As she passed out from the orgasm, her mind went blank unable to process the sudden rush of euphoria. The passion between them like wildfire, leaving them breathless and warning for more. Iden stood up and opened his shirt's two buttons. But was stopped in the middle. his phone rang. Echoing in the empty room, overlapping the rhythm of their rapid breath. His jaw tightened, his knuckles white gripping the phone. Muted the cell he sat at the edge of the bed, cupped Ellaya’s face and kissed her forehead, "I need to take this call, I will be back, okay." She nodded her head. Iden left the room with his phone. The room, once filled with their shared desire, now echoed with the emptiness of his absence. Ellaya's finger trembled as she wrapped herself in the silk bedsheet and sat on the edge of the bed. She put her shaking hand on her face, taking a deep breath and it trailed from her cheeks to her lips, to her neck. Her skin prickled as if a thousand fireflies had kissed it,
"Hello Ema", Ellaya greeted, her smile bright as she handed over her luggage and dashed forward. Welcome back, Miss. How was your trip?" Ema's voice was warm, her smile mirroring Ellaya Good. How is everyone?" Ellaya's pace is quickened. "Everyone is doing well ma'am. Sir and madam are home today with guests." Ema replied, trailing behind her with the luggage. "Guests? who?" Her lips pursed in thought. The sweet aroma of coffee and freshly baked cookies wrapped around her, mingling with the distant hum of conversation and laughter. As she stepped into the living room, her feet halted. her eyes widened, and her forehead creased deeply. "What are you doing here", The words slipped out before she could stop them. Ellaya's gaze swept the room, taking in the faces turned towards her, their smiles frozen mid-sip. silence hung in the air, thick and heavy. Then a voice shattered it. "Ellaya, my baby girl, my little princess!." Her mother's voice rang out loud and clear, as she rushed
They threw her onto the floor and locked the door behind her. Ellaya scrambled to her feet, rushing to the door. She pounded on it with her fists, her cries of frustration and desperation unyielding.Ellaya pounded on the door, her palms pressing against the cold, unforgiving floor. Her desperate plea for freedom. But the door remained unyielding, its eavy wood a barrier between her and the outside world.Tears ran down her cheeks as she slid down, her back to the door. The memories of Iden haunted her -the way his eyes bore into hers, the touch of his hands on her skin. They had met under strange circumstances, and now fate had to cruelly separate them. She never imagined that her own parents would oppose her and force her to marry against her will.Ellaya clenched her fists, determination replacing her initial despair. She vowed to escape this prison, not just for herself but for her love. For Iden.The room was silent except for her ragged breath. Ellaya wiped her tears, her resolv
The room was a frigid cocoon, it's walls closing in on Ellaya. The cold floor gnawed at her skin, and her swollen eyes ached from relentless tears. She had cried until her soul felt raw, yet the pain remained an unyielding ache that threatened to consume her. Her mother's entrance was a thunderclap, shattering the fragile peace of her solitude. The woman's grip on Ellaya's arm was iron, yanking her from the floor. "What's wrong with him, Ella? We've known Austine for years" yelled as forced her to stand on her wobbly leg . Struggling to stand, Ellaya's voice trembled as she fought to stand her ground. " I don't love him mumma." The words hung in the air, a desperate plea. But her mother's eyes held no sympathy- only the certainty of duty. She threw her on the bed and went into the walk-in closet. Returning back with a long white gown that looked like a wedding dress. Throwing it onto the bed. "There's no love in this world" her mother spat, as if love were a foolish myth.
As Ellaya descended the stairs, the gown trailing behind her, she vowed to defy fate. Love might be treacherous, but she would fight against cynicism, against her doubts. She would prove that even an “ugly face” could hold a heart ablaze. Ellaya stood beneath the stairs, gazing into the faces of people she had once thought of as family; but now, her family was merely using her as a commodity, without a thought for her. But it was her destiny; they never considered her anything more than a machine to earn money for them; she had no idea what her parents' love was; all she knew was how to earn, and they taught her well in this regard. Her senses snapped out of her reverie as she felt her mother's hand approach, telling her, "You look perfect; let us go; they are waiting." Ellaya nodded and got in the car; her dad was already there, using his phone to type something. Her mother commanded the driver while seated next to her. Ellaya twisted her waist and held her stomach in agony
Ellaya’s heart raced as she stood there, her entire world hanging in the balance. The dimly light corridor seemed to hold its breath. His eyes bore into hers searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt. "Are you sure you want this”, He asked, his voice low and intense. Ellaya mind raced. She had never been one to make impuseive decisions, but this, this was different. This was Iden-the man who had turned her life upside down, the man who had awakened desires she never knew existed. She noded , her resolve firm. "Yes”. She whispered. Her voice barely audible. She had left behind her career, her family, and her old life. She had no doubt about that. Iden face transferred. The hard lines soften, and smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He pulled her close, hugged her in his firm arms. Ellaya doubt melted away, replaced by desire and longing. She leaned into his embrace, feeling the weight of her decision settle over her . She could not imagine her parents' reaction to her sudden
Iden laughed looking at her face filled with anxiety. "Laaya, stop worrying about other people; nobody is going to bother us here." " They don’t live here with us?" Iden drew her in closer, put his head in her neck, and took a deep breath. Her face twisted as his hot breath tickled her bare skin. "Then where do they live?" She repeated her question. "Shh, not a word …" He silenced her whispering in her ear, putting a finger to her lips. He turned her, facing toward the mirror, a beautiful woman with purple eyes and radiant pink skin, hair tied in a bun staring at her. The man behind her was the most attractive man she had ever seen. He was incredibly attractive despite only having a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a low-hanging tie, along with black trousers. His words reverberated through the empty room as she nodded her head and grinned at him. "Perfect" after a pause he spoke again looking at his phone "You are the most gorgeous bride I have ever seen, he said
Ellaya rubbed her eyes and slowly opened them; morning light danced in the corners of her new bedroom, and a gentle breeze brushed against her cheeks. She sat up and the slik cover slipped off her body. When the cold air touched her skin, she realised what had happened the night before. Her face flushed red and a shy smile appeared on her lips as she looked around the room, but there was no sign of the man she had married. Her first night as his wife was nothing but romantic and beautiful. The shyness gave way to uncertainty and fear: what if Iden had left her alone in this unfamiliar house, and where would he go? Many questions arose in her mind, and she quickly wrapped the white silk cover around her breast and opened the room to find the answer. "I..iden.. where are you?" Looking around, she exited her room and descended the stairs. The house was very small, with only a few rooms and old furniture. The house was eerily quiet, as though no one was home. She looked around the livi
**Trigger Warning** The chapters ahead contains depictions of attempted sexual violence, survival, and themes of trauma that may be distressing for some readers. Please prioritize your well-being and proceed with caution. If these themes are sensitive for you, consider skipping this chapter. _______________________________ With a crushed heart and shattered hope, Ellaya sank to the cold, damp floor, her hands obscuring her face as tears streamed through the cracks of her fingers. The muffled sobs echoed in the vast villa, heavy like the weight of betrayal pressing down on her chest. Around her, faces twisted into masks of indifference, some even smirking. Mr. Stone leaned casually against the arm of the chair, pushing the woman on his lap away lightly before rising, towering over Ellaya. Rosi, fists clenched at her sides, threw her arms up in frustration. "You were the one who supported her every whim! Look where it’s gotten her!" “Enough!” Mr. Stone's voice boomed through
Her heart pounded with every hesitant step as she crossed the threshold into the familiar yet suffocating house. The spacious, opulent rooms, once a haven, now felt overwhelming, almost foreign. The contrast between the house’s warmth and her cold, dripping body was jarring. Water pooled at her feet as droplets trailed behind her, evidence of the storm she had been through—not just outside, but within. Her damp dress clung to her trembling frame, her fingers clutching the fabric tightly, as if it could anchor her amidst the tide of fear and guilt rising in her chest. Her eyes swept over the familiar surroundings, each detail stirring memories that surged relentlessly. Some were fleeting moments of comfort, others sharp reminders of hurt. The pounding in her temples intensified as thoughts swirled—thoughts of how other children ran to their homes for safety, for solace, while she stood here, terrified of what lay ahead. This place, though grand and inviting, was never truly home.
Ellaya knelt on the rain-slick ground, her trembling fingers splayed across the jagged edges of the gravestone. The icy night wind lashed at her exposed skin, turning her hands numb as the cold seeped through her drenched clothes. Strands of her hair stuck to her tear-streaked face, the relentless downpour soaking her completely. The weight of despair pressed heavily on her chest, tightening with every ragged breath. Her sobs came in sharp, uneven gasps as the venomous words of the man she had once given her heart to echoed in her mind, relentless as a cruel melody. *“I regret meeting you. I regret marrying you—even if it was only on paper, even if it was for revenge.”* The memory of his voice was a knife, twisting and tearing through her already shattered heart. She had believed in him, in the love she thought they shared. Every touch of his hands had felt like a symphony, every word a promise of a future together. She had abandoned everything for him—her career, her family, ev
Ellaya knelt on the cold, damp ground, her fingers trembling as they traced the jagged edges of the gravestone. The biting wind clawed at her skin, its chill settling deep into her bones. Her hair, disheveled by the relentless breeze, clung to her tear-streaked face. The night wrapped around her like a shroud, heavy and unforgiving, as the venomous words of the man she once loved echoed mercilessly in her mind. *“I regret meeting you. I regret marrying you—even if it was only on paper, even if it was for revenge.”* Each word had struck like a dagger, cutting through her soul and leaving it raw and exposed. The love she had cherished so deeply now felt like poison, eating away at her. Once, her heart had found its rhythm in his presence, had felt safe in his arms. Now, it was nothing but a hollow vessel, incapable of anything but pain. He had destroyed her, ensured she could never love again—not him, not anyone. A sob tore from her throat, shattering the stillness of the gravey
Iden yanked the car door open and slid into the driver’s seat, slamming it shut with enough force to shake the vehicle. His chest heaved with suppressed rage, his jaw locked so tightly it felt like his teeth would crack. His fingers wrapped around the steering wheel, knuckles blanching as he gripped it hard enough to hurt. The engine roared to life, the growl of it mirroring the storm swirling inside him. Without hesitation, he slammed his foot onto the accelerator, sending the car flying down the road like a bullet from a gun. In the wing-mirror mirror, his eyes caught sight of her—Ellaya. She was curled up on the floor, her small frame swallowed by the darkness. Though her face was hidden, he could see it in the way she sat: her shoulders hunched, her arms wrapped around herself, her soul crumbling. Her despair hung in the air like a weight he couldn’t ignore. His chest ached with an intensity that made him want to scream. Instead, he muttered under his breath, voice hoarse, “Fuck,
She smiled faintly, her lips curving upward with a hollow defiance, as if to mock him. But her eyes—those haunted, shattered eyes—glimmered with a strange mix of resignation and rebellion. “Do it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, yet weighted with sorrow. “I have nothing left to lose.” Iden’s jaw tightened at her words, the muscles twitching as if holding back a storm. His grip on her throat loosened suddenly, and she stumbled back, her hand flying to her neck as she gasped for air. The cold night air felt sharp against her skin, a cruel reminder of her vulnerability. Her knees wavered, but she steadied herself, trembling fingers reaching out to nothing but the empty void around her. Her heart pounded furiously against her ribs, each beat like a reminder of the betrayal standing before her. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them spill. She lifted her head slightly, her gaze falling on Iden—a man who no longer resembled the one she once loved. Hi
“I’m here to take you home,” Iden said, his voice warm, but his hand on her cheek was cold—a stark contrast to his words. Ellaya didn’t respond. She didn’t flinch. She just sat there, numb, too numb to react. It felt like a dream, fragile and fleeting. She was terrified to move, scared that if she did, the illusion would shatter, and he would vanish like smoke. “Laaya, say something. Anything,” he urged, his tone soft, almost pleading. It was the same voice she had fallen in love with, the one that once made her feel safe. A single tear slipped down her cheek, warm and lonely. Before it could fall, his thumb brushed it away, just as he used to. The familiarity of the gesture broke something inside her, and she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him. His embrace was strong, warm, and all-encompassing. For a fleeting moment, she felt secure, as though his arms could shield her from the cruelty of the world. “I haven’t done anything,” she whispered, her voice cracking under the
Ellaya was ushered into the stark, cold detention room and left alone. The only items in front of her were a water bottle and a crumpled packet of crackers on the table. Hours passed, but no one came to question her. The silence weighed on her like a heavy fog, thick and suffocating. She cradled her head in her trembling hands, her teeth sinking into her lower lip until the metallic tang of blood seeped into her mouth. Her chest heaved with shallow breaths as she sighed repeatedly, her body refusing to give in to tears, though her heart begged for release. She wasn’t just hurt—she was in shock, too numb to fully grasp the cruel reality of the situation. Iden’s words echoed in her mind, each syllable cutting her like shards of glass. Why would he frame her? He was her husband—Iden David—so why had they called him “Mr. Ruan”? Why hadn’t he denied it? Why had he stood there and condemned her with such conviction? Questions swirled violently in her mind, one crashing into the next, li
It had been weeks since Ellaya woke up. Though her physical injuries were healing, she seemed to be a shadow of her former self. She had shut herself off completely, retreating into a silent world where no one could reach her. Iden never brought up Uncle Richard, and she didn’t seem inclined to talk about him either. Their unspoken agreement to avoid the topic only deepened the growing chasm between them. Iden rarely visited the hospital, but when he did, he lingered outside her door, never stepping in for more than a brief glance. The once vibrant and animated Ellaya sat on the hospital bed one sunny morning, staring out of the window. The sunlight poured in, illuminating her frail figure. She had lost so much weight that her clothes hung loosely on her, and the dark circles under her eyes revealed the sleepless nights she endured. Her hands rested idly in her lap, motionless, and her lips trembled faintly, as though she wanted to speak but had forgotten how. Iden had seen many