EDMONDI carefully plated the eggs and bacon, arranging them neatly on the tray. Breakfast in bed was the plan, a small gesture to brighten May's morning. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the kitchen, and I couldn't wait to see the joy on her face when I brought it up to her.Just as I was about to pick up the tray, my phone began to ring, its sudden intrusion into the tranquility of the morning making me jump and drop what I was holding. I cursed under my breath and placed the tray back on the counter, hastily drying my hands on a kitchen towel before grabbing the phone.The caller's name flashed across the screen - Lucille. My heartbeat raced for a second. It was too early for this. Regardless, I swiped to answer, breathing in to ensure I sounded casual and not tense."Hey, Lucille," I spoke. "What's up?"The voice on the other end was very different from the Lucille I knew. "Good morning, Edmond. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." Lucille was not the type of wo
MAYEdmond looked at me as if he were contemplating what to say. I knew he would not lie to me. But his pause was unsettling.“Is it that bad?” I broke the silence. “You don’t have to say it if you are not comfortable-”“No!” Edmond cut in. “Snuggle asked me to fix my relationship with Lucille. That is all there is to it.”Now I was the one who was uncomfortable. Snuggle only gave us tasks that were meant to hurt us. It was everything the Trial and Tribulations prestige feature was about. Why would mending his relationship with Lucille be a trial or a tribulation? His pause before made goosebumps crawl over my skin, and I was reminded of their interaction the night before.“May?” Edmond snapped his fingers at my face to bring me back to reality. “Are you alright?” He asked. “You seemed a little lost.”I knew it was smart to shut up. But we promised ourselves honesty. Plus, it was difficult keeping these sorts of things to myself. It was going to eat at me all day, and I could not have
EDMONDThe morning light trickled into the room, hitting my shut eyes and successfully waking me from my sleep. I turned to my side, and my gaze landed on May. She was still asleep, her figure cocooned in blankets. The rise and fall of her breathing was a tranquil rhythm. The only ASMR I could listen to all day. I found myself smiling. She was beautiful. I ensured she was comfortably covered before slipping out of bed and slipping into a pair of briefs.I tiptoed out of the bedroom, phone in hand, and headed for the kitchen. I took a minute to look at my notifications. Yesterday was a busy night, and there was a chance Sarah would send me sales analytics and more potential buyers for the estates. I found nothing from Sarah. But I did notice a notification from Snuggle and a voicemail.The voicemail interested me so I listened.“Hey…” The familiar voice sniffed. My mother-in-law. “If you are going to hurt my daughter, do it quick. Do not deceive her for years on end. It hurts more…” Sh
MAYAmidst the swirling currents of laughter, music, and clinking glasses, I felt his presence before he even reached me.“Hey,” Edmond, closed the distance between us with a smile that radiated a warmth so genuine it was contagious. I couldn’t help but mirror that smile as he wrapped his arms around me in a hug that felt like home. “Did you miss me?”His embrace was a sanctuary, a place where the outside world faded away, and all that remained was the two of us, entwined in this moment. The scent of his cologne enveloped me, and I took it in like it was life itself. “Do not flatter yourself, I had champagne.”“I am better than wine.”I could not quite place what it was. But Edmond seemed happy. I did not expect him to be in such a mood after crossing paths with his father. While it was tempting to ask, I had to be slippery about it.“Did you win the lottery or something?” I teased, pulling back slightly to peer into his eyes. The joy that danced within those dark depths was infectiou
MAYAmidst the swirling currents of laughter, music, and clinking glasses, I felt his presence before he even reached me.“Hey,” Edmond, closed the distance between us with a smile that radiated a warmth so genuine it was contagious. I couldn't help but mirror that smile as he wrapped his arms around me in a hug that felt like home. “Did you miss me?”His embrace was a sanctuary, a place where the outside world faded away, and all that remained was the two of us, entwined in this moment. The scent of his cologne enveloped me, and I took it in like it was life itself. “Do not flatter yourself, I had champagne.”“I am better than wine.”I could not quite place what it was. But Edmond seemed happy. I did not expect him to be in such a mood after crossing paths with his father. While it was tempting to ask, I had to be slippery about it."Did you win the lottery or something?" I teased, pulling back slightly to peer into his eyes. The joy that danced within those dark depths was infectiou
EDMONDSarah, my personal assistant of over five years, knew me well enough to understand the dynamics of my family. Even though she had never directly witnessed our interactions, she could gauge my emotions when it came to them. The look she gave me as she approached spoke volumes, confirming my suspicions. So, it was no surprise to see my father standing in the hallway that led inside the venue. His path was obstructed by security personnel, and the intensity of his gaze indicated his frustration. My mother stood beside him, her presence likely preventing him from unleashing his wrath upon the security team. He might have been on the brink of asserting his influence as a prominent figure in the corporate world, warning them of potential consequences, but something seemed to be holding him back, even if it painted his cheeks a tomato-red hue. It was clear that my mother's presence was acting as a buffer.As I observed the scene, a question lingered in my mind: why were they here?I d