Share
14. Cages and Freedom
September 2026,
Ovzdusia, Soare-Luna Kingdom
Katerina
"Ready?" Dad asked right before we were about to make our entrance.
I wasn't but I nodded anyway. We had taken our sweet time to get here but there was still no word from Dimitri. I would have to go in so that no one grows suspicious.
The doors opened and the music changed to a slower, softer piece.
My grip on Dad's arm tightened as we slowly walked down the aisle. He looked at me in slight concern but I smiled reassuringly. At least I think I did.
Each step I took reduced the distance between me and a future that I detested more and more every second. I tried to walk slower than usual, taking more time so that Dimitri would find the blasted contract and get me out of here before I had to endure more of this torture.
I could feel the eyes of hundreds of people on me. But the only one that burned my skin was F
Related chapters
Pause, Rewind, Play 15. Closure
September 2026,Ovzdusia, Soare-Luna KingdomKaterina"Don't marry him," Ajax breathed."You're late," I said and his face fell. A small part of me rejoiced in hurting him. I wanted to make him hurt just as much as he had hurt me. But a larger part of me was trying to be a better person. And the first step towards it was being truthful. "I couldn't go through with it. Left him at the altar."He released the breath he was holding. "You didn't marry him.""I didn't marry him." I shook my head.A moment later, I was in his arms, his one hand around my waist and the other one in my hair, angling my head, his own lowering to kiss me.His touch was warm, his hold familiar, and our history unforgettable. He was the first man I ever loved. I could never forget that. But he was also the one who broke my heart. I couldn't forget that either.But caught up in the mo
Pause, Rewind, Play 16. A Deal with the Devil
September 2026,Ovzdusia, Soare-Luna KingdomDimitri‘I love you, Ajax.’I stared down at Felix, Louise, and Walter Richardson.Felix looked at me and his eyes lit with recognition. But before he could say anything, his father spoke. "What is the meaning of this?! Why did you drag us out of our rooms and force us to come here?""The three of you are under arrest for blackmailing Katerina Van Acker into marrying Felix Richardson.""What?!" Walter raged. "We did no such thing!"Louise and Felix flinched. Ah. So this was the handiwork of the mother and son duo."Do you two want to tell him the truth or should I?" I asked them. Louise looked at me pleadingly before she realized that I wasn't going to budge.Begrudgingly, she turned to her husband. "Kate had initially rejected Felix's proposal and then had broken up with him. I migh
Pause, Rewind, Play 17. Explanation
September 2026,Ovzdusia, Soare-Luna KingdomKaterina"I suppose I owe you guys an explanation," I said as I looked at my family."No, you don't." Konstantin gave me a comforting smile. "As long as you're happy, we're happy, Kate."Mother shot him a look and totally ignored what he said. She looked at me and started airing her face with her hands, trying to dry out her nonexistent tears. "I just don't understand why you would do this to me! What have I ever done to you? Why are you acting out like this? This was your wedding, Kate! Wedding!ToFelix Richardson!"With the way she was acting, you would assume that she had been the one who was left at the altar."I mean, where are you going to find a guy better than him? Who could possibly love you more than him? How are you going to find a family better thantheRichards
Pause, Rewind, Play 18. History and Future
September 2026,Ovzdusia, Soare-Luna KingdomAlyannaI looked at Jay's hand. My hand was resting in his and his thumb was caressing my knuckles.Back and forth. Back and forth.Again. And again.Our hands still fit perfectly.I knew in my heart that this was a moment I would remember forever. The day I reunited with Jay.His eyes still looked into mine like I was the only person he saw. Like nothing else mattered. This moment felt unreal. I had dreamed of it for so long that it was still hard to believe that this was finally happening.Jay brought my hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss on my knuckles. "I missed this.""Oh my fucking God," Andrei groaned. "I'm going to barf and then throw myself out of the fucking window.""No one asked you to be here," I said, irritated that he was ruining my moment with Jay. "Leave!""Go where? A
Pause, Rewind, Play 19. Could Haves and Maybes
September 2026,Ovzdusia, Soare-Luna KingdomAlyanna"I refuse to believe this!" I snapped. "You cannot go around tarnishing people's names based on assumptions. And do not forget that this is my father that you're talking about."I refused to believe that Dad was involved in criminal activities. He was a good man and he couldn't have been doing business with mafia families. He had too much conscience for that. And it wasn't like he needed the money. Our family had been blessed with a life full of comfort."I know it might seem hard to believe, Alya, but these are not assumptions; they are calculated deductions," Mikhail said."Are you going to let him keep spewing this bullshit?" I asked Andrei, annoyed that he was choosing this moment to remain silent.He was more than ready to bite Jay's head off almost an hour ago. He was ready to go toe to toe with Kate until she
Pause, Rewind, Play 20. Breakfast
September 2026,Scars Bay, USAKaterinaI operated this past week on auto-pilot mode. I woke up, got ready for the day, went to work, dealt with problems all day, went home, and then slept.For the first time in my entire life, work didn't have a therapeutic effect on me. At the end of a long day, I didn't feel like I accomplished something. I didn't feel good about myself. In fact, I felt glad to be done with work for the day because it meant that the day was almost over. And I was one day closer to Alyanna coming back home.I had talked to her a few times over the phone during the last week but something felt off. Her mind was occupied elsewhere. And no, it wasn't work. That, I was sure of. Jayden and I had known immediately that she was lying when she said that work was the reason she couldn't come home with us right away. She wasn't that good of a liar and we knew
Pause, Rewind, Play 21. Video Call
September 2026,Scars Bay, USAJayden"Thank you." I smiled. "Thank you so much!""Of course. That was the best dinner we have had in a really long time!" the elderly couple raved on with wide smiles on their faces. "Bless your hands.""Thank you so much!" I said once again. "I will send out a few tarts - on the house, of course. I'm sure you will love them as well." Their faces lit up. "Now please excuse me, I must get back to the kitchen.""Of course." They smiled and nodded."Enjoy the rest of your evening." I gave them a smile.My restaurant manager was waiting in the kitchen with a wide grin on his face. "That was the seventh table to compliment your cooking tonight.""Just doing my job," I told him as I took off my apron and toque."Looks like you miss working at the restaurant," he started and I knew what he was hinting at."What make
Pause, Rewind, Play 22. Marilyn
September 2026,Scars Bay, USAJaydenI need to clear my head.I grabbed a joint from my stash and a lighter and walked out into the balcony. It was chilly but I embraced the cold night. It matched the cold, empty feeling in my heart.I placed the joint in between my lips and lit it before I took a long drag, and looked up at the moon. It looked achingly beautiful and all alone in this starless night sky.I took in another long drag. I had a million thoughts running through my mind and yet, I couldn't grasp even one of them.I took another drag and shut my eyes, an old memory replaying in my mind's eye.***March 2021,Los Angeles, USAI squeezed some lemon over the sauteed veggies in the pan, gave it a good toss, and then turned off the stove.I heard keys jingle and a moment later, A
Latest chapter
