It's almost funny how a home run by the Philadelphia Phillies' batter had my Dad more concerned than his only daughter being followed by a suspicious vehicle all the way to the house, but I can't even laugh now, I was really afraid for my life.As he opens his can of beer I begin thinking to myself, even if he does not care about my safety as my father, I know my Dad all too well, that 6-pack of beer would not matter at all just because he heard somebody was threatening to ride a bike over his lawn, as a matter of fact the perpetrator would have the cans of beer smashed over their head and would be forced to mow the lawn for as long as my father dictates.Something is definitely wrong, and I won't be able to sleep with both eyes closed except I get to the bottom of this, I know for sure I wasn't hallucinating, I away them serve when I swerved, I know they were trailing, who and why is what I do not know, but I'm about to find out. Charity begins at home they say, I'm about to do some

The hospital room was bathed in the faint light of the evening sun that seeps through the blinds of the large window, casting long, slanted shadows across the walls. The hum of machines fills the air, and the occasional beep of monitors breaks the silence.In the center of the room lies a hospital bed, and in it rests Adrianne, connected to an IV drip. Her face is peaceful, the soft rise and fall of her chest indicating that she is still asleep. Her chestnut hair spills across the pillow in a tangled mass, and her slender fingers clutch the edges of the blanket.Her breathing is slow and measured, like the gentle waves of the ocean lapping against the shore. The steady rhythm of the machines is almost soothing, like a lullaby that sings her deeper into sleep. The only other sound in the room is the quiet murmur of the nurses as they move about, checking her vitals and adjusting the machines.The room is sparsely decorated, with only a small bedside table and a chair tucked in the corn

Chapter 16.Adrianne stared at her father in disbelief. "What are you talking about, dad? How could you say that about mom?"Her father's eyes grew cold as he replied, "Your mother was always a roadblock to my goals, Adrianne. She was never supportive of me or the decisions I made.""What decisions? What are you talking about?" Adrianne demanded.Her father hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with an emotion Adrianne couldn't quite place. "I made a deal with Lucas's father, Adrianne. He's promised us financial security if you agree to marry Lucas."Adrianne's mouth dropped open. "What? You made a deal behind my back? How could you do that, Dad?""It was for the good of our family, Adrianne," her father said sternly. "You know how hard times have been for us. This was an opportunity we couldn't pass up.""But what about love, Dad? What about happiness? I can't marry someone I don't love," Adrianne said, tears welling up in her eyes."You'll learn to love him, Adrianne. And besi

Chapter 18.Lucas’ room was a sight to behold. The spacious room was adorned with the finest of furniture and luxurious fixtures. The walls were painted in a warm shade of cream, which added to the feeling of grandeur in the room. The wooden floorboards were polished to a gleaming shine and covered with a plush rug that ran the length of the room.The centerpiece of the room was a massive four-poster bed with soft, fluffy pillows and a matching duvet. The bedding was a soft shade of beige and contrasted beautifully with the deep blue accent pillows. The room was lit by a combination of natural light from the large windows that overlooked the city and the soft glow of strategically placed lamps.Lucas' closet was a room within itself. It was filled with designer clothes, neatly arranged on hangers and shelves. The section for suits and formal wear was particularly impressive. They were arranged according to color and style, and every piece looked to be of the finest quality. The shoes

Andrianne lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, her thoughts consumed by the events of the past few days. The revelation that her own father was responsible for her mother's death had left her feeling lost and betrayed. But even more than that, she felt like a pawn in his game, a tool to be used for his own selfish purposes.As she thought about her future, she knew that she couldn't continue to stay married to Lucas. Their marriage had been arranged by her father, and while Lucas had been kind to her, she couldn't keep up the pretense any longer. She knew that she had to file for divorce.Later that evening, Andrianne walked up to her father's house feeling anxious and conflicted. She had made up her mind to leave Lucas, but the thought of facing her father with this decision made her nervous. She knocked on the door and waited as one of the servants opened it."Good evening, miss Andrianne," the servant greeted her with a smile."Good evening, Maria. Is my father around?""He's in