SoniaI saw the way Dennis’ face twisted in fury, the way his hands clenched into fists by his sides. Everything was crumbling. The life we had built, the security we had fought for… it was slipping right through our fingers. But I wasn’t about to let it go without a fight, and I wouldn’t let him give up either.Seeing as he was unraveling, his mind racing… desperate for solutions, his whole world flipped upside down. He was spiraling, completely disorganized. I knew that was my opening. He needed me, whether he admitted it or not. And I would make sure he realized it. I had watched him fall apart before, seen him at his lowest when things went to hell, and every single time, I had been the one to pick him back up. To clean up his mess. And this time wouldn’t be any different. This was my perfect chance. I would get him to back to me… and everything would naturally fall into place.I reached for his arm, softening my voice into something comforting, something familiar. “Dennis,
SoniaI stood there, frozen, as Dennis walked away. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I had always been the one in control, the one who dictated how things played out. But for the first time in my life, I felt powerless. I reached for him again, my voice trembling. “Dennis, please… don’t do this.” I begged, but he didn’t stop. I stumbled after him, gripping his sleeve desperately. “I’ll do anything. We can fix this together. You don’t have to go back to her. Please, Dennis, I’m begging you right now. We… we had a plan. We were supposed to…” he didn’t even let me finish before he yanked his arm away so forcefully that I nearly lost my balance. “There is no ‘we’, Sonia.” His voice was cold, final. “There never was.” I shook my head, refusing to accept it. “That’s not true.” My throat tightened as I fought the rising panic. “You love me. You told me you loved me. You stayed with me. We went through everything together. You married me, and it’s written all over your word
Dennis I didn’t look back as I walked away from Sonia’s pathetic outburst. Her threats meant nothing to me. She had no power over me anymore.All I cared about was getting Freya back.She was my ticket out of this mess, my way back to the life I deserved. The soft life.I walked down the street, my head buzzing with thoughts. I needed a plan. A damn good one.After getting far enough from Sonia, I hailed a ride to my brother’s apartment. I didn’t bother calling ahead. I needed to talk to him, face-to-face.When I arrived, I was expecting to see just him, maybe a beer in his hand and a smug look on his face. I knew he was going to taunt me with the whole thing, and I was ready for him.What I wasn’t expecting was my parents sitting in the living room, waiting for me.The second I stepped inside, my mother’s sharp voice cut through the air.“Dennis! What in God’s name have you done?!”I barely had time to react before my father slammed a newspaper onto the table. The front page had my
StaceyI pushed open the door to Victor’s office, already rolling my eyes at the fact that he hadn’t picked up any of my calls earlier. And when I later tried, the phone was off. I mean, he forgot all about me when I was the one who helped him get his wish. The man goes off on a little getaway with Freya, and suddenly, the rest of us don’t exist. He got his love, and Stacey doesn’t matter anymore.Typical. I wasn’t mad, though. In fact, I found it amusing. He deserved a sweet love and Freya was the perfect person who could love him the way he wanted.Still, a part of me was curious. Victor always answered my calls, or at least called back when he saw them, and he rarely puts off his phone. For him to be completely unreachable? That was odd. As I stepped inside, I spotted Anna, his assistant, at her desk. She was on the phone, and from the way her brows were furrowed, whatever she was discussing seemed serious. I slowed my steps, watching her closely. "Are you sure?" she asked
FreyaSitting at the dressing table, I carefully wiped the last traces of makeup from my face, letting out a soft sigh as the cool sensation of the cleanser soothed my skin. The night had been perfect, but I was exhausted. My reflection in the mirror showed nothing but a content smile. But then, I caught something else… Victor, standing a few feet away, just watching me. His gaze was intense yet gentle, his lips curled into a faint smile. I raised an eyebrow, amusement lacing my voice. "Why are you staring at me like that?" His smile deepened as he took a slow step closer. "Because I still can’t believe you’re finally mine." My heart did a little flip at his words, warmth spreading through my chest. He reached me within seconds, his strong hands resting on my shoulders as he leaned down to press a soft kiss against my bare shoulder. I hummed at the contact but couldn’t resist teasing him. "Funny," I mused, tilting my head to meet his gaze. "I don’t remember you actually
Stacey“Urghhh!!” I huffed as I pulled in front of my apartment.I sat there in the car for some more minutes, staring blankly at nothing while making some mental notes. Dennis and Sonia were out there somewhere, probably planning to strike back at Victor and Freya. That thought scared me, and knowing there was nothing I could do made it even more annoying. I grabbed my phone and called them again, but it was the same thing. Their phones were still off.I finally got out of the car, grabbed my bag and my special package, and then made my way inside.“Hey babe…” Ryan’s voice suddenly sounded as I closed the door.I certainly wasn’t expecting that, so I jerked while he had a naughty smirk on his face. “Omg, you’re so naughty! Why are you here?” I quizzed. “Can’t a man come see his woman? I missed you, don’t you miss me?” He let out while I rolled my eyes, but that didn’t stop him from pulling me into a tight warm hug. I really needed the hug, but I wouldn’t admit it. I can’t let him
DennisI woke up feeling like absolute shit. My head pounded from all the anger I had been bottling up since last night, and my stomach twisted painfully in hunger. I groaned, dragging myself out of bed. It was almost noon. As I stepped out of the room, the house was eerily silent except for the faint sound of the television. My feet led me straight to the kitchen, my stomach growling in protest. I yanked the fridge open. Empty. The cabinets? Bare.My jaw clenched. Seriously?I stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room, where my brother sat, laughing at something on the TV like he didn’t have a care in the world. He didn’t even acknowledge me until I marched over and switched off the TV. His head snapped up. "What the hell, Dennis?" "Where’s my food?" I demanded, crossing my arms. His brows furrowed. "Food?" "Yeah, food, the thing people eat to survive." He scoffed, leaning back against the couch. "There is no food." I narrowed my eyes. "Then order something
FreyaThe smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, and I smiled, watching Victor’s eyelids flutter open. His deep, drowsy gaze met mine, and for a moment, he just stared, as if making sure I was really there. Then, his eyes dropped to the tray of food sitting beside me on the bed, and his brows lifted in surprise. "Good morning, sleepyhead," I teased, nudging his shoulder gently. Victor stretched, his muscles flexing as he rubbed a hand down his face. "Morning babe," he murmured, his voice rough from sleep. "What’s all this?" "Breakfast," I said proudly. "I ordered in while you were sleeping." His lips quirked up in amusement. "And you did all this while I was dead to the world?" I nodded, grinning. "I was about to wake you, but then I got distracted." "Distracted?" He raised an eyebrow. I leaned closer, resting my chin on my palm as I looked at him. "You looked too handsome in your sleep," I admitted. "Like a baby." Victor chuckled, shaking his head. "You jus
SoniaI looked like a goddess, and I know it.The moment I stepped in front of the mirror that morning, draped in my olive green silk blouse and high-waisted black slacks that hugged me like they were tailored by God himself, I smirked. Today was my day. My rebirth. The world had called me names from homewrecker, snake, to a traitor but they’d all eat their words by sundown.“Everything is under control,” my mom had said over the phone just an hour ago, her voice as smooth and confident as always.My stomach had fluttered hearing her say that. That rare kind of flutter that wasn’t anxiety or guilt but power, assurance and victory. All those charges Freya filed? Gone. Today would be my freedom walk. And the best part? It’d be televised. Perfect. I wanted the entire world to see me walk out of that courtroom untouched, unbothered, and unbreakable.“Hey you in there… hang in there, okay? I know it doesn’t seem like it at the moment but I do have plans for us. I’m not Darla. I’m not going
FreyaMy hands were trembling long before I realized it.I had the phone on speaker, and Victor had barely finished parking the car when Nate dropped the first bomb.“It was Darla, Victor. The intruder… she’s your stepmom.” “What!!!” Victor and I exclaimed and then turned to each other at the exact same moment. His hand froze on the gear, and my heartbeat stopped dead in my chest.“Darla isn’t who you think she is.” Nate replied.“What the hell does that mean?” Victor asked sharply, his voice climbing.Nate didn’t stall. “She’s Sonia’s mother.”“What?!” I screamed, and this time, my voice cracked as the air got sucked out of my lungs.Victor echoed me, louder. “What the actual f… Nate, what the fuck are you saying?!” “I’m saying,” Nate continued, his voice too calm for the storm he was unleashing, “your stepmother, Darla, is actually Sonia’s biological mother. Her real name is Anna… Anna Wesson. Years ago, she dated a young man, a waiter. They were in love, but he couldn’t give her
Victor The moment I stepped through the door and saw Freya rushing over to greet me, something inside me softened. No matter how long the day was or how much weight I carried on my shoulders, seeing her smile made it all worth it. I held out the flowers I picked up on the way home. It was nothing extravagant, just fresh white tulips she liked. Her eyes lit up once I handed it to her and she beamed with smiles, making my heart flutter even more.She buried her face in the bouquet, inhaling deeply, and I watched her like a man who had no business owning this much peace. "Thanks baby, it smells so amazing," she murmured.“You do too,” I said with a grin, and kissed her. Her lips were warm, soft, familiar.As I slipped off my jacket, she asked the question I knew was coming. “Any word from Nate?”I sighed. “Not yet. He’s still digging.”She nodded slowly, that glimmer in her eyes dimming just slightly.“Don’t worry, I trust him, huh?” I let out while she nodded slowly. I know she’s stil
Victor The moment I parked the car, I didn’t even wait for the engine to go off completely before I flung the door open and rushed out. My pulse was thudding like a war drum in my ears, my heart hammering harder than it should for someone who had been reassured over the phone that everything was fine. But how could I trust that? How could I trust that when my woman was just confronted in our home by a stranger with a veiled threat? And I wasn’t there.How the heck did they even know she’d be there? It’s not as if we live together, and we stay at her place more than we come to mine! I should have been more careful. I should have stayed at home today to look after her!The guilt chewed at my insides like acid as I unlocked the front door and stepped in. My ears were tuned for any strange sound, my eyes scanning everything. The house looked calm, too calm for the kind of emotional earthquake I was sure she must’ve endured.Then I caught a whiff of vanilla and chocolate and followed it t
VictorStacey and I got into the car and I drove off. Having her with me changed my routine a bit, usually while driving to work in the morning, it’s always silent, so I use the time to reflect on my thoughts and day ahead. With Stacey, it’s totally different. She was seated beside me, quiet at first, just scrolling through her phone and occasionally replying to emails or whatever it was doctors did before a long shift. I didn’t think much of it until I caught her stealing glances at me. Once. Twice. Then again. And again.At first, I chalked it up to coincidence. Maybe something was on my face. I rubbed my jaw subtly, checked the mirror, and even adjusted the rearview to make sure nothing weird was going on with my hair. Nothing.But then she did it again, this time, a full glance paired with this shy little smile before looking out the window like I hadn’t seen her. And to top it off? She blushed. I mean actually blushed.That was when I knew something was up.I kept my eyes on the
FreyaI woke up to the softest brush of lips against my forehead, a tender, lingering kiss that stirred me from sleep far more gently than any alarm ever could. My lashes fluttered open, and for a second, I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming. But then I saw him. Victor, sitting at the edge of the bed, fully dressed in a sleek dark suit, his tie perfectly knotted, and that boyish, heart-melting smile on his face.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he whispered, his hand lightly caressing my cheek.I smiled back at him, still feeling a little dazed from sleep, from everything that had happened the past few days. “You’re all dressed up,” I mumbled, stretching lazily beneath the covers. “What time is it?”“Almost eight,” he said, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. “I didn’t want to leave without seeing you awake first.”My heart squeezed at that. God, how did I ever get this lucky?I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and propped myself up slightly. “The court hearing...?” I asked, my voice stil
VictorMy fingers gripped the steering wheel so tight I thought it might snap off. Every mile I drove, every second I spent away from her, the anger in me only grew bigger, hotter. My mind wouldn’t stop flashing back to the way Freya looked lying unconscious on that hospital bed. She was so pale, so fragile.I slammed my palm against the steering wheel, the loud crack of it echoing inside the car.“Son of a b*tch!” I roared.Dennis was going to pay. He wasn’t just going to lose in court. No, that was too easy. Too clean. I was going to break him.I sped the rest of the way to the villa, not even caring that I was pushing way past the speed limit. Let the cops try to stop me tonight, they wouldn’t be able to slow me down if they tried.When I pulled up, I killed the engine and climbed out, slamming the door so hard the whole car shook. I didn’t even bother to check my surroundings. I was past the point of caring.Inside, the low sound of music filled the air, the smell of expensive liq
FreyaI was starting to feel restless, lying there and staring at the ceiling like I had nothing better to do. Victor was taking too long and it got me worried that he didn’t know what he was doing in there. I was about going to meet him when the door creaked open. I lifted my head and then blinked again just to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating.Victor walked in... and right beside him, Stacey.“Stacey!” I gasped, my voice practically breaking with surprise and relief.Before I could even process it properly, she rushed over to the bed and threw her arms around me. The sweet scent of her cologne and the warmth of her hug almost made me cry. I missed her so much.“Careful!” Victor’s voice cut sharply across the room. I laughed into Stacey’s shoulder, pulling back slightly just to look at his ridiculously serious face.“She’s fine, Victor!” Stacey said, rolling her eyes as she squeezed me a little tighter to make her point.I shook my head fondly and looked up at him, mock pleading, “Plea
Victor I must’ve paced the same the hospital corridor at least a hundred times, maybe more. My feet had gone numb, my throat was dry from whispering every kind of silent prayer I could think of, and my mind… God, my mind was a mess. All I could see was her falling, all I could hear was the dull, lifeless thud of her body hitting the ground, and all I could feel was this suffocating panic sitting heavy on my chest.Just then, the double doors finally creaked open and I turned so fast my neck cracked. It was the doctor with his white coat and a calm face.I don’t even remember moving. I was just suddenly in front of him, my hands grabbing his in a desperate, reflexive gesture. “Is she okay?” My voice cracked. I didn’t even care how I looked. I would’ve begged on my knees if I had to. “Please tell me she’s okay. Please.”He blinked, a little startled by how tightly I was gripping his arms. “She’s fine, Mr. Victor. She’s perfectly fine now.”I swear the air came back into my lungs in a r