Hailey***The night sky stretched out above us like a blanket of stars, the villa bathed in golden light, as though the universe itself was celebrating this moment with us. It was a night of endings and beginnings—a night where we would seal our future with the promise of love, joy, and family.We all returned to the old house, the villa where we had shared so many memories. It was filled with a sense of nostalgia, yet excitement for what was to come, as if everything we’d fought for was now within our reach.I stood in front of the grand fireplace, the flames casting a warm, flickering glow across the room. The villa, with its rustic charm and luxurious touches, felt like home—not just a house, but the foundation of the life we were building together.Summer and Max were tucked into bed, their soft breaths filling the quiet house. The stillness was peaceful, broken only by the occasional hum of the night air and the distant call of crickets. The world outside was calm, but inside, my
Hailey***The evening air was cool yet soothing, wrapping the farmhouse in a stillness that only the countryside could offer. As the first stars began to sprinkle the deepening indigo sky, the farmhouse seemed to glow with a warmth that hadn’t been there before. It wasn’t just a hiding place anymore—it was a sanctuary, a space where love and healing had begun to take root.I stood at the edge of the garden, watching Hollis and Summer as they worked side by side. Their laughter blended with the soft rustle of leaves, a melody of simple joy. Little Max toddled after them, his chubby hands grasping at flowers with an earnestness that only a one-year-old could muster. My hand instinctively rested on the curve of my belly, a habit that had become second nature. The new life growing inside me was a quiet reminder of hope and resilience.The sight before me filled my heart with peace, fragile yet overwhelming. After everything we’d endured, it was hard to believe we were here—together. The w
Hailey***The farmhouse had always been both a haven and a cage—a place far removed from the chaos that had consumed our lives. It was where I could pretend, even for a moment, that the world beyond its weathered walls didn’t exist. The isolation was a strange kind of comfort, one that held both solace and loneliness. The days passed quietly, the rhythm of the countryside punctuated only by the laughter of my children or the occasional rustle of wind through the trees.Summer, who had always been shy and reserved, had shown a bright curiosity these past few days. The seven-year-old had taken to exploring the nearby fields, dragging her little brother Max behind her like a loyal shadow. At just over a year old, Max was the perfect mimic, his chubby hands reaching for flowers or clapping at birds that flitted overhead. Watching them filled my heart with a fragile kind of peace. Here, they were safe. Here, they were untouched by the dangers that lurked outside.That morning, I busied mys
Hollis***The world I had once known—the world that had held me captive for so long—had finally crumbled. It wasn't just what my grandfather had done to me. It was everything he had done to the people who couldn’t protect themselves. The families he destroyed in his pursuit of power, the lives he crushed beneath his heel. I had suffered, but the worst part was always what he did to them, to those who trusted him. Now, finally, the time had come to make him pay. Slowly, methodically, piece by piece, I would tear him apart. Years of planning and waiting had led to this moment, and I was ready to exact my revenge with a cold determination that matched his own cruelty. He would regret ever crossing me.But even now, sitting in his seat, there’s a moment of hesitation. A part of me wonders—what if this isn’t enough? What if revenge won’t fix what was broken? I’d spent months walking a tightrope, pretending, smiling, nodding, showing the world I was the weak, compliant heir he wanted me to
Hailey***A few months have passed. I can still feel the ache in my chest, like a constant companion. It’s become a part of me now, something I carry with every breath. The farmhouse is quiet. Too quiet. Every creak of the floorboards, every gust of wind that rattles the windows, feels like a reminder of what’s missing. Him.In this foreign country, with only the sprawling fields and endless sky for company, silence is suffocating. The outside world feels like it’s moving—always in motion—while I’m trapped in this stillness. I long for the noise, the chaos, the comfort of someone else’s voice. But here, with only my own thoughts echoing in the empty rooms, I’ve become too aware of every passing second.I walk into the kitchen, my bare feet silent against the cool floor, my movements automatic. Max is sitting on the floor with his blocks, his laughter a bright, shining contrast to the dark cloud hanging over me. His joy is innocent, pure—but it only deepens the hollow inside me. It rem
Hailey***I never imagined this would be how it ends—this final moment between us, the last time I hold her, touch her, feel her warmth. But here we are. Time has been slipping through my fingers like sand, and I can’t stop it. The reality of what I’m doing weighs on me. I know what it means for Hailey, for me, and for all of us. But this is the only way to protect her. To protect them.I watch her in the soft light, the way her eyes search mine as though trying to find an answer, some reassurance. But I don’t have one to give her. Not anymore. There’s nothing left except this moment, and I want to give it to her fully. To make it count.Her hands tremble slightly as she reaches for me, her touch tentative but longing. I step into her embrace, feeling the heat of her body against mine, and the moment she wraps her arms around me, pulling me close, I feel my heart crack a little more. I don’t want to let go either. Not now. Not ever.Her lips find mine, soft but urgent, as though they’