LOGINNORA’S POINT OF VIEW.Three years later….The Seattle skyline, showing boldly against the window of our home always made me smile. I held the mug full of hot chocolate close as I sipped gently.The streets were lit by lights, trees, and the festive air that Christmas brings.I stood on the balcony, the cool night air whipping past my face as I caressed my swollen belly. Her small taps against my bladder felt uncomfortable as hell, but it’s worth it after the fright she put us through a week ago.For the first time in my third trimester, I didn’t wake up to her harsh kicks anymore. A part of me worried it was because I’d scolded her too for kicking me as hard as she did last time.But when I felt nothing, my world as I knew it came crashing down.Damien rushed me to the hospital, where we learned she was perfectly fine. Apparently, she was beefing with me.So I had to beg her, and now, she kicks me anytime she can.“There you are.” I felt him before he even spoke, his voice filled wit
DAMIEN’S POINT OF VIEW.I remember the words of the doctor vividly after we’d rushed Nora in about a week ago. “Severe brain damage from the blunt force trauma to the head, broken bones, and her foot have to be in a cast immediately. It was in that state too long; glass shards in her brain.”Everything rushed at me all at once. Grandma's death, James, and finally, the last blow that left me gutted.“We need to tell you something….” I should have known there was an issue when I saw Doctor Max, the trusted gynecologist my family used, approaching me.Her face was twisted most officially…and that raised enough alarms for me. “Mr Blackthorne; Damien, I….there is no easy way to say this. But Nora missed her shot for the past two weeks, and because of that, we had no idea, but she was pregnant, exactly one week along.”“W-was?” I’d coughed out, my heart felt it’d finally stopped. “Yes, Damien. The baby didn’t make it.”The third life I’d have to mourn. I still don’t know how to tell her
DAMIEN’S POINT OF VIEW.Asher grabs Nora by her neck, twisting her in a way that almost sends me flying forward. Sebastian’s grip on my arm is the only thing stopping me.My mind takes me back to the sight of a pale James lying on the stretcher. He was pronounced dead even before the first responders could get him to the hospital. We didn’t have his funeral, we couldn’t without Nora present.Just like with grandma, we planned to bury them side by side so they’d be together on the other side too.“Calm down, Damien.” Hw grunts, his heart was probably about to explode with as much loathing for Asher as mine had. We could barely think straight right now.We were out for blood, and we’d get our pound of flesh.“What now? Huh?” Asher roars, pulling her further back. My eyes wandered to her foot, and narrowed at the sight of it.The way she stood was odd, almost like she was leaning on her other foot as discreetly as possible. The black dress she has on covered her entirely, so I couldn’t
NORA’S POINT OF VIEW.I whipped my head in the direction of where that ‘yes’ came from, just like everyone else in the hall. A surge of hope shot through me even as I felt the possessive grip of Asher’s hand on my arm.He shot the priest a mean look, forcing the man to cough aloud, then utter the worst words I could ever hear now. “Uh… in the absence of objections, I hereby pronounce you…”“I said, I object!” The voice became louder, earning a smile from my lips and mummies from everyone.“Who the hell is that?” Helen hissed, rising to her feet the same time as Stephan, their eyes scanning the crowd.The first thing I was was the large hat, then the dark-tinted glasses, followed by bright red lipstick, until I finally pieced it all together.Lydia burst from the crowd, her lips pulled in a snarl as she heads for Asher and me. “Or are you too old to hear me, father?”“Y-young lady, you…” The priest gulped, stared at Asher, then back at Lydia. “Why do you object to this union?”“Because
NORA’S POINT OF VIEW.The muffled sound of the live band I could see through the window played away while I had to clutch the bouquet of black roses mixed with lilies, keeping my teeth ground together so I wouldn’t scream bloody murder.Everything felt like it’s boiled down to the last second. Helen stood a few steps away from me, fussing over her red, scandalous dress in front of the mirror, and applying bright blood-red lipstick before blowing a kiss to herself.Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and her smirk turns even wider, more sinister.“Oh, my daughter… what do you think about your mother’s dress?”“You are not my mother.” I hissed, wishing more than anything that my eyes were as sharp as knives.“Oh, but I am, Nora. I may not have birthed you, but I am your mother. Let’s be honest, who else is?I’ll let you in on a little secret, I picked you from an orphanage, baby…..I gave you life, and now, you have to repay us.”I tried to pretend to be shocked at that information, but I
NORA’S POINT OF VIEWI couldn’t stop the tremble of my fingers as I dialed the only number I ever suffered myself to remember. I bit my fingernails as the phone rang, staring at the door with each passing second in hopes that she wouldn’t come in.Finally, just when I thought there would be an answer, I heard the raspy, low voice through the speaker.“Hello,” Maeve said, then cleared her throat. For some reason, it felt like she’d been crying for a long time. My heart nearly stopped beating as the doorknob twisted, forcing me to throw the phone back into my dress.Helen stared at me with Marie’s eyes filled with suspicion.“Why aren’t you dressed yet?”“I…..m-my leg; it’s chained, and it hurts. It’ll be hard to put the dress on while in this position.” I said, thankful because it wasn’t exactly a lie. For what felt like the longest time, all she does is stare at me, then she spots around me before she starts walking.Each step from her felt like hammers against my throat until she s
NORA'S POINT OF VIEW.I, on the other hand, had a kangaroo pouch, cellulite, and a body that revealed that no matter how hard I tried to diet or starve myself of food, my kangaroo pouch was too stubborn to release me. My smile fell, turning to a slight frown quickly, but I pulled it back on before
NORA’S POINT OF VIEW.The air in the living room suite was still thick with the scent of us, of the nerve oil, our sweat, and the mangled musk of Damien’s cologne. A couple of seconds after he came, he pulled out of me, lifted me; not that I could have walked two steps….my legs were jellified.Taki
NORA’S POINT OF VIEW.The mention of the sex tape felt like a low blow to my lower belly. I stared at him, waiting for the disbelief to hit; the questions, the gut-wrenching hurt. Five seconds passed, then ten…But I did not feel it. I stared at him, my face as emotionless as my heart. I looked strai
NORA’S POINT OF VIEW.The document sat heavily in my lap, the weight of it resembling lead. I swallowed, my eyes rummaging the black words on white paper, Damien's voice replaying violently in my mind like a broken record I didn't want to turn off. Dominant, Submissive….and my stomach did another n







