You drive me crazyThe room went silent.It was so silent that Kristen could hear her own heartbeat thudding in her ears. Her chest was still rising and falling from the tears, but her eyes locked on his, searching, digging, trying to find a lie. If there was a hint of hesitation.But there was none.“I’m in love with you,” Carlo repeated again, his voice even softer now. Kristen stood frozen.That one sentence—those five words—felt like a wrecking ball to her chest.He’d never said that before. Not once.And Now… they were out. Hanging in the space between them like a fragile truth.And it broke something inside her, She took one step closer. Then another. “I hate this.”Carlo blinked, caught off guard. “Hate what?”“I hate that we’re always fighting,” she whispered. “I hate that I can’t trust what’s happening around me. I hate that the second Bernice showed up… everything changed.”She looked away for a second, breathing deeply.“I feel like I’ve been holding my breath since the m
You want her not me Kristen didn’t even wait for Carlo to say anything else. The moment his words sank in—messing with another man—her blood boiled.“Oh, great. I’m glad you’re aware you’ve been avoiding me,” she snapped, voice sharp with frustration. “At least we’re starting there.”Carlo didn’t flinch, but his jaw tensed. “That’s not the point here, Sophie,” he said, tone low, like he was trying to keep his anger in check. “You did go out to see another man.”“Yes, I did, Carlo. I’m not denying it,” she said, her voice rising. “But I also told you, he’s my childhood friend.”Carlo stepped forward, his expression dark and unreadable. “If you’re so innocent, if you’re really not hiding anything, then why didn’t you tell anyone where you were going? Huh?” His voice sharpened, his hands clenched at his sides. “Why sneak out like that if you had nothing to hide?”Kristen’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you serious right now?” she said, laughing bitterly. “I’m not doing this with you,
Messing With Another ManKristen jolted awake with a loud gasp, her body drenched in sweat. Her chest heaved as she reached for her neck with trembling hands, heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst through her ribs. Her throat was fine. No bruises. No Carlo. No Bernice lurking in the shadows.Just a dream.A nightmare.She sat up slowly, brushing damp strands of hair from her forehead. Morning sunlight poured through the blinds, casting golden lines across the bed. The sheets were tangled tightly around her legs, as if she’d spent the whole night wrestling invisible demons.In a way, she had.A soft knock broke through the silence.“Madam?” came the maid’s voice from behind the door. “Good morning. I came to let you know breakfast is ready.”Kristen swallowed and tried to steady her voice. “Is… is Carlo home?”“He already left earlier this morning,” the maid answered gently.Kristen paused, her chest tightening. She should’ve expected that. “Is Bernice downstairs?”“Yes, m
You Don't Belong Here“Are you deaf?... What the hell are you doing here?” Kristen asked, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed tightly, anger burning in her eyes.Bernice stood near the entrance like she owned the place. She didn’t flinch. “I just came to check up on you,” she said, giving a small, fake smile. “You left angrily because of me, remember? Thought it would be nice to show some concern.”Kristen narrowed her eyes. She knew Bernice wasn’t here to be kind. Her voice, her expression, that smile—it all dripped with sarcasm. Kristen forced a polite smile in return. “That’s sweet of you,” she replied, matching her tone.“You know Carlo… He always shows up for the people he loves… I mean, cares for,” Bernice added with a smirk.Kristen’s eyes sharpened. She could see exactly what Bernice was doing, but she refused to give her the satisfaction. “Yes, my husband has a thing for helping strays,” she said coolly.Bernice’s jaw tightened, and for a second her smile faltered.
The Rift The door closed with a soft click behind them. The house felt heavy with silence. Kristen was still shaken by all that had just happened tonight. She could still feel the tension on her skin like sharp little pins pressing everywhere. Everything felt tight and cold. Bernice had been patched up. Her leg was wrapped in thick bandages, and she winced every time she moved. Kristen stood by the stairs, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes fixed on Bernice. Bernice slowly lowered herself onto the couch, as if she belonged there. Carlo was standing just behind Kristen. “She’ll stay here,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “At least until she’s better.” Kristen didn’t answer. Not right away. Her jaw was tight, and her eyes slowly moved from Bernice to Carlo. She turned to fully face him. “Excuse me?” Her voice was cold. “I thought we agreed for her to leave the house?” Carlo let out a breath like he already knew this conversation would go badly. “She’s wounded,
She took the bullet for himKristen walked down the hallway with slow, uneasy steps. Her heart was beating fast, and her hands were slightly trembling. Carlo had stormed out of the house earlier to find Marcus, and now it had been hours with no word from him. No call. No text. Nothing. And that silence was making her more anxious by the minute.She was heading to the Bar to get a drink, something, anything, to help calm her nerves. Wine or Maybe whiskey. She didn’t even know what she wanted. All she knew was that her chest was tight, and her mind wouldn’t stop racing.She had just turned the corner when something strong and cold pressed against her face.A cloth.Pressed hard against her nose and mouth.At first, she didn’t understand. Her hands flew up, trying to grab the person’s arms. She struggled. Kicked. Tried to scream. But the scent from the cloth hit her like a wave. It was strong. A sharp, sweet, almost sickening perfume that made her head spin instantly.The arms holding he