The next day, Regan was still not coming home, and the day stretched before me. By the time I woke, the day had reached its peak. As the afternoon sun cast its golden rays through the window, a notification buzzed on my phone. Pulling it out of my pocket, I glanced at the screen. It was a text from Gerard. His message was simple – a request to meet.
Despite the fatigue that weighed me down, and the nausea churning in my stomach, I knew I couldn't ignore him. With a deep breath, I pushed myself off the couch. Moving on autopilot, I made my way to my room. The reflection in the mirror startled me. My usually bright green eyes were dull and shadowed. Choosing a red maxi dress, I slipped it on. The long sleeves offered a welcome layer of comfort, hiding the fading bruise blooming on my arm. The one I received from where Regan shoved me in a staff room. The red color felt like a shield, a way to mask the vulnerability I still felt.
Reachi
The city lights began to twinkle as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Exhausted and emotionally drained, I craved a moment of peace. With a sigh, I decided to visit Le Ciel Bleu."Marlon, can we go to Le Ciel Bleu.""Certainly, Ma'am," he replied. He pulled away from the curb, the familiar route to the restaurant a blur as I leaned my head against the cool glass window.Le Ciel Bleu exuded a certain Parisian charm. A wrought-iron fence adorned with climbing ivy surrounded a small patio.As we arrived, Marlon opened the car door for me with his usual courtesy."You can go home, Marlon," I said, turning to my driver. "I'll call you when I'm ready.""Are you sure, Ma'am?""Yes, thank you," I replied and walked towards the restaurant, taking a seat at a corner table near the large glass wall.I opted for a quiet table in the corner, away from the main crow
A mountain of presents, wrapped in shiny paper and tied with extravagant bows, threatened to topple over on the far side of the room. On the mahogany table, a sea of cards gleamed under the soft light. I picked one up, its edges embossed with a delicate silver pattern. The familiar, pointed handwriting of Vivienne, one of Regan's business associates' wives made me almost sigh in dismay."Dearest Anastasia," the card gushed, the words shimmering with fake sincerity. "Happy Birthday! Wishing you all the joy and fortune you deserve. Perhaps we can schedule that charity luncheon we discussed? Regan mentioned such a wonderful idea..." The card fluttered from my grasp, landing face down on the floor. Charity. Luncheon. Always something they wanted. “As expected,” I muttered.The silence swallows the room, the only sound is the relentless ticking of the clock. My fingertips painted a crimson danced a nervous rhythm around the stem of my wine glass. The heavy damask drapes, a deep sha
With shaky steps, I left the dining room behind, my wine glass clutched tightly in my hand. The familiar path to the piano room seemed longer tonight. As I pushed open the door, the soft glow of moonlight illuminated the grand piano sitting majestically in the center of the room. With a heavy heart, I crossed the threshold, the cool air of the room wrapping around me.Sinking onto the chair in front of the piano, I reached out to press a key, but my trembling fingers betrayed me. Tears blurred my vision as I wiped them away, the ache in my heart threatening to consume me once again.I was once a pianist prodigy but after witnessing my mother die in front of me, in my piano room, I cannot press a key ever since. I can clearly remember that day like it happened yesterday. It was raining so hard and my mother jumped on the balcony just the time a clash of thunder echoed in the room.“Why would you even do that, Mom?” I raised the glass to my lips and drank deeply, the warmth of the wine
As I made my way to the kitchen, I tried to push aside the lingering sense of hurt and betrayal that lingered in the back of my mind. With weak hands, I set about preparing the table for breakfast.Susan approached me with a concerned expression etched on her face. "Miss, you should really rest. You've looked not okay.”I offered her a weak smile as I focused on the breakfast table, "I am fine, Susan.”When I heard Regan's footsteps descending the stairs, I plastered on a cheerful smile. "Good morning. I've made breakfast. Won't you join me?"But he merely stared at the spread before him, his expression unreadable as he brushed past me without a word."Not hungry," he muttered, his tone dismissive as he made his way towards the door.Desperate to reach him, I seized the coffee pot and held it out to him. "Please, just take a sip,"But before I could react, his hand collided with the coffee pot, sending scalding liquid splashing towards me. I cried out in pain as the hot liquid seared
I walked into the cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixing with the sound of chatter and laughter. It was one of my favorite spots in the city. Include her long floral dress with red heels, red nails, and red lipstick. I wore a long floral dress that fluttered around my ankles as I moved, paired with red heels that clicked softly against the tiled floor. My red nails and matching red lipstick completed the look, a stark contrast to my black hair, which framed my face like a dark halo. My green eyes scanned the cafe, taking in the familiar sights and sounds.The door chimed as I entered, and a familiar security guard snapped to attention. "Welcome, Ma'am," he greeted me with a respectful bow.With a small smile, I thanked him and made my way towards my usual table in the corner. The booth, nestled against a bookshelf overflowing with travel guides and well-loved novels. Today, however, the table wasn't empty. My grandfather sat there, his back ramrod straight despite his age, a
As I waited near the entrance of the mall, a familiar figure approached with an energy that could rival the sun. Sheila practically bounded towards me.Her curly hair, a riot of chestnut curls, framed her face in a wild halo, bouncing with every step she took. Her eyes, a warm shade of hazel, reflected the joy she found in even the simplest of moments. Sheila was like a ray of sunshine."Hey, birthday girl!" she exclaimed, as she linked her arm through mine. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be here on your actual birthday. I had that seminar; you know how it is.""I understand. Doctors are always busy"She grinned. "Today, I'm buying you a new dress to make up for missing your birthday!""Really? Anything I want?" I teased, knowing full well she wouldn't back down from the challenge."Anything!""Alright then, I'm choosing something ridiculously expensive.”To my surprise, she merely pouted. "Fine, be that way," she huffed, before breaking into a giggle. “But not ridiculously expensive, okay?
As Zarina and Regan glanced in our direction, panic shot through me. My stomach churned, churning so violently I thought I might vomit. Without a second thought, I grabbed Sheila's arm, my grip tight and desperate."Come on," I hissed, pulling her away from the scene with a force that surprised even myself.We weaved through the throngs of people, my legs moving on autopilot. I just needed to get away, to escape before I crumbled. Once we were safely hidden behind a pillar, out of sight from the escalator, I finally stopped, my body trembling uncontrollably.Sheila turned to me, her eyes wide with concern. "Did you know they were seeing each other?""No," I croaked, the single word scraping raw against my throat. As we hurried out of the mall, my steps pounded against the floor. My breath hitched in my throat. Hot tears pricked at the back of my eyelids, threatening to spill over. But I wouldn't allow it. Like an instinct, I blinked back the stinging moisture, forcing my vision
Sheila’s gasp was a sharp intake of breath. “Are you crazy, Anastasia?! He betrayed you, and lied to you! How can you even think about protecting something so rotten?”“Maybe I am,”“Tasia, you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You deserve so much more than this. More than a love that makes you feel like this, more than a man who doesn’t cherish you.” She took a deep breath, her voice dropping to a low growl. “You should leave that bastard right now! Pack your bags, walk out that door, and never look back!”“I can’t leave him, Sheila. Not now. I still love him.”“Did you know he was cheating on you?” Sheila asked, her voice laced with a quiet fury.I met her gaze with a heavy heart. “Yes. I knew there might have been someone else, but I never imagined it would be Zarina.” “I can’t believe he did this to you,” Sheila gritted in anger. “That bastard. I swear, I will kill him if I ever see him!”When I remained silent, she sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. “So, I guess