore activity. No messages. It was like heโd disappeared into smoke.But Dorian didnโt believe in ghosts. โHeโs hiding,โ he said as he handed me a thick folder. โAnd thisโthis will force him out.โI flipped through the documents. Bank records. A property registered under an alias. Hidden deep in the woods outside of Anacortes. I felt my stomach twist.Leon stepped up behind me, his hand grazing my shoulder. โLetโs pay him a visit.โThe cabin was barely more than a shadow tucked between trees. No lights. No car. Just silence and the thrum of insects in t
Sunlight crept cautiously through the cracks in the blinds, casting golden slivers across the hardwood floor of the safe house bedroom. I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, a blanket draped around my shoulders and the journal heavy in my lap. The cover was cracked, worn with age and secrets. My fingers hovered over the first page for what felt like an eternity.Leon was nearbyโhe hadnโt slept much, either. He stood at the window with a mug of black coffee, watching the world outside with quiet alertness. When I finally opened the journal, he turned slightly but didnโt speak. He knew I needed silence for this.The first entry was dated nearly two decades ago.July 14th. We signed the contract today. Two families, one future. The woman from Delmar Holdings is more cunning than I expected. She knows weโre desperateโand she used it. I told Mariana to trust me. That this was the only way. God help me, I hope Iโm right.My breath hitched. Marianaโthat was my motherโs name.I flipped thro
MARGARETTE'S POVBefore we could react, the door behind us burst open.Three armed men rushed in, dressed in black, their movements precise and rehearsed. Leon shoved me behind him, drawing his gun up in an instant. Dorian, who had been lingering near the entrance, took cover behind a cabinet, gun already out.โEliseโs father wasnโt bluffing,โ I breathed, my heart hammering. โHe had backup ready.โLeon fired the first shot, catching one of the intruders in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor. Chaos erupted. Dorian ducked low and returned fire, narrowly missing another attacker who retaliated with a spray of bullets that shattered the windows.I crouched behind an overturned table, the sound of gunfire drowning out my thoughts. The locket in my palm dug into my skin, its edges sharpโa painful reminder that I couldnโt afford to lose control now.โEliseโs father!โ I shouted to Leon. โHeโs escaping!โThrough the haze of smoke and broken glass, I saw the man slinking toward
The sound of footsteps pounding in the hallway was the last thing I heard before the door slammed open.I barely had time to react before a rush of armed men poured into the room, their eyes scanning every corner, landing finally on me. There was no mistaking the intent behind their cold stares.โGet down!โ Leonโs voice crackled through the earpiece again, but there was no time to obey. I couldnโt allow myself to hesitateโnot now, not when the truth was within reach.I raised my gun, my hands steady despite the chaos unfolding around me. I wasnโt going down without a fight, not after everything I had lost. Not after everything Eliseโs father had taken from me.Before the first man could react, I fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the confined space, the bullet finding its mark in the manโs chest. His body crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud, but the others didnโt hesitate. They moved in faster, their guns drawn, but I was ready.I ducked behind the desk, using it as cover
Dawn came in silver slivers through the cracks in the window. I hadnโt sleptโnot really. My mind was too loud, looping the footage over and over like a broken reel.Leon sat across from me at the table, sipping his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Neither of us had said much since the footage. We didnโt need to. The truth had cut so deep, it didnโt leave room for small talk.But I had questions.And I needed answers.โHow long do you think heโs known I survived?โ I finally asked, voice hoarse.Leon didnโt look away from his mug. โLong enough to start covering his tracks. But he didnโt expect the locket to resurface.โMy hand instinctively reached for it. The locket was warm now, like it had absorbed my grief and fury. Inside was a picture of my mother and meโher arm around my tiny shoulders, her smile soft but tired. A photo I hadnโt even remembered until last night.โHe killed her,โ I whispered. โHe killed my father. For what? A project?โโNot just a project,โ