Once Upon a Marriage

Eloise I settled on the coach, reaching for the television remote. Today was Lucian's big day and and the event was broadcasted. This silly illness had prevented me from accompanying him but I didn't care. "Tonight, the world will see my vision." I smiled, feeling the pride in my chest. The Live broadcast finally began, the spotlight settled on Lucian, as he made his way to the stage, looking impeccably polished in his tailored suit. I had never felt so proud, i couldn't help but smile and settled deeper in the cushion. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight. I’m thrilled to announce the launch of our latest collection—a collection crafted with love, passion, and elegance” He said, his deep steady voice echoed through the speakers. My heart fluttered at “Our” collection, i repeated in my mind. “I’ve been fortunate to work with someone special on this project, someone whose talent and dedication have brought this vision to life” Lucian said, his gaze swee

Eloise I woke up with a heavy headache, I had barely slept, the sound of car horns blaring outside. I blinked, my vision slowly clearing, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn’t Ava's apartment. I gasped. I sniffed the white sheets that smelled faintly of oud and something else I couldn’t place. I tried to sit up, my muscles protesting as I propped myself up on an elbow. As I scanned the room, my eyes settled on a small, curious detail on the chair across from the bed—a dark, sleek watch, the kind that looked both impossibly expensive laying there. My breath caught. That wasn’t mine. And that definitely wasn’t an item I would be bringing into a hotel room. Did I lodge into the wrong room? Activities from yesterday still blurry. I grabbed my sunglasses and keys, got dressed and immediately left the hotel room. But as soon as I walked out of the hotel, I was met by the flashing cameras of the paparazzi outside and microphones came thrusting in my face. The

Eloise A week ago….. A feeling of warmth settled over me as I looked up, only to realise it was Mike’s arm wrapped around me for balance, his face shadowed but unmistakably kind as he settled me on the bed. The nightclub’s bass still echoed in my ears as I blinked in the dim lighting of the hotel room, the room swaying lightly. How did I get here? I can't tell. "All men are trash, you know?" i muttered, clinking my glass to his in a bitter toast. “Is that so?” He chuckled, his gaze soft and unintrusive. “Not... not all, maybe,” i admitted reluctantly. “But the kind I keep meeting? Yeah. Definitely trash.” I laughed, though there was no humor in my voice. I had been talking too much, I know, but it was as if once I start, there is no stopping. “Seven years of marriage,” i continued, shaking my head, “Gone in an instant, and for what? A spark with an old lover, my stepsister!” I looked away, focusing on the golden lights. “Turns out I was... disposable.” “Eloise...

Eloise We hurriedly left the gala and slid into the car. The night air sharp against my skin as Mike and I sped down the empty streets, my heart raced with every second that passed and no matter how much I tried to calm myself, the panic kept creeping back. "Are you okay?" Mike asked, glancing at me briefly before focusing on the road. I nodded, not trusting my voice to hold up. I could feel tears burning behind my eyes, threatening to spill but I refused to let them. Not yet. Not until I knew what was going on with Max. It only took seconds and my world began to spin. A call from my Grandma had been all it took. Max had collapsed. They rushed him to the emergency room. The words echoed in my mind. I couldn't make sense of it. When we pulled up to the hospital, I jumped out of the car before it had even fully stopped. My breath came in shallow gasps, my heart pounding in my ears. The harsh white lights overhead and the antiseptic smell hit me like a wave, dragging me back to re

I had been living with guilt for years. The weight of it pressing down on me like a stone in my chest. Dad resented me for being the reason Mom died, but he had forgotten something: I was the one who had caught him. Caught him and his affair with my aunt—now my stepmother. I had only made it easier for him. He’d wanted to marry her, wanted to leave Mom, and I had just given him reason to. I hated myself for that. But more than that, I hated how it all turned out. How everything unraveled. 23 years ago... I was only 4. Just a child, innocent in the way children are, unaware of the tangled mess I was about to walk into. I remember the day clearly though. Aunt Jadeline, who had been away for so long finally returned. I didn’t know why she had been gone, only that I missed her. I rushed to the door the moment I heard her car pulling up. She was family—my mom's sister—and I loved her. I couldn’t wait to see her, to run into her arms like I always did. But when I opened that door