Rowan stylishly tucked his hands in his pockets, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His brows drew together, not just because of the awkward silence but because Lydia hadn’t looked at him once since they stepped out of the house.She folded her arms, eyes cast downward.“Mhm... I’m sorry,” she finally muttered, almost too low for him to hear.Rowan blinked. “Huh? Oh.” He wasn’t sure what to say, or what she meant, but he knew she didn’t owe him any apologies.Lydia exhaled hard, running her fingers through her messy curls. She tilted her head upward, watching a lazy cloud drift across the open sky.“The sky is... beautifully blue,” Rowan commented, forcing a soft smile as he followed her gaze.She nodded absently.“I want to apologize for what happened back there,” she said after a beat. “Seeing my family like this, it’s humiliating. I never imagined...” Her voice cracked slightly, but she quickly masked it with a tight breath.“I understand,” Rowan said gently. “You don’
"W-What the helly is going on here?” Lydia shouted, storming into the master bedroom.Lydia’s breath hitched. Her mouth went dry. Her eyes darted between the tangled sheets, the woman lounging in them, and her father wide-eyed and confused, as if he’d woken up in a stranger’s nightmare."Why is she here? In our house on your bed?!" she yelled again, turning sharply to face him.Mr. Zander blinked rapidly, sweat dripping down his temples. He looked like a schoolboy caught cheating on an exam."I–I can explain," he stammered, his voice hoarse."I went out with the boys last night, we drank and... I don’t know what happened, Your mom’s scream woke me up."From the doorframe, his wife stood frozen, her chest heaving. Her lips trembled. And then, quietly, she spoke."Does that story even make sense to you?" her voice cracked. "You told me you were working late. Now suddenly you went drinking with your friends?"He lowered his gaze, shame eating at him. "I lied. Matthew invited me out. I kn
Trigger Warning: This story contains mature themes, including sexual content and emotional distress. Reader discretion is advised. ***The kiss was feverish, desperate. Rowan’s hands slid beneath Lydia’s top, When he reached her breasts, he pinched her nipples gently uncertain, almost shy. Lydia let out a soft moan, a sound that curled in the shadows of the room like smoke.She leaned forward, biting his ear with a teasing nip. Rowan jerked back slightly, wincing."Ouch." Lydia pulled back, lips still swollen from his. "What?" "Why did you bite me?" His voice was gentle, but his eyes were wide, and uncertain. "You don’t like it?" She panted, tilting her head. "I won’t do it again.""No, it’s… fine. But is that… normal?" A beat of silence. Then, a slow smirk curled her lips. "Yeah. Some guys like it. Sorry, I should’ve asked." "It’s okay," he murmured, but his hands were still. Lydia dragged him closer, but Rowan pulled back, his body still, unsure."What’s wrong?" she whisp
Clinton stared at his phone, hands trembling slightly. The walls around him suddenly felt suffocating.He had seen that pain in her eyes too many times—brushed it off like it was nothing, ignored it like background noise.He grabbed the phone, thumbs flying over the keys, words pouring out like a confession he could no longer bury: “Lydia… I don’t deserve to ask how you’re doing. But I saw you yesterday. And I realized—I never knew the woman I married. Not really. You were always powerful. Brave. Beautiful… in ways I was too blind to see."A pause. He deleted, and rewrote, his pulse hammering. "I was cruel. I define you when you were always priceless. I don’t expect forgiveness. But wherever you’re going, whatever storm you’re walking into—remember this: I was a fool to let you go, and I'm sorry for everything.” His thumb hovered over SEND. One tap. It didn’t undo three years of silence.It didn’t erase the bruise on her heart or the ache in her soul.It wouldn’t undo the dam
The sun blazed high above the pristine golf course—lush green stretching endlessly, surrounded by whispering trees swaying gently in the wind. Mr. Zander adjusted his stance, lining up for the final putt. He exhaled and tapped the ball. It rolled clean, sinking into the hole.Before he could smirk, his PA, Mark, hurried toward him.“Sir, it’s urgent.” He extended the phone, his hands trembling slightly.Zander collected the phone with a frown. “Yes?”“WHAT?! Lydia was arrested?!” He yelled, Nearby golfers turned.Zander’s club clattered to the ground.“Get the car. Now.”AT THE POLICE STATIONThe station buzzed…telephones ringing, officers pacing in boots, murmurs of unresolved cases filled the air. Due to her status, Lydia was kept in a locked office room instead of a cell. The air was stuffy, dim. One bulb flickered above. Her hands were clenched into fists.The door burst open, Mr. Zander stormed in like a cyclone.“Dad,” she rose quickly.Before another word escaped her lips, he
TWO DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING Kelly opened the iron bacade, humming softly.La la la mm mm.In the dark small room, Susan harry was lying on the filthy puddle soaked floor. Her face was bruised, her lips cracked. Her once-glossy hair was matted with dirt and dried blood.Kelly’s shadow fell over her.“Hey, sunshine,” she said, her voice laced with faux sympathy. She gave Susan a kick, not too hard, but just enough.Susan groaned and weakly lifted her head.Kelly crouched beside her, smiling. “Good news. You’re getting out today.”Tears welled in Susan’s eyes. “A-are you serious?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper.Kelly’s grin widened. “Of course. But only if you do something for me.”Susan recoiled instinctively. Her instincts screamed danger.Kelly stood, crossed her arms. “You’ll go to Ben’s company and tell everyone that Lydia kidnapped and tortured you.”Susan’s eyes widened in horror. “No. No, I can’t. That’s a lie. It’ll ruin her!”“Oh boohoo,” Kelly sneered, pacing slowly.