The air in Greece tasted like sun. Light on her tongue as the wind teased loose strands of hair from her bun. Annette stood still for a moment outside the terminal, soaking it in. She hadnât wanted to comeânot at first. But Sam had insisted. He said it was good for her mental health. And now, standing here in the familiar heat, she was quietly glad.Sam spotted her before she saw him. His arms were already open when he crossed the space between them, wrapping her into a hug that went on longer than it should have. She didn't resist. She folded into it, breathed in his scent, and felt something loosen in her chest."You're here," he murmured into her hair, then pulled back and studied her face. His thumb brushed near her temple, eyes narrowing at the faint reddish bruise just above her brow."Annette..." he said, voice low and full of concern."It's fine," she lied."No, it's not." He took her hand without asking, held it gently between both of his. "What they did to you... everything
The living room glowed with soft lights, tinsel wrapped carefully around the bannister, a plastic tree blinking in the corner. But it felt... staged. Like someone had built a holiday set and left the heart out of it. Annette sat stiff on the couch, wrapped in a knitted shawl, her eyes blank. Cassie sat beside her, quiet, arms gently resting against Annetteâs side, just to remind her she wasnât alone. Jane came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, George trailing behind her. âBreakfast is almost ready,â she said, voice light in a way that tried too hard. Annette nodded vaguely. George leaned down to murmur something into Janeâs ear. She gave him a look that said nowâs not the time, but he caught her hand anyway and pulled her gently toward the kitchen. She followed with a sigh. Just as Jane turned on the stove, her phone buzzed on the counter. She blinked, confused, then reached over. âHudson?â she answered softly, stepping to the side. George stood quietly nearb
âNo Annette, Iââ"Netty, he saved you, rushed you down to the hospital, andââ Jane was cut short in her attempt to defend Hudson.âEnough of that!" Annette sat upright, fingers clutching the sheets like she needed something to tether herâsomething to keep her from flying apart. Her face was pale, but her eyes burned. "You didnât save me," she whispered, voice so soft it was barely sound. "You destroyed me."The rest stood at their place, watching nervously.The hospital room was filled with silence.Hudson froze where he stood. Those wordsâGod, those words. He'd prepared himself for a thousand possibilities. But not this. Not her looking at him like he was the ghost that haunted her own skin."Annette..." His voice cracked. He stepped forward instinctively, hands twitching like he wanted to reach for her, but stopped short. "Pleaseâjust listenâ""No." She shoved herself upright with shaky limbs. The IV line tugged, but she didnât care. "Donât come near me.""You donât understand," he
The hospital smelled like bleach and something colderâlike metal or rain. The air was dry, and the lights were insanely bright. But as Jane and Cassie walked down the quiet corridor toward Annette's room, none of that really registered. Their hearts were too full. Too heavy. Jane kept a firm grip on Cassieâs hand. Cassie came with a backpack. Cassie sniffled beside her. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes red and swollen from crying the whole ride there. Her small frame shook with every breath.âWhy does this keep happening to her?â she asked, her voice cracking in the quiet hallway. âWhy is it always her? Itâs not fair, Jane. Sheâs always the one in the hospital. Sheâs always the one getting hurt or sick.âJane didnât have an answer. She just gave her hand a gentle squeeze. âI know, baby. I know.âWhen they finally reached the room, Jane paused with her hand on the doorknob. For a second, she couldnât move. She was afraid of what might be on the other side. Afraid of more tubes. More
A few weeks laterâĶ3:00 pm, Hudson's Empire. Snowflakes gently fell outside, casting a magical glow. Inside, the conference room buzzed with staff from various departments, including George, all gathered for the final meeting before the Christmas break. Hudson, looking dashing in his navy blue suit, sat at the head, summarizing key points.Hudson, dashing in navy blue, summarized key points. "Marketing, lead the holiday campaign. Sales, focus on quarterly targets. HR, ensure seamless communication.""Excellent work, everyone. Enjoy your holidays." Hudson said, flashing a smile as the meeting came to a close.The room gradually emptied, with festive greetings.Mr Terenceâs secretary, Mariah approached Hudson with quarterly reports. "Sir, the reports.""Take them to my office," Hudson replied.Entering the CEO's office, she was surprised to see Annette, elegant in black coat and red dress, sitting on a couch, her attention glued to her phone.âAnnette?!â she whispered in shock, âWha
Her eyes fluttered open, the morning light filtering through the curtains. She was lying in Hudsonâs arms, her body still tingling from the previous night's passion. She could recall every damn detail of it. Hudson had fucked her with an animalistic ferocity that left her breathless and her body trembling with aftershocks. She had lost all control, screaming his name as he pounded into her, mercilessly. Sheâd begged him for more, and begged for him to stop ; all at the same time. Her fingers dug into his back as she rode the wave of pleasure. Heâd driven her to the edge of sanity, her body writhing beneath him as he licked and sucked her swollen clit, his tongue flicking against her sensitive flesh. She had thrown back her head, crying out his name as her world exploded into a million shards of pleasure, over and over, each round more intense than the last. As memories of their passionate night lingered, Annette's body responded eagerly, longing for Hudson's touch again. But reality