Emilia“I still can’t believe it’s really you.” I laughed softly as I looked at Devon, my old friend from college. His hair was shorter than I remembered, and he had a bit of scruff now, but that familiar smirk, cocky, warm, was still there.“I could say the same,” he said with a grin, folding his arms across his chest. “You just popped out of nowhere and nearly knocked the wind out of me. I still remember how you almost did the exact same thing four years ago.”“Wasn’t my fault. You were standing in the doorway like some lost golden retriever.”He chuckled. “Still sassy, I see.”I shrugged. “Some things never change.”We stood near the gym’s smoothie bar, just a few steps away from the weight section. The space buzzed with energy, clinking weights, upbeat music, people chatting in between sets. It smelled like sweat and fruit protein powder, which was a weird mix, but not unbearable.“You come here often?” he asked, sipping the green drink he ordered.“Lately, yeah,” I replied. “Need
Emilia’sThe quiet clink of porcelain cups and the low hum of background chatter filled the café, a sharp contrast to the tension building between Serena and me. We sat at a small round table near the tall windows. Outside, the sun had begun its lazy descent, casting long golden streaks across the floor, but inside, the air between us was anything but warm.Serena sat across from me in a pale lavender blouse, perfectly ironed and tucked into her high-waisted slacks. Her makeup was light but flawless, not a single hair out of place. She sipped her coffee slowly, her lips curling into a smirk before she set the cup down and leaned back in her seat.Then she laughed.Not the kind of laugh that comes from genuine amusement, but one sharp, loud, and filled with mockery. Her voice rang through the small café space, drawing the attention of two women seated nearby. They turned slightly, curious. I felt their eyes on us but didn’t look back.“You’re funny, Emilia,” Serena said, tilting her he
EmiliaThe sunlight crept in lazily through the sheer cream curtains, stretching across the thick, velvet-upholstered walls like golden ribbons. I blinked a few times, letting my eyes adjust. The high ceilings and crystal chandelier above looked more regal than usual, but I wasn’t in the mood to be impressed by luxury this morning.I rolled over slowly, my hand instinctively reaching across the bed.Cold.Empty.Figures.I glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. 7:36 a.m. It was Saturday. Not that it mattered anymore. Richard had left, again. No note. No text. No gentle kiss on my forehead like he used to.Just silence.I lay there for a moment, sinking deeper into the cloud-like mattress, covered in soft beige linen that still smelled faintly of lavender and Richard’s cologne. But not enough to matter. I sighed and pulled the covers up to my chest.Usually, I’d force myself to get up. Face the day. Be productive. But not today.Today, I grabbed my laptop from the nightstand, fli
EmiliaThree hours.That’s how long I’ve been lying here. In this room. In this silence that feels louder than any shouting match.Three full hours since I stood up from that dinner table, heart racing, skin burning with confusion and shame. And not once did Richard come up. Not once did he check on me.The clock ticked slowly on the wall across from me. Every second echoed in the quiet space like a cruel reminder of how alone I felt. The silk sheets beneath me were cool against my legs, but my skin felt hot, burning from everything I’d swallowed down tonight.My chest rose and fell, each breath shaky. I hadn’t meant to cry again, but the tears kept coming, slipping out of the corners of my eyes no matter how many times I wiped them away with the back of my hand.And the worst part?I could still hear them.From downstairs, through the thick walls of this mansion, there was laughter. Light chatter. Clinking glasses.Serena’s voice.And his.Richard's deep tone drifted up every so ofte
Emilia“What?” The word slipped out before I could even think about it.I didn’t mean to say it so loud, but it came out clear as day. Sharp. Like glass hitting tile.My eyes bounced from Emelda’s carefully composed face to Serena’s relaxed expression like I was trying to piece together a puzzle that didn’t fit. The dining room suddenly felt warmer. My pulse throbbed somewhere in my ears.What the hell was going on?First, Richard had been gone the entire day without a single call or message. Nothing. I hadn’t even known he was hosting dinner until I found everyone already here.And now this?Not only had he sprung guests on me, fine, I could deal with that, even if it was inconsiderate, but I was just now finding out that Serena wasn’t just visiting.She was… staying?The silence that followed my outburst clung to the air like thick fog. Forks paused halfway to mouths. Glasses hung in the air, untouched. Even the faint music from the hallway seemed to vanish.Mia looked at me, wide-e
EmiliaThe table had gone oddly quiet again. Not in a tense way, just the kind of silence that falls over a group when everyone’s too focused on their food and wine to keep up small talk. Forks clicked against plates, and glassware clinked softly every now and then.Mia broke the silence. Her voice was light and warm, casual in tone, but her words still caught the attention of everyone around.“So… Emilia,” she said, turning her head toward me, “how far along are you now?”All eyes shifted. My fork paused mid-air.“Three months,” I replied, offering her a small smile. “Just getting into the second trimester.”Mia’s face lit up. “You’re glowing, honestly. I swear, pregnant women always have that light around them. It’s real.”I chuckled. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s just the lighting in this overly fancy dining room.”A few laughs circled the table. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught Richard leaning slightly toward Serena, cupping his hand to whisper something in her ear. Whateve